I am taking off for Michigan after our morning assembly. I am attending Rochester College’s Sermon Seminar, organized and directed by David Fleer. It is a wonderful event. I will be in Michigan until Wednesday night, and then I head for Alabama, along with Kedra, Rebecca, and Ben for Memorial Day. SO I am not preaching next week, SO that means I don’t have a text for us to talk about, SO let’s just talk about whatever you want. I should be able to read/post from Michigan and Alabama, but I’m not sure how often. I guess it depends on how much fun I have or how much excitement I want to share.
What’s on your mind this week?
About Me
- Allen
- Mitchell, Indiana, United States
- I love my family, and I enjoy what I do. I am in my 18th year with the Mitchell Church of Christ. I am an endurance athlete. The parallels between endurance athletics and ministry are remarkable. They are mutually beneficial.
The Holy Trinity
My favorite Icon (see link below for more information)
19 comments:
The church received some exciting mail on Friday. It was informed that our Lilly Grant application, which will allow me to have a sabbatical, was successful. Rest and travel are in my future. Yippee!
Dear Allen and Kedra,
what blessing, time to refresh and renew, time to travel and see old friends. I am so happy for you both! Thank God for His blessings. And also congratualtions on ten years of teaching by shepherding. What beautiful examples--now you will go to New Zealand where the sheeps abound...Allen, welcome to Michigan
Well Today I went to the house of prayer for church. At first I didnt think I would like it (I'm not use to hanging around a bunch of motorcycle christians) but it turned out really great. The music was wonderful, a change from what I'm use to and the preacher, (Darren Burton)boy did he feed me steak and gravy. The topic was about eagles and how they soar through storms and how we are to be like them. He had me laughing when he talked about chickens flapping their wings and going no where but the eagle, when they flap their wings, they are off on a mission. Ever since I've gotten this job, I have found some new christian friends who loves talking about the Lord. I believe we talk more at work then we work and it is great knowing God is in there. I am happy working at Liner Pro and every day I look forward into going to work. well I have to go to work. talk to you later.
Thanks for the kind words, Jillena.
Gino, I would love to go to the “biker church” sometime, but I am usually busy on Sundays.
Well, I made it to Michigan. Uneventful trip. I listened to a lot of radio, trying to take in all the different kinds of music. Wow, there’s a lot of stuff out there. I enjoyed a really old song, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside;” it’s the one where a man and woman sing to each other. It’s pretty clever actually. Contrast that to the country song that talks about checking for ticks. I laughed. I can envision redneck guys, sans a full set of teeth, using that line in bars all across the country late on Saturday nights.
I stopped just south of Toledo and ate at a Cracker Barrel. I took a book with me to read. The older gentleman who sat me obviously took note of the book. He took me to a table by the window and said, “There will be more light for you here.” I thought that was a nice simple gesture of consideration and kindness. Ate the usual: Country Dinner plate with barbecue, corn, green beans, and butter milk biscuits.
Just south of the Cracker Barrel is a huge Islamic Center. The minarets and the dome certainly catch the eye. Looking at it made me feel strange.
When I arrived at Rochester College I saw an old friend from ACU. We chatted a little while. It was nice to see him. I am now settled into my room. My room mate for the next 3 days is going to be Gregg Marutsky, my best ACU friend. He just graduated with his doctorate last week. He is flying in in the morning. He lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
I have been following the politics and culture of Turkey for several months. Now that it looks like I will get to go there, I am following even more closely. HERE is a fairly good (and short) summary of the political situation.
OK, bedtime.
More tomorrow...
Gino and Bikes: What a great experience for you! They had the "blessing of the Bikes" up here yesterday. They had film of the bikers bowed reverently in prayer on this morning's news. Most o fthe biker's I have met--contrary to the old definitions of them--have been very spiritual folks. It's humbling to think how often my own stereotypes might get in the way of knowing strong christians.
Allen and biscuits:I'm so struck by the server's gesture to place you where you could have more light. I sometimes suspect that the direction given to servers for loners with books is "get them in, get them out, they're bad for business." Anyway, light and The Word have been around since before biscuits and pancakes...
I did some spring cleaning yesterday and came across my favorite quote by Thomas Merton, written in the front cover a book I got at my first writer's retreat in New Harmony, Indiana a few years ago. I'm hoping to go back to that peaceful little town this summer. I find alot to challenge me and comfort me in the words, so I thought I would share it:
As long as we are on the earth, the love that unites us will bring us suffering by our very contact with one another because this love is a resetting of a body of broken bones--even saints cannot live with saints on this earth without some anguish, without some pain of the differences that come between them. There are two things men can do about the pain of disunion with other men--they can love or they can hate. Hatred recoils from the sacrifice and sorrow that are the price of resetting the bones--it refuses the pain of union.
My conference doesn’t start until midday, so I am really enjoying a morning to relax and “be still.” I am going to go for a run after while, when it warms up some. It was mid 30's when I got up. It’s getting close to 40 now, so it’s going in the right direction.
Last Saturday, Tony and I ran a half marathon (13.1 miles) on trails. That’s quite a different experience from the road! A lot of the course was single track, meaning that the course is only wide enough for one person at a time. This was a little frustrating for the first mile or two, but after that everybody spread out. Tony fell down early and jammed his thumb. I fell down really hard with one mile to go, but I can’t find any damage so far. I really enjoy the trail races. There is a more relaxed atmosphere, and the scenery is amazing. Of course most of the time you are watching for roots and rocks, but you can still see quite a bit.
Allen.......congrats on your great news, I am very excited for you and your family........you know I am a great proponent for sabatical/vacation time :o). Bob and I just returned from our vacation in the Dominican Republic. It was so beautiful there and the people are very religious, 95% of the population is catholic, most of the rest is pentecostal with a few other religions thrown in including some not so Godly!!
I have been trying to catch up on the blog this morning. I always enjoy reading other peoples comments. Congrats also to Gino and to Ashley. Happy belated birthday Rebecca!
Diane
Well today was such a wonderful day for me. Last night while at work, one of the guys had locked his girlfriend (who happen to be marry) keys in the car and had a hard time getting the door unlocked (eventually done). He kept talking about how the rest of his day was going to be mess up and someone told him as long as you are sleeping with a married woman, your days are going to always suck (laughing). Well another guy started talking about how his day was going to be bad because his uncle had a heart attack and how close they were. I told him not to speak negative like that because when you speak it, it will happened. Well of course this morning, the devil tried his hand in seeing if I could pass the negative attitude test. I wasnt half way down the block when I get pulled over by a police officer because I did not have my lights on. Well when they ran my car in, comes to find out, I have a suspended license claiming that I failed to appear in court in June 2006. Since I did not have the full amount to pay the ticket the judge gave me an extra two weeks to come up with the rest of the money. I paid the rest of the ticket fine in one week. The officer said that this happens all the time and that I needed to call them and let them know that I had already paid. But in the mean time, I cannot drive to work. The associate pastor is going to give me a ride to work tonight and I will have to call down to GA tomorrow since the office was close today and get things straighten out. Lucky for me the officer let me drive home but warned me that if I get pulled over again, there is a chance the next officer would take the car. On the way home, my hood came flying up in the middle of 37 and I kept telling the devil, I know what you are trying to do, but it is not going to work. Since I cant drive the car until I get this straighten out, I will take the car in tomorrow for a checkup. either that or shoot the dang thing. I tell people the car is curse. One day after work I came outside to go home and there were bird dropping all over the car. Not one car around me was touched. If that isnt cursed I don't know what is. I have been through some tests with that car and so far I have kept my cool. Well the good news is that I did not get a ticket for not having my lights on. I guess after looking at Old Betsy, the cop felt sorry for me. At least God was there because in truth, if the wrong cop would have came along, my car would have been down at the impound collecting dust. Yes I am laughing as I am typing this blog because it is funny. I have not gotten frustrated with the car but I have had my words with the devil. Don't believe me! ask Allen. We both have made some jokes about old Betsy. well I need to get ready for work. If anyone has a good shotgun that will put an 1984 Camaro out of her misery, can I borrow it, cause if I dont kill it, it will surely put me in the nut house.
Hey Allen, the House of Prayer has church on Thursday starting at 7 PM.
It’s been a good day up here at Rochester College. Many of my friends and colleagues from ACU are here, including Charles Siburt who recruited me to attend ACU. I have had several good chats with old and new friends. Got to speak with David Fleer for a while. I am so excited that he is going to Lipscomb. He is moving the Sermon Seminar with him; that’s great!
I got hear several hours of lectures about John’s gospel. Wonderfu stuff. David Fleer was simply amazing this morning, and Gail O’Day presented some things tonight that were refreshing. She talked about two friendship motifs in the Gospel of John that serves as interpretive keys: friends lay down their lives for each other and friends speak plainly and openly. These motifs, present throughout the gospel, were common in the first century and even date back to Plato and Aristotle. Jesus was clearly picking up on current thought and demonstrating it in his own life. It is a striking contrast with our concept of frienship. I can’t come close to explaining it right now, but it was pretty stimulating stuff.
Tom Olbricht, an older scholar who has taught at Penn State, ACU, and Pepperdine, presented a paper on the power of words in John’s gospel. Words usually precede the miracles and actually cause the miracle (sign) to happen. Check it out. The think that struck me about Olbricht is his authenticity. He welled up with tears a couple of times, deeply moved by the words of John. It was powerful stuff.
OK, my brain is full and I am tired. Good night, and I love you.
We love you too Allen!
Congratulations!! I am so happy for you, that sounds so exciting. We'll miss all of you though.
Annette
Okay, I have a MAN question I need answered.
Yesterday I bought, for the first time in my life, a whole set of new tires. When I went to tiemans they told me they didn't think they made my size/tread tires anymore. So they didn't have my size new or used. I really didn't like the price or the lumpier ride they said I would get with knobby tires, which was my only option or so I thought. They tried to see if they had a larger size tire (used) that would work and could only find two of any one kind. I said guys! I have to go to work and I can't drive my truck the way it is (I busted a metal thing within a tire and the truck was rocking back and forth so bad you could hardly drive and I also had a big buldge-is that a word?- coming off of another tire) do you have any tires that will fit my truck? They said yes, (finally), if you want to go to a size that was probably the original size that came with the truck. Why is it so hard to talk to men about men things? Anyway they had a new set of tires that they put on my truck. While they were putting them on they told me I would get better gas mileage and would have more power with the smaller tires. Which sure turned out to be true. It rides so much better now.
But here's my question (finally-ha ha- owed you one!) how fast am I going? I couldn't tell by the other traffic how fast I was going. When Brent jacked the truck up and put the big tires on it did he adjust something to make the speed correct? If not, then am I going faster than before or slower? Is the speed correct now or not? I don't want to find out by the po po so can anyone answer this question?
Thanks, Annette
Hey Annette,
I talked to John and he said one of the first things you need to do is ask Brent if he changed the speedomoter when he put the bigger tires on. If he DIDN'T change the speedomoter then your speed should be pretty accurate now (unless it is messed up somehow). The reason is...when you put bigger tires on a vehicle then you will actually be going slower than what your speedomoter shows...I hope this helps and makes sense. If you have any questions then give me a yell and I will try to better explain myself. Hope you have a good day!!!
Melissa
Warning to all first time ticket holders for any speeding violations. After paying for your ticket make sure you take the yellow slip and the pink slip down to the DMV because if you don't it is going to cost you a boot leg of money to get your license back (laughing). Well work last night was wonderful once again. I am now a professional tie tier. I got the opportunity of tying four rope ties last night and even though it took me three days to get it, I finally got it (So Lester, I can tie my own tie now). Well I must go for now, I need my beauty sleep, and Allen if you make any comments about the beauty sleep, and you know what I am talking about, we are putting on the gloves. One more thing before I go, a topic that was talked about last night at work was dealing with a rebellious child. My question is this because someone got really offended when I told him that I once slapped a teen for spitting in my face. What would you do if a teenager was to spit in your face? the guy said that I should have turned the other cheek. A couple of the guys agree with him but a high majority of the guys said they would have done the same thing I did. I ask the guy if a teen was to slap you in your face what would you have done and he said that he would have spanked him but slapping a child in his face is a form of abuse. I couldnt really argue with him because I don't know if that would be considered child abuse cause I know when I was a kid, parents were known for belting a kid across the mouth when he/she got out of line. tell me what you think and please don't ask me, well what would Christ do about it because we know what Christ says about dealing with a rebellious child.
Thanks Melissa, I think I understand perfectly.
My grandchild was just in a car accident by mitchell high school. All are being taken to oc hospital in paoli. The baby and her cousin seem just fine but the driver and mommy have some hurts. Will update you later.
Annette
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Ok, i know i am a real geek but if you go to this website it actually has a graphic that shows you the difference in the speedometer readings between tire sizes. (please someone tell me they think this is a cool as i do)
annette, hope all turns out with the family and the accident.
gino, you are kiling me man.
allen, hope you enjoy the time away and study.
RR
Gino, congrats on the tie tying.
Annette, Brent did not (if I remember correctly) adjust the speedometer. Therefore, you are now traveling a speed much closer to what the speedometer indicates. With the old tires, 60 on the speedometer was no slower than 65. Now 60=60 (approx). So now you are traveling "slower" than you were before...or more accurately stated: you can now rely on the speedometer.
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