Fun Event Pics

Sunset in Colorado Mountains

A Fun Lake in Colorado
(So cold even in summer it is illegal to swim or "play" in the water!)

Baby Jack's Night

Oasis Retreat (One of the Girl's House)

Tribute to Cheri

To a friend who is no longer on earth, but rejoicing in the presence of Almighty.

December 23rd, 2007

Cheri, today you went to be with Jesus. I know you are happy because you have completed your journey. You finished well, you went the extra mile, you loved until the end. I know there were rocks and bumps along the way, but you held on and so did we.
Cheri, you will be terribly missed here on earth, but I know heaven welcomed you without hurt. How is your new body? How is the banquet table? How are the streets of gold? Have you met Mary and Martha yet? What about Paul? How is dancing with and for Jesus? How is worshiping Jesus with so many other saints while bowing in HIS very presence?
Cheri, we will be okay soon, but right now it still hurts to know you are gone. Thanks for teaching us to the end. You are and always will be loved.
Cheri, I am so glad to have met you and walked part of your journey with you. I will see you when my journey is complete.
Love from earth~
Jerusala

Fillin You in...

O kay so I realize that I have not written in quite a while~sorry about that. I hope you are all well and enjoying the Christmas/New Year season! I want to back track to just before Thanksgiving, actually, and let you know a few things that have been going on in my life. I will try to be brief and not bore you with un- wanted details. The last post was on December 3rd so you have already read about my time with Bridge Town.
A week before Thanksgiving my friend Sarah and I went to Colorado for a Snowboarders For Christ (SFC) leaders conference. (check out www.sfcoregon.com) We were encouraged by the leaders there in Summit County and their love for Jesus and for Snowboarding, we got to ride (snowboard) for a day -way fun!- and we got to know each other even better. I love you girl! I am excited to say we are starting a Bible study on Monday Nights staring Jan. 7 for the Christian Snowboard Community. If you want to go riding sometime, even if you have never gone before, give me a call and we will go hit the slopes!
Thanksgiving brought Family and Fun with Jenell and Kris and his parents. It was fun to have the whole family here together.
December brought a few extra shifts for me and I appreciated them. I am blessed to have the job I do. I walk in every day praying that I would have the mind and heart of Christ for these boys. To see them the way Jesus does, and remind me how God feels when we do obey him, and when we walk away from him. How he is so willing to take us back with open arms. Now to be honest I do not always do this and I see when I am walking in Jesus and when I am walking in flesh. I thank God for this job and I am excited to see were he takes me.
I would like to go to Portland State university starting spring term, but we will see were that goes. Until then I am just going to continue working my job and mentoring at the young adults group "Oasis" at my church.
December 12th-16th brought me to Central Oregon for a long overdue visit with my Grandma, and a Retreat with Oasis. The visit was grand, and the retreat was good. ( See Pics on a later post.) The retreat was held in Sun River a beautiful town/village in central Oregon. It was fun to be with over 100 college/young adults and leaders to worship our dear Saviour together.
I was excited for Christmas and had a great one. I am anticipating the new year with more fun filled events such as weddings, births, and hanging and going deeper in Jesus with friends. Please see pictures on later post for more about Christmas.
Please also see the following post on a special friend who went to be with Jesus on December 23rd, 2007.

I pray that this finds you all following or seeking Jesus, be a friend to someone and hug some one you love!
Peace
~J

Bridge Town Ministries

WOW! What words do I use? How do you explain homelessness in the most wealthy country? So many people covering up the pain, hiding from their past, and tucking in under a bridge for the night. Probably many nights to come, and many have past, and they continue to seek shelter were they feel "at home" under a bridge. Some that I talked to can quote scripture better then me. Most appear more intelligent, or at least street wise and most if not all will look you in the eye and tell you their story and journey. Yet, the police man/guard, protector of the streets the one we are to "feel"safe around, past me by with out a glance or a return nod of the head. (Maybe, just maybe, he was having what he would call a "bad day".) There are the on-lookers that seem to appreciate and for lack of better words "cheer" you on with their looks and nods. The out of townee is amazed, and the homeless are great full. I was a bit restless and more conscious as I hung out with friends later in a warm restaurant eating WAY to much hot food. And as I lay in my comfortable bed, and tried to remember the names and the faces of the people I met that night on the street. My heart breaks once again knowing they are out in the cold, hopefully warm and little more hopeful then the night past. I could not help but wonder did they see Jesus in me and my genuine care for their health and spiritual well being? Did they just see the cookie? Or maybe it was the HOT Chocolate that warmed them for a moment? Did they remember me after the peanut butter got un-stuck from their mouth? I don't really want them to remember me, but Jesus in me and realize that a relationship with Him is far better then cookies, no matter if you are homeless or not.
~These were/are my thoughts after I spent Friday night in down town Portland working with a ministry called "Bridge Town." This ministry genuinely cares for the needy.~
Provers 31:8-9 Says,
"Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly defend the rights of the poor and needy."