Not every Trailhead student is the same. In fact, to say that there is diversity in this group is a major understatement. The needs of the students are drastically different, as are their preferences. This means that the program will always be stretching someone, even when others are right in their comfort zone.

For the first month, Trailhead was a hodgepodge of random events and experiences. The schedule was different every week and there were cries for "structure!" from the ranks. October has been the opposite. We have been in class daily, and the routine has been so... "structured" that some are finding it monotonous. I suppose if we keep changing the pace now and then, we will keep everybody guessing. What I do know is that Dr. Hayden has been a blessing, and the students seem to appreciate his unique ability to bring huge amounts of information and knowledge down to a level that is attainable for them.

One more week with Dr. Hayden.  No canoe pics this time so a baby pic will have to do.

   
Charlie is gearing up for the big packer game. He has never seen them lose. Hopefully he never will.

 Did God write the Bible?

Can you think of a question with more implications in your life? From work decisions to moral choices, to financial decisions, all of life is impacted by how you answer this question. That is why we are so glad to have Dr. Dan Hayden with us this week.

Classes have discussed the reliability and history of the Bible. What does it say about itself? What impact has it made on the world? How does fulfilled prophecy add to our confidence? What about Archeology? Who put the whole thing together? These are just a few of the questions already dealt with in this first of three weeks with Dan. We are so grateful that he is willing to bless us with his teaching.

 The canoe is coming along slowly but surely. We are excited as the hull is beginning to reveal the canoe's final shape. This thing is a monster! The men are still leading the way on this project, though I still hold out hope that the ladies will catch a vision for this at some stage!

Jesse looks over their work

A couple more pictures of our little guy!

             Train up a child in the way that he should go.... Showing Charlie how to be a Packer fan!

Enjoying this rich blessing and learning to live on no sleep!

He is here!

After five years of childless marriage, God chose the first semester of the first Traihead year to bless our family with a new little man. We are grateful! Please continue to pray as we learn how to care for him and balance this new blessed responsibility to those we are already carrying.

His name is Charlie Schaeffer Jacobson and he was born Thursday at 8:46 am. He was 8lbs 15oz at birth! Mom his doing well and impressed the nurses with her upbeat attitude even during labor. I have a great wife and little Charlie will have a great mother!

On the Trailhead front, We have just finished a week it the apologist Reuben David. He did a great job of introducing the big questions of life, and revealing the Christian approach to answering them. Dr. Dan Hayden arrives on Sunday, and will be here for three weeks.

This is a great privilege for us. Dr. Hayden always does such a tremendous job of teaching these subjects. You can read about his book Did God Write the Bible? here :http://www.awordfromtheword.org/did-god-write-the-bible 


                                              

For any Trailhead parents who are interested in following the program, we have just launched an "official" Trailhead blog on the CFS website. You can find it here: http://www.campforestsprings.org/trailhead/blog

I will continue to post here as I have been, and this blog will probably be updated more often, but that blog may have additional specific information about the Trailhead program.

Still no baby news...

Canoe update! The guys are doing a great job, and really seem to be getting into the project. We are still working on the girls :)

Once again, this is HALF of the canoe. The two halves will be joined at a center bulkhead (far right in top picture). The canoe should be able to handle about 15 people and have a total length of about 33 feet!

Everyone made it through the Desiring God conference safe and sound. It was great to hear their reflections as they each brought something different away from the experience. Each speaker was unique and some definitely taught closer to "their level" than others, but the student all did a great job. They have each chosen one additional CS Lewis book to read during October. I look forward to hearing their reports in November. the lectures from the DG conference are available at www.desiringgod.org.

SORRY. NO BABY NEWS YET!

This week will be odds and ends, but next week we will have our first guest lecturer. Reuben David is Christian apologist and speaker. He will be with us for three days, and will teach two classes each day. This will be a great opportunity for the students to ask their toughest questions and reflect on the unique challenge of presenting Christ in this culture. See his web page here:  http://www.reubendavid.com/

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 (focused on students… all other staff and guests welcome)

9:00 a.m. – Faith and Reason: Is Christianity compatible with science?         

1:00 p.m. – A Case for Absolute Truth  

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 (focused on students… all other staff and guests welcome)

9:00 a.m. – The Pursuit of God

Finding your identity, acceptance and significance in Christ

1:00 p.m. – Jesus in the mall of gods

Exploring the uniqueness of Jesus among world religions

THURSDAY, OCTOBER  10 – For all staff

9:00 a.m. – The world of worldviews: What is it and why should it matter?

             1:00 p.m. – "Multiculturalism and Christianity"

“Reuben David was a visiting scholar with the Wilberforce Forum for nearly 2 years.  We respect him and appreciate him and his keen mind.  He has a broad knowledge of international culture and world religions and is an articulate defender of Christian faith”— Charles Colson, Prison Fellowship