the BAKERS | www.jimjessbaker.com
Living life, loving god, loving people & lessons learned along the way.
Skate night | Kona HI | 2008
Yay! Thanks to a generous donor, I got my computer repaired. 2.5 weeks without it seemed a bit like an eternity but here we are…
I’m realizing that it’s a ton easier to fall off the wagon than it is to get back on. I wonder if that’s because “this wagon” is always moving. While you’re on it, you’re going, and it’s good, consistent, in a groove. But when you fall off you have to run to catch back up before hauling yourself up onto this proverbial moving object.
It’s been about 3 weeks without blogging. Starting back up is a bit awkward. It’s not as natural as it was when I was “in that groove.” It would be a lot easier to just stop blogging.
Same thing with healthy eating. Jess and I were doing really well for about a week and then something crazy happened and we fell off the wagon. Thank God for Mondays. Most people hate mondays, but I think they are a perfect time to dust yourself off and start over with all the goals that you’ve dropped the ball on.
What do you need to recommit to today?
Engage: What do you find is the best way to get back in the groove after being out of it for a while? Let us known in the comments.
If you didn’t hear, last Wednesday my computer bit the dust. The final diagnosis is that the logic board went. Yea for phone calls! 2008 Opening one of the craziest gifts I’ve ever gotten.
You know those stories of radical crazy obedience? Where you you step out in faith because you feel like it’s God leading you, and then God shows up and totally blows your mind? Here’s one of those stories from 4 years ago…
It’s 2008. I had just made a commitment to go on long term volunteer staff with YWAM. I would be staffing the school of photography. This was my first time raising monthly support. Before I just had to raise enough in one time gifts for short term trips, but now I had to do it monthly and think more long term. I decided that I really wanted do this well, and not be another “broke missionary.”
Dennis Fahringer, the leader of the photography school runs an amazing school. He has top of the line gear for his students, the most current software and brings in teachers that are excellent in their fields. I wanted to believe God that if He was calling me to this, that He would provide for me to do it well. I drew up a budget that would allow me to do things well and was aiming to raise that amount. Since I was staffing a digital photography school, I wanted a new laptop, so I put that on the top of my list.
I sent an e-mail back home to my prayer team and asked them to pray about supporting me on a monthly basis so I could really focus on fundraising while I was home. I was so excited when I got my first response of someone saying that they would partner with me on a monthly basis! Then reality set in and I realized that that amount wouldn’t even fill up my gas tank once a week.
I started scratching things off of my budget and tried to figure out how I could do this as cheaply as possible.
The first thing to get booted off my list was the new computer that I wanted. I guess I don’t really need that.
I walked outside frustrated and ran into Phil Cunningham who was raising a family in YWAM so I asked him to give me some insight on how to do this.
He told me to “Ask people for specific things.” He said that people are more apt to give to a specific thing than just giving generally.
Not only did I not want to be asking people for money, I didn’t want to ask people for specific things.
What Phil was saying made sense though. After our conversation I crawled into bed.
Then I heard it… “Jim, call this specific person, (God gave me a specific name) and ask them to buy you a computer.”
It wasn’t an audible voice, but it was that still small voice. I thought maybe it was my dinner talking to me.
I rolled over and thought I was making things up, but I heard it again.
“Jim, call this specific person, and ask them to buy you a computer.”
Pretty perplexed and still thinking that I ate something strange, or that I was making that up in my head I tried to get to sleep. But I heard it again.
“Jim, call this specific person, and ask them to buy you a computer.”
I told God that I was going to sleep and we’d deal with this in the morning, rolled over and went to sleep.
I woke up the next morning and guess what the first thought that comes into my mind is? Yup…
“Jim, call this specific person, and ask them to by you a computer.”
I got up, and was reminded of the commitment I had made to God that I would be obedient to Him no matter what, threw my clothes on, grabbed my cell phone and walked outside.
I dialed this person’s number and got their voicemail. I had never been so thankful to get someones voicemail.
I sheepishly stumbled through trying to say what I wanted to say. It came out something like this…
“Hi, uh, I was praying last night, and I felt like the Lord is asking me to ask you, and that doesn’t mean that you have to say yes, I’m just being obedient in asking, but would you pray about buying me a new computer? The whole package is $4000. Thanks, goodbye.”
I hung up the phone and felt like I had just done the DUMBEST thing I had ever done in my life.
On our break, I received a phone call from this person. They said: I didn’t really understand what you meant in your message could you explain it again?
::gulp::
I gave it my best shot again… Well, I was praying last night, and I felt like God asked me to ask you to buy me a new computer. I’m being obedient in asking, but that doesn’t mean that because of my obedience that God is telling you to say yes…
This persons response was:
I was praying for you this weekend, on how I could support you, and I felt like God kept saying the number 4 and I didn’t know what it meant. But as soon as you said you needed $4000 I had an absolute peace about it where can I send the check.
As I was finishing up this post this morning my computer breathed its last. I took it to the mac store this afternoon and got the sad news that the hard drive and video card were both dead. Even though we are now a computerless family, I have that peace that transcends understanding.
Engage: What is the craziest step of faith you’ve ever taken? Share with us in the comments!
Dude. I remember this story and I stumbled on it tonight when God wouldn’t let me sleep and is giving me dreams of future ministry possibilities. Totally don’t know what it means or what to do! Oh, and my Mac crapped the bed the same way. Sorry bro. Love ya. Peace. Maybe I’ll sleep soon. Last summer I went to my boss and informed them that I needed 5 and a half consecutive weeks off to serve at a christian summer camp where I have worked for the past 4 years. The management team informed me that as a company wide rule they could only give me 30 days off. I was faced with a decision, do I only leave my job for 4 weeks and tell the camp I could not serve the rest of the summer? Or do I quit my part time job and quite possible not be hired again when I come back and be without a job through my upcoming fall semester? I prayed a lot and sought many fellow believers advice, and may said, “Oh four weeks of service is great!, and it is the best of both worlds you can serve a little and work some”. But, I kept feeling a voice questioning my motives of attending the camp if I was not content and willing to place my trust in God to provide down the road with employment that was meant for me. I visited the camp for a weekend last spring, and felt a great peace and reassurance that God was infinitely in control (Not that he ever is not, but the truth was re-enforced and brought to my attention). I informed my management team later that week that I would be quitting to serve at the camp and I was able to really share my conviction and personal belief to several of them. The time at the camp was so strengthening and reassuring that I am incredibly thankful that I was able to focus and stay for the entire summer camp program. The peace that I was able to focus and fully invest in the ministry without any time limits and reservations was truly a blessing. I praise God for his faithfulness and good gifts that he was able to bless me with an incredible time of growth ministering to the staff and campers at the camp, but also to be later re-hired and given the same job back. I feel kinda dumb asking this, especially since you went to the mac store, and I don’t know anything about a video card, but I had my hd crash on me, 3 times?, I think. I replaced it myself last year and it was only like $80. But maybe it’s worth replacing the hd and seeing if someone can replace the video card too? Just an idea. i don’t remember how to delete a post, but I just read your latest blog, so disregard the last thing i posted Here’s May’s VIDEO Update…
I apologize for the low quality of this video! We’ve been wanting to do a video update for some time and haven’t gotten around to it so we decided we NEEDED to do it tonite! Quick and easy using photobooth on my laptop.
Please shoot us an e-mail or leave us a comment and let us know how you’re doing! We’d love to hear from you!
Aloha!
Jim and Jess
Thanks for the video update Looking forward to seeing more of the scenery! Thank you for the video update. It’s wonderful to see and listen to you since your so far away. We are so blessed to have you both in our lives. Love, Grandpa and Grandma That is awesome guys! We are so excited for what you are doing there! Miss you both Good to see you Sounds like a lot is going on, a lot of GOOD going on. Praying for you both, hope you continue to see God do amazing things! Hey, Jim and Jess, I was just thinking yesterday that I hadn’t heard from you in awhile. Thanks for the update. Today’s Monday, so I’ll be praying at First Pres tonight, and am glad to have fresh insight into how to pray for you both. Something exciting just happened. Stayed home from my water aerobics class (which I love and do 3 times a week) today, feeling I just needed to spend some time at home catching up on a few things. And I received a call from an attorney friend I know from an advocacy network. She was on her way to a meeting where she was about to advocate for more interpreters for immigrants in public offices, and she called me because she felt in need of prayer! So we prayed, as she walked to her meeting. Please join me in praying for Virginia, who is a lover of justice, and senses that God loves justice, too! Love in Christ, Pat H. It is nice to have a video of you! Felt like you were right here. The Word will not return void. xoxo Gail You are looking good. Hawaii weather is agreeing with you. Little Guy & I just watched… he was grinning so big the whole time. He loves you guys! We vote that video updates are AWESOME! Praying for God’s continued provision, guidance & blessings on you both! <3 <3 <3 Jess and I at Hanauma Bay.
So if you haven’t noticed, I’ve totally dropped the ball, fell off the wagon, just plain sucked at blogging lately…
This post isn’t meant to be an excuse… it’s just me externally processing as to why I’ve sucked at blogging lately. Okay… you got me, it’s an excuse post.
When we first got here jet lag was on my side and I was getting up EARLY and blogging. Now that we’ve been here a while and jet lag isn’t helping me wake up early I’m find it harder to do that.
So as time progressed, I started moving my blogging schedule to the evening, posting right before I went to bed. Now that the school is in full effect my evenings are tied up. Tuesdays I lead an outreach to Waikiki, Wednesday to Honolulu, every other Thursday I help Jess with kids club for the launch meeting. blah blah blah… you get the point, I’m busy… It’s no excuse. Well it is my excuse for right now.
Anyway, I need to find a TIME that I carve out to blog. I need to be better about slaying my dragons. That means getting up in the morning and doing what I need to do before my day starts.
Keep me accountable. If you don’t see me blogging, ask me about it. If you do see me blogging, leave encouraging comments! In other news: Jess and I rented a car this past weekend and rode around the island. I’ll post photos on my photo blog soon.
Engage: When is your most productive time of the day? Tell us in the comments.
I’ve noticed you were missing from my blog feed :/ So I’m glad you’re back to blogging Yay!! You’re back. Do we get to hear the ambulence story? Mornings totally used to be my most productive time of the day. All nice and quiet and sunrise-ish. Then I married a Navy guy who’s day starts at O dark hundred. At O dark hundred, I’m a grumpy, non-productive bear, because that’s really still the middle of the night for me. Then he gets home before I finish work. That’s a long way to say, I’ve got that problem too and also need to work on solving it. Scratch the ambulence part. I just realized I’d missed it. *goes back to read your older post* Sorry! I started a habit of trying to go to Tim Horton’s on Monday mornings after I drop the boys off for school and work on blog posts for the week. I also have a mental schedule that lets me adjust and add as the week goes along. I like your blog and love the details you reveal through it. love you bro. Hetty one of our Chinese students prays with a homeless woman in Waikiki.
Every Tuesday we head down to Waikiki and hang out with homeless people…
Last Tuesday just three of us went down. The school leader, Plamena, and Hetty one of our students from China.
RK who heads this ministry up wasn’t there but his wife Like and their kids came. He told me in a text to show up at 6 and just invite people to the first pavilion for pizza.
So we got there at 6 and did exactly that. We quickly found out that figuring out who is homeless isn’t all that easy, among the sea of tourists and local people. You can rule out the tourists because they usually have a digital slr around their neck.
We talked to a few people and invited them to eat pizza. It was awesome because they asked us if we were with YWAM. It made me feel good that the group of YWAMers before us had created such a consistent impact.
When we sat down and were giving out pizza a guy came up to us and asked if we could help him. We asked him his name and he said his name was Jacob. He asked if we knew where a detox center was and started crying and said he really needed help. We looked up a few places and made some phone calls but kept getting answering machines.
He started shaking and had goosebumps as we talked with him more. I laid hands on him and prayed for him. We ended up calling him an ambulance.
Like, the pastors wife, gave Jacob their phone number and said that they wanted to help him out any way they could when he got out of the hospital.
Jacob in the back of the ambulance.
It was awesome to simply make ourselves available. God was already working on Jacob, and brought him to us so we could help. Would you pray for Jacob right now who realized his need to be free from his addictions?
***We saw Jacob this week when we went to Waikiki again. He said that when he got out he had some money and drank but hasn’t drank since. He’s headed back to Washington to be near family and friends that don’t drink. This week 6 of my students went. Even though only one of them spoke english natively, they talked with and prayed for the least of these on the streets of Waikiki. I’m so proud of them.
Engage: Have you ever had a situation that God prepackaged for you and all you had to do was show up? Share with us in the comments.
From our recent family photo shoot. See the rest of the photos HERE. | Bellows Beach | 5dm2
Sunday night Jess and I went on a date and during our time we observed two dads…
While we were walking, a father and son crossed in front of us. The father was carrying his son on his shoulders, and carrying the child’s bike under his arms. The child was busy laughing and patting his dad on the head. I commented to Jess, isn’t that the quintessential dad. The son wanted to ride his bike but got to tired, so the dad carried both the boy and the bike the rest of the way home. It made me think of my dad, and how many times I’m sure he was more than willing to carry me, and my stuff because I was tired. More than I know I’m sure. It made me think of my heavenly father, who when we’re weary, picks us and our stuff that we insist on carrying, and carries us.
When we got to where we were eating dinner we were waiting on our food. There was a man there with his teenage daughter, they were also waiting for their food. She had an smart phone of some kind and the dad gruffly said let me see that thing. The daughter replied, “why do you want one?” with a smile on her face. The conversation progressed and the dad pretty harshly said “why do you need internet on your phone, the only time you’re going to use it on the bus, if you want it you can pay the $25 a month.” The daughter’s body language for the rest of the night changed and she turned in her seat away from her dad. It didn’t seem to be manipulative pouty body language, it seemed more hurt that her dad wouldn’t have a conversation with her.
It was such an interesting contrast in the matter of minutes for me to see two very different interactions with dads and children. I don’t have the complete context of either of those situations, and I’m not a dad so I don’t even claim to know what its like.
I’m thankful for a dad that carried me when I was tired, and carried all the crap I insisted on bringing along. I’m thankful that my dad was not harsh when I asked for something. We always talked things through. I’m grateful for parents who considered it a joy to give me good things. (My parents bought me a drum set in the 7th grade. And for years listened to me play that thing, sometimes in bands with large amps)
I’m thankful for a heavenly father, that gives good gifts. That we can approach with boldness.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
– Luke 11:9-13
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
– Hebrews 4:16
Engage: Do you have a hard time asking God for things? What was your dad’s response when you would ask for things? Let us know in the comments.
I am honored to have been classified with the first dad in your experience, son. I think you did the right thing in not being willing to read into the second dad’s scene when you really don’t know their background. Made me think of one time I carried you up the hill from the football field at SW school and told you that was the last time I was doing that as you were getting too big. ( And then there was my role as roadie for the drummer). Great reminder of our forgetfulness about our Father’s willingness to provide for us. This past week Jess and I killed about 5 boxes of tissues, here’s 3 empty boxes.
I apologize for only one blog post last week. I was sick in bed for most of the week. Here’s how Jess and I get over our colds…
1. Neti Pot! – Yup, you either love it or hate it but between Jess and I we poured over a gallon and a half of distilled water through our nostrils this past week.
What’s a neti pot? It’s a small pot that allows you to pour water in one nostril and it comes out the other.
I just looked on youtube to see if I could find a video to show you but I shall spare you, and I sure am not recording a video of myself. Neti potting is an intimate thing, I always make sure the bathroom door is closed and locked.
We both really feel like this speeds up the healing process. It keeps things moving OUT of your nose.
***Make SURE you use distilled water, there was a few cases of people getting some brain eating bacteria or something by using tap water.
2. VITAMIN C! – We use the powdered kind that you can buy from the health food store. I toss about a teaspoon into a mug and mix it in water and take this 3-5 times a day.
3. REST! – I stayed in bed a lot of last week, just allowing my body to heal. When we are resting our body can heal the best. I feel like if you don’t rest while you are sick, your body takes longer to heal.
Jess’ bonus tip would be that she loves spaghettios when she’s sick as her comfort food.
Engage: What do you do to recover from a cold? Let us know in the comments!
All your talk of snot going out of nostrils has now made me sick. You have to FEED a cold. You also have to Feed depression. You also have to eat a lot when you’re celebrating…..wow I eat a lot. Lots of fluids. I take Vitamin C as soon as I begin to feel sick, and if I have any, some form of Echinacea to give my immune system a little extra help. LOTS of water, hot tea, and juice… And OF COURSE chicken noodle soup, but preferably home-made. I make sure it has lots of carrots, onion, and garlic in it too. Me at 2 yrs old On April 23rd 1985 I flew from South Korea to the United States to be with my new family…
I was 5 months old when I arrived in the US. I wish I could post a photo from my parents picking me up in the airport but I don’t have any on my computer. So the photo of me at 2 years old will have to suffice for now.
In my family we called this my “Airplane day.” I know another family that calls it their “gotcha day.”
I can’t think of any better way to celebrate this day by asking you to be involved in the lives of two of my friends who are in the adoption process right now.
My friends Seth and Jamie Rainwater are adopting a little boy from Haiti!
Seth, Jamie and Lochard
Seth and Jamie are AMAZING people. They opened up their home to Jess and I in 2010 during a very transitional time in our lives.
The Rainwaters are some of the hardest working and most giving people that I know. They were recently awarded the NHJ Recognition award.
Jamie is an elementary school teacher. She has her students active and involved in their travels. When they went to Kenya on a missions trip, she made sure she skyped with her class and made videos and posted them on the internet for her students to see.
They have converted their backyard into a small farm. They grow crops each year and donate the crops to local food banks.
Seth and Jamie also have a photography company.
You can check out their website here. –> Carpe Diem Photo Video.
Seth SURVIVED a plane crash a couple of weeks ago.
You can watch a video about that here. –> Hoosiers Survive Plane Crash Would you consider how you could help this family? Maybe you feel led to send them some money to help with the adoption process. Maybe you feel led to write them an encouraging letter as they wait to have their little boy in their home. Feel free to even leave them encouraging words in the comments! Please contact us if you want to know how to give or send them a letter via e-mail or snail mail. jimjessbaker (at) gmail (dot) com In so many ways this post was awesome today for me. I love you brother. I love your heart for adoption, which you know is very close to home for me. I love your love of Jesus and how much you have taught me over the years. Ohh Jim and Jess…thank you so much for what you are doing..for your heart and love! We pray that God blesses you a hundred fold back! 😀
Here’s a quick video showing you what we ate for dinner last night…
I’m really enjoying living back in community. The nice thing about living in Hawaii is we eat all of meals together, outdoors on picnic tables.
The kitchen staff is doing an awesome job of going above and beyond. Every meal is served with a smile and some sort of creative flare. Sometimes it’s a nicely presented scripture verse but last night they kicked it up a notch. The video shows how fun they made serving soft tacos. It put a smile on everyone’s face.
Thank you YWAM Honolulu kitchen staff for going the extra mile and taking pride in your jobs!
Engage: What is the most memorable meal you’ve had and why? Tell us in the comments.
I thought you guys weren’t eating in the kitchen anymore? Did you find that it wasn’t worth it? Tasha, this was posted back in mid April. Eating off base has had its pluses and minuses for sure… if we actually cook its usually more nutrient dense… but its also really easy to go out and eat food thats more expensive and probably worse for you. It also has disconnected us from meal times… I’ve been trying to come and just sit out in the picnic area anyway from time to time. Yeah, that’s why we “supplement” our meals on base. I don’t want to compromise our health especially when our kids are so little and these first few years of their life set the foundation for the rest of their lives. Plus I find I’m hungry all the time days I only eat on base because the food isn’t whole. I know they try and I see that with what they have. We like eating at the picnic takes, too *tables awesome! I’ll see you at the tables this week! We made a pretty awesome vegetable curry two weeks ago in our mini rice cooker and electric skillet Lets schedule an evening where we can make that for you! |
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by Jim Baker
Glad to see you back (even if it’s a bit difficult to get “back into the groove”)!
Blessings,
Anneli
Welcome back to the wagon, keep it up