Summit For Someone

Many of you know my love for hiking and the outdoors. This is a love that was fostered as a youth in Missouri, but never realized until later in life. As a Youth Minister I had the pleasure of leading youth on 7 “Trek” trips. One was to the Appalachian Trail in northern Georgia, a beautiful hike in its own right. Then on 6 different trips to Colorado to hike 14,000 ft. mountains, something happened. Something was awakened. I have continued my quest of hiking, even as I stepped out of Youth ministry. Over the last few years I have hiked 3 more 14ers in Colorado plus I have been on the peak of 7 other state high points including Guadeloupe Peak in Texas at 8749 ft. These trips have been a meaningful and spiritual rejuvenating adventure for me. More importantly I have seen the impact of the time in the mountains on the teens of my church and on the friends and adults that joined us on these climbs. This summer while reading my Backpacker magazine I noticed a contest to join a group to climb Mt. Whitney in California. I submitted my info and an essay and anxiously waited for a response. Well, I made the trip! In April I will travel to California with a friend or two and they will drop me off at Mt. Whitney to experience a whole different kind of climb, including snow shoes and ice crampons. The Mt. Whitney climb is a joint adventure with Backpacker Magazine in support of Big City Mountaineers. Big City Mountaineers specialize in taking troubled urban teens into the mountains to teach life skills and encourage personal growth. This is accomplished through the mentoring relationships along the way. My trip to Mt. Whitney is to provide funds for these teens to attend these programs next summer. I will be “summiting for someone” that needs a helping hand out of the world they know, and into the possibilities that could be ahead of them. This is where you come in to help. I have a goal of raising $4,000 to participate in this climb, of which I have already raised over $3300. This money does not go to me or to the guides that will help us accomplish our summit. All of the money goes to these troubled teens participation in Big City Mountaineers, again none of it goes to my trip. Here is how you can help. Please consider donating on my behalf to Big City Mountaineers. The simplest way to do so is by going to www.summitforsomeone.org/donate find my name on the list and clicking on it. Then find the donate button and enter the amount and information. You will receive an email with your tax deduction information. For Checks please follow these instructions: Make payable to Big City Mountaineers. In the memo line of the check write "SFS-[Eddie Boyer]. Mail donation checks to: Big City Mountaineers Attn: Summit for Someone 710 10th St. Suite 120 Golden, CO 80401 Thank you for helping me to achieve my Summit For Someone! Eddie Boyer 1 Kings 19:11-12 ""The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."

Contentment

A familiar conversation popped up over the last couple of weeks. Contentment. The concept of contentment seems to be lost in today's American society. No matter how much we have we always want more. In a time and culture that presumably have more "stuff" than any other time in history, we are left with an emptiness that we think can only be filled with "more".

Paul has an interesting take on what life looks like to be hungry, needy, thrown in jail, and still content.

"I am not saying this because I have am in need. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances, whether meager or bountiful, where I find myself. I know how to survive in tight situations, and I know how to enjoy having plenty. In fact, I have learned how to face any circumstances: fed or hungry, with or without. I can be content in any and every situation through the One who is my power and strength." Philippians 4:11-13 (The Voice)

Can you be content no matter how much or how little you have? Or will you constantly want more, never really knowing satisfaction? When will we learn that "stuff" will never fill that void? That void that we feel of wanting more is only filled by one thing or more specifically by The One. We should want more of Him. We should desire more of the Grace of Jesus. We should be desperate for the Holy Spirit. When we desire relationship with Him more than anything else this world has to offer, then we find contentment. It is in Him that we find "power and strength" not for our glory, but for His!

Where have you searched for contentment? How did it leave you? How can you turn that desire for more towards your Heavenly Father?

Discipline: it hurts

Discipline is not everyone's favorite word. For most it seems to conjure up painful memories and thoughts. We see discipline as a negative word, associated with following the rules.

But there is another way to define discipline: activity, exercise or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training. Training, now there's another word that gets a bad wrap regularly. Here's what I know, I may not like discipline or training but that doesn't mean it isn't good for me.

As I prepare to go climb Mt. Whitney in April my physical preparations have begun. It starts out small and will slowly intensify over the next 3 months. This week I started P90X in the evenings. The first night hurt, and so did the second. But although I'm sore today- it's already better than the first day. And that is the way discipline works. When I train my body it goes from painful, to it hurts good, to enjoyable even if it hurts.

Isn't that the way it works spiritually too? I have struggled the last couple of months to spend regular time in The Word and in prayer. But starting Monday, sitting down on my couch in my office I made my self read through the prayer list and read 2 chapters from Matthew. And then I did it the next day. Now today, I knew I was missing something, I hadn't sat down to read & pray.

Discipline the body. Discipline the spirit. How is God showing you the meaning of discipline?

"Go...Then come, follow me."

Haunting words from Jesus in Mark 10. What is it that you need to expel from your life that fits between the Go...Then? For this young man it was his possessions. What is it for you?

A good friend of mine just a couple of years ago came to this place in his faith journey. He believed in God, but he wasn't yet ready to be a follower of Jesus. After a long road trip, filled with many discussions, he decided that he needed to get rid of everything that held him back from following. He literally gave away 90% of what he owned. Most people wouldn't think of leaving themselves just one shirt to wear to church, or to let go of their prized possessions. But he did just that, let go of it all.

What happens next on your journey may be even more telling than what you let go of, the "then follow Me" What does this look like? How do you live this out today, tomorrow, right now?

I love how the disciples respond, "Then who in the world can be saved?" Have you ever looked at what it takes to be a disciple and had this reaction? You are not the first! Nor will you be the last! But think about this; it is not about what you do. I'm not saying that you shouldn't follow the golden rule. I'm simply saying it's already been done, it's already been paid. The disciples still didn't understand that salvation was to be found in Jesus. The answer to their question of who can be saved is everyone! But not everyone will.

Discipleship implies humility. Humility implies submission. Submission implies total commitment. Total commitment...

What comes after your Go? What comes next after your Then?



"Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God." vs.27

Life an Adventure...

The year is now 2013. I have no idea what God has in store for me this year. I do know this however: this year will be unlike last year, or the year before. I think my word for the year is Adventure. I know that is the main theme of my life it seems, but this year more than others before. Here are a couple of reasons why. First, I have gone back to school. Grad School work is difficult and challenges me to think on a different level, from different angles, about different subjects than I would usually think of or study on my own. This is good: but it's hard. Secondly, I will be climbing a mountain (literally) that I have never been on before, with a group that I have never met, during a time of year that most would shy away. And I have to find time to train. This is good: but it's hard. Thirdly, my kids are growing up and changing right before my eyes. Claire is already reading (in Kindergarden) and Eliam is right behind her. Sometimes I'm thankful they are growing up, other times I want them to slow down. This is good: but it's hard. Finally, church life is unlike I have ever seen it before. People are unsettled, there is a desire for something different, something more. Change is tough. Discipleship is tough. This is good: but it's hard. Maybe my theme should be life is good, but it's hard... What part of life is good for you? What do you see as your upcoming challenges?