Deric & Rebecca's Blog

Highlights from the past 6 weeks

2009-08-13T15:51:00.013-06:00

We've been enjoying summertime in the San Luis Valley and keeping busy, which is why our blog is lacking in entries. Here's our attempt to catch up: a list of highlights and photos from the past 6 weeks.

1. Camping, camping, camping!!! We've camped at Elk Creek, Rock Creek, near Lake Isabel, and near Creede.
With a group from church at Elk Creek in late June.

Rainy night at Rock Creek the last weekend of June.

With good friends, Glen and Mary Lynn Stillings, near Creede. July 26-27th.

2. Beth Moore Conference. Albuquerque. July 10-11. I (Rebecca) traveled with 12 other ladies from Alamosa for an awesome 2-day conference.

3. Date Night at the local Drive-In Theatre. We watched "The Proposal" and ate Sonic in D's truck-bed. What a fun night!

4. CO Springs trip: July 18-19. Drove up Pike's Peak and explored Garden of the Gods with D's cousin, Kyle. Had dinner with good friends: the Springstons and the Johnsons.

5. Hiked San Luis Peak with our good friend, Lisa. 14,014 feet. Saturday, August 1st. Beginning time: 0630. End Time: 1530. Miles: 13.1 roundtrip.

6. Visit from Rebecca's parents and the Johnson-Clasquin wedding in Ft. Collins. August 5-10.

The newlyweds: Jayson and Mallory Clasquin.

A Breath of Fresh Air in the Women in Ministry Debate

2009-06-30T09:25:00.005-06:00

My Struggle in Theological Study, by: Deric Sneller

To say the least, I have been dissatisfied with much that has been published regarding the matter of women in ministry. I think that both sides of the debate disregard matters that drastically affect their understanding of the Gospel. But yesterday I stumbled upon this approach by John Stott while doing sermon preparation for 1 Timothy 2:1-7, which precedes what I find to be the most problematic passage in the debate. This approach does not end further study about sexual roles, but prompts more study while avoiding some potential pitfalls. I post this to prompt such study and ponderings in all of you. The task of biblical interpretation is not an easy task, but it proves to be a necessary task. After you read Stott's excerpts, feel free to comment with your feedback. I'd love to dialogue about this.

Excerpts from John Stott’s commentating on 1 Timothy 2:8-15

“This brings us to the key question: what is the relation between these two antitheses? Are they simply parallel and therefore equally normative? Is a woman both to be silent and not teach, and to be submissive and not wield authority, with no distinction between these instructions? This is what many commentators assume. But must submission always be expressed in silence, and ‘not exercising authority’ in ‘not teaching’? Or could it be legitimate to see the submission-authority antithesis as permanent and universal (because grounded in creation, see verse 13), while seeing the silence-teaching antithesis as a first-century cultural expression of it, which is therefore not necessarily applicable to every culture, but open to transposition into each?

Some readers will doubtless respond that there is no indication of this distinction in the text itself. For verses 11 and 12 contain just two prohibitions (teaching and having authority) and two commands (silence and submission). This is true. But the same could be said about verses 8 and 9. There is nothing in the text of verse 8 which requires us to distinguish between the commands to lift up holy hands and to be rid of anger and argument. Nor is there anything in the text of verse 9 which requires us to distinguish between the commands to women to dress modestly and to avoid hair-plaiting and jewellery. Yet a Christian mind, schooled in the perspectives and presuppositions of the New Testament, knows that its ethical commands and their cultural expressions are not equally normative and must therefore be distinguished. So it recognizes in verse 8 that holiness and love are ethical, but hand-lifting is cultural, and in verse 9 and 10 that decency and modesty are ethical, while hairstyles and jewellery are cultural. Why then should we not anticipate that the same distinction between the ethical and the cultural is to be found in verses 11 and 12? The context (with its three regulations about prayers, adornment and submission) should at least make us open to this possibility.”[1]

“If, however, the authority-submission antithesis is to be retained as creational, may not the teaching-silence antithesis be regarded as cultural? May not the requirements of silence, like the requirement of veils, have been a first-century cultural symbol of masculine headship, which is not necessarily appropriate today? For silence is not an essential ingredient of submission; submission is expressed in different ways in different cultures. Similarly, women teaching men does not necessarily symbolize taking authority over them. Teaching can be given in different styles, with different meanings. Thus public prophesying by women was not regarded as an improper exercise of authority over men, presumably because it took place under the direct inspiration and authority of God. Nor was Priscilla’s teaching of Apollos inappropriate, because she gave him private instruction in the home, and Aquila was present, sharing in the instruction.”[2]

“In the end, our decision whether women may ever teach men, or be ordained to the pastorate, or exercise other leadership roles in the church, will depend on our understanding of the nature of the local presbyter leadership. If we belong to the Reformed tradition and see the local presbyter as essentially an authority figure, responsible both to teach the congregation and to exercise discipline (including excommunication), then we are likely to conclude that it is inappropriate for women to occupy such an authoritative position. Supposing, on the other hand, we begin our thinking about Christian pastoral leadership with the teaching of Jesus in Mark 10:35ff., where he drew a distinction between two human communities whose leaders operate on different principles. In the world, he said, ‘officials exercise authority over them’. But, he added, ‘Not so with you.’ Instead, in his community greatness would be measured by service.

Why should it be thought inappropriate for women to exercise such servant-leadership? They have done so throughout biblical history. Besides, there are now no authority figures in the church, who can teach like the apostles in the name and with the authority of Christ. The New Testament is now complete, and all Christian teachers are called to teach humbly under its authority. If then a woman teaches others, including men, under the authority of Scripture (not claiming to any authority of her own), in a meek and quiet spirit (not throwing her weight about), and as a member of a pastoral team whose leader is a man (as a contemporary cultural symbol of masculine headship), would it not be legitimate for her to exercise such a ministry, and be commissioned (ordained) to do so, because she would not be infringing the biblical principle of masculine headship? Our answer to this question is likely to depend on whether we consider it legitimate to apply the principle of cultural transposition to verses 10 and 11.”[3]

“In developing the concept of cultural transposition, I am not claiming (as my readers might wish me to claim) that it provides a slick solution to all our questions about sexual roles, although I think it will save us from wrong solutions and will put us on the road towards right ones. But further theological reflection is needed, especially in relation to three questions.

The first is a question about complementarity. How should we define the created complementarity of the sexes (including the notions of ‘headship’ and ‘submission’), not just physically and physiologically, certainly not culturally (in terms of popular gender stereotypes), but psychologically and in particular biblically? What does Scripture teach about the essence (permanent and universal) of our created maleness and femaleness? This question must be at the top of our agenda for debate, since whatever creation has established culture can express but not destroy.

The second is a question about ministry. Once the complementarity of the sexes has been biblically defined, what are the roles and responsibilities which belong properly to men and not women, and to women and not men?

The third is a question about culture. What visible symbols in our particular culture would appropriately express the sexual complementarity which Scripture lays down as normative?”[4]

[1] John R. W. Stott, The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996), 79.

[2] Ibid., 80.

[3] Ibid., 81.

[4] Ibid., 88.

Florida Trip: 6/5-6/10

2009-06-16T09:06:00.019-06:00

Deric & I were so thankful to be able to celebrate our wedding anniversary on the beautiful beaches of northwestern Florida! What made it even more special is that we met up with my siblings (since they're all living in Ft. Rucker, AL, only a couple hours from the beach). We enjoyed talking, laughing, camping, and fellowshipping with Jonathan, Jessica, and Daniel. My only complaint was that it wasn't long enough! We hope you enjoy the photos of our vacation!

We flew into Pensacola on Friday, June 5th, and Jon and Jess met us at the airport. We explored the Naval Air Station and its beach.
That first night, we stayed at at KOA "Kottage", which was very nice. We made a delicious dinner of BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and salad.

Saturday morning we caravanned to Destin, FL. It was about a one-hour drive. Jon and Jess brought both of their cars so that we could use one. It was sweet to drive Jon's Acura RSX, and fun to follow Jess in her new Mini.

Destin has such a beautiful beach: sugar-like sand and crystal clear water. It was breath-taking!
Daniel had to fly a helicopter on Friday evening, so he met up with us Saturday around noon.
The water was perfect for floating!

We camped at Henderson Beach National Park, which I highly recommend if you're ever in the area. It was lovely to be so close to the beach (about a 1/4 mile walk) and yet be able to take a hot shower when needed.
Saturday night we enjoyed a seafood feast at local favorite: The Crap Trap.
Deric tried (and liked!) raw oysters for the first time.

After dinner, we enjoyed a walk along the boardwalk and pier, just in time for the changing skies of sunset...
...and a beautiful moon rise.

We made the mistake of stopping by Wal-Mart for some groceries. Apparently, Saturday night around 9:30pm is when all the tourists hit up the Wal-Mart. I've never seen a store so crowded (of course, I avoid shopping on Black Friday)!
Breakfast on Sunday: pancakes, fruit, and French-pressed coffee.

My make-shift sun shelter, made from part of our tent. :)
Sunday afternoon we went to a local "Fun Land" for go-karting and putt putt. We found this fake 'stache stuck to a sign. I think it looks pretty real on Jon and Deric.

Deric beat me at go-karting, but only by a couple of seconds!

Group shot!
Dan had to head back to Rucker on Sunday evening. Jon, Jess, Deric and I headed back to the beach.
Jon caught a big crab with the net, but it crawled out before I could get a picture.

A perk of staying at a National Park is that it isn't commercialized. Instead of being surrounded by tall hotel buildings, we had these beautiful dunes.

On our walk back to the campsite, we ran into this little guy.
We have the same taste in tents. :)
Jon and Jess took off Monday morning. Deric and I enjoyed Destin's beach one last time.

Monday afternoon we drove to our next destination: the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. After we checked into our cottage, we headed to the downtown area to explore and have dinner.

We ate here, a cute Italian place.

In honor of Pensacola's 450th anniversary, this old Spanish ship was docked in the harbor.

Deric loves those classic cars!

Here's where we stayed on the Naval base--very utilitarian, but very comfortable and affordable!

We were only about 200 yards from the beach!
And about 1/8 mile from this lighthouse, built in the mid 1800's.

Tuesday afternoon we explored the infamous Naval Air and Space Museum. It was well worth the visit!

It was hard to leave this place, but once we were back in our home in Alamosa, it felt good to be back. What a perfect vacation! :)

Deric's parents come to visit! May 2-9

2009-05-28T10:10:00.012-06:00

We were so blessed to have Deric's parents, Bob and Janelle, come to vacation in Alamosa and visit us from May 2nd to May 9th. It was a week full of adventures and quality fellowship.

They arrived Saturday evening and one of the first sights they saw was a gorgeous full-bowed rainbow. This photo was taken from our front yard.

Sunday after church, we ventured to the infamous "COLORADO GATORS" Alligator Farm. It was quite the experience!

We saw hundreds of alligators! It actually began to give me the heebie-jeebies after awhile.

For the most part, they laid there absolutely still. It wasn't until Bob bravely grabbed a dead fish and tossed it into them that we saw some serious jaw-snapping action.

Here I am with two "African Tortises." Pretty cool.

We got to hold a 3-month old gator, which gave me quite the adrenaline rush.

Bob noticed he smelled a bit funny.

On our way home, we stopped by our new church building,

which we're hoping to move into by September.

Ta-da! :)

On Tuesday afternoon we visited the Stillings' Ranch, where Glen and Mary Lynn took us asparagus hunting and we shot arrows at random stationary targets (tree stumps, cattails, and yes, even asparagus). It was a blast!

Janelle was a sharp-shooter, and landed a bulls-eye!

On Wednesday, May 6th, we spent the afternoon exploring the Great Sand Dunes. The last time Deric and I were there was with Lisa back in early March, and it was snowy, cold, and windy. This time the weather was absolutely PERFECT: in the 70's, sunny and only a slight breeze. Plus, the mountain-melt creek was flowing, so it was the perfect time to go! We enjoyed our time there.

After our hike, we enjoyed a picnic supper. That's only half of the sandwich!

Friday evening, in honor of our final evening together, we grilled steaks in our backyard.

Blizzard Break-Down

2009-04-18T10:26:00.002-06:00

We got a lot of snow yesterday, which apparently is unusual for April, even in Colorado.

I had a very weird day yesterday. I was scheduled to sub teach high school English at a small country school about 40 mins from our house in Alamosa. When I awoke and saw the snow, I checked online but there were no closings or delay announcements, so I headed out around 7:15am. After driving a few miles and realizing the roads were pretty bad, I decided to call the school. Sure enough, they'd just decided on a two-hour delay, so I turned around and headed back to Alamosa. Deric and I had breakfast together and then around 9:15am I headed back towards the school.

About 30 mins into the drive, along an isolated country road, the Cabrio suddenly slowed down and came to a complete stop. (No idea why...there was more than a half tank of gas, no warning signs, etc. It had done this on Easter Sunday morning as well, but we figured it was something flukey, like snow getting into the gas tank or something, because the car started right back up again after an hour or so.) So, there I was, on the side of this country road, in the snow, about 5 miles from the school. I was surrounded by "white-wash" and couldn't see more than twenty feet in each direction. I'm so glad I had my phone with me! I made several phone calls: to Deric, the school, and USAA roadside assistance.

It was pretty comical trying to explain to the USAA lady where exactly I was stranded. She was having a hard time locating my position on a map. I was still on the phone with her when a cop pulled up behind me. (I've never been so relieved to see flashing lights behind me!) He suggested that he call a tow truck and offered to wait with me until it showed up, just to make sure no one hit me while I was parked. I decided to go with that option because who knows how long it would've taken the USAA lady to figure out where I was! About half an hour later, the tow truck showed up and we were on our way to a mechanic (about 45 mins away).

I finally got home around noon, two and a half hours after my break down. I was bummed that I never made it to school and lost that subbing job, but very thankful to be home! I changed into my pj's and crawled into bed. After my traumatic morning, I just wanted to veg out and watch a movie (which I did). Last I heard from the mechanic was around 4pm that afternoon, and he had no idea what was wrong. Hopefully they'll figure it out on Monday, and hopefully it's nothing too expensive to fix!

A White Easter

2009-04-15T09:42:00.004-06:00

Have you ever experienced a snowy Easter? I hadn't...until this year! We awoke at 5:15am to several inches of snow and huge snowflakes falling. Quite a sight, especially after returning from the tropical temperatures of Nicaragua!

So with freshly sun-tanned shoulders, I bundled up in long underwear and snow pants for the outdoor sunrise service, at which Deric preached. The service wasn't canceled, but it was inside a huge shed instead of out in the open fields.

In attendance: 19 adults, one toddler, two dogs, and two cats. :) Deric talked about how the bodily resurrection of Jesus is the only logical explanation for the empty tomb and how the various other theories aren't logical at all.

What a memorable and special Easter! The snow served as a tangible symbol and reminder of the meaning behind Easter: the ground covered in a blanket of white, just as sinful humans who accept Jesus' gift of grace are covered in clothes of righteousness and purity!

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." Isaiah 1:18

R's Nicaragua Trip (lots of photos!)

2009-04-13T18:41:00.028-06:00

I was in Nicaragua April 4-11. Our team of 10 was very dynamic and we enjoyed getting to know each other. We were there to spend time with a group of teenagers who live at La Quinta de Esperanza (The Place of Hope), a Christian children's home (like an orphanage, but a bit different). It was a great trip, full of memorable experiences and relationship-building. I was so thankful to be a part of the team and witness God's work in Jinotepe, Nicaragua, but I was also glad to get home to Deric! :) Thank you for your prayers, and enjoy the photos!

"We need to talk" poster in the airport parking lot.
I took this on Palm Sunday...thought it was appropriate. :)

Looking up at a wind chime.
I forgot this guy's name.
Kari with the green one (also forgot his/her name).

Kari walking to church with her little friend.
Greg talking with Enoch.
These girls loved to pose for me!
Perla and two cuties from the local barrio (neighborhood).
"He loves you" mural painted on the front church wall.
This girl loved to worship!

They danced to Carmen's "Army of the Lord." It was awesome.
They asked us to pray for/over them.

This little guy, Alejandro, stole my heart that morning.
Monday morning: making Gospel bracelets to pass out to the barrio (neighborhood) kids.
gold = heaven/paradise/relationship with God, black = our hearts because of sin, red = Jesus' shed blood on the cross, dying for our sins, white = our hearts after we receive His forgiveness and accept His gift of grace, green = our new life that grows in God.
William.

Later that night...making bags of Gospel jelly beans to pass out to kids.

This is the bumpy dirt road which leads to The Quinta (where the church is and the kids live).
All ready to go out into the barrio and pass out bracelets.
Tilling the soil in the garden.
This is in the local barrio (neighborhood).

We have a lot to be thankful for!

Jonathan and Dariluz (her name means "to give light") explain the Gospel to the kids.

With her new bracelet.

Some of The Quinta's kids
Patricia, Ruth y yo.
Tuesday morning we drove two hours to the beach of San Juan del Sur.

Sam enjoyed EVERY moment!

Flor and Ruth

This is the hotel.
Up on the roof of the hotel.
Manuel and Freddy
I thought this was an ironic sight.
Wednesday morning we celebrated Cheryl's birthday by going ziplining!
So fun!

Landing Superwoman.

Coffee beans in their natural habitat.
Chad with a friend.
Wednesday afternoon we traveled to the quaint town of Grenada.

I loved the architecture.

We ate here, at Cathy's Waffle House...like an IHOP. :)

okay. this guy had a little squirrel on a harness and shoestring leash. Di and Kari held it, which creeped me out a bit.

Grenada's square.
At the Wednesday evening church service we performed a sticks routine to the song "Arise, my love."

View from our room's balcony.
Hotel lobby.
The room Kari and I shared (very nice!)
Thursday morning: market time!

This grossed us out.

Poinsettia in its natural habitat. :)
Friday afternoon we visited Masaya. Here's Perla's family's kitchen....
...yard...
...and bedroom.
Walking in a Masaya neighborhood.
Ismael, Kari, and Carlos.
Our whole group out to lunch in Grenada.
Grenada's tourist-oriented market.
With Ismael and Perla.

Siblings.
At the Catalina lookout, with the Mombacho Volcano behind us.
Studs.
It was a beautiful time of day to be there, just before sunset (what I call "Golden Hour.")
Friday night we had dinner together at the hotel and then we prayed for the kids.
Goofy group picture with our new t-shirts.

Rebecca heading to Nicaragua!

2009-04-03T10:31:00.000-06:00

I (Rebecca) am leaving for a week-long trip to Nicaragua this afternoon and would love your prayers for our trip! This opportunity opened up for me about 4 weeks ago at a staff meeting when fellow part-time pastor, Greg, suggested I go because he knows my heart for missions and kids. He goes down to Nicaragua several times a year because his non-profit missions organization supports an orphanage down there in a town about one hour away from Managua. We will be a team of ten (eight adults and two kids) and our primary purpose is to build relationships with the orphanage's children and workers. We have a list of goals for the week, but we're planning on kind of "going with the flow." :)

Those of you who know me, know that I absolutely LOVE international travel, especially when it's missions-oriented.

It is probably the most energizing activity for me, and it always renews my passion for the Lord and ministry. I hope and pray that this trip is no different! And since I haven't been overseas since 2006, I feel long overdue. Needless to say, I'm so excited and see this as a huge gift from God, although it will be weird to go without Deric and be separated for a week (he'll be busy preparing for the Good Friday and Easter sunrise services!).

Please join me in praising Him for this opportunity and praying for the trip and our team. Thanks, and you can expect LOTS of photos once I'm back! :)

Easter Decorations

2009-04-01T14:12:00.002-06:00

Mom, do you recognize those eggs and the Polish pottery bunny? Thanks for those!! :)

Typical Colorado Weekend: shotgun shooting & snowshoeing

2009-03-30T16:16:00.008-06:00

We had a crazy-fun weekend, even though we were doing separate things. Deric joined three other guys for an overnight snowshoeing/cross-country skiing trip in the mountains near the New Mexico border. The coolest part was they spent the night in a yurt!!

I participated in Hunter Education classes and, on Saturday, passed the written test and live fire test. I am now qualified to go hunting! :) Saturday was really fun, because we were outside most of the day, learning how to start a fire without matches, use a compass, shoot bows and arrows, rifles, and shotguns. It was a lot of fun, and now I'm ready to rough it out in the Colorado wilderness!!

Here are some awesome shots from his adventure (warning: Daniel, you might experience feelings of jealousy).

Weekend trip to Denver

2009-03-24T16:15:00.001-06:00

This past weekend I was in Denver. My primary purpose was to attend Group's "HOW2 Conference" on children's ministry, but I also was blessed to spend time with three close girlfriends: Jess, Laura, and Lisa. It was a rejuvenating and refreshing weekend, full of encouragement on many levels. God used the conference to encourage me in my new ministry position as a children's ministry director; I came away from the conference with fresh vision, new friends, and many creative ideas!

Laura and her boyfriend, Geoff, flew from NC to visit his brother and sister-in-law. I was happy to see Laura again and meet Geoff!
Laura and I went for a little hike close to Red Rocks Amphitheater.

On Sunday afternoon, Lisa and I went for a hike in Roxsborough State Park. It was a gorgeous (and warm!) day.

Rebecca's New Haircut

2009-03-19T16:14:00.000-06:00

I had about 4-5 inches chopped off, and it feels great! :)

Monte Vista Annual Crane Festival

2009-03-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

Every late February, hundreds of Sandhill Cranes fly into the neighboring town of Monte Vista (about 17 miles west of Alamosa). They only stick around for about 6-8 weeks to feed on the grain in the fields, before heading north to Idaho. In recognition of this event, the town puts on a weekend festival, with tours of the wetlands and presentations. Deric and I wanted to attend at least one of the weekend's events, and we chose Friday evening's presentation on various birds. It was surprisingly entertaining and informative, complete with homemade papier mache masks.

Before the presentation, we wanted to tailgate...just to shake things up and do something different. Too bad the weather was yucky and COLD. On the menu: cheesey tortellini, corn, and leftover borwnies. Quite the memory!

Our reenactment of the Crane Mating Dance.

That's the crane mask.
Puffin impression.

Team Sneller's Sermon

2009-03-08T20:49:00.014-06:00

Deric and I got to do the sermon together today, and it was really fun! We called it a "conversational sermon," because we sat on stools and talked to each other (we got this idea from Gordon and Gail MacDonald, who did a conversational sermon at one of Denver Seminary's chapel services).

Our topic was the relationship between discipleship and the local church, more specifically: church membership. We talked about our personal journey and struggles with church membership, how the American culture affects church membership, and the strongest biblical reasons for church membership (listed below). We ended with challenging people to think and pray about church membership. People seemed to really enjoy the format and conversation, and we keep hearing how the sermon has congregants talking about the topic.

Three Biblical reasons for Church Membership (by Deric and Rebecca Sneller

1. When you become a Christian, you're called into a family of faith, not individualistic faith. Throughout the NT there is a reorientation of relationships.

a. In Matthew 12:46-50, we see Jesus change the framework of family and said whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother.

b. Romans 8:16-7 say that the Holy Spirit testifies our being children of God. It says if we are heirs of God we are co-heirs with Christ.

c. James 2:15 calls us to live out our faith by caring for the needs of our brothers and sisters

2. All throughout Paul’s writings, but sepecifically in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul specifics of about belief being for the Body; one Body with many parts.

a. 1 Cor. 12:13 says, “When you were baptized, you were baptized by one Spirit into one body.”

b. The metaphor of the Body indicates close relationship in which no part can function effectively alone.

c. Essentially we try to decaptitate the Body when we profess our commitment to Christ, but not the Church. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’ (1 Cor. 12:21).

3. Discipleship was designed to occur in the context of committed community.

a. 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

1. Committed followers of Christ are committed to fellowship with one another that brings life transformation that is impossible for the individual.

2. As disciples, are you committed to partnering together for purification?

b. 1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to Him, the living Stone-rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1. By yourself you are just a brick not a building. It is God’s purpose to build you together.

2. Are you allowing God to place you close to other living bricks?

c. 1 Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1. If we are not committed to a Church, then we cut ourselves off from the grace that comes from the exercise of other people’s spiritual gifts. Many Christians are weak and stumbling because they lack the blessings that come from being committed to a local body of believers.

2. Are you content with personal grace or are you also seeking the strength that comes from corporate grace?

d. Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage on another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

1. We have a responsibility to stimulate and encourage other Christians, which we can only do if we do not forsake “our meeting together”.

2. Are you a committed member of a local church that commits to spurring and encouraging one another?

Lisa's visit!

2009-03-08T20:49:00.009-06:00

Lisa, one of our good friends from Denver, spontaneously came to visit us this past Friday. She's our new home's first overnight visitor, and we had a blast giving her the Alamosa tour. Saturday morning we were determined to explore the Great Sand Dunes, in spite of the yucky weather. It made for quite an adventure!

Our goal was to hike to the top of the highest dune in less than an hour. In spite of the snow and intense wind, we did it!

At the top.

It was so cold and windy, but we smiled anyway.

Going down was a lot easier, and we were back at the car in 15 minutes.

Dark storm clouds were rolling in.

We had so much sand in our socks and shoes!

True Value Hardware

2009-02-24T21:55:00.003-07:00

Here is the hardware store where I (Deric) am blessed to work. Inside it has a U-haul, a Just Ask Rental, a Fed Ex, and a Radio Shack. Good people, good work, and a good business.

Thrift Store Things

2009-02-24T21:32:00.005-07:00

Today as an activity after our staff meeting we made our way to Monte Vista's thrift stores. We made off like bandits.

Rebecca got these skis and boots, which are the right size and are in good condition, for a total of $12.

And I got these handmade and practically brand new boots for $25. These should fit in fine around Alamosa, but I definitely don't want to be a poser.

Deric's Bedliner Birthday Investment

2009-02-24T19:00:00.006-07:00

Since I (Deric) bought the truck I have wanted to invest in a paint-on bedliner, but I could never justify the cost. Knowing full well that I would not spend my birthday money on anything for myself, Rebecca encouraged me to spend it on something I wanted or needed. While walking through Walmart, something came over me and I spontaneously decided to do this long-awaited project. It took longer than I anticipated and it required more product than recommended, but the end result was rewarding.

Trying not to paint myself into a corner.

This was just after I realized would be needing another gallon.

Project completed and person content.

Dinner in Darkness

2009-02-22T18:59:00.010-07:00

Yesterday when we returned home from running errands, our power was out (who knows why...there was no wind or storm or anything). We had about an hour of daylight before it got dark. And we were hungry. Around 6 o'clock I (Deric) asked, "What should we do for dinner? Fast food? Take Out?" Then I suggested, "What if we use our camping stove and cook something?" Rebecca thought that was a fun idea. So I made grilled cheese and tomato soup on the camp stove while Rebecca got a salad, fruit, and drinks ready. We ate our dinner on the front lawn under the stars without any intruding light from street lamps. The evening was delightful with the clear sky and cool temperature. We look forward to the next time the power goes out!

Skiing in Monarch, 2-16

2009-02-16T19:46:00.005-07:00

It was a perfect day for skiing: sunny, blue skies, packed snow, and no crowds. Deric and I went with about 6 other church members for a day of skiing at Monarch Mountain, about 2 hours northwest from Alamosa. It was only Deric's 4th time skiing, but he did a great job!

Valentine's Day: Ice & Sand

2009-02-15T15:17:00.008-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day from the San Luis Valley! :) We had a fun afternoon excursion which included a short hike to Zapata Falls and exploring the infamous Sand Dunes. We were energized by the majesty of nature...We love our new home!

Over looking the Valley, at the beginning of the trail.

Zapata Falls

The coolest part was watching the waterfall silently flow behind 2 feet of clear frozen ice.

Slip 'n' Slide!
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Sand Dunes.
Driving to the dunes...
"Where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." - 1964 Wilderness Act

It was like walking in a really cold desert.

That's "D +R" not "P + R" :)
This guy walked right in front of our car as we drove slowly...
Mt. Blanca in the sunset's light.

The Shack

2009-02-11T12:23:00.005-07:00

I (Rebecca) just finished reading The Shack, by William Paul Young. I'd heard much controversy about the book, so I read it with a critical eye. I've concluded that it's very interesting, thought-provoking, and I felt encouraged and blessed as I read it. On the other hand, its theology isn't entirely biblical, specifically in regards to the characters of the trinity and in the problem of suffering/evil. Overall, I agree with my former theology professor, Craig Smith's advice:

"Read it, but read it carefully. The power of teaching theology via narrative is that

it can sometimes bypass the mind and take root in the heart without the reader being

aware of what is happening. In the case of The Shack, there is some potential for this to

be damaging to the development of a healthy Christian worldview. On the other hand,

for the Christian whose worldview is firmly rooted in Scripture and who reads

discerningly, reading The Shack may be an extremely edifying experience....

...Apart from theological issues, The Shack is worth paying attention to as a cultural phenomenon. A great many people have read/are reading/will read this book and they are not all Christians. In fact, the book is being read by startling numbers of non-Christians who are very interested in talking about the ideas it contains. As Christians, we must be ready to take advantage of interest in The Shack as a bridge to sharing the Gospel. If we are ready to do this, we may well find that The Shack provides an important intersection of faith and culture, allowing us to make a significant impact in whatever spheres of influence God has given us."

Click here to find helpful resources on The Shack. This link includes articles on the book's theological strengths and weaknesses, and also includes a helpful article on how to use the book as a tool to start conversations with non-believers.

Deric's 26th Birthday, 2-8-09

2009-02-09T22:20:00.005-07:00

Deric turned 26 on Sunday. Only bad part of the day was that he was sick with a terrible cold. We managed to celebrate, though, and started the day right: sleeping in and then a big birthday breakfast, complete with Reese's-Pieces waffles.

The Birthday Boy.
After church, we attended a membership class (figured it's good to become church members if we're on staff!). I brought a birthday cake to share.

After the class, we went for a drive, just to explore our new town. We ended the day with delicious "take and bake" pizza and four back-to-back episodes of LOST (yes, we're officially addicted!).

Quick trip to Ridgway, 2/4-2/5

2009-02-07T22:27:00.002-07:00

Wednesday morning we left Alamosa and headed 4 hours northwest (mainly west) to Ridgway--a town of 800 40 mins. south of Montrose. It was a gorgeous drive over the mountains, with bright blue skies and sunshine.

Blue Mesa Lake is absolutely stunning. I'd seen it once before, in the summertime. Winter is just as magnificent!
We stayed at the Kriegshausers' house (Rebecca's good friends from Virginia), but also got to hang out with Ben and Rosie Cubbage, who moved to Ridgway in November. It was so refreshing and encouraging to be around old friends again!!

Good times were had by all!

Ben and Rosie live in this super-cool yurt!
It has no electricity or plumbing (it's heated by a wood stove and propane space heater), but they LOVE it! They're so adventurous!! :)

Birthday Train Ride 1-31

2009-02-01T14:35:00.017-07:00

My (Rebecca's) 28th birthday was yesterday, and Deric surprised me with an all-day adventure that took us from Alamosa to the small town of La Veta and back...aboard a train on the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad!! We left at 9am and traveled 3 hours through the majestic Sangre de Cristo mountains. The weather was perfect--clear, sunny and in the 30's-40's--so we took lots of photos! We stopped briefly in Fir (La Veta Pass), which is the US's highest railroad point (9,363 feet) before continuing on to La Veta. We had one hour to explore La Veta (which was about 15 minutes more than we needed. It's a small town!). Around 1:45pm, we boarded the train again and headed back to Alamosa, arriving there around 4:30pm (we traveled faster on the way home because we didn't have any freight to haul. On the way to La Veta, we were pulling several cars filled with soybeans). It was a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday because it combined several things I love: being with Deric, being surprised, adventure, exploring, and seeing new places. Plus, we really got a feel for the culture, geography, and history of the San Luis Valley, the place we now call "home."

About to board, with my coffee and my ticket.

This train station was built in 1907.
A cluster of Fourteeners: Mt. Blanca (14,347 ft.), Mt. Lindsay (14,037 ft.), and Ellingwood Point (14,042 ft.)

The next few are from our brief stop in Fir.

It's not every day that I'm nose-to-nose with a train engine!

It was chilly at that high elevation (over 9,000 ft)!

Our first glimpse of Mt. Mestas.

We had a mile-by-mile guidebook with photos, history, and other information about the sights we were seeing, which made the ride even more interesting.

La Veta's depot.

a crazy sculpture we found.

Main Street.

Random and funny wall mural.

This was our first store to explore. I took this for you, Gramps and Gram. Maybe you could move to Alamosa and open up a shop like this.

Our train, minus the freight cars.

That dark mound is what they call a "volcanic plug," whatever that means.

Deric packed a picnic lunch, which we ate on the train.

There's a little deck with open widows on the front of the dining car. It was chilly, but very neat!

I spent some of the ride talking to family & friends and/or listening to birthday messages. :)

We brought the old camera and had fun with it.

DEER!

Someone's yard, about 15 miles west of Alamosa.

Steeping off in Alamosa.

After our train ride, we headed to Wal-Mart to kill a little time before dinner out at Chili's. It was a fun birthday!!

Sights around town:

2009-01-26T20:46:00.005-07:00

Main Street. This is about 5 blocks from our house.

Random Store with crazy carpet. The merchandise looked like it was a few decades old.

Milagros Coffeeshop. Soon to become one of my favorite spots in Alamosa. :)
Some random guy I found inside.

The Open House, 1-25

2009-01-26T20:27:00.005-07:00

We hosted an open house on Sunday afternoon, which was a lot of fun. About 15-20 congregants stopped by over the course of three hours; it was great for us to sit and talk with them and get to know them better. Plus, it gave me (Rebecca) an excuse to try a couple new recipes: Mexican 7-layer dip and that Velveeta-salsa dip goodness. YUM. (Yes, those are leftover Christmas candy canes circling the punch bowl. That was Deric's idea. Brilliant.)

At one point, we had four kids ages 3-5, and they LOVED Deric. :) It was super fun.

Oh Deer!

2009-01-25T20:34:00.001-07:00

On our second morning here in Alamosa, Deric noticed dozens of brown little round pellets right smack dab in the middle of the walkway leading from our house to the sidewalk/street. Deer poop. 10 feet from our front door. We'd heard that the deer population in Alamosa is out of control, and this was our first evidence of that fact. It was a nice welcome to rural Colorado.

Later that week, we went for a bike ride along a wooded trail and saw this sight:

That same day, as were pulling up to our parking spot in front of our house, we saw a couple of deer standing in the middle of our street! What a sight. Now I'm starting to understand why there's an annual "In Town Deer Hunt" (with bows/arrows) every spring.

Gran Torino and "Freeze Your Buns" Fun Run

2009-01-24T13:59:00.001-07:00

Last night Deric and I checked out the local movie theatre for a date night. We were hoping to see "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," but it wasn't showing anymore. Instead, we chose "Gran Torino," and it ended up being really good. There's a lot of bad language, but it's a very good story and Clint Eastwood was amazing. I cried.

This morning we got up early and headed to the golf course for the 1st annual "Freeze your Buns" 5k fun run. It was beautiful weather: sunny and in the high 30's, so it was more like the "chill your buns" fun run. :) Deric was really excited to race again, but I was pretty nervous. The last time I ran 5k was in 6th grade, and I really don't like to run too much. My goal was simply to finish the race, preferably in under an hour. :) There were about 50 people that participated and it was a great trail on the dirt paths of the golf course, so full of trees and scenic views. Deric finished second in his age bracket (he got a water bottle as a prize), and I came in three minutes after him. I think I was third in my age bracket. Granted, there weren't many people in our age brackets. :) But anyway, we walked proud of ourselves, more inspired to work out, and it was indeed a fun run.

About Alamosa

2009-01-23T09:33:00.002-07:00

My (Rebecca's) grandma emailed me with a list of questions about our new town. I figured I'd post them and their answers on here so that everyone can get an idea of life in Alamosa.

How big is the town (population)? Around 10-15,000

How far from Denver ? 236 miles, about a four-hour drive

How big is the church? around 200 people

Do you have your own building? yes, but it's an old and small building, so we're in the process of relocating to a larger and newer building.

What kind of college is in the town? Adams State College is a small public liberal arts school. Its track and cross country teams are internationally known.

What grocery store do you go to? Where is it? There are two grocery stores in Alamosa: City Market and Safeway. We prefer the Safeway because it's closer to our house (about 1/2 mile) and nicer.

When you went out to lunch on Sunday, where did you go? To The Inn of the Rio Grande. It's a nice hotel with a nice restaurant. There are several fast food places: McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Long John Silvers, to name a few. And there are a few restaurants in town: a great Chinese place, a Thai place, a brewery, and a restaurant called "The Outhouse." (That doesn't really sound too appealing to me!)

Who are your neighbors (besides the pastor who lives across the street?) The only neighbor we've met is Virginia, a very old woman who's hard of hearing. She lives in our same complex. I think a family is living to the left of us, and it appears as though a young married couple has just moved in to the right of us.

I know that you don’t have Jazzercise, but do you have an Ace Hardware? Yes, there are two Ace Hardwares within 17 miles of us. There is also a True Value, where Deric hopes to work part-time. Even though there's no Jazzercise, there's a nice Rec Center which provides exercise classes.

Have you started looking for jobs yet? Yes. We've both applied to be substitute teachers, and Deric has applied elsewhere as well. I'm planning on subbing 2-3 days a week, and Deric hopes to work at a hardware store.

Do you sense a feeling of warmth with the people? Very much so. We feel right at home.

How do most of your congregation earn their living? Some work at the college, some are farmers (the San Luis Valley is home to potato farming) or ranchers, many have their own businesses (a fencing business, a hardware store, a leather business, etc.).

Here's additional information about Alamosa:

Elevation: 7,544 feet

History: Alamosa was established in May 1878 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and quickly became an important rail center. The railroad had an extensive construction, repair and shipping facility in Alamosa for many years and headquartered its remaining narrow gauge service here with trackage reaching many points throughout southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico. Alamosa is now a notable tourist town with many nearby attractions including the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The town hosts a Sunshine Summerfest on the Rio Festival which occurs the first weekend in June. The city takes its name from the Alamosa River. The name "Alamosa" means "shaded with cottonwoods" in Spanish.

Geography: Alamosa is located in the San Luis Valley, in the highest general agricultural land in the United States. The San Luis Valley is the largest intermountain valley in the world and features a dry climate with long cold winters and short cool summers.

Demographics: About 60% white and 40% Hispanic; about 25% of the population is below the poverty line.

Source: wikipedia.org

A Tour of Our New Home

2009-01-22T16:32:00.013-07:00

We love our new home and are so thankful that the Lord provided us with such a cozy and comfortable place to live, right in the middle of Alamosa. Many of you have requested photos, so here you go. Pretend you're coming to visit!! :)

The view from the street. (My brother says it looks like Army housing, and we agree.)
Like you're about to ring our doorbell. :)
The view once the front door is open.
Another angle, and at nighttime.
The view from the "dining room" corner. Notice the big florescent light. They're in each room but the kitchen. We don't ever turn them on, though.

Entering the kitchen. Finding a spot for everything was an exciting challenge!

Additional storage!
Here's the view from the backdoor. We have a little backyard. That small building on the right is a storage building, but it belongs to the landlord, so we can't use it.

The bathroom.

The hallway.
Linen closet.
Our bedroom.

Look how organized our closet has to be! Hopefully it'll stay that way. :)

Entering our extra bedroom: the office/storage/utility/guest room. :)

Thanks for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the tour. Come visit us in person!!! :)

1-17-09, Our Move from Littleton to Alamosa.

2009-01-19T19:40:00.009-07:00

On Saturday, January 17th, Deric and I --with the help of amazing friends!--loaded up a borrowed pick-up truck, horse trailer, and my little VW Cabrio and drove four hours southwest to the small town of Alamosa, CO: Our New Home. We began the day around 8am, hit the road around 12:45pm, arrived in Alamosa around 5:15pm, and fell asleep around 9pm. The Lord blessed us with fabulous and unusually warm weather, hard-working friends who helped us use every single nook and cranny to fit all of our furniture and boxes into one trip, and safe travels. Amazingly, nothing was lost or broken in the move; our only casualty was a plastic trash-can lid, which flew off immediately after we began driving faster than 45 mph. Below are snapshots of our long but good day.

Deric cleaning the kitchen.

Our living room, all packed up.

Our books and bookshelves.

Outside our apartment building.

About an hour into loading, the horse trailer was just about full...

...but we still had more stuff! What a dilemma! Would it all fit in one trip?

These guys didn't think so. Skeptics.

But thanks to ingenuity, Tetris skills, and ratcheting straps, everything fit!!! It was a Beverly-Hillbillies-looking miracle! All we were missing was an old lady to ride atop a chair in the truck bed. :)

The miracle-workers.

The truck, upon arrival in Alamosa.

My car was packed to the hilt!

Jeron and two of his kids helped us unload into our new home. Here's 7-year-old Mandy helping out. :)

Deric fixed our cracked table leg.

Christmas in Phoenix: 12/22-12/29

2008-12-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic trip in Phoenix visiting my (Rebecca) parents. Daniel was there for half of the week too, so we had fun hanging out and laughing with him. We were very aware of Jonathan and Jess's absence, though. (Jonathan's scheduled to leave Iraq mid January!). We spent a lot of the week just hanging out and relaxing. We watched several movies, including Four Christmasas, Valkyrie, and Marly & Me. All three were great films and worth seeing. Marley & Me was really cute and funny; I'd recommend it. We visited the Botanical Gardens, we had a special exhibit of Dale Chihuly's blown glass. That was neat to see. We also got to spend significant time with Deric's maternal grandparents, who annually migrate to Mesa from Iowa for the winter months. It was special to see their home and get to know them better. Later in the week we hiked Pinnacle Peak right before sunset, which was scenic and beautiful. Although the week's weather was colder than we all were expecting (daytime average was mid-to-upper-forties; Christmas day it rained all day), we were still thrilled to be there with family.

Now we're back in Littleton and writing our "to do" list for the next couple of weeks. It's very long, considering we have two and a half weeks before we relocate to Alamosa (Our target move date is Jan. 17th)! We'd appreciate your prayers as we say goodbye to one chapter and say hello to a new one!

Here we go...

2008-12-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Family and Friends, and thanks for checking out our blog! We're looking forward to keeping you updated and sharing photos, especially as we make our move to Alamosa and start new jobs. Right now we're in Phoenix with my (Rebecca's) parents and youngest brother, Daniel. It's not quite as warm as we were hoping (high 50's to mid 60's), but it's warmer than Littleton! :)

We hope you all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Check back every now and then for updates. :)

Our First Christmas Letter :)

2008-12-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

December 2008

It’s hard to believe that it’s been six and a half months since we said
our vows on June 7th and now it’s time to enjoy our first Christmas as a
married couple! We love being married and so far it’s been a really smooth
and fun adjustment. We spent Thanksgiving with Deric’s family in South
Dakota and we’ll spend Christmas with Rebecca’s parents and youngest
brother (Daniel) in Phoenix. We’re looking forward to spending a week
relaxing in the warm weather!

We finished up our final semester at Denver Seminary and graduated
on December 15th . Deric received his Masters of Divinity and Rebecca
received her Masters of Arts in Christian Studies. We were blessed to have
our parents and four grandparents with us to celebrate and reflect upon
God’s faithfulness. We know it is only by His grace and provision that we
were able to attend and complete seminary.

Speaking of the Lord’s provision, He has blessed both of us with jobs
beyond our expectations. For the next two years—to gain adequate
experience for Army Chaplaincy—we will both be working part-time at Living
Water Bible Fellowship, a Baptist church in the small town of Alamosa, CO.
Deric will be a pastoral intern and Rebecca will be the Director of Christian
Education (specifically working with Children’s Ministries). Lord willing, we
will move down to Alamosa (four hours southwest of
Denver) the third weekend of January. (We’ll be sure
to send out an email update with our new mailing
address.) Although it will be sad to leave Denver, we
are so thankful and excited for the opportunity to work
in ministry together! We think it will be quite the
adventure. :)

From our home to yours, we wish you a very
Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!

Love,
Deric & Rebecca Sneller