Terry Talk

Long live the "King"

2008-03-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

Fishing on the Petrohue River in Puerto Varas, Chile provided a lot of fun and excitement. The first King Salmon I landed was over 40 inches long and put up a great fight. The next one was a bit smaller, but just as much fun. I had to keep pinching myself to think of what I was doing (fishing for King Salmon) and where I was doing it (Puerto Varas, Chile).

Moving on to the Maullin River was just as exciting as we changed from spin fishing for King Salmon to flyfishing for Rainbow and Brown Trout. What a blast! They were not nearly as big as the Kings, but there were a lot of them and flyfishing adds a great dimension to the challenge. It indeed is an art form that I truly enjoy. I hope to make another adventure to the rivers of Chile in the future to try my luck again. What a time!

"A Chile Reception"

2008-03-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

What a reception we had in Temuco, Chile. It was great to establish such a wonderful relationship with 21 young girls in the Baptist Home there. Their ages ranged from 5 to 17 years old and all were precious in the Lords' sight as well as ours. The language was definitely a barrier, but not one that hindered expressions of love and appreciation on every one's part. The obvious love of Christ overshadowed anything that would have prevented us from having a wonderful time with them.

Much work was accomplished as we painted the roofs of the different buildings at the home as well as the inside of the girls living cottages. The girls chose a beautiful shade of lavender for their bedrooms and champion gold was the color selected for the roofs.

The true sense of accomplishment came not from the painting, but from the smiles that graced the faces of each of these special children. The joy that was expressed needed no translation.

Now my prayer is that the Lord will continue to bless not only these precious girls in Chile, but also the hearts and memories of the 13 volunteers that took time from their busy schedules to travel from Waco, Texas to Temuco, Chile. It was time well spent to touch the lives of others many, many miles away. The Lord does, indeed, have a long reach. All praise to Him.

Home At Last!

2008-01-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." Psalm 116:15

After a long, hard fight, Bruce Coe, Jan's father, went home to be with the Lord. January 10th was truly a day of celebration because his broken body was no longer holding him hostage. His Lord and Savior came and set him free.

Bruce was indeed, a man on a mission. Whether it was on one of his 62 flying missions as a tail-gunner in a B-26 in WWII, designing for Sun Oil Company's off shore drilling, under the hood of one of his cars, blowing the leaves off his roof, digging a well in the backyard, building a tree house, making a rope swing, preparing to teach a Sunday School lesson or just "piddling" in his workshop. Bruce remained focused, driven and headstrong with the task always at the forefront. He had "his" way of doing things, and I discovered early in our relationship, to follow his instructions or get out of the way. He was going to get the job done with or without you.

Though sometimes a bit "gruff" on the outside, he maintained a tender, warm heart at all times on the inside. He had a passion and love for sports, hard work, his friends, his church, his family and his Lord. He truly enjoyed his independence in so many ways, but never forgot his dependence on the Father. Now, at long last and after a full and rich life on this earth, Bruce is home at last. Those of us who knew him and loved him are so very thankful he's home. No more hurts, restrictions or sufferings. Right now, we know he is in heaven probably mowing, painting or re-roofing his mansion. We also know that we will see him again when we go home, at last.

Why?

2008-01-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

Why is it so difficult:
- to read the fine print?
- to drive the approved speed limit?
- to understand the lyrics of rap music?
- to go to the Dentist?
- to learn a foreign language?
- to say, "I'm sorry"?
- to follow assembly instructions?
- to remember why I came into this room?
- to find my car keys?
- to maintain a "quiet time"?
- to stand firm against peer pressure?
- to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do?
- to listen to the Lord speak?
- to read my Bible?
- to surrender to the Lord's perfect will?
- to say "yes" to Jesus?

Stop, Look & Listen

2008-01-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

As we start the New Year, it's easy to get so busy in all that "needs" to be done and all that we "want" to do, that we forget to see the beauty in the little things. Little things like a smile, a sunrise, a kind gesture, a cozy fire, a rainbow, a "please and thank you." It's true, we need to accomplish goals, meet deadlines, cast visions and plan strategies, but we shouldn't overlook a child's laughter, a bird's song, the hug of someone special or the beauty of a flower and it's delightful smell. Don't overlook what you're looking over! Instead, look for those little things that can bless you in great ways. They usually have very little cost, but great value. Stop ... look ... and listen ... You won't regret it.

A New Year, A New Adventure

2008-01-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

I love hiking in the mountains. It seems that there is something new around every corner, boulder and log. Part of the fun is remembering the path you've already tred. The sights and sounds are memories not soon forgotten.
Yet, what lies up ahead? It's always an adventure into the unknown. The anticipation is great, along with the expectations. New sights, new smells, new adventures.
2007 has been a true adventure for my family. Some parts of the path have been steep and rocky, while others have been scenic and breathtaking. We couldn't have taken advantage of the beauty without accepting the challenge of the climb. We had to stop along the way to catch our breath every now and then, but the experience was well worth the effort.
2008 promises to be a path with more adventure and excitement, yet a challenging climb is anticipated. But isn't that the joy of hiking? Always placing one foot in front of the other to ascend to the heights never seen before.
Blake and I traveled the path in the picture. It was a beautiful path, a gorgeous hike and a true adventure. What made it very special for me was the fact that Blake was making the trek with me. Another joy in the journey is having someone special to share it with. I look forward to many more hikes into the mountains with Blake. The climbs are sometimes difficult, but the encouragement and support along the way make it rewarding. If the path is not steep, the view won't be nearly as breathtaking.
I'm eagerly anticipating climbing the path of 2008. If we keep the journey in context of the reward yet to be seen and enjoy the experience with those we love, then it will be a wonderful year. Let's pick up our backpacks and hit the trail!! 2008 awaits.

Our Presents; His Presence!

2007-12-31T12:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas is awesome! The traditions, celebrations, family gatherings, smells, sights and tastes. I just love all the carols, pageants, lights, nativities and candlelights. I simply didn't think Christmas could exist without them. Then came Christmas '07.
Christmas '07 was found "lacking" in my estimation. You see, our family has been experiencing various struggles and hardships in relationships as well as health. Many of our cherished traditions were broken. Much of the joyous spirit in decorating our house was declared MIA. The normal cheer and anticipation seemed to wain. Most was being done out of duty, responsibility and the feeling of "supposed to."
To top it all off, on Christmas Eve, I found myself miserably sick with a head & chest cold. As a result, I missed the Christmas Eve service and ended up spending the night on the couch trying to insure that Jan would not catch it.
As I lay there drugged up, on a couch that was 6 inches too short to hinder me from stretching out and about 2 feet too narrow to keep me from turning over, I focused on our Christmas tree now standing in the dark. My head was exploding, I couldn't breath, I was aching and chilled and really feeling a bit sorry for myself.
As I lay there thinking, "What a wonderful Christmas this has turned out to be," the Lord said something I truly needed to hear. He reminded me that the first Christmas was not a very pleasant experience for Joseph and Mary either. There they were, miles from home, Mary VERY pregnant, having either walked or riden a donkey for hours, hungry, dirty and unable to find a single room in the village. They ended up having to stay in a barn of all places, with nothing around them but smelly animals, dirt and straw. There were no cheery decorations, no brightly colored lights, no thermostats to adjust the heating/AC, no ZICAM, no ibuprophin, no kleenex, no soft pillow with a bear on the case to snuggle up with, NOTHING! Not my idea of a wonderful Christmas!
Then I thought of how blessed I was. Safe, warm, somewhat comfortable, with my wife and son all under the same roof. I had nothing to complain about and everything to be thankful for. See, a miracle happened in that stinky, dirty, smelly barn, and that exhausted and rejected young couple got to see it first hand and have a part in it. They didn't sit there thinking of how bad things were when their focus turned to the little baby Mary had just delivered lying there in the manger. Instead, they recalled, "You shall call His name Jesus, Immanuel, God with us."
I looked in the dark at the silhouette of our beautifully decorated tree with all the presents surrounding it and saw our manger filled with straw holding the baby. When I began to focus on the baby, I wasn't so concerned about my sad situation. Instead I thought how in the midst of misery, the Messiah was born. In dirty surroundings, the divine Savior appeared. In that pitiful place, the Prince of Peace entered our world. That's the miracle and that's what makes Christmas, Christmas!! Our present is His presence! He is, "God with us." My Christmas became very merry.
God bless us, every one!

"The Return of the Blog"

2007-12-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been since February '07 that I last blogged. I guess I was all blogged up. Perhaps my blog had a hole in it. As you may have heard in a country song, "My 'give a blog' was busted." (or something like that) Since it's been so long since I last blogged, I wonder if I can make the leap back into blogdom. You know, "leap blog. "
Anyway, I'm making another attempt at blogging. Hopefully, you can teach an old blog some new tricks. After all, it's hard to tell someone they have a speck in their eye if you have a blog in your own. (that sounds scriptural - maybe Matt. 7:3)
Oh well, for anyone who is interested, and for all who aren't, I'm going to try to get the blog rolling. Read on, oh king eternal, read on!

Remember Your Password!!

2007-02-21T08:06:00.001-08:00

As a Texan, our battle cry is "Remember the Alamo!" As a blogger, it needs to be "Remember your password!" I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I haven't posted anything since Jan. 4th because I could not remember my password. I honestly tried everything I could think of. Try as I might, I could not get into my account to add a posting. I honestly thought I was going to have to hire a teenager to crack into my blogger account to retrieve my password.
Nowdays, you have to have an email password, checking account password, savings account password, a password for this and a password for that. Here a password, there a password, everywhere a password. Old McDonald had a password. It was "eieio."
All this talk about passwords made me think, will we need a password to get into heaven? When we die, as we all will, is a password required to allow you entrance into that glorious place? Do we all simply get a free pass to enter those pearly gates? Will being a "good person" be sufficient? How about maintaining perfect church attendance?
I believe a password IS required. Ephesians 2 states that we will NOT be saved, or enter into heaven because of our "goodness" or our "deeds." In fact, there is nothing we can do that will get us into heaven. However, Ephesians 2:8 does say it's by "grace" that we are saved. Could "grace" be our heavenly password? If it is, how do we set up our account to be able to enter in our password? The verse goes on to say that it's "through faith." We must place our "faith" in the fact that Jesus was God's gift to us for salvation. Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave was done out of "grace." We certainly didn't earn or deserve it. He did it in order to save us.
Getting into heaven is much more important than getting into our blog accounts or any other account we might have. Therefore, set up your account by placing your faith in Jesus and remember your password - "GRACE". (By the way, my blog account password was not "grace.")

My New Year's Resolution

2007-01-04T12:10:00.002-08:00

Contemplating the New Year is always a time of looking back on what has been, combined with the anticipation of what could be. It's a time of reflection on the past, with a commitment toward the future. As I consider 2007, a verse of scripture comes to my mind. It is Isaiah 43:19 which says, "Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." As I read this verse, I have to ask myself, "Am I looking for the Lord to do something new?" It's really convicting when I think about it. Am I so caught up in the "everyday life", that I forget to "look" for what the Lord is doing?
He says He doesn't want me to miss what He is about to do. In fact, He says "even now it is coming." Am I ready for it? Will I see it when it arrives, or will it pass me by because of my preoccupation with lesser things? If it's so important to Him, should it not be as important to me? When He says, "Do you not see it?", does it mean it is already in view? I don't want to miss what the Lord has in store for me. Whatever it is, He says it's "new". When is the last time I've seen the Lord do something "new" to or around me? I know He must all the time, but I'm not paying attention.
My resolution is to "look at what the Lord is doing." I mean really look, eagerly anticipate, consider, ponder upon, meditate on what He is doing. Quit looking at the piddly things I'm doing so much and look at the amazing things He is doing.
He says He's providing "a way in the wilderness." To me, that speaks of guidance. He wants to show me a new way through this wilderness of life. As I find myself lost in the wilderness of busyness, confusion, deadlines, frustration, doubt and concerns of so much that I have absolutely no control over, He says He is preparing a way for me. Boy, do I need guidance from someone much greater than myself. I don't want to miss that! I resolve to look to my Lord for my way in the wilderness.
He also says He is making "rivers in the desert." To me, that speaks of provision. Too often, I feel that I am wandering in a desert. My provisions have run out, my strength is exhausted, my vision has turned out to be a mirage. I find myself in need of renewal, refreshment and rest. He says to me, "Look, I'm making rivers in your desert." If I'm in the desert, I want to know where the river is. Will I miss it by dwelling on what I don't have?
My New Year's Resolution is to daily look at what the Lord is doing. I need to live in eager anticipation of the new things the Lord is about to do in 2007. After all, He is my guide and my provider. He is everything I need.

They Made It!!

2007-01-04T11:59:00.002-08:00

Through the ice and snow and many, many miles, Blake and Jen made home for Christmas. In their attempt to get from Bozeman, Montana to Waco, Texas, they had to travel East all the way to Souix Falls, South Dakota before they could turn South to Texas. But, at long last, they made it on Christmas Eve Eve. (Saturday night) We have had a wonderful time together and have really enjoyed catching up on what's going on in each other's lives. What we thought was going to be a three to four day visit has turned out to be almost two weeks at present. The reason? More ice and snow on the roadways and cities. Now they are finding it extremely difficult to find a path that would be open long enough for them to get from Waco back to Bozeman. Jan and I are really broken up about it. (Yea, right. We're loving every minute of it.) What has been such a hardship on so many up North has been a rich blessing on us by providing more time with Blake and Jen. I know they will have to return at sometime, but the Lord is richly blessing our time together now.

2006-12-19T12:38:00.000-08:00

He'll Be Home for Christmas

2006-12-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

Jan and I are sooo excited because Blake is coming home for Christmas. That's the best Christmas present we could have hoped for this year. Blake, our one and only, lives in Bozeman, Montana building homes and working in a coffee shop. He is doing so well in getting established and developing new relationships and just growing up. In my mind, he should still be that little blonde-headed boy running out of his room on Christmas morning in his Batman pajamas and finding the baby Jesus in the manger. My how those days quickly pass by. Oh, they were precious!
Now, however, Blake is a man and leading his own life. He lives in the snowy mountains of Montana where the air is clean and the surroundings are breathtaking. He's good at teasing me by saying that he likes his office (the beautiful mountains) better than mine. Don't get me wrong, I love my office, but his really does beat mine. I'm just thankful one of us is enjoying what both of us love. (the outdoors, mountain streams and fabulous views)
It will take him at least two days of hard driving to get home and then two more to make his way back. Therefore, four of his days off will be spent driving long and hard. Though that's going to be a chore, he will truly be blessing a couple of old people. Okay, one old person and Jan. I really appreciate the sacrifice he is making to make our Christmas special.
As a bonus gift, Blake will be bringing Jen along with him. We had the pleasure of meeting her there in Bozeman when we visited in October. She is a precious young lady that really seems to have a sweet walk with the Lord as well. We are delighted that we will have the time to be with her again.
The drive will be long, the time will be short, but the fellowship will be sweet and the memories will be lasting. Isn't family just great!. Above is a picture of the three of us when we were in Bozeman. If you haven't seen Blake in a while, maybe this will refresh your memory of the good looks he got from his dad.

Look Under My Tree

2006-12-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! Take a look at the picture below and see what I have under my tree. What do you think of it's shape? Look at those legs. See how soft it appears. Look how it's standing there in that position. It really stands out, doesn't it? .....Hey, I'm talking about the manger filled with soft straw and the baby Jesus! Do you see it? It's sitting there right behind Jan. It's the focal point under our tree. (when Jan get's out of the way) The tree is beautiful with all it's decorations, lights, ornaments and snow. It's great to see the angel sitting atop the tree. It seems to keep watch over all that goes on there. However, even the brightly wrapped presents fade in comparison to the manger cradling the precious baby Jesus. After all, He is the reason for all that goes on during this season. He should be the focal point of all that we do. Christmas is a celebration of a miraculous birth, the birth of God's own Son into our world. His birth enables each of to have the opportunity of "new birth" as we trust Him by faith. As you look under your tree this Christmas season, may you see what I see; Jesus. (Okay Jan, we see you too.)

2006-12-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

Well, Here Goes

2006-12-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

I've never attempted to "blog" before, but I thought I'd give it a try. I'm not convinced that anyone would be interested in anything I have to say, but the fact that I can say it means a lot. Therefore, this is an attempt to leave my fingerprints on this world-wide-web. Since I will never write a book, (or even a pamphlet), I thought I would sneak in a blog. That way, I don't have to worry about finding a publisher or buying all the copies of the book myself. I can just sling this out there for all the world NOT to see if they don't want to.
Well, since I'm just trying to get this site up and going, I will save any real thoughts for later on. Right now, I'm just trying to put something in this space to see what the blog will look like. I'll say more later on.