A lesson I learned today. . .

Today, I was sitting in plant physiology class and was kind of spacy dreaming (I came to class right in the middle of my work day and it is hard to make the switch from factory work to engaged classroom listening sometimes). The topic of the day was environmental factors; tempature, CO2 concentration, light intensity and the like effecting photosynthetic rates. As Dr. Del talked I was suddenly acutely aware of how amazing plants really are. For instance, take the grass that we walk on and by everyday. It has the physiological components and design to take first, light rays from the sun and convert them into energy producing mechanisms, and secondly to take a gas, CO2, and convert it to plant food or sugar so that the plant can grow. Try to name anything else in nature that can do that (all of life depends on plants, so you will not find any . . . maybe? We humans, we talk solid food and make solid waste (I guess some would argue that I take solid food and make gas . . .heheh . the opposite of plants of course). In fact, the plants as a waste product produce oxygen. All the oxygen in the entire earth that is essential to all of life. Wow! Grass, plants, trees, flowers, these things are the stuff of life.
While at my brothers in Fargo, he was commenting on how amazing it was that a sunflower stalk in his garden from last season could get so large in one growing season. Yes, it truly is amazing that a plant can put on so much biomass in one season. A nine foot sunflower plant! I guess human life is like that sometime. We show amazing signs of growth in a season, sometimes we show very little. Like the wintertime for most plants . . . although . . there is this one type of plant . . .) Well, folks I am beginning to understand God's creative design behind this amazing growth. I ll explain it sometime when I get the chance. I just wanted to express the wondering and amazing in all the detail.
Dan P

To End all Wars . .. yes watch it now

Wow, please do watch "To End all Wars" It will demonstrate the power of forgiveness and so much more in ways that are truly radical. As Jesus's love was radical.
Our friend, Laura G (who we just visited in LA) recommended it to us. Turns out, David Cunningham, the son of the man who started YWAM directed the film. Wow, what a powerful and redemptive film. A truly profound war film. Just watch it and let me know what you think.

Check out our pictures of our recent trip by clicking here. http://oudmanperkins5picture.blogspot.com/

Thanks

Dan at the Grand Canyon. Check out oudmanperkins5picture.blogspot.com for more pics of our recent trip 

Julie at the Grand Canyon

Wow, God really created a work of wonder with the Grand Canyon. We got to see the Sunrise and the Sunset and I was blown away. So much so that only poetry(I will share some later) could express the emotions drawn forth. God's granduer! God having fun, drawing sand lines on the face of the earth. Like a child at the beach.

A trip to the West Coast

Hello all,
Man, we are getting so slack about posting. I guess with good reason since Julie and I have been travelling across the country to Los Angeles, CA. Julie is on Spring break and I got off of work so we decided to visit several friends out here. On the way out we stayed in Colorado Springs with some friends, then camped the night at the Grand Canyon the next day (nearly froze to death since it was 32 degrees and our sleeping bag wasn't quite adequet). Hiked down into the canyon the next day for a bit and made our way to LA. The Grand Canyon is truly a beautiful place and I was blown away. We got to see the sunrise and sunset which really intensified the shadows and shapes of the canyon. It has been raining out here so much that as we drove through the Mojave deseret everything was green. Various types of deseret flowers and plants were blooming which was amazing to seen. What a vast empty space of wilderness! America is really huge as a land mass.
We spent the last couple of days staying with Laura Groen at YWAM LA and it was great fun. Julie was on YWAM here about 5 years ago so it was really great to experience a little of the what and why she was so effected by this ministry. We also got to see Phil Van G. a good friend for an afternoon and that was great fun. Played frisbee, lawn toss, and just talked together.
Now we are in Pasadena, with Kraig and Danielle Bleeker at Fuller Seminary. We have lots of pictures but I am still figuring out how to download from a different computer so those may have to wait till Mon for you all to see. Well, must be off to visit Kraig at the bookstore where he works. More later,
Dan P