Author: Jon Albert

  Legacy and vision are words representing what has happened and what is to come.  On Saturday, July 19th we celebrated both.  We gathered with friends of Canyon Ministries in Phoenix, AZ to recall the work of God through Canyon Ministries since its first river trip in 1997 and consider the work that is yet to come.  The evening precipitated story after story of challenged and changed lives because of their involvement in Canyon Ministries. One of those stories was about a Minnesota woman named, Mary.  As a Sunday school

  Time is the most valuable commodity on the planet.  A dollar can be replaced, but a minute spent is lost forever.  Truly, one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another is free time that is completely void of responsibility. Husbands, when you get home from work tell your wife to go do anything she wants to do while you make super and clean up.  Just watch the response you get.  Now there's a significant deposit in the love bank! So what are we doing with the

As with many great moments in life, this one began as a dream.  It was the desire of one man to take his family on a river trip through the Grand Canyon for the purpose of investigating God's creation and the powerful voice it contributes for the truth of God's character and His word.  Years went by and family got busy.  The duties of life scattered the family abroad and health issues were becoming more limiting.  The dream appeared to be almost unattainable.  But God remembered this man

  My son, Monte, and I recently enjoyed serving together on a river trip.  These feet carried gear, led hikes, provided stability for others as they struggled through challenging scrambles, delivered food and water to weary rafters, and brought the good news of God's word.  Our flip flops served us well day by day, but feet still take a bit of a beating.  Sticks, rocks, and dry desert climate add to the turmoil that feet must endure to accomplish the foundational dirty work they employ.  It's important not to

  To hike the Grand Canyon is a remarkable thrill.  The world that sprawls out before you is unlike any other you will encounter on earth.  To hike the Grand Canyon at sunset elevates that thrill to something akin to that which is reserved for fairy tales and wild imagination.  This picture was taken from hilltop ruins just above the Cardenas and Unkar camping areas in the heart of the Grand Canyon.   The clouds crept over the rim of the canyon which lay over 3000 feet above where

  I was recently asked a great question by a young, energetic follower of Christ as we sat under the stars at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  He wondered out loud, "Why are so many Christians boring and bored?"  He expressed disheartening frustration with the many genuine followers of Christ that lacked the ability to let loose in laughter and fun.  It appeared to him that many of the Christians that knew how to have fun lacked depth, while the Christians with depth lacked fun. There is no excuse

An April raft trip through the Grand Canyon spills over with adventure and the weather participates as an unpredictable companion for the journey.  The most recent April romp through the wilds of Grand Canyon included rain, sleet, and snow urging us down river toward shelter and a warm lunch. Praise God for Redwall Cavern, propane, cheese, ham, and bread! We camped the second night at Eminence near Point Hansbrough at river mile 44.  As previously mentioned, the day had been cold, precipitation laden, and windy.  A hike was in

Alright, so really it's about God and our trust in Him and His word.  Upon that foundation, God builds a community of believers called to love and serve one another and bear each others' burdens.  Day upon day is deluged with details, responsibilities, questions, and concerns.  Our attention must be given to these as we love the Lord with all our heart and all our mind.  1 Peter 3:15 makes it quite clear that we are to be prepared to give a reason for our hope.  To be

What makes the Grand Canyon, "Grand"?  To some degree, the answer is subjective.  The Grand Canyon impacts people in vastly different ways.  It evokes a sense of awe in us all, but for different reasons.  It may be the size, display of colors, wide open expanse, wildlife, vegetation, or a wide host of other possibilities.  Regardless, I believe each of us can find our fit in one of these areas.   The immense size of the Grand Canyon nearly takes your breath away the first time you see it.  Tom