Author: Jon Albert

Grand Canyon is a natural wonder.  It inspires people from around the world.  I could spend a lifetime (and just might, Lord willing) exploring its majesty and never exhaust its beauty and awe.  Grand Canyon is more than just a natural phenomenon.  Among many others, it trumpets the power and sovereignty of God. As Jesus neared the end of His time on earth, He announced to His followers that He was about to leave.  John records for us that the departure of Jesus was necessary so that He could

"The Wave" in Northern Arizona I recently had the enormous privilege of visiting the "Wave" in Northern Arizona.  No doubt many of you have seen the flood of images I have shared in various social media forms.  In spite of all that, I couldn't help but share it at least one more time.  Please visit http://youtu.be/OjEiO6D5mzQ?list=UUDVjTUg7S-yh9JQakFcbRsA to watch a video of me walking through the this incredible sandstone formation. The patterns left behind in the Navajo Sandstone are water currents preserved in time.  The swirling lines of stone indicate tremendously powerful hydraulics and

This is a remarkable place to rest for the night.  The cot cradles your body as you stare off into the deep night sky, taking in the vast array of stars and planets, and the milky way.  Sleeping at the bottom of Grand Canyon is an unforgettable experience. The 2015 river season will be here soon.  We have a variety of options for you to engage God's word in a powerful and unique way.  We invite you to join us for 4, 7, or 9 days at the bottom of

"Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Being thankful is more than saying thanks.  Being thankful is more than social etiquette.  We gathered with our church family last night around the Lord's table for an unforgettable communion service. I pass on to you the significance of gratitude and a reminder of what a thankful person truly is. Patient: Because we have learned to trust God Generous: Because we know God is a giver Joyful: Because today

Photo taken by Nate Loper I'm a simple guy.  God refreshes my mind, spirit, and soul by simple means.  I thrive with a smile from my wife, a giggle with my kids, a good cup of coffee, the partnership with my horse, a lonely wilderness trail, and my Bible. I prefer endeavors that require little technology and a lot of fresh air. The older I get, the less I want.  I consider and meditate upon deep issues and ideas, but I cling to simple truths. The details related to a discussion

When was the last time you crawled around under your house and checked out the foundation?  Are you certain there are no cracks, weak points, or vulnerable conditions?  What level of impact could your home withstand?  It is widely agreeable that the foundation of our home is the most important detail determining the integrity of the structure.  This truth motivates us to inspect the foundation of any structure we seek to purchase.  The initial investigation is rightly focused upon the condition of the supporting framework of earth, stone,

"For everyone will be salted with fire." Mark 9:49 Heat softens and pressure reshapes. The foundational material of our continents is mostly made up of igneous and metamorphic rock.  The upper, middle, and lower granite gorges of Grand Canyon expose the magnificent beauty of the Schist (metamorphic) and Granite (igneous) formations.  The fact that it is metamorphic rock tells us something about its past.  The schist and granite that comprise the foundational rock has been through some tough times.  Metamorphic rock is formed by heat and pressure.  The original material encountered

The above passage comes from Isaiah 61.  The chapter ends in verse 11 saying, "For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations." God rewards righteousness and celebrates in praise.  The heart surrendered to Christ is committed to righteousness and expresses uncontrollable praise.  These are not circumstantially driven, but remain as anchors to the soul amidst the oppression of turmoil and the

The following was published in the May 22, 2004 issue of New Scientist. "The big bang today relies on a growing number of hypothetical entities, things that we have never observed - inflation, dark matter and dark energy are the most prominent examples.  Without them, there would be a fatal contradiction between the observations made by astronomers and the predictions of the big bang theory. In no other field of physics would this continual recourse to new hypothetical objects be accepted as a way of bridging the gap between