Happily Evers After

New Site!

2010-04-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

I'm creating a new site for us... so we've moved to www.EversFam.com

Love & Worship

2010-03-18T09:24:00.001-04:00

"...worship is a product of love."

When I read those words during breakfast, something rang true within me. Two pages later, my mind was still ruminating on those six little words at the end of a sentence, in the beginning of a paragraph. I can't tell you what else was written, though. I didn't take anything else in.

So I pulled out my journal. I wrote and prayed. And after a page or two, didn't seem to be any further along. Worship is a product of love.

First comes love, then comes worship. I adapted that phrase to a silly children's rhyme. So, if our hearts worship that which we love, then we should be able to identify our God (or gods) by the things/people/events we center our lives upon, our conversation topics, the thoughts that run through our heads... right?

Or, another take on it, worship flows freely from a heart that loves. But again, what do I love? How do people know what I love? I'm evangelistic about the things I love. If I've discovered a book or a recipe that I love, I tell everyone! I love to talk about Mike.

Hm.. there's something deeper to discover here. I just know it. Lord, open my eyes. Show me the truth. Teach me about my heart. Give me insight into that which I worship.

1 Million Meals for Haiti

2010-03-16T20:52:00.007-04:00

Spring Break is notorious for self-indulgence, over-indulgence and immediate gratification. (Trust me, the scene gets worse every year! But that's a different post.) But one of the bright spots all month long involves students taking an hour or so to assemble a nutrient-rich, "just-add-boiling-water" casserole mix for the people of Haiti.

Every week of Spring Break, the Campus Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ hosts a conference for our involved-students called Big Break. This year, in addition to talking about life in Christ with other students partying on the beach, the conference students will invite others to join them in humanitarian aid relief.

Partnering with GAiN, CCC's global relief aid, the goal is to assemble 1 million meals during all four of March's spring break weeks in Panama City Beach, FL. At the time of the earthquake, GAiN had 1 million meals pre-positioned in Haiti in case of a catastrophic event. They assumed that would be a hurricane, not an earthquake.

When Mike and I were in Panama City Beach last week, we spent two afternoons with the students packing meals. I was in tears the first day as I imagined the hope and relief these small packages of soy, rice, dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavoring would bring. The tears kept coming when I noticed students writing prayers, Bible verses and other words of encouragement on the outside of the shipping boxes!

After the conference, the pallets of food will be loaded on to a ship, then sent directly to Haiti. The students packed over 157,000 meals in three hours! We're well on our way to the goal of 1 million meals!

I took some pics of people packing meals. Can you find the shot of Mike with one of the bags (each bag feed six people)? Clue: He's wearing a hair net:

Big Break

2010-03-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

For some reason, God often uses conferences and events to draw students to a deeper commitment. That's why I've always been a fan of retreats, get-aways, and conferences. I have friends who don't care for these events, but I love them. I love what God does in people's lives when they pull away from their regular schedule and focus on what He has for them.

We're on our way to Panama City Beach, FL for Big Break. Big Break is a student spring break conference with the aim of encouraging students in their relationship with Christ and equipping them with the skills, experience and practice of sharing their faith. It's a week of faith steps and faith risks, of stepping out of a comfort zone and trusting God in big ways.

I'm giving three devotionals next week at Big Break, so I'd love your prayers. I have too much content for my timeframe, and I feel rusty. But more than that, I feel a great honor at getting time in front of 1200 students and I want to be a good steward of that time.

I know. Realistically, how many people remember a conference talk 5 years later (ha, 5 minutes later?)? I don't put that kind of pressure on myself. It's more of a weight of responsibility to use the time well, and honor God with the preparation AND the presentation!

Next week the Big Break staff expect about 1200 students, with more than 2500 students cycling through the conference throughout the month of March (one spring break after another!).

Opposites Attract.... Mostly

2010-03-02T23:18:00.000-05:00

Mike and I are opposites in nearly everything. The mystery surrounding the other person is probably one of the things that drew us to the other in the beginning. But, as you can predict, these differences can cause some friction in our marriage. I keep repeating the phrase I learned regarding cultural adaptation when I moved overseas, "It's not wrong, it's just different."

Well, today I was just wrong. Not different. Simply wrong. Yesterday Mike asked me to help him. It was an easy task for me. I knew in my head what he needed to think through and talk about at an upcoming meeting. I thought the exercise of writing an outline was a good idea, but since it wasn't something I needed, it never made it to the top of my ACTION list yesterday.

This morning he seemed a little tense. I thought that was strange, but when I was in the shower I remembered how I failed to follow through on what he asked me to do. (He asked for my help and my insight! Hooray!)

But I didn't follow through. I didn't intentionally NOT help him out, but my oversight led to his tension. He thought I didn't care about his meeting (I do!), or the way he's wired (I do!). Mike asked me in my strength to help him in his weakness. And I can imagine that it felt like I didn't take his request seriously or think it all that important.

Ugh! After my shower I was faced with a few choices: ignore the tension, laugh it off as no big deal, or invite Mike to tell me why he was so tense and REALLY listen to his response. I chose the latter (hooray!) and then asked for his forgiveness. I want Mike to know that I love and respect him through my actions. And in the midst of my failure, I want him to experience my humility.

Beets

2010-03-01T16:12:00.004-05:00

Little did I know that I was about to post one of my most-commented on status updates of my many years on facebook. And it was about BEETS. Less than 24 hours after posting my original plea for help with beets, 22 comments were made. 22. Who knew beets were such a conversation topic?

I don't have a long history with beets. Make that no history with beets. To me, they've always been that odd, shiny, jello-like salad bar condiment that few people eat. So how did I end up at this place of asking for beet advice? Mike and I walked to the grocery store on Sunday afternoon. As we perused the produce aisle, my husband's voice grew to surprising levels of animation and enthusiasm when he started reminiscing about beets. Apparently my mother-in-law makes some mean beets. (beets... that just sounds funny to me. I don't know why I'm giggling like a junior higher.)

But I know nothing about beets. Nothing. They are surprising with a vibrantly red, almost purple, stem and brilliant green, leafy tops. But that bulbous root with a tail... odd.

Tonight's the night, folks. For you beet-lovers out there, I'm going to make beets for the first time in my life. I'm making them because Mike loves beets. And I love Mike. I'm combining the helpful tips from my mother-in-law and three friends who posted comments with cooking/serving suggestions on facebook.

I'm going to roast them. I'll line the jelly roll pan with foil. I'll wash the odd root-vegetable. I'll cut off the tops and tails, but not too much, so they don't bleed. I'll wear an apron when I push the skin off the roasted veggies an hour later so that I won't bear the stains. Then I'll maybe I'll dice and pickle some. Perhaps I'll turn some into a yummy salad with goat cheese. Yes, I have goat cheese!

Can you make soup from beets? Do they go with tuna? Can you mash them like you mash potatoes, another root-veggie? What kind of natural flavor do they have? Are they chewy? Or are they like tofu, taking on the flavor of the food they are cooked with?

This is turning out to be a culinary adventure, exotic enough for the likes of Anthony Bourdain.

NYC Visit

2010-02-17T23:34:00.001-05:00

It was a great introduction to life in New York City because it was unpredictable. Details, plans, reservations, trains - nothing went the way I thought it would.

Our first of three days in NYC was on President's Day, so the trains ran on the weekend schedule. But I didn't know what that meant as I stood on the frigid elevated platform in Queens. I found out what that meant when it took over two hours to travel two miles to Morningside Heights in Manhattan. Yes, two miles on the NYC Subway took over two hours. But that was, in part, due to a helpful New Yorker who took me under her wing. In the end, it seemed like I understood how to read the train signs better than she did.

Snow, freezing temps, crowds, lost hotel reservations, learning the subway system, arriving two hours late for an appointment, wearing the "wrong" winter coat (but GREAT walking boots I found online for $22!) kicked started three good days of asking questions, exploring the city and learning about ministry in the Big Apple.

It reminded me of when I first moved overseas - the cultural adjustment, lifestyle adjustment, expectation adjustment, attitude adjustment! But just like my international experience, I found the people of this City ready to help. Within a 10 minute walk, two people asked if I was lost or needed directions. Perhaps our tourist status was obvious: dragging my suitcase behind me while Mike and I debated our route and looked for street signs!

Mike and I are transferring from the global headquarters in Orlando to join our ministry teams in New York City. We hope to move in the fall. Visit our blog for updates about our journey!

Remembering Dad

2010-02-15T10:55:00.005-05:00

WOW - a year. It's hard to believe that it's been a year since Dad passed away. I don't really know what to call this weekend. Is it an observation or a commemoration or a remembrance?

Whatever it's called, we did the best we could. We met for breakfast at a diner, then drove up to surprise Nana (Dad's mom) with a visit and errands. One sister gave Nana step by step directions on how to use facebook, and now the 91 year old is hooked! It'll be good to have her more connected.

Later that night we pulled out the slide projector and Mom started telling stories that I'd never heard before! The pics proved that my dad loved a snazzy outfit: flashy shirt or patterned pants when he didn't have to wear his uniform.

(Pic from Dad's Birthday, July 2007

Worship

2010-02-10T08:16:00.003-05:00

"Every time Moses appealed to Pharaoh to let God's people go it was so that they might serve Him. God wasn't releasing the Israelites from slavery so that they could join Club Med. He set them free so that they would celebrate, serve and worship Him." - Elyse Fitzpatrick

Whoa! Ouch. I often think God set me free from slavery (to self, others, reputation, addiction, etc) so that I can enjoy what I call the cruise-lifestyle: a life of ease and comfort where it's always sunny and where I can be carefree and served, choosing between gourmet food options. Sounds good, eh?

But God didn't set me free so I can live a life of self-indulgence. What I long for is too small. And it's self-focused. He set me free to live a life of love and obedience... a life of worship.

"Let us beware, lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore far from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him." - A.W.Tozer

Westminster Catechism on Worship

2010-02-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

"And God spoke these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20.1-3

From The Larger Catechism:
Question 104: What are the duties require in the First Commandment?

Answer: The duties required in the First Commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him; believing him; trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him; being zealous for him; calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things to please him. and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking humbly with him.

WOW. Take a look at those verbs! Look at how "worship" is described! Goodness, it's the majority of the answer. Oh that my heart would respond to Jesus like this!

Audacious

2010-02-08T13:36:00.003-05:00

Audacious

extreme bold or daring, fearless.

extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive.

lively, unrestrained; uninhibited.

( from Dictionary.com)

     What a word. Audacious. To me it seems outrageous and far fetched, somewhat disconnected to the realm of the possible. It was startling when a friend used that word on Friday in connection with prayer. He asked, "Are you praying audacious prayers?" "Um, no," was my eloquent response.

     Audacious prayers. Specific prayers. Praying prayers that seem almost risky, daring to believe God to do what He says He will do. Taking God at His Word. That sounds both scary and exciting at the same time. It sounds like living on the edge, living on hope, living with expectancy. It sounds like living life with eyes open, watching for how God might surprise me.

     When my friend asked that question, I realized that I'd settled into comfort. Whether from busyness, disappointment, boredom, lethargy or not wanting to be a burden, I'd stopped ASKING God for much of anything.

     But that little question has me fired up and I now have a different answer. You bet I'm praying specific prayers. You bet I'm expecting God to remain consistent with His character. You bet I'm watching for God to surprise me.

     Yes, I'm praying audacious prayers. Are you?

AVATAR: A Glimpse of Heaven?

2010-01-18T15:32:00.019-05:00

"watching Avatar made me long for Heaven

- if James Cameron can envision that kind of world for Pandora,

what has God created for us in Heaven??

awe-inspiring."
(Sarah Gale Evers' facebook status on 8 January 2010)

Nothing within me wanted to see the movie AVATAR. It looked like Aliens meets Roger Rabbit meets Star Trek, and I'm not really a sci-fi person. But Mike saw it one night when he was out with the guys, and he was sure I'd love it. So, despite my initial misgivings, I trusted my husband and we went to see Avatar with his parents when they were in town in the beginning of January.

It was an uncharacteristically cold day in Orlando with blustery winds. I nearly ran the thirty yards from the parking lot to the theatre so I wouldn't freeze, even in my long sleeves and sweater. With my "light wrap" warming me, I settled into my cushy chair, obediently silenced my cell phone, and donned my oh-so-stylish yellow-framed 3D glasses as I hunkered down to endure the long (nearly 3 hours!) movie.

But what a surprise awaited me! I thought the film was visually stunning, though the storyline was a classic Hollywood formula. It was predictable and canned, a tale we've seen a hundred times wrapped up in different time periods with varying leading men. But I've never seen effects like these, and this wasn't the 3D of my youth with ill-fitting paper glasses and red and blue lenses. This, to me, was a whole new genre of computer graphics and animation combined with live acting. It was no where near Roger Rabbit. I was so off on that analogy! (Click here to watch the official movie trailer)

I walked out into the chill of Orlando after watching AVATAR in awe. I just wanted to stay there, in Pandora, to explore and delight in this clean, fresh, connected Utopia. As I hurried to the restaurant for dinner, my thoughts swirled around heaven, God and my Dad. "What is Pops seeing and experiencing right now?" I wondered.

Wikipedia says Director James Cameron (of Titanic fame) developed the initial script in 1995, but film technology hadn't developed enough to achieve his vision at that time. Can you imagine the challenge of trying to explain these visual effects to movie-goers in the same year Die Hard with a Vengeance was released? Our language and experience in the mid '90s was simply inadequate for the job.

James Cameron isn't the first person to struggle to explain the visions he's seen. The Apostle John had that same challenge. As I walked out of AVATAR, I thought about John, who, after glimpsing heaven tried to describe it in Revelation in terms people could understand.

Here's one of John's "easier" descriptions of heaven from Revelation 4.6: "Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal."

What comes to your mind with this one from Revelation 4.2-3: "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne." ?

What a task John had! Can you imagine trying to translate a vision like that into vocabulary for your contemporaries, or for his contemporaries? I used to imagine heaven's "streets of gold" in a Fort Knox meets the yellow-brick road kind of way. But I now I'm applying some of the visually stunning scenery from the planet Pandora to my heavenly imaginings. Perhaps those "streets of gold" have a luminous quality to them like the fields through which our movie heroes play and roam.

John has some pretty funky descriptions of living creatures in heaven, too. Those descriptions had me envisioning some rather scary beings, but after seeing some of the animals in Avatar with their multiple limbs and eyes, I now wonder if those heavenly creatures might make beautiful sense when I see them with my own eyes.

I've allowed my imagination and the English language to limit my view of heaven to a place that's less desirable, certainly less beautiful, than this current earth! Here my heart soars when I come across a gorgeous stretch of field, the flowers bending and bowing in the breeze, or an ocean view as wave upon wave crashes upon the sandy shore. I pause to admire sunsets with ever-changing colors as hues intensify and fade into the next shade. Does God delight in these expressions of beauty, too? He created this world full of gravity, tides, light refractions and the color-spectrum! I don't think the beauty of our earth was an accident or a by-product of good farming, ecology and environmentalism. I think it was part of God's original, intended design! And if James Cameron and his crew can imagine such rich, luminous and unexpected beauty for the fictional planet of Pandora, then I can only imagine what breath-taking beauty God has in store for us in heaven!

However, it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." ~ 1 Corinthians 2.9

Missing Pops at Thanksgiving

2009-12-02T12:03:00.002-05:00

After my dad passed away, I remember thinking how glad I was to have him back. Weird, huh? But no longer did I have to talk about chemo, blood counts, or hospital visits when people asked. Now I could talk about my dad, about his life, legacy, lessons... and coaching! I could discuss the man he was and my memories of him, and not his health concerns.

As Mike and I traveled up north to spend Thanksgiving with my side of our family, Mike asked if I thought we'd talk about my dad. Strange as it may sound, I could imagine us not recognizing Dad's absence so that we wouldn't upset Nana (his mother). We expected her to be hysterical. But she wasn't. Sadly, we avoided a "public" conversation about Dad for most of the day.

But I missed him. And I wasn't the only one. While carving the turkey, one of my sisters commented on how Dad would've had a cow watching her that day. Dad used to coach her through the carving process, and this year she felt like she was hacking away it. I had to smile in agreement as I imagined Dad's animated antics, miming the way to slice through the breast meat, and separate the joints.

I missed his silliness at the table, playing with his napkin after dinner, holding court with all his women fluttering around him, "oohing" and "aahing" at the succulent turkey, purposely mispronouncing "pecan pie" as dessert was served. My dad knew how to say a blessing, too. His deep voice resonated with awe, formality and gratitude.

I think we were all a little nervous about the evening. But our friend Charlie joined us. One of my sisters likened Charlie to tonic for he's an excellent mixer with any crowd. I think having Charlie and Mike at dinner helped diffuse the nervousness, apprehension and tension that I think we women felt, and we had a wonderful evening with a delicious meal.

But no mention of Dad. I didn't have the courage to bring him up or ask us to all share a memory of him. It felt like we weren't supposed to mention the change. I hope next time we all gather, I'll have the courage to include Dad. I don't want to lose my dad again.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving and OTher Thoughts

2009-11-20T14:52:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving is almost here! With that, comes the realization that Christmas is just around the corner, and then a new year begins. I think this time of year can feel so full, rushed, hasty, last minute and full of potential regrets about goals unaccomplished, relationships to invest in, and obligations to fulfill.

Tomorrow morning Mike and I are volunteering with Here's Life to pack "Boxes of Love" - pack boxes filled with ingredients for a Thanksgiving dinner. Area churches will give away the boxes to Orlando families in need over the next few days. I'm really excited about volunteering. For more than a year I've wanted to find some way to care for people in Orlando. I'm hoping to meet people there who have connections to homeless shelters or other organizations that could use a weekly volunteer.

Mike and I are flying up to Philly to spend a few days with my fam for Thanksgiving. This will be our fist major holiday since Pops passed away. My younger sister is celebrating a BIG birthday ON Thanksgiving, so in addition to the usual trimmings, we'll also have birthday cake! Mike and I fly back to Orlando on Friday evening.

After Thanksgiving we get to decorate the house for Christmas. The following weekend we're hosting Mike's work team for a Christmas Dinner Celebration, and I've got to figure out how to seat 12 people around our 8-person dinner table! Might be time to rent some tables!

Life is always full and busy, so my prayer for the coming week is to live in the present. Not try to figure out how to plan for the "shoulds" and "oughts" in the future, or rehash the "could have beens" in the past, but to BE HERE NOW. And to care about the people in my NOW.

Cross'09 - Miami

2009-11-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

What is Cross 09?

The U.S. Campus Ministry has a long history of crossing oceans, borders and cultures in response to the Great Commission and helping to make disciples of all nations. If you think about it, most US campuses offer the chance to cross cultures every day - no passport required! As the fastest growing culture groups on campuses today, ethnic minority students and faculty represent incredible ministry opportunity.

The U.S. Campus Ministry joined together for three culture crossing days in November (9th-11th). Our mission is to extend the same heart that we've shown for crossing cultures overseas to engaging those right at our doorstep by trusting the Lord to raise up leaders for ethnic movements all over the U.S.

With that kind of leadership and encouragement, Mike and I were definitely "in" on participating in Cross'09. With our teams from the National Campus Office, we drove down to Miami, FL to help the existing Metro Team start ministries on several campuses.

Mike spent a day at Miami-Dade Kendall, FIU-South and UMiami, while I spent all three days at UMiami, reaching out to international students.

One of the Miami Metro Team Interns said that our three days together at UMiami were the most fun, exciting, and visionary days as we met, gathered and invited over 30 international students to a dinner in their honor.

With 10,000 students on campus, and 25% of those students from countries around the world, it's exciting to think about how UMiami could become a missionary sending school! By giving international students an opportunity to learn about Jesus, then building them up in their new Christian faith, you can then send these students back to their home country with a vision for sharing Christ with their family and friends!

Jagged Edges

2009-10-29T09:27:00.002-04:00

...What a disappointment. Sure seems like you have a good attitude about it, though. Good for you! Despite the disappointment, I know that our God is sovereign, and you can trust Him. He's got you in the palm of His hand, and He cares about you. Hang in there. Keep your heart tender towards Him.

That's a line I need to remember myself. Lately I've had a bit of an edge... Mike mentioned it the other day after I confessed my short temper and sharp tone. He said, "You're better than this," and I dissolved into tears. My heart has felt hard towards God.

Last week I heard a talk on the three ways we relate to God: as an orphan, a slave or a beloved child. I'm anything BUT the last one right now. My heart feels jagged, and my outlook is simply duty-bound. "Shoulds" and "oughts" seem to come out of my mouth more than they should. (ha). More than I'd like.

Will you please pray for my heart? Pray for a soft heart toward God, and a gentle spirit. Pray that I would soak my heart in the streams of Living Water.

Do you ever get that way? Do you have times when your heart feels hard, and your attitude and words are much more harsh than you intended? Times when you say something, and instantly regret the tone, or even the words themselves?

I sent that email to a girlfriend yesterday and discovered that I'm in "that place" again. It seems like I go through these phases or cycles in my walk with the Lord. I think most people do. Ecclesiastes talks about seasons in life, and I think one of my "seasons" is one in which I have jagged edges around me, so that when people bump into me, it's like encountering a porcupine. Ouch! Through years of desperate experience, I also know that I need to sit down and go through a little booklet called Satisfied? twice a year. I think it might be that time of year again.

So, what makes all the difference? It's actually a "WHO"... and that's the Holy Spirit. I know these jagged edges come from disappointment, trials, anger, relationship woes... anything that doesn't meet my expectations. What do I do with those disappointments? If I adamantly refuse (or even passively resist) taking those hurts and wounds to the Lord, I start to grow bitter and my heart becomes hard. Distance creeps into my relationship with God as I begin to relate to Him as a task-master, or a harsh disciplinarian, rather than my loving Father.

Holy Spirit is our comforter and counselor (among other roles). When I try to self-protect and insulate my heart from the people and experiences that might bring pain or disappointment, I effectively tell God that I don't trust Him or His intentions. When I try to "happy talk" myself into a good attitude, I deny the reality of pain, disappointment, and missed goals. But we have a Comforter and a Counselor who can lead us into all truth, who doesn't deal harshly with us, and with whom we can embrace reality. I want to let the Holy Spirit guide my into the dark places of my heart, to show me areas of life and heart where I've said "NO!" to God. I long for an open life - where God has full access, and fully glory.

If you find yourself in that same place, you can:

1. Download a 40 minute group prayer experience

2. Buy a package of 25 Satisfied? booklets

3. Read the 10 Transferrable Concepts by CCC Founder Bill Bright

Specifically TC #3: How You Can Be Filled With The Spirit

Or TC # 4: How You Can Walk In The Spirit

Guess it's time for me to pull away now... As I asked my girlfriend, I'll also ask you: Will you please pray for my heart? Pray for a soft heart toward God, and a gentle spirit. Pray that I would soak my heart in the streams of Living Water.

You're Invited to attend "A Weekend To Remember"

2009-10-13T17:23:00.000-04:00

To thank you for living out God's call in your life and for partnering with God's call on our lives, FamilyLife®, a ministry of Campus Crusade, is making it possible for you to experience an unforgettable weekend – FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember at a discount of almost half of the regular rate. Click on this link below and learn more about this incredible opportunity to invest in your marriage. You will be so glad you did! Just click here!

The Weekend to Remember conference also has a track for pre-married couples.

Our Planning Weekend

2009-10-08T14:34:00.006-04:00

When you work for a faith-based non-profit, your private and professional lives have little separation. For instance, did you know that if you work for our ministry and are involved in immorality or a felony you are at risk of immediate dismissal? I just learned that. Mike works in Leadership Development for the Campus Ministry and, sadly, is sometimes involved in conversations about someone’s “private, personal life” playing out in daily ministry. Why? It’s an issue of character, integrity, and living out Godly, biblical values.

Our ministry encourages staff to take a weekend to evaluate the trajectory of their life and/or marriage, identify areas to work on, and set goals for the next six months. It’s a way to help people grow in their personal lives. Doesn’t that sound healthy? It’s like a check-up, or an oil change.

While an entire weekend is recommended to work through the suggested goal-setting worksheets, you can modify it for an overnight trip, or even a few hours at a coffee shop. The idea is to give focused attention to different aspects of your life in order to identify growth areas.

In spite of this healthy, wonderful habit encouraged by our “corporate culture,” I have yet to meet anyone who takes full advantage of it. I only took one planning weekend during my 10+ years as a single woman on staff, and the last time Mike and I sat down to "make plans" for our life was when we planned our wedding a year and a half ago.

So, armed with suggested questions for reflection and discussion, Mike and I scheduled a weekend away in September. We didn’t stick to the outline, or even use all the questions, but we made major progress in identifying pitfalls and admitting weaknesses. We set measurable goals for growth. And that feels pretty good.

Our next “check-up” just happens to be around our 2^nd anniversary in March, which seems like a poignant time to re-evaluate and make sure we are headed in the same direction.

Not a bad way to spend a weekend.

Want a copy of the suggested outline with discussion and reflection questions? Email me and I'll send the attachment. There's an outline for married couples and one for single people.

Married and want to refocus on your marriage? Our next blog update will let you know about a special offer from Family Life, CCC's ministry offering help for today and hope for tomorrow.

An Unexpected "Thank You"

2009-09-29T11:33:00.008-04:00

In 2006 I wrote an article on singleness for a ministry publication on the transition from campus to the workplace. In September 2009, I got an email thanking me for that article.

Amazed and honored, I want to share that email (with permission!) with you all, for many of you have faithfully prayed for me and financially supported me during that time. Without your generosity, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to write this article which is still bearing fruit 3 years later! Seems appropriate for me to pass along this "thank you" to you all, too. Be encouraged.

Hi Sarah,

I have been going through the Cru:InTransition workbook this summer and am compelled to write you after reading the article you wrote for it about singleness.

I want to say thank you so much for taking a different approach to this subject and speaking such truth and encouragement. God really used your words to encourage me and help me work through issues I have been struggling with.....

...So many books take the approach that you need to change something about yourself to get out of singleness because clearly it is the undesired state of life. As a young Christian woman I have struggled greatly with feeling like less of a person and socially backwards for never dating, and books like this only seem to exacerbate my feelings and create more wounds. Very few books, and people for that matter, talk about singleness as a gift and what a blessing it is and how to not waste it. It seems like every external force and influence says "Quick! Get married! You're single? Oh how sad..." and people tend to offer condolences more than excitement and encouragement.

Your article is by far the best source of encouragement I have ever read on this subject and it was such an answer to prayer in my life right now. Working through the questions and thinking about life goals is something I've never connected to singleness but it was such a blessing to address those topics together.

I cannot even begin to explain to you what a blessing your words are to my life, or thank you enough for allowing yourself to be used so powerfully!

I know that article is a few years old and obviously I have no idea where you are at in life, but I trust that God is daily using you in profound ways, and again, I just wanted to say THANK YOU and let you know what an encouragement your life is to mine.

Be blessed!
Cait

Want to see that article for yourself or a friend? You can order InTransition at www.CruPress.com Look for it under the SEND resources tab.

Neighborhood Cars Burglarized

2009-09-22T21:58:00.005-04:00

It was quiet when I went downstairs this morning. Weirdly quiet. I knew Mike had to be aroud somewhere. Was he lurking around a corner, just waiting to jump out and surprise me? No.

I knew he wasn't upstairs - our townhome isn't that big. Nor did I hear the garage door open. But Mike made my juice this morning - freshly squeezed juice is our latest morning delight. My apple-orange juice was sitting on the counter waiting for me. (YUM!)

I swallowed my vitamins in one gulp as the front door opened. Mike peered into the kitchen. "You've got to come outside, Sarah," Mike said with more enthusiasm than he usually registers in the morning. "There are people and cop cars out here!"

Who needs to hear that twice? I finished my juice and headed outside to join the party. I saw more neighbors outside this morning than ever before at one time! Two patrol cars were parked in the street, blocking our driveway. Orlando's Finest were interviewing our neighbors and dusting for prints.

Some time last night (2 people heard things between 10.30-11pm), thieves broke into cars. Our next door neighbors on both sides were hit. Our cars were fine, though. (Is that due to untinted windows and an empty back seat?)

When Neighbor Carla walked outside this morning, she wondered why her husband left the car door wide open all night. Then she noticed that thier other car in the driveway had an open door, and then noticed several other cars in neighboring driveways with open doors or open trunks. Reality sunk in. She'd been robbed!

A GPS was stolen from one neighbor, another lost about 30 CDs and a GPS. Virginia down the street had a high-end purse stolen from her front seat, along with her hair straightening iron. What kind of theives would steal a woman's straightening iron? At least they had the decency to leave her journal and Bible.

Working on my Fitness

2009-09-22T15:37:00.004-04:00

Remember the Presidential Physical Fitness Test from grade school? Boys had to do pull ups, and girls had to hold themselves up at chin height from a bar. Well, I didn't hold myself up. Nope. I lifted my feet off the step and quickly found myself dangling from the monkey bars. I've never boasted in my arm strength, nor have I busted out my "guns".

Back in Janaury I caught a facebook update from one of my college girlfriends, Erica. She was starting the 100Push-Up Challenge during which you follow a schedule 3x/week for 6 weeks so you can do 100 pushups at the end. I thought that was a cool goal, especially in light of my years of failure on the President's Physical Fitness Test.

Then, in August, a colleague blogged about his experience with the same program. Well, I was intrigued. So I did my research. And I discovered that there are actually THREE programs: 100 Push Ups, 200 Sit Ups and 200 Squats!

Never one to shy away from a challenge, I decided to take on all three at the same time. I am an ambitious woman! Yesterday marked week 4 of the 6 week programs. Dreading the push up and squats portions, I psyched myself up for pain and misery.

But what a surprise! It wasn't horrible this time! Perhaps all those push ups are adding up. Granted, I don't have perfect form. And I'm on my knees, not my toes, but I think I'm getting stronger! It was a challenge, yes. But it wasn't pure misery. I was covered in sweat after the first set of squats, but even those were manageable!

In two more weeks I might even be ready to retake President Reagan's fitness exam.

On the Road Again

2009-08-16T23:09:00.007-04:00

"...just can't wait to be on the road again..." Well, I don't know if those lyrics ring true in this case! But we are getting on the road again, in about an hour.

We spent a few days in north west Ohio, in Mike's hometown of Wauseon. It was a really good visit, catching up with a few friends and ministry partners, spending some quality time with Mike's big family, and even getting to visit with 4 of the 6 neices and nephews on Mike's side of the family.

Tonight we'll drive about ten hours to Asheville, NC to catch up with Mike's mentor, Trip. We haven't seen Trip since he performed our wedding ceremony 17 months ago.

After catching up with Trip, we'll finish our journey and make it home to Orlando on Thursday... perhaps even early (EARLY) in the morning!

Hampton Beach Summer Project 2009

2009-08-06T18:25:00.005-04:00

I love to hear a good story. These next few days will be full of good stories! Mike and I will get to hear what God has done in and through the students at the Hampton Beach Summer Project in Hampton Beach, NH.

Six weeks ago we turned the missions trip over to student leadership. In a few days these precious students will be sent back to their campuses or their next phase of life.

Our focus this summer was WHOLE LIFE STEWARDSHIP. We long for these students to connect deeply to the heart of God for a lifetime. This summer isn't about them plugging into their campus ministries in the fall with new skills, though that is a wonderful hope! Rather, we want these students to know that the best days of their Christian life are ahead of them, for walking closely with God is full of surprises. Discovering God's design for your life, knowing His truth, and living it out will always result in unexpected conversations, unexpected people and unexpected places.

And that makes for a good story. I think Jesus likes a good story, too! Look at what He's already done in your life, and the story He lived out.

We'll update again in a few days to share some of the students' stories with you!

US National Staff Conference 2009: First Session

2009-07-22T18:47:00.004-04:00

It's here. Fort Collins, CO is inundated with Campus Crusade Staff from around the USA, and who work around the world. Every two years we gather here in Colorado to hear from our leaders, connect to the heart of God, and be challenged from leaders outside of our ministry.

This morning CCC Co-Founder Vonette Bright opened the conference in prayer, looking like a proud grandmother celebrating her grand kids. What a wonderful lady. This year the conference team is encouraging staff to update facebook and twitter throughout the conference and seminars to harness social media. I've embraced that encouragement! Friend me on facebook to catch my status updates, or follow me on twitter (SarahGaleEvers) for even more info on the conference, speakers and seminars.

Our morning speaker was Dr. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. He spoke on the Gospel for Christians and really challenged us to think through what our VPRs are... our Validating Performance Records.

Our culture uses VPRs for everything: your resume is a written record of your performance. It says "I'm worthy! I'm good enough! Accept me!"

Keller then talked about the Biblical concepts of forgiveness and justification from Romans 3.21-28. He said forgiveness says "You can go. You're free." And that's good news. But justification says, "You are welcome. Come, join in." With forgiveness there's a sense of now that I'm free, let me prove myself. But with justification, there's no need to prove yourself. You're accepted, and the universe salutes you.

Romans 3 tells us that there's an end to our struggle for acceptance and validation. A righteousness that is from God. Christ's righteousness is the end of my struggle.

But I get stuck in works-righteousness so often. I try to prove myself to others, to myself... in many ways I scream out, "I'm worthy! I matter! I'm significant!"

If I look at what I boast in, as opposed to my sins, I'll discover what my real faith is in. I'll probably discover false salvations and false justifications for my existence and performance.

What do I boast in? What validates my performance? What is my VPR? Through the prayer time following Dr. Keller's talk, the Lord shed light on this for me. And perhaps I'll share that eye-opening discovery with you in another post.

Surprising Tears

2009-05-23T19:18:00.007-04:00

I was surprised at how emotional I felt handing out the applications. I've had these applications for at least three months. Each application represents a student-woman coming to Hampton Beach, NH. All of them are precious. I've talked on the phone with each one. I've prayed for each one, and prayed with each one. I cried on the phone with some, I cried alone after talking with some. I love them all.

But I didn't expect to cry when I handed the staff women the files. Why did I cry?

Some of these students have had too much life happen to them. Some are idealistic. All are significant to me. And I long for my staff women to love these student women as much as I do. I can't wait to hug each one of them.

In some ways, handing out the applications means someone else can share the burden and care for these women. I'm not the only one who knows these students.

Yet, in another way, it felt like I had this brief glimpse at the Father-heart of God. How great the Father's love for us! Even when we're messy, broken, hurting, angry. Even when life has dealt too harshly with us.

I am so full of hope for the women this summer: for the summer to be a redemptive time. For the Lord to bring healing into the lives of these women. For these students to learn how to tell their story of brokenness, redemption and hope to others. And for these students to know that God loves them, and has a wonderful plan for their lives.

Honestly, I never anticipated crying over applications.

How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called Children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3.1

All A-Twitter

2009-05-05T09:23:00.003-04:00

I've been on the facebook bandwagon for years. It's become a normal part of my daily life, like brushing my teeth and checking email.

But adding TWITTER into that routine has me a little befuddled. Knowing how quickly new things become passe, and how quickly technology becomes integrated into life alerts me to the fact that one day (soon!) I'll probably roll my eyes at this blog update.

If you're on facebook and/or twitter, please find me, friend me, follow me. And then shoot me an email, text or message to help me figure out how all these sites work together!

Dad's Home-Going

2009-02-13T07:16:00.006-05:00

Dad is in glory now, with Jesus. He left us early this morning.
I'll post funeral information soon.

Thanks for your love and prayers for us.
So, perhaps Dad is fishing with Peter now...?

visit the page we set up: www.Ernie.Gale.MuchLoved.com

We'll continue to update the site with more pics and info.

Family Emergency

2009-02-10T12:33:00.009-05:00

Settled in front of the TV after attending a beautiful, outdoor, Sunday afternoon wedding, Mike and I were just finishing up an episode of 24, season 1, when we heard Mike's cell phone: someone called, left a voicemail, and sent a text.

As we geared up for another episode on dvd, Mike checked his phone, and said my sister Jennifer needed to get ahold of me. I found my phone, still on silent from the wedding and reception, and noted the several texts and missed calls in the log. I knew it was bad news.

When I called Jennifer back, she informed me that my dad was going to a hospital in an ambulance. Yes. This is bad news.

Monday morning I flew up to Delaware. Jennifer and Carrie picked me up at the Philly airport and we went directly to the Crozier Hospital. It's only 20 minutes up rt 95 from the fam. Carrie brought photos of the fam and taped them to the wall in his room. We stood with him for a few minutes, but that was all he could handle. We left within 45 minutes of arriving, so our parking was free.

Nana, Mom and Chrissie went on the later afternoon visit. His blood pressure was up. That's good news.

Please pray for my dad, Ernie. It's been a long battle. I can't believe he STILL has pneumonia - that was the big thing that kept him from coming to our wedding nearly a year ago! Pray for strength, hope, perseverance, and healing. And pray for the Gale Girls, too. We're all here together.

I'm still a little surprised at how comforting it is to hear from people: texts, emails, facebook... because of technology, many people found out about our family emergency quickly, and now I don't feel so alone in all of this. I don't respond to everyone, but it feels so good to know that others are praying and believing God's best for my family. Thank you!

In the meantime, I picked up my sweet, sweet neice and with Aunt Jenny we went to the park. Odd how within two hours you can go from shock and deep sadness to joy, giggles and sweet kisses!

Last night I ate two chocolate chip cookies. I forgot about my anti-sugar stance and reverted to my favorite coping mechanism: eating.

Does zucchini bread with chocolate chips count as a sweet? I made two loaves of that when I got to Delaware. Saturday I was at the Farmers Market in Orlando and bought some zucchini. I didn't want it to go bad, so I flew up with it in my computer bag. It's yummy bread....

Mike will have to finish season 1 of 24 without me. Perhaps Mike can send me text updates in real time to let me know what is happening on the day of the California Presidential Primary, which is the longest day of Jack Bauer's life.

Sugar

2009-02-04T16:14:00.006-05:00

I have a sweet-tooth. But I'm curbing it temporarily with a ban on sweets for the next two months.

Why?
There's nothing wrong with a sweet indulgence from time to time. Where my sweet tooth goes off base is when I choose to indulge with every opportunity. And lately there have been LOTS of opportunities! Snacks at the office, nibbles in the house, celebrations, birthdays, parties with friends... too many opportunities.

I thought it would be really difficult to "just say no" to sweets. But it hasn't been too rough. Thankfully, whenever sweet treats have been offered, I've been able to grab veggies or a cup of tea.

I've heard that using distractions is a good way to change a child's behavior. Perhaps it's good for changing my behavior, too! At least temporarily.

And yes, I will have a slice of wedding cake at a friend's wedding later this month, and I am looking forward to sharing our cake topper on our first anniversary at the end of March. That will be a sweet treat!

Prepping for Summer 2009

2009-01-16T14:16:00.004-05:00

The room was pregnant with the significant, world-changing potential of the people sitting in it. In a few short months we will fan out around the globe to lead teams of staff and students in a great adventure to proclaim Christ and make Him known in 212 different locations.

Imagine that! 212 different locations... from Ocean City to New York City to Paris to Mumbai to Tokyo. Though the conference room was windowless, I felt like I had glimpses of gorgeous scenery through the visionary stories people told of their upcoming summer venue.

WHAT IS A SUMMER PROJECT?
No matter the length or ministry focus, U.S. summer projects offer great training and ministry experience. If a student wants to grow deeper in their relationship with God and heart for the lost world around them, a U.S. summer project may be a great choice. On project, students will join 30-150 other students who also desire to grow in their walk with God, in how to share Jesus with lost people, and to learn some great ministry skills to take back to campus in the fall.

U.S. summer projects offer some of the best evangelism training you can get. Not only will students grow in confidence through training on how to communicate the message of the Gospel, but students will grow in confidence as they go out and talk to people in the community and people at work, and as they see others on project share and learn from them. Students will not be growing alone, but will take steps of faith in community!

Any project experience has a very full schedule. Students will build relationships with others on project, getting into the Word in small groups, be trained in how to grow in their own personal walk with the Lord, how to share the Gospel, how to spiritually multiply their life into others, and how to launch new spiritual movements on campus. You will be amazed at how the Lord will grow a student and how He will use them and the others on project to bring people to Himself!

THE EVERS' SUMMER PLANS
This summer Mike and I will be part of the Directors' Team for the Hampton Beach, NH summer project. I will serve as Associate Project Director while Mike serves in Training & Team Development.

We're excited about spending 6 weeks in NH and connecting with our friends and supporters at Bethany Church. I'll go up in April for a few days to preview housing, meet with employers and pastors and finalize some of the summer plans.

But for now, we continue to pray for the staff team assigned to us, for the students who are applying to join us, and friends we will make in the community.

2009: The Year of Kindness

2009-01-03T22:20:00.003-05:00

"What if this year," I responded, "we decided to be kind to ourselves?" In a brief and thought-provoking conversation, I stumbled upon my theme for 2009.

People resolve to change their lives every January. It's like pressing the restart button. Hope is in the air as the year starts fresh. But sadly, for many, the air feels stale only a few weeks later.

"I'm tired of feeling like I have to get excited about changing my life every year." That's a poor paraphrase to the beginning of an eye-opening conversation I had with a dear one in my life. As we talked in the doorway, she continued, "I get excited, and spend all this energy, and then don't reach my goals. I end up feeling worse."

I know where she's coming from for I can't count the number of times I've resolved to make changes but missed the mark just weeks or months later.

Before that conversation, I made promises to myself and set outrageous targets to changing my life in positive ways. I get excited and optimistic, then punish myself for not being good enough to reach my goal.

I would never to talk to other people the way I talk to myself. What's with that? My "self-talk" is mean-spirited and critical. But what would life be like if I chose to move towards myself with kindness? What would life be like if, rather than scalding myself with criticism, I lived out the fruit of Holy Spirit?

In Galatians, Paul says when it comes to the result or "fruit" of God in someone's life, the evidence is seen in growing amounts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This is a time to reflect on the past and reset the course for the future. And I can't help but wonder what could happen. If I start to be kind to myself in small ways, could that kindness spill over in unexpected ways to other relationships in my life? If I try to celebrate the small victories, could that attitude of joyful celebration spill over also?

I guess we'll all see.

Surpise SOUP-er Celebration

2008-11-12T22:23:00.010-05:00

Mike just celebrated a BIG birthday. I knew we needed to do something to commemorate this day. So an elaborate plan was hatched...

(This is the picture I used on the evite for the Surprise SOUP-er Celebration.)

1. Take Time OFF. We both needed to clear our calendars so we could take the day off.

2. Get Help. Becuase I had two work trips and would be out of town for most the 12 days before Mike's birthday, I needed to enlist our friends to help pull of the event.

3. Card Shower. Mike's Birthday is on Veteran's Day, a no-mail holiday, so I aked our friends to send cards in the mail, and had another friend raid our mailbox daily while I was out of town to collect the incoming cards. She then put them back in our box so Mike could have mail ON his birthday!

4. Start the Day-Long Celebration. Mike awoke to a cheerful rendition of Happy Birthday, when I brought him breakfast and a few birthday cards. After spending the morning by the pool, we went to SeaWorld. Mike suggested heading home (right on schedule!) but we stopped at the mailbox first! Giggle! Mike had a pile of cards and a grin on his face as he walked back to the car. Thanks to everyone who sent a card. The cards keep coming! Thank you!

Meanwhile, our friends decorated the house, set up the buffet and brought over the soups for Mike's Surprise SOUP-er Celebration. He looked dazed when he walked into the house and greeted the smiling, familar faces in our living room, out on the porch, and hanging out in the grass!

Pressing... (unfinished post)

2008-10-29T17:32:00.005-04:00

I think I'm in a pressing phase right now.

That's the word that came to me one sleepless night last week. It seemed like a peculiar word, so I looked it up in the dictionary. And after reflecting on it, I think it's rather accurate. Here's a sampling of the most applicable definitions:

PRESS - verb, noun
1. an apparatus or machine by which: a substance is cut or shaped, an impression of a body taken, a material is compressed, pressure is applied to a body, liquid is expressed or a cutting tool is fed into the work by pressure.

2. an action of pressing or pushing pressure. An aggressive pressuring defense employed in basketball often over the entire court area.

3. the properly smoothed and creased condition of a freshly pressed garment.

4. a lift in weightlifting in which the weight is raised over from the shoulder, then smoothly extended over head.

Yes, I'm in a pressing phase.

Oddyssey

2008-10-17T15:23:00.006-04:00

Nearly ten years ago I (Sarah) saw Cirque du Soleil in Orlando. It's an outrageous "circus" of contortionists, acrobatics, jugglers, and other tricksters. I remember walking out of there overwhelmed with the beauty of the human body and how it can be used to do so many things!

Last night Mike and I drove up to UCF with two friends for a free performance of Cirque Oddyssey (http://www.cirqueusa.com/). We spent 90 minutes enthralled as we watched limber people twist themselves into surreal feats of impossibility. Whether watching the gal wrap herself up in fabric swinging from the ceiling, the man rolling around in what looked like a hampster wheel, or the two women hanging from a hoop in the sky... it was spectacular.

To think that God created our bodies so intricately, and designed them to be able to handle such feats of strength! God created our bodies to be able to stretch and move and hang and twist. Granted, those men and women are professionals. But they didn't end up on that stage last night by accident. It took them years of working out, getting up after falling, recovering from the hurts and wounds while believing the best was yet to come. They were intentional with preparation: preparing both the mind and the body to react at the right time.

What strikes me about those athletes is that they had a goal in mind and they worked hard towards it. Every day, practicing. Stretching. Working. Even when tired. Doing it one more time.

Life with Jesus is a lot like that, isn't it? How many times do we have to get up after falling? Just one more time. We have to recover (forgive) from hurts and wounds. And because of Christ, we can truly believe that the best is yet to come. And we have to be intentional with preparation.

I want to grow. I want to be able to love more deeply, forgive more freely, persevere and endure with hope. But am I willing to put the time in, every day, to reach my goal? Do I have a spiritual goal? I know I want to grow in my love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I know that in five years, I want to be better at helping others discover Jesus and how He has wired them, and for those people to live out their calling. I want to live out my personal mission statement:

Engaging my heart and my senses
to help others completely engage
to fully and passionately experience God.
and that means making the hard choices to follow in obedience

But that requires work, effort, practice. That italicized line says it all: making the hard choices to follow in obedience. I don't know if I've been making hard choices: to spend quality time with Jesus, not just time; to choose to worship from the heart, not just the head; to choose to follow in obedience, even when it feels inconvenient, unfair, or too hard.

Life is full of hard choices. Those Cirque athletes made hard choice after hard choice for years to practice, listen to coaching and correction, and work out. And now they live out their passion and gifting every night when they perform.

I know I need to follow in obedience to train my heart and my mind. This is a journey we're on, a grand odyssey. And I want to live out my part, offering all of myself in loving worship to Jesus. Perhaps, when I play my part, people will walk away amazed at how Jesus can stretch a person, how He can shine through them as they live out their passions.

Ohio Visit

2008-08-19T11:21:00.011-04:00

Who knew Ohio was so beautiful? I didn't know sunsets could be so golden. The scenery is really stunning. A slice of Americana... the heartland. WOW.

Here are some pics from our adventures:

The Farm
Visiting one set of Nieces and Nephews

Sarah Feeding Scraps to the Cows

Mike took me on a tour of the family farm the other day. I saw (and smelled!) the cows, the barn, the kittens. I saw where the old chicken coop used to be, and where Mike raised bunnies. And of course, I saw where Jimmy (the wild donkey) and Billy (the horse) lived. Then we took a walk around the farm, through the tall rows of corn and the mowed hay fields, then back to the woods where Mike discovered remnants from the bunny cage he built more than 20 years ago.

August Prayer Letter

2008-08-19T11:04:00.004-04:00

“Let a man become convinced

that God has a plan and a definite work for him

and that no other man can perform it,

and you introduce into his life

a motive and a motivating power

which will enable him to transcend

his handicaps and limitations

and will carry him through all opposition.”
John R. Mott
Liberating the Lay Force of Christianity 1932

Launching a New Movement
Three years ago a working group formed to address one of the major organizational issues facing Campus Crusade for Christ: how to help our former students walk with God for a lifetime. The group of six staff members from the US and Canada, representing the Campus Ministry, Student Venture (CCC’s high school ministry), and Athletes in Action (CCC’s sportsand athletics ministry) prayed, researched, hosted focus groups and interviews, held conference calls and web meetings, andon occasion, met face to face for brainstorming and problem solving. Out of that working group a new “division” in the USCampus Ministry was born: EVERY STUDENT SENT.

While part of the working group, I (Sarah) served as a Mid Atlantic Regional Director, providing visionary and directional leadership to our local campus ministries in six states. As I traveled my region meeting staff and students, I grew convinced that if students continued to live out their relationship with God AND translated their on campus ministry training into the workplace after graduation, we’d begin to see real change in our neighborhoods and cities across the United States and around the world.

I met passionate students convinced of the goodness of God and the love of God for each and every person. Talking about Jesus with Christian and non‐Christian students, I discovered firsthand that students want to belong before they believe. They want to be part of a real community, and see real life change in people before taking the next step to live their lives for Christ.

Now serving with Every Student Sent (ESS), I’m implementing some recommendations my working group previously presented. For over a year my role focused on web development. As we start private testing this month, I’m reminded that we want to help people live the Kingdom life, not simply join a website. Like John R. Mott said, we want to “sound the deepest spiritual note” in people as they “become convinced that God has a plan and a definite work for him, and that no other man can perform it….” We want to call people to live their life in a manner worthy of the Lord. Since few people function well for long without others, we want people to do this together. It’s not about a program or a website, or Campus Crusade for Christ. Rather, it’s about the Kingdom of Christ and people finding their role in it.

It was a full summer for this newly-wedded couple. Mike focused fulltime on training missionaries while I split mytime between training international missionaries and working with my ESS team. We had four interns join our team to create a marketing strategy to help us promote the website.

Together you and I are helping to launch a new movement challenging former students to engage in their new communities and corporations, and lead in their new churches, as they transition into their next mission field: the workplace.

Prayer Requests
1. Please pray for our marriage as we continue to adjust tosharing our lives with one another.
2. Please pray for Sarah, the completion of the website, and for the lives that will be changed as a result.
3. Please pray for Mike as he leads the National CampusOffice into a new school year of ministry.
4. Please pray for our trip to Ohio as Sarah meets Mike’sfriends, supporters and church families.

Ohio Visit

Mike and Sarah will be in Wauseon, OH, 16-26 August.

We’d love to get together with you!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION

Saturday 23 August, 2‐5pm

at North Clinton Mennonite Church

831 West Linfoot

Wauseon, OH 435667

July Update

2008-08-11T20:04:00.005-04:00

Summer Assignment: Training Missionaries

Orlando. Seventeen countries. Summer 2008. Five weeks. Missions. Five countries. And two newlyweds.

What do you get when you put all of those together? A Campus Crusade for Christ summer missionary training that Mike and Sarah Evers helped direct. It was an intense five weeks here in Orlando and it was an honor to be asked to lead. The missionaries were from five countries and will now spread out around the globe to minister in 17 different nations.

Mike served as Coaching Development Co-Director, along with a staff woman who flew in from Germany. Eighteen staff coached the 60 missionaries who are moving their lives and families overseas. Mike trained those 18 coaches while coaching six missionaries.

Some of the sessions covered issues like: handling the tension of being a part of a team with other nationalities, dealing with cross-cultural stress, how American values influence application of Biblical truth, the need to connect with God and teammates, skills for learning a new language, building a ministry that can last beyond the missionary presence, and so much more. We also had weekly opportunities to serve the community here in Orlando and many people grew through those experiences.

It was a great summer for Mike as he worked from his strengths. Mike coached:

1. Geoff, from Great Britain, who will be the national campus director the African country of Namibia. He and his family move from the UK to Namibia in a few months.

2. Matt flew in from East Asia, struggled a bit with re-entry culture stress, and will return to lead the team there. Matt dreams of taking East Asian students from his campus to the Middle East as missionaries!

3. Ken led ministries on multiple campuses in Illinois and had plans to go to Germany. During his training here, he sensed God wanted to do more work in his heart first and decided transfer to work at Crusade’s HQ in Orlando. I’m so glad I’ll see him around!

4. Drew already spent three years in three different cities in Italy. He’s going back this week and is committed to giving leadership long-term in Florence.

5. Robin will soon return to Mexico where he creates videos and short films for Mexican students to grasp the gospel through media.

6. Toyo is Mexican and his wife is American. He decided to join the training to understand his wife’s world better but found the cross cultural training we provided helpful since currently they minister far from his hometown, in a region with it’s own culture.

The last night of training was Commissioning Night. Along with sending these 60 staff off to their new lands, we commissioned 70 STINT leaders. These leaders had a week-long training in Orlando and will lead teams of recent graduates overseas for one year. The majority of those who participated in our 5 week training first participated in one of these STINTs. It was a special night to end a special summer of sending people to all corners of the world for the gospel.

We can’t help but thank God for your generous partnership with us. Thank you.

Summer's here or Summer's gone

2008-07-17T16:39:00.002-04:00

Wow! The 5 week conference of training overseas missionaries is over and I'm left a bit confused. I'm not sure how to look at my time now. Has summer ended? That was our summer assignment. Has it just begun? That was quite a hectic schedule and it feels like I have a bit of downtime finally.

So I'm confused here in the middle of July. Working long days and some weekends has been exhausting though I loved my role! I'm ready for a break and our little four weekend getaway is already over. Was that my summer? I'm already starting to work on some projects to get ready for the new school year (yes, my life still revolves around the school calender) that seems to be right around the corner.

Or, has summer finally arrived for Sarah and I though our summer responsibilities are now over? We will have some "breather" room and enjoy the remaining summer months (or 3 weeks?). We did do a weekend at the beach. We'll have some opportunities to visit with family and supporters and do some summer traveling. People are in the "summer holiday" spirits.

Am I saying hello or good-by to summer? Should I be feeling happy for the summer yet to be experienced or sad that it's slipped through my fingers so quickly. (Let me add to the confusion by saying that July in Orlando is just like May or September in Orlando.)

Any help out there?

First Date Anniversary

2008-06-30T17:28:00.004-04:00

Today is a BIG Day. It's actually one of many FIRSTS... In the beginning of May we celebrated the first anniversary of being in contact with each other again (after 6 years). And today we are celebrating the first anniversary of our first date.

Yup. Amazing what God can do in a year. A year ago today I flew from Philadelphia to Denver. Mike met me at baggage claim with flowers. After a nervous (and awkward, at least on my part) greeting, Mike grabbed my luggage and we headed out. We drove into downtown Denver and Mike took me out for a fun dinner at LIME. Then we drove the rest of the way to Fort Collins, CO, for our company conference.

Today we've been married for three months.
Today is the anniversary of our first date.
WOW.

Chubby Bunny

2008-05-24T19:49:00.001-04:00

Do you remember the Chubby Bunny competition? It’s popular with youth groups. In fact, in the mid-eighties, when my parents sent me to church summer camp, I came away as a Chubby Bunny winner because I stuffed the most marshmallows in my cheeks and could still say the phrase, “Chubby Bunny,” clearly.

That title still follows me around.

“You know,” Mike said as he flopped on the sofa and pulled up his shirt. “You don’t have to feed me so much.” Patting his extended belly for emphasis, Mike exhaled loudly.

Though I’ve heard it said that newlyweds are apt to gain weight during the first year of marriage, I was really surprised when I gained weight. I’m on a weight management plan, and Mike loves to work out, so we’re at the gym several times a week. We don’t keep junk food in the house, and we rarely snack. We eat healthy food, and well-balanced meals. I think any nutritionist would be pleased with our consumption of whole grains, as well as antibiotic-free and free-range meats and poultry.

But regardless of our healthy food consumption and exercise regime, I felt fatter. And Mike’s admission to feeling over-full and wanting less food confirmed that I’m not as far out in left field as I feared I was. Thanks to his comment I think I found the culprit: our plates.

Yes. Our plates. I love them. They’re square. Most are white. But we have four red ones to add a pop of color. Our plates are sleek and contemporary and cool and I love them. But they’re BIG. And I’ve been filling up the plate when I serve dinner. Our portion sizes are out of control.

The night after Mike’s comment, I used those big white plates as a charger and the smaller red salad plate as our dinner plate (the salad went into the cool, tear-drop shaped white bowls. Those are normal sized). And that made for less space for food on the plate. Less food on the plate = less food in the mouth = less food in the stomach = no more Chubby Bunny - or Chubby Honey.

My key tactic in winning the “Chubby Bunny” title so many years ago was to stuff each marshmallow into the space between the molars and the back of the cheek. You’d be amazed at how many marshmallows will fit back in there.

I’ll let you know if that title follows me into married life.

May Prayer Letter

2008-05-21T15:24:00.005-04:00

(Mike and Sarah’s New Update)

The Gale-Evers Wedding Celebration: Hallelujah!
They say it's the things that don't go as planned that make a wedding special. In which case, we had a very special wedding.

Sarah's dad has had leukemia for years, but when he caught the flu at the beginning of 2008, no one expected the complications and health crisis to come. March was a roller-coaster of emotions as Ernie's health progressively got worse, and God didn't provide the requested miracle healing. A week before the wedding the doctors confirmed that Ernie was too sick to travel. Mike and Sarah immediately flew up for a quick visit, and Ernie gave his blessing and entrusted Sarah to Mike's care.

On the wedding day, Greg in Florida and Charlie in Delaware worked hard so that Ernie could watch the ceremony live on the internet. Phil from New Hampshire kept Dad company while Mom was in Florida.

After talking with her dad on her cell phone, Sarah walked down the aisle. Then via speaker phone, Sarah’s dad got to say his line, “her mother and I do.” It was really special to have Sarah’s dad participate, even though he wasn’t able to be at the wedding in person.

Two of Sarah’s sisters, Jennifer and Carrie, and Mike’s brother, Steve, along with a mutual friend, led worship together: three classic-sounding hymns with a modern twist (How Deep the Father’s Love for Us, Take My Life and Let It Be/Here Am I, Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone), as well as The Doxology. We recessed to a gospel choir version of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

During the reception, Mike’s Aunt Bev and Sarah’s sister Chrissie shared a few memories about the Bride and Groom, and the Best Man, Paul, and Maid of Honor, Carrie, gave honoring toasts. The flower girls were Mike’s two nieces, Jenna and Julianne, and Sarah’s niece, Elizabeth. Mike’s nephews Ryan, Justin, Kyle, and Josh served as ushers for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers.

One of our most meaningful moments was the prayer of blessing our parents prayed over us under the huppah. In Jewish traditions, a wedding ceremony occurs under a huppah, representing the presence of God. We chose a huppah as a reminder of the sacredness and holiness of our covenant.

It was a fun celebration, marked with God’s kindness. Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding, and our wedding was filled with modern wedding miracles: from the photographers, to the huppah, to the DJ and videography, the ceremony programs, and the reception site. Though everything was not as we had originally hoped, we couldn’t help but be overwhelmed at the generosity and love of our God.

Thank you for celebrating with us, and praying for us. We know that some of you have prayed for our future mate for years! Well, your prayers are answered. We’re married. And committed to making it work. Now you can pray for all the transitions we’re making to adjust to one another! Mike is God’s perfect provision for Sarah’s life, and Sarah is God’s perfect provision for Mike’s life. What wonderful gifts!

Thank you for praying us into each other’s lives!

About Mike and Sarah (Gale) Evers...

On staff with Campus Crusade for Christ for 17 years, Mike has a passion to see people from all over the world experience Christ. Mike graduated from Bowling Green State University and reached students for Christ at University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and at Madison, in the Upper Mid West’s Regional Office, in Brazil, both in Fortaleza and in Sao Paolo, and he earned a Masters Degree in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. Currently Mike gives leadership to the National Campus Office in Human Resources and Leadership Development.
Serving on staff for over 11 years, Sarah served the Lord in New Jersey at Rutgers University, at CCC’s World Headquarters at Lake Hart in Orlando, overseas in Turkey, at Penn State University, as a Regional Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region, and now with Emerging Strategies & Every Student Sent focusing on students after graduation.
We now have the same staff account. All of your financial gifts now go to account # 0406638. Sarah’s monthly EFT and credit card supporters will notice a new account number on their receipt. Those who give monthly with a check should include the new account number with their next gift. We appreciate your continued financial partnership and your prayers!

Summer Assignment: Training Missionaries

This summer we have a great privilege of having a global influence. Every year Campus Crusade for Christ conducts an intensive five-week training program, called X-Track, for our staff who are on their way to serve for three or more years overseas.

The two of us will be coaching the staff who will move to a new country later this summer. Mike is leading the entire training, and will direct the coaches in addition to leading a small group of future missionaries. Sarah will mentor the women who will go to Turkey, where she spent 2 years.

Crusade is committed to equipping our staff, not just in evangelism, but also in team relationships, theological development, cultural adjustments (including how to learn a new culture and language), and leading a multicultural team. This summer we will also talk about how to “work yourself out of a job” by replacing yourself with trained nationals.

We are honored to be involved in X-Track training for about 60 staff members who are literally going around the world! These missionaries will go to Western Europe, South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and East Asia!

Both of us are grateful for the opportunities we had to serve overseas (in addition to living in Turkey for two years, Sarah also served short term in Egypt and Thailand. Mike lived in Brazil for three years and served summers in France, Philippines, and East Asia). Our hearts are to see students from all over the world come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. This summer we have the privilege to help bring that to fruition by preparing and training the missionaries who will go to the world.

Thank you for partnering and serving alongside us!

Pics: Wedding Reception

2008-05-02T16:15:00.002-04:00

These are pics by LifeLight Photography (321-246-7680) from our reception...

Pics: Wedding Ceremony

2008-05-02T13:09:00.005-04:00

Here are a few of the official pics from the ceremony.
Photos by LifeLight Photography (321-246-7680).

Everyday Bravery

2008-04-21T11:22:00.003-04:00

(this was a great story about celebrating daily moments of courage. But it got lost in cyberspace, and Sarah was too disappointed to try to recreate it.)

Down with Target! Up with Bed, Bath and Beyond!

2008-04-16T12:26:00.006-04:00

Wednesday Afternoon
Last night we had soft tacos for dinner in front of the TV as we watched American Idol. Who will get kicked off on tonight's episode? I'm not really sure what I think of Mariah Carey as an Idol Mentor. The clips they showed us made her look kinda dumb.

After scrubbing for an hour on my hands and knees yesterday, the bathroom floor is now free of all paint splatters! Hooray! We just need to paint that dark brown stripe around the point where the two other paint shades meet, and we'll be finished with painting for a while... that is, until we tackle two walls downstairs, the hallway, and the guest bed and bathroom.

But I think I'll glory in having the bedroom finished!

For lunch today I had defrosted-wedding-meatballs-with-brown-rice-cooked-in-a-wedding-gift-rice-cooker. It was yummy. Were those meatballs from the rehearsal or the wedding? Not sure. But tasty. Yes, the freezer is one of my favorite kitchen helpers!

Down with Target!
Drastic? Dramatic? You bet!

Yesterday I went to Target to return some of our gifts. Yes, our wonderful friends made thoughtful purchases from our registry. Unfortunately, practical Sarah thinks we need a frying pan before we enjoy some of the more "fun" and "fanciful" wish list items! But Target won't take back any item over $20 without a receipt! Even though it's checked off on our registry! What's with that??

Up with Bed, Bath and Beyond!
Truly, Bed, Bath and Beyond is my new favorite store. Their customer service and Bridal Registry policies and procedures are above and beyond!

They use the registry as your receipt... so you can return anything. At anytime. With or without a receipt. And they give you CASH (not a gift card) when you return any gifts purchased from their store! Amazing!

AND they give you 10% off ANYTHING in the store for 2 years - YES, 2 YEARS, after your wedding. And it doesn't have to be on your registry. It's just a flat discount when you check out! BBB is the BEST! Hooray for them! Hooray! They make life as a new bride sooo much easier!

An attempt at store loyalty? Yes.
Effective? You bet!

Back at the Office

2008-04-14T16:23:00.003-04:00

Today Mike and Sarah are back in the office at Lake Hart. Both spent the day sorting through emails and catching up on work projects.

Honeymoon to Honey-do

2008-04-13T16:38:00.004-04:00

Unpacking, laundry, opening gifts... that's how Mike and Sarah spent the first two days after the fabulous honeymoon. Sarah folding more towels and pairs of men's underwear than ever in her life (a taste of things to come??), and Mike got a glimpse at the myriad of "accessories" a woman needs to live life each day.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday Mike and Sarah painted. And painted another coat on the walls. The bedroom is done in two shades of purple from Valspar: Purple Fury and Classic Violet. The master bath is in two shades from Sherwin-Williams: Sensational Sand and Lightweight Beige with a stripe of Toasty where the two colors meet.

Best Man/Greatest Guy Paul came over to help Mike install the dimmer switch and chandelier in the bedroom, and install the curtain rod. As well, Mike put up additional shelves in the pantry and then rearranged the pantry items for easier access and assessment.

The house is coming together, and it looks great! Lots more work to do, that's for sure. Mike's garage is still full of Sarah's personal belongings, and the process of merging two full lives into one home will take a while. With patience, grace and gentleness, this house will soon feel like home for both Mike and Sarah!

Honeymoon Destination Surprise!

2008-04-08T16:25:00.005-04:00

After so many discussions about the honeymoon, and so many different renditions of possibilities, Mike ultimately decided to surprise Sarah with the honeymoon destination. A lover of surprises, Sarah was delighted with that idea - that meant one less major aspect of the wedding that she had to think about!

A few days before the wedding, Mike and Sarah had a few hours together at a bookstore. Mike bought a travel guide and promised Sarah she could read it on the plane.

Wednesday morning after the wedding, Mike and Sarah woke up at 4am to drive to the Orlando airport. Because of a bomb scare there the day before, the new couple wisely planned on extra time for security measures!

While at the ticket counter, Mike and the American Airlines ticketing agent continually referred to the destination as, "Greenland."

After waiting in the LONGEST security line in the history of Mike and Sarah's extensive travels, Sarah was pulled over by TSA for carrying LARGE bottles of sunscreen and aloe in her carry-on. For some reason, Sarah didn't connect "No liquids or gels over 3 oz" to the 2 24 oz bottles of spf 15 and green aloe vera gel! Someone just wanted to make sure she had her sunscreen before arriving at the beach!

Mike and Sarah flew to Miami, then jumped on a connecting flight to.... Cancun!

Five days at a fabulous beach-side honeymoon getaway in Cancun was wonderful: slow mornings with room service, lazy days spent in the sun lounging by the pool or the azure waters, and delightful evenings full of food tantalizing enough to satisfy a foodie... ah... even better than expected!

Wedding Celebration

2008-04-01T14:53:00.000-04:00

They say it's the things that don't go as planned that make a wedding special.

In that case, we had a very special wedding.

Sarah's dad has had leukemia for years, but when he caught the flu at the beginning of 2008, no one expected the complications and health crisis that was about to come. March was a roller-coaster of emotions as Ernie's health progressively got worse, and God didn't provide a miracle healing. A week before the wedding the doctors confirmed that Ernie was too sick to travel, so Sarah and Mike flew up for a quick visit during which Ernie gave his blessing and entrusted Sarah to Mike's care.

On the wedding day, friends in FL and DE worked hard to make sure Ernie could watch the ceremony live on the internet. With her mother, Carolyn, standing besider her, Sarah's dad responded via Sarah's cell speaker phone, "Her mother and I do."

Some guests, unaware of the health crisis, commented on how "modern" it looked to see a bride walk the aisle holding both her bouquet and her cell phone!

Mike and Sarah wrote their own vows and read them to each other for the first time during the ceremony. As the bridal party prepared to line up for the big walk, Sarah realized that she left her vows in the villa... so Maid of Honor Carrie and Bridemaid Jen Burke drove back to the villa to find the vows and return them to a slightly stressed out Bride. During that time, Bride Sarah and Head Photographer Maresea had some time for bridal portraits in the front of Mystic Dunes.

The worship was led by friend Blair Pippin (guitar and voice), Sarah's sisters Jennifer (flute) and Carrie (voice), and Mike's brother Steve (sax).

Mike and Sarah had their first dance to Michael Buble's Everything. It's amazing what one dance lesson can teach you! Mike was smooth on his feet.

Once upon a time, in the Spring of 2001...

2008-03-01T11:59:00.002-05:00

…. I just took on a new role in Minneapolis after spending one year in Brazil. I was a member on the Human Resource team for five area states and I was itching to get out of the MN winter and also to travel overseas.

Fortunately, my director gave me permission to help lead a week long vision trip to one of our locations in Turkey. I’d never been there before, but I was coaching some of the members on that team in my HR role.

I was impressed with the team and how they did ministry. I was particularly impressed with one of the team leaders, Sarah Gale. I found myself trying to position myself near her throughout the week. She was high quality, attractive, and fun to be with.

I continued to coach the Turkey team through the spring of 2002. As a result, I met up with the team (and Sarah) the following year in Spain and wrote emails to Sarah and the other leader- professionally, of course.

After that spring, life took me to seminary in Orlando for 2 years, 6 months of support raising, 2 years in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and then to Crusade’s international headquarters in the campus office in 2007. Lots of transitions and experiences, but no communication with Sarah.

Throughout all of that, Sarah remained on my “short list” of women of who I had an interest in. I wasn’t stalking her, dreaming about her, nor trying to get the nerve up to talk to her, but she was always in the back of my mind as someone I could see myself date.

Through mutual friends in Crusade I heard that Sarah was thinking of leaving staff. I sent her a short email asking her about her plans. (No prior communication with her in years!) She wrote back. I emailed. (Apparently with the right vulnerability to create enough intrigue for her to respond back).

That started on May 6th and emails soon became 2 or 3 times a day. My summer assignment was in Ft Collins, CO. Sarah came out for the last month. I had the privilege of picking her up at the airport and had we had our first date in Denver.

I soon found out that she didn’t remember being with me in Turkey in 2001! I also soon found out that we enjoyed spending all of our free time together! Three weeks after Colorado, I took my first trip to Delaware to visit her and her family.

Back in May God called her to remain with Crusade and take a new position in Orlando. Before we dated, her plan was to move here in January ‘08. She made multiple business trips here all Fall.

On December 8th, we drove very early to see the sunrise on the east coast of Florida. We then went ice skating and drove to the west coast. I surprised her with a sunset on the beach. I told her today represents how I want to spend the rest of my life… “watching sunrises and sunsets, going through hot and sandy, and cold and icy seasons together… Will you marry me?”

And…. she said ‘Yes’! We are getting married on March 31st in Orlando. I’m excited and busy with the plans! We’re honored to have the family and friends who can join us. We’ll live where I currently live; both will keep our current roles with Campus Crusade reaching students.

Sarah is amazing. She has great leadership, public speaking, and writing skills. She’s confident and vulnerable. She honors me and entrusts her heart to me. I’m drawn to the beauty she possesses. She’s a humble woman who’s quick to forgive me. While she doesn’t let me get away with anything, she’s also an incredible encourager.

Seasons...

2008-02-29T10:57:00.003-05:00

Life is full of seasons. We have four seasons every year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. We talk about the seasons of life: childhood, the teens, adulthood, retirement. People have seasonal allergies. We add seasonings to flavor our food. Even The Byrds sang about the seasonal aspect of life: how everything has it’s season (a concept borrowed from King Solomon’s wisdom in Ecclesiastes). Season: a way of marking one time frame as different from another by the unique flavor and taste of the components.

My life right now is definitely in a season.

The work with Every Student Sent (Alumni Mobilization) stretches me. I interface with our web design firm and our branding firm on a near daily basis. Phone calls, conference calls, meetings, and the work in between those deadlines keep me focused on technical aspects to create an involvement portal to help our former students connect with the heart of God for a lifetime. I’m working in areas that are completely outside my comfort zone, learning technical language, managing projects, and representing Campus Crusade for Christ.

In this season of ministry, I spend more time in working groups than I do with students. So when I got an email from some students at UCF, (University of Central Florida), I sat up a little straighter.

In their search for a conference speaker for their women’s retreat at the end of February, the email trail eventually ended in my inbox. With less than two weeks notice, I jumped at the opportunity to study, teach and speak to college women. This invitation felt like a sweet gift from God.

Having just moved to Orlando, I’m still in a season of transition. My ministry responsibilities are in a completely different realm, and relationally, I haven’t yet developed deep, heart friendships outside of my fiancé, Mike. The invitation to speak to student women felt familiar and comforting, like stepping into your favorite shoes, or putting on your favorite pair of jeans, or falling into your favorite chair.

This weekend (with about 4 weeks before my wedding), I’m speaking at “Woop, Woop, Women’s Retreat.” The UCF Retreat team expects between 60-80 student women. Goodness, give me 3 students and I’d be there! I’m really excited about this opportunity to spend a weekend with God and with college students.

The themes that keep coming up in my personal times with the Lord revolve around the Holy Spirit, and taking our needs, hopes and expectations to Jesus. Please pray for me: for the right message for these college women. I’m well aware that God has something in this for me, and not just for them. Pray that my heart would be still and quiet, and that I’d allow the Lord to work His message into my life, and out through my words.

In my last prayer letter I shared about my upcoming marriage to Campus Crusade for Christ staff member, Mike Evers. It’s 5 weeks from today, as I write this letter. Please pray for us in this engagement season with details, planning and relationships. Wedding deadlines and work deadlines are coinciding to make me feel more than a little crazy! But I want to enjoy this season before the next season of life sets in!

Registering

2008-02-04T11:11:00.000-05:00

Who knew that registering for wedding gifts could feel like running a marathon?

Not that I've ever run a marathon, but I can imagine that while you're running, you have this up and down emotional experience: excited for the challenge, and eager to finish strong. Then, part way through, you begin wondering why you tried to do it in the first place. Then, as you get your second wind, you remember that it's worth it, you're inspired to make the final push towards the finish line.

Well, Mike and I registered this weekend. We spent nearly ten hours on Saturday and on Sunday at Target, Home Depot, Macy's and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

If you've never registered before, or you haven't registered for years, let me give you a fresh look at the experience. For months (yes, even before the engagement), Mike has been talking about how excited he is to use the gun for the registry. Our first store was Target, which by far had the easiest and most convenient gun to use.

Our first stop was in electronics, for the flat screen tv. I know, I know. But why not? It's a dream list, right? Then we wandered over to the movies section, and that's where we really got our feet wet.

Ah, the discovery of picking up anything you want, and putting it on your list! The power, the bliss, the euphoria! Thirty minutes later, with tweny movies on our list, we meandered over to the sound systems and dreamed of an in-home theatre system and speakers for our ipods.

Five hours later (including a lunch break!), with glazed eyes and weary feet, we made our way over to the Atlanta Bread Company for lemonades.

We were exhausted from the sheer bliss of dreaming about anything in the store! Then there's the constant discussion and compromise that those who've been married for years have learned to do without thinking. We are still new at this, so it takes a bit of effort to adjust your thinking patterns from "I" and "Me" to "We". And we have very different decorating styles and preferences!

But we emerged victorious: still committed to each other, excited for the wedding day, and having to go back to our first stores and edit our registries and deleting items after falling in love with products at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Do we need 20+ movies?

Another parallel between registering and running a marathon:
Good shoes are paramount.

Sarah's January Prayer Letter

2008-01-29T13:40:00.001-05:00

January 2008

Good News: Life Changes

2007—The Year of Hope, that’s what my roommate and I dubbed 2007 on New Years Eve last year. Unbeknownst to us, the Lord had some big changes and major trials on the horizon for both us, and new experiences of His mercy, love, forgiveness and grace.

As you know from my letters in the last year, I’ve walked through some soul-searching trials, looking for my next steps. That process led me to a new role with Campus Crusade for Christ, helping to create an ongoing ministry to our new graduates as they transition from the campus to the marketplace. One of the implications of that decision included changes like this month’s move to Orlando, FL.

What you may not know is that I started dating Mike Evers, a Campus Crusade for Christ staff member, this summer, and we got engaged in December.

We met back in 2001, when Mike brought a team of students on a vision trip to my city in Turkey. I don’t remember Mike, but he remembers me! Since then we’ve run into each other at conferences and we have common friends, so I’ve known of him for years.

In May 2007, Mike emailed asking about my summer assignment. That one email turned into emailing every few days, then every day, to several times a day, next were phone calls, and finally we had our first date in Denver, while in Colorado for Campus Crusade’s biennial staff conference.

My new job in Emergent Strategies had me commuting to Orlando up to four times a month from September to December until I moved there two weeks ago. While it was difficult to travel so frequently, and I missed my family and my roommate, it was great to see Mike on each visit. He lives in Orlando and works at Campus Crusade’s World Headquarters.

Mike is the Human Resources Director for the National Campus Office. He oversees the placement and development of the staff who serve the field from our World Headquarters. In addition to meeting with staff for personality profiling and job fit assessment, he’s also a counselor, and sometimes meets with staff for individual counseling. Another aspect of his job utilizes his counseling degree to travel to conferences to counsel staff, assist with debriefing international staff after living overseas for years, and transition back to life in the States. Mike is well positioned for that role since only a year ago he transitioned back to the States after several years of ministry in Brazil.

One of his major projects right now is pioneering a partnership with the national campus office in New Zealand to upgrade their operations and HR processes to better serve the New Zealand national staff.

Tender and kind, yet strong and confident, Mike is a great listener. He’s gentle with me, and doesn’t shut down or run away from conflict. He surprises me with his vision for my life: how he sees God working in me, and through me. When we’re together, I feel at ease, relaxed, safe, and fully accepted.

We plan to get married on Monday 31 March 2008. Until then, I’m living with a friend’s mom, but my furniture and boxes are sitting in Mike’s garage. I’ll introduce you to Mike through my prayer letters in the coming months and you’ll see for yourself some of the reasons I love him.

First Meeting, and Engagement Story

2007-12-08T14:46:00.000-05:00

The two met in 2001 when Mike took a group of college students overseas where Sarah was leading a ministry team in the Middle East.

In May 2007 Mike facebooked Sarah and that led to a fast and furious email correspondence-turned-dating relationship.

On Saturday 8 December 2007, after a marathon day of watching the sun rise over the east coast of Florida at Cocoa Beach, ice skating on a hot day under a tent near Orlando, and watching the sun set over the west coast of Florida, Mike proposed to Sarah on the soft, sandy shores of Sarasota.

The proposal spoke of seasons of warmth and sand, and seasons of ice and cold... spent together in partnership.

...And included a beautiful, sparkly ring!

Fat Days

2007-11-13T16:15:00.000-05:00

I'm having a fat day. You know what I mean, don't you? Or at least, most of you do. I don't think my experience is foreign to many women. I know, there are some out there who are beautifully fit, healthy and slender. You probably either 1) eat really well and avoid all bad sugars and carbs, 2) spend all your hobby time in the gym and have the arms I only dream of achieving or 3) don't have to work on your body or watch your weight ever. Obviously, my regular experiences are completely foreign to you. As are your experiences foreign to me.

But to all women everywhere who know what I'm talking about... this is for you. If you've ever had to jump up and down to pull up your pants, then read on!

So, today, I'm having a fat day.

My favorite jeans feel too tight. You know that pair, the one you put on and usually feel so comfortable in. The leg is just the right length for your high heeled boots, and the denim feels so soft from washing and wearing. Usually you feel good, beautiful, confident in your appearance when you wear them.

Well, not only do my favorite jeans feel too tight, but I just sorted through some pictures from the last two weeks, and I'm amazed at how pudgy my face looks. And my body. I lost some weight earlier this fall, but I think I put it back on and my jeans feel too snug. I've tried blaming it on all the plane flights I've had lately, chalking it up to bloating from ascending and descending all those thousands of feet in altitude. But let's face it, I'm not fooling anyone. And I'm not that gassy.

Because my favorite jeans are too tight, I'm very self-conscious today, and that makes me too self-obsessed to focus on, reach out to and celebrate others. Yuck! It really prevents me from moving towards people. I feel self conscious, uncomfortable, full of shame and self condemnation, and I want to ignore God who gave me this body. I really just want to withdraw and hide. And wear sweats.

Two weeks ago at a women's conference, I led a seminar examining lies in our belief system, and then replacing those lies with truth. We looked Satan's tactics for sidelining us and distracting us from the truth of God's love, and how Satan tries to leave us in isolation and bondage. We also searched through the Bible to look at what truth is, how much God loves us, and how truth sets us free.

My jeans being too too tight - I don't think that's a "lie," (my jeans really are too tight. I can feel it), but allowing my pants (or my muffin top OVER my pants!) to isolate me and prevent me from moving towards others, that's certainly bondage... I'm sure there are some lies in there, too, like: I'm not valuable if my pants feel too tight. God is disgusted with my body and therefore can't use me in others people's lives. I'm really so important in the world and in other people's lives that if I gain weight, or my pants are too tight, others are too repulsed to interact with me. When my pants are too tight, I can't contribute to society and only take up more space in it.

Seems like I give my pants and my body too much power to influence how I move through my day. Though it may be more comfortable to unbutton my jeans, I still can walk with Jesus, believing that He loves me, has good things in store for me, and can empower me to resist temptation. Who knows, God just may use me on a fat day.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, neither fat days nor muffin tops, nor any bloating, nor anything else in all creation, including me, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Sarah's Version of Romans 8.38-39 for Fat Days).

13 November 2007

An Eye-Catching Moment

2007-11-06T13:18:00.000-05:00

So, I'm sitting in my rear-numbing position on the sofa, on the left side, without pillows, so as to not breakdown the cushion in the middle (trying to even it out by sitting next to the arm of the sofa, you know). And something ON the cushion, right next to me, catches my eye. It's moving away from me towards my papers. Can you guess?

Yes, a big, yellow spider. Gross.

I watched him move towards the pillows towards the the other end of the sofa and wondered where he came from. Frozen in place, I decided to email you about it. But in the second sentence I was distracted once again, although this time with an intensely growing sense of dread and fear... the spider was coming back towards me at break-neck speed! Grabbing my laptop and making retching sounds, I popped off the sofa faster than a Gale girl runs to chocolate. Thinking quickly, but unclearly, I eventually went to the bathroom to grab toilet paper (don't kleenexes clog the plumbing?), just in case I needed to defend myself a third time from that nasty thing and attempt to flush him.

Well, so I'm sitting on the love seat now, perpendicular to the big sofa with the yellow spider, determined to finish this engaging story when I see, out of the corner of my eye, that same darned spider (at least, I hope it's the same one!) crawling on the arm of the big sofa. Prepared, I jump into action, picking him up with my wad of toilet paper and running into the bathroom. I flushed, and held the handle for good measure. The paper went down, but the spider stayed on top of the water.

So now he's in the hopper, with a fresh piece of TP on top of him (to make sure he's stays there), and in a moment I'm going to flush him again.

If I wasn't awake earlier, I am now! Spiders are gross. I am brave.

6 November 2007

April 2007

2007-04-19T14:35:00.000-04:00

A Cautionary Tale - Hair Care Products

2005-06-08T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well, this morning I had a moment… Perhaps there's a lesson for someone else in my life experience...

So, with all of the heat and humidity lately, my hair has been on the dry and frizzy side. I use a 'deep' conditioner, designed to make my hair smooth and sleek, but it is not living up to it's advertised expectations. This morning a few thoughts ran through my mind…

I remembered using a de-frizzing oil in Thailand - a Thai staff gal offered it to me.
I remembered a hairdresser using some kind of oil on my hair, too.
I remembered not wanting to buy yet another hair-care product that I would only use half of.
I remembered a friend telling me how she uses hand/body lotion on her dry hair.

Then, I remembered the vegetable oil in the kitchen cabinet….

So I ventured to the kitchen, poured a little on my hands, rubbed them together and then began running my hands through my dry and brittle hair. Initially I thought I had used a little too much, so I pulled my hair back and put it up with a clip. Then I ran around the house gathering my things for the day. As I walked out the door I remembered what I forgot... My Crest White strips. I ran to the upstairs bathroom and froze when I saw my reflection.

My clean hair was an oily, greasy, mess!

I took the clip out, and let my stringy hair fall down to my shoulders. I gasped. I stared with disbelief. Cautiously I touched my hair. Oily. You know how, if you put a little vegetable oil on a paper towel and leave it for a few minutes, the oil will work it's way through most of the paper towel? Well, it does that with your hair, too. What originally was clean hair with a little too much oil, was now hair that could deep-fry chicken. Nasty! I tried to fix it. I really did. But in the end, I had to bend over the edge of the tub and re-wash my hair. Now I was really late. Really late. I partially dried my hair, twisted it up into a clip, grabbed a rubber band and hat. As I walked out the door I remember the Crest White Strips. So I ran BACK upstairs for those strips, and finally got in the car. Laughing.

Sometimes I surprise myself with my great ideas. But some of my great ideas really are great ideas! Really. But this one wasn't. So I sit here, typing to you with my ball cap on, smiling and shaking my head. Perhaps my cautionary tale can save you from the same mistake I made. If you want smooth, sleek, non-frizzy hair, don't use vegetable cooking oil.

May you have a great hair-day today!

8 June 2005