The man who owns this land I do not know,

But down this path I’ve seen him go.

Here’s his flowers and there’s his trees.

No greater beauty has ever grown.

Yet this owner is just a man,

One of many to possess this land.

What man calls owning is but a lease,

Merely borrowing from divine hand.

The one who owns is the one who made.

Flowers and trees, he spoke, he laid.

In their place one story they tell,

Power and glory, divine displayed.

This first week in Montana has flown by. Everyone here has shared their testimony and we’ve really grown close as a group. Working at the Hilton and hiking together with others has brought me much closer to a few people specifically.

Although work is fun it’s pretty hard work. I never realized how intense housekeeping could be. We’re budgeted 30 minutes to clean each room. Sometimes it takes a third of that time just to pick up the guest’s trash! I’m learning how to move faster though. Also I’m learning how to clean, make beds, and fancily fold towels.

I spent my two off days this week (Monday and Tuesday) hiking. I made videos of the two hikes because I know I could never describe how beautiful it all is.

Monday hike:

Tuesday hike:

I took tons of photos too but that’ll take a while to go through.

As far as discipleship goes, I’m learning so much from our mentors and the...

Today, Marcus (my roommate) and I, finding ourselves awake pretty early, decided to take a walk around the campus. From what I can tell both the campus and Bozeman itself are very pretty. On our walk I saw this really pretty flower patch. It looks so natural too.

I took some other pictures around campus. They have an odd combination of really old and traditional style buildings and really modern ones.

I also took a selfie with their mascot cat statue thing. He was smiling pretty big too.

Also, through the buildings of the school you can see some of the many mountains surrounding Bozeman.

This was only the beginning of the day though. The day turned out to be a day of sitting, listening, and learning. Dick and Joy Schroeder went over house rules and how we should conduct ourselves. After that they got into how we should be acting toward one another in Christ.

They...

The flights from Alexandria to Dallas to Seattle to Bozeman were all good. There were no issues and all went as planned. The flight from Seattle to Bozeman was beautiful. We passed over some small range of mountains, but I’m not sure which ones. The covering of clouds across the sky was so pretty.

At the Bozeman baggage claim were Mr. Dick Schroeder and a few other Summer Job Project participants. I got to meet most everyone tonight. I’m really enjoying it so far. Everyone here is a joy to be around.

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Can’t believe I’m heading off tomorrow morning for Montana. I’m excited and also a bit nervous. I know it’ll be fun though. I searched “Montana” on imgur and this was the first result. Not a bit disappointed.

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Whose woods these are I do not know,

But his traces reveal him so.

Not of the owner do I speak,

For up from childhood did we grow.

The true owner I count him not,

For many men have owned this spot.

To call a thing “mine” is but a lie.

Our possessions outlive us lots.

Across each person it does span,

This lie itself, same age as land.

Blind we toil as slaves to this lie.

The rights of earth transcend all man.

Cursed was man, all hope was lost, ‘til one cursed himself on that wretched cross. He partook of flesh and blood, to receive in our place the wrath of God.

“Cursed Was Man”, Landon Lingenfelter

The above lines are from a song my friend Landon wrote. The entire song is built on Hebrews 10, which compares Old Testament sacrifices to the final sacrifice of Christ.

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God..

Hebrews 10:11-12

We cannot remind ourselves enough of this central theme of God’s Word. Christ stands in our place as the spotless Lamb of God. Our sins have been forgiven and our relationship with God has been repaired by Christ. Praise the Lord that we have been saved by Him!

A few verses later...

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:16-18

Guys, don’t forget to give thanks to God. God has given us so much that sometimes we become numb to his blessings. James writes that we shouldn’t overlook even the smallest gifts from God. He calls God “Father of lights”, referring to the stars in the sky. Even those are a blessing. So is the rest of nature, and our friendships - even school. For all these things we should be thankful.

After reminding us that God is the source of all good things, he mentions the best thing that God has given us. That is, salvation. That last sentence in the verse above should excite us...