Day 9, Hitting the western outskirts of Phoenix

  Well, another day of riding under my belt and find myself just a little ways outside of Phoenix. Had a good ride. Was able to go 46.2 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes at an average speed of 18.4 mph. I am just west of a little town of Palo Verde. I am hoping to make it to the Mesa area tomorrow and well east of the greater Phoenix area on Thursday, Lord willing. Would love to hear from anyone who lives in those areas. What a day though. It was suppose to get up to the mid to high 60's today after a cool start of around 47 degrees early. It is far warmer in good ol' Ohio than Arizona. But the Arizona sunshine is beautiful and the temperature is great for riding.
So Phil. 3:14 talks about a goal, about a prize, and finally about a call. I told you yesterday I was going to tell you a story about me. When I was jsu a little boy; I think around 6, I wondered away from my parents who were visiting my grandparents at my grandfather's orchard. That was not all that uncommon for me to go wandering. I always liked knowing what was around the next bend. My grandfather had two large dogs back then that went with me and after an hour or so of this little guy walking through the orchard I came to a thick woods and started into it. Well, it began to get dark, especially the further into the woods I went, with the two dogs following right with me. I went through an area of thick briars and in the darkened woods could know longer find my way out (remember I was only six). There I stood, 0ne dog on each side of me, and waited. I usually did not panic in these times. I just knew that sooner or later someone would find me, so I waited and waited. The dogs probably could have left me behind any time they wanted, but they stayed right with me which I was so very thankful for. What seemed like hours later, I heard a voice. It was my grandfather. It was in the distance at first, then closer and closer. I began to call back and the dogs both began to bark making it fairly easy to locate this stranded trio, even in the dark. But it was that voice, the familiar voice of my grandfather. I had waited to hear a voice that I would know was one of my rescuers. That voice meant I would be on my way home.
One day, each of us who know Christ as our Lord and Savior will one day hear a voice that should be very familiar to us. The voice of "our shepherd." In John 10, Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice." So we should recognize that voice very well. See, the day will come when there is a call. It will be an upward call coming from God. When it comes, 1Thessalonians 4 tells us, "Therefore shall we ever be with the Lord." So, it is a one time call, which will have eternal results. I can still remember my grandfather's voice breaking through the night air and being so excited about knowing he had come for me. What will that call really be like? I sure look forward to it.
Please pray for me as I continue my ride across our land and please pray how you might be able to help us to come up with the funding we need for the purchase of the lodge in Canada which would increase our opportunity to impact many more lives for Christ. Talk to you tomorrow.