# Rick Gregory, Writer > Translating messages from heads to hearts ## Posts - [Appropriate Technology Can't Overcome Inappropriate Behavior](https://rickgregory.us/appropriate-technology-cant-overcome-inappropriate-behavior/): There’s a constant flow of “new” data, which focuses on the myriad aspects and implementations of Appropriate Technology; it’s wonderful and creates hope. And when you live in the West, it is so easy to get excited about making an impact by utilizing these “new” systems or technologies. You know, it’s hard to figure out how to do business in an environment where you quickly realize that almost everyone is scamming — seeing you as more of a mark than a friend — thinking you might have some resources that they can tap into . . . - [Deceived In My Thinking? Am I Really A Racist?](https://rickgregory.us/deceived-in-my-thinking-am-i-really-a-racist/): I am the firstborn (in June of 1953) son of a proud and vocal racist, a man who claimed to be part of the original John Birch Society in Los Angeles. That “Society” was a far-right organization often linked with white supremacist rhetoric and anti-government agendas. As a Los Angeles Sheriff Deputy, dad often bragged about his freedom as a cop and his ability to use his “Sam Brown” on the heads of black men.” It was a short, spring-loaded woven leather club with a lead-filled end. Growing up we heard lots of racial jokes and epithets, not just about blacks […] - [Union with Christ: A Completely New Identity](https://rickgregory.us/union-with-christ-a-completely-new-identity/): “But no, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales— they love to cheat. Israel boasts, “I am rich! I’ve made a fortune all by myself! No one has caught me cheating! My record is spotless!”” Hosea 12:7-8 NLT  “I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me.”Hosea 13:5-6 NLT “Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in […] - [Hosea, Go Marry A Whore!](https://rickgregory.us/hosea-go-marry-a-whore/): It seems crazy that God would instruct one of His prophets to marry a whore, just to demonstrate what [our] unfaithfulness looks like. But He did. He told Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Why would He do that? It’s vile. To a man, it strikes at the very heart of his identity and self-worth. For a wife to violate her commitments, promises, and vows to her husband this way is beyond betrayal; beyond rejection. It pierces the core of his being. It says he isn’t enough. She accuses, “You talk big . . . but never deliver. You make all […] - [How to Get Moving - Begin Abiding!](https://rickgregory.us/how-to-get-moving-begin-abiding/): In today’s My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers demands we “Get Moving – Begin to Abide Now!” This sounds so counter-intuitive! “Get moving . . . Begin to abide now!” Chambers says we’re to “Abide in Me”— in intellectual matters, in money matters, in every one of the matters that make human life what it is.” My immediate perception of abiding is that it is a passive condition and not really associated with action on my part; It’s more like deliberate inaction. How can Chambers demand we “Get moving!?” His language is emphatically active.  He makes another statement that seems […] - [Rattlesnakes & Integrity](https://rickgregory.us/rattlesnakes-integrity/): Yep. I met this guy, well maybe not this exact guy, since this is a photo I got from the Bolsa Chica Conservancy trailer at Warner and PCH. But the one I met looked just like this one! I was on the trail that goes from the end of the Wintergarden Flood Channel north to Warner Ave. I was pumping my arms, fast-walking and trying to keep up a “just-starting-to-sweat” pace, when I saw this guy’s head about 12” into the trail. I JUMPED STRAIGHT UP and over him before he scuttled back into the brush. Where was Alex from So-Cal […] - [Retirement?](https://rickgregory.us/retirement/): I’m there. That place where men go to die. Where the thing they start to look forward to is pushing the shopping cart that holds their wife’s purse at Target. I’m not sure I can do it . . . Especially now that I’ve been forced into seclusion for over a year at the hand of COVID! I thought it was going to be a wonderful change; no more quantity takeoffs from blueprints. No more hassling with labor crews or manufacturer’s unfulfilled shipping or performance promises. No more deadlines, where I’m threatened with great bodily harm at worst and ugly verbal […] - [REVIEW: Imprisoned With ISIS - Faith in the face of evil by Petr Jasek](https://rickgregory.us/review-imprisoned-with-isis-faith-in-the-face-of-evil-by-petr-jasek/): All Christians should read this book. Western Christians MUST read this book. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” As. If. You . . .  We don’t like to talk much about being imprisoned or suffering for our faith. The “faith stories” we (Western Christians) have exported to the rest of the world suggest that if we simply have enough faith, we can be rich in this life and live just like those who make no claim to faith; […] - [Book Review: Unfinished:Believing is only the Beginning, by Richard Stearns](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-unfinishedbelieving-is-only-the-beginning-by-richard-stearns/): In July, 2009, I said Richard Stearns’ first book, “The Hole in our Gospel:What does God Expect of Us?” was an amazing read, calling Christians to accountability. Stearns’ latest book, “Unfinished” takes up where “A Hole in our Gospel” left off. While the first book talked of the missing pieces of the Gospel, Unfinished shows us where they are and how to live them. I love his analogies of the three kingdoms: the magic kingdom, which is primarily first world living, the tragic kingdom, inhabited by those living on the margins – and the kingdom of God, that place where the magic […] - [Why Does Writing Need to be Done Well?](https://rickgregory.us/why-does-writing-need-to-be-done-well/): Carol Tice’s post today has inspired me to formally comment here on my own blog! I’ve been writing for over 30 years and have quite a few published pieces. Most of my writing has been done in the context of my business, where I’ve written collection letters, marketing collateral and prospecting letters, along with all the copy for multiple blogs, websites and feature articles for trade magazines. And on this website, you can find stories about years’ worth of travel by my wife and me throughout Africa, Bolivia and the Philippines. Like Carol, I hate bad spelling and grammar. Having supervised […] - [Book Review: Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-interrupted-by-jen-hatmaker/): Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith by Jen Hatmaker My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a good read, if you’re looking to have your thinking challenged and not afraid to face up to the reality of your own self-centeredness. What particularly struck me was how Jen and Brandon articulated MY condition: I’ve done all the “churchy” things for nearly 40 years and still hunger for “more.” It’s so simple; we ultimately get that “more” we’re seeking only as we pour out our lives in Jesus’ name – not as we read, study, attend, fellowship, memorize, etc. […] - [Book Review: Redemption: A Rebellious Spirit, a Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-redemption-a-rebellious-spirit-a-praying-mother-and-the-unlikely-path-to-olympic-gold-2/): Redemption: A Rebellious Spirit, a Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold by Bryan Clay My rating: 4 of 5 stars Who besides Bryan’s prayer warrior mother dared to dream and trust God that he would turn from living as a drinking, fighting, selfish and self-destructive, insecure-but-arrogant young man? Redemption, Bryan Clay’s autobiography (written with Joel Kilpatrick) is the story of a boy becoming a man; one of society’s throwaways becoming a world-class athlete, husband, father and follower of Jesus. Bryan invites you into his journey to the time just before he plans to attempt something no one has […] - [Book Review: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-cutting-for-stone-by-abraham-verghese/): Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese My rating: 5 of 5 stars This may be one of the most compelling stories I’ve ever read. The beauty and majesty of Verghese’s prose is astonishing. I’m shocked that it isn’t based upon real lives – since it captures the very essence of Shiva and Marion, identical twin boys, conjoined in the womb; their mother a nun who dies giving them life and their father the physician who abandons them for “killing” their mother, the love of his life. Drama enough for sure . . . But the beauty is in how Verghese breathes […] - [Book Review: Calico Joe by John Grisham](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-calico-joe-by-john-grisham/): Calico Joe by John Grisham My rating: 4 of 5 stars John Grisham never fails to deliver. Some of his work is better than others, but I was engrossed from the moment I devoured the first paragraph, possibly because I love baseball more than how well the book was written. Calico Joe, a baseball phenom, has his career devastated by a vicious, self-serving, “old school” pitcher who believed that the pitcher is the king of the field, and the hitters have to respect him. When a batter demonstrates no respect – or worse, shows disrespect, the pitcher’s job is to throw […] - [Book Review: Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-crazy-dangerous-by-andrew-klavan/): Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Crazy Dangerous, written by Andrew Klavan took me by surprise. It’s a story about a 17-year-old preacher’s kid, who learns deeply and sometimes painfully about himself, bullies and mental illness. At first, I wondered if I’d gotten myself into a Young Adult book, as it is written in a first-person voice by the kid himself. While pretty well-spoken, you knew it was the kid talking. Seriously. And I wasn’t sure I was up for it. Ah, but then I was captured. Andrew Klavan breathed life into Sam and the entire […] - [Book Review: Behemoth by Jonathan Leicht](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-behemoth-by-jonathan-leicht/): Behemoth by Jonathan C. Leicht My rating: 2 of 5 stars The Title is Behemoth. Jonathan C. Leicht is the author. It’s Creation vs Evolution. In a famous game preserve in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, some of the Park’s animals turn up dead – killed in a fashion that doesn’t make sense to Jim, the Park Ranger. The story is Jim’s quest to find the animal that did the killing; at the same time, another group is separately tracking the possibility of surviving dinosaurs as well. Like Randy Jackson on American Idol might say, “Dude, it was just OK […] - [Inexpensive Wells!](https://rickgregory.us/inexpensive-wells/): Can you believe that one tiny organization has likely drilled more water wells than any other well-drilling organization in the world? Water For All, International (WFA), headquartered in San Angelo, TX (or others trained with this technology) has been responsible for 3,000 or more wells throughout the world over the past 20 years! Pioneered by Terry Waller first in Africa, then in Bolivia, WFA operates by establishing “well clubs,” where the poorest of the poor are taught to drill their own wells, in addition to manufacturing and maintaining their own hand pumps. Called “the Baptist Wells,” these simple, deep (down to […] - [Palo Diablo & A New Well!](https://rickgregory.us/hip-young-woman/): This is a new well in a remote community – in a cattle field! We drilled to a depth of abut 55 meters (~165 feet). Just to the side – about 30 feet from the well stands a tree that  local bad guys use as a torture point, called “palo diablo” or “devil tree.”  The ants living in the tree inflict wicked, painful bites. The Bolivian drug cartels tie an enemy to the tree and kill their enemies by subjecting them to hundreds or even thousands of bites from these wicked little beasts! There’s some kind of venom in the bites […] - [Rick and Sherry in Africa](https://rickgregory.us/rick-and-sherry-in-africa/): Lots of things are changing! One of those is that I will from now on update only one place: Therefore, if you follow this blog, please re-mark your browsers to point to http://rickandsherryinafrica.org/ It is from this site that both Sherry and I will post all new updates! Thank you! - [Relevant . . . or Irrelevant?](https://rickgregory.us/relevant-or-irrelevant/): I ended my last post with the confession that I was “scared to death.” There is such nuance buried in those three little words. Today we’re on the threshold of a move that has been about 7 years in the making. Here’s a bit of the back story . . . Sherry and I began this journey decades ago, committing our lives to the One greater than us—thinking then that we had fully abandoned ourselves to His care and cause. I threw around words easily and quickly. I sang worship songs proclaiming my love, loyalty and allegiance to a God I […] - [Uganda, Here We Come!](https://rickgregory.us/uganda-here-we-come/): It’s finally here. We’ve been praying, planning, training, waiting, talking, learning and wondering. Now we’re finally heading out. Our departure date looks to be the first week of January, 2011. You’ll recall (or see from my previous few posts) that I was in Bolivia for two months this past summer, learning the nuances of – and getting experience in – hand-drilling water wells. Water For All, International (WFA), the folks with whom I was in Bolivia, have invited us to become their point people in an effort to begin a new well-drilling movement in northern Uganda! Because a well-drilling movement isn’t […] - [Hugo & Katarina](https://rickgregory.us/umbrella-rides-the-wind/): Hugo and Katarina’s new well! - [Water For All, International Well Clubs](https://rickgregory.us/a-monk-walks-his-path/): It’s been an interesting couple of weeks. I’ve spent most of this week at Terry’s house, resting my back, which I tweaked again, but thankfully is almost back to normal now. As I’m writing this post, we have 4 well clubs working, with another ready to begin drilling next Tuesday or Wednesday. Speaking of well clubs, here’s the basic structure on how Water For All (WFA) well clubs operate: 1. Someone in a community says they want a well. 2. WFA encourages them to get 9 more people in their community who also want a well, which then forms a “well […] - [Santos' New Well](https://rickgregory.us/santos-new-well/): This is Santos, washing his hands with water pumped for the first time (at over 5 gallons/min!) from HIS OWN new well, which Water For All (WFA) taught HIM to drill; today we helped him complete the pump installation, and he will now be the pump installation “expert” for his water club (of 4 more wells). See if you can imagine with me just a couple ways in which life might look different for Santos and his family, now that they have essentially unlimited access to safe, clean, cool water from their 146 foot (45 meters) deep well. They have unlimited, […] - [Sidelined in Bolivia . . . for a couple of days](https://rickgregory.us/sidelined-in-bolivia-for-a-couple-of-days/): Wednesday morning. Woke up today feeling like someone stabbed me during the night, over and over in one spot just to the side of my spine at about L5-S1. Over the years, I’ve dealt with back pain like many people my age (which is none of your business), but have been really fortunate not to have experienced it for a good long time. I think shoveling mud and sand yesterday with awkward tools from awkward positions (trying to stay out of as much mud as possible) was the final blow in a series of tiny “tweaks” to which I’ve subjected my […] - [Ronald & Melba's well](https://rickgregory.us/ronald-melbas-well/): It’s Sunday morning and I’m pretty well recovered from 3 straight days of digging. The amount of work required to dig a hole to a depth of 165 feet or so is amazing. We dug through about 130 feet of hard clay and rock, along with another 35 feet or so of hard-packed sand. The hole is only about 3” wide at the bottom and maybe 6” – 8” at the top. The 1” diameter drill stem, filled with mud and water gets really heavy, especially once you get to a depth of over 100 feet. Now, to get a bit […] - [Bolivia Well Clubs](https://rickgregory.us/bolivia-well-clubs/): I arrived in Bolivia on the 6th of July, with Sherry remaining at home in Huntington Beach. I’ll be here until the end of August and then she and I will be back together, hopefully never traveling solo again, at least not for these long periods. I’m working with an organization called Water For All (WFA), which is completely focused on getting safe water to the poorest of the poor. They operate on the basis of “well clubs,” where a group of 10 (or so) families each raise about $100, which is the complete cost for a well. This is an […] - [Bolivia!](https://rickgregory.us/bolivia/): So the adventure continues. In grad school, part of my work in International Development focused on what is called Appropriate Technology. My research led me to a process of hand-dug water wells that could be delivered for around $100. I wanted to know more about this amazing process and tracked down Terry Waller, the inventor of the technology and now the Director of Water For All, International. Terry has been a missionary in Bolivia for over 20 years, where he has dug over 2,000 of these wells and continues to hone the process. This past March, I went to San Angelo, […] - [Next Steps . . .](https://rickgregory.us/next-steps/): Do you ever marvel at the turns your life takes? I’m sitting in the Kanga coffee shop in Davao City, Philippines, looking at the woman I fell in love with 40 years ago. To me she is even more beautiful today than that day I noticed – really NOTICED her (might it have been that tight green sweater and sparkling green eyes?). I’d known her for several years already, but never dreamed she might “like” me. Then a couple years later as we stood at the altar, no wait, the judges desk (in Walla Walla, WA where we ran away to […] - [Hand-dug wells in Bolivia!](https://rickgregory.us/hand-dug-wells-in-bolivia/): It’s been a long time since I’ve posted to my blog . . . We’ve been back in the States now since the first of July last year and I’ve been focused on working and getting ready for our next trip. Sherry has been in Davao City, Philippines since February, completing an internship in midwifery. I’ll meet her there at the end of her stay and we’ll return together. After nearly 40 years together, it’s been a real challenge for me to be living alone for these past 7 weeks! Having run away and gotten married at 18, neither of us […] - [Discouraged . . . ? Maybe not](https://rickgregory.us/discouraged-maybe-not/): Well, we’ve been back from Africa just over 60 days now. I’m trying to examine my perceptions and understand why I feel discouraged. It was a great trip. We spent over 2 months in the Sudan, working alongside amazing people. We saw incredible things take place and marveled as God protected us in the midst of extraordinary insecurity – with armed rebel warriors inside our compound multiple times. Temperatures soaring to between 120 and 130 degrees f became common and ceased to be noteworthy. We truly participated in ministry, humanitarian acts of kindness and tasted the bread of everydayness with Sudanese […] - [Nairobi, Sudan and Mambas](https://rickgregory.us/nairobi-sudan-and-mambas/): I’m not gonna lie to you. I think I’d rather be in Sudan. In Bor its hot (I think we averaged in the 120’s the whole time), muddy, full of bugs, snakes and scorpions – and oh yeah, people shooting at each other. But Nairobi? Posters in the guesthouse where we’re staying warn that you can basically expect to be mugged, especially if you look like a tourist, so they request you NOT leave the premises after 6:30 pm. And there isn’t a lot I can do to hide the fact that I’m not from these parts ☺ There are millions […] - [Not like a Lost Boy . . . but still a long walk](https://rickgregory.us/not-like-a-lost-boy-but-still-a-long-walk/): I should have known something bad was going to happen when we had to be pulled out of the mud within the 1st 5 minutes of our drive to town. I had arranged to ride to Bor with Paul Anyang, one of the local guys who takes people to and from Bor for 10 Sudanese pounds each way. I had to make good on my promise to pay the first installment on our tractor and none of our vehicles could make the drive . . . Riding with Paul is an experience. He has an Isuzu SUV (not sure the model) […] - [Governors and Tractors](https://rickgregory.us/governors-and-tractors/): One of my last blog entries talked about “waiting . . .” and feeling a bit melancholic about my time here at Werkok, after having such wild success meeting with the Governor early on about our Ag project. I think now I know what I was waiting for! When Sherry and I returned from Uganda several years ago, we wondered at what training we might seek, to make us more useful in Africa. Sherry received her graduate degree in Nursing School and I got a degree in Animal Science, followed by a graduate degree in International Development. My thought was that […] - [Werkok Memorial Hospital - Hope for the Hopeless!](https://rickgregory.us/werkok-memorial-hospital-hope-for-the-hopeless/): Well, its been a wild ride for these past several weeks! I looked over my past messages and see that they’re a little on the dark side. I’m not gonna lie to you, this has been one of the hardest things I think we’ve ever done. However, coming out of a bit of a funk, I have to admit that I completely see God’s hand in our lives and in this place (Memorial Christian Hospital, Werkok). It is the one beacon of hope for the people anywhere within at least a 2-hour driving radius. Twice now, we’ve had some folks (3 […] - [April 21st – Long day](https://rickgregory.us/april-21st-%e2%80%93-long-day/): Last night was a good night of sleep. It didn’t start out hot and didn’t get too cold. I even had to cover up with a top sheet ☺ (JP, you’ll be delighted to know that for awhile once we return, even I will be freezing anytime the temp goes below 75 degrees. Amazing how cold 75 feels when the daytime temps hit over 120!). I was feeling a bit melancholy this morning, meditating on the verses in Luke 8, but especially verse 1, where it says, “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the […] - [April 20th – Rainy Season](https://rickgregory.us/april-20th-%e2%80%93-rainy-season/): We rose at around 7:00 am this morning to sunshine, with a few clouds off to the North and East. By 8:15, the sky had begun to darken and by 8:30 am it was almost as dark as evening, just before African darkness begins to swallow you up. By 8:45, the wind erupted into a maelstrom, clubbing us and scattering the stackable (Costco) chairs, along with anything that wasn’t tied down or wedged against an immovable wall; it ripped the shade cloth on the porch to shreds and we had to lever shoes under the door to keep it closed. Horizontal […] - [APRIL 17th](https://rickgregory.us/april-17th/): It started out like a normal evening; we’d had a good day of work around the compound. Josh and Aaron had made good progress on the VSAT. It was set on the pole, trenches dug for the coaxial cables and the lines laid. Just waiting to try and point the dish, capture the satellite signal and set up the software for the modem. Visitors were coming, too. In fact, 7 representatives from Samaritan’s Purse, Canada had arrived about 15 minutes earlier and gone off to visit a small clinic about 20 minutes away. I’d set up 3 tents and got all […] - [Tragedy in Werkok](https://rickgregory.us/tragedy-in-werkok/): I awoke to gunfire again today. It is Good Friday and I’m sitting in the HIV/AIDS office of the Minister of Health, waiting for the Secretary to finish sending her work so I can use the Internet. This is an amazing place. On the way here, I got some more updated information on the death count from the fighting over the past few days (about 20 miles south of us in a place called Anyidi); from the tiny village of Werkok, there were 21 young men killed – all of them under 24 years old. Besides the ones killed from Werkok, […] - [Greetings from Werkok!](https://rickgregory.us/greetings-from-werkok/): Greetings from Werkok, Southern Sudan April 1, 2009I’m writing from the HIV/AIDS office of the Minister of Health of Southern Sudan. This is the first opportunity I’ve had for an extended period of internet access. Following is a relatively brief summary of our adventures since my last post. I’m waiting for nearly 350 emails to download . . . so I have a bit of time . . . 🙂 We arrived in Juba on Wednesday March 18th. Its really odd landing in a new place, not knowing the language and not sure anyone is going to be at the airport […] - [Nairobi: Monday - Long Monday](https://rickgregory.us/nairobi-monday-long-monday/): This was a loooonnngggg day. Shouldn’t have been, but it sure was. Maybe because it started at 3:30 am? Anyway, Mamer’s cousin, Ajak came to escort us through the day and we would have really been in trouble without him. We first went to the Government of Southern Sudan’s (GOSS) special permits (visas) office, arriving there at about 11 am. The official who had been contacted by the government in Juba was a bit reluctant – I suspect because there are so many visa requests they do daily – and he was being pressured to get ours done quickly. Apparently it […] - [Nairobi: 3:30 am](https://rickgregory.us/nairobi-330-am/): I’m trying to think of lots of clever things to say, but all I can get out is . . . “why the heck couldn’t I sleep!!???” I intentionally stayed awake over the duration of both our flights – starting at 9 pm in California (9 hour 46 minutes flight to Heathrow) until we arrived in Nairobi at 7 am (8 hours from Heathrow to Jomo Kenyatta) Sunday morning. The best I can figure is that “Saturday” for us only lasted 4 hours while we were in London. At Jomo, smiling, giant white-teeth John, the hotel’s driver, greeted us. Walking to […] - [The Lost Boys of Sudan](https://rickgregory.us/the-lost-boys-of-sudan/): Since many have indicated a desire for a bit more information about the “Lost Boys” of Sudan, I thought I’d do a quick primer . . . I also have to insert a bit of editorial disclaimer here; these are no longer boys – and not very lost. Those I’ve met are incredibly intelligent, articulate, gracious, generous, passionate men, willingly leaving comfort and relative prosperity in the US to return to Sudan. They plan to invest their own resources, indeed their very lives in an effort to see a decimated country flourish once again. In what has been called the second […] - [6 days to Africa](https://rickgregory.us/6-days-to-africa/): That’s right. We leave in 6 days. So today, the itinerary looks like this (but this is Africa and things are always subject to change): *March 13: Depart LAX and arrive in Nairobi on March 15th*March 16 or 17: Fly to Juba to meet Mamer Ajak, then travel to Bor and present the Ag plan to the governor of Jonglei State.*First week in April: Attend the dedication of the Werkok Hospital (site where Sherry will volunteer)*April 6th or 13th:(depends on transportation availability, since there will be lots of visitors needing transport from Werkok at one time), travel to Nairobi*May 20th: (depending […] - [Hunting Jesus](https://rickgregory.us/hunting-jesus/): “Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.” – Oswald Chambers Too often I’m concerned about what I want God to do, either in my own life or in the lives of others within my sphere of influence. Chambers nailed it; it isn’t about what he’s going to do, its about who he is. Sherry and I are preparing to head off again to Africa and I’m constantly praying, asking what he wants me to […] - [Wells, Pygmies and Goats](https://rickgregory.us/wells-pygmies-and-goats/): This has been a wild year! Gotta confess that we’ve been bad . . . real bad at staying in touch. We truly hope to do a better job communicating in the year to come. This year saw both Sherry and me complete our Master’s degrees – Sherry in Nursing and me in International Development. For both of us, it was the culmination of many years of full-time school. Now is when it starts to get really interesting . . . I’m leaving for San Angelo, Texas on the 13th of March to train with a man who invented a technology […] - [After graduation](https://rickgregory.us/after-graduation/): This is about how I feel today. No papers to write. Just rats to clear from the attic. Literally. - [Before graduation](https://rickgregory.us/before-graduation/): This is how I saw myself 2 weeks ago (before graduation). - [What is the What?](https://rickgregory.us/what-is-the-what/): This is the story of Achak (Valentino) Deng. But it is also the story of countless other Lost Boys from Sudan. It is a compelling, tragic, victorious story of survival. To try and imagine some of the events and circumstances and experiences these boys have endured is beyond the typical American’s comprehension. Walking for hundreds of miles with not enough food or water; watching as one of your friends was carried away by a lion and listening as his bones were crunched and he was eaten by that lion. Sitting at the base of a tree, after walking for weeks together, […] - [Size does matter](https://rickgregory.us/size-does-matter/): Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve watched my mom, someone I thought was pretty healthy, become transformed into a broken physical shell. It started with her being short of breath and asking the doc to do a stress test. When the test results came back “abnormal,” he scheduled an angioplasty with the intention of installing a stent. The angio day brought some bad news; Mom needed open heart surgery, which turned out to be a quadruple bypass! After the Thursday surgery, she seemed to be doing well and making an excellent recovery. Until Sunday night. During a breathing exercise with […] - [MONDAY (3/10/08) IN OUAGA](https://rickgregory.us/monday-31008-in-ouaga/): We started the day like most others, except I had a bit less sleep. I was up till after midnight, and then up again at about 4:30 am preparing a message for the pastor’s conference at which we were the featured speakers. Josh and I each spoke for about an hour and a half (including questions at the end of each segment). The conference was held at a church in the bush about 45 km outside the city, and attended by 60 – 70 pastors. These men are so gracious. They were clearly of a different economic status than most of […] - [Sunday (3/9/08) in Ouaga](https://rickgregory.us/sunday-3908-in-ouaga/): Sunday was a great day. We spent the morning at Eliel Church, where Josh spoke on Psalm 73. Clearly, God has given him the gift of teaching and his word to the church was well-received. After lunch we went to an open-air market where the vendors were incredibly aggressive. This market faced a concrete waterway that was dry (like everything else here this time of year), and once we got past the first few shops, we had a feeling of being pretty “caught” by them. They were grabbing our arms and doing everything in their power to get us into their […] - [Ouagadougou](https://rickgregory.us/ouagadougou/): This is the first day I’ve had internet access since Thursday evening . . . FRIDAY IN OUAGA (3/7/08) Today has been a wonderful day. The night cold (70+ degrees) was really comfortable at 4:45 am when I rolled off (not out-of because I was on-top-of) my bed. Nothing better than a cup of instant Nescafe on the patio! Pastor Daniel collected us at 7 am and chauffeured us an hour and a half west of Ouagadougou to the Bethel Bible School, in the town of Koudougou. Jeremy is the director of the school and a wonderful host. This is one […] - [Thursday in Ouagadougou (3/6/08)](https://rickgregory.us/thursday-in-ouagadougou-3608/): This morning we went to Koubri Bible School, about 30 minutes outside of the city. Josh preached at the main chapel service and Julie spoke to the women just prior to the main chapel. Afterwards, we attended one of the classes for the graduating group (they graduate in 51 days), who will soon be returning to their villages. Josh taught again, this time from I Timothy, and then we had nearly an hour for answering questions. Most of them were excellent questions, focused on what living out the Christian looks like in practice. From the sound of it, the school is […] - [Wednesday in Ouagadougou (3/5/08)](https://rickgregory.us/wednesday-in-ouagadougou-3508/): On Wednesday, Jean, the man who works at the house, cleaning and maintaining the outside, drove us to what is called the Artisan Village. It is a showcase of Burkinabe products and wares. We bought a few things, and then went to the American Club for lunch – where we ran into one of the missionaries living at the school we visited Thursday. The late afternoon and evening were filled with visits from various local pastors, along with Daniel Delma’s son David, and Dieudonne, married to one of David’s sisters. Speaking with David and Dieudonne was completely refreshing and a total […] - [Ouagadougou – Vert Doyant Tuesday March 4](https://rickgregory.us/ouagadougou-vert-doyant-tuesday-march-4/): So its now 9:30 pm. After my nearly 2-hour nap in 107 degree, power-out-air-deadstill siesta time, I’m wired and doubt I’ll be able to sleep any time soon. The church next door is having a revival, so I suspect I would be hearing plenty of noise anyway. I’ll tell you about the day, but first have to relate our adventure in getting to dinner and home again. We began by purchasing a phone card from a vendor on the street just outside where we’re staying. All the directions are in French, but we managed to get the minutes loaded into the […] - [Ouagadougou Monday 03 March (#2)](https://rickgregory.us/ouagadougou-monday-03-march-2/): Its about 8:30 pm. Sitting on the patio, thinking that God has indeed been gracious and faithful to have brought Jerry and Jan to this place. Jerry’s local name is “Wend Panga (God’s Power).” For the last 20 years or so, they have come alongside the Burkinabe people and helped as they were able, for whatever the people requested. They have built churches, put roofs on other churches, built Bible schools and mentored national pastors. This trip, 2 of their sons (both pastors) were here teaching at a pastor’s conference. What an amazing legacy these two have created! It will be […] - [Ouagadougou Monday 03 March (#1)](https://rickgregory.us/ouagadougou-monday-03-march-1/): OK, so its 1:30pm and about 100 degrees. This morning, I woke up at about 5:50 am, sweat coursing down my chest, neck, forehead and back. Right now, I’m sitting out on the patio of the little house we’re staying in, just outside the main HQ of the Assemblies of God churches for Burkina Faso. Last night, Jerry (Josh Swanson’s uncle) was telling us of a 3-week stint he had in the bush, where the temp averaged 130 degrees every day! This place is one where I think you have to feel “called to.” On the edge of the Sahara desert, […] - [Ouagadougou #1](https://rickgregory.us/ouagadougou-1/): What started out as a simple trip got a bit more complicated in Paris. Trip from Los Angeles to Paris was uneventful. After a ~10-hour flight, we were to have a “short” 4-hour layover at CDG2 in Paris, then fly direct to Oagadougou. Instead, we were privileged to enjoy French hospitality in the airport for just under 12 hours as they repaired our plane. No real restaurant. About $75 for a dinner of plastic-box-pre-made Caesar salads, one beverage each, a single baguette with a pickle and some strange meat inside to share and about 24 Pringles; “Stretching out” on built-in seating […] - [On Reimagining my life](https://rickgregory.us/on-reimagining-my-life/): It is interesting that I awoke at 2am, then again at 3 and 4am; I finally conceded to the inevitable and rolled out of bed at 5am. Made my coffee, each cup with a tablespoon of potent Mexican vanilla (thank you, neighbor Pam!). The interesting part of today’s story (at least to me) is that I slept fitfully because of the mountain of tasks on my plate right now – and the responsibility to complete projects I committed to without really measuring my time availability or what cost will be extracted from me to complete them. The incongruity of what life […] - [Wrapping up 2007](https://rickgregory.us/wrapping-up-2007/): Great day today. We got to see our good friends Dan and Marcia, along with their oldest daughter Amy (visiting from NYC). Over the past seven years, we’ve come to really love Amy and her sister Jill and it was a great privilege to see her with Dan and Marcia. We later shared dinner with our long-time friends, Doug and Susie. Over 34 years, Doug and Susie have loved us unconditionally and often been the voices of reason when parenting nearly got the best of us. Looking back on this year is pretty interesting. – In March, I graduated from Cal […] - [Community: is it Madness?](https://rickgregory.us/community-is-it-madness/): I just finished reading chapter 4 (online here) in Soul Graffiti about Emperor Arcadia. My emotions really took me by surprise when, after reading how he had tried to commit suicide and Mark and Joseph had visited him in the hospital, I actually, uncontrollably, burst out in tears! This is something I haven’t done for years! It wasn’t that Mark had visited him, or that the Emperor lived through the ordeal, but it was as I read on and Mark explained to the hospital psychologist (who couldn’t figure out why Mark and Joseph would care about a filth-creased, drug-addicted, mentally unstable […] - [The Road](https://rickgregory.us/the-road/): Weight of darkness teased by scents of light. What was the purpose? To get there. Oh. So there is a reason for the journey? Sure. Okay. I just wondered. Oh. Literary feet wrapped in metaphor. Coughing over the tyranny of the road. Footprints in ashes vanishing with each step. Wondering. Breathing Papa’s protection underneath the evil smelling blanket. Are we going to die? Not today. Maybe soon? Maybe. Okay. I loved the discussion. I loved the style of the writing. I hated the story. With a structure unlike any I’ve ever experienced, Cormac McCarthy masterfully sequences a compelling tenderness within a […] - [Community](https://rickgregory.us/community/): We had a great dinner last night. Carrie & Jason and the boys, Denis, Daniel & Mandy. Usual craziness with a 4-year-old and almost-2-year-old. Lots of rice on the floor. Maybe we should ixne on the pomegranate seeds in the salad? Several pieces under the table on the white carpet; not so pretty – and not so easily removed (until I busted out the Pure Erase:-). Chuck and LaFonda would be proud. What was really cool was our discussion over the meal about community. Seems everyone wants to experience it, but no one is really sure what it looks like. The […] - [The Long Beach Armada](https://rickgregory.us/the-long-beach-armada/): My hunch is that your first response is NOT, “What a cool name for a baseball team.” Nonetheless, that is exactly what it is – a semi-pro baseball team whose home park is Blair Field in downtown Long Beach. We were treated to a special game tonight, in which the Armada defeated the Orange County Flyers in a come-from-behind victory. You’d think that fantastic offense and dazzling defense are what made the event special. Not even close; it was the announcement between the 8th and 9th innings, “We’re sorry to inform you that due to City Noise regulations, we will start […] - [Mission, Vision, Values](https://rickgregory.us/mission-vision-values/): Wow! What a mouthful. So we spent time on working out what the Mission and Vision might say – and now we’re working on articulating the values that define the Mission and Vision. Wait a minute! Isn’t that a little backward? I thought values define Mission and Vision. Seems like we got just a bit out of sync here. I think what might be appropriate is to really define the key values – and then see how the Mission and Vision flow out of them. I actually think this is a wonderful process for our church. So far, this is what […] - [Orbiting the Giant Hairball](https://rickgregory.us/orbiting-the-giant-hairball/): At first I thought the book was going to really be cheesy. Then I started reading. Gordon Mckenzie was for years one of the prime creative forces behind Hallmark. His stories are hilarious, but they also drive you to introspection. The premise is that creativity isn’t some special talent or gift, reserved for just “the creatives,” but that it is something we’re all born with – but that gets stolen from us by life. The hairball is a layering of “the ghosts of past creative successes,” which seduce us into trying to repeatedly replicate them – which of course never happens […] - [Mac the Barber](https://rickgregory.us/mac-the-barber/): OK, so Adam came and ran with me this afternoon. He’s a rabbit. I have this 4.06 mile run – not a 4 mile run – it’s a 4.06 mile run. Anyway, we (Matt and Sherry and I) normally run it in 38 – 40 minutes. Today Adam and I ran it in 36 minutes. So you think only 2 minutes less isn’t a big deal? You try it! Took me about an hour before I could breathe reasonably normally again (got asthma . . . no wonder). Had a great conversation with Mac today. Mac is my barber. He’s all […] - [Saturday morning](https://rickgregory.us/saturday-morning/): The dinner party was cool. The living room was really hot (this morning I found the radiant heat in the living room turned up to full blast. it was about 90 when I got up) Conversations. Lots of them . . . about Siberia, about downward mobility. About whether Creation was a literal or figurative 6 days. About LAPD. About Trader Joe’s latest great cheap wine (Santa Ema). About what it means to live out the gospel as families with kids running all over, turning on the heater without the adults knowing it and wondering why it was so hot in […] - [Dinner Party](https://rickgregory.us/dinner-party/): Should be fun. 9 adults and 7 kids in a 2-bedroom apartment (or condo. whatever). We’re hosting the Nesbitts, Swansons, Princes and a new friend named Dennis (won’t know his last name until after dinner). Getting ready is fun, despite the fact I ripped off a toenail trying to move a table from the kitchen to the dining room. Whats amazing is we actually have enough room to do this deal. Living out the Gospel isn’t convenient, but it is right. Sometimes what’s right isn’t easy. Or convenient. - [What's up with Rick?](https://rickgregory.us/9/): All right, so its been almost a year since I last posted here. . . and a lot has happened in that year! I took a 2 1/2 year hiatus from full-time work after 25+ years in the flooring industry to go back to school (Cal Poly Pomona), from which I just graduated with a BS in Animal Science! Ultimately Sherry and I are still headed for Africa, where we’ll be involved in microdevelopment for marginalized people. I know Animal Science is a long ways away from flooring, but it is an interest I’ve had for decades and finally decided to […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/8/): Saturday was a wonderful day. We did our regular Marshall Canyon run then came back and spent the balance of the day working around the Sorority house, getting the rest of our stuff moved in, wondering at what might be in store for us as we get to know the 24 girls who live here! Sunday (yesterday) started with Church, during which Lou spoke from Daniel 5. The ultimate message had to do with our response to what Jesus did in history – how will it impact our lives and how will we respond to Him? Then at the ABF, he […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/7/): As I scanned the small gathering, the body language � especially of the warriors was all wrong. Their eyes sent chills cascading down my spine despite the heat of the African savannah. The name of the village was Lopeduru Aparukude, situated in the bush about 20km away from the trading center at Nabilatuk in the province of South Karamoja, in the Northeast of Uganda near the Kenyan border. The people are of the Pian tribe, but known to the rest of the world as the fiercest modern-day warriors � the Karamojong. When we arrived just outside the village after a bicycle […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/6/): OK, so now I’m going to post some more information I sent to some email friends, but thought it might be good to have available for the whole world to see . . . So much has happened since we returned from Uganda. Some good . . . and some not so good. I’ll see if I can give you a quick recap. 1. We got back in late July, confirmed Sherry’s nursing school and she started Aug 15th at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. That was good. 2. After a tough 4 weeks, we leased our house through […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/5/): We were in Uganda for 6 weeks this past summer, not with any particular agency. About 3 or 4 years ago, we really started getting restless, wondering what the last half of our work life would (or maybe should) look like.�We both�felt like we had tasted what America calls “success,” and found it lacking. Part of what I wanted to do was be strategic about preparing for the transition if there was to be one. I began by going back to Junior College to get all my general ed classes finished, with the ultimate goal of transferring to Cal Poly for […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/4/): “Africance” – September 28, 2005 Ah, so you wonder what the name means, do you? Well, a couple years ago, Sherry and I decided that the Great American Dream wasn’t so dreamy for us. We began to ask questions . . . questions like, “Why do we in America have so much and those in the developing world have so little? Was it simply luck that we were born here and ‘they’ were born there?” Is material prosperity God’s blessing? If so, then is poverty the withholding of His blessing? If the worldwide Church is His Body and those in other […] - [The Carried Man](https://rickgregory.us/the-carried-man/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [A New Identity](https://rickgregory.us/a-new-identity-in-christ/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - ["Good" Friday?](https://rickgregory.us/good-friday/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Jesus Prayed for You!](https://rickgregory.us/jesus-prayed-for-you/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Understanding the APEST Gifts of Ephesians 4: Equipping the Church for Ministry](https://rickgregory.us/understanding-apest-gifts-ephesians-4/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [He Loves You!](https://rickgregory.us/he-loves-you/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Be An Aaron; Be A Hur!](https://rickgregory.us/be-an-aaron-be-a-hur/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [1 Rash Promise: A Lifetime of Regret](https://rickgregory.us/rash-promise-a-lifetime-of-regret/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Praying for Enemies: Love Your Enemies Like Jesus](https://rickgregory.us/praying-for-enemies-love-your-enemies-like-jesus/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Pride and Shame: Herod's 1 Catastrophic Choice](https://rickgregory.us/the-head-of-john-the-baptist-herods-shame-and-pride/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Are You A Chocolate Soldier?](https://rickgregory.us/are-you-an-authentic-chocolate-soldier-rick-gregory/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Total Surrender: Truthful Insights from John 3:16](https://rickgregory.us/total-surrender/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Why Do You Worry?](https://rickgregory.us/why-do-you-worry/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [All Your Explanations Are Lies!](https://rickgregory.us/all-your-explanations-are-lies-biblical-worldview/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [4 Important Reasons For Fasting](https://rickgregory.us/4-reasons-for-fasting/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Men's Ponytails and Man Buns: 1 Brave Man's Rant](https://rickgregory.us/a-rant-modern-mens-ponytails/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [What Connie Brought](https://rickgregory.us/what-connie-brought/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Who Makes His Own God?](https://rickgregory.us/who-makes-his-own-god-modern-idolatry/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Are You The One?](https://rickgregory.us/are-you-the-one/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Can A Real Man Be A Real Christian?](https://rickgregory.us/can-a-real-man-be-a-real-christian/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Embracing the Great Commission After Retirement](https://rickgregory.us/embracing-the-great-commission-after-retirement/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Read Thru the Bible In A Year!](https://rickgregory.us/read-thru-the-bible-in-a-year/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [My Thoughts or His Thoughts?](https://rickgregory.us/my-thoughts-or-his-thoughts/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [What the Heck Is A Three-Thirds Meeting?](https://rickgregory.us/what-the-heck-is-a-three-thirds-meeting/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Unlock Effective Discipleship Resources & Tools](https://rickgregory.us/https-rickgregory-us-the-ultimate-guide-to-free-discipleship-resources-tools/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [NPL: 1 Reason for The Big Rush](https://rickgregory.us/npl-1-reason-for-the-big-rush/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [4 Reasons Materialism Will Never Satisfy](https://rickgregory.us/4-reasons-materialism-will-never-satisfy/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [#NPL — The Brutal Facts](https://rickgregory.us/npl-the-brutal-facts/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [#NPL - The Basics](https://rickgregory.us/npl-the-basics/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [#GiustisTieTheKnot](https://rickgregory.us/giustistietheknot/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Distracted By “Civilian Affairs?”](https://rickgregory.us/distracted-by-civilian-affairs/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Awakening to a New Way of “Doing Church”](https://rickgregory.us/awakening-to-a-new-way-of-doing-church/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Holding Hands Matters!](https://rickgregory.us/holding-hands-matters/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Neighboring](https://rickgregory.us/neighboring/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Book Review: The Deconstruction of Christianity by Alisa Childers & Tim Barnett](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-the-deconstruction-of-christianity-by-alisa-childers-tim-barnett/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Book Review: Killer Angel by Dr. George Grant](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-killer-angel-by-dr-george-grant/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Book Review: Who Is The King In America? by: William Federer](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-who-is-the-king-in-america-by-william-federer/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Book Review: The Demise by Diane Moody](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-the-demise-by-diane-moody/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Book Review: Cold Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace](https://rickgregory.us/book-review-cold-case-christianity-by-j-warner-wallace/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Review: Letter To The American Church](https://rickgregory.us/review-letter-to-the-american-church/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Paideia –  παιδεια Some Thoughts on Public Education](https://rickgregory.us/paideia-%cf%80%ce%b1%ce%b9%ce%b4%ce%b5%ce%b9%ce%b1-some-thoughts-on-public-education/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Igniting Faith: Navigating Your Unique Spiritual Journey for Lasting Impact](https://rickgregory.us/igniting-faith-navigating-your-unique-spiritual-journey-for-lasting-impact/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Back To Jerusalem](https://rickgregory.us/back-to-jerusalem/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Ground Zero - Philippines](https://rickgregory.us/ground-zero-philippines/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Worship? What's It Really All About?](https://rickgregory.us/worship-whats-it-really-all-about/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [How NOT to Find An Apartment - And Still Get Lucky!](https://rickgregory.us/how-not-to-find-an-apartment-and-still-get-lucky/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Broken Body And Healed Heart In Davao](https://rickgregory.us/broken-body-and-healed-heart-in-davao/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Rebels? Insurgents? Farmers?](https://rickgregory.us/rebels-insurgents-farmers/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Obedience-Based . . . Or Knowledge-Based Discipleship?](https://rickgregory.us/obedience-based-or-knowledge-based-discipleship/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Well Drilling In South Cotabato Province](https://rickgregory.us/well-drilling-in-south-cotabato-province/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Two Weeks In And . . .?](https://rickgregory.us/two-weeks-in-and/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Water? Who Needs It?](https://rickgregory.us/water-who-needs-it/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Alarmed. Frightened. Aghast. Awed. Terrified!](https://rickgregory.us/alarmed-frightened-aghast-awed-terrified/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [First Week In Davao!](https://rickgregory.us/first/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Getting To Davao](https://rickgregory.us/getting-to-davao/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [The 22nd Departure Is Nearly Upon Us!](https://rickgregory.us/the-22nd-departure-is-nearly-upon-us/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [I Think I Might Hate Isaiah 58 . . . Have You Read It Lately?](https://rickgregory.us/i-think-i-hate-isaiah-58-have-you-read-it-lately/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Have I Stolen From God?](https://rickgregory.us/have-i-stolen-from-god/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Whose Shade Are You Hiding In?](https://rickgregory.us/whose-shade-are-you-hiding-in/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Meet Ms Kay Campbell](https://rickgregory.us/meet-ms-kay-campbell/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [How to Drill Low-Cost Hand-Dug Wells](https://rickgregory.us/wfa-refresher/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Wailing in Wales (Cardiff to be exact)](https://rickgregory.us/wailing-in-wales-cardiff-to-be-exact/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Scotland? . . . How Could We Almost Not Make It Here?](https://rickgregory.us/scotland-how-could-we-almost-not-make-it-here/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Life On The Road . . . Where Am I? Trier? Hamburg? London? Edinburgh?](https://rickgregory.us/life-on-the-road-where-am-i-trier-hamburg-london-edinburgh/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Bruges Is Like An Old Pair Of Slippers, But . . . Ghent](https://rickgregory.us/bruges-is-like-an-old-pair-of-slippers-but-ghent/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Which Name Is The Right One ... Antwerp? Anvers? OR Antwerpen?](https://rickgregory.us/which-name-is-the-right-one-antwerp-anvers-or-antwerpen/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Paris! The Eiffel Tower AND The Arc de Triomphe](https://rickgregory.us/paris-the-eiffel-tower-and-the-arc-de-triomphe/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [What Was So Unexpected About The Capital Of Catalunya?](https://rickgregory.us/what-was-so-unexpected-about-the-capital-of-catalunya/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [October 4-7 (days 37-40) French Riviera NICE](https://rickgregory.us/october-4-7-days-37-40-french-riviera-nice/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Oct 2 & 3 (Days 35-36) Colosseum](https://rickgregory.us/oct-2-3-days-35-36-colosseum/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [October 1 - Day 34 - The Vatican](https://rickgregory.us/october-1-day-34-the-vatican/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 33 - Rome (Sept 30th)](https://rickgregory.us/day-33-rome-sept-30th/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [09-25 thru 09-29-22 Days 28-32: Florence](https://rickgregory.us/09-25-thru-09-29-22-days-28-32-florence/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 27 - (Saturday 09-24-22)](https://rickgregory.us/day-27-saturday-09-24-22/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 26 (Friday 09-23-22) Travel](https://rickgregory.us/day-26-friday-09-23-22-travel/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 25 (Thursday 09-22-22) Interlaken](https://rickgregory.us/day-25-thursday-09-22-22-interlaken/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 23 - (Tuesday 09-20-22) Salzburg](https://rickgregory.us/day-23-tuesday-09-21-22-salzburg/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 22 - Salzburg (Monday 09-19-22)](https://rickgregory.us/day-22-salzburg-monday-09-19-22/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 21 (09-18-22) - Salzburg](https://rickgregory.us/day-21-09-18-22-salzburg/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 19 - ( 09-16-22) Vienna](https://rickgregory.us/day-19-09-16-22-vienna/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 18 (09-15-22) Vienna](https://rickgregory.us/day-18-09-15-22-vienna/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 17. (09-13-22) Auschwitz-Birkenau](https://rickgregory.us/day-17-09-13-22-auschwitz-birkenau/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 16 - Sept 12 - Krakow!](https://rickgregory.us/day-16-sept-12-krakow/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 14 - Sat Sept 10th - Prague](https://rickgregory.us/day-14-sat-sept-10th-prague/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 12 - Cologne, Cont'd](https://rickgregory.us/day-12-cologne-contd/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 11 - Cologne](https://rickgregory.us/day-11-cologne/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Nähkiste - (Still part of Day 9) AND Day 10](https://rickgregory.us/nahkiste-still-part-of-day-9-and-day-10/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 9 - Monschau](https://rickgregory.us/day-9-monschau/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 8 - Bruges Morning Run](https://rickgregory.us/day-8-bruges-morning-run/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 7 - Bruges & the Choco Story](https://rickgregory.us/day-6-bruges-the-choco-story/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 6 - Bruges, Belgium](https://rickgregory.us/day-6-bruges-belgium/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 5 - London Again . . . Again . . . OH And YORK!](https://rickgregory.us/day-5-london-again-again/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 4 - London . . . Again](https://rickgregory.us/day-4-london-again/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 3 - Cambridge](https://rickgregory.us/day-3-cambridge/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 2: London](https://rickgregory.us/day-2-london/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Day 1: LAX to Copenhagen . . . Done!](https://rickgregory.us/day-1-lax-to-copenhagen-done/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Can It Really Be A 50th Wedding Anniversary?](https://rickgregory.us/can-it-really-be-a-50th-wedding-anniversary/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [When Is TRUTH Really True?](https://rickgregory.us/when-is-truth-really-true/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Ananias, High Priest, Unbeliever . . .](https://rickgregory.us/ananias-high-priest-unbeliever/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Sales Enablement?](https://rickgregory.us/are-you-making-mistakes-with-your-sales-and-marketing-collateral/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] ## Pages - [Hobbying — Get the Starter Sheet](https://rickgregory.us/hobbying/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/hobbying-2/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [My Books](https://rickgregory.us/my-books/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Opt-out preferences](https://rickgregory.us/opt-out-preferences/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Rick's Marathon Training page](https://rickgregory.us/who-i-am/ricks-marathon-training-page/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Cookie Policy (EU)](https://rickgregory.us/cookie-policy-eu/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Contact](https://rickgregory.us/contact/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Privacy Policy](https://rickgregory.us/privacy-policy/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [](https://rickgregory.us/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [BLOG](https://rickgregory.us/blog/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Favorite Links/Daily Devo](https://rickgregory.us/fav-links/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Writing Portfolio](https://rickgregory.us/writing-samples/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [Who I Am](https://rickgregory.us/who-i-am/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [What I Do](https://rickgregory.us/what-i-do/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] - [About](https://rickgregory.us/about-2/): I’m sitting here, chewing on a verse. Isaiah wrote it to people much older than me, but it hits me differently when I realize what previously defined me in my job is . . . gone. Am I the same person? Do I still have value?“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will save you.” — Isaiah 46:4, NASBRead that again slowly. God doesn’t just tolerate you as you move into your […] ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/rickgregory.us/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)