friends and family

this is us with our friends the h family. as you can see, they're quite photogenic. :-) they're also part of the launch team for the bridge christian church -- the church we'll be planting in renton later this spring.

yesterday, we had a chance to hang out over at their place while n and b babysat the little ones. there was a little drama early and late, but on the whole, it was a fun and pleasant time.

we're grateful our new friends and partners here in the pnw. we've endured a variety of hardships as we try to start this new ministry -- lots of spiritual resistance -- but we are learning to face them together.

put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of rightousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.
ephesians 6:10-18