Christmas at the Grand Canyon
If you’ve been on a river trip or rim tour with us, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Each day of that adventure felt like unwrapping a new gift. Every bend of the river revealed another stunning vista, every new overlook provided a fresh perspective of the canyon’s awe-inspiring beauty. As a child, one of my favorite nights of the entire year was Christmas Eve. It was a special time when my family would turn the lights and music down low, light some candles, and gather together
Don’t Forget To Look Up
It was at that moment I learned a large lesson. While I was so used to practicing my pursuit of fossils and geologic finery, I nearly missed out on the big picture of what it means to be in this GRAND canyon. Have you ever been so invested in observation of something that you failed to notice that which was happening all around you? Have you found yourself so intensely focused that you missed out on the “big picture” of your surroundings? This was exactly my scenario on my
Light Shines Best in the Darkness
Just as the face of Moses shone with light from the glory of his encounter with God, we should carry the radiance of our Redeemer into dark places. For it’s truly there that the light will be most beneficial and stand out from the rest. This past week, I had the privilege of leading a sunset tour for two people who came to the canyon to see God’s amazing creation. This time of year is particularly fantastic, as we are in the middle of our monsoon season. During much
Blinded By My Sight
After messaging ahead of time with the parents of this family about the possibility and suitability of creating a “tactile tour,” his mother said that would be amazing, and he would love it. She said, “Nate—you get it!” I’m not sure who was more excited—them, or me. I recently performed a sunset tour with a family who came to visit the Grand Canyon. On their reservation, they made a note to let us know their young son was blind. When I saw the note, I thought to myself, this
Whatever My Lot
Horatio Spafford was a nineteenth-century lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. He and his wife Anna passed their financial success on to thousands of people in need. Their incredible generosity was motivated by their love for Jesus and deep convictions of faith. God also blessed Horatio and Anna with 5 children (1 son and 4 daughters) whom they taught to love God and others with genuine hearts. In 1871, Horatio and Anna faced great heartache and loss. During that year, their four-year-old son was lost to scarlet fever
Be Still And Know
Most people are doers. We want tasks accomplished, problems solved, and goals achieved. Our independent and self-reliant minds look to dig in and get it done. In many instances, this is good and required. However, action without thought and clear direction can lead to more problems rather than solutions. As a younger lad, I often got myself into trouble due to a lack of thinking. I’d hop on my bike, strap down my skis, or start to climb before I took the time to consider what I was about
What I Learned about Grand Canyon in Israel
Nearly 7,500 miles separate Tusayan, AZ on the south rim of Grand Canyon and Timnaʿ National Park in southern Israel. What could anyone possibly find in Israel that might connect it with Grand Canyon? Timnaʿ sits in a desert landscape reminding travelers of some sections of the American Southwest — that is except for the clear differences in fauna and flora. As an example, instead of desert bighorn sheep found in Grand Canyon, Timnaʿ offers ibex. However, the landscapes of both regions display similar geological features. No, the Arabah
God Is Still On The Throne
The question of authority is at the root of much of what we are witnessing today. Who has the authority to determine value? Who has the authority to dispense justice? Who has the authority to dispense mercy? Many in America believe the individual is authorized to determine these things according to their own circumstances and experience. To them, authority and truth are relative and individual. They believe we determine these by our own volition. However, people have vastly different experiences and circumstances. Therefore, vastly different outcomes might be
The Fields Are Ripe
ALL people are created in the image of God! Jesus chose one of the most socially shunned people to be the first to identify Him as the Messiah! Jesus proclaimed a time of great chaos to be the occasion that the harvest was ready! In John 4 we read the account of Jesus and the woman at the well. Of the many lessons to learn from this event, there are 3 I ask you to consider. First: Jesus went out of His way to travel through Samaria for the specific purpose of meeting
The Fields Are Ripe
ALL people are created in the image of God! Jesus chose one of the most socially shunned people to be the first to identify Him as the Messiah! Jesus proclaimed a time of great chaos to be the occasion that the harvest was ready! In John 4 we read the account of Jesus and the woman at the well. Of the many lessons to learn from this event, there are 3 I ask you to consider. First: Jesus went out of His way to travel through Samaria for the specific purpose of meeting