Concert in Rockwall

I'll be doing a concert on Sunday, November 1 at the Pier 419 Auditorium at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. Start time is 6pm. A lot of new songs, some of my favorite older originals, and featuring other talented artists I know you'll enjoy. This will be a great night of music, food and fellowship in a wonderful venue.

Concert will be from 6-7:30, and feel free to stay around afterward to hang out. Tickets $10 and available at link above. Please help us plan by purchasing conveniently online. Proceeds will go to Sabine Creek Ranch camp and retreat center.

Hope to see you there!

It can get a little loud at camp.

As a guy who gets a lot more done in a quiet environment, it can get a little noisy during camp season! Here is a recent view from my office window. Sometimes you have to go on a quest for quiet....

Is Summer Camp Still Relevant?

There is such a myriad of options for kids during the summer months today. It seems they are all on a faster path toward achievement in school and activities. There are sports camps, music camps, science camps, computer camps, and the list goes on.... All these activities vie for the attention, the resources and the limited time of children and their families.

In the midst of all these options we compete with, I periodically wonder, "Is there still a need for what we do at Sabine Creek Ranch?" Although we offer many amenities and fun activities (a new ropes course with a "Screamer Swing", climbing wall and zip line is being completed for this summer), we are really here to give kids a chance to unplug from the media and activities that consume their every spare minute, and to help them meet with the God who wants to have a relationship with them. To allow them to gaze in wonder at stars, to sing praise songs around a campfire, and to meet the friends that will be friends for life.

And so, I always come to the same conclusion. In the midst of an increasingly crazy world of activity and mind-numbing interaction, there is more need than ever for the spiritual life and renewal that can be found here. While we will continue to discover ways to improve the logistics of making that happen, fellowship with the Lord is what it's all about, and that can never change.

New Song - Living Water

Here's a song I wrote a while back. After a long, hot summer of camp and pouring our lives into kids and staff, we can end up dry, both physically and spiritually. Sarah is constantly reminding our staff and campers to drink plenty of water so they don't wind up in the nurse's office and miss out on everything.

If you find yourself spiritually exhausted, I hope you'll rest, turn to Jesus Christ, our Living Water, and drink deeply.

Blessings,

Eddie




Living Water - Words and Music by Eddie Walker, August 19, 2008

Fill me up with living water
Saturate my weary soul
Dry and barren, weak and worn
Living water make me whole

Flowing from the Rock of Ages
To a thirsty land below
Spring of healing wash me clean
Living water make me whole

Rain new life all around
Rain new life all around
Rain new life all around

Rushing river now surround me
Let the old man fall below
Raised to walk in life anew
Living water make me whole
Living water make me whole

Around the World in Four Hours

Last night I went to visit an Iraqi friend. He was a famous painter in the middle east, but finds himself struggling to make it as a refugee in America. His wife insisted I eat with them, and I enjoyed the experience! Waleed wants to make great art, to communicate ideas, and to discuss deep issues, and is frustrated by his inability to do so in English. But he's learning fast. His paintings are incredible!

Then I went to a Bhutanese friend's apartment. He asked, "Do you think Jesus and Krishna are the same person?" He does. He thinks everything is right...Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Mohammed. He said he thinks cows are gods, because his parents and grandparents told him they were. Great conversation.

When I returned home, I lit a campfire for some orphans from Uganda and Nepal who have been staying with us at the ranch for a few days. It was a perfect night to see the stars, and we stayed up until 10:30 singing praise songs to God together.

I guess it's neat to jet around the world to see all these countries. Usually when I get to a new place, though, I'm ready to skip the tourist attractions, meet the people and learn about their family, foods, faith and culture. It's a lot easier to do right here at home.

Happy Endings On My Birthday....

I woke up at 5 this morning to get ready for an 8:40 flight out of DFW. After flying about halfway to Birmingham, our plane was leaking fuel, so they turned us around and took us back to Dallas (where there is a repair facility, versus Birmingham where there isn't. Thanks American.)

Next flight canceled due to weather. Sent us to Northwest Air for another flight. Delayed 2 hours, and can't make Memphis connection. Back to American. No flying today. All day in airport. Bring home a guy from L.A. who was heading to the same conference and got stuck in Dallas. Rebook for tomorrow's 8:40am flight. Thunderstorms forecast again. Conference much anticipated, I'm scheduled to speak tomorrow afternoon, and I really wanted to take in the whole thing.

Plenty to complain about.

Oh yeah...tonight I got to be home and pray by his side as my son, Cole, asked Jesus to come into his heart, to save him from his sins, and to be his boss for the rest of his life.

Thank you God for the obstacles.

Can you imagine....

I talk a lot about the refugees we are befriending. The United Nations is sending them to Dallas in droves, about 2,500 last year alone. That means every week on average there are 10 or 12 families arriving here from places like Nepal (where these photos were taken), Burma, Thailand, Bhutan, Vietnam, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, and so many more.

Take a look at these photos. This Bhutanese family has been in a refugee camp in Nepal for 18 years. Suddenly, they're sent to Dallas. They get 6 months of support, during which time they have to learn English, find a job, figure out school for kids, figure out banking, junk mail, thermostats, smoke detectors,.... It's absolutely unbelievable. But they're right here in our backyard, and more are coming all the time.

Christians are traveling around the world on short-term projects in unprecedented numbers. And that's an awesome thing. For all the bad press Christians seem to receive, the amount of heartfelt, sacrificial service they've provided to the poorest of the poor around the world, and the funds given to that end, has certainly been unparalleled.

While we should never stop going to the "uttermost parts of the earth", we must also heed the first 3/4 of our commission. To reach out to our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria.

Traveling abroad for 10 days is life-changing. And very expensive.

Working with people from all over the world right on our doorstep, while still life-changing, is free. And priceless.

My Son

My son, Cole, who just turned 7 this weekend, loves nothing more than our visits to our international friends' homes. Last week we visited families from Bhutan, Somalia and Iraq in one evening. I told him he may have been the only little boy in Texas to do that that night. They love seeing him too.

One True God

Hey guys,

Thought I'd share a song I just wrote. It needs some work, but anyway, this is where they start....

Hope this will encourage you to start your day worshiping the One True God.

Blessings,

Eddie



And here are the lyrics:

The heavens declare
The earth declares
All creation declares
That You are God

The mountains declare
The oceans delare
Mighty rivers declare
That You are God

And not to be outdone
My heart, my soul, my voice cries out that

You are God, Almighty God
Everlasting God
King over heaven, King over earth

Yes You are God
The One True God
The Most High God
You Reign!

Among every tribe
Among every nation
The people declare
That You are God

Every knee will bow
Every tongue confess
All creation will know
That You are God