Deca-Diving

In May 2002, Texas Parks and Wildlife published the top ten dive sites in the Great State of Texas. They are the following:

1. Flower Garden Banks
2. Dive Valhalla
3. San Solomon Springs
4. Lake Amistad
5. Gulf Oil Rigs
6. Athens Scuba Park
7. Possum Kingdom Lake
8. The Blue Lagoon
9. Comal River
10. Lake Travis

There is also a website for Texas Divers, Texasdiver.com. This site offers info and reviews of all the above sites and more.

(The above pic is our fearless leader, Dale, during our last dive trip to Athens Scuba Park)

I'm setting the goal of hitting all ten sites in the next several dive seasons. I've already dived #2 and #6 and I'll be diving #10 in a few weeks. So I'm off to a good start. Any friends that dive in Texas are welcome to come along anytime. And if you know of any great dive sites in Texas that didn't make the list, let me know!

Helping the Lebanese

After some investigating, I am aware of only one way to help the Lebanese Christians (and the Muslims by extension). Goods cannot be moved in and out of the country right now. The only thing that we can get in is money by wiring it. It just so happens, the Lebanese aren't short of goods, they are short of money since all business has effectively shut down. One group, in particular, could use our help. Since the current conflict began the Lebanese Christians have been using one of their schools as a shelter for Shiite families. They are feeding and housing them and continuing the children's education. This costs money. However, the group's primary source of income has dried up as a result of the fighting. They are providing an amazing ministry to the Shiites and if it is to continue, they need money. You can help by sending money to the Southern Baptists of Texas. 100% of all proceeds will go directly to the Lebanese Christians of the Lebanese Education Society. Send your money to:

SBTC
PO Box 1988
Grapevine, Texas 76099

Make sure to mark the check "Lebanese Education Society"

Although in the future there will be more work to do, for now this will speak volumes.

Thanks!

They're Home!!

I have just walked in the door from meeting the group at the airport! Everyone is home safe and sound with lots of stories to tell. Thank you to all who have been praying. Please don't forget that there are still Lebanese brothers- and sisters-in-Christ still in Lebanon. In addition to prayer, please consider how you might help them in the coming weeks and months. I'm not sure what that would look like just yet, but over the next few days I am hoping to post some ideas on this site. As soon as I gain some insight into their needs and how we might meet them, I'll let you know. Thanks again!

Caribbean Blue

After much deliberation and months of laborious research, Leslie and I have decided to return to the Caribbean this fall. We're going to spend a November week in the BVI learning to sail aboard a 45 ft sailing sloop. There will be about 8 of us aboard and we'll stay on the boat the entire week, sailing from place to place and enjoying the fine Caribbean sun, sea, and food. So now starts the work of reading and studying for the course. When we're done, we'll be able to charter up to a 50 ft sloop pretty much anywhere in the world. Anyone up for a trip? :^) We'll be using Sea Dog Sailing school out of Tortola, an ASA certified school since 1999. This will be our second trip to the BVI. Our first was a 4-day stay at Little Dix Bay Resort in August, 2005. That's where this picture was taken.

Thursday SITREP

I just received word that dad and the group have completed their processing and should be boarding a US Navy vessel any minute now. Dad also sent one last email that I am including below. For reasons related to the media, I will not be making anymore updates on their progress until they are safely home (assuming all goes according to plan). Thanks again for your concern and prayers. Don't forget to pray for the Lebanese!

"The 'Texas 10' are signing off from this location. Pray that we have a good day processing in the crowd and boarding the ship. The Lord has done indescribable things during our ministry here. We ask for one more day of that! We serve a glorious God. Please read Psalm 91 during your prayers. That describes this trip. Blessings,Todd"

On the Department of State

For the few that are checking this regularly, I want to try and mitigate the impression created by the press and a few that have made statements in interviews to the effect that the Department of State is not doing their best to get our people out quickly. In addition to having contact with dad, I have some direct insight into the work State is doing to get our people out and they are doing a fantastic job. Keep in mind, few other countries (I believe Canada is the only exception I have heard about) have anything like the number of people we have in the region needing to be evac'd. Not only are there large numbers, but unlike the Europeans and other Middle Easterners, Americans must give a great deal of attention to security. A Swede has little to worry about from Hezbollah. Americans, because of our commitment to democracy and our prominent role in international affairs, are a target. So not only must State figure out how to transport a large number of people on short notice, they must do it safely against potential opposition. Instead of whining, we (on both sides of the Atlantic) should be praising State for their commitment to our family members and their safety. They have been professional without exception.

By the way, the Embassy released a statement today that Sec. Rice announced that the law passed by congress requiring Americans to reimburse the government for the evac will be waived in this case.

Wednesday SITREP

We've gotten news regarding the return of our group! For security reasons, I cannot say when they will arrive at home. However, a timetable is now set and everything is in motion! Thanks for your continued prayers!

A Sudden Reflection

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

This is one of my favorite prayers. It comes from the Compline Service of the Book of Common Prayer's Daily Office.

There's nothing new to report on the group at this point. I was at a meeting tonight for family members of the group and suddenly realized, much to my regret, that I've spent little time thinking about or praying for anyone involved in this but my dad and his group. I'd love to invite everyone following along to pray with me over the coming days and weeks for the Lebanese Christians that no one is coming to pick up; who are behaving selflessly right now taking care of our group and others like it; who will be in Lebanon still weeks and months from now when their country, only just recovered from a 15-year civil war, is once again reduced to rubble; quite possibly without water and power for a considerable amount of time. In the meantime they will have to survive the continued attacks by Israel and possibly even an invasion. Keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers. What we call persecution has been a way of life for years and is not likely to get any better soon. Join me also in praying for the lost in Lebanon. Among the many who do not know Christ are the lost that have yet to meet their Savior. Pray with me that our team, despite having only a short time left, will (in whatever actions they take) communicate the love of Christ, bringing Him honor and glory. We can't list every ill by name as we pray, but it is healthy to remember that despite our personal interest in a few people, there are many involved and all are loved by God.

Goodnight!

Phones are ringing

The Embassy has announced that they have begun calling those on the warden list. This means the evac has begun in earnest. It's a long list, so it will take several days to get people out. We don't know where our group is on the list, so we cannot say when they might get a call, but things are progressing and it won't be much longer now. I just got off the phone with dad and they haven't received any call yet. They are in good spirits and starting to get excited about the coming trip. Keep them in your prayers! (and you can read the embassy news yourself by visiting their website in my links list below)

More on Fox

This is the last time I will post about a news item on Fox. They are doing the best of the networks as far as I can tell. Here is the lastest...

Latest News from Fox

Monday SITREP

The following has been reported in the mainstream media and confirmed with my dad and the embassy website: The embassy has issued instructions to all wardens (americans in lebanon who are in contact with the embassy) to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice. A plan is in place that may involve an airlift and a series of ships, including a Greek cruise ship. You can read more about it at foxnews.com. Anyone else interested should also go to the embassy website and read the latest warden message as of the time of this post. What this means in terms of exact times is still unclear. Stay tuned here for more. I will post news as each stage of the extraction unfolds. Thanks for your continued prayers. They will not be safe until they are away from Lebanon...so it isn't over until it's over.

Misinformation

Unfortunately there is much confusion and misinformation regarding how and when Americans will be removed from Lebanon. There is really only one correct source for such information and that is the State Department. You can read for yourself by visiting the US Embassy in Beirut. Please do not repeat unfounded information, especially to anyone that has family involved. By passing on such rumours, you raise the spirits of family members only to disappoint them. Thanks!

Sunday SITREP

Just got off the phone with dad. They still have cell service and email access and all are safe. No word yet on when they will be able to leave or exactly what the US plan for extraction is. They watched the two US helicopters arrive at the embassy today and from their location are able to see all of Beirut, so they have quite a view. They generally seem to be in good spirits. I'll post more here as I get it.

Developments as of 07-15-06 AM

We've heard from the group. They have moved once again and are continuing to do well. They have some very competent local help and are optimistic. Keep them in your prayers!

The Latest on Lebanon

I just got word about some positive developments for dad and the group. They aren't on the way home yet, but they are being well taken care of. Thanks again for all the prayers!

The Family

For friends from long ago,
here is a recent picture of the family.

News from the Levant

Many have been calling and emailing to find out what we might have heard about my dad and the 9 others he is with in Beirut right now. The latest news is that they have moved to a safe place outside the city and are waiting for the airport or some other viable avenue of retreat to open. We are in contact with him and all seems to be ok. Thanks for your prayers and you can check back here for any news. The group also has a blog of their own that you can find in my "Internet Spaces" section to the left. Look for "Lebanese Mission".

Reading Appetite

Having just finished 5 years of seminary and being told what to read, I am now free to branch out a bit. Don't get me wrong, I loved the reading...Edwards, Calvin, Owen, etc. But I enjoy reading a little more broadly than this. So the first thing I did was catch up on the Harry Potter series. Then, calling my friend Greg for some ideas, he suggested Over the Edge of the World about Magellan's circumnavigation of the earth. This sent me on a binge of naval exploration reading that I set aside only briefly to read David McCullough's 1776. My love of history and my growing love of sailing are perfectly matched in this genre. I've read about Cook (Blue Latitudes), men abandoned on deserted islands for years at a time (Selkirk's Island), and am currently reading about the American Navy during the Revolution in Rebels Under Sail. So if you ask me what I'm reading, the answer will likely include elements of history and sea-going insanity.

Departure

Well, after a couple of years contemplating the leap into blogdom, I've decided to take the plunge. This blog is more for family and close friends, but if you are neither and find yourself here, welcome and stay as long as you like.