'know thyself'

Socrates was right on. The developers of Strength's Finder [https://www.strengthsfinder.com/] contend that we should improve upon our strengths rather than our weaknesses. Casey and I took this test a few years ago. I recently took it again only to discover that my top five strengths were all different! After talking with those closest to me, I feel that these are a much better representation. I've been through many life changes and it only makes sense that these would become more and more clear. Here they are. If you've taken the test, you probably have a good idea of what these mean. If not, take it! It's $20 to buy a book with a code, but I think it aids in the process of knowing thyself...

Casey's : Responsibility, Consistency, Belief, Relator, Achiever
Jackie's : Analytical, Connectedness, Intellection, Deliberative, Maximizer

jc

oh christmas tree

'Tis the season. Living in Colorado at a camp means a real Christmas tree for no charge. The guys came over to help us decorate the real tree (only after a "snowball" fight in the house), and then Casey and I decorated the fake tree with Nebraska and KU colored balls. And, yes, those are deer antlers as the topper; he's so creative. (By the way, check out the cool tree stand Casey made for the second tree.)

What a better way to end Christmas-tree decorating than with The Christmas Story.

jc

our missional thanksgiving

In the last post, I talked about what we would be doing for Thanksgiving, and I'm here to report that it went very well. I've always considered Thanksgiving to be a family holiday, but many of the people we served downtown were hurting because they were without family. The day of the year I most look forward to is the day that many across the country dread. We were able to serve food to, pray for and hand notes of encouragement to about 150 people living in about four different motels on E Colfax in Denver. Casey and I prayed for one lady and her husband. Her child had been taken from her at the age of three and given to her ex-husband. Of the two, he was the one with the criminal history. Through deception, lies and a faulty court system, she has not been able to see her son for the past five years. She and her husband were having a very difficult time finding joy this Thanksgiving. What could we do but pray for her? She was not alone in her grief. Definitely a new way to look at this holiday. We are grateful to have had the opportunity. The family we went with used to do this every weekend. It is quite possible that we will be joining them again!

Now if you're feeling like we are such selfless people, let me counter it by saying that we went snowboarding the next day. It was neat to serve one day and then be able to bond with other Christian Leadership Training Program staff and students on the slopes.

jc

turkey day approaches...

This, our first major holiday as a married couple, doesn't leave us in battles over whose family gets what holiday. We are staying in Colorado as we anticipate visitors from Kansas. Morning Star Ranch will be coming out to celebrate Thanksgiving with the staff and students here. Naturally, there are mixed feelings on our part. We'd love to be with family, but we have a packed schedule to keep with our visitors. And since we won't be with family, we are taking the opportunity to serve on Thanksgiving. We will be going to Denver with a family from our church to serve a feast to the working poor who are living in hotels. Please pray for this to be an opportunity to be imitators of Christ and that it would also be a bonding, rewarding experience for all who take part.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with delicious food and great company.

Happy Halloween...

christian leadership training program

Here are the guys to be praying for:

Lamar, Darail and Bradlie.

Bradlie is a CTLP recent grad and came to Deer Creek to be the house leader/mentor for Lamar and Darail during their first three months in the program. Our November prayer letter highlights each of these three individually -- be watching for it.

yellows of fall

Colorado autumns just don't quite measure up to the multi-colored autumn of Kansas. Here it is beautiful but short. Winter first crept in when it snowed Oct. 7. The first snow to stick came Oct. 14. It is interesting, though, how fall's leaves are resisting the changing of seasons...

Fall

7 October: yes, the white dots are snow.

Battle of the seasons...



jc