Summer I love you so much

Weather in Texas usually is killer by this time but let me tell you that God has given us a wonderful string of wet and cool days! I have my windows open and my fan on and it's a nice 75 outside with the sun peeking through my tree outside. I have a feeling that today is going to be a good day. 

My back is doing much better and thanks to a long and fun day out in the sun at Burgers Lake yesterday it is also a little crispy. I'm enjoying a different sensation on my back :). The day out with the youth group yesterday was fantastic! 

  

The rain delayed the plans for the day which is the only downside of the cool wet weather. My little boys all react to the water differently. Creed is slowly becoming a strong swimmer but his eyes are bigger than his swimming stomach? Or something like that. Asher is extremely timid and only feels safe in the water when he feels in control, he has to be able to stand on his own and doesn't want to be touched. The fish is Liam, the problem is he can't swim. Liam has no fear what so ever and probably would have acquired gills by now if we hadn't pulled him out of the water so many times. He just walks in over his head or runs off into the water and no matter how many times he comes up sputtering he does it again. 

Here you can see the boys climbing the tree in the backyard and the neighbor boy is there with them. I love  seeing them outside playing instead of inside vegging. 

Mark, my brother in law who is staying with us, is going through drivers ed and is doing great driving around town. I was teaching him to parallel park and then he drove very nicely back from the park. Then yesterday, he drove all over Duncanville with Diane, from the mall to the Sonic, and this after only driving a couple of times before. He is a natural and a huge help around the house! 

Monday was a great day with the MK group, and Thursday was the outing to the lake and tonight is a game night at my house. I really enjoy getting to see the kids so often and getting to see them randomly at the center pool now that they are out of school (yeah I'm a poet). 

Jamaica is coming soon and I'm really looking forward to getting back and really looking forward to getting some extra time with the MKs that are going this year. I remember watching the NBA finals over there two years ago and taking great joy in watching the Mavericks beat the heat in the home of a Heat fan... Well this year the Heat beat another Texas team and although I'm sad about that outcome I'm really happy for Joel my Jamaican brother! 

Pray! 

Full back movement by the time Jamaica gets hear!  

Praise! 

I thank God for your partnership in my ministry! 

I thank God for the healing that he is doing in my body! 

As I look back on the time since I left my job in faith that God would use you to provide for me, I marvel at how encouraging the journey has been. Thanks for walking faithfully with me during these months and for spreading the word to others. I am overjoyed that I am able to live my dream and do what God has called me to do and none of it is possible without you (still a poet :)! 

Bless you all! 

Caleb 

 If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 4, and Liam 1.

The waves of Life

I am still on my back in the snow with Creed on my chest... wait no um that's the picture, but I am still on my back just hanging out in my living room and thinking about the last two weeks of my life and when all is said and done my heart cries out 'God is Good'. But let me tell you, these two weeks have been difficult. Never before in my life have I had an injury like this one that has sidelined me for so long. I feel like I haven't quite been myself for a very long time and I'm getting used to being the guy that can't walk straight. This last week I have seen the most progress, which is good since I have been going to the chiropractor twice a day for two weeks. In fact, she felt so sorry for me last week that she saw me on her day off to help me get better.

This last week in particular has dealt some hard blows. On Saturday night my computer died, on Monday night my car broke in many expensive ways and after being on my back for so long and feeling frustrated by that it just seemed like a lot of stuff was piling on. The question can be "God what are you doing why his this happening?" but for some reason as I was getting out of my broken car and trying to get into my house with my broken back the cry of my heart was a lyric from a song "you are so good to me, you heal my broken heart... " and I don't know why other then the fact that God really does change our lives when we surrender them to him. The Holy Spirit isn't a joke it's a reality that turns your world upside down and gives you joy when you can't come up with a good reason to have it. 

I am so thankful that right now as I type this, somehow, my car has been fixed and my bank account is okay, my back is feeling much better and I can walk more then twenty feet now without collapsing in agony, my computer was replaced and is working like a dream, but most of all there is a spirit of joy inside me giving me hope for what is to come.

In times like this I'm glad that my friends are much better than Job's friends. They haven't gathered around me and asked me to repent of the sin that caused all this in my life. They have surrounded me with love and grace and lifted my family up when we were in a dark place. Through prayers and encouragement, through sympathy and empathy, and through just the practical willingness to take me to the chiropractor. I am left feeling very grateful for the times I have had with them getting to know them better and learning how to enjoy letting others serve me and my family. We are a body and it is beautiful how we love each other.

Looking  back on this time, and I know it's not quite over yet, I'm so thankful for the things that God has done in my life. He has slowed me down a lot and has changed my perspective. When everything around me was breaking God was merciful and helped me to see the things in this world in their proper place. I was surprised at how calm I was and how much peace I had knowing that all these things would get taken care of. When you can't walk or move so many things seem so small in comparison. I'm also thankful for all the time I have had with my kids. I am really learning to like as well as love my kids. I'm spending lots of time watching shows with them and talking with them and getting to really know them better and I'm really liking it. God has used this time to help me become a more patient man also, as I wait and wait for my body to heal, and as all the things that I used to be able to do so quickly now take me a lot longer.



My job has been interesting of late. I have spent a lot of time preparing for the future lessons that I am going to teach. I have spent a lot of time missing being with the kids and being in my office. I was so thankful to be able to go to MK and was very grateful that months ago I had planned to have a guest speaker for that night so that I didn't have to try and find a way to teach from the floor :). God is good!

In all the times where I have felt the most frustrated and hopeless during this process I have had someone, often my wife, to tell me that things are going to get better and to trust God. I have had lots of things happen that could have been much worse and I have had the joy of living with a gracious community. I am a different person... mainly I feel shorter :) but I know that I am a better person. We have a choice when hard times come our way, we can be formed by them or we can be destroyed by them. I credit your prayers and love in my life as the reason that God is able to use this to form me. Thank you for walking this road with me.

I hope to be back to normal soon! Monday is coming and I would love to be able to teach from a standing position, and then the next day is a big outing. Jamaica is coming next month and I'm really looking forward to it and I want to be in good health to be able to really help out while there.



Speaking of Jamaica there is a man there who lost his job when he lost his leg and our hope is to be able to give him the money to get a new leg. We have started a fund raiser that gets you a cool shirt and as a result some of the money goes to a fund to get him a leg. Here is the link to getting the shirt if you are interested. Just copy it into your browser.

 http://www.customink.com/signup/3bad7sq7?pc=SUS-51098&cm_cat=facebook&cm_ite=3bad7sq7&cm_pla=signup&cm_ven=social

Bless you all!

Caleb the cripple that is slowly being made into superman again Robbins



 If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 4, and Liam 1.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

When times are good be happy and when times are bad consider, God has made the one as well as the other...

Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise, When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord!!!

Well I'm still on my back barely able to walk, basically can't sit down. I'm not in constant pain by any means but I'm tired of not being able to do the simplest thing, like get food for myself or a drink, the main frustration at this point is not being able to help around my house and leaving so much for my wife to do. I'm sure God is doing something and I'm grateful for the health and mobility that I usually have. This has been just about the longest and worst that I've ever had back issues. The Dr. said that I have sciatica and that it takes a while to calm down. So I'm going to work daily on counting my blessings and being still before the Lord as much as I can and trying to learn how to praise him and have joy in this part of my journey.

My pugilist son :) so proud of him!

My wonderful Asher had a birthday this week! He is now four years old and getting closer all the time to graduation... kindergarten graduation that is :). He had such a great day with his dinosaur cake at school and then opening presents at home. It was really fun celebrating with him. Diane does such a good job of making birthdays special.


 


If there was a good time to severely hurt your back I guess now is that time. I don't have a lot going on for the next week, we try and slow down during this time of year so that the kids can focus on finishing up school. Our next meeting is on the tenth. Bob, is going away for most of June and will leave next week sometime and then I will have the reigns. I'm really trusting that my back will have fully recovered by that time.

I'm really looking forward to getting to spend more time with Creed this summer. So far it has been really nice having him around to help me with things around the house, but I'm looking forward to going swimming with him and being able to do things with him that he will really like. I don't get to see him as much during the school year anymore and I'm excited for this time together.

Pray!

My sciatica will go away quickly
My family will have the grace to deal with a hurt dad and husband

Praises!

I praise God for you and your part in making my ministry possible.
I praise God for what he is doing in and around me through this time in my life.

I'm so thankful for friends and family and for the care and concern that has been expressed over my situation.  

A cord of many strands is not easily broken.

I get knocked down... but I get up again.

Bless you all!

Caleb

If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 4, and Liam 1.

I will Boast in my Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Well as many of you already know Monday was a huge success for the pool opening. I’m really glad that we could make it work and didn't try and squeeze it in some other part of the week. I had many fun adventures getting things set up including bringing one of the grills over to the center and having it fly out of the back of the pickup truck. God protected that grill and it still worked by the time we needed it to. Everything went really well, we raised the money we needed to, the pool sold some passes, and the kids bonded while serving the community. The only downside to the whole experience was that my back has been shot ever since.

I took Tuesday off to recover and was very happy to see my cousin David. He was in town with his family for his brother’s graduation. However, Tuesday came and went and my back was only mildly better but then Wednesday came and back to work and sitting and driving and my back regressed slightly. Thursday was Creeds graduation from Kindergarten and just before going over to the ceremony I did some funky stretches that really damaged something in my back. I stood as long as I could before the pain got too bad and I had to walk back to the car to rest. I got to see Creed get his diploma and he got to see me see him so that was good.

Yesterday afternoon I spent most of the day lying down but last night I foolishly moved around too much and this morning when I got up my back was stiff as a board. I barely got the kids to school and now I’m lying on the floor in my office because I can’t sit.

Kelsey is in town for the weekend which is really nice. I look forward to spending some time with her tomorrow. The MKs come over tonight for a game night. That will be really fun! The only problem with so many things in my life right now is my back.

God is good and I’m surrendering this whole thing to him and repenting a lot as my pain brings out the worst in me. I’m looking forward one day to being on the other side of this whole mess. I know God did some healing in me in April when I was visiting a church in Silver City. I’m not sure why this is happening right now but I’m sure that God has a plan for it and I’m grateful to have people like you in my life to help pray me through.

Pray!

That my back will be completely healed!

That I will walk righteously through this time of pain and not take it out on my loved ones.

Praises!

Creed graduated and got the caught being good award for the Month of May!

It’s good to have family around!

For you and how you make my ministry possible!

Thanks for walking this road with me, especially when it’s difficult!

Blessings,

Caleb

 If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 3, and Liam 1. 

Better Late than Never

A Bongo in the hand is worth two in the bush? Or something like that... any way we got a care package from my in laws... yeah go figure, we get care packages from people living in the Solomon Islands, now that means that I have pretty cool in laws... one of the things in the package was a delicacy known as the Bongo. Can't wait to have some... you know a Bongo in time saves nine... or something.

Well I didn't write last week, I was too tired and busy and just wasn't feeling it. But I did get some good stuff done and I'm glad to be in the writers chair now. 

Mothers day was great. Diane and I went to see Iron Man 3 with some good friends and that was a great cap to a wonderful day. I'm so grateful for all the prayers that my parents put out over the years concerning who I would marry someday, God delivered big time! I enjoyed leaving my mothers, who are across the world, a note letting them know how special they are to me... and it was great seeing my boys love on my wife. 

Speaking of mothers across the world, I'm so glad that my mother and father are taking some much needed vacation after having a very stressful evacuation from the war ravaged C.A.R. It is amazing what they have been through and I'm so proud of them and so grateful that God is caring for them and now leading them beside still waters.  

A bullet that made it into my parents house before the evacuation.

This past week was all about getting the rest of the summer planned. Not my forte, but thanks to Bobs guidance I now have contacts with many places around the metroplex to go with the kids this summer. We are going to a Rangers Game, the Rodeo, two water parks, and a myriad of other places. Among other things we also put the finishing touches on the Pool Opening which is supposed to happen later today, and as I'm typing this I'm waiting for the call to come in from Bob on whether or not the weather will permit us to go forward. I hope we can make it a go for today but I trust that Gods timing will be perfect. 

The end of this week got very busy. This is the time of year where most of the Mks that are home schooled are graduating. So I have been to three graduation parties, one of which was for a former colleague of my wife's. Her party was amazing, and about half an hour away, and we were there very late, which was great! Then the next day we had a wedding an hour away. It was fantastic and also kept us out very late, getting up on Saturday for my early morning Men's group was torture. It was like the cartoon where the 'Z' is popped and the character looks like a rung out sponge. Well no worries, the next evening was the combination of a graduation party and my aunt and uncles 40th wedding anniversary. It was great because all these events let me see lots of friends that I don't normally see. It was tough to have it all in a row but that is why God told us to rest on the 7th day. And, boy Sunday was a great day of rest. I enjoyed getting to speak at my Church, and then I took my wife out on a fun date that afternoon. 

Here is Monday and I'm ready for another great week. I just feel so blessed to have this job and to have people like you helping make all this possible. God is so good! 

Pray! 

My goodness it's hard to think of anything... I'm so blessed! Pray for my parents that they regenerate well! 

We are looking into getting windows for our house, pray for wisdom and blessing on the process. 

Praises! 

I praise God for you!!! 

My parents are getting vacation! 

Creed is graduating. 

Summer!!!!!

Bless you all! I really enjoy living in community with you and look forward to how this summer is going to form all of us. Here's a toast to all the graduates "you did it I'm so proud of you and I'm excited to see how you use what God has given you! I'm sure you all are going to make a great impact on this world! Just remember a rolling Bongo gathers no moss." 

Blessings, 

Caleb 

also... A Bongo saved is a Bongo earned :)

 If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 3, and Liam 1. 

If the Shoe fits

Romans 2:4

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

That picture makes me smile so much because I remember when that rose bush was doing it's very best to just push out a leaf or two. After a really rough winter and summer I wondered if it was going to make it.... but look at it now. I think that we can all relate to that rose bush from time to time; we feel like it's all that we can do to just keep on living, and forget about being something special. 

When I got back from Guinea I was thrilled to have had a month of adventures but I was very tired and ready to just live a little. But, I think about that rose bush and that verse and I marvel at my God, the lover of my soul, my good father, and I keep on smiling. He makes all things beautiful in their proper time. 

 

 Wait someone is missing... oh yeah he's in the box... wait no we are all in the box... 


These pictures just prove that I should have invested in less conventional toys and more large boxes for my kids to play with :). 




You guessed it we went to the Austin zoo... and it was fantastic. The kids really had fun running around and feeding animals and I think Liam.... any way, they also really relate to the zoo, as you can see in the picture to the right they are wild animals themselves.




And, it's always nice when your kids make new friends...

So not only was the zoo a very special treat for all of us but at the end of that day we were very pleasantly surprised by a delightful date night. The amazing Sieks sent us to the nicest Theater I have ever been to. It had reclining leather chairs and a menu filled with great food.



The weekend was relaxing and filled with good family time and time with friends. I can't thank the Sieks enough for their hospitality. Another joy was sharing my journey with Rosemary Siek. I have been on many a mission trip to Thailand with Rosemary but to my shame had never shared what I'm doing now with her. It was a God thing and it is very encouraging to have her prayers and support!

Monday came and it was back in the office and me trying to figure out how the shoe fits again. Bob and I ran around getting ready for graduation night, which mostly entailed us hanging decorations... yeah not my forte but Bob is a regular Martha Stewart :). The night went really well because God showed up and stole the show.

If you are interested in hearing my sermon you can click on the link "Caleb's Media" in the upper right corner; I have it posted there along with some other sermons I preached this past year. I also made a slide show of my trip to Guinea and put it there.

The week has flown by like so many weeks seem to do. I am continuing to figure out exactly what my new life means for me and every step along the path I'm finding that the shoe fits really nicely and that the path although narrow is really great because the leader is so kind and faithful. So many new things to do and learn and so many little adventures that spring up.

I enjoyed visiting a girl who will be joining our group this summer, she is finally old enough! yay! I enjoyed running errands, like picking up decorations and graduation gifts. I enjoyed doing a random service project for a valued member of the MK community, and I enjoyed brainstorming for Jamaica and figuring out what to do when the weather doesn't cooperate with our plans.

I'm enjoying feeling like that rose bush, although I may feel that I am barely making it sometimes I know that God is making me grow and turning me as well as you into something beautiful that will bring glory to Him. And, that is what my rose bush does, it grows and produces beautiful roses and a rough summer and winter can't do anything to stop it, and as it brings joy to those who pass it by. Hopefully they, as do I, praise God for his creativity and the beauty that he spreads around our lives, and they remember that He is kind. May his kindness bless you and lead you as it has for me!

Pray!

My back/legs are giving me fits right now...
My wife is in the midst of a very exciting transition, pray for peace and trust in the process.
Mark's play is this weekend, pray it goes really well!
Rest and strength, this is a busy time of year for my family.

Praises!

My back/legs are keeping me very humble... and they could be much worse!
I am so thankful for you! I really love doing what I do and I know that I can only do it because of you!






I see a resemblance! They all make me smile and I think they are all so amazingly Beautiful! Happy Mothers Day my amazing Diane! You are incredible and we are all so lucky to have you! You have raised some incredible vikings, and I praise God for you the best 'rose bush' of us all!



Proverbs 31: 26-28

26She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.28Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Wow Diane, he didn't know he was talking about you, but I'd say he nailed it! 

Blessings to you all!

Caleb


 If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 3, and Liam 1.

Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21


19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

He was a million miles from a million dollars
But you can never spend his wealth

Preacher, Onerepublic

I know I just wrote a blog about my trip to Guinea but for the sake of trying to be consistent I am going to write again today to keep the Friday thing going. This may be very short.
What a week. I'm tired and tired of traveling and I'm just ready to be home and love on my wife and kids and get stuff done around my house and really dig in deep to this amazing calling that God has put on my life. In spite of all that, I am really excited to be going to Austin this weekend to see my dear friends the Sieks and their new grand child. It is like a home away from home.... but it is the last trip I'm planning until Jamaica in July. 




Creed had today off of school so he is with me in the office and let me tell you he is a great kid to have around! I'm enjoying getting to spend some extra time with him and later with the whole family. That is the great thing about road trips, we are all together! 

So why did I title this post Treasure? Good question! That is a theme for me right now! I'm giving the graduation speech this coming Monday and that is what I'm thinking about. 

We need to be the kind of people who are seeking the will and rule of God our father and are more interested in obeying Him than fulfilling our idea of what will make us happy. The truth is that only in obedience to His will can there be any lasting joy for any of us. 

That gets me to the thought of treasure in general. We leave our high school career and start preparing for what we will  do with our lives and we become treasure seekers. What kind of treasure are you seeking and where are you planning on storing it? When I was 13 most of my earthly treasures were looted and lost due to civil war in Congo... it was hard, but when I look back it was one of the best things that ever happened to me as a teenager. 

We need things to happen to us that will rip this earthly mindset out of us and get us focused on the treasure that lasts forever. 

Where is your heart? 

But when I leave I want to go out like Elijah 
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire 
And when I look back on the stars 
It'll be like a candlelight in Central Park 
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye 

Elijah, Rich Mullins

And when my body lies in the ruins 
Of the lies that nearly ruined me 
Will You pick up the pieces 
That were pure and true 
And breathe Your life into them 
And set them free? 
And when You blast this cosmos 
To kingdom come 
When those jagged-edged mountains 
I love are gone 
When the sky is crossed with the tears 
Of a thousand falling suns 
As they crash into the sea 
Can I be with you? 
Can I be with you?

Be with You, Rich Mullins

That is my goal, to make that my hearts cry... to be with You!

Praises!

Great week back at work! And I'm still healthy, no malaria, so take that pharmacy and your expensive medicine! 

So thankful for you and all your prayers and donations! I'm living my dream and God is using you powerfully in my life and I praise him and thank him for you!

We are going to be caring for Mark for the next two years!

Pray!

I'm tired and don't quite feel like myself. 

For my family as we finish up the school year and get through May. 

We are going to be caring for Mark for the next two years!

My support has come in really well so far and I'm thankful to all of you who have joined me in this adventure.  I am getting close to 90% of what I need promised monthly and thanks to one time gifts I have yet to be under 100%! God is good all the time! Thanks for helping me and for praying for me and for partnering in God's work. I couldn't do any of this without you! 

Seek Him, 

Blessings, 

Caleb

 If you want to support what I do a little or a lot, on a one time basis or a recurring basis, click on the tab "Supporting the Work" at the top of the page and search for Caleb Robbins and then click on Caleb and Diane Robbins. Diane is my beautiful wife and the mother of my three precious children Creed 6, Asher 3, and Liam 1.