One day we spent down by the Ohio River across from Louisville and took the opportunity to divide into groups for a time of bible study and devotions. Here is Shawna and Karrah sharing and studying together.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Devotions at the River
One day we spent down by the Ohio River across from Louisville and took the opportunity to divide into groups for a time of bible study and devotions. Here is Shawna and Karrah sharing and studying together.
Conner Prairie
This is the group at Conner Prairie which is a living historical museum. We visited the villages that make up Conner Prairie and span about 100 years of development. The folks in period dress only talk to you as though it is still the 19th Century.
IYC Nashvill Trip Summer of 2004
These are not from this summer but from last summer. I found a few of our IYC trip to Nashville last summer. This one is Jonathan, Sharron and Karrah at the Indianapolis 500 Museum. The other is a shot of the girls as they gather outside the museum. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Without Traffic
We traveled through Atlanta last night. There was hardly anyone on the road. We passed construction sites without any slowing down (other than the speed limit). Of course, we were driving through Atlanta at 1:00 in the morning! What a difference from trying to do the same during the day. Bumper to bumper traffic. Slow downs at most entrance points to the highway as incoming traffic congested the already congested lanes. What took us less than an hour last night would have taken us anywhere from 1-2 hours during the day.
I wonder if this is what Jesus meant when he talked about taking the high road, the one less traveled, the road to righteousness. It is not as crowded as the one that leads to destruction. There are fewer people merging onto it from their former lives. The road of sin seems to be the "right" road because it is so heavily traveled. But after going through Atlanta at night I can assure you that it is a much nicer drive when the road is less traveled and not nearly as crowded. No road rage, no near accidents, no quickly putting on the brakes - just a smooth ride to get you to your destination.
What road have you been traveling on? If you find yourself on the road of sin you will rarely find yourself alone. You will take consolation in the fact that you are one of many. It will seem to affirm the path you are on. You may not like traffic but there is something affirming in it (Maybe that's why Eve ate the apple and wanted Adam to eat some, too. Maybe that's why Adam ate what Eve offered - sharing in sin affirms that you should be in sin). If you have not been traveling on the road of righteousness you may want to give it a try. Ask Christ to put you on His road. It's not as crowded but the destination is much better.
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
I wonder if this is what Jesus meant when he talked about taking the high road, the one less traveled, the road to righteousness. It is not as crowded as the one that leads to destruction. There are fewer people merging onto it from their former lives. The road of sin seems to be the "right" road because it is so heavily traveled. But after going through Atlanta at night I can assure you that it is a much nicer drive when the road is less traveled and not nearly as crowded. No road rage, no near accidents, no quickly putting on the brakes - just a smooth ride to get you to your destination.
What road have you been traveling on? If you find yourself on the road of sin you will rarely find yourself alone. You will take consolation in the fact that you are one of many. It will seem to affirm the path you are on. You may not like traffic but there is something affirming in it (Maybe that's why Eve ate the apple and wanted Adam to eat some, too. Maybe that's why Adam ate what Eve offered - sharing in sin affirms that you should be in sin). If you have not been traveling on the road of righteousness you may want to give it a try. Ask Christ to put you on His road. It's not as crowded but the destination is much better.
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Another Moving Day
Well, the sabbatical is moving toward the halfway point and tomorrow represents another moving day in our vagabond existence. We will be leaving Florida for a trip back to Indiana. It has been so nice to be here. Dad and Tina are incredible hosts and we have felt like we were home, not visiting. Dad has lived in this home for over 25 years and it is the only home the boys have ever known for him. It is the place where Joanie and I intend to retire. It feels like home in so many ways. The folks here in Tampa are wonderful for us. We gathered with 5 other couples and some of their grown children to watch "The Blue Collar Comedy Tour II" the other night. It was a lot of fun. They are so generous to include us. Several of them are going on a cruise for their 50th birthday and Joanie and I are just on the north side of 50, so it is a nice group to relate to.
We will probably head north and take our time. We don't have to be in Anderson until Friday so there is no great rush. Eric and Lisa have offered their home to us at any point this summer. We have already spent several days with them and will probably do it again on the way back. It will be great to see the boys again. They are spending some significant time together this month, realizing that they will not be able to do this after they both tie the knot. Can I tell you what a joy it is to have your children love each other as much as Doug, Jonathan and Joel all do. I am so blessed.
I talked to folks at Fresno yesterday and today. I heard Bob Liddell did a great job preaching last week. That a boy Bob! I hear Filer is doing a bang up job too. What a blessing to have such wonderful men in the congregation who are following God's call. Talked to Doyle, Sharron, Jason, Shy, and Lisa over the last couple of days. What a great team! Thanks, guys, for all you do and for who you are. I love you all.
Well, I will write again on the way to Indiana. Special hellos to Bill and Ryan who are coming home for some R&R. Wish I could be there. Special thanks to Missy who is so faithful at reading this blog and replying to it. Love ya, gal! Bye for now.
PJ
We will probably head north and take our time. We don't have to be in Anderson until Friday so there is no great rush. Eric and Lisa have offered their home to us at any point this summer. We have already spent several days with them and will probably do it again on the way back. It will be great to see the boys again. They are spending some significant time together this month, realizing that they will not be able to do this after they both tie the knot. Can I tell you what a joy it is to have your children love each other as much as Doug, Jonathan and Joel all do. I am so blessed.
I talked to folks at Fresno yesterday and today. I heard Bob Liddell did a great job preaching last week. That a boy Bob! I hear Filer is doing a bang up job too. What a blessing to have such wonderful men in the congregation who are following God's call. Talked to Doyle, Sharron, Jason, Shy, and Lisa over the last couple of days. What a great team! Thanks, guys, for all you do and for who you are. I love you all.
Well, I will write again on the way to Indiana. Special hellos to Bill and Ryan who are coming home for some R&R. Wish I could be there. Special thanks to Missy who is so faithful at reading this blog and replying to it. Love ya, gal! Bye for now.
PJ
Sunday, June 19, 2005
The Healing Balm
I love to laugh. Surely this comes as no surprise to most anyone who knows me. When my son, Joel, was in High School his friends in the Drama Department always loved when I showed up for a performance. I was a one man audience. One young man, Ray Cooper, called me the "Happy Laughing Man". My laugh is loud, it is an outburst, and it is ongoing. I love to laugh. After church today we went to lunch with the pastor of the church we attended (Tom Bates and his wife Carole). We have been friends for years. It is a friendship I have always enjoyed and cherished. Over lunch we told stories and laughed. And then we laughed some more.
On the other hand, I spent some time on the phone with some of the members of the Church Pastoral Team back in Fresno. We talked of our lives and they shared some of the issues of concern that always take place in a church setting. It is the first time I've called the staff and asked about church concerns since I left Fresno nearly 7 weeks ago. (Aren't you proud of me?) I noticed that there was a lack of laughter as we talked about issues. Things became more serious. I understood why it was so, but it was in such contrast to the laughter at lunch. And so, I began to wonder if we laugh enough. And my answer is, no.
We see the serious side of life all too easily. The drama of living is always there. There are so many things about life that aren't funny and there is nothing to laugh at or about. However, as I have been reading the Bible this summer (and yes, I have been reading and praying) I cannot help but notice the emphasis on parties that are all over the Word. In the O.T. there are festivals, feasts, and special celebrations. In the Gospels Jesus spends so much time with the non-Pharisaical class eating and celebrating that they begin to question his sobriety and spiritual discipline. I don't know how you imagine Jesus but I am pretty sure he had a hearty laugh.
Working with people will either make you sour or cause you to laugh. I don't think Jesus was a sour man so, therefore, he must have had a great sense of humor. I think some of the campfires that he shared with the disciples were full of laughter. I am convinced that if we are to be like Jesus we have to learn how to laugh a little more. I know, the Cross wasn't funny and neither were the floggings. But Palm Sunday sure seems to be a blast and I think some of the times in Mary, Martha and Lazarus' house must have been a real hoot. We have to learn to laugh more. The saddest people I know are the ones who have allowed the pain of life to crowd in so far that they can't see the laughter for the tears.
Folks, laugh more. Not at people but with people. Experience more joy (You may have to turn off the news and cancel the paper but that might not be all bad). In the past 7 weeks I have experienced a real healing balm. I have laughed more than I have cried; chuckled more than I have been frustrated; guffawed more than I have been sad. If you are hurting, laugh some more. It truly is God's healing balm.
On the other hand, I spent some time on the phone with some of the members of the Church Pastoral Team back in Fresno. We talked of our lives and they shared some of the issues of concern that always take place in a church setting. It is the first time I've called the staff and asked about church concerns since I left Fresno nearly 7 weeks ago. (Aren't you proud of me?) I noticed that there was a lack of laughter as we talked about issues. Things became more serious. I understood why it was so, but it was in such contrast to the laughter at lunch. And so, I began to wonder if we laugh enough. And my answer is, no.
We see the serious side of life all too easily. The drama of living is always there. There are so many things about life that aren't funny and there is nothing to laugh at or about. However, as I have been reading the Bible this summer (and yes, I have been reading and praying) I cannot help but notice the emphasis on parties that are all over the Word. In the O.T. there are festivals, feasts, and special celebrations. In the Gospels Jesus spends so much time with the non-Pharisaical class eating and celebrating that they begin to question his sobriety and spiritual discipline. I don't know how you imagine Jesus but I am pretty sure he had a hearty laugh.
Working with people will either make you sour or cause you to laugh. I don't think Jesus was a sour man so, therefore, he must have had a great sense of humor. I think some of the campfires that he shared with the disciples were full of laughter. I am convinced that if we are to be like Jesus we have to learn how to laugh a little more. I know, the Cross wasn't funny and neither were the floggings. But Palm Sunday sure seems to be a blast and I think some of the times in Mary, Martha and Lazarus' house must have been a real hoot. We have to learn to laugh more. The saddest people I know are the ones who have allowed the pain of life to crowd in so far that they can't see the laughter for the tears.
Folks, laugh more. Not at people but with people. Experience more joy (You may have to turn off the news and cancel the paper but that might not be all bad). In the past 7 weeks I have experienced a real healing balm. I have laughed more than I have cried; chuckled more than I have been frustrated; guffawed more than I have been sad. If you are hurting, laugh some more. It truly is God's healing balm.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Making Holes into Wholes
I have been faithfully writing this summer. I am nearly finished with two chapters of my book. As I was writing tonight I spent some time reflecting about a statement that the late Dr. Samuel Hines once said. In sermon development you should "turn your holes to wholes". When he said that he was talking to preachers about preaching the whole counsel of God (being a series preacher rather than just preaching isolated, disconnected texts and themes from week to week). It was great advice. I wonder if it might not be great advice for you too?
We live such fragmented lives. While Joanie's mother lived with us my wife had too many jobs. She was a mother to her boys, a wife to her husband, a daughter to her father, a nurse to her mother, a teacher to her students, a pastors wife to the congregation, etc., etc., etc. It became excrutiatingly difficult to manage which role she was to have at the moment. Her life had holes in it - but not much of a whole to it. If a sabbatical has had any affect on me during these first six weeks it is to allow me the time and focus to turn my holes into wholes. You ever feel like that? Feel like you are just a series of holes? You are one thing at work, one thing at home, another at the store, something at night, another during the day, etc., etc., etc.? If believing in Jesus Christ is to produce anything in us it should help us to become whole persons. After all, one of the great blessings of salvation is that the holes in my life are forgiven and I am allowed to integrate the spiritual dimension of my life into the social, physical, and mental aspect of my life. The result is that, in Christ, I am allowed to become a whole person.
So, come on up out of the holes you have dug for your life and find the joy of being a whole person. Wouldn't it be great to be just one person instead of so many others? Welcome to the life of salvation.
We live such fragmented lives. While Joanie's mother lived with us my wife had too many jobs. She was a mother to her boys, a wife to her husband, a daughter to her father, a nurse to her mother, a teacher to her students, a pastors wife to the congregation, etc., etc., etc. It became excrutiatingly difficult to manage which role she was to have at the moment. Her life had holes in it - but not much of a whole to it. If a sabbatical has had any affect on me during these first six weeks it is to allow me the time and focus to turn my holes into wholes. You ever feel like that? Feel like you are just a series of holes? You are one thing at work, one thing at home, another at the store, something at night, another during the day, etc., etc., etc.? If believing in Jesus Christ is to produce anything in us it should help us to become whole persons. After all, one of the great blessings of salvation is that the holes in my life are forgiven and I am allowed to integrate the spiritual dimension of my life into the social, physical, and mental aspect of my life. The result is that, in Christ, I am allowed to become a whole person.
So, come on up out of the holes you have dug for your life and find the joy of being a whole person. Wouldn't it be great to be just one person instead of so many others? Welcome to the life of salvation.
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