A Perfect Day

As I sit back this evening relaxing, I am reminded of the song from one of Terri’s favorite movies, “Legally Blond,” titled “A Perfect Day.” I spared you the music video although I looked it up on You Tube and I have to admit that I was tempted. Today has truly been a perfect day. Anytime that I can spend the day with Mary and Andrew is good, but when you combine that with the playground at McDonalds, and then Huber Farms, I am not sure that it could have gotten any better.

Huber Farms brings back many memories for me. I was first introduced to Huber farms by my brother Phil, and I remember taking my Mom down there as well as Karen’s mom and Dad. It is a place that simply represents and symbolizes family at it’s best.

Birthdays can sometimes be a little melancholy, especially when I reflect back on those who have gone before me and finished their race of life. It is a wonderful feeling to see Mary and Andrew and to know that they are enjoying the same things that I did, and to know that maybe someday they will take their kids and grandkids and tell them about how their grandma and grandpa took them to feed the animals and pick out the perfect pumpkin from the pumpkin patch

Blessings

Free at Last!

Wow, what a week this has been. I feel like a ten ton weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I already shared with you in earlier posts how difficult school has been this past week, and then after getting back home, I was kept pretty busy preparing for Billie’s funeral. Saturday, I wasn't able to post on my blog because I spent most of the day up in Indianapolis at the unification meeting between the North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church and the South Indiana Conference. We are now officially the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. After arriving back home from the meeting, I went to a totally awesome hog roast. The best part is that I got to take a couple of pounds of that scrumptious meat home with me. Unfortunately, I still had our church's Charge Conference (annual business meetings) hanging over my head.

Now for those of you who are not United Methodists, and for some of you who are, Each year we Methodist pastors are required to fill out a couple of volumes of paper work as part of our connectional process which is part of what makes us "United," and when you have 2 churches as I do, that’s right, double the paper work. Unfortunately, paper work has never been my strong point, and even more unfortunately, one of my weak points is procrastination, so when you combine volumes of paper work with procrastination, you end up staying up most of the night before the paperwork is due, and that’s what I did last night.

The good news is that I just returned home from the Charge Conference and all of our work is done and has been turned in. In addition, I had the opportunity to see some of the folks from Trinity and First Church that I haven’t seen for awhile which is always very nice. I also had an opportunity to have a brief conversation with our District Superintendent (my immediate boss) who invited me to lunch, which is always pleasant, but also a bit stressful as well LOL.

Anyway, as of this moment, I am caught up. There isn't anything major hanging over my head, well at least that is due this week, I know I'm procrastinating again. In addition, tomorrow is my Birthday whooo hoooo, so my plan is to take Mary and Andrew down to Huber Farms to feed the ducks and the bunnies and llamas, and the horses and the deer, and go down the big slide and bounce on the giant inflatable bouncing thing and most important of all, take Mary and Andrew on the Hay Wagon out to the Pumpkin Patch and pick out the perfect pumpkins. I know, I know, you’re jealous aren’t you? :) Well, you are all invited to come along, but you had better dress warm because it can get pretty cold in the pumpkin patch this time of year!

Blessings

Get Away Jordan!

I am not sure if you all would consider it coping out, I hope that you don't think that it is, but you might notice that I have discovered "You Tube" and all of the great songs and videos that are available. The things that I like to share with you are my precious memories and the things that have great meaning to me.

The song today is one of both Karen's and my favorites by the Gospel group "The Dove Brothers." I officiated at Billie's Funeral today and funerals always get me to thinking about what types of things I would or would not want at my funeral.

My thought of a perfect funeral would be a true celebration, with uplifting music, stories and laughter (I have certainly done enough stupid things for people to remember)

Anyway, this song, "Get Away Jordan" would be a prime example of what I would consider excellent funeral music.

Enjoy!

Blessings

Roses Will Bloom Again... Just Wait and See!

After the challenges and difficulties of the past few weeks, today I turn my attention to the upcoming visitation and funeral for Billie Alexander. When I woke up this morning I couldn’t get this song, Roses Will Bloom Again, out of my mind. We had the opportunity to see Jeff and Sherry Easter in concert a few years ago, and it was such a great blessing. They have actually written and produced several of my favorite Gospel songs, certainly including this one.

As I think about what Mike, Jordon, Bailey and their family will be going through in the next days, weeks and months ahead, sometimes it is difficult to look to the future with the assurance that roses will indeed bloom again. However, we have been given a promise that we can hold on to in these hard times. God has indeed promised us that just like the Spring, roses will bloom and the resurrection will come. The challenge for us, is to wait with hope and assurance.

I told a story a few weeks back about Dr. W. A Criswell, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas Texas, who said on one occasion that while on an airplane flight, he found himself seated beside a well-known theologian. He desperately wanted to start a conversation with this man and after awhile they did begin to talk.

The man told Dr. Criswell about how he had recently lost his little boy through death. Dr. Criswell listened intently as the man told his story: He said that his son had come home from school with a fever, they weren’t overly concerned, they just thought it was one of those childhood things… but it was a very virulent form of meningitis.

The doctor said we can not save your little boy. He is going to die. And so this seminary professor, loving his son as he did, sat by the bedside to watch and wait and be with his son.

It was the middle of the day and the little boy whose strength was going from him and whose vision and brain was getting clouded said, "Daddy, it’s getting dark isn’t it?" The professor said to his son, "Yes son it is getting dark, very dark." Of course it was very dark for him.

He said, "Daddy, I guess it’s time for me to go to sleep isn’t it?"The man said, "Yes, son, it’s time for you to go to sleep."The professor said the little fellow had a way of fixing his pillow just so, and putting his head on his hands when he slept, and so he fixed his pillow just right, and laid his head on his hands, and said, "Good night Daddy. I will see you in the morning."

He then closed his eyes in death and stepped over into heaven.

Dr. Criswell said the professor didn’t say anymore after that for a very long time. He just looked out the window of that airplane staring out into the deep blue sky. After awhile he turned back and he looked at Dr Criswell, with tears streaming down his cheeks he said... "I can hardly wait till the morning."

Roses will indeed bloom again and morning will come... Just wait and see!

Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3)
Blessings

PS: As I was preparing this blog, I learned that Sherry Easter who sings in the video was diagnosed with, and battling Breast cancer. Our prayers go out to her as well!

I Know the Bible is Right!

I just love this song and I had to share it with you! Actually it was used as an example of not the greatest theology, but I love it anyway, so ignore what some would construe as bad theology and go ahead and smile.

To quote Larry the Cable Guy, "Now thats funny I don't care who you are!"

Blessings

Joys and Concerns

JOYS!

It is now one hour and thirty minutes from the start of my last class for the week and as of this moment, I am finally caught up. I just finished a three page paper on Liberation Theology, actually I was a bit of an over achiever on that one. The requirement was only one page, but since I read the book, I felt like I had more to say than just one page worth, and besides, this class is pass/ fail anyway, so I am not overly worried about being graded too harshly on writing more than the professor wants, and yes, I have been graded down for writing too much as well as not writing enough in the past three years, some professors you just can’t make happy.

Actually I had several very big assignments due this week. For Monday, I had a five page Homiletics paper due on The Holy Spirit and Preaching which was actually a good paper to write. I wrote mostly on my first experiences as I came to Crothersville and came face to face with the tragedy of Kati Coleman. Then for Tuesday, in addition to going to class, I had to prepare for a 20 minute presentation for today on the churches role in slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War, its title was "A House of Faith Divided". Then this morning I got up early to begin writing the 6 page paper on the book, As if the Heart Mattered, A Wesleyan Spirituality.

I must say that it feels good to have these things done, now all I need to do is go to class, and drive 4 hours home. I think I can handle that!

CONCERNS!
I have shared my Joys and my concern is for Billie Alexander’s family. Billie had a massive heart attack on Sunday afternoon and never regained consciousness in spite of the excellent work of the paramedics, doctors and nurses. The visitation is planned for Thursday between 4:00-8:00 pm and the funeral will be Friday morning at 10:00 at Voss Chapel in Seymour. This will be a difficult funeral for me. I just loved Billie, and Jordon and Bailey put a smile on my face every time I see them. I hope that you will join me in praying for this family, May our church family and extended family be for them the light of love and hope in this dark time.

Blessings

Digging Out

Hello Everyone!

I haven’t forgot about my blog, I have finished one 5 page paper on Spirituality in Preaching, I have completed my 20 min oral presentation on the effects of the slavery issue on the church leading up to the Civil War, I have only 3 more pages to finish on my paper on Wesleyan Spirituality based on the book As If The Heart Mattered and then one page to go on Liberation Theology and I will be back to normal and I can tell you what I have been doing!

Blessings