Rain Vent

Oh, so tired of the rain. Rain, rain, rain. Everything is wet. So so tired of the grey, cold, wet, rain. Wet streets, grey skies...UGH!!! Sometime soon I'm going to read about how the rain affects people here in Portland. On balance, it can't be good. There is probably some scientific data or a study somewhere that shows some ill affects. There are nice people in Portland. There are good people too. (btw, I don't think the two are necessarily the same...do you?) So, the effect of months of rain isn't something that JUMPS OUT at a person. I think its definitely a negative influence on the culture, just in a subtle kind of way. People do seem a bit more melancholy in comparison to people in say like southern California. I'm going to find a study. I really don't like this much rain. My soul is wet. Why did I post such nonsense? I have no idea!

The Unwasted Life

Another great charge by General Piper...

Brennan sings

Please go over to Kristen's blog and check out Brennan. He is learning to sing and its so fun!

www.kriegkiddos.blogspot.com

Also, I'd like to give a little shout-out to my brother today. Charlie has been working in China as the manager of operations at a golf course in Shanghai since last April. Quite an adventurous journey he's been on lately!! Happy Birthday BRO and welcome back to the U.S.!!

Valentines at the Kennedy School

Ok, if you're ever in the Portland area, you simply MUST go to the Kennedy School Theatre. It's an old school that they converted into a hotel/museum/theatre.

http://www.kennedyschool.com/index.php?loc=57

It's a great place especially for parents b/c you can do a movie and a meal at the same time. Kristen and I celebrated Valentines Day there on Friday. (strategically delayed it to avoid the crowds) They showed "Enchanted" which had both of us on the floor busting a gut. I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard. Maybe its just us, but "Enchanted" is truly funny...Happy Valentines Day friends!!

Back from Spain Conference

I'm still jet-lagged and groggy eyed from our Spain conference. Good time there. it was great to see the teams from around the Area of Affairs get encouraged and refreshed after months on the battlefield. I was encouraged to hear a lot of stories of young men and women coming to Christ in the heart of Old Europe. Many of us in the west have given up on Europe. But God is doing a new work there. Even in France there were encouraging stories of students coming to Christ and spiritually interested. Praise God! Nerja is a nice little place on the mediterranean sea. I had a haircut there by a man named Luis. I saw him several times throughout the week as I would walk back and forth from the hotel to the internet cafe where I would call Kristen. I really wish there could have been more time to chase down guys like Luis and the cab driver I rode in with. I forget the cab drivers name but he played on the national soccer team for Uruguay against Pele some 30-35 years ago. Very interesting man. I left him a gospel track as we departed into the hotel. I'm praying he will read it...So we're back in Portland and getting into the groove...

Mission Connexion Portland 2008

Rolling Hills Community Church is hosting a massive missions conference here in Portland. Campus Crusade For Christ is one of about 75 other mission agencies here with tables. Luis Palau and Heather Mercer are a couple of the featured speakers. Across from our booth at the vendor fair is a ministry called Radio Voice Of Christ. They are broadcasting Christian Radio into Iran in the Farsi Language. Interested Iranians can link to the website for more information. I spoke with them for awhile about what they're seeing. It's truly amazing what God is doing through this ministry!!I was so encouraged to see so many people boldly going after the hard places. I was very convicted as well. Heather Mercer's message tonight was a challenge to reject the soft religion of self-preservation, and live sold out to Christ. Kristen and I both sense we have some things to talk through as the Holy Spirit is speaking to us this weekend. I sure hope they put the messages online. Heather Mercer currently lives in Iraq and was absolutely dynamite to listen to.

Happy New Year!!

The Kriegs are now at home and recovering from the Winter Conference. What an encouraging time it was! God moved in many great ways and it would be too difficult to go into all the details here, but I'll share a couple ways how we witnessed God move. One way in which I saw God move was seeing God put a burden on the hearts of many students and staff to go to the mission field. I was so encouraged. I led a seminar for recruiting to Russia-Moscow in particular. We decided a couple of months ago to begin challenging the students and staff in our region to go to this city and join the effort to help reach the 1.2 million students there for Jesus Christ. At the time we weren't sure if there would be a team or not. We'll, at the conference I met three staff from Idaho: Josh, Kayla, and Laura who were determined to go and lead a team to Moscow this summer. During the breakout time when I asked the students how many would commit to go, 8 raised their hands. BOOM! Just like that we have laborers. It was just another reminder of the eagerness of students to help change their world for Christ. I haven't heard the final report yet, but there are MANY who are saying yes to overseas projects and missions opportunities! VERY VERY EXCITING!! I loved seeing students move closer in relationship to Christ. Right before our eyes lives were changing for all eternity!!! One girl came and accepted Christ into her life on Saturday. Sunday she was out on the streets of Portland and sharing her faith with others. Many others moved from passivity to a determination to grow and live by faith and even take their faith to others. Eternity is being impacted as these students grapple with Christ and offer themselves unreserved to HIM! We are physically drained right now yet joyful in the privelage to play a small part in what God is doing!!