Happy Thanksgiving!!!

God bless our troops abroad! And May God bless you. Hopefully you'll make time today to reflect on all that He has given and blessed you with in this life!I'm blown away when I reflect on all the God has blessed me with. PTL!! Tomorrow is tree day. The Christmas lights are going up all around us. Exciting!

Snowboarding the Arabian Desert

These kids can sing in German!

haircut--Korean style

Got my haircut today at E-village. Hannah, my favorite Korean Barber was there. She cut my hair last time. Some people angle for the same barber every time. I don't. I just show up and let the first lady cut my hair who is available. It really doesn't matter to me. I don't place too much stock in making my hair nice. So this was rare day for me. Hannah, twice in a row. She actually remembered how she had cut my hair the last time: number 1 on the side, and number 4 on top (I'm refering to the sizes of those razor grill thingies). Amazing she remembered. Maybe she's one of a number of barbers in the area with a photographic memory? anyway, she did a decent job. She's a very sweet lady. The one thing she did that MUST be Korean is that she gave my eyebrows a trim. Yes, that's right! She trimmed my eyebrows. Now, I have pretty thick brows. She was kind enough to explain to me that the eyebrow shave was for free and included in the price. It felt really weird. Kinda tickled. That was a first for me. I'm not sure how I would have felt if she wanted to charge for that. Hmmm, probably wouldn't have paid for that. As I left I wondered if I'd try to get her next time. I do tend to go to the same place just cuz its close to home and I always get a coupon (which I just end up giving back as a tip anyway). Nah, probably not. I like her, but hair just doesn't matter that much to me. Seems like anyone can do my hair....yes, and probably anyone could trim my eyebrows too.

Titaya's--Best Thai Food in Austin...and cheap!!

It's been a busy week. I've been setting up appointments with students, tracking with our Friendship Families (who thankfully are making some great connections with their international students), and getting prepared for the big trip next week. So, what better way to conclude the week than with a trip to Titaya's with a few international students. Paran, a student from Thailand's Chaing Mai province introduced me to the place. It is simply the best Thai food I've ever had. What's amazing is that a lunch there will only set you back $7. They have the best Mango and sticky rice i've ever had. My friend Kevin, who works with me here at UT teared up after tasting it during his first visit. Looks like we'll have a group there. It should be good times. Titaya's, if you're in Austin is just south of 2222 on Lamar next to the Half-Priced Books. I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. It's a great way to experience Thailand.

Arabic

Assalamu Alekum, Keif Halek??

I've been cramming as much arabic lately into my head as I can. I'll soon be leaving for the Middle East and I want to know as much as possible. Arabic is the fifth language I've studied and it is certainly true what they say that the more languages you can speak the easier it gets. For this trip i'm focusing mostly on about 30-40 of the most needed phrases and will memorize a few paragraphs that describe who I am and where I'm from. For some reason I just can't fathom going to a place and not making an effort at the language. You don't have to achieve fluency, but you should at least try to say something. Even if you learn a few phrases, it speaks volumes to people about your interest and intentions in their homeland. It is the best way to say, "I respect your way of life!" It's because you've made a premeditated effort and they know it. With that, "Ma'asalama, Enshufuk alaxher!!" (by the way, the arabic word above means GRACE.)

Funny Conversation with Madison

Madison has been so excited about school. Recently while doing homework with her she stated, "I can count really good. I can even count to the very last number."
Me: "Really? And which number is that?"
Madison: "Two billion and 52."
Me: "Madison, do you know that there actually isn't a last number? They go on forever."
Madison: "Really?" She smiled and then I realized I would then have a chance to explain the concept of infinity to a 5 year old. Not easy...well, not even possible. I should have just stuck with two Billion and 52. Most numbers above that amount aren't used much anyway. Nobody really has two billion and 52 of anything, except when you're talking about the US Budget deficit for something.

thad's visit

Recently a good friend came to visit from CO. We were so glad to see him but check out what happened to him while he stayed at our house. this is awful!

http://www.justathad.blogspot.com/

you'll have to scroll down a couple entries to see it.

cheers

My Thoughts on the Global Economic Crisis

If ever there was a time to reflect on where your true wealth really is, its now. I'm reminded of Matthew 6:19 in which Jesus commanded his followers to "store up treasures for yourselves in heaven..." Interesting that he commands us to store treasures in the first place. Jesus isn't against storing up treasures, its just that most of us miss the point in regard to which kind of treasures he's talking about. We are to store up treasures in heaven, he says. Those kinds of treasures are solid. They don't experience boom and bust cycles. They don't artificially inflate or deflate based upon inconsistencies in the market. They are rock solid for eternity. They consist of every step of faith we take in this life, every act of service to another person in the name of Christ. These are the sorts of treasured investments that will build up into an eternal wealth that will be enjoyed in heaven for all eternity. The degree to which we invest there will affect the quality of our experience in heaven. I think the Bible justifies that. That's not to say some will be miserable in heaven, no way! That's not possible. So let's invest where it counts. Of course its important to save for tomorrow, invest and so forth. But aren't you thankful that our life is not in stocks, but in Christ alone!! PTL.

Leadership is Influence not Position

I was looking at some thoughts lately from Maxwell on leadership. They are helpful meditations: Here are a few of them:

Leadership is Influence, nothing more, nothing less.

I've been asked often to take a "leadership" roles in my organization and I always felt a little funny about that. I always felt that leadership is something one either has or has not. It isn't a role, a position, or a job. Rather it's your ability to influence people. There are many out there with titles, but a title doesn't make a man or woman a leader. Maxwell reminds us that in volunteer organizations, Positional leadership doesn't work. In a volunteer organization, influence is leadership regardless of whether that is coming from someone with a title, or someone without it.

VISION 08 Washington D.C.

850 international students attended the Vision 08 Conference this year. They represented 50 different nations. This was the most fun I've had at a conference in a long time! WOW! Aside from doing some teaching, one of my roles was to help coordinate the transportation of 1,000 people into D.C. and back over 3 consecutive days. I had a blast working with my cohorts Jerry and Jeremiah. We rented 20 buses to pull this off. What a fun experience. The highlight of course was seeing God impact the lives of these students. Aside from that, it was great to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and check out the International Spy Museum. PTL!!

Getting Out

We've really had a great fall taking international students out into the outdoors. They are so curious and exciting to explore all the Hill Country has to offer-which is a lot more than I had expected. Coming from Montana and growing up skiing and hiking around the northwest I didn't expect much from Texas. BUT, I have been very pleasantly surprised. I just love how the outdoors provide such great opportunities to talk with students about real life and spirituality.

Updated Family Pic

here is what our family looks like now. This was taken yesterday in our backyard. It amazes me that there are now five of us. We are having so much fun. Our kids are growing through so many fun phases. Brennan does the spider crawl and casts webs on passers-by that he sees, and Madison is all into her new friends at preschool.

Baby Macy is HERE!!

AFter 38 weeks of waiting, she is finally here!!! We are so excited. Maddie and Boo are really enjoying her as well. Maddie started preschool last week so there are lots of changes and events (Hurricane IKE for one) around here.

I'm running for president of the United States

Not sure if you've heard, but I've decided to go for it. I will run for the presidency in 2008. I hope I have your support. Check out the mania that is surrounding me right now below...

http://www.inews3.com/topstory.php?id=4d696b657c4b72696567

you may need to copy the above link and paste it into your browser...once elected, I'll have a secretary...of course, who can help me with my blog. I hope by then to make more frequent entries.

A Great Church in Germany

If you ever find yourself in Datteln, Germany. you must attend Wendepunkt!!! Stefan Arhelger is the head pastor and a dear friend of mine. Years ago he was trading Japanese futures contracts in the stockmarket in Frankfurt and God called him to go to seminary. Stefan went to Spain on an internship with TEAM international. This is where we met. We were teammates. Together we went through the villages of southern Spain preaching the gospel with a man called Leif Erickson. yeah, seriously. That was his real name. It was an amazing summer and one that radically changed my life. Over the years Stefan and I managed to get back together in Spain, Germany, Prague, Russia, and the U.S. It's amazing how much our lives have changed over the years. Here is a link to Stefan's church.. go check it out!!.

www.wendepunkt-datteln.de


God has used him in great ways. Who knows, maybe one day you'll get a chance to meet him.

Busy Few Days

It's so beautiful right now in Austin. Man I just love this town! We have a busy weekend ahead of us. The Annual Krieg Family Reunion is going down in Taylor, Texas on sunday. Watch out Taylor, here come boat loads of Kriegers!!! Then we're having 3 Iraqi students over for dinner. In the meantime I'm trying to figure out how we burned through almost 30,000 gallons of water in June. I'm nervous we might have a water leak.

Iraqi Student Leaders Visit UT

The UT is one of a few schools selected to host up and coming student leaders from Iraq. There will be 16 visitors here from July 10 through August 14th. We have made the request to be a host family during the time and have yet to here back. They will be immersed in programs studying public policy, political science and government among other things. Kristen and I are so excited to see if we can host a student. We'll let you know!

Lindsay Brown on reaching students

Lindsay Brown, Director of IFES gives a fresh perspective on the strategic value of reaching students. I love what he says here about reaching men and women in their 20's at the end of the piece. It's exciting to think about a 20 year old being reached and giving 50 years of leadership to their church in their home country. Multiply that over and you have GLOBAL IMPACT!!!

Ah yes, its the small victories that count!!!

I replaced a sprinkler head successfully today. I feel a deep sense of pride. I know, it seems like a small thing, but not for me, and not today! But really, i was nervous going into that challenge....wondering if I would wimp out and have to call on a pro. I simply had no idea how to do it. I never did it before. But I put my game face on and went after it with tenacity! Kristen was right there the whole time so I was able to demonstrate my skill to another person! I was also happy about getting a chance to use my folding "UTE TRAIL" knife. Thomas Ufer would be proud of me. Why do such things make us feel so good. These little victories in life can feel so great!

More importantly, God is really blessing us right now in this neighborhood. It's amazing. In a short period of time we've met about 6 houses of people around us, with kids and without. None know Christ as far as we can tell. God has given us a great group of people to get to know. Totally Cool! Just today we met a couple who live 4 houses up from us and the wife, Yulia is from Moscow, went to Moscow State University (the Harvard of Russia). We spoke Russian right here in our neighborhood park. Amazing how God works and orchestrates events in our lives!!