Love Wins The Day
When our feelings have been hurt: LOVE wins the day. When impatience corrodes our heart: LOVE wins the day. When anger burns in our gut: LOVE wins the day. When pride urges us to fight and be right: LOVE wins the day. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV) How well do we love?
Finding Jewels in Junk – Captain John Hance
Grand Canyon’s First Official Tour Guide, Captain John Hance Some of my favorite moments at the Grand Canyon, whether guiding a rim tour or embarking on a river trip, are those spent learning and sharing “people stories.” These are tales of the adventurous men and women who came before us, explored this majestic place, and left their mark. We often refer to them as “ancestors”—those who came, lived, and shaped the legacy of this Grand Canyon. Among these ancestors, my all-time favorite is Captain John Hance—though “Captain” was a
Sharing the Wonders of God with a Local Grand Canyon Tour Company
Even a few minutes here and there, going the extra step in open friendliness to display the love of Christ, can go a long way in breaking the ice and barriers that may initially exist between people. Recently I had the amazing opportunity to give a presentation on the Biblical Creation perspective we teach each day here at the Grand Canyon, the same sort of teaching you’ll hear on any of our rim tours or river trips. The only difference was this was not to our guests on bus
Into the Wilderness
For 26 years God has given me the gift of taking people into the wilderness to deepen their relationship with Him. The wilderness is a powerful place of distraction-free reprieve and preparation. I have been doing this since 1992, but God has been calling people to the wilderness for a lot longer than that. Moses spent time in the wilderness before returning to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God called Moses from the wilderness and equipped him for the task ahead (Exodus 2-4). The Israelites spent time in
God’s Sweet Songster: The Canyon Wren
Rushing water permeates the canyon air with its soothing white noise. Gently the dark curtain of night slides aside and stars commence their gradual retreat. The first rays of the sun act like Midas, turning the highest rock turrets to brilliant gold. I’m captivated by a sweet, cascading song of the canyon wren. One hearing and I hold my breath waiting for it to repeat its mellifluous trill. Indeed, one of its six sub-species (Catherpes mexicanus meliphonus, found only in northern Mexico) bears the name meliphonus, identifying its
Communicate to Connect
Kathleen and I appreciated the joy of God’s people while in Southern California. We had the privilege of speaking to six groups of people over the course of four days during the week of January 15th. We shared in a variety of settings with people ranging from kindergarten to adults. There was great delight among all people in response to the information and the great fellowship regardless of age or context. The supremacy of God revealed in creation empowers and equips to all who take the time to look,
The Wild Kingdom of the Grand Canyon
Most often when people think of the Grand Canyon, the first things to come to their mind are the rocks or maybe the river. But there is another fascinating aspect to the Grand Canyon – its wild kingdom of God-created wildlife. I’ve always had an interest in animals of all kinds. Growing up, my pets ranged from the normal dog to snakes, lizards, a monkey, and a chipmunk. They all fascinated me. My thirty-plus years of rafting the canyon have given me the opportunity to encounter much of what
Here Is Where We Are
“Here” is the only place we will ever be. “There” is always one step ahead of us. Therefore, if we are unable to live joyfully “here” then joy will elude us. God calls us to embrace the people and opportunities directly before us. In James 4 we are warned against making boastful plans about where we will go and what we will do because our life is a “mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14). Jesus also taught us to pray only for
The Heavens Declare for All to See
One of the most special river trips we offer each year is the unique 7-day “Geology by Day and Astronomy by Night” experience. Dr. Danny Faulkner joins us on this unforgettable journey, presenting a rare opportunity to study the cosmos above the Grand Canyon. Northern Arizona’s dark skies, combined with the dry desert air and high elevation, create the perfect environment for stargazing and marveling at the heavens. Truly, “The heavens declare the glory of God,” and nowhere is this more evident than over the Grand Canyon. Much as
With One Voice
Romans 15:5-6 “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God has faithfully directed our path to be a strong voice for Him at Grand Canyon. Thinking back through the events of 2017 extraordinarily points to the significance of God’s goodness and the impact of the community of the saints. Each day we seek to bring glory to God
