tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71596117332045146572024-02-07T15:04:39.216-05:00Koinonia in ConnexionPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-77749956947582222972009-12-15T17:11:00.003-05:002009-12-15T17:27:26.230-05:00Peanut Butter Bon BonsI just received one of the best gifts that I could possibly receive this time of year. No, I didn’t get enrolled in the "Jelly Of The Month Club" (the gift that keeps on giving all year round) It was much better than that. And No, I didn’t get a $500 Visa Gift Card. (it was even better than that) It wasn’t even a 50 inch, High Definition, Plasma Screen TV (believe it or not, it was even better Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-44428660092791168412009-12-14T07:53:00.001-05:002009-12-14T08:01:09.886-05:00In The Bleak MidwinterOne of my favorite things about this time of year is the music. There is just something incredibly special about Christmas music. Perhaps it is the fact that we only sing it at one time each year, perhaps it is because of the memories that it represents, or maybe it is just because it is so awesome:) Whatever the reason, it is something that I look forward to all year.Last night was the Annual Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-66117273601836405902009-12-11T10:03:00.001-05:002009-12-11T14:31:43.603-05:00It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, at least that is what the song says. As for me, the jury is still out on that one. It is certainly one of my favorite times of the year, and I can say that I look forward to it every year, and I have to admit that Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year, it is also my favorite worship service in the year, so all in all I would have to lean in Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-83813231665908355332009-12-02T08:35:00.000-05:002009-12-02T08:39:10.977-05:00Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch!Two days in a row, I’m on a roll now. Let me address a couple of questions that I have been asked.1.“Have I still been swimming?”Well, yes and no. I have run into a bit of an obstacle. I have been dealing with bronchitis/ sinusitis/ coughing/ yucky/ stuffy /headstuff / cheststuff (I would call it Hymunglifungli) since about the first of October and that has put a definite crimp in my desire to goPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-22016109978995068382009-12-01T16:45:00.002-05:002009-12-01T16:50:36.902-05:00Ok! I Hear You:)Ok! Ok! After some significant prodding, I will try to get back in the saddle again and be more consistent with my posts. In reality, it is actually a good thing that I haven’t been posting much lately. As you remember, I started this blog because of the extreme stress that I was under last year with my final year of seminary, a trip to El Salvador and the Commissioning process and writing seemedPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-20082727380403830972009-11-07T08:29:00.003-05:002009-11-07T08:45:29.234-05:00Better Hold On Tight!Have you ever had the experience of simply watching and witnessing as the Holy Spirit works? I very much have been sensing that movement of the Holy Spirit here recently, and right now, I am doing my best to either hold on tight or get completely out of the way.I have been spending a little time here recently reflecting back upon the last four months that we have been here in Corydon and I see Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-25452475236888605492009-11-06T08:44:00.003-05:002009-11-06T09:09:21.001-05:00Be Strong!I know, I know, I did it again, I went a very long time without posting something. To be honest, I wasn’t planning on posting anything today, but I stopped by my blog this morning for the first time in quite awhile and I read the heartfelt, passionate comment left by my good friend Nancy on my last post and she inspired me to begin writing again. I encourage everyone who hasn’t done so already toPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-25849631148890341262009-10-23T10:13:00.002-04:002009-10-23T10:20:11.897-04:00Stop Me Before I Say Something I Will Regret!Well, I have done it again, let more than a week go since my last post. It really isn’t that I don’t have anything to say, and I can’t honestly say that I don’t have the time. Perhaps it is the fact that what I really want to say are about issues that as a pastor, I really should let go or at the very least only weigh in on from a theological perspective, even though many of my colleagues don’t Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-42400822350521258012009-10-15T21:36:00.004-04:002009-10-15T21:46:05.109-04:00That's Blasphemy!!!!Ok, I have to admit that juggling and preparing for 3 Bible Studies is a bit of a challenge. I am having extreme episodes of Déjà vu, and wondering if I have already told this story or explained about one word or another to this group. But for the most part I have decided that it is ok to retell a few stories:) Besides, I often tell them more for my own benefit than I do theirs anyway:)Tonight wePastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-59568492080649506662009-10-14T08:02:00.002-04:002009-10-14T08:05:48.252-04:00New Bible Study Starts Today!Today we are beginning a new Bible Study. I had a request from a parishioner to have a daytime study which intrigued me and after a little thought I decided to go forward with it. We decided to hold this one at the parsonage, which is a neutral spot so I hope to draw people from both churches, and if nothing else, it means that I don’t have far to go:)I think that we are going to study 1 Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-73371067780634025942009-10-13T08:54:00.003-04:002009-10-13T09:11:02.121-04:00I'm Just Trying To Eat My Lunch Here!!!!I sometimes have to wonder what the world that we live in is coming to. I really do try to understand where others are coming from. I struggle to view issues from as many points of view as possible, but I have to admit that I am finding it increasingly difficult to do so.In about 10 minutes of reading the news this morning (which is always a tremendous mistake for me anymore) I found no less thatPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-34147272738812593922009-10-10T08:29:00.003-04:002009-10-10T08:35:27.285-04:00The Search for the Perfect Pumpkin...Today is a special day in the Higdon clan. In just a few hours, 3 generations of Higdon’s will take our annual pilgrimage to the Pumpkin Patch at Huber Farms to pick out just the right pumpkins. We will begin the pilgrimage with a stop at the JayC Food store here in Corydon to pick up a picnic lunch of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and whatever else looks especially good from behind the deli Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-46471145244579701332009-10-09T07:24:00.002-04:002009-10-09T07:35:15.749-04:00Have Respect For Your Elders!I saw this video on Facebook the other day and thought it was great. So as a part of my effort to lift up traditional family values, here is my first installment, a lesson on why you should have respect for our senior citizens:)Apparently a woman was video taping her boys while they were skateboarding, heard a noise behind her and well… I will let you figure out the rest on your own.I will leave Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-5070999214673351452009-10-07T16:09:00.003-04:002009-10-07T16:35:12.172-04:00"To Run Where the Brave Dare Not Go..."So I guess maybe you noticed that I haven’t posted anything for awhile. To be honest I have actually seriously thought about discontinuing my blog altogether. I have become so frustrated here lately that I have had to ask myself if this is something that I even want to continue doing. Let me try to explain.I see our nation going in directions that are almost abhorrent to me. I watch as our Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-61291233978567718972009-09-22T12:26:00.003-04:002009-09-22T12:35:23.790-04:00Oh My! What Have We Done?Next week will be a momentous occasion. Our little Grandson Andrew will turn 3 years old. As we were deciding what to get him, there was really only one thing that came to mind that he truly couldn’t live without and that is a drum set of his very own. First of all let me explain that Andrew is not just an everyday boy who likes to beat on pots and pans with wooden spoons. Andrew is already an Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-320687519722610212009-09-18T10:04:00.002-04:002009-09-18T10:13:10.820-04:00I Think My Brain Is Cluttered...This morning I have a bunch of random thoughts floating around in my head so, I am afraid that you will just have to bare with the hodge podge that is my brain today:)First of all, I am continuing along on my “Swim the Ohio” journey, I have now completed 144 out of the 1023 laps for a total of around 4.3 miles. So far so good! One continuing benefit is that I have also now lost 20lbs since Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-25259459094128577262009-09-16T10:38:00.002-04:002009-09-16T10:48:25.571-04:00Lesson Learned: Some people aren’t even remotely interested in my opinion:)Yes, I know that this may be hard for you to believe, but I found out in no uncertain terms that not everyone values my charming insight, loveable, sarcastic wit and humble, sage wisdom. :) I was pursuing through Facebook the other day when I ran across a rather long but interesting thread submitted by a friend of mine. Somewhere toward the end, there appeared what I thought was a rather rude Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-11454040828431345962009-09-15T08:39:00.003-04:002009-09-15T08:58:04.240-04:00Maybe I should hit the reset button...Yesterday was a very challenging day. To begin with, after I left the YMCA, I had that feeling that you get when you feel like you are beginning to come down with something, but you really aren’t sure what it is yet. (Thank goodness I feel much better today)Then, when I got home, I had a phone call from someone who was experiencing a personal crisis, followed immediately by someone else whose 18 Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-79433880257443957522009-09-14T10:36:00.002-04:002009-09-14T10:40:20.280-04:00I'm on my way...Today I officially resumed my quest to “Swim the Ohio.” After a 2 week hiatus because of the maintenance work being done on the YMCA pool, this morning I resumed my journey. I can’t believe what a difference two weeks made in my conditioning, or should I say lack of conditioning. Two weeks ago when I walked out of the pool, I actually felt pretty good. This morning, it was more like, when I Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-65718329829954416342009-09-12T21:27:00.006-04:002009-09-12T21:49:21.296-04:00The Chubb Chubbs are coming...Ok, on a much brighter note from yesterday, I was at a friend's house this evening and they shared this video with me. I thought it was really funny and I hope that you can take the time to watch it. For my Star Wars/Sci-Fi fans, count and see how many references to your favorite Sci-Fi movies you can find. This is definitely a departure from some of my more recent posts! Enjoy!BlessingsPS: Don'tPastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-83713368582124111452009-09-11T09:43:00.003-04:002009-09-11T10:03:26.923-04:00Parting: Remembering 9/11Today is indeed an important day to remember. I will never forget, I was just waking up, listening to the morning news on the radio, perhaps beginning to think about motivating and deciding what this new day would bring, when I heard the words over the radio that there had been a small plane crash into the side of the World Trade Center. My only thought at that time was, how stupid could a pilot Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-36240382481421326242009-09-09T22:08:00.002-04:002009-09-09T22:11:49.765-04:00Mama said there'll be days like this...For some reason I just haven’t had much to talk about recently. Or, perhaps it is just the fact that this has been a difficult, long, emotional week. Saturday night at 11:10 the call came that my parishioner that I had been to see so many times down at Jewish Hospital had passed away. Breaking the news to the congregation was especially hard on Sunday morning. The visitation was held on Monday Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-9825811568641963932009-09-05T14:48:00.001-04:002009-09-05T16:42:13.123-04:00Lucky thing that I only have to work one day a week:)I don’t think I have been doing such a great job lately in keeping up with my blog posts. Of course, some of that could have to do with little details like not getting home until after 1:30 this morning because of a parishioner fighting for his life at Jewish Hospital. So far he is still hanging in there, but now it is in his hands and God’s, so we continue to pray.I will also mention that we Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-75710380703868385092009-09-02T15:59:00.005-04:002009-09-02T16:13:55.682-04:00God Lives at the Post OfficeOk, I know that I am a real sap for a dog story, and I usually resist the temptation to subject you to my dog obsession, but this one was just too good not to pass on, especially with the thought of Mimi so fresh in our hearts.Enjoy:)This is one of the kindest things, there's no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159611733204514657.post-15516475809492514242009-09-01T22:49:00.001-04:002009-09-01T22:51:11.762-04:00Paddle-To-The-SeaI think by now you know how much I enjoy being out on the water, especially when I get a chance to go kayaking. I think I discovered one of the sources of that love a few days ago. Do you remember, or did you ever read the book or see the movie called "Paddle-To-The-Sea?” I have no doubt that the movie and the book had a tremendous impact on me as a young person. I was probably 9 or 10 when I Pastor Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142573261416224254noreply@blogger.com0