Q Crashing

Some of my favorite scripture is in Jeremiah.  I just relate with much of the emotions that Jeremiah exudes.  The unbelief that God would use someone as young as him and as ill equipped as him.  The struggle with going to hard places.  And the worry of safety. My favorite in all of Jeremiah is in chapter 15.  In one of his many times of doubt and struggle he verbalizes his issues to God so well. "Lord you know I am suffering for your sake.  Punish my persecutors! Don't let them kill me!  Be merciful to me and give them what they deserve!   Your words are what sustain me.  They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty. I never joined the people in their merry feast.  I sat alone because your hand was on me.  I burst with indignation at their sins.  Why then does my suffering continue?  Why is my wound so incurable?  Your help seems as uncertain as  ...

So I've been riding my bike a lot lately.  This is mainly thanks to a group of my friends and family who got me a bike for my 33rd birthday.  It is an awesome Specialized hybrid bike.  I ride it all I can.  I love it.  It sleeps beside me.  Okay, not really.  At the end of a stressful week last week I decided to take an evening ride.  I had actually decided to ride as far North as possible (until it got to dark) and then call someone to come pick me up.  So I'm heading North on a busy road and I decide to swing up onto the sidewalk to avoid a storm drain.  Next thing I know I'm bleeding from my right arm and knee.  In reflection here are the thoughts and lessons learned from this experience. 1.  Alec Woodward is awesome.  He came over and fixed my bike.  Not the best part.  He has anything I would need to clean out the wounds and bandaged up.  He had a whole truck full of fix Quinton's bike wreck supplie...

I remember as a kid how much fun it was to climb trees.  And I think the fun of was that a tree could become anything.  Many days me and my brother, Wade, would turn trees in the pasture into pirate ships, castles, or forts.  It was great.  I think in life God is still giving us trees to climb.  Our new trees are opportunities.  We see these amazing opportunities to share the Gospel with the world around us.  The opportunities present themselves in so many different ways.  Neighbors in need, friends who are struggling, starving people groups, unclean water, students without breakfast, growing poverty, absent fathers, struggling couples, the homeless, the marginalized, the lonely, and the lost.  The trees are everywhere, yet for some reason we choose not to climb them.  So I ask myself, "why don't I climb actual trees anymore?" Two reasons. First, I don't feel like I have the right tools to climb.  My body type is not a good mat...

Recently I went hiking with my good friend Jeff Tennant.  We decided to take the day and head up to Black Butte in central Oregon.  It was an amazing trip, but it ended up being a little longer and a little tougher than I had read.  Aka, I'm out of shape and getting older.  A little ways into the trail I had to stop and take a break.  Leaning against the tree, out of breath, the thought came to mind, "What if this trip took all of me?" I started back hiking, but the whole time I began thinking about where my life has taken me.  The places I've been and things I've been a part of seem unbelievable.  My mind went back to the first trip I took to New Orleans during Mardi Gras.  A youth minister friend of mine had invited me to go, but the night before I was going to leave I had a dream that someone stabbed my on the streets and I died.  The next day I was really emotional.  But I went.  I wasn't stabbed and obviously I didn't die....

Here is second edition of folks that were so impactful in my life that I don't get to see much. 1.  Matt Brooks Other than my brother I've never argued with anyone more.  But it was the best example I've ever experienced of iron sharpening iron.  I miss dreaming as we threw frisbees into homemade baskets.  I wish we could compete on the bball court and compliment each other on the battle field again. 2.  Jason McCullars The only high school friend I was able to stay really close with.  I miss our closeness and our humor.  I miss hanging out the house and our family going on dates and trips together.  I wish we could eat tonight and laugh about the old days and know that the time we've known each other creates an environment where no mask is needed. 3.  Nick and Brandi I've never fallen into friendship so drastically as I did with you two.  I was a skeptic.  But through our time together I became a believer in y...

Everything in life seems to always be in flux.  For us this has  been a tough year.  The addition of our third (unplanned or expected) child.  Big changes in the job.  New church growth taking place.  Stress abounds.  And in those  times I turn into super analytical man.  Questioning everything and figuring out nothing. My wife brings peace in the storm.  Her heart is always so pure.  She loves God and our family and worries not about much else.  I love that she is reminding me of the value of sitting at the table as a family and taking our kids to the park.  I'm so grateful that she initiates conversation on parenting, vacation, and family adventures while my mind is trying to solve organizational issues and work crisis.  It reminds me to slow down and remember things that are important. God can replace me in any of the capacities I hold on this Earth except as my wife's husband and my kids' father. ...

1.  Wade and Kerrie Two of the most amazing people I've ever met.  Missionaries and pioneers in the richest sense of the word.  The live without fear and full of passion and many days I wish we could sit around and get on each others nerves and dream together. 2. Dad Greatest role model and the constant voice in my head.  I miss talking about life and gaining wisdom.  I wish we could walk together in the pasture or do some work on a fence and just be.  3. Mom She is joy personified and I laugh when she laughs.  I miss eating and laughing over silliness and innocent mistakes.  I wish we could cook something together and talk about senseless worries and future adventures.   I want to do this from time to time. Just remember some important people in my life that chasing after God has put some miles between us. These are people who shape me and whom I love.