Footsteps with God...

...in Utah? Yeah, you can find the one true God even in Mormon country! This past weekend I spent some time in Arches National Park in southeastern Utah hiking and camping. It has to be one of the most incredible and breathtaking places that I have ever been. I spent some time Sunday with my buddy Bobby, hiking around a wash in the central part of the park. We were way off the beaten path, enjoying some untouched beauty many rarely see.

Monday and Tuesday were spent with God, meditating on Him and speaking with Him in ways that I have not done in quite some time. I just wish I had journaled some of my thoughts. However, I did spend a lot of time taking some amazing photos, which is my way, I guess, of journaling my thoughts. Many of my conversations with God come flooding back to me as I scroll through the hundreds of pictures I took.

Arches National Park is located near Moab, Utah and is the home to nearly 2,000 natural arches. The collection is by far the largest concentration of arches in the world. The national park lies atop an underground salt bed, which is the main cause of the formation of the arches and spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins, and eroded monoliths in the area, some which are thousands of feet thick. According to scientists, this salt bed was deposited over the Colorado Plateau some 300 million years ago when a sea flowed into the region and eventually evaporated. Over millions of years, the salt bed was covered with residue from floods and winds and the oceans that came in intervals. Much of this debris was compressed into rock. At one time this overlying earth may have been one mile thick.

Salt under pressure is unstable, and the salt bed below Arches was no match for the weight of this thick cover of rock. Under such pressure it shifted, buckled, liquefied, and repositioned itself, thrusting the Earth layers upward into domes. Whole sections dropped into cavities. In places they turned almost on edge as faults occurred. As this subsurface movement of salt shaped the Earth, surface erosion stripped away the younger rock layers.

Over time water seeped into the superficial cracks, joints, and folds of these layers. Ice formed in the fissures, expanding and putting pressure on surrounding rock, breaking off bits and pieces. Winds later cleaned out the loose particles. A series of free-standing fins remained. Wind and water attacked these fins until, in some, the cementing material gave way and chunks of rock tumbled out. Many damaged fins collapsed. Others, with the right degree of hardness and balance, survived despite their missing sections. These became the famous arches. This is the geologic story of Arches - probably. The evidence is largely circumstantial. The only comfort that I need, though, is that God created it. For all I know, He formed this magnificent landscape in the blink of His eye.

As I was spending time with God in Arches the whole notion of being a part of His creation came into the conversation. I kept going back to the fact that all of this was created by God. However, I was starting to dwell on the creation, rather then the Creator. I was beginning to contemplate the magnificence of God's creation and in complete awe of His Masterpiece - the Signature of such an Awesome God. However, while walking through a wash, about to meet the trail that I had departed from earlier, I God very clearly placed on my heart that I am his Masterpiece; I am the Signature of God.

God also placed on my heart that being out there was a reason not to figure my life out on my own, but to commune with God; to be in awe and wonder and be amazed of who He is, not what He created. He created all of this for us so we can see Him. We are stewards of this land. This is a gift from our almight Creator. God quickly put me back in my proper place! I love being outside; it is my refuge and one of the few places I truly get my inner strength - all while being in the presence of God, of course. I truly feel close to God when I am out tromping around in His the outrageous beauty that He created.

When I am outside I am able to discover more of more of who I am and the man God created me to be. God has a plan for me and a purpose for my life. I feel this is one of the reasons he brought me to Colorado. As I scrambled on rock and hiked through some of the washes in Arches I was able to truly discuss with God what He has in store for me. I was able to share my fears and focus on my strengths. I was able to be upfront with Him about my hopes and desires. All the while He very quietly, in the stillness and quitness of this luxurios landscape, spoke very clearly to me about what He has planned.

I left Arches with a renewed sense of self and definitely closer to God. I guess that is why it's called recreation...take a walk alone with God and discover something new...cut out all distractions and take in all who He is.

In His Grace and Mercy,

Chas

A Trip Back to Delaware, and other random quips

Hello friends:

So, I bet you have been wondering what I have been up to. Well, it has been over a month since I have posted anything on here and so I thought it was about time I did so. My life has not been too exciting out here since Christmas, which was spent with the family in San Antonio. I had the pleasure of driving my truck though both snow storms here in Colorado. What a treat that was. By the grace and provision of God was I able to make it safely to and from my destination.

I have been spending most of the past month or so either as a barista here in Gunnison or serving at a restaurant up at Crested Butte. Both have provided me with decent cash and have allowed me to enjoy the folks of this great state. The snow has been a bit lacking out here in the Gunnison Valley, however. So, please pray for some white stuff...and colder weather. It has been quite warm for this time of year, with today reaching into the 40's.

I made it home last week for a surprise visit to Delaware. It was a great time spent with family and friends...all were shocked and amazed to see me home. I was able to spend some decent amount of time with my grandmother, who is doing better than she was before the holidays. However, she insists on calling me by my father's name. She is slowly but surely fading...so please pray for her and her relationship with the Lord.

To everyone who was at the banquet and heard my testimony: Thank you for your love and compassion. Please continue to pray for me and my relationship with the Lord. He has been forever faithful and patient with me and I will always cherish that. I had a blast with you all...pictures will be posted shortly.

Well, thanks for your patience and understanding. I will be sure to be more diligent to keep you posted on whats going on in my heart and soul out here in God's country.

Peace,

Chas