New Year, New Focus

DR Trip Sep 2011

I praise God for 2011!

Many things to be grateful for, including, but not limited to:

• Deeper walk with God, more sensitivity to the presence of the Holy Spirit
• Family is enriched--more time with Melissa & children; still need to improve but thankful for the time to spend with them
• Making ends meet financially--always need to be vigilant in taking care of the family. Praise God for food, shelter, clothes, and a vehicle to get around with.
• Learning how to get things done--one thing off the bucket list is a family missions trip. By God's grace, we were able to go to the Dominican Republic (all twelve of us--Chuck, Marge, our family, and Jeff's family). We learned how to honor God, to love one another as a testimony to everyone we met, and to love the people in the Dominican Republic.  This trip was one of the highlights of the year.  The other highlight was the polar plunge on New Year's Day 2011 where we jumped out of our comfort zone and dove into the icy waters of Winona Lake with many others to show ourselves and to ask God to help us go beyond ourselves to honor Him. Because of the polar challenge, we made plans to go to the DR. We made it happen with God's help and provision. 

Polar Bear Plunge 01.01.11

Overall, the Butler family has much to be thankful for. We praise God for His generosity. We seek to honor the Lord more in 2012. May you and your family seek to take the challenge to do great things for God. As William Carey, the great missionary of the past said, "Expect Great Things, Attempt Great Things" in 2012.

My Heritage is Grandfather

Richard Butler stands at the center of wedding party

Today's installment of National Native American Heritage Month focuses on heritage, family heritage.  The Free Dictionary online dictionary defines heritage as, "Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition."

A tradition I inherited from my ancestors begins with my grandfather, Richard Butler.  In my recollections from childhood, I see his silhouette casting a long shadow into my life. As I recount my heritage, I have inherited many characteristics. I wear my Navajo bun proudly in his honor. The hairstyle symbolizes symmetry, harmony in the figure-eight pattern. I see it as the harmony of the Creator God with His created human beings. Everyday I tie it up. I rehearse the harmony of God intent--to live with and to enjoy being with people of the earth.

If I were to recall one characteristic that has emerged in my life, I would suggest that it is his love for family. He may not have been the best example always. But he reviewed how much he cared for us. He may not have expressed love in the best tones. But he unabashedly loved from the heart. Whether harsh words or teasing, he spoke from a hear to love. I do miss him. In his honor, I share a few lines of poetry about grandpa from my own limited perspective. 

My Heritage is Grandfather

I've heard the stories.
I rehearse them in my mind.
I long to hear your distinctive chuckle. Restored to the memories of my mind.

You walked in beauty before I was born,
You walked in new life when you were reborn
You sacrificed to make sure we had what we needed and more,
You learned to sacrifice from Jesus Christ your Lord

I am humbled to trace my lineage to you
I am proud of my strong, wise Dineh man
My grandpa, shi naalii,
You are my heritage. You are my roots.

May I draw from your strengths for today and tomorrow
May I glean from your wisdom so wise
May I strain from the desert, to the high country,
The high calling of communing with the Great Creator, you loved.

Harmony you sought to experience
You lived out harmony with the Infinite Maker of all things
Tho' trying but failing many a time
You wanted harmony for everyone in the family, you loved

You walked in beauty before I was born,
You walked in new life when you were reborn
You sacrificed to make sure we had what we needed and more,
You learned to sacrifice from Jesus Christ your Lord

I've heard the stories.
I rehearse them in my mind.
I long to hear your distinctive chuckle. Restored to the memories of my mind.

I LOVE MY WIFE!

photo by lovelypetal


I was reading in Proverbs 5 today and it struck me again. I love my wife!

I am really looking forward to speaking on Sunday. I read Proverbs 5 today and I love the challenge to rejoice in the wife of your youth. I love my wife! I need to always be exhilerated with her love. I love my wife!! I praise God for His truth to help me keep my focus. In this sex-crazed world, remaining faithful is a challenge. But God gives us instruction for every guy (married or not). May God use His word to live life to its fullest and to enjoy marriage. I still do!

I get to officiate a wedding this weekend so I am a little nostalgic, but I praise God for working in my life and giving me a great partner for life. I am so grateful for God's help in my life so that I can experience amazing love and companionship with my wife. Did I say it already? I love my wife!

Alive @ Alive

photo from Alive 2008


My first experience at Alive was memorable. I took my son and his best friend. Thanks to the Wooster Grace Children's Ministries and their leaders for conducting this all-day event. Cordell Smith and Carrie Sansom were great leaders.

photo from Alive 2008

My favorite parts of the day were spending time with my group listening to testimonies and interviews by Brady Quinn and Casting Crowns. I thoroughly enjoyed the following groups: EleventySeven; Leeland, Hawk Nelson & Casting Crowns. My boys spent an hour on the lake in paddleboats while I watched, rested, and chilled on the shore; I even met a student from Akron who let me toss a frisbee with him while his friends were occupied.

You can get a sense of the spectacle of a music festival by visiting the daily blog (you can see part of our group in bright gold t-shirts on the ALIVE daily blog). Overall, it was a great day to build relationships and to conduct an all-day service project of picking up trash wherever we were.

photo by Alive 2008