Woody's Family Journal

Laugh Your Way story

2010-05-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a story that came out of our conference in Coeur d'Alene, Id the first weekend in May. Monique and I have been privileged to present 8 of these conferences over the last 10 months. If you would like to consider hosting a video conference, please email us at woodward@lywpresenter.com You can view video clips at www.laughyourway.com

I had the opportunity to attend our church's Laugh Your Way conference this weekend.

I went knowing that because we have been married 30 years, this might be helpful and give us some new things to work on.

We totally enjoyed and laughed our way through the day, I, gleening info that I could use to grow, and Carl really enjoying the humor.

The sharing and total disclosure and testimony of our leaders , Vic and Monique, helped me realize that because I felt our marriage had gotten to the unhealthy point, that we might be gaining the tools to pull through. I prayed and prayed and felt so good after we left, as I had just had the worst week of my life and I know God had me right where He wanted me and was speaking DIRECTLY to me.

When I got home I was very troubled with myself for the way I had been hiding lots of feelings inside and after hearing Monique's testimony and handling of a similar situation in her life, i began to feel the need to share. (not sure if you want this next part with your name mo in or out so feel free to edit)

I had been very attracted for about the past 2 months to a co-worker that had been helping me with my problems and had become quite dependent on him for his understanding because my husband didn't seem to see the importance of so many of my feelings. After talking to Monique and feeling very able to share with her, I totally unpacked my feelings and she realized that i was feeling so much shame. As she lovingly listened and encouraged me as I felt no judgement from her. She listened and we prayed. I left feeling like i had more work to do than ever.

24 hours later, i felt an urging to revisit my feelings with him on this and he was NOT ready to listen. In the old days, before LYW conference I would have been mad and dropped it again. But KNOWING that the mail brain has that direct canal in and out the other ear, I approached it again.

I talked, I cried, HE LISTENED and realize how important my feelings were and that we DID need to keep talking:) I felt strong afterwards and ready to continue in our marriage and have more patience for him as i have all the tools and knowledge from the conference that can help:)

This conference not only fired me up to help fire us up for another 30, but it gave me an avenue to let go of some things I wasn't hiding from God, as I had been praying non-stop and couldn't get over the feeling of shame, but it gave me a release and a direction! I can't recommend the workshop and presenters highly enough:)

Here, there and everywhere

2010-05-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a spring it has been for us. We have traveled all over the place these last four months. Some of the travel we've done together as a family, some times just one or two of us have hit the road, so to speak. Monique got the ball rolling in February attending a TrueFaced Intensive in Scottsdale, AZ. Then in March, Ellie and I visited Erin in Mexico at Rancho Sordo Mudo.

We were home for a few weeks and then took Spring break and headed to Little Rock, AR to see Damon and Lindsey. When we got back from that wonderful visit, I went with neighbor Jeff Fitts and his sister to the TrueFaced Intensive, Scottsdale, AZ, in late April. I think we were home just a couple of weeks, enough to reacquaint ourselves with the animals, and then we were off to Concrete, WA to see our friends there for the weekend.

We are now preparing for our mission to the Dominican Republic with Children of the Nations, www.cotni.org You can catch up with us on Facebook as we have a "Like" page, "Woodward's Dominican Republic Mission 2010 or tune into a blog we have especially made for us to journal throughout the six weeks we will be gone. Find our blog at: http://www.woodwardgroup.blogspot.com

In our next family page post I will put up some pictures that tell the story of our Spring and connections with friends and family. God is so good! He has protected us on the many roads and airways we've traveled and given us the open doors to share of His love for people. Stay tuned.

Restored and Remarried

2010-03-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

Monique and I are very excited to bring a unique marriage conference to Friday Harbor - San Juan Island. We desire to share with you our friends Gil and Brenda Stuart, who have a passion to see couples like themselves, thrive in their remarriages. Their ministry has been birthed for such a time as this to give tools and encouragement for men and women who are considering remarriage or are in remarriages. Gil and Brenda are journeying through the challenges of blending two families and have some great insights to share with you. See their website: www.restoredandremarried.com

Whether you consider yourself a step family or a blended family, Restored & Remarried is a hands-on resource for you. Been remarried for awhile or just contemplating the idea? Restored and Remarried will encourage and equip couples for the step family adventure. This seminar is fun and interactive and it's most definitely, "guy friendly." Here are the sessions that you will experience on Friday night and Saturday.

Session 1:
Expectations, Myths and Restored Foundations

Session 2:
The Wall

Session 3:
“I Didn't Think it was Going to be Like This”

Session 4:
“I Didn't See This Coming!”

Session 5:
Those People

Session 6:
2 Countries and an Elephant

Session 7:
Sex and Money

Need a getaway? Why don't you consider joining us; here are the details.

When: Friday April 16, 7-9 pm --- Saturday April 17, 9 a.m. - 3:30 pm

Where: The Earthbox Motel and Spa, 410 Spring St. Friday Harbor,WA
For motel reservations call: (360) 378-4000, ask for conference discount
Cost: $60 per couple, which includes catered lunch on Saturday
Conference registration: Call Vic Woodward - (360) 378-8435 or email: woodees5@yahoo.com

For the latest ferry schedule, go to: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

Shouting out What?

2009-12-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday night our family attended the Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp near Stanwood, WA. The "Lights" are just spectacular and the evening is filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas. A majestic nativity scene is the highlight for me and I also love the Victorian Carolers, "Bruce the Spruce" the talking Christmas tree, hot donuts, apple cider, amazingly gifted musicians, holiday theater, and on and on.

A funny thing happened as we arrived there by car. The parking attendants were waving their flashlights directing traffic and we got headed towards the wrong parking area. I realized it pretty quickly and shared with one of the traffic directors that we were staying overnight at Deer Mountain Lodge. He had me turned around and that is when the fun started.

When we got turned around, he shouted to the next traffic director, at the top of his lungs, "Deer Mountain Lodge", "Deer Mountain Lodge", who then passed it on to the next traffic person at the top of his lungs he shouted, "Deer Mountain Lodge" and then the next person, and on and on it went from person to person. We all cracked up. It was so funny! We were being announced to all the people within earshot, that we were headed for "Deer Mountain Lodge".

We now have another Merry Christmas memory for 2009.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas time news

2009-12-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

One of the many blessing of our fall season leading into Christmas was our involvement with 5th/6th grade basketball here in Friday Harbor. Daughter Carly, #11 in the picture, is in 6th grade and part of this team of girls, the Friday Harbor Tigers. Monique and I, along with two other fathers, coached these girls. Due to limited gym time available to us, we practiced at 6 a.m. in the morning on Tues. and Thurs. for 7 weeks. Wow! It was tough enough for the adults to rally up at that hour for a basketball practice, but the girls persevered, showed up regularly and really grew as friends and basketball players. We traveled each Saturday on the ferry to play games in the SWISH league, which was located in Mt. Vernon, WA

The reward, a SWISH league and tournament championship. As you can see, the girls have big smiles on their faces with trophy in hand.

Now the high school basketball season is in full swing. Daughter Ellie, in 8th grade, is practicing with the J.V. which Vic is coaching. Monique helps out with the varsity two days a week. Our passion for basketball was rekindled in the Dominican Republic with our mission trip. More hoop news will be coming soon.

Thanksgiving Preparations

2009-11-25T22:13:00.000-08:00

It is Wednesday evening, just before Thanksgiving day and the kitchen is a buzzing. Grandma, Mom, and Carly are busy preparing pies, decorating the table and just plain having fun together. This is what Thanksgiving is all about for us as a family. Wherever we are, this pre Thanksgiving day kitchen flurry is part of the family tradition. The last few years we have been in Whittier, Calif. at brother Tom's house. Aunt Marti is always busy preparing for the big day and has often completed most of her work a few days ahead of schedule.

Thanksgiving traditions are so rich for the Woodward family. Thanksgiving has always been a time to bring family together, connect, relax and enjoy each other. This Thanksgiving will be no exception. We will see what the morning brings, more kitchen buzz, maybe a run through town, The Turkey Trot, or maybe not. Have a blessed day, one rich with American traditions and filled with the Spirit of God, who makes all things possible.

Here is our gift to you from the Scriptures this Thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:14-16 (The Message)

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Friends

2009-10-11T07:48:00.001-07:00

Our friends, Bob and Alli Benz make the trip to Warm Beach Camp extra special. One of the things Alli and Carly like to do together is mountain boarding. No, the dads don't get on those boards, but we are the go-fer's. We pull the boards up the hill for the girls. Have our daughters got us trained or what?

Father/Daughter with Carly

2009-10-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

I finally have a few minutes to sit down and tell you about my two days with Carly at Warm Beach Christian Camp in Stanwood. I have taken Ellie and Carly to Warm Beach for four years now. There is a special father/daughter weekend that features a two night stay and tons of fun activities for dads and daughters. We had a blast, literally and figuratively.

The actual blast-off occurs Sunday morning with a rocket launch, which is one of the activities you can choose to do with your daughter. Building a rocket together, selecting the paint and decorating it is all part of the fun. The launch is a site to see and the rockets ascend out over the horse barn and corrals. Most of the rockets are retrieved, but occasionally one will stray into the trees and get hung up forever.

Another activity she and I have challenged ourselves with is the rock wall climb. They have a 40 ft. climbing wall and this year the two of us made it to the top. Yahoo! I am so proud of Carly, overcoming her fears and pressing on to the top. She was awesome!

Our friend Bob Benz and his daughter Alli have been going with us the last three years and have made it possible for us to go through their generous giving. We are so grateful! There are so many fantastic moments to reflect on; creating a massive whirlpool with all the dads and daugthers during swim time, shooting BB guns at targets, archery, horse back riding, mini-golf and evening devotions (time with God) together.

See the next post for more on friends, Bob and Alli. The devotions this weekend were particularly powerful for me. Our leader for devotion time, Ed McDonnel contrasted living a fear-based life with living a love motivated life and how those who follow Christ are empowered to live a life of love. Wow!

Ephesians 5:1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Father/Daughter Week

2009-09-30T17:18:00.001-07:00

I had a most amazing week with my girls, Carly and Ellie. The week of September 14-20 turned out to very very memorable. It was a week when God and his timing, put together special father/daughter outings for us. The first part of the week found Ellie and I on the Skagit River near Concrete, WA fishing for pink salmon. What a blast! Thanks to friends Joe and Judy Shepherd we had the comforts of home while camping near the river. Joe set up their travel trailer for us. What a deal! He set us up with wood for our campfires and all the tips on fishing the river. Ellie cooked some wonderful meals in the kitchen and she loved the fact that we slept on beds versus air mattresses which we are accustomed to while camping. I got to cook up some manly or dadly breakfasts for Ellie, eggs, sausage, pancakes, etc... That's what I'm talking about! We had so much fun! In the evenings we played cards or bananagrams with many laughs.

The additional blessing was that we caught salmon. Above Ellie is struggling to hold up three nice fish. There were literally hundreds upon hundreds of salmon swimming by us heading up river to spawn. It was an amazing sight to see. On our 1 mile walk up to the fishing hole, a most beautiful fall sight blessed us big time. We were walking in a canopy of deciduous trees and the slight breeze was causing the trees to shower us with leaves. It was as if an intermittent rain was falling full of leaves. Wow! What an exclamation point God gave us to magnify His presence in that time and place.

More blogging coming, this time my two days with Carly, all in the same week!

Laugh Your Way in Seotember

2009-09-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Fall season is upon us and we are excited to present three Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage video conferences in northwest Washington. You can find out more about these conferences and register online at www.laughyourway.com

Here are the dates and communities where we will be in September:

Sept. 11-12 - Friday Harbor, WA @ Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church

www.fridayharborpresbyterian.org

Sept. 25-26 - Lopez Island, WA @ Lopez Island Community Church

Oct. 16-17 - Christ the King Community Church - Mt. Vernon, WA

www.ctkonline.com

Please consider joining us for this life giving marriage conference. You won't regret it!

Dominican Republic Mission Trip

2009-07-31T06:29:00.000-07:00

Our island to island mission is just about ready to launch. You can follow our journey at this specific blogsite: http://woodwardgroup.blogspot.com

We are hoping to keep a journal here of our trip. Internet access may be sketches but we will see what is available to us in the DR.

Thanks for your prayers.

Enjoy the blog. There are a couple of posts there now.

Vic

Life Changing - Flag Page Story

2009-06-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend Paul wrote this about his Flag Page experience...

Life changing?

There aren't many times in my life I've used the words 'life changing',
and probably when I did it was meant in a negative way, not positive.
Recently I've made this statement about the Flag Page journey I've been on.
The Flag Page teaches what is good about you, not what you need to change or
get better at. Until recently I thought there was something wrong with me
and the wayI reacted to situations wasn't okay.
I saw others handle lifes challenges and thought others did it right or
better.

The Flag Page teaches that we are each unique masterpieces by a loving God.
It teaches us what is good about us - not what needs to be changed or fixed.

Some of us are at our best when we are in a situation where we can get it done - Control Country.
Some of us thrive when when we live to have fun - Fun Country.
Some of us want to be precise and exact in what we do - Perfect Country.
Some of us are motivated to encourage harmony and cooperation - Peace Country.

And these are all good.
Some of us are motivated to be soft, relational and flexible.
Some are motivated to be hard, to the point, results oriented.

And it is all good. We can stop judging ourselves and others and start
speaking a new language of love when we begin to understand ourselves and others.

Life changing!

To learn more about the Flag Page go to: www.flagpagetest.com

Flag Page Testimony

2009-05-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

Monique and I have been experiencing God using a tool called the Flag Page. To learn more about the Flag Page go to: www.flagpagetest.com This amazing tool takes a snapshot of your heart, your passions, what motivates you for living life. It reveals how God has created you and how you respond and react in relationship to others in your circle of influence.

Here is Monique's Flag Page testimony;

The role the Flag Page has had on our marriage has been huge!!! Actually, it has gone far beyond our marriage and impacted our children, extended family and just about everyone we come in contact with.
Because the Flag Page's focus is on what is good about you and what motivates you, it opens up a whole new dimension of communication as you relate to people.

Vic and I can more readily understand each other in difficult circumstances. We know more specifically how to encourage one another's heart. Since we are in marriage and family ministry we are in contact with many people on a weekly basis. We have seen this tool be used in a way that brings people alive...it is amazing. It takes the focus off of trying to change another person and redirects it to focusing on...relating to a person exactly the way God has made them.

Married, single, teens and children in our lives have all experienced not only validation through the Flag Page for who they are, but it has given them/us a language to communicate with. You simply will not understand the impact I am talking about until you take the test. It will be fun, you will recieve much insight about yourself and others and feel as though you've accomplished something.

Mo

Laugh Your Way in Whittier

2009-03-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage is coming soon to Plymouth Congregational Church in Whittier, California. Monique and I will present a Laugh Your Way video seminar on Saturday March 28th for married couples and singles. The seminar promises to be full of laughs and encouragement for everyone so please consider joining us.

Call us at (360) 378-8435 for information on how to register. The cost for the seminar, $40 per couple and $20 per single, includes lunch. Go to www.laughyourway.com to see some video clips from the conference.

Guys in Ties and more

2009-02-03T06:08:00.000-08:00

Mom would have been proud of her "guys in ties" at her memorial service. What is with the ties anyway Mom? I think I know the answer to that question for this day and it is found in the Scriptures;

Exodus 20:12

¹² "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

This day was about honoring Mom, putting on a tie, praising God for her life and the blessing we received through her. Thanks Mom from (pictured) Jim with my daughter Erin, Tom, son Damon and me.

Celebrating Life Eternal

2009-01-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

The picture above is of Monique placing a carnation on Grandma Carrie's casket during our family graveside service. Death has brought the Woodward family closer together with hearts of thanksgiving for the life of our incredible mother and grandmother.

We all had an opportunity to honor grandma with our words of appreciation, love, gratitude and praise for her life, a life well lived. On the left, Ellie and Carly place a flower on the casket. Our God gave us a gorgeously warm, clear sunny day to remember Mom in a special way. She would have loved the weather!

Mom, grandma, would have also love the fact that her old home (brother Tom and family now own the home) was filled with family after her memorial. On the right, Monique, Erin, Brian, Marcy and Damon are playing Guitar Hero - World Tour and having a blast. It would have warmed Mom's heart big time to see us all gathered together having fun, at her house. The Guitar Hero attracted budding family stars of all ages, to the left are cousin Phil on vocals, son Damon (the guitar man) and Marcy on percussion. The evening went on and on, non-stop energy either in the house or outside on the basketball court in the backyard. We couldn't have planned a better gathering in honor of Mom. Isn't that the way it is with God, his plans are so much grander than ours. On the right are cousin Vince on percussion with a female band, Erin, Amy and Marti. When a basketball gets bounced around any Woodward family member it usually attracts a crowd anytime any place. After niece Samantha's high school game the Woodwards took the court with a spirited 4 on 4 half court game. To the left is Amy taking a shot, Ellie and Grant coming in for the rebound. Woodward gatherings also include great meals. After all, the three Woody boys are trained and schooled through our membership in the "clean plate club". Here we gather at a mexican food restaurant as a family. Grandkids; Erin, Jamie, Ellie, Samantha and Amy. On the right, nephew Grant, Remick, Jim, Marti and Monique Woodward. On the left are; Monique, Vic (me), brother Tom and son Brian. I know Mom was looking down on all of us from the heavenly realm and saying, "well done family, nice to have you all together again. Can I get you anything more?" Mom was always looking to serve her family. We love you Mom!

Remembering Mom

2009-01-15T17:06:00.000-08:00

On January 8th, 2009, my Mom, Caroline Woodward went home to be with Christ, experiencing life eternal, at peace with God in a realm where there are no tears and no pain. Ellie and Carly, see picture taken at Thanksgiving, are going to miss their grandma and Monique and I will miss Mom. Erin and Damon, not pictured, have many wonderful memories of Grandma's porch, doll houses, toys and games too.

I was blessed by God's nudging to go visit Mom in So. Calif. just before she died. I just sensed that I needed to go see her, as brothers Tom and Jim were sharing of her declining health and attitude towards living. You know those sensing we get when God speaks; well this time I responded and was able to comfort Mom at her bedside, along with my brothers. There are so many times when I have brushed off God's promptings and not taken action on His leading. How about you?

What a wonderful mother I had here on earth! My mom served her husband and three boys to the fullest, giving us her best in the kitchen, in the yard, on the playground, on camping trips, with family holiday gatherings, with homework, with the ironing of our shirts, and on and on the list goes. We were pretty spoiled men under her care.

I'll never forget May day. Did you celebrate May day? We did with Mom. On May day Mom would make small flower baskets for the neighbor ladies and use her boys as the ultra-secret deliverers of the beautiful baskets of love and joy. We would run to the neighbors doorsteps, ring the door bell and then run and hide in the bushes. Mom made many ladies smile on May day as they discovered their flower baskets on the front porch.

She guided her boys, Vic, Tom and Jim, through Cub Scouts, Indian Guides, sports teams and practically anything we wanted to be involved in or didn't want to be involved in, Ha! Ha! I'll never forget the time she took me to swim lessons against my will. She was bound and determined to get me the basic swimming skills I needed so as not to drown in the neighborhood pools. Man, I was resistant to her efforts. I threw quite a few tantrums at the swim lessons, which must have embarrassed her. Nonetheless, she pressed on and I finally succumbed. Thanks to Mom and her persistence, I can swim.

Our family vacations were always extra special thanks to Mom's packing and organizing efforts for all of us. She made sure we stayed active; taking us on hikes, horseback rides, bike rides and explorations of the park. Mom wasn't about to let us sit around on our duff's when there were places to see and things to do on a trip.

Mom was a teacher and a teacher of her boys. She taught us so many things, some of my favorites, NOT!, were ironing, trimming the ivy, raking the leaves, making the bed, folding my clothes and organizing in general. Ugh! I think one of the things most treasured by all of us was a life walk of "sticking to it", "not giving up" and "doing your best". She modeled this to the end of her life. When would call her to talk to her the last few years I'd ask, "how are you doing Mom, she would respond, "This getting old business is no fun, but I'm doing the best that I can". It had to be tough for Mom to sit in her chair most of the day in her later years. You see, she was a "getter done" gal. We love her for that attitude and I pray that I will embrace it more and more in the days ahead. I pray that I am giving that attitude away to my children too. Thanks MOM!

Mom's pie crusts were "to die for", not to mention her wonderful pies, and had quite the reputation for excellence in the neighborhood. She would make pie crusts upon requests for most anyone. She had the knack to make an extra flaky crust that made an incredible lemon meringue pie. Her lemon meringue pie was my favorite.

I'll not forget the many backyard basketball games I had with friends during my college years and Mom's open offer to fix lunches for the guys. Here is my friend Carl "Cooz" Couser's recollection of Mom.

" Woody, I have awesome memories of your Mom treating me like the 4th Woody brother during my freshman year at Whittier College; when we met on Daryl Nicholson's frosh hoop team. Mama Woody haircuts and stuffing me with food; like your house was a daily buffet, all the while you and me were in the back yard beating each other up on the court."

I love you Mom for loving me and showing me how to love others with a giving serving heart.

We are gathering the extended family and friends to celebrate Mom's life with a memorial service to be held at Plymouth Congregational Church in Whittier, CA on Sat. Jan. 17th at 2:30 p.m. Please join us if you are in the area.

Blessings.

Vic and family

12 Blessings of Christmas

2008-12-30T16:33:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was so amazing in incredible ways. As we all came to discover, God's hand was guiding our family gathering in the snow from the time the idea was presented at Thanksgiving dinner in November. Brother Tom kept the dream of a white Christmas surprise alive during the next few weeks and then took the plunge to buy plane tickets for himself, Marti, Amy and Brian. They scheduled their flight for Tuesday Dec. 23rd, the day after Tom's birthday. We had just seen and talked to Tom, Amy and our daughter Erin via SKYPE, an online video/phone the evening before their visit. We had no idea Tom and family were planning a special surprise visit to Friday Harbor. We were covered with 6 inches of snow and giving them a bad time for not coming up and joining us in the snow as we talked on SKYPE.

To make matters very interesting for Tom, SeaTac airport had been shut down for 48 hours due to the unsually heavy snowfall. It appeared that their surprise was going down the tubes as northwest travel was paraylyzed by the white stuff. Tom and family went to bed feeling pretty doubtful that their surprise would happen this year. When the 3 a.m. alarm went off, Marti went to the computer to discover that their flight on Virgin America was going to take-off on time to Seattle. Their 6 a.m. departure was the first flight out of Seattle in two days. Hmmmm! Anyone seeing God's hand at work?

Sure enough, they took to the air and arrived in Seattle to a sea of snow. Now they needed to rent a car and hit the I-5 freeway for the snowy drive up to Anacortes and the ferry ride to Friday Harbor. Nephew Brian took the wheel and braved the snowy road conditions for two hours in time to make the 2:40 p.m. ferry. The side roads were icy and Brian experienced some loss of traction, slip sliding away, in a fast food parking lot, but God's guiding hand kept everyone safe.

Ho! Ho! Ho! "We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas..." This and other Christmas songs greeted me as I opened the door to 4 masked happy carolers, yucking it up. I could not figure out who was behind those masks and neither could anyone else in our house. We were all stumped and confused. Then the masks came off, one at a time, lo and behold, it was niece Amy, nephew Brian, brother Tom and wife Marti. They pulled it off, the greatest Christmas surprise ever.

The Best Christmas continued...

2008-12-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in the previous blog post, this was one of the Best Christmas' Ever. There were many factors that made this Christmas so special. Our son Damon and his wife Lindsey came to visit us here in Friday Harbor from Little Rock, AR, to spend a week with us. By God's design, we were all blessed with a white Christmas. We had so much fun playing in the snow, making snowmen, snow angels, throwing snow balls at each other and generally smothering each other in the powdery snow.

We also had a blast shoe horning 12 people into our home when the Tom Woodwards arrived on Dec. 23rd. The winter wonderland was highlighted by family fun and closeness, something that just can't be duplicated. Our wish and prayer for every family is that they might experience this gift in 2009. The gift of family is one of God's beautiful treasures and He desires that each one of us receive His healing that we might experience family in His love.

Monique, Damon and Lindsey preparing Christmas Eve dinner and Lindsey's family favorite, green bean bundles.

We give God the glory and praise for how He orchestrated this special Christmas 2008. I will speak more of God's guiding hand in making all this happen in the next blog entry.

Masked Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

It has been two months since I've sat down at the computer to do some blogging. There have been several thoughts on my mind to write about but just haven't taken the time to sit down and journal on this blog. If I don't take the time, the thought goes off into space and gets lost for a time. Frustrating! Can you relate?

This remembrance though will be etched in my mind for a long time. The etching carves deeper because my emotions were seriously stirred and emotions, when linked to life events, are the tools of memory makers.

We are enjoying a White Christmas here in northwest Washington; the first one in a long time. As I write on Christmas Eve there is a sprinkling type rain falling, which is threatening the snow dusting which highlights the trees, but I suspect the white blanket of snow on the ground will stay through Christmas.

Now for the surprise; yesterday afternoon, around 4 p.m., for the first time in many many years here in Friday Harbor, Christmas carolers came to our front porch. They were very mysterious because all of them were wearing ski masks. They came with loud boisterous voices, belting out familiar carols but I could not identify the faces behind the masks. There was laughter amongst the caroling and it definitely seemed that they knew me. Who could this be?

My daughter-in-law Lindsey and son Damon, here from Arkansas, and a little boy Adolfo who we were are caring for were the only ones in the house with me. I looked and looked at each face but was completely stumped. Who are these people? I began to suspect they might be some of my son's old high school friends stopping by to say hello. But then, would they be caroling?

The carolers continued to belt out the carols with laughter and joy. At about this same time, my wife Monique and her mother came in the back door to the house. We are all stupefied by the carolers and could not figure out who was behind the masks. Daughters Ellie and Carly were off sledding with friends so we didn't have their help in figuring out the mystery.

Finally, this band of merriment began to take off their masks. Much to our surprise, the voice behind the deep HO! HO! HO! was my brother Tom and his family; wife Marti, daughter Amy and son Brian. Wow! We were all in joyous shock. Merry Christmas! they shouted and we all hugged and laughed for what seemed like hours later. What an incredible memory that has been carved in our hearts and minds.

In my next blog...I'll share what makes this masked mystery even more amazing.

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage

2008-10-15T12:06:00.001-07:00

Monique and I had the opportunity to attend a Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage Conference in Yakima, WA in September. Wow! We laughed and laughed as Mark Gungor presented hilarious truths about make and female communication.

Honest, Hard-hitting and Hilarious are three words that best describe the conference. We were so encouraged by this teaching and have decided to promote the conference as part of InFocus Family Ministries. It is another way we will reach out and offer hope to marriages and families.

We will host a video conference in Friday Harbor on the weekend of November 14-15th at The Elements Hotel. Please call us to register - (360) 378-8435

You will laugh, be encouraged and empowered to live out a healthy marriage relationship.

Dad and daughter weekend

2008-09-22T18:13:00.001-07:00

The weekend of September 12-14 daughter Carly and I attended Dads/Daughters weekend at Warm Beach Camp, near Stanwood, WA. Our friends, Bob and Ally Benz joined us in our cabin. To the right is a picture of all of us after our sunset canoe trip.

We all had an incredible time and were blessed with warm summer weather. One of the campfire chapels that we all shared together spoke to me. It was a message for the dads, talking about before responding to our daughters behavior, always remember the forgiveness we have in Christ. The phrase that stuck with me is, "do everything on the backside of forgiveness". When we reflect on the Savior's unconditional love and forgiveness freely given for our sins, our responses are seasoned with grace. This makes such a huge difference in building our relationships with our daughters and allows us to give consequences with love.

We had a full weekend of activity, horse back riding, swimming, archery, BB gun target shooting, mini-golf, shooting baskets, tire swining, Foosball, 4 square and ping-pong. At the last minute, Carly and I decided to make a rocket. We launched it on Sunday morning, and it never came back. The wind grabbed it and planted high in the trees. Oops, we needed a change in trajectory.

Something to remember, respond in love by being on the "backside of forgiveness".

Fair Time Again

2008-08-12T13:10:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite family events that brings summer closer to a close is the San Juan County Fair. This week is fair week and our family tradition has been for each of us to enter something in the fair. I'm entering the sunset photo I took last summer of Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island. It was one of those special moments when God chose to accent the heavens with a multitude of colors for His glory. What an incredible display of the Creator's majesty, creativity and splendor. The heavens truly do declare the glory of the Lord.

Listening to the Spirit

2008-07-06T22:09:00.000-07:00

I came across an interesting piece in the story of the apostle Paul's second missionary journey.

In Acts 16 beginning with verse 7 we read;

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. NIV

This is fascinating to me. "The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to" move on to where they planned to go in their journey to preach the gospel. The passage doesn't tell us how God closed the door or what specifically He did to impress upon Paul that he was not to go into Mysia. What might have been the range of emotions Paul went through after hearing this from the Spirit? Wow! He had to be disappointed big time.

After all, he was on a roll. Read the previous passage beginning with verse 4 -

As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Paul, Timothy and the others on the missions team had just experienced an incredible outpouring of the Spirit and seen people strengthened in their faith, plus many became followers of The Way. Then mysteriously, he is told in some way, don't go there, not to Mysia.

Warren Wiersbe says in his commentary on these passages - "However, it is comforting to know that even apostles were not always clear as to God’s will for their ministries! God planned for the message to get there another time." (Acts 18:19–19:41; see 1 Peter 1:1).

I couldn't agree more, that it is comforting to know that the apostles didn't have things dialed in with the Spirit. They were men just like me. Monique and I are seeking to hear the Spirit's voice and follow Jesus wherever he may be leading us and our family. Please join us in prayer.

The Vitamin D factor

2008-07-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

This last year was a rough one to endure for us in the northwest. The fall, winter and spring seemed especially dark and dreary. We suffered from a lack of sunshine and this was actually evidenced in some blood tests that Monique and Ellie took in nutritional check-ups.

Both of them were extremely low in Vitamin D. Did you know that Vitamin D deficiency is being linked to the development of multiple sclerosis? Here are some other factors:

Gender: Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to get the disease than men.
Family history of MS: A family history increases the risk of developing MS. The closer the relationship, the higher the risk. For example, if your identical twin develops the illness, your chances are about 30%. However, research has shown that there is no single "MS gene." It will take many more years to understand the role of genetics.
Race: MS appears more commonly in Caucasians than in groups of other racial origin.
Environmental factors: MS occurs most commonly in those living in northern climates, including anywhere north of Denver or Philadelphia in North America. MS is also common in Northern Europe and Japan. Where you spend the first 15 years of your life plays a crucial role in your odds of developing MS. Tropical and southern regions are considered low risk. If at age 15 or older you moved from the south to a high-risk area in the north, you are still considered to be at low risk for the disease. If you moved before age 15, you would then have a higher risk. There is some early evidence that sunlight exposure and high levels of Vitamin D may decrease the chance of developing MS. However, further research is required before supplements can be recommended for this purpose.

As most of you reading this know, Monique has multiple sclerosis. When we spend time in warmer sunnier climates, she feels better. Certainly, according to research, her body is making more vitamin D with more exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays.

We are taking all this information in as the Lord will use wisdom in guiding us to live healthy lives in His service. Certainly the discipline of regular exercise, something we embrace as a family, brings honor and glory to Him. We desire to be good stewards of the bodies He has given us to live out this life on earth. Location may have something to do with this stewardship. Please keep us all in your prayers!

Will You Trust Me?

2008-06-28T08:37:00.001-07:00

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all you ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Yowza! Trust was a big issue in our rock climbing experience around St. George, Utah. As a family we stepped out of our comfort zones and together we let the guys from Paragon Adventures lead us up and down the rock canyons. Carly is shown here clinging to the rock and climbing to the top. She did a fantastic job of overcoming her fears that day.

On the right, Ellie is headed up the rock and stops to smile for the camera. Smiling was reserved for these brief camera moments and after conquering the challenge. During the climb it was mostly focus and concentration that was seen during our journey up the rock. We were constantly encouraged to trust in our guides, the ropes and the bolts that were anchored in the rocks above. Hmmm? Why did we have such a struggle in the beginning with this trust?

I think the same is true of our faith journey. Our God is constantly encouraging us to trust in Him and yet we live lives that reflect the opposite of trust. Many times our lives reflect doubt and unbelief. The question God is asking of our family today is: Will you trust me? Is he asking you the same question? Are you listening and responding with a resounding YES Lord, or is your response conditional?

Winds of Change

2008-06-26T15:29:00.001-07:00

Have you ever felt led by or stirred by a wind of change? John talks to Nicodemas about the Holy Spirit in the life of a follower in John 3:8. Here is what he says; You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”

This verse contains a wordplay which cannot be adequately expressed in English. The Greek word pneuma means both wind and Spirit. The work of the Spirit (pneuma) is invisible and mysterious like the blowing of the wind (pneuma). Man controls neither.
On a recent trip to Southwestern Utah, we sensed the winds of change blowing through our family. Please pray for us as we, Ellie, Carly, Vic and Monique , discern what God is telling us in this wind.

We are "born of the Spirit" and He speaks to us. We want to listen attentively. More to come as we listen. Stay tuned.

Bloomsday Run - Family Fun

2008-06-01T06:18:00.000-07:00

On May 4th we joined the Couser family, daughter Erin and friends, on a run through the streets of Spokane, WA. The run is called Bloomsday. Monique and I had run it years ago and were challenged to run it again by our friends the Cousers. It was fantastic reunion of families.

The goal of running Bloomsday, 7.4 miles kept Monique and I motivated to run through the winter. Ellie and Carly caught the vision for the run in April and did a little jogging to in preparation for the big day. We were so proud of them for hanging in there and finishing.

There were about 45,000 folks who took to the streets on a beautiful sunny spring day in Spokane. Erin was the family winner, finishing in 1 hour - 15 minutes. I managed to push through the 6th mile wall and finish 3 minutes behind her. Way to go Erin!

Here are the Woodward gals, Monique, Erin, Carly and Ellie with friends Allison and Craig.

Love and Respect Journey

2008-03-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

Monique and I have been applying the principles of Love and Respect, Ephesians 5:33, to our marriage ever since we heard the teaching from Emerson and Sara Eggerich through their ministry titled, Love and Respect. This teaching is available to everyone either through their book or through their video teaching. We have been on a mission to share this life giving message to couples for two years.

The message has several key truths. First, couples clearly understand the differences between female and male, pink and blue. Through funny life stories and examples, couples laugh and see the reality of the God made differences. The seriousness of communication issues are diffused in the light of these differences and tools are taught through the fundamental relational principles found in Ephesians 5:33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:32-33

Followers of Christ have some understanding, intellectually, of the unconditional love of Jesus Christ for all humanity. Husbands are commanded to give this unconditional love apart from their wife's performance. There is another piece to this passage however that sometimes gets missed. Wives are commnanded to unconditionally respect apart from their husbands performance.

Giving unconditional love to a disrespectful wife and giving unconditional respect to an unloving husband, produces power in the marriage relationship by speaking male and female language that melts and stirs hearts. This stirring releases couples from the Crazy Cycle that spins when we don't communicate in each others love language.

Pink and Blue, not wrong just different. Women seeing the world through pink sunglasses and hearing through pink earphones; men seeing the world through blue sunglasses and hearing blue earphones, these are one of the key visuals which help couples see how we are different and the communication challenges we face in marriage.

Monique and i have been able to decode each others language which has reduced misunderstandings and increased intimacy in our relationship. We are no longer battling to change each other in conflicts.

Attend the Love and Respect video conference in Friday Harbor, April 25th and 26th and receive a renewed energy and passion for loving and respecting your spouse.

For more information call, Vic and Monique Woodward - (360) 378-8435

Valentine Memory

2008-02-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day has come and gone, but my memories took me to last month and my nephew Eric's wedding. It appears from the picture on the left that Eric was contemplating his decision to marry Stephanie with his Dad, my brother Tom, all the way up until the last minute. This however was not the case. Eric's love for Stephanie and his choice to marry her had long since been decided and affirmed in his mind by God.

We trust God for this union of man and woman. The wedding was a joyous celebration of love. On the right, Eric's mom reflects the radiance of joy in her beautiful smile. As Eric and Stephanie let go of control, something that happens when husband and wife grow in Christ and in marriage, they will experience a oneness that is life giving to the world around them.

It is a mystery, as the apostle Paul says in Ephesians. I think marriage is also an incredible adventure, filled with thrills and spills, molding and conforming to our original creation, in the image of God. Will you join us in lifting up Eric and Stephanie Woodward and their marriage, to His glory.

As we can testify, He will work all things out for the good for those who trust in Him.

Happy Valentines Day!

Love,

Vic, Monique, Ellie and Carly

Family Thanksgiving

2007-12-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

Family and Thanksgiving seem like words that fit together and yet in the world we live in this is not always true. It has been true for the Woodward family and for this I'm eternally grateful, and we owe this to Mom and Dad and our grandparents.

For the third year in a row we all gathered in Whittier, Calif. at my brother Tom's house. The reunion was rich with family fun; golf, Christmas cookie baking, Wii games in the living room, the traditional Vince's spaghetti dinner, backyard basketball, outdoor Thanksgiving dinner (a treat for us northwesterners) and relationship building for all.

The picture with Grandma Carrie and all the grandkids is priceless. We miss Grandpa Lee and it seems hard to believe it has been almost a year since his passing. Mom hardly remembers the incredible Thanksgiving spreads she used to serve for our family but we will never forget. My sister-in-law Marti has carried on the wonderful Thanksgiving traditions for her family and ours in a mighy way. We are so thankful for her.

A Christmas cookie baking day for the ladies has been a tradition that Marti has instituted for the family. While us guys are out hacking up one of the local golf courses, the ladies are creating wonderful cookies in the kitchen.

Here are Stephanie and Marcy at work in the kitchen. No snacking, yeah right.

Cookies on the BBQ?
What's up Erin?

Brothers Jim, Tom and I with sons Damon and Grant.

Woodward ladies, Jamie, Samantha, Amy, Ellie and Carly

Grazing in Grace

2007-09-27T18:07:00.001-07:00

It is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, so that no man can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Monique and I have been grazing in the truth of God's grace for about a year now. God has been revealing His grace to us, helping us to embrace grace in our hearts and souls. He want you to experience His grace, not just for salvation (see above verse) but for living the life of a follower of Jesus. It all begins with grace, but thanks be to God that the living is found in freedom which comes from grace.

Tim Kimmel, in his book, Grace Based Parenting shares, "Grace certainly has its share of enemies. There are those enemies who want to camp on the truth of the Bible and say life is black and white with little nuance." I'm sad to say that I have found this to be all too true.

In Traveling Mercies, Anne Lamott beautifully describes grace towards us. "It is unearned love--the love that goes before, that greets us on the way. Its the help you receive when you have no bright ideas left, when you are empty and desparate and have discovered that your best thinking and most charming charm have failed you. Grace is the light or electricity or juice or breeze that takes you from that isolated place and puts you with others who are as startled and embarrassed and eventually grateful as you are to be there."

In our experience, it is this kind of grace/love that reshapes us, transforms us, provides us with the environment for spiritual growth and maturity. An essential piece of experiencing this grace is in the knowing that our God is crazy about you!

What are your thoughts?

What is it about camping?

2007-08-30T16:29:00.001-07:00

Camping has always been one of our family favorite things to do in the spring and summer months. This year has been no exception. We've had weekend opportunities to go camping here in the islands and also journey to June Lake, CA where we met the Tom and Phil Woodward families, along with some new friends, the Bolter family.

In reflecting on these times, there are a few things that stand out for me. There is a cooperation amongst campers that makes me smile. Folks join together to meet needs in a beautiful way. It is really an example of how the body of Christ is supposed to work together, in harmony. Because of the close quarters, conflicts amongst family members get worked out rather quickly, no grudges held on to at the campsite. Hmmm? This is another Biblical teaching, isn't it.

There are always challenges and sacrifices on a camp trip, hmmm, opportunities for growth? When we are out camping, it seems that we are often in awe of God's creation, which leads us in true worship of our Creator. I'm thankful our family embraces camping the old fashioned way, tenting to be specific. Okay, we do pump up our air mattresses, and use a propane stove, but that is about it. Today's camping world features the comforts of home for most folks.

It is fun to meet new friends, a real treat that comes from camping. There is hardly a trip we've taken where we don't meet some really special people along the way. Somehow I think God is pleased when he sees us pack up the van and head out on another camping trip.

Dad and Daughter Weekend

2007-06-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Ellie, Carly and I spent together at Warm Beach Camp near Stanwood, WA. We attended Dad's and Daugther's weekend, along with about 30 or 40 others. We had such a blast! This was the second year in a row for us at camp. This year we built and launched our first rocket, beautifully decorated and painted by the girls. The pink nose cone could not be missed at launch time. One of our highlights was our rainy horseback ride through the woods around camp. We were pretty wet by the end of the ride.

Face painting was fun too. I looked pretty scary after the girls painted my face. All in all we learned more about each other and our amazing God. What a blessing to spend this time together.

Unconditional Love and Respect

2007-02-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, Feb. 9th and 10th, we hosted our second Love and Respect Marriage Conference in Friday Harbor. Eighteen couples attended and the message of Ephesians 5:33 was presented in a powerful way.

So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Most people understand unconditional love and would admit that they seek to embody it in their lives, but what about unconditional respect? As Christ followers we know that God's love for us (completely unconditional) is demonstrated on the cross at Calvary, through the perfect atonement and sacrifice for our sins. Belief in a life giving message of hope, forgiveness, peace, grace, mercy and love is something that the human soul yearns for here on earth. The message is found the person of Jesus.

But what about respect? Can wives have unconditional respect for their husband in spite of his performance? This again is a message found in Jesus and the power to carry out this command comes from Him. It is a life giving command to marriage partners. How could we have missed it all these years? Go to www.loveandrespect.com to find out more, or better yet, attend our next Love and Respect video conference in Concrete, WA on April 27th and 28th, 2007.

Dad, Grandpa Woodward's homegoing

2007-01-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

My Dad, Leland Seale Woodward, went home to be with his heavenly Father on Dec. 31st, 2006. We were blessed to fly down to So. Calif. and celebrate his life. For me, our family time was rich, filled with stories from friends and loved ones who were touched by a life well lived.

I love what D.L. Moody said as he was dying. Realizing that he would soon be gone from this world one day, Moody said to a friend, "Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of Northfield is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, that is all -- out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever."

Dad came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ in the final days of his life. The peace that washed over our family knowing we will be seeing Dad in heaven, is truly a peace that surpasses all understanding.

San Juan Winds

2006-11-10T09:41:00.000-08:00

Right now the wind is intense here in the San Juans, our first blast of the year. Fortunately it is blowing in from the south, not as cold as a northeaster. Still, wind is an interesting work of God.

As I took the dog out for a potty stop this morning, she needed to go desperately, the wind distracted her from emptying her bladder, even though it was at maximum capacity. Wow! It took her a few minutes to realize she really had to go.

So...I got thinking about wind its effect on Stitch our dog, and on us humans.

The wind today represented life distractions that come our way regularly. The winds of life throw me a barrage of curve balls everyday which distract me from focusing on the love of my Savior Jesus, and the things He has for me to do or be in the day. Sometimes those distractions are orchestrated by Satan, sometimes they are just my stuff. Are you tracking me? Do you ever feel that way?

The "tyranny of the urgent" blows fiercely over my mind distracting me from priorities; loving God, investing myself in others, giving of my time and talents, serving sacrificially and quieting my heart to hear God speak to me.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

The refuge our dog Stitch found from the wind was the shelter of our home. As soon as we stepped inside, she began to calm down. She was able to focus to my commands, to listen. I think God wants to be my refuge from the winds of life. He wants me to lie down in the green pastures He provides for me, to seek the shelter He provides in solitude.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Guaranteed, there will be more winds coming here in the San Juans and in our lives. Where will you find shelter and refuge?

Testimonies from Love and Respect

2006-10-30T16:51:00.000-08:00

The Love and Respect Conference held on Oct. 13th and 14th was an encouragement to all who attended. Here are some stories from the conference:

Dear Vic,

This was an excellent conference. We came away energized and happy, not depressed by how much work we had to do on our marriage or how inadequate we were. My husband said it was the first time at such a conference that he did not come away feeling overwhelmed and a failure.

Emerson Eggerich is such an brilliant speaker; expressive, true, and down to earth. I don't see how his message would not benefit basically anyone in understanding the dynamics of men and women. His humor was heart warming and his life experiences and stories made it real and believable. We both thought we need that kind of person to be an ambassador in the White House!

Thanks Vic and Mo for bringing "Love and Respect" to Friday Harbor.

The Love and Respect Marriage conference really helped us to see how easy it is for each of us to misread our spouse's intentions, which caused irritation, and then less love and respect for one another.

We are now better able to recognize the trap we so easily fall into, and get ourselves out of the crazy cycle before it gets too crazy. Knowing and then recognizing that my spouse's words or actions have a completely different meaning or intent than I put on them makes it easier to forgive and leads to more understanding in our relationship.

We "stepped on each other's hoses" this morning, but were quickly able to recognize what was happening, step off, and enjoy our day together. The weekend was full of laughs and learning! We bought the DVD's so we could share them with family and friends.The Love and Respect Marriage conference really helped us to see how easy it is for each of us to misread our spouse's intentions, which caused irritation, and then less love and respect for one another.

We are now better able to recognize the trap we so easily fall into, and get ourselves out of the crazy cycle before it gets too crazy. Knowing and then recognizing that my spouse's words or actions have a completely different meaning or intent than I put on them makes it easier to forgive and leads to more understanding in our relationship.

We "stepped on each other's hoses" this morning, but were quickly able to recognize what was happening, step off, and enjoy our day together. The weekend was full of laughs and learning! We bought the DVD's so we could share them with family and friends.

Not Too Late

2006-10-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

It is not too late to sign up for the Love and Respect Marriage Conference on Oct. 13 and 14 at the Friday Harbor Inn. Here is what one wife is saying:

"My husband has always been a very quiet man - not one for displays of emotion. We are as different as any two people could be in that area. But, I see something so different in him as a result of this conference. He is as enthusiastic and excited as I have ever seen him."

Come join us and find out what your spouse will be saying after the conference. Call (360) 378-8435 to register today!

Childcare for Love and Respect Conference

2006-10-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

A QUICK UPDATE - We are pleased to announce that childcare will be provided for the Saturday conference sessions. This service will be provided for children ages 2 and up.

Please register your child by calling (360) 378-8435. Children can be dropped off at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. Registration forms will also be available at the church in the morning.

Please provide and snack and sack lunch for your child.

Love and Respect Story

2006-09-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

“I am sad that I have been married twenty-two years and just now understand the Respect message. I wrote my husband two letters about why I respected him. I am amazed at how it has softened him in his response to me. I have prayed for years that my husband would love me and speak my love language. But when I began to speak his language, he responded with what I wanted.”

Love and Respect Marriage Conference

2006-09-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Monique and I are very excited about the upcoming Love and Respect marriage conference coming to the islands this fall.

We (InFocus Family Ministries- The Woodwards) are hosting a Love and Respect marriage conference here on San Juan Island. The dates are Fri. Oct. 13th - 6-9 p.m. and Sat. Oct. 14th - 9 a.m - 4 p.m. @ Friday Harbor Inn.

The rooms at the FH Inn are discounted for conference attendees - $76 per night. Call - (360) 378-4000 for room reservations. We will also try to come up with some homes for folks to stay in if possible.

The cost of the conference, which includes workbook, continental breakfast and lunch is $70 per couple.

This will be a DVD driven conference. I have the DVD's for the conference style presentation.
I'm praying that we will have the room packed with couples from all the islands and your community. This material/teaching is powerful. Focus on the Family is sponsoring these conferences all across the U.S.A.

Trust and the County Fair

2006-08-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Last week marked the 100th annual San Juan County Fair. I think for many people in Friday Harbor it is one of the highlights of the summer. I always enjoy meeting people at the fair, reconnecting and sharing in the joy of being there amongst all the excitement.

I really think you can taste the flavor of any region of the country by going to a County Fair. The flavor I tasted here is one of community, creativity, stewardship, and fun! At the 4H exhibits of animals and projects, I got the sense of responsibility being nutured in young people by caring adults. Hmmm! So many good flavors to taste this past week; I wish I could include them all.

In watching the carnival rides and the men working to fix them I sensed a need to TRUST. Honestly, some of those rides looked like they could come apart with a few good shakes, spins,
twists and turns. Whoa! Yet, children and parents trusted in the rusty machines, loose bolts and all, to give the thrill ride anticipated and return everyone to a safe stop. Whoa! Now that is TRUST!

How is it that we can TRUST old carnival machines with aging hydrolics and rusty nuts and bolts with our lives, not to mention our childrens lives, and not TRUST God with our lives? This is a mystery to me. Why can't we TRUST the Creator of the universe with our day to day lives? What is it about me, about us? Could it be true that our natural bent is rebellion towards God? The more I see the more I know that this is true. Your thoughts?

Camping in the Creation

2006-08-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

In early August the Woodward family found rest, peace and comfort in the Lord's creation and amongst fellowship with our family. We were blessed to be able to retreat, unplug our lives from computers and cell phones. I recommend this for everyone once or twice a year.

Actually, this is recommended by God more often than just once or twice per year. He wants us to do it weekly. Set aside a day, the Sabbath; to rest in Him, honor Him, reflect on His graciousness, give thanks and truly let Him have our burdens. He says this with authority and command in the book of Exodus.

Exodus 20:8-11

"Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

As I look around me I don't see much observance of this commandment, one of the ten commandments by the way. I too get caught up in the wave of busyness that seems to swell over my head at times. We have the created order of life all backwards.

If you notice from the Genesis record of God's creating; he was hard at work for six days and on the sixth day he created man and woman. Right after this work He rested, the seventh day. So... man and woman's first day in existence after being created was a day of rest.

It was from this full day of rest that they moved on to the work God had for them in the garden of Eden. The order then is from REST we WORK. Most of what I see in my life pattern and the pattern of others is WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK, and then maybe rest if there is time or if we have justified rest by doing enough work.

This pattern or order was not in God's created plan. Whoa! He created us to WORK from REST. What do you need to do to make life adjustments in your weekly schedule to line up with God's plan for your life?

Faith and Habanero Sauce

2006-07-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight was one of those throw together dinners nights at the Woodward's house. One group of girls were making an old favorite, Kraft's Mac n' Cheese dinner. Monique was mixing one of her quick meal specials; tuna fish, chopped apple, peanut butter and mayo, in a combined concoction. For me, it was pinto bean burritos with a sprinkle of habanero sauce, parmesan cheese, sour cream and salsa.

What a smorgasboard of meal choices devoured by everyone! My choice of the habanero spiced burrito had to be the most moving dinner plan. Right? Speaking of moving, as I was reflecting on how my tastebuds were being affected by the tingling chili, I thought of FAITH. As my mouth was moved to action after receiving the habanero chile in my pallet, yahoo!!, water, water, water, anything please; a link came into my brain to the thought that my FAITH should produce action. The apostle James says;

Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? James 2:14

In this case, my faith (a faith born out of a love for Him, for all that He has given for me) in Jesus Christ should compel me to share His love (serve others). It is in this serving that action is seen, all for the glory of God.

It is simple really and yet so difficult, because my selfish nature is very often in conflict with the Spirit that lives in me by FAITH. Praise Jesus for the conflict and praise Him for habanero sauce which calls my mouth and me to action.

Freedom thoughts

2006-07-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

FREEDOM, There is more to it I think.

Freedom from what?

2006-06-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about freedom lately. Maybe I'm being prompted by the fact that the 4th of July has come and gone. The celebration marks our country's independence (freedom) doesn't it?

Are you feeling free right now? Am I feeling free? I'm not talking about freedom in the patriotic/politcal sense. I'm talking about a "life sense". Are you experiencing freedom? Am I? Or do you feel bound by someone or something, a general feeling of heaviness in your heart?

The apostle Paul talks about freedom in Christ in his letter to the followers in Galatia.

Galatians 5:1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. The Message

He refers to slavery. Most of us when we think about slavery would agree that all men should be free from that oppression. Do many of us, when we think of the slavery, connect it to the bondage that comes from negative memories of life experiences?

Where can we find freedom from our past? How can we gain understanding, seek forgiveness and release our pain so that it doesn't create bitterness and resentment?

I submit to you that we can only do that with a person who will walk this road with us. Someone who knows us intimately and has gone before us, experiencing all of our pain and hurt for himself. That person is Jesus Christ. He lives in people and can minister His love through people. These people are trusted friends, who are living in His grace and forgiveness.

They are all around you. Seek them out. Risk and be vulnerable. Ask; they will be found. Healing is right around the corner, and with healing comes freedom.

2006-06-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

Blackberry vines and the True Vine

2006-06-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

Right now in the Pacific Northwest it is prime time for plant growth. The periodic showers coupled with the warmer longer days make for a "green explosion" all over the place. It is really amazing! The different shades of green are intense. What an amazing niche our great and glorious Creator has given us with the northwest.

My personal obeservations of this green growth is centering on the blackberry vines in my backyard. They are currently encroaching on our house. Whoa! Interspersed amongst the blackberry vines are nettles, nasty tall weeds which make berry picking later in the summer hazardous.

I want to talk about the blackberries for now. As I've watched the new shoots take off; I've noticed that they are attached to a main vine. From that vine they get nourishment to expand their territory and boy that is happening rapidly right now.

The story God is playing out in my life and the life of some of my dear friends reminds me of this new growth blackberry vine. Jesus uses this vine analogy in talking about true growth, John 15:5-12 Jesus talks of himself being our vine.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

For me I know that I must remain in the true vine that is Jesus. I suggest you try abiding in Him if you haven't done so up to this point in your life. He will lift you up and carry you.

2006-03-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

Graceful Girls

2006-03-20T15:49:00.000-08:00

Last month I had the blessing of attending a Valentines Dance with my girls, Ellie and Carly. Wow! We had a blast! I ended up dancing almost every dance taking turns with my daughters. Whew! The music took me down memory lane, old tunes from the 60's and 70's. The evening went by so fast, I couldn't believe it. The girls were both surprised too when the call for last dance came at the end of the evening.

Truth be known, I was a little reluctant to go to the dance. I figured that I would be one of the few dads in attendance. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and go for it. What a blessing! The dance was sold out and everyone had a great time. I have found that when I take a risk, step out of my comfort zone, even in little ways like Valentine Dances, the Lord blesses me and teaches me to trust, listen to His heart for people and be more willing to GO............

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

I'm finding that Jesus' heart is for people, building relationships with people and this begins with my wife and children. Thank you Lord for this opportunity to grow closer to my girls.

Thoughts Prompted by My Mother

2006-02-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

Thoughts Prompted by My Mother…

Although I have shared some of this with my mother, she has not heard it in its entirety. So, here ya go Mom. You will be reading most of this for the first time. I dedicate this to you! I want to thank you for being such a special part of my life.
A couple of months ago, my mother made a comment to me that I believe God used to lead me down a path of reflection and self-examination. She said, “That’s what I love about you, you’ve always felt so comfortable in your own skin.” If you are in question as to what she meant, let me translate. “You’ve always felt comfortable just being yourself.” Hmmm….I thought to myself, is that what she sees in me? She gave me that, “I’m-so-proud-of- my-daughter-look” and hugged me. Silently, I questioned myself. Am I? And the dialogue in my head went something like this, “Well, I guess I feel comfortable being myself quite a bit of the time,” but in all honesty, I knew there were many times I did not. Why? I began to wrestle with this question almost daily. It was a nagging to my soul. God had my attention, but it was not quite time to “go there.” Christmas was approaching and following the holidays we would be celebrating Damon and Lindsey’s wedding with family and friends.
On our arrival home, it was as if God opened a door and said, “come and sit with me”…and that is what I did. Well, it wasn’t always sitting per se. Sometimes, my solitude with Jesus came while I was painting the new bright colors on Ellie and Carly’s bedroom walls…or while Vic and I sat on the couch having “heart to hearts”…or while I was reading my Bible and praying…or while I was unpacking and cleaning. In all these moments I experienced God. I experienced solitude. Little did I know that the Author of my faith was writing a paragraph in my story that would change my life. The best way to describe this healing is like this: it has been like sitting under the warm afternoon sun on a beautiful and colorful spring day. In fact, that is what I did this todayJ. It is well with my soul. Even as I write, I take a deep breath, a sigh of relief, and I am filled with gratitude to the One who created me.
In these times of solitude, God revealed to me that all too often I have entrusted my heart to people before entrusting it to God. This is something He brought to my attention 3 ½ years ago when we first come on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. Prior to that I thought I “had been there done that” and that I had let go of “people pleasing” and, that the fears relating to this had all dissipated. God in His infinite wisdom, created an opportunity for Vic and I to grow in ways only He knew we needed.
The last few years have been filled with the beauty of new and deepened relationships, new adventures, new schedules, new challenges and constant reminders of God’s faithfulness. You, as readers, might think that in all this, I would respond with a hearty “Amen”, telling you all how much I have grown in my trust of our heavenly Father, or how much I have trusted Him through and through. The truth is, I have not. I have experienced more fear since coming on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ than almost any other time in my life (with the exception of those junior high years). I wonder, asking myself this question, “How often have my choices/decisions and countenance been motivated by people pleasing, obligation, shoulds, fear , God pleasing and the like, as opposed to being motivated by a reckless abandon to be in love with Jesus in all I say or do? There is a difference between the two. If I live my life in such a way as the first part of the previous sentence, I can make a lot of “good choices” and “do good things”, but in the end, I have experienced quite a bit of fruitlessness and emptiness in such living. It is not that all my life with Christ has been this way, but if I’m truly honest with myself quite a bit. Furthermore, following this path robs me, and others around me, of the joy of truly experiencing God. It is like living in “quality control” rather than just letting God be the Controller.
All my life I have wanted to do things well and I was raised with a good work ethic. There is obviously nothing wrong with that. It is God’s desire we give our all to the responsibilities given us and to live with integrity. However, in having a bent towards people pleasing etc, when I became a follower of Christ in college, I wanted to “do it all right” and live the “good Christian life”, and reach the Christian benchmarks of maturity (whatever that means) so-to-speak.. In my skewed views of God, and even the Christian faith, this left little room for failure or a spirit of adventure, just like every other time in my life, and I figured that I must maintain my good standing with God “or else”. So even in this walk with Jesus, one I came into by faith, I began “working my way into good standing” or “desired to stay in good standing” with God on a regular basis.
In the last couple of years, God has been showing me much in His word. One is this…my behavior good or bad, will never satisfy God. It is the blood of Christ and that alone that satisfies God. His love for me is not based on what I “do”. If that were the case, then it would infer that He loved me less when I first became a Christian, because of course I had not yet “done” anything in the name of Jesus…and that now He loves me more because I’ve had 16 years on my Christian resume.
In His word, God has been refreshing my heart with the following truths….that God delights in me and I am precious and holy in His sight Ephesians 1:4. I am a friend of Jesus, John 15:15. I have been accepted by Christ Romans 15:7. I have been called a saint 1Cor 1:2, Eph 1”1, Phil 1:1, Col 1:2. I have been set free in Christ Gal 5:1. I am a new Creature in Christ 2 Cor 5:17. I have become the righteousness of God in Christ 2 Corinth. 5:21. I am fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 139. I am His workmanship Eph 2:10 and I am being conformed to His image Romans 8:29. I have future and a hope Jer 29:11 I have been given a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline not a spirit of timidity 2Tim1:7….and on and on I could go in the scriptures He is illuminating in my heart. As I have come to know God more intimately and believe what He says about me, freedom in my heart swells up like a river and it seems as though trusting my Creator has taken on a new meaning than what it did two or three years ago. Out of love for God, not fear, people pleasing, obligation, or trying to maintain good standing with God, I long to serve, encourage, comfort, build up, forgive, and love all others unconditionally in a whole new way.
I have decided to take a “break” from Christian talk radio and reading any books that advocate “this” or “that” way of parenting, how to educate ones child and yes, even on the subject of marriage. This is not because I do not believe God uses people through radio and books. He does. He has used them in my life and will again in the future I am sure. It is a decision based upon what God has revealed to me in my own life…a weakness and propensity to many times think other people are more godly or spiritual…to entrust my heart more to people than to first trust God…rather than really believing God loves me as much as He says He does, and trust that He will actually speak to me… having a reckless abandon…passion and trust, knowing Him more personally, listening to His voice and the voice of my husband. Wow, that was a run-on sentence, please bear with meJ!
What is happening is that God is bringing me to a place of freedom I have not yet fully known. Isn’t that why Christ came? Gal 5:1. For the first time, in a very, very, very long time, I think I am comfortable in “my own skin” as my mom would say. The new skin God has given me…the way God has created me…and I like how God has made me. I guess if He says all those things in the Word about me, and all His children, then it really is true…and not to believe it would be rejecting His truth and believing my own…which is what I have done all too often in my life. Rather, my passion is to be recklessly abandoned to Him and the truth of His Word…and to be in love with Him…He who redeemed my life.
Lately, I’ve been praying the prayer the apostle Paul prayed for the Philippians 1:9-11: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” I pray this for Vic as he leads two Bible studies each week, meets with several men one-on-one going through God’s word, for our times of study with other couples and when he counsels people in crisis. I also pray this for myself as I too meet with a few women each week. In praying this, I am trusting a good God in heaven to lead me/us into a deeper relationship with Him, One whose love is unparalleled and permeates the entire fabric of our lives.

Love,

Monique

Experiencing Grace

2006-02-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

This commentary is a work in progress so you will have to check back periodically to hear what the Lord is showing us about His grace. My awesome wife Monique will be sharing from time to time too, as God is doing some profound healing in her heart as she is discovering His grace. I know this is a realm He wants all people to experience. My fear is that many folks are living in something other than the grace of Jesus Christ, and thus are experiencing bondage in some form or another. This fact leads me to prayer.

What is grace? Webster's dictionary provides several definitions, here a couple; 1. disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency 2. a special favor

I've also heard the words, unmerited favor given to us by God through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary for my sins.

By faith I can choose to receive the gift of grace and experience love, forgiveness and acceptance.

Ephesians 2: 8-9 -> God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Our blog entries in the coming weeks will express how we are experiencing God's grace and living in a realm that is available to everyone. Please feel free to post your comments.

Wedding Wows!

2006-02-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

On January 7th, 2006 the Woodward family received a great blessing. We experienced a joyous celebration of love, commitment and unity. The event was the marriage of Damon Woodward to Lindsey Monnahan, our new daughter-in-law. Here it is one month later and we are all still bathing in the beauty of that day.

Join us in giving thanks to our great God and pray for this new couple.

World Series cross - cut

2005-10-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made the last mow of the lawn for the fall season. I cross-cut it just for fun, copying the grounds keepers at professional baseball parks. I had baseball on the brain with the World Series, fall classic, happening this week. Winter will set in soon here in the northwest and the grass growing will slow down in response to the grey skies. Some people just can't handle the drizzly weather and it sends them packing to sunny climates for the season.

For me, the blustery winds, blowing rain, and crisp mornings lend themselves to times with God on the couch with a good cup of coffee. This is good, slowing down and reflecting on what is important, namely a relationship with the living God, my wife, children, extended family and friends all across this country.

As I stare out at my "World Series Cross-cut" lawn, I am thankful which brings this Scripture to mind, "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." Do you have a thankful heart today?

Expanding Woody Family

2005-09-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Last month we all joined together on the couch; Vic, Monique, Erin, Damon, fiance Lindsey, Ellie, Carly and puppy Stitch, for a family photo. Our family is growing by leaps and bounds in a blessed way. Stitch is growing faster than all of us. Blessings to you and yours!

New Life

2005-06-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Psalm 36:6-7 Tells us how our Lord's love and care is spread over all creation.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.

This little Golden Retriever puppy was born just a few days ago. Our neighbors dog just had ten little ones and Ellie and Carly have been giving care to the mom and the pups. Could it be that one of them will find a home at our house? Check back with us throughout the summer to find out.

Racing and Endurance

2005-05-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

In 2 Timothy we read:

Paul's Charge to Timothy You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 2 Timothy 3: 9-11

I always think about endurance on Memorial Day weekend. My memories take me to fun weekend camping trips my mom and dad planned, usually to the High Sierras in California. The recollections of endurance come when I think of the long drive home. We usually listened to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio. What a test of endurance that race is for both the driver and the machine!

Our Lord calls us to this type of endurance for a lifetime. As we read in the apostle Paul's encouragement to Timothy, there will be hardships, yet the Lord will rescue us from all of them. We must rest in this Truth, for in Him is where our hope is found.

Praise the Lord for the men and women who serve and have served our country so valiantly in the armed forces. They are examples of endurance for all of us. Have a blessed Memorial Day Weekend!

He Reigns

2005-03-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

With Easter approaching, God placed a song in my heart that is resonating all around me. The song title is "He Reigns". The "He" refers to Jesus Christ, His Supremacy here on earth. The lyrics are awesome and they say it all. The song was written by one of the guys from a popular Christian group, The Newsboys. Here is how it goes:

It's the song of the redeemed, Rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven, Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers, Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation, A love song born of a grateful choir
It's all God's children singing Glory, glory, hallelujah He reigns, He reigns
It's all God's children singing Glory, glory, hallelujah He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds, Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals, To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation, Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples, None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness, Tremble at what they've just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness, Can't drown out a single word
When all God's children sing out Glory, glory, hallelujah He reigns, He reigns
All God's people singing Glory, glory, hallelujah He reigns, He reigns

So...lets look to Jesus and His Resurrection, for the power to overcome our trials are in Him and His love for us.

Blessings.

Vic

Rich Family Time

2005-01-18T16:19:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on the holiday season I find myself with a heart of gratitude toward our great and wonderful God. The Christmas season was filled with special quality time with our family. The tradition of finding a bushy Christmas tree was fullfilled along with all the fun of adorning it with family decorations. Erin, Damon, Ellie and Carly all reconnected by God's abounding grace and love. It was a sight to see everyone interacting and laughing together.

I heard a song by Michael W. Smith recently titled "Healing Rain". This made me think of God's amazing work in our family. Here are a few of the lyrics that spoke to me:

Healing rain is coming down
It's coming closer to the lost and found
Tears of joy, and tears of shame
Are washed forever in Jesus' name

Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher
Healing rain, I'm not afraid
To be washed in Heaven's rain

My prayer for all of you is that you keep the umbrellas folded up and let God's healing rain come down upon your soul this coming year. He works in relationships as we together seek to know Him.

Communication Breakdown

2004-12-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

The last weekend of November marked a big game in the world of Friday Harbor High School sports. Our high school football team was playing in a state semi-final championship game. I was unable to make the 6 hour drive to eastern Washington, so I relied on periodic phone calls and internet updates for my game report.

At one point in the 4th quarter I received a call from my son Damon in New York who was getting regular score updates from one of his friend who attended the game. Damon reported the score as "35-21 Wolverines ahead." We were both ecstatic and I was dancing around the kitchen shouting, "we going to the Tacoma Dome, we are in the state championship baby."

I quickly called my dear friend Roberto to give him the update. Another shout went out over the phone as we celebrated together. My phone rang again. It was Damon. I figured to hear the "game over" call from him but instead he said; "Dad, I got the score reversed, it is Royal 35, Friday Harbor 21." Whoosh! It was like the air was rushing out of a popped balloon for me. I called my friend Roberto and he was equally deflated too.

A lesson learned, "be slow to speak, quick to listen ..." James 1:19 This "communication breakdown" reminded of how damaging thoughtless words can be, especially to relationships. One thing can lead to another, and left unchecked, a spider web of ill feeling can be created. Proverbs 18:6-7 says this: "A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul."

We must be careful in our communication with our spouses, children, family members and friends, and oh yeah, when we are reporting sports scores long distance. (-:

2004-11-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

Red Bug Reality

Red Bug Flashback

2004-11-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

I would not have believed it, but it happened. Two weeks ago I found myself driving a red 1969 Volkswagen bug, one almost identical to the one I owned in high school. I even loaded Ellie, Carly, Erin and her friend Kristie in the red bug for a wild ride throughout the streets of Friday Harbor. They couldn't believe Dad actually fit in the bug, let alone was able to shift gears and drive it. By the way, it is harder to get into at age 52.

Memories of good old high school days came racing back through my mind. As I reviewed each one I found myself saying, "I can't believe you did that". By all rights, many of my crazed adventures in my little red bug should have ended in catastrophe. The Lord certainly had his hand upon me.

Looking back, I'm thankful the Lord spared me and is now renewing my mind as the Scripture says in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the "red bug" crazed world, (Woodward paraphrase) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." He renews our minds as we read His Word, what a blessing!

Life Building Story

2004-11-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

These thoughts are from our dear friend Kim:

It’s hard to put into words all of the ways the one-on-one discipleship time with Vic and Mo has enriched and grown me in the Lord and continues to do so every day. God has knitted our hearts so wonderfully together with His in this fellowship time of exploring, learning, sharing and establishing the truth of His word in our lives. Sharing our personal lives with each other is such a blessing and inspires me to be more real and open with others. The basics of the lesson on ‘Security’ firmed up my foundation and has given me not only confidence but a desire to reach out to others in His love. The study we are going through is great for new seekers, new believers andmost certainly for those of us who have known the Lord for some time, but have not had this great of understanding of His word, His love and His grace for each one of us. If I don’t understand or receive it, how can I effectively share with others? It has certainly given a new meaning to ‘Standing on His word’. No more sitting for me!

Monique and I feel the same way as we receive so much from the people we are blessed to connect with through the discipleship process. To God be the glory!

2004-10-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

Goldfish family friends

Goldfish Life Lesson

2004-10-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

This week we all experienced a life lesson with Carly through our friends in the fish tank, the Goldfish family. Carly received a ten gallon tank and four goldfish for her birthday and we have all enjoyed watching them explore their new home. I think all have been named, so a personal attachment has begun with each fish. Hmm! Lesson time.

Well, as you have probably already figured out, Carly's first fish was found belly up on the surface of the water. We had a fish honoring burial, accompanied by many tears in the front yard. Then two days later, another fish said good-bye.

This gave us the opportunity to explain that all living things will eventually die, although I don't think this comforted Carly too much. Nevertheless, a valuable lesson learned through the mourning of our goldfish deaths. God can use many teachable moments to help our children learn valuable life lessons. The tank is full of fish again and we await the next lesson that is in store for all of us through our finny friends.

Transistor Radio Days

2004-10-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I decided it was time to re-paint the front porch ceiling. One of my favorite things to do while at work is to listen to the radio. I pulled out our CD/radio boom box, plugged it in and to my suprise I was tuned in to the MLB playoffs. What a break!

Immediately this "old guy", as Damon affectionately calls me, was flooded with memories of sixth grade, the World Series and transistor radios. You see my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Lentine, would let us listen to the World Series during our morning and lunch recess. I couldn't wait to get my work done and listen to the game. Of course being an L.A. Dodger fan, Yankee- Dodger rivalries were most significant.

What happened to "transistor radio days"? Wow! I loved to recreate the plays in my mind as the announcer described them. Those days are gone now. Technology has brought the game visually right into our living room. It has also brought "unhealthy messages" via commercials to our minds. God calls us to renew our minds, Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. Romans 12:2

So, turn on your radios this week and enjoy the game through your ears. It may bring back some sweet memories.

2004-10-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Carly's six years old, big blow! Watch out!

Birthday Blessings

2004-10-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

This past week on Oct. 12 we all celebrated Carly's 6th birthday. She had some friends over, I conjured up some of my favorite P.E. games, Monique, Ellie and Carly decorated the house in pink, a kids special Mac and Cheese dinner was prepared, and of course a chocolate cake highlighted our fun together.

We received another blessing on Friday as Monique and Carly went to Childrens Hospital for diagnosis of Carly's seizures. The doctor feels that the seizures are influenced by Carly's overheating as well as her rapid growth spurts. I guess excessive body heat causes blood to flow away from the brain to outer body parts, resulting in less O2 supplied to Carly's brain. This can cause seizures in some people. Carly has really been growing too, in the 95 percentile in heighth and weight, and this can be a factor too.

Anyway, no medication needed for the seizures at this point. There will be one more test, an EEG just to completely check out her brain for any abnormalities. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR CARLY AND ALL OF US. YOU PRAYERS HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENING US IN THIS TIME. GOD IS FAITHFUL!

Answered Prayers

2004-10-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who have been faithfully praying for Carly and our family. Yesterday we took Carly to Childrens Hospital for an MRI, seeking the answer to the bump on the top of her head. The MRI revealed that the bump has been caused by the way Carly's skull has formed since birth. The skull bone has grown around a pocket of normal brain fluid. The fluid which normally spreads out evenly, filled in a small gap in Carly's brain, forming a pocket (technically called an arachnoid cyst) of fluid. About 1 out of 10 people have this condition. There is nothing to remove, no growth, no tumor! She is OK! Thanks be to God! What a huge relief for all of us. Carly has an appt. on Fri. Oct 15 to assess her seizures. She hasn't had a seizure in over a month, another answer to prayer. Your continued prayers are treasured!

Family Firsts by Ellie and Carly

2004-10-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Carly share the highlights in October by giving us some family firsts. The pictures truly express a thousand words as the saying goes. Ellie scored the first goal of her budding soccer career after consulting with coach Tony during a timeout. Carly, who will turn six years old on Oct. 12, was very brave allowing Mom to get a grip on her tooth and pull it out. Ellie is examining the effort with a binocular zoom close up.

2004-10-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

First career goal scored by Ellie following coach Tony's instructions.

2004-10-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

First front tooth pops out for Carly.

New York News from Damon

2004-09-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Son Damon is beginning his second semester at The King's College in New York City. We are so proud of him and his pursuit of an excellent education. He has made an incredible adjustment, with the Lord's help, to life in NYC. What a contrast to Friday Harbor life. He is part of the children's worship team at Mosaic church in NYC and loving it. The Lord has gifted Damon with a passion for worship and is using his voice and guitar to spread His love. Here are a few comments from Damon, taken from a recent email, regarding the protests during the Republican Convention. Damon's apartment is in the heart of mid-town Manhattan. The news media does not always give us an accurate picture as you will read.

"The demonstrators that were here did not sustain any sort of political debate tactics. Rather they were just angry and vicious towards anyone who did not share their similar views. Yesterday, during the after the presidents speech I returned to Herald Towers to visit Lindsey. On the way between 37th street and 34th Street, there as a large mass of police vehicles. I was curious so I counted them. 20 motorcycle bikes, 10 large police vans (which looked like a vehicle to detain the arrested) 14 police cars, and over 10 more police vans that were used to transport the police officers. I would guess there to be, between 37th and 34th street, over 200 police officers. That does not even include the riot police!! Once I reached, 35th street protesters had already started to make their absurd proclaims. As the busses pulled out of 34th street (which is most likely filled with people that were at the convention), the demonstrators began to curse, chant, holler and scream. Mainly telling the busses to "Go Home," and sending them with a symbol, which brought their middle finger into play. Posters, signs, t-shirts, hats, bandanas, pants, all had remarks referring to major issues like abortion, gay marriage, and the Iraq war. Many of their remarks were not persuasive at all. Most of them were hate remarks referring to the president. Some did not even refer to him at all. Some were aimed at Christians."

2004-09-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

Woody kids ticklefest

Summer Spiritual Growth and Stretching

2004-09-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

Monique and I were blessed to spend Sept. 11 with daughter Erin in Vancouver, B.C.. We attended the Southwestern Company's awards ceremony for the students who worked in summer book sales. As we watched the program, led almost entirely by college students, we couldn't help but be thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in helping Erin persevere through a most challenging summer on the book field.

Erin experienced so many ups and downs selling in the neighborhoods of Newington, CT. She met people face to face in real life and learned invaluable lessons about relationships and being an encourager. She was blessed to receive encouragement from customers as well, sometimes in her darkest moments of discouragement.

All in all the life lessons Erin brought home are priceless. She will apply them this year at Trinity Western in her role as a dorm R.A. We are so proud of Erin and she is an inspiration for everyone in the Woodward family.

2004-09-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

Daughter Erin and proud Papa - Dad's Award from Erins hard work with the Southwestern Co.

2004-09-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Ellie and Carly's new room arrangement

School news and more

2004-09-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

Carly update:

We are waiting for a call back from the Children's hospital and the doctors. She will have an appt. to get an MRI and also to see a specialist for her seizures. She has been bouncing around here like nothing has ever happened, praise God, and she hasn't had any other problems in the last two weeks.

Monique started home school today with the girls. Yahoo! I was blessed to take a little time between phone calls to join in by leading recess time in the living room. It was a rainy day recess this morning so we had some balloon fun. It was a great first day of school. Schedules, schedules, good for the whole family.

Coaching and LifeBuilders

2004-09-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

As the fall sport season is on the immediate horizon, I find myself reflecting on coaching as it relates to what Monique and I are doing as LifeBuilders staff. There are many parallels. In walking by the football field, soccer field, volleyball court and tennis courts here in Friday Harbor I see dedicated leaders (coaches) building individual team members through instruction in the fundamentals of the sport.

Players who are eager to learn and put the skills into practice will be rewarded with playing time in most cases. Coaches offer encouragement to spur on the individuals growth and maturity. Ultimately the team benefits, as all the position players form a unified team.

Coaching involves leadership. As Kansas City Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil says, " A head coach has a lot of responsibility, but your number one responsibility is to help your players become what they have the ability to be. I'm a firm believer in team chemistry. I see myself as a relationship leader."

In discipling and marriage mentoring, Monique and I will be "relationship leaders." We will be begin our sessions with the fundamentals of our faith. Our passion is to help people discover who they are in Christ, becoming the men and women God intends them to be. As life challenges come up, our desire is to be encouragers for we will stride towards the goal line together.

We believe in Holy Spirit "chemistry" if you will, as by the Spirit's power men and women are molded for His purpose in life. In the LifeBuilders discipleship process, we "the coaches" experience growth too as God knits hearts together in relationship. It is a win/win outcome for all of us!