Theology Evolved?

I love my fiance Karina very much, as a matter of fact on March 1st, I get to start calling her my wife. This is extreeeeeeeemly exciting. Notice the extra e's... indicates intensity.

I was thinking about the many reasons I don't deserve her, which are to numerous to list. And I was also thinking of the ways she is absolutely the perfect counterpart to me. Because let's face it, I am a very insecure guy a lot of the time. I am unsure, and not always quick to make decisions, or sometimes get panicky about decisions I did make.

Karina supports me, and is quick to point out the strengths of good decisions that I have made, and also is willing to help me learn from poor decisions I have also made. That honesty is amazing to me.

Karina pushes me to lead even when I feel tentative about taking the reins on things, she believes in me even when I don't.

She loves me despite my sins of the past, and my blunders of today, knowing that I will screw up in the future from time to time too.

And in whatever I do, she does more than just give me a kiss on the cheek and a hug wishing me luck, she wants to be a part of it! She wants to stand by my side, encourage and give ideas.

Of all the people in the world who deserve a shout out, she is on the top of that list.

I love you baby,

Zach

So yesterday, Karina and I drove to Eugene and visited my grandpa in the hospital. I briefly got to reconnect with some family I have not seen in a while before I headed to the ICU to see my grandpa. It was a bit of a eye-opening experience to see my grandpa really sedated, intubated, a bit distended, he did not look like the grandpa I have spent so much time with. I held his hand, told him that I loved him, told him that he was strong, because he is, it takes a strong man to fight against congestive heart failure, viral pneumonia, and failing kidneys.
Today at some point, the doctors are going to remove his breathing tube to see if he can breathe on his own. If he cannot, they will give him the decision between living off a machine for the sake of breathing, or to pass on as comfortably as possible. If he can breathe, then they will give him 3 days to prove it and there is a chance he may live on for a while yet. The other thing is his kidneys, he has had dialysis once at least, but there is potential for him to have it a few times a week for the rest of his life, once again depending on a machine to live.
This is a very hard time for my family, please continue to keep us in your prayers as we live out a very hard week.

Zach

The trip was amazing folks. I just wanted to say thank you to all those who thought of us and prayed for us on the trip.

The drive up through I-5 was uneventful as far as bad drivers, CHP, OSP, and and other authority figures. There was lots of fun conversation and singing along with bands ranging from Linkin Park to N*Sync. We chatted of the most interesteing topics from Favorite Cars, to the troubling theological thoughts that can drive one up a wall.

I did get lots of rest, woke up ready to go, and didn't forget anything in the packing process!

Karina handled meeting all my family with the grace and wit that made me adore her in the first place and so she was probably more fluid with it then even I was. She even helped out a lot with the final wedding snags and was valuable to just about everyone participating. There were very few last minute things to worry about so almost everything went as scheduled and the Wedding went down great.

My sis and bro-in-law are heading out next monday for Cancun, so if you would continue to pray for them that they would have a great honeymoon that would be great.

So once again, thank you to all, my evolving theologians

Zach

Hello Readers,

In less than 7 hours I will be picking up wonderful, beautiful, funny, amazing young woman, who will be probably quite tired. Why? you ask would I be so unkind to such an amazing woman. Because we are driving to Portland tomorrow, 420 miles to be covered in 7 hours. It's a fairly fun drive on I-5 which we should get a kick out of but it does start quite early.

You are probably thinking I should be in bed right now, and you are right. But I wanted to ask some traveling mercies of you for me.

I need prayer for the ability to be alert on the road as far as my own state of being, as well as for other horrible drivers and Highway Patrol.

We need prayer for lots of conversation topics on the drive. Quiet drives are boring drives.

Pray that I fall asleep easily and get lots of rest... Before the drive!

Pray for Karina because she is meeting quite literally all my immediate and most of my not so immediate family at my sister Olivia's wedding this weekend, and she is nervous.

Pray for Karina's folks because it is very big for them to allow a boy to take their little girl so far away from them. I am sure they are a bit nervous too.

Pray for my family as they will undoubtedly have many last minute things come up for my sister's wedding.

Pray for my sister and her husband to be Nick, that they would have an amazing fruitful marriage... They are combining their single parents children to become a family of 5.

And Pray that everyone has a great weekend, including yourself.

You are all amazing my little evolving theologians...

Zach