We had a great visit with Ben last weekend and have been immersed in life in Texas. It is like starting almost completely over . . . . having to purchase cars,insurance, appliances, the basics of life and then home hunting. We deeply appreciate the kindness of our friends Michael and Stephanie Kirtpatrick who have given us refuge during this season. Both Naomi and I feel pretty exhausted from the move and time changes but are doing well. We feel the grace of God and see his kindness to us in so many ways. I have had an extraordinary amount of pain this weekend probably due to all the changes and schedules we have been keeping.

I look forward to serving with the great ALARM team here in the U.S. and Africa. Naomi plans to help us get settled in over the next couple of months before job hunting. We have some belongings in Pennsylvania that we will need to move to Dallas after we locate a home.

Thanks for continued encouragement and prayers. My email: earthlytents@comml.imap.cc

We have been overwhelmed by the wonderful expressions of care, appreciation and encouragement in our final weeks in New Zealand. It has been humbly and we leave feeling incredibly loved. There is some anxious in starting a new chapter of life, but we find ourselves resting in God's plan for us. We leave in a few hours from Auckland, leaving on a beautiful summer day (75 degrees and sunny). We anticipate spending the weekend with Ben and then continue on to Dallas on Monday.

Tiger Woods offered an apology today.  http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/19/art.of.apology/index.html?hpt=C1 It was direct, candid, with the owning of behaviors. As his wife pointed out to him, the true apology will be living with integrity over time. Woods speaks of his religious faith, Buddhism, and the principles that he drifted from. Buddhism teaches the denial of external cravings. To his credit, he has been in 45 days of in-patient therapy and will continue in therapy. He stated that the most important things to him are his wife and children. He acknowledged that he needs extensive continued therapy and help. Being a role model means more than just playing great golf. It has to do with character and integrity. Woods acknowledged his need for friends and supporters in his life. He apologized to the families who had held him up as a role model to follow.

He apologized extensively, honestly and asked for the help of the many who believed in him, that they would find it in their heart in time to beileve in him again.

Whether rich, famous or successful, we are all in need of grace. I pray for Tiger that he would find the trnasforming liberating grace of God that provides a transformation by the Spirit that does not rest on human effort and leading a more decent life. Woods used the expression several times, "I have a lot to atone for." The news of the gospel is that Jesus has atoned for us. Our acceptance before the Father is not on getting our lives together and leading a decent moral life. We are accepted, deeply loved and seen in the righteous of Christ because he atoned for our sins. Transformation results from responding to the Spirit and Word in the context of community.

Sunday Naomi and I spent the afternoon with a new faculty couple . . . church, then picnic in the park with a jazz concert. Monday and Tuesday I led a retreat with 11 ministry leaders from around New Zealand. Our conversation flowed around different topics related to the spiritual context of New Zealand and how the gospel is communicated and lived out. It was a really rich time and forged new friendships and future partnerships.

Wednesday night we shared a long dinner with special friends who have had a difficult past year as well. Thursday was faculty retreat. The faculty shared words of appreciation with me. It was a great time of encouragement. This week I have really struggled with the sadness of saying goodbye to these good people. Today, Friday was time with the mission and ministry team and strategizing for the future.

In between all the meetings I have been going through bookshelves and file drawers, seeking to downsize. I still have a fair bit to do at home before packers arrive on Tuesday.  Two weeks from today, we fly to San Francisco.