My Cup Runneth Over

So, you wanna know what that verse looks like? Well there you go. I've never met a cup that can hold all that, though.

Recently, I learned an important lesson. If God said it, he'll do it. I was re-going through my Five Aspects women's study book and read over "the fall" for like the zillionth time when something clicked. You know, one of those "HEY!!! I really get it!!!" moments. I noticed that Eve's problem is that she doubted God. She should have kicked that serpent in the teeth the second he contradicted God. Did the serpent ever give her anything? Wasn't it God that gave her life and a purpose and a wonderful husband and everything she ever needed? So why would she doubt Him?

So many times God has told me not to worry. That He will always take care of me. "...do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear..." And yet when my fridge looks so empty, I whine like a dog. So, this time I looked into my empty cupboards and said, "God has always fed us and He does not lie. I will not worry."

Two days later, we got all this food in a 12 hour period. Jon's dad and some friends (moving and getting rid of the entire contents of their pantry), have no idea how well timed their gifts were. May we all believe God at His word always. For truly, my cup runneth over.

Introducing Ax!

Hi! My name is Ax. My parents tell me I have a longer name, but I haven't figured out how to spell it yet. Today I turned 3 months old. Life is fantastic! I love it! My favorite new trick is smiling, smiling's my favorite, I do it all the time.

Some of my hobbies include: sleeping, eating, pooping, sleeping, did I mention eating, and playing with my brothers and sister. My favorite color is kind of a milky white and I think my mom is the best. When I get lonely during the night I can always count on her to bring me a midnight snack and spend some time talking and singing to me. I don't see my dad very much during the night hours...I'm not sure what he's up to.

I'm pretty laid back and I like to take each day as it comes. I have a mom and dad that love the heck out of me, and two older brothers to teach me all of their secret wrestling moves. I also have a Zaisy...I haven't quite figured out what that is yet, but I think it's pretty good.

Here's a picture of me and my pal Davis. He's my hero! I can't wait to do all the neat tricks that he can do. Oh the fun we're going to have. I guess that's what my parents get for praying for patience.

A Senseless Reminder

What a complete and utter tragedy. Word spread fast amongst our close knit group of friends. Our phone rang over and over again as loved ones called to check on us and make sure we were OK.

Yesterday, an armed gunman entered our church and began firing his weapon. Two teenagers were killed and two more were injured. The gunman was quickly killed, leaving our community full of questions and pain.

As I've pondered these events, I'm reminded that we do not fight against flesh and blood. It's too easy in the comforts of our American lifestyle to forget that the things we see in the natural world are of less significance than the things we see in the spiritual world. It's easy to get caught up paying bills, raising a family, working on our career, and simply living life, and forget that we are behind enemy lines. We are in a real war with a real enemy that hates us and is in relentless pursuit of our destruction.

It's time to lay down the spiritual laziness that plagues so many of us. It's time to rise up in powerful times of prayer, worship, and spiritual warfare. It's time to take it to a new level.

Have A Merry Funky Christmas!

This is just too Elfin' funny. Enjoy. http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1270595737

God is good!

When I was younger my family went to a church where the pastor would often say, "God is good!" and the well-trained monkeys would all respond, "All the time!"

In considering going into full-time missions, we read a lot of books by those who had gone before us. So many great faith filled stories...so many lessons they shared with us. Call it naivety, but I really thought that we could skip these lessons. [cue laughter]

Shortly after leaving my job, I had a dream one night that I was checking my online bank account and was excited to see that someone had deposited $10,000. I woke up thrilled and with a sense that maybe I really wouldn't have to see any hard times...maybe I already knew everything I needed to know to be a successful missionary.

...We were half way into a road trip to Montana this summer. It was a beautiful evening as we decided it was time to look for a camping spot. We had made it to the north end of Wyoming (code for THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE) when I felt the gas peddle go all the way to the floor and the van slipped out of gear. Our miracle transmission, that really should have been replaced three years ago, finally had bit the dust. We were scared, so we went to the Lord in prayer. He gave Rachel and I the same person to call. He had a lot of experience buying and selling cars and we were hoping for some good advice. He did much more than that...after calling him back with an estimate of $2,500, without flinching he wired the money right over...

...With bills overdue and groceries running out, things looked bleak. As we pulled into the garage after a doctor's appointment, our oldest son Smith came running out with a wad of cash in his hand. One of our friends had come by and given us close to $300. This was the exact amount we needed to pay the bills and buy some food...

These amazing stories go on and on. Money showing up, not always when we want it, but always when we need it. And simple things like a half-used bottle of shampoo and the laundry detergent that a friend didn't like...they gave it to us, and several months later we're still using it!

I'm still waiting for that $10,000 deposit, but one of the biggest lessons I have learned on this path is that God is good. Feelings and emotions will lie to you and circumstances are constantly changing, but God is always on your side, never changing, and always wants the best for you. He is not a liar and when He says something is going to happen...it always does. We just have to choose to believe it.

"God is good...All the time!"

Feel the Pain, Love the Pain

For various reasons all four of our children have been born by C-section. When our third child, Davis, was born the doctor had overlooked prescribing any pain killers for after the surgery. As the sedation began to wear off, Rachel was increasingly aware of the pain in her mid-section. There came a point where she could feel everything, as if she had been sliced open by a cruel knife on the battle field.
She is a tough girl, so as I watched the tears well up in her eyes, I knew she was in a lot of pain. Later, she told me that there came a point where the pain leveled off and it was so bad that she knew it couldn’t get any worse. She was almost grateful knowing that if this was the worst physical pain she would encounter, she could handle it.
For the last seven years working at HP, I often had to clothe myself in a suit of emotional numbness to make it through the day. I simply shut down so I didn’t have to feel the minutes and the hours slowly click by. I remember often after a joy filled weekend or an extended holiday filled with cheer consciously choosing to slip back into my “suit”. It was a sad way to live, yet I felt financially secure so I continued to drudge on.
The Lord often speaks to me through movies. Probably because He is gracious and knows that watching movies is one of my favorite things to do. Increasingly, I note that often the most popular movies are those dealing with a character that is trapped in a meaningless existence. He longs to escape the drab colored walls of his cubicle jungle. He longs to really feel alive. He longs to feel.
The feeling of freedom, or in this case, the freedom of feeling is never cheap. Stepping out of the “Matrix”, swimming against the tide, rocking the boat can be a lonely, painful experience. In many movies, once the character experiences true reality, he often longs for the simplicity, the numbness that he was once so accustomed to.
Recently, in the middle of a fast from everything ingestible other than water, I was waiting in line at the local auto parts store. I began to envy the clerks behind the counter that if nothing else, at least felt physically normal. They had probably eaten breakfast and lunch of some sort. It was hard to remember why I was inflicting this hell upon myself. I was weak, I was hungry, but most of all, I wanted to feel normal.
Being a full-time Missionary and choosing to live financially by faith and the giving of others, means many times of great want. Our needs are always provided for, just not always in ways we desire. As I walked through the crowds at church one night to pick up my children from their classes, I found myself envious of those around me with spare money in their wallets and in their purses. I heard some talk of going out to eat after the service. Here and there I heard some talk about Christmas presents or enrollment fees for some after school program. I wanted to feel normal.
In our “feel good” society everything imaginable has been invented to avoid any discomfort or displeasure. As these devices and distractions are stripped away and I’m left to face the blackest dark of the night I often feel like a raw piece of meat. Like the skin of my feelings has been stripped away, leaving my muscles and tendons to endure the cold wind and the assorted flying debris without any protection. And as I feel this unimaginable pain, the realization comes upon me, that it cannot get any worse.
I may lose my house. I may lose all of my possessions. I may lose everything I’ve worked so hard for my whole life. However, in the end, though bruised and battered by the enemy I can throw myself at the feet of the Lord and finally say without hesitation, “Have it all. Do with me whatever you will. Use me for the everlasting glory of Your Kingdom.”

Merry Christmas!!!!

Check out these Elvish impersonators. It may take a while to load...but trust me, it's well worth the wait!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1126723434

Happy Holidays! Love the Nagels

A Small Price to Pay

While visiting Rachel's family over the Thanksgiving holiday I read a few excerpts from Jesus Freaks, by DC Talk. One of these true stories was about a church of 27 members living in tunnels underground, somewhere in Korea, to avoid persecution by the local authorities.
Once discovered, all of them, men, women, and children were placed before a crowd of about 30,000. Nooses were placed around the necks of the children and the parents were commanded to recant their faith in Jesus. The parents bravely told their children they would see them in Heaven shortly.
After watching their children die quiet deaths the adults were laid out side by side on the ground and a steam roller was brought in for further intimidation. They began to sing a hymn of praise to God, and continued to sing as the large machine was fired up and began to crush them one by one.
Over these last several months as we've sorted through, thrown away, and sold off all of our belongings, I've had many personal times of introspection. A pack rat by nature, I had a crawl space and a garage filled with junk that should have been thrown away years ago. It's interesting how painful it is to let some things go. You always think you own these things, until you have to let them go, and then you realize how much they have owned you.
Following the call of the Lord and stepping out to live and work as missionaries has not been easy and something we have avoided for a long time. It's easy to say that we're totally sold out for Christ, that we're willing to go anywhere, and even die for Him. It's an entirely different game when the realization of giving up everything, including all of the modern amenities of America, and the comforts of daily life, kicks in. Let's face it, I'm not facing a firing squad, or anything even close. I'm facing living in a two-room apartment without a dish washer.
The more I reflect on the story of the Koreans above, the more I realize what a weak Christian that I am. I have a long way to go before I will have the strength to endure what so many of my Christian brothers and sisters are going through each day.
It helps me to remember that each item I get rid of, no matter how much it has meant to me in the past, will always be a small price to pay.
-your friendly neighborhood Jesus Freak

Mexican Adventure

I just got home from my scouting trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. I was honored to travel with my good friend Jim and his dad who we affectionately refer to as Grandpa Jim. We ate tons of great food, walked for countless miles, climbed to the top of a mountain, toured a giant Catholic church, and did our best to have some fun along the way.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here I have included at least 22,000 words! Hope you enjoy...we sure did.

Jim, Grandpa Jim and I

Climbing the crazy metal staircase that led to the roof of our hotel.


Rooftop view of Oaxaca City

Local license plate

Giant Catholic Church in Oaxaca City

Married housing on the Global Frontier Missions base

We conquered this beast. (view from the GFM base)

Mission Training School (we got to participate in a mock Board Meeting)

We had to pull him out

Oaxacan stroller

Street in Tlaxiaco

locally farmed produce

Tlaxiaco Town Square

Typical public bathroom. Two pesos, please.

Get that corn out of my face!

GFM leadership staff (BIG Stryper fans!)

View of Tlaxiaco from the top of the mountain

Praying for the land

We loved this guy! They call him...Burger Boy.

I really missed Rachel.

Going home.

Global Frontier Missions is based in Tlaxiaco which is located about 3 hours north of Oaxaca City. They're doing some amazing works there and we look forward to joining them soon.

As I've traveled throughout the world, I've noticed a common theme. It's in the eyes of the children that I still see hope and joy. It was no different in Oaxaca. Though many of the older people had already been hurt and jaded by the cruelty of this world, almost every child I smiled at would smile back.

The Lord is good and we are grateful for this opportunity to serve in a place that is in need of so much. We are grateful to be able to go and tell others of His goodness in our lives.

Here's an excerpt from one of my recent journal entries, "Life was not meant to be easy with hot showers every day. Life is about cold showers, new languages and people, new foods, scary bus and plane rides, cramped living quarters, and a realization that I must decrease more and more everyday so that He may increase."

Confession

So, the other night at dinner, we were all talking and having a good time. "How was school?" "What games did you play in Gym class?" "Who did you play with at recess?" It became obvious to everyone at the same time that Zaisy answered all of the questions first with a, "Huh?" Jon asked her rhetorically, "Zaisy, did you put cotton in your ears today?" We all gave a short laugh and stopped. Zaisy had a look on her face as if she had been asked if she'd had cookies before dinner sitting there with chocoalte on her chin. "Uhh...", she began. Jon pressed, "Zaisy, did you really..."

Confession is a powerful thing. It causes the confessor to be relieved of guilt and comforted to know that someone knows what you've done. You are no longer alone. "Well... we were using cotton balls for crafts and I was trying to make Tyler laugh, and, well...I kinda..." She looked up to see if she was in trouble. As she saw our faces, she giggled and shrugged her shoulders.

Oh, to have a secret off your chest. The Word says, "Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other that you may be healed." I recently had lunch with a friend who, in her management position is sometimes responsible for exposing the sins of others. Sometimes God is merciful in exposure. So whether you confess yourself, or are confronted with your own sin by someone, getting it out in the open is how we're healed. Just ask Zaisy. We laughed about that one for quite a while.

Overcoming Fear

There I am...learning how to fly!

Recently, I traveled to Moab, UT with six of my friends for the annual "Man Trip." All seven of us loaded up in a Honda Odyssey minivan which was towing a trailer full of our mountain bikes, camping gear, climbing gear, and enough food to feed a small army. The smell of adventure was in the air!

Riding this "Slick Rock" was challenging, but fun!

I knew this trip would push me to my physical limits, but I never could have imagined how many times I would have to look fear in the face. Riding a bike on level ground is one thing...flying down treacherous trails that are so steep you have to hang your butt back over your seat and almost rub it on the back tire, is an entirely different game.

On top of the world with some of my great friends!

I spent a lot of time praying and asking the Lord why I have so much fear...what am I afraid of? One day, shortly after returning, I was reading in 2 Corinthians 5 when I came upon verse 4. It says: "For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life." I meditated on the idea of mortality being swallowed up by life for several days. It hit me that I have been thinking backwards. I have held this present life as a treasure. If when we die, we are swallowed up by life, then we must already be dead. We are not alive with death to look forward to...we are dead with only life to look forward to.

Following that train of thought, how can a dead man be offended, or embarrased? What does a dead man fear?

Soaking up the beauty of God's creation.

These thoughts are transforming my way of thinking and the way I view reality. As we prepare to travel the world...as I lead my wife and children away from the comfort and safety of modern day America, some would question me. What about the sickness and diseases you will face? What about the danger you will encounter?

If the worse that can happen is that I finally get to give up this death and experience real life...than what do I have to fear?

Passport to Mexico!

We had heard that there were many delays in getting a new passport these days since the government heightened security measures. We decided to put in for Ax's as soon as we got his birth certificate and pray and hope for the best. On Friday the 19th we went down to the main post office to submit the application. They were concerned that his face looked too red in his picture, until I held him up and they said, "Wow he is a red little guy!"

On Friday the 26th, exactly one week later, there was one piece of mail in the box. It was Ax's passport! It's exciting to know that we can now legally take all of our children with us. We'll have to call that Gypsy family and let them know the deal is off.

Within the next couple of weeks I will be travelling with one of my good friends down to Mexico to check things out. It's an exciting opportunity to see where we will be living, what we should bring, and to meet all the great people we will be working with. If you would like to help us finance this trip you can send funds to:

Now Hope
Po Box 62337
Colorado Springs, CO 80962
(write "for the Nagels" in the memo)

To donate using a credit card call (719) 964-4254 or visit www.nowhope.org. Just be sure to designate that your donation is for us.

I'll be posting pictures and stories of my trip ASAP! Be sure to drop us a line and let us know how you're doing.


Love,

Jon, Rachel, Smith, Zaisy, Davis, and Ax

God does answer prayer!

The Lord is good! Rachel's purse was stolen on Saturday. Sunday evening, right before church, we get an anonymous call from a lady in Denver saying she had found Rachel's driver's license at an antique mall. She said she would send it to us in the mail. We fully expected to see it when we opened the mailbox yesterday.

What we didn't expect was the second envelope we received with completely different handwriting. It was stuffed to the brim with our insurance cards, photos, a check I had already endorsed, and most importantly, Ax's baby bracelet from the hospital. There were many other items that someone really had to dig through the purse to find. What a thoughtful thief! Or, could it be that someone is being convicted by the Spirit of God?

We continue to stand on the promise found in Proverbs 6:30-31 "People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house."

Free Day At The Zoo?

Hello friends! This past weekend we went up to Denver to meet several friends and enjoy a free day at the Denver Zoo. Apparently, everyone else in Colorado had the same idea as traffic was overwhelming and the parking was worse. We finally found parking in a Catholic church parking lot about half a mile away.

We strolled with the crowds through the zoo and enjoyed seeing all the animals as the multi-colored autumn leaves floated down around us. It was picturesque to say the least. Smith and his friend enjoyed chasing the geese until they would flap their large wings and fly away. Ax was content to cuddle into my chest and sleep while Zaisy and Davis ran around and explored every nook and cranny they could fit into. It was a beautiful day!!

I ran ahead of the family to go get the van and come back and pick them up. When I came to the lot where we had left the van I was perplexed by the sight that I saw. There was our van just as we had left it, with one minor difference. The side sliding door was wide open. I was embarrassed at first thinking we had accidentally left the door open. However, upon further inspection I realized it was not us who had left it open rather, the person who had pried it open to take Rachel's purse. How inconsiderate of them to leave the door open!

Monetarily we lost close to a few hundred dollars. This did not hurt us as bad as the photos Rachel kept in the checkbook cover of when we first met. Rachel was also sad to lose all of her lip gloss and her favorite purse.

So why do bad things happen to good people? It's a question that has marveled the ages. Our take on it however, is that when we are comfortable and we experience no hardships at all, we must question if we are on the right path. It's when we are moving and working for the Kingdom of God that we experience attacks from the enemy of our souls. So though we are saddened by our loss, we are encouraged and inspired by this confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. What Satan has meant for evil, let the Lord Jesus Christ use for greatness.

When we shared with the children what had happened, Zaisy suggested that we pray for the person that had committed the crime. We asked her to pray, and as she did, she prayed that this person would come to know Jesus and that their life would become better so they would not have to steal anymore. When Zaisy prays, amazing things happen! I have a feeling that this person, whomever it may be, is about to have their life rocked by the power of God. They thought they were just stealing a purse...they may have just stolen the key to eternal life. Praise God!

The Nagels Are Moving To Mexico!!!

Hello friends and family! We are excited to have you join us in our daily adventures as we prepare for the big move. We will be moving to Oaxaca, Mexico to work with an organization called Global Frontier Missions. You can check them out at http://www.globalfrontiermissions.com/. We feel strongly that God has lead our family to work with this ministry at this time in our lives. They are already doing amazing work and ministry in Mexico and will soon be expanding to the 10/40 Window. We look forward to helping them out in any way we can!

We hope to be able to see and spend time with as many of you as possible before we head out.

Currently, we are in the process of selling our home and most of our possessions. We will spend the next few months raising support and we hope to be down there by the beginning of the new year. Let us know if you would like to help us financially or if you would like to support us by praying for us on a regular basis.