I am on a writing trip in between an extensive travel schedule. This isn’t the shack I’m working in, but it is on my running path in the mornings.

Recent events have made it abundantly clear that the Lord is asking me to go forward with a crazy vision that was sunk inexorably (that really is a great word) into my soul when I was in Washington DC: to do what I could to awaken and prepare the Body of Christ; to see Her healthy and strong; being the light and salt She was made to be; prepared to winsomely engage and, as best we could, restore the culture around us through Truth and Love, all for His glory.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13  On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists killed over 3,000 people using four hijacked airplanes. Two of those were deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. Historically, it was the largest loss of life due to a single foreign attack upon American soil…worse than Pearl Harbor.

Last summer, I had the privilege of taking a float trip down the Grand Canyon. It was one of the great adventures in life that you never forget. Many people go to the Grand Canyon, but to really experience it, you must float the Colorado River for a week and spend the nights on her sand bars and hike her side canyons.

A number of years ago, in another flashbulb life-moment, I took a float trip down the Warm River (it isn’t) in Idaho. It was on that trip that I got the call to Washington and my life changed forever.

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, one of our great warriors fell.

He was a great follower of Christ; a great leader of men. He had a great mind, a great heart, a great calling. He was given ten talents and he returned a hundredfold.

I have mourned his loss. Many have. He is going to be greatly missed.

How now shall we live?