OURANOS: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God...

Wedding Weekend

2011-09-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a wedding celebration for my son Drew and his beautiful wife Jamey. It would be incorrect to say that they were married this weekend. That had actually occurred earlier this summer in Carle hospital. Jamey's father was in ICU and they wanted him present for their wedding. 15 or so of us gathered there and had one of the most moving ceremonies in which I have ever had the privilege of participating. Sadly, he passed away the day after.

On September 24th, we gathered to celebrate their marriage. And celebrate we did. They planned a moving ceremony full of love and emotion. Personal vows were written and read. Music was played that reflected their love and commitment. After the ceremony, we moved into a pavilion for roasted hog, potatoes, green beans, and some of the best cupcakes I have ever eaten. There was live music, dancing, and wine. People laughed, some cried, a lot visited and, as far as I know, a good time was had by all.

I am very grateful for a blessed day and even more grateful for having a blessed family. To God be the Glory.

Surprise Surprise!!!!!

2011-09-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

Some surprises are not very nice. I was diagnosed with cancer this summer - surprise - not nice. Some surprises are awesome. My wonderful daughter calls her mother and me and informs us that she is married. She had done what she had said she would do - eloped. I guess it should not have been a complete surprise. She and Tyler, a handsome young man she had dated since high school, had decided to be a bit less traditional and do a "ten dollar - ten minute" wedding. It was not a spontaneous decision on their part. They had thought long and hard about it.

So I now have a son-in-law. He loves my daughter and is very good to her. I am grateful to have him as an addition to our family. They are doing well. Now, if they will only surprise me with some grandchildren!!!!!!!!!

Things In The Air

2011-09-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

I am back. I left the blog world and moved over to the Caring Bridge world because of recent health issues. And, it has been a whirl-wind summer. I am still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that my two older children are married - both in unusual circumstances and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. All of that I will write about in this blog. But, I also want to write about stuff I have seen in the air this summer. I am always looking up. It is amazing what you can see if you do.

The above plane is an Air Tractor AT502. Better known to us as a "crop duster". It is registered in Colorado, actually. But it was spraying a field near my house this summer. It is a beautiful plane - especially the bright yellow against a clear blue sky.

Watching a crop duster is like watching a private air show. The pilot dips and turns and twists with amazing dexterity. And, it is pretty exciting to see a plane that low that close.

Looking up helps me keep perspective. It can also be pretty entertaining.

On the Other Side

2011-04-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have been to a lot of weddings in my life. The vast majority of them found me up front. Before me would be the nervous and excited, anxious and animated bride and groom. I had the best "seat in the house" for watching the two of them look at each other with wonder, love, and gratitude as they speak their vows. It never ceases to amaze me as I hear them pledge their lives to one another - and to pray that they will seek God's grace as they come to understand just what it is they are doing. I think of the Scripture: There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.

For the first time, I am going to be on the other side. My oldest son Drew has discovered his soul-mate in Jamey. And, in early fall, they are to be married. I am discovering what it means to watch your child that only yesterday you were teaching to ride a bike or drive a car or throw a baseball become a man, find his way, pledge his love, and start his family. His mother and I are proud of him and have come to know and love Jamey. She is smart and pretty and she loves my son and she is kind to us. So, I will sit on the other side of this one, proud and emotional, laughing and crying, praying and hoping.

Cruising

2011-04-07T09:16:00.000-05:00

Where are these folks going? You ever look up and wonder? I shot this jet at cruising altitude through my 102mm refractor using a Nikon D40 hooked directly to the telescope. Watching jets fly over is interesting. It is amazing how many people are overhead on any given day. Imagine the stories of all the folks on this one plane. Some may be headed out on a long overdue vacation while others are going to buried a loved one. Maybe we should pray for the people who are jetting over us. And, never lose the fascination of the invention. All of that weight - thousands of pounds - five or six miles above the surface of the earth going over 500 mph. Pretty impressive.

Whacked!

2011-03-17T15:33:00.000-05:00

It has been an interesting week! I told someone that this is what happens when you tell folks to "Repent"! The truth is, this is what happens when a 53 year old father challenges his almost 15 year old son to a game of basketball. Son says "I'm gonna drive the lane". Dad says "No your not!" Son does, dad doesn't. Aaron felt bad about it, but I assured him it was not his fault. His elbow looks much better than my eye. The eye will heal, but I am not so sure I will challenge him again. Maybe we will just play "Horse".

Wild Game Dinner

2011-03-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

This photo does not do justice to the setting of the first annual GCBC Wild Game Dinner. Gloria and Bob Dickey decorated and the place looked awesome. Almost 50 guys showed up to dine on everything from deer roast to duck jambalaya. Some very kind ladies supplied us with sweets. Larry David, retired Upland Game Biologist with the state of Illinois, was our keynote speaker. He did a wonderful job on the topic of "A Hunter's Faith". We gave away 21 gifts. The overwhelming response has been positive. We are already making plans for next year.

Hallelujah Chorus and a Funeral

2011-03-03T13:53:00.001-06:00

Today we had a funeral that ended with a benediction I had never heard before - the Hallelujah Chorus. I told someone that we had to be careful lest the celebratory nature of the song be misunderstood. There was no delight in death or in the death of this particular person. But, before she died, she made sure that those of us planning her funeral end it with this glorious song. She was no a person to be easily denied. So we did - end with the Hallelujah Chorus. Her family exited the building behind her casket as the Chorus was being played. I don't want to deny the pain and suffering of death. We should not be flippant about it. But, there is something about reminding ourselves of the resurrection of Jesus and the victory He provides over the grave. I can't think of a much better way to do that than the Hallelujah Chorus.

Country Church - Pine Ridge Baptist

2011-02-16T13:47:00.000-06:00

The church is not a building. The church is the body of Christ, a living organism over which He is Head. But, there is something about church buildings. Pine Ridge Baptist Church - the building - sits in the heart of Melder, Louisiana physically, spiritually, and at least in years gone by, socially. It was there that I first heard that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Wonderful people who loved the Lord would gather in this place along with some not so wonderful people. We would sing "Standing on the Promises" and "Revive Us Again" and "How Great Thou Art" out of the Broadman Hymnal. Kind folks would teach squirmy kids Sunday School out of quarterlies and then help us spray paint macaroni gold before we glued it on poster board. We had amazing home cooked meals there and we had some very raucous monthly business meetings there that hurt our testimony and sometimes hurt one another. Following Sunday morning worship, men would gather in the Louisiana heat near the front door and several would have a smoke together. I was introduced to Jesus there and baptized there as was my mother before me. Her funeral and my father's funeral was held there. It still stands, a quaint building but so much more. My life was changed there. I am grateful.

Memories

2011-02-08T16:33:00.000-06:00

My brother recently made this picture available to me. The memories flooded back when I saw it. J. D. Ford owned the store. He and his wife were part of our lives because the store was such an essential part of our existence. My parents did not buy all of their groceries there, but they did buy a lot of milk and ice cream and cola and chicken feed. The Ford's allowed us to have a running tab which my dad paid at the end of each month. Occasionally, I could charge a cream soda or a moon pie. The front porch of the store was a great place to hang out and hear the local news. There was a post office inside the store where we received our mail. And, we bought most of our gas there. It saddened me to see the store close and then be torn down. The Fords are now with the Lord; they were wonderful Christian people. Many of the general stores like this one no longer exist. We buy our groceries and gas from people we don't know. And, who sits on a front porch to drink a coke and visit? I am very grateful for those memories.

February 2011 Blizzard

2011-02-02T11:09:00.000-06:00

Where were you during the Blizzard of 2011? It was an awesome display - full of sound and fury. Beautiful, actually. Though, I know it caused some significant difficulties. We cannot control the weather. It helps put us in our place. Personally, it could not have come at a better time.

January Skies

2011-01-11T13:39:00.000-06:00

According to a weather almanac, January is the cloudiest month in Illinois. (July the least, I believe) So, the telescopes have been parked most of December and January. I have gotten out for a few quick looks because some of the best targets are out in the winter. An example would be the Orion Nebulae. In the winter, the nights are long. You are able to get started viewing earlier and stay out later - provided you can take the cold. The cold weather also makes handling cold metal interesting. I wear "glittens" - mittens which are also gloves and which the "top" is removal to allow you to grab things such as eyepieces. The two biggest opponents to viewing are, however, the clouds and the wind. I also find my desire to be a bit dampened in the winter. Getting layers and layers of clothes on is a bit of a drag. But, you don't have to worry about mosquitoes, skunks, bats, and other assorted wildlife. The neighbors do seem to have more lights on in the winter, but that may be because I am usually out earlier in the evening than in the summer. This Christmas someone surprised me with a new astronomy gadget I can't wait to try and to write about. Hopefully, as soon as the clouds are gone, the wind is not blowing, and the temperature above 10 degrees. Maybe that is the way I tend to serve the Lord, only when the conditions are just right.

Brotherly Fun

2010-10-29T15:37:00.000-05:00

My favorite brother was up from Louisiana recently. We had a very good visit together doing a variety of things, one of which was some "glass time". Here he is shooting pictures of the moon (in daylight) using the Celestron C8 on a Vixen Porta Mount and his Nikon DSLR attached directly to the scope via a T-Ring. We went out later in the dark and he was able to take some nice shots of the same target. And, he wore a shirt to match the scope - which I thought was very kind of him. If you look really close, his watch also matches. He has always been a snappier dresser than me.

Family matters. The older I get, the more it matters. We had a good visit together, although I was a bit busier than I would have liked to have been. Sharing these moments together meant a lot.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

2010-10-05T10:08:00.001-05:00

I shot these pictures this past Sunday, October 3rd. My intention was to practice using a new way I have of hooking my Nikon D40 up to my telescope. For these shots the camera was attached to an eyepiece which was in a diagonal which was in the telescope. In order to do that, I had to remove the lens from the camera (which lens was dropped and broken!) and in its place put a "T-Ring". Another metal ring goes between the
"T-Ring" and the eyepiece. The telescope was a Celestron C-8 and the eyepiece was a Baader Hyperion 24. The telescope is an F-10. The depth of field was very shallow so it was hard to focus. If you look closely, you can tell the pictures are "soft". Focus is a tough one. On my camera, you focus by looking through the camera and focusing the telescope. I hope to try it out this week on Jupiter.

The Lord uses sparrows to illustrate His care and concern for us. If He knows when a sparrow dies, then He surely knows the details of our lives.

Blemishes

2010-09-28T16:46:00.000-05:00

I took this picture yesterday morning about 10:00 A.M. (Yes, I should have been at work!) There are two regions of sunspots that are obvious. One is on the limb of the sun, the other is more centrally located. Lately, the sun has been relatively quiet. That is changing, however. More and more spots are appearing. And, with those spots come solar flares. Solar flares can be very disruptive to our lives. They can interfere with communication. But, with the bad comes the good. Solar flares also produce auroras - the northern lights.

Sunspots are hot, but not as hot as the surrounding sun. If they were on the earth, they would be brighter than a welder's arc. But, because they are on the sun, they appear dark. If they were separated from the sun and hung in space, they would appear bright. Context matters.

Don't go look at the sun with the hope of seeing the spots. That will make YOU see spots, perhaps permanently. I took the pictures using this telescope and a special sun filter. The camera was a Nikon D40 that was hooked directly to the telescope by removing the camera lens and using a "T-Ring". The telescope, in essence, became the camera lens. More spots are developing and I hope to make some more pictures soon.

Dark Days

2010-09-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

It seems wrong to have an image I made of the moon on a cloudy October evening to be the picture used on a blog entitled "Dark Days". But, I would be hard pressed to find something more appropriate. Dark, cloudy, brooding - that is how these days have been. To publicly admit that is dangerous. I am a Christian, someone who clings to the hope of the resurrection. I am a middle class American who has seen little of suffering and really have no legitimate reason to complain. I pastor a great church and work with wonderful people and have a fantastic family. To be depressed, to be discouraged in such wonderful circumstances when so many others are ravaged by horrific circumstances is offensive. That only serves to heighten the acuteness of the darkness. Depression does not necessarily make sense. There are circumstances which contribute to it, though when seen by others, they may not seem very significant. Self analysis can be dangerous and so can self consciousness. Clinging to the hope of the resurrection, praying for daily grace, acknowledging frailty, seeking to focus on serving others, getting rest and exercise, getting perspective by looking at the glory of God in the heavens - all of these help. Having a loving wife is a great gift as well. Please know, if you sometimes walk in the dark in the day, that I do indeed feel your pain. I find solace in a verse in the book of Daniel. He was so discouraged he was bed ridden. But, he got up, and did the king's business. That is what I seek to do during these days. Get up and seek to do the next thing and pray for the light to return and for the clouds to lift.

"Small" Blessings

2010-09-03T16:13:00.000-05:00

They come to us in a variety of ways. Recently, mine came to me in the form of a bird and a flower. I was sitting on my patio with my wife and she told me to look at a nearby sunflower. There, perched on it, was a goldfinch. He waited long enough for me to snap this photo.

It was a serendipitous moment. No big deal, really. And, I don't want to read more into it than I should. Did God send that bird at that time for the pleasure of my wife and me? I'm not sure I could articulate it that way. But, I can say with absolute confidence that it was a blessing of God to my wife and me to see that little bird sitting on that flower. I would call it common grace and it comes to all men in a variety of ways and it comes to us from the Creator.

Sometimes it is a tasty breakfast, an unexpected greeting from a friend, a thoughtful gift - all sorts of gifts of grace that come as blessings to us. And, I want to acknowledge them. I can dismiss them, ignore them, think of them as nothing. Or, I can cultivate gratitude for them.

Don't Mess With Martha

2010-09-01T16:38:00.000-05:00

My cousin Martha is married to a mountain of a man. Hershel is tall - 6.5 or so - and his forearms are the size of fire hydrants. He use to work for Volkswagen and the word around town was that he could lift an entire Beetle engine out by himself. He is a wonderful Christian, but definitely not the sort of fellow you would want mad. Martha, however, is not so tall and has a very sweet disposition. She is kind hearted, gracious, a great cook - and - from the looks of things, an awesome shot!

Rattlesnakes are usually thought of as belonging to Texas or Arizona. But, Louisiana has its share. This one is a diamond back - a snake with a rather mean disposition and size to match it. However, it appears that they better stay out of the way of Martha. Normally, she would not be too interested in harming anything. But, she definitely did not want this fellow crawling around her house, especially with their dogs running around and people coming over to visit. So, this week, she dispatched it with a 410 shotgun. The fact that she simply did not run for the house gives you an idea about her grit.

So, the next time you are in central Louisiana, look Hershel and Martha up. Shake hands with Hershel and be amazed at his size and strength knowing he could crush your hand. But the one you better watch out for is Martha. Be nice and hope she invites you for supper, but know that she won't put up with any shenanigans.

Having a Heat Attack

2010-08-19T16:58:00.000-05:00

Several bank thermometers read 103 when we rode into Bowling Green, KY on Friday afternoon, August 13th. It was like riding motorcycles on the inside of a blow dryer. My dear friend Kent and I were in BG to visit my oldest son Andrew. We had met in Lebanon, Indiana and cruised down two lane roads to Bowling Green. It had taken us about 10 hours. We were in no rush. But, the heat became brutal. I felt light headed and thought my brain was being boiled like an egg in a pot. I was feeling poached. But, seeing Andrew made enduring the heat worth while.

We had a good visit and saw some interesting things. The points of interest which we visited included the Lost River - a river which runs through a cave system under BG, National Corvette Museum (Chevrolet Corvettes are made in BG), a portion of Mammoth Cave National Park, and an aviation display which contained 1 plane! And, we ate more than we should have. Andrew took us to the Montana Grill, to a delicious bar-b-que place called the Split Tree, and to a wonderful Mexican restaurant called Puerto Vallarta, I think. I had fish tacos - wow.

When it was time to leave, the weather had moderated. We rolled out at 5:00 a.m. due to confusion between central and eastern time. I made it back to Gibson City in the early afternoon of Monday. I rode almost 800 miles without incident. The bike was covered with bugs and I could not stand it to be so dirty. When I moved it to wash it I left the kick stand up and dropped it on concrete breaking the left foot peg - costing me about 125.00 for parts. Haste makes waste.

It was great to see Andrew and to spend time with him. And, I would recommend Bowling Green to you. It is a beautiful town with a great university and some wonderful old homes. There are some nice attractions worth seeing and plenty of great places to eat. And, they have a fantastic news paper! Be sure and pick up a copy up while there.

King's Brass Concert

2010-07-07T13:44:00.002-05:00

Last night, July 5th, our church hosted Tim Zimmerman and the King's Brass at a pavilion located in our city park. It was a beautiful summer evening. The crowd of over 500 seemed to enjoy the experience. There were several things that helped make the evening a blessing. 1. The setting - the North Park Pavilion is an wonderful structure that is fantastic for brass music. The ambiance of the evening hearkened back to "Music in the Park" - a series of summer concerts once held in the N.P. Pavilion. The pavilion was decorated with all sorts of Americana - which added to the whole of the ambiance. 2. July 5th, an outdoor concert, grilled hamburgers, and a great brass band that plays hymns, spiritual songs, and American classics is an awesome combination. 3. The weather was great. I was concerned about summer storms, but the Lord took care. And, it was not so hot. 4. The King's Brass is an very talented group. They work very hard to present music that is honoring to the Lord and enjoyable to people. They are inspiring. 5. Volunteers - there were a lot of people investing a lot of time and energy in making the concert work and I think their investment paid off.

Several folks suggested this should be an annual event. That is something we need to consider.

Waves

2010-07-01T10:26:00.003-05:00

`

This is a short video of the Atlantic made from Kitty Hawk, N.C. What is it about waves that we (I?) find so refreshing, so relaxing? I do not buy into the bosh that we love the water because we originated from the water. But, for me, there is nothing quite as soothing as watching and listening to the waves. The mountains are great and I love the woods. I don't like the blazing noon day sun on the beach. But early in the morning and late in the afternoon - waves are a massage for the soul.

Pride

2010-06-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

Wilbur and Orville were men who changed the world. Their ingenuity, tenacity, and courage resulted in man rising from the sand dunes of the Outer Banks and powering through the air. That act has impacted all of our lives. The machines that resulted and the capacity they have has brought great blessing and sorrow. I doubt that they could have envisioned all that would come of December 17, 1903.

The original flight path is marked by stone markers indicating the direction and landing spot of the first efforts. The length of the first flight was shorter than the wing span of some modern aircraft. But, it was an amazing accomplishment, not the least of which was controllability. That was the crux of the matter - how to control the machine once it got into the air. They did so through a process called "wing warping". A bit of controversy still surrounds just who thought of wing warping first. Glenn Curtis or the Wrights.

There is a large and quite impressive memorial which stands as a sentinental over the field in which all of this takes place. It is inscribed with the words: In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright conceived by genius achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable. Frankly, that is a bit of overstatement. Can it truly be said that man has conquered the air? Sorry for the nitpicking and I certainly do not want to take away from what the Wrights accomplished. I was and am in awe. But, it is just like man to proclaim that he has conquered something when in reality he has, at least, learned to work with it and in it as an environment. Pride goes before a fall. I am not sure Orville and Wilbur felt like they conquered anything. They discovered that man can fly. But, the air can still win if we do not respect the laws of God and believe that we are invincible.

Romantic Get Away

2010-06-23T16:11:00.001-05:00

After 28 years of marriage, my wife and I decided to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We did so by driving 1000 miles to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This was the first time in our married life when just the two of us went on a trip that did not involve a conference. And, it was wonderful. We took our time driving out and with no squabbling coming from the back seat found the ride quite enjoyable.

We spent some quality time with some friends, ate some delicious sea food (although the hush puppies in N.C. contain no green onions - much to my dismay), and visited a wonderful aviation museum - I had to drag my wife away.

The trip gave us plenty of time for uninterupted talk and some much needed relaxation. If the Lord is willing, we plan to do this sort of thing more often. I highly recommend it to you.

Memorial Day Prayer

2010-06-01T09:02:00.000-05:00

For what it is worth, this is the prayer I wrote for the Memorial Day Service held yesterday in Gibson:

Eternal and Sovereign and Gracious God, the One Who raises up Kings and sets down Kings, the One Who establishes nations and brings down nations, to You we offer praise and thanksgiving for Your gracious gift of our nation. We cast ourselves onto Your continued mercies and faithfulness pleading with You to continue to bless us. God, please bless America, it is the land that we love. Stand beside her and guide her through our night with Your light from above. God, please bless America, our home, sweet home.

Thank You for providng us with sons and daughters who have given their lives for our peace and prosperity. Help us to never forget that they would have chosen to have experienced the beaty of this day, but instead lie beneath the earth, their lives topped short, their dreams unfulfilled, their time cut short. Bless their famlies who still live with the pain of their absence.

Help us to never forget that the beauty of our spacious skies, our purple mountain majesties, our fruited plains have come because You have shed Your grace on us. Please continue to give us that grace because we do know, one great and glorious day, our eyes will see the glory of the coming of the Lord and that You will be trampling out the vintage where the grapes of Your wrath are stored and that You will loose the fateful lightining of Your terrible and swift sword - help us in that day to be found walking in Your grace, seeking Your face, and thankful forYour mercies and truth.

Almost, But Not Quite

2010-05-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

I keep trying. This shot was made last evening, May 25th, at 9:00 P.M. (ish). It was shot with a Nikon D40 through an Astro Tech 102ED refractor. The hardest part is to get the focus right. If you look closely, the focus is off just enough to make the photo a bit soft. Here is another

To do astrophotography well requires a lot more money to be spent that I am currently willing to invest. One of the largest expenses is to acquire the right mount.

Here is a sun shot:

It is an okay shot, but still not quite there. I hope, one of these days, to get it just right. For now, I am having fun.

Proud Parent

2010-05-19T08:43:00.001-05:00

This picture was on the web site of USA Today yesterday (third week of May). There is no missing Drew - the green tie gives him away! He has had a busy week with the election in KY. Exciting days.

Sunday Night Basketball and Gravity - Wake Up!

2010-05-10T09:06:00.000-05:00

For the past month I have had the privilege of teaching a group of High School young men. They are an invigorating group. It has been a lot of fun - for me at least.

After class, most of the high schoolers and some college students play basketball and I have been invited to play with them. In doing so I have made a discovery of which the world should be aware. Gravity is steadily increasing. The pull of gravity is growing and I am living to see the effects it is having! There was a time when I could jump and hang onto the rim. I never could dunk the ball, but I could grab the rim. These days, I can, on a good day, touch the bottom of the net. Two weeks ago a young man, 23 or so, stuffed me. He was gracious about it, but he nearly shoved the ball down my throat - and he is no taller than I am. And, the more I run up and down the court the heavier my legs feel. By the end of the night it feels like I am dragging bags of cement around. Something is happening here and we better wake up before gravity does us all in! One of these days we won't be able to get out of bed.

Wake up world! Get out and play some basketball with high schoolers. You will also discover this phenomenon.

Goodbye Mr. Winter

2010-05-05T09:24:00.001-05:00

Mr. Orion the Hunter is going, going, almost gone. If you want to see him, look soon. In a few weeks, he will be lost in the glare of the setting sun. It is a sure sign that winter has given away to spring. I shot this picture a couple of weeks ago. This is the one constellation most people recognize. And, I am glad to see him go away for a while but always look forward to his return. By the way, his companion constellation Taurus is going with him.

Happy 50th!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-05-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

"Old Blue" (my dad chose the name, not me) was bought brand new by my father in 1960. I think it cost less than $2000. There were few amenities - except an AM radio. He used it as his work truck. That is, he drove it back and forth to work and he used it around the house to haul everything from dirt to dogs.

I love driving it and am amazed at how few mechanical issues I have had with it. The brakes went out last year - that was exciting. This year the clutch is acting up and I am having some of the slop removed from the steering by replacing a few parts. Otherwise, it runs like a top, except. Except it is not the vehicle of choice if you are in a hurry. I have a motorcycle that chomps at the bit to go, go, go. Not this truck, it wants you to slow down, take a deep breath, look out the window, relllllaaaaaaaxxxxx. It takes its time warming up and does not like being rushed. It will break the speed limit, but the groove is about 50. At that speed it will hum along all day, although it does like gas. And, the tank is right behind the seat. Nothing like sitting on a tank of gas running down the road.

Frankly, I still feel like the truck belongs to Dad. I am just borrowing it. His fingerprints are still all over it. I am grateful for the connection to him. And, Happy Birthday "Old Blue"!

Advertising and Gravesides - Driving and Funeral Processionals

2010-04-27T13:42:00.000-05:00

I am sometimes shocked at how unashamedly people advertise. Perhaps the worst example I have heard of - yesterday a gentleman told me that following an internment (burial) a representative from the graveyard stepped up and began to advertise their services to those gathered. Hmmmm. Tacky or Whacky?

While I am at it - frankly - it always aggravates me how people no longer pull over for a funeral procession. There are times when people should not - it is too dangeorus. But many times, people refuse because they don't want to be bothered. It might make them two minutes late. There was a time when more respect was shown. People even use to remove their hats. Now they are too busy talking on their cell phones to notice or care. I have seen cops stop and get out of their cars and stand at attention. That is nice. By the way, someone from a funeral home told me it is currently illegal to pass a hearse that is in a funeral procession. But, it does happen.

Lavender Toilet

2010-04-27T13:32:00.001-05:00

This past week someone had deposited a lavender toilet in our yard. Where I grew up, this might not be a surprise, but in Gibson City . . . Upon closer inspection, we discovered the motive was right. It was there to raise money for cancer research. The connection? You make a donation to Relay for Life to have the toilet removed from your yard. And, quite deviously, you get to choose the person into whose yard it is deposited next. Turnabout is fair play. So, we sent it on to a neighbor. It is an ingenious idea. I certainly did not want the thing permanently placed in our front yard. Again, some places I have lived may not have had an issue with a purple toilet in the yard. But, in Gibson City, not so much!

The Use of Euphemism

2010-04-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

Recently, someone kept referring to a dead family member as being "gone" or "lost". For some reason, that rankled me. I felt that the person using that phrase was not facing up to the reality of the situation. I attributed it to our current culture's reticense to face death squarely. Dying, death, dead are not words to be used in polite conversation. When is the last time you heard someone say "My wife is dead". The more I thought about it, the more self righteous I became. If there was one thing my mother taught me, it was to seek to grab reality by the throat. "Don't sugar-coat things"! So, I thought, we need to grasp firmly the harsh reality of our own mortality - we are dying! In doing so, we are in a much better place to prepare for the inevitability of that experience.

And yet. When I read the bible - it does not hesitate to speak of death AND to use euphemisms. The most common - sleep. Paul speaks of dead saints as those that are "asleep". Why? Perhaps it is to take the edge off of the harshness of saying they are dead. Jesus spoke of Lazarus being asleep. Because, for the Christian, the harshness of death has been taken away in Jesus. The essence of the euphemism is true. Our loved one who has died is "gone". They are, if believers, absent from the body and present with the Lord.

Using a euphemism does not mean we are have not grasped the reality of the situation. The next time someone tells me that their Christian oved one is "gone", I shall not protest. Gone indeed!

Fireball

2010-04-15T15:59:00.000-05:00

Last evening I was out with one of my telescopes. It was a beautiful evening. There was very little wind and clear skies. After 90 minutes or so I was beginning to pack everything up. Several targets had given me great delight - M3, M13, M81, M82, Saturn, etc. Suddenly, toward the North and a bit West, there was a very bright flash and a few lesser flashes. It was a bit disorienting. I checked the computer and knew it was not weather related. Perhaps, I thought, this was the big one. The nukes were dropping and the world as I now knew it was coming to an end. (you never know!) It turns out it was a very bright meteor entering the atmosphere somewhere over Wisconsin. I did not actually see the fireball, my view was blocked by my house, but I did see the consequences. Keep looking up. Just when you don't expect it (Him) . . .

2010-04-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

An estimated 50,000 years ago a meteorite slammed into earth's surface near Diablo Canyon, New Mexico. The impact left a crater approximately 4000 feet in diameter and (today) 570 feet deep. The object which made the crater was an iron-nickel meteorite estimated to have been 54 yards across. Most of it was vaporized by entry into the atomosphere and the smash into the New Mexican plain. But, bits of it were scattered about and can still be had. One of them resides on my desk. It is about the size of a peach pit, is very heavy, and metallic. My brother gave it to me as a gift.

Witnessing a "falling star" is an exciting event - at least for me. Having a piece of one in my possession is quite another story. I wonder about it - the orginal rock - where did it come from? How long was it circling through the solar system? How far had it traveled before ending up in New Mexico?

Sometimes meteorties actually strike people or houses or cars. You probably can get insurance for the damages they cause. People have seen them as signs from above - messengers of judgment or blessing. I keep mine on my desk as a reminder that the solar system is a big place and that the Lord rules where ever my meteorite piece originated.

Illinois Earthquake

2010-02-10T09:33:00.001-06:00

For the second time in my life I have been awakened by an earthquake. It happened early this morning, between 4 and 5 o'clock. There is an unnatural tremor unlike any thing else that accompanies an earthquake. That bit of anecdotal evidence is the result of being awakened by two earthquakes - take it for what it is worth. I had always wanted to feel one. I have come close enough.

This is especially true when I think of Haiti. 250,000 estimated dead. Our county only has 14,000 residents. Champaign county has 196,000; McClean county 170,000. I cannot, in my wildest dreams, imagine that many people disppearing from the planet as a result of one catastrophic event. And yet, it happens with some regularity on our planet. And, the questions fly. Why this, why them, why there, why, why, why? Maybe I should be asking why not here? Why not me?

I am not wise enough to pronounce it an act of judgment, although all such occurences are wake up calls for us all. A tower fell crushing to death several people. Jesus said they were not worse sinners than those who did not die. But, all of us better take note. Life is a vapor.

Two earthquakes, both since coming to Gibson City. Hmmm.

Check Out Mars!

2010-02-02T12:42:00.001-06:00

A lot of misinformation has been on the web about how large Mars would appear to the naked eye at this particular period of time. Some sites were claiming Mars would be as large as the moon! That is impossible unless Mars and the Earth moves a significant distnace closer to one another. Which, if that happens, would give us bigger issues with which to concern ourselves than how big and bright Mars appears.

What is true is that this month Mars is closer to us than it has been or will be in our life time and that it is bright. In fact, it is the brightest object in the evening sky except for the Moon and the star Sirius. You know it is Mars because it is rust colored. Look in the Eastern sky around 8:00 P.M. You do not need a telescope or binoculars to enjoy seeing it. All that does need to happen is for the clouds to part!

And, while you are looking at it, think about the two rovers currently sitting on the surface of Mars and the biggy brains necessary to get them there. I think the initial life expectancy of the two rovers was 90 days and they have been going strong for 6 years. Pretty amazing.

Equipment B

2010-01-28T10:00:00.001-06:00

This is my second note about telescopes I own.

When people think of telescopes, the image that most commonly comes to mind is the refractor type of telescope. They are the earliest types of telescopes having been created in the early 1600s. Refractors consist of a tube into which is placed the "objective" lens at the front. The objective may be a single lens or it may consist of two or three lens bundled together either air or oil spaced. At the rear of the telescope is the focuser into which is placed a diagonal. Into the diagonal goes an eyepiece. The magnification of the telescope is largely depedent on the eyepiece.

Large refractors tend to be the most expensive telescopes due the cost of the glass objectives. There are also a variety of glass types used in the objective. Those glass types and configurations of the objective lens contributes significantly to the cost of the telescope.

My refractor is made by Astro Tech. The objective is 102mm in diameter - about 4 inches. It has extra dispersion glass to help with the view. This particular telescope is the easiest I own to grab and carry outside. It is particularly good for the moon, planets, and double stars. Good refractors can be purchased at a good price, especially from the used market. They are (usually) portable, provide good views, are easy to use, and will last a lifetime - provided you don't drop it or run over it with the car.

Pastor's Diary

2010-01-28T09:38:00.000-06:00

I have, since January 19th, 1983, kept a diary/journal. That is nothing to brag about. Maybe it is narcisstic. I once asked my children if there would be a problem with them fussing over who gets my diaries after I die. They quickly assured me that would NOT be a problem.

There is something about going back and being reminded of historical events in my life and the lives of those around me. Some of the entries remind me of the faithfulness of the Lord. Some of them remind me of my own unfaithfulness (not in the marriage sense of unfaithfulness mind you!). Early on, I was hesitant to write much about what I was thinking or what was happening around me. It was more of a devotional reflection. The longer I wrote, however, the more I wrote about struggles, thoughts, temptations, victories, circumstances, etc. For example, on July 14th, 1985 - right after I entered my first pastorate I wrote: My first communion (to lead as pastor). Brother ____ forgot to supply juice. But we finally got that straightened out. Sunday night I forgot to take up the offering so I guess it was tit for tat. Still in the throes of frustration as far as any type of routine is concerned. I remember the Sunday morning. How do you forget the grape juice (wine) for communion?

Those early days of pastoring were exciting and exhausting. On July 27th of 1985 I wrote Those preachers lied to me who said that pastoring is easier than seminary. In September of that same year I said It is hard to keep up. I swing from depression to escstacy, from fear to faith. God, please grant consistency in life and habit. May my heart be consumed with a burning love for Jesus Christ. I am still not completely settled into things here. I intend to be sharing things from these diaries in future blogs. Entirely for your entertainment and hopefully some edification.

Every Day - More Light

2010-01-18T16:11:00.000-06:00

Whatever the weather we weather the weather whether we like it or not! So goes a bit of doggrel about enduring the weather. The last few weeks have been difficult. First there was the bitter cold and now the dark, dismal clouds that refuse to lift.

But, to cheer myself up, I remind myself that every day we are adding minutes of daylight to the length of the day. I don't think I could survive in those parts of the world where the sun sets and does not rise again for weeks and weeks.

It is not that I don't like the dark. But, I hate the gloom. A day or two of it is not bad. But when it does not lift for days and then weeks - it is disheartening. But, I hang onto hope. The sun is shining above the clouds. Spring will come, Lord willing. And, while I may have to deal with dismal weather, my complaining becomes hollow when I think of the horror of Haiti. In fact, the suffering taking place in Haiti puts much of my complaining into perspective.

Funerals

2010-01-18T16:00:00.000-06:00

Two weeks, two funerals, two godly women absent from the body and present with the Lord. There is a general assumption that funerals are among the hardest things pastors do. Yes and no. There are some very, very difficult funerals. And, each funeral is a reminder that the enemy death still is part of our experience. We still live with the tension of "Now" and "Not Yet".

I have done some unusual funerals. Once, I led a funeral for a pastor who had been leading a funeral and fainted. As he fell, he struck his head which led to his death. I used his funeral notes to do his funeral. I did a funeral for a biker that had a huge processional of Harleys and a party in the graveyard.

It is an honor to be asked to lead a funeral. I count it as a high and, in many ways, holy calling to do so. It is humbling. The two dear women who recently passed away were both believers who left wonderful legacies to their families. Here are my points from the funerals, three each, combined as a summary. 1. A Love for God demonstrated in a Love for Others. 2. Faithfulness in Prayer demonstrated in Praying Always with Thanksgiving. 3. A Determination that Contentment truly is Possible. 4. Persistent Faith in the Face of Persistent Suffering. 5. Refusing to Complain when Complaining appeared Justified. 6. A Love for Family that Never faded over Time. All six of these points originated from a deep and abiding faith which came from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ as Savior.

One of these days, I remind myself, someone will be doing my funeral. I don't think such thinking is morbid. It is just the sort of reality check all of us should take, especially when we read obituaries or attend a funeral.

Wonderful Christmas Gift

2009-12-24T08:22:00.004-06:00

Lydia graduated this past Saturday from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. The family is very proud of her and thankful for her endurance and determination. She will be student teaching in Champaign this Spring and living at home.

Crunchy Night

2009-12-16T08:58:00.004-06:00

I stepped off of our back patio and onto the crunchy grass and looked up. There, in all of his glory, was Orion the Hunter. His sword dangled from his belt and glowed with the light from M42, the Orion Nebula. It was easily visible through my binoculars. It was 9:45 at night and the temperature was 17. The sky was glorious, even staggering. Mars was glowing rust red and rising in the East. The Pleiades or Seven Sisters was straight overhead forming a patch of blue diamonds. Again, from the East, came Castor and Pollux, the twins. Through the binoculars I swept through the constellation Auriga, the charioteer, and saw in the midst of it three smudges of light: M38, M36, and M37, three open clusters of stars. Taurus the Bull preceded Orion in the march across the sky and is marked by the amazing reddish star Aldebaran. It is 44 times larger than our sun. Near Cassiopeia, the constellation that looks like a large elongated "W" is one of my favorites - the Double Cluster. I can just make out their glow with my naked eye. They were very pretty through the binoculars. They are stunning through a telescope.

This whole tour took me thirty minutes. It cost me next to nothing. The binoculars were purchased for less than $60.00. I think everyone should own a pair of binoculars. But, you don't need binoculars to drink in the amazing glory that passes overhead night afer night. All it takes is a little time and no clouds. Don't miss it.

Tailights

2009-12-08T10:02:00.003-06:00

This morning I watched the taillights of the Taurus as it pulled out of the driveway and headed south. And, to my surprise, I wept. Not for the car. But for the transition. Not necessarily out of sadness but out of the change. Andrew was on his way. We have been through transitions before. The move to college, the move to Springfield as he worked on his masters. But this one, it feels different. There is a real possibility of permanence with this move, as it should be. I am very thankful for the job. I am very thankful for the move. I am very thankful for the man he has become. But, still, on this day at this hour I sense a certain melancholy. He needed to go, he should go, it is right for him to go. And, in going he grows. 6 hours is really not far. But, those 6 hours represent a real change for all of us. The Lord goes with him and before him and behind him. It is an adventure and I will be excited to see how the Lord works. Already He has taken care. Andrew plowed through a deer Sunday evening. His car may be totaled. In the mean time, we had about $700.00 work done on the Taurus the week before getting it in shape, never knowing it would be heading to Kentucky. PTL.

Indecision!

2009-12-08T09:44:00.003-06:00

Please forgive the close up. BTW, I talked to my wife for 10 minutes or so all the while looking just like this and she never noticed. Hmmm.

Change

2009-12-01T13:32:00.008-06:00

Connie, Aaron, and I spent this Thanksgiving in Louisiana. My brother, his wife, and daughter showed us great hospitality. They opened their home and saw to our every need. It was great to spend time with them and we were very appreciative. And, I had a delicious oyster po-boy! Awesome.

But, I must confess, there was a bit of sadness that accompanied the trip. We went down to the home were my brother and I grew up and for the first time in my 51 years, someone else lived there besides my family. It looked different - whose car is that parked in OUR driveway? Who chopped down the bush my mother planted? Why have they not mowed the barnyard? And, there was a visit to the graveyard. I just cannot imagine that both my parents now lie buried in Melder, Louisiana. Places come and go, but parents and family . . .

While we were out riding around, I decided to drop by one of my favorite spots. It is called Hogan's Hole. It was our summer time vacation spot. Hogan's Hole was only five miles or so from my home. As kids, we spent hours and hours there. It was a Redneck Rivera. But, to look at it now, it is not so inviting. It has filled in, the brush has grown up, and someone is now dumping garbage there.

Some changes are good. Edith was married to my dad during the last years of his life. She provided amazing care for him and went far above the call of duty. She served sacrificially and we are indebted to her for it. Now, she has a very nice home at a nice location. She has made new friends and has found a new church. It was good to visit her.

One thing that did not change - it was awesome to get home!

Trying New Things

2009-11-13T08:31:00.003-06:00

Skyline Chili. I was in Cincinnati, Ohio this week. Well, actually I stayed in Hebron, Kentucky which is just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. My reason for being there involves a rather long story. Regardless, I was there with friend and I had been told that I must try the Skyline Chili. Skyline is a chain of restaurants. Their chili is well known because of the "secret" recipe. I do not know all that was in it, but I do know it has cocoa and cinnamon. Cocoa and cinnamon sound good, but not necessarily together in a bowl of chili and cheese. But, it was surprisingly good - different - but good. It is good to try new things. We all get stuck in routines. Care must be given to not simply use boredom as an excuse to indulge sin. But, there are plenty of things out there that we can try that are different from our norm. Here is an example, I use to love to make mayonnaise sandwiches and dip them in chocolate milk. Don't knock it till you have tried it!

Next time you are near Cincinnati - try the Skyline Chili. Or, if you are really adventurous, try a mayo and chocolate milk lunch. Yum!

Frustration!

2009-11-06T11:04:00.002-06:00

This week my dear wife fixed pancakes for breakfast. If you were to come to my home for breakfast, I could pretty much tell you what you would have to eat on any given day. Monday is not a good day - it is usually cereal. Tuesday is pancake or french toast day. Wednesday is Waffle Wednesday. Thursday is Egg Sandwich day. Friday is Home-Made Cinamon Roll Friday. Saturday is Biscuits and Gravy. Sunday is bought cinnamon roll day.

On Tuesday, she had fixed pancakes and I wanted syrup on them. Most people do. I made a significant tactical error, however, by waiting to open the bottle of syrup after my pancake was done. It was a new bottle which meant I had to risk my fingers by cutting off a hard plastic seal that covered the bottle cap. The plastic used is wretched stuff, stiff and sharp when taken off. Next, I had to take off the bottle cap which had been screwed onto the bottle by a 600 pound gorilla. The reason I had to take the cap off was to get at a paper and foil seal that covered the top of the bottle that has a little tab that is almost impossible to raise to get the seal off. So, usually I grab a knife and stab the seal to enable me to remove it. I then had to screw the broken cap back on (the flapper on it had broken when I was wrestling with removing it) so I could finally dispense the syrup on my now cold pancake!

Two or three thoughts went through my head. How do elderly people or people with disabilities get their syrup? Secondly, I am beginning to wonder if the producer of the product does not want me using the product. Or, maybe the grocer is afraid of people stealing the syrup out of the bottles while they are sitting on the shelves. No wonder we are all almost incapacitated with fear. Even eating syrup communicates to us that we are embarking on a very risky odyssey. Hanging over the pleasure of a delicious breakfast is the risk of poisoning!

Gone are the days of buying a bottle of syrup, taking it home and pouring onto a warm, buttery pancake. Better safe than sorry? Remember this, if you plan to have syrup on your pancake - be sure and OPEN THE BOTTLE THE DAY BEFORE.

Variety of Experiences

2009-11-06T08:44:00.004-06:00

Last evening, the "Illini Quarterback Club" hosted Gibson City. The IQBC has been in existence for 68 years. When the football team is away then they have a Thursday evening meal and a live hour long call in radio show. When the team is home then the club hosts a Friday luncheon. They invite different towns to come as guests.

It was a fun evening on several fronts. Participating in the live radio broadcast was exciting. Being there last evening was good because the Illini had won last weekend and everyone was living off of the glow of that victory. Seeing Ron Zook up close (we were 10 feet apart) was pretty cool. The setting was awesome. The event was located in the "Colonnades Club" at Memorial Stadium. It would be really, really nice to watch a football game from there. The food was good and the company entertaining and the conversation interesting. The coach takes questions from the audience both during the live broadcast and during breaks. The questions asked during the breaks tend to be a bit more interesting. He also interacts with folks who call in with comments and questions.

I was a bit out of place. The only orange and blue I own are of a more casual nature. However, I did feel better when I saw that there was at least one other who did not wear orange - Ron Zook. We were dressed pretty much alike!

The whole experience was not one I would necessarily pursue. In the end, however, it was very enjoyable. I continue to be surprised and amazed at the different experiences that come into my life. Riding in a combine, flying in a Cessna 172 to Pontiac for coffee, going fishing at Clinton Lake, watching my son play basketball, teaching my daughter to drive, and on and on it goes. It is humbling and I am grateful.

Equipment

2009-11-02T16:06:00.005-06:00

I thought it might be nice to post the astro-equipment I use. It is a bit like looking at the pictures in the wallet of a proud grandparent. I don't want to rush it, so I will go one at a time. Today, the oldest of the bunch. It is a Celestron C8 - known as the orange tube classic C8. The "8" refers to the diameter of the telescope tube. It is eight inches around. Celestron began manufacturing this particular telescope in 1970. It became an influential scope because of several factors not the least of which was affordability and ability. It could be purchased for a reasonable price, was fairly portable, was large enough in diameter to allow the user to view a lot, and was of good quality. The style of scope is SCT. That acronym stands for Schmidt-Cassegrain. It has a couple of mirrors in it and a "correcting plate" which acts like a lens on the front. The design makes the telescope fairly compact especially considering the diameter.

I have been looking for one for a long time. Thankfully, a gentleman had one that he wanted to sell. He was advertising on the web and I assumed we would need to make some shipping arrangements - never fun when you are considering shipping fairly fragile equipment across the U.S. It was so exciting to discover he was only two hours from where I live and that he would be more than willing to drive half-way to meet. Rather than purchase the scope and accessories out right, we were able to do some trading. And, he was a wonderful Christian man with whom I had a most blessed couple of hours visiting. It always amazes me where I meet believers.

The scope is the newest to me and it is taking me a while to get use to it. The last time I had it out was Halloween. Usually, I don't like going out that evening. Not because of fear of what I don't see but fear of what I do! It was a beautiful evening, however, and after our "Hallelujah Party" at church I went out for almost 2 hours. The moon was out and, while not full, was plenty bright. I was able to see some beautiful sights - including M-13 in Hercules and the Double-Double star system in Lyra. The Andromeda Galaxy was washed out by the moon light. Jupiter was dancing in the southern sky.

I plan to do a "public showing" at the church soon. Be sure and join us!

Breakfast

2009-10-27T10:10:00.006-05:00

This morning I went to breakfast at Percfection Coffee House here in Gibson. It is a cool place to eat though not my usual breakfast hangout. My practice is to eat breakfast out once a week. It is my favorite meal restaurant meal. What smells better than bacon frying in the morning? The vast majority of times it is with another man whom I am either wanting to get to know better or with whom I need to discuss concerns within the church.

There is something about getting up and out as the world around me is waking up. I usually walk to where I eat breakfast. It takes me ten minutes and by the time I get to the restaurant I am wide awake. By the time I am done with breakfast I am so wired from drinking coffee that I need to walk home just to calm down. At home I drink two cups a coffee in the morning. When I eat out I drink two gallons of coffee in the morning.

Today I had the joy of having breakfast with my oldest son. I was deeply humbled. For one thing, and some of you know what I mean, we talked as man to man. That is a significant transition for both of us. Not that our conversation was necessarily "deep" or that we forgot we were son and father. And, he asked me my perspective on some concerns in his life. I have had to fight offering up too much advice and trying to be a fix-it person. The Lord has been teaching me to wait on Him. I was very pleased and humbled (forgive the repetition) that Drew would ask.

Go out to breakfast. Watch the world wake up over a plate of bacon and eggs. Spend the early part of a day conversing with someone you love. Don't worry about the cholesterol. Enjoy the glory of a sunrise and the pleasure of the food and bless God for His goodness in your life.

Wild Hogs - NOT!

2009-10-21T08:22:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, October 19th, was our second annual bike ride to Starved Rock, Illinois. Starved Rock is near Ottawa, about 100 miles from my home and is the second oldest state park in Illinois. It is located on the Illinois river with a very attractive lodge, hotel, and restaurant. The fall colors were very nice and the view of the river from "Starved Rock" is great. There is a lock and dam on the river that is fun to watch from the vantage point of the overlook. There is also a nice museum containing the history of the location.

My riding partners are Frank (on the left) and Jerry. I am in the middle. We left at 10:00 A.M. and had beautiful clear skies about 1/2 way. Clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped and we had to stop and grab a cup of hot coffee. We were tempted to turn back but pressed on and I am glad we did. The sun eventually returned and we had a delicious lunch at the park restaurant. The worst part of the trip were the Chinese beetles - they look like lady bugs on steroids. They were not a problem on the ride, although the occasional smash against the helmet is startling. At the overlook at Starved Rock there were thousands and thousands of them. People were literally running from them. It looked like the plague.

Another exciting event happened when we were riding the twisties up to the park. It is a narrow road and a young couple had decided to park to take some photos or just enjoy the view. The problem was that their vehicle was 1/2 into the narrow road. One of the motorcycles backfires when you let off of the throttle. That person was in front of me and just as he got by that vehicle his bike let out a loud "BANG"! I almost wrecked laughing so hard at the reaction of the young couple in the parked jeep. They were so busy looking at the leaves (and endangering every one's lives) they never noticed the motorcycle till the explosion from the tailpipe.

I enjoy the two men I was riding with, although they are hard riders. They never met a speed limit they liked. They are full of great stories and can be hilarious. Neither are shy - 8 Illinois State Troopers were at the restaurant on their motorcycles. It was like a magnet to the two men who waltzed right over and starting talking to them. When we were exiting the restaurant there were two dear ladies outside smoking. One of the men said: "Don't you know that smoking is bad for your health?" The ladies were startled, but did admit that they knew that. Then the man said, "Well, you are so old it probably does not matter any way". I kept walking, perhaps a little faster.

It is good for men to spend time with other men. To encourage one another, challenge one another, bless one another, and enjoy one another. It was a small adventure in the middle of the month. A nice little vacation spent with two dear brothers. And, I was very thankful by the end of the trip to have survived unscathed, but with a bit more insight into life and a few more stories to tell.

Blogging and Slogging

2009-10-12T15:58:00.004-05:00

Do people still read blogs? Has Face book and Twittering spelled the death of their longer winded cousin - the blogger? I am wondering. We are entering into a new frontier with communication. It is less face to face and more keyboard to keyboard. At least they are "talking", but are they really?

We had a wonderful baptismal service two weeks ago. All adults. It was glorious. The video is on our church web site - it takes a long time to load - be patient. It is such a wonderful thing to participate in the decision that people make to obey Jesus in baptism. My heart is humbled.

This past Sunday things did not go so well. There were technical problems. They can be really aggravating. And, a lot of people were out of town. Too often I see who is not here rather than who is here. And, at least from my perspective, the sermon did not go so well. I want everything to go just right and when it doesn't it throws me into discouragement. I still have not learned the lesson of slogging onward and upward. Praise God when it all comes to gather and heaven seems to have come to earth. But, Praise God also when things break, we stumble through sermons, and all does not seem well. God is still on the throne. Following Jesus means slogging at times.

ISS Up and Away

2009-10-12T15:29:00.006-05:00

The light streak in the center of the picture just above the trees, is the International Space Station. I asked my oldest son, who is currently working as a photographer, to shoot the picture for me. It was taken on May 29th of this year. I enjoy watching it pass over and try to imagine what the people are doing aboard it. Reading? E-mailing loved ones? Sleeping? Looking down at me looking up at them?

The ISS orbits the earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of approxmiately 200 miles. It is a little over 12,000 square feet of living space that travels at over 7,000 mph. This is not your typical RV. Would you consider this the ultimate escape? The view is awesome. The setting is ultimately unique. It is a bit pricey. I think the Russians charge $51 million a seat for a trip on the Soyuz to the ISS. I am not sure what that works out to per night, but it is more expensive than Motel 6. The station is not yet complete. I have read that it is the most expensive object ever constructed, with a cost between 35 to 160 billion dollars. And, it is easy to see at night with the naked eye. Some folks have spotted it during the day time. It is bright, very bright.

Reminds me - let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The ISS is bright, but it does not "produce" the light, it merely reflects it. (Someone may argue that point) The light seen from it originates with the sun. A good deal of what we see is reflected from the solar panels. And so with believers. We are to reflect the Light. The Light of the world is Jesus.

2009-09-17T09:08:00.002-05:00

Last evening, about 10:30, I saw Uranus for the first time. I was using my 10 inch dob telescope with a 17mm eyepiece. The sky was amazing. It literally looked like black velvet with diamonds. Uranus is hanging in the East/South-East sky just under the constellation Pisces.

Uranus is the 7th planet from the sun and the 3rd largest. It was discovered in 1781. It is 1.6 billion miles from earth and, the best I can figure, it takes the light over two minutes to reach us.

I had been looking for it through my 120mm refractor the night before but with no joy. It was very exciting to see another part of our solar system. So far, I have been able to view Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. Neptune is next on my list. I doubt I will ever see Pluto (I still consider it a planet) or Earth.

Know that what I saw was nothing like the above image. It was more like this - small but had a beautiful bluish hue. Oh the glory of God in creation!

Motorcycles

2009-09-08T13:50:00.004-05:00

I own and ride a motorcycle - and I like it. For some pastors, that is a tough confession. Chuck Swindoll helped us all out, however, when he bought his Harley. The folks where I pastor have been very kind. Only a few don't like it and have told me. And, my wife does not mind.

My first experience in riding happened in high school. The Williamson brothers had motorcycles and let me join them on their bikes. I was hooked. I bought my first motorcycle while I was in college. Byron MaGee sold me his street Yamaha 250. I had no license and no title for the bike until I sold it. It was fun to ride but not exactly what I was looking for. There were miles and miles of trails through the woods where I lived. I needed a dirt bike. So, I traded the Yamaha for a Kawasaki KA125. I stripped the lights and license plate off and road it many, many miles through the woods. And, there were cow trails through Kasatchie National Forest that were a blast to ride. Reggie, Gene, Greg, Jake, and Bruce all had bikes and also loved to ride in the woods. The Kawasaki was wearing out so I sold it and bought a Yamaha YZ125. It was a dirt bike par excellence. It would climb a tree if you let it. Life was changing for me, however. My time near the woods was getting less and less. Connie Jo Stahl was in my life and I needed money to buy an engagement ring. I was moving to Indiana to attend Grace Seminary. The Yamaha had to go. I was in my mid 20s and for the first time in a while found myself without a motorcycle.

Fast forward to about 8 years ago. A man in the church I pastored had bought a Harley and had his Yamaha 750 Virago for sell. It was a "Cruiser" and in good shape. He agree to sell it to me and I had a blast with it. I put a windshield on it and painted it blue with red flames. But, it had some quirks. It was very hard to start and had a slight oil leak. It was an older bike and getting a bit creaky. So, I decided to sell it and go bike-less.

A gentleman heard of my desire to find another motorcycle and made me an offer I could not refuse on the motorcycle pictured here. It is a 1996 Honda CBR1000F. Some call it a C - Rocket. A name I don't like. I prefer "Sport Touring". It is a fun motorcycle to ride. It may not look comfortable, but it is. The bike is smooth running and dependable. The longest ride I have taken has been 300 miles. I wear a helmet and usually have on a leather jacket - not for looks - but in case of a spill.

I am asked if I am afraid on a motorcycle. I don't trust cars when I am riding. People may not see you and I never assume they do. I try to be careful and wear the appropriate safety equipment. I do not take chances and am not in a hurry on the bike. There is something about being in the open air - the smells, the temperature changes, the wind - all are fresh on a bike. And, I have met wonderful folks who also ride. Some Harley folks don't like the fact I ride a Honda and I am okay with that.

One day I will be done riding. Even now I get cramps in my hips and I find throwing my leg over the seat a little bit more difficult. But, right now I enjoy the ride.

Decisions, Decisions

2009-08-31T10:10:00.003-05:00

Which way to go? Making the "right" decision is not always easy. Sometimes it is. When tempted to steal a candy bar from a convenience store, the correct decision is obvious, even if the temptation is appealing. Some would nuance even that simple decision with questions regarding the circumstances. "Situation Ethics" would ask something like: Are you stealing this because your family is hungry? (I say "No" - for a variety of reasons)

Some decisions are not so easy. What I wear on a Sunday morning has always been a source of agony for me. Dumb, I know. Recently I have been making that decision on Saturday evening. Decisions whose ramifications are significant bear down on us and make them more difficult. Sometimes, we become so overwhelmed by anxiety produced by seeking to "do the right thing" that we are incapable of making a decision. Sometimes, it is the paralysis of analysis. Other times we are afraid of making a choice, not because it may be right or wrong, but we fear we are not choosing what will be the best for us. If we choose "A" we may be missing out on "B". And, for the Christian, there is that mysterious thing we call "the will of God". Christians sometimes tie themselves into knots because of a fear that a decision will result in them "missing the will of God".

Lately, I have been in turmoil over a decision. What to do??? One of the best things I have found is to try and get some perspective. Talk to someone who is wise and as unbiased as can be about the decision. Talk to someone who will not tell you what you want to hear. This is in addition to prayer, searching the scripture, and waiting. And, having gathered the best information you can, having prayed and ask for the Lord's help, having asked input from wise friends, make the decision.

Now, to take my own advice . . . .

To Beard or Not To Beard

2009-08-24T15:19:00.003-05:00

I have never really had a beard. I have been scruffy, but never the full blown beard. It is fun, because I hate shaving. So, maybe it is sinful because I am giving in to sloth. My family is encouraging me to keep it. Perhaps for a while.

2009-08-24T08:26:00.006-05:00

During my recent sabbatical, I took some time to visit other churches. It is always an interesting experience. And, I purposefully chose churches different from the one I pastor. They were different in theology and different in worship styles. One was a mega-church, one was the size of the church I pastor, and one was smaller. One was very liturgical, one was charismatic, and one was reformed. (I hate labels)

As a visitor on the "other side" of the pulpit, I found myself wanting two different things at the same time. On one hand, I was hoping that people who regularly attended those churches would be welcoming of someone from the outside. On the other hand, I hoped to fly under the radar - to maintain a bit of anonymity. It is asking a bit of a church to have it both ways. Two of the churches did a "meet and greet" during the service. I am a bit ambivalent toward such actions. It does help you meet people around you but it is forced. One church recognized guests during the service. That was awkward and was really the last thing I wanted. Of course, my visit to these churches was quite different from someone searching for a church to attend. Only one of the three churches had people in place whose job (read ministry since it occurred in church) it was to greet people like me. And, they did their job well.

As a pastor, it is very difficult to go to other churches and worship without constantly evaluating all that is taking place. It was wonderful to see people worshiping in a variety of ways. In all three churches the scripture was read. In all three statements were made that indicated they believed Jesus was "the way, the truth, and the life". I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the liturgy of the "high church". There was no attempt there to mask the gospel, to necessarily go out of the way to make you feel like you were any where else but church. Sometimes, I think we try too hard to mask our identity for the sake of being seeker friendly.

Don't tell your pastor, but every now and then you should visit other churches. If for no other reason than to appreciate what you have in your home church.

Returning

2009-08-17T10:11:00.009-05:00

This is a picture of a sunset from Navarre Beach, Florida. I made it the last evening of our vacation. Pictures capture memories, or at least they try. The three weeks of sabbatical and one week of vacation are now memories. What did I learn? I kept a sabbatical diary of sorts and want to share portions from my daily diary. They are random and may be a bit confusing. If you don't read any more of this post, please read this - I was very thankful to disengage for a while - but I am also very thankful to be back.

* Home by 3:00 P.M. following a funeral. Fried fresh catfish - yum.

* Morning motorcycle ride with two men from the church. Afternoon in my temporary office. What do I want to accomplish? I don't want to waste the time, it is a sacred trust. But, I don't want the crushing feeling of having to squeeze something from every minute either. Balance!

*Finished the book "When People Are Big and God Is Small". Reading through the Bible.

*Visited church in Bloomington. Only one person spoke to me.

*Finding out the church gets along fine without me. None of us are indispensable.

*Started book "How People Change". Storm broke out, power went out. Hardest thing is prayer - isn't that terrible?!?

*Read 1st and 2nd Kings today. So much death, disobedience, and destruction. It takes time to get used to being off and then, when I do get use to it, it is time to go back. Unharnessing is hard, perhaps getting back in the saddle is harder.

*Went to an Episcopalian Church today. Much different than I am use to - but - I appreciated it. The chapel was very God oriented. The worship service was as well, but, I can see where it can become very rote.

*Praise God for friends!

*Lessons from the sabbatical:

1. Professionalism is dangerous to the pastorate. It is possible to move from being a pastor to being a professional, a suptle but deadly way of viewing ministry.

2. Disengaging from the daily responsibility of pastoring is good, but harder than I thought.

3. Personal discipline is a key to spiritual growth. Rest is part of personal discipline.

4. Cynism is an enemy to ministry.

5. The Holy Spirit works in ways we sometimes dismiss at worst, overlook at best.

6. Spiritual health can be faked but not before God.

7. I pastor a wonderful church and am humbled.

8. The Bible is food and water for all of life.

9. Time flies.

10. My family is a precious gift.

Thanks to the church for giving me the time away and thanks to everyone who filled whatever holes my absence created.
Paul

Sabbatical

2009-07-16T10:10:00.004-05:00

The Elders approached me about taking some time off. Some have misunderstood that to mean that the Elders wanted me to go look for a job some where else. If they were thinking that, they never said it to me! This has been a long time in coming, almost two years. We talked, we thought, we prayed, we re-thought, we post-poned, we talked. Getting things done by committee is not always the most efficient way of accomplishing something. We finally came up with the plan presented to you via the e-mail letter. And, there are no plans for searching for a new church or the church searching for a new pastor, at least no plans I know about. I do have every confidence that the staff at GCBC is much more than adequate to do the work of ministry here. We are so blessed and for them I am most grateful.

My intent is to keep you posted via this blog. And, except for the week of vacation, I don't plan to be far from Ford County. I do plan one small motorcycle trip with my dear brother Kent Klotz who lives in Indiana. I want to pray, read the bible in its entirety, read some books on Christian counseling, and think about how to be more effective in ministry. And, I have a couple of book ideas that I want to drag out of the back closet of my mind and toy with. Three weeks is not long.

Please pray for me and for the church. My biggest fear is to waste this glorious opportunity. That is not my intent.

Old and New

2009-07-14T15:21:00.005-05:00

Old and New, or, as we like to say in church parlance - Traditional and Contemporary. I really don't like either label because both carry baggage. The above picture was taken at the Peoria Air Show on Saturday, July 11, 2009. Someone had some tickets and could not attend. My two sons and I could attend. It was exciting. And, it was cool to see an F-16 and a P-51 flying in formation. Both highly respected, both awesome to see in flight.

A lesson to be learned in church. Old is not bad and neither is new. Old does not mean musty and out of touch. The Bible is, in one sense, very old. But, to read it, you would think much of it was written yesterday. And, just because something is new does not mean it must be suspect. God does things in His own way and it is not always the same way. The greater prejudice today is probably against the old. There is a certain arrogance we have now believing that everything then was worse. Not so. But, those who cling to the old can also become entrenched and think anything new is subversive. We need both. And, since we do need both, that is why I have a philosophical problem with having a contemporary worship service and a traditional worship service. That smacks of being divisive and threatens the thought that both the new and the old can be of the Lord. Can we not lay aside our personal preferences for a bit?

I love the P-51. The sound is awesome and so is the sight. But, the F-16 is not shabby. Both can occupy an airshow. Old and New right beside one another.

Unexpected Blessings

2009-07-10T14:25:00.003-05:00

Through a series of apparently mundane events, I ended up spending some up close and personal time with a World War 2 warbird - a F6F Hellcat - a rare bird indeed. Very, very few are flying these days. They were the scourge of the Japanese in the battle for the Pacific. And, one dropped into the neighborhood - Rantoul - and a dear friend and brother (Eric Johnson) knew someone who knew someone and knew me. Together we all got to spend some time drooling on and in the plane. For me, it was a rare opporutnity to have a very tactile experience with a piece of machinery that I find exhilerating - representing a time that I find amazing. For others, not so much. But, it came "out of the blue". And, blessings often do just that - arrive unexpected, unanticipated, unplanned. I just want to be sure that my radar is on and I am grateful when they do and seek to be grateful when they don't. Perhaps some would argue that the God of the universe could care not one bit whether or not I sat in the cockpit of a Navy plane responsible for helping win WW2. I completely understand the thought and don't want to attribute to God more than He has promised. But, be it a note from a long lost friend, a $5.00 bill at the bottom of a sock drawyer, a rain shower at just the right time - all are gifts of His grace. And, I want to thank Him for them.

Golf Gulf

2009-06-30T08:24:00.003-05:00

This past Friday I played my first, and perhaps my only, round of golf for the year. The picture above shows the threesome of my foursome. We were playing in a an outing sponsored by a couple of local organizations raising money for good causes. The fellowship was good, the food after was good, the weather was good, and the golf was good. We shot 8 under. My contribution to that score was minimal. Although, not to brag, I did finish us up by shooting a birdie on the final hole - a par 3. It was a beautiful shot - probably the best of the outing . . . . . . sorry, I digress. My help on the rest of the 18 was limited to a lot of verbal encouragement. For one thing, you cannot play golf once a year and do exceptionally well. For another, there were two others on the team that play every week - one of which use to be a golf pro. Dave, the guy on the right in the picture, is a weight lifter who, when he connects, almost knocks the skin off of the ball. So, I was there for the moral support. "Atta Boy!" "Great Shot!" "Your the Man!" Our score was not enough to place - the winning team shot a 14 or 15 under. But, 8 under is a score never achievable me alone. Playing best-ball made it possible. As a pastor, the lesson in that is all too obvious - which are the best lessons I learn. The Lord builds teams to accomplish his purposes. I have very little patience for the man/woman who discards the church as useless. Imperfect? Yes. Sometimes hurtful? Yes. Inconsistent? Yes. Intolerant? Sometimes. But, the work of the kingdom advances through the work of the body - a team dedicated to moving forward under the leadership of the King. It is not about the lone person, the American ideal of the individual, who takes on the world. Leadership is important. Single individuals have significant impact. But, in the end, it is about the body. Maybe I should play more - as a reminder of this lesson - and others - such as patience, persistence, hitting it fat, keeping my head down, not gripping too tightly, etc, etc, etc.

Hot

2009-06-23T08:19:00.003-05:00

I grew up in this house in central Louisiana. It was a wonderful place to live. There was a pond behind the house and thousands of acres of woods around it. We lived next door to a national forest. There were some downsides, not the least of which was the heat. Growing up, we had no air conditioning. An attic fan provided the only ventilation in the evenings. And, more often than not, in the middle of the summer it only moved hot air. My brother was older than me and his bed was next to the window so I was second in line for the breeze. I remember the evenings as hot and, since the windows were open, noisy. Lots and lots of bug sounds, owls, and a variety of other night creatures created a cacophony of sound. It was like a natural orchestra. A few things helped relieve the heat. One would be a thunderstorm. The other would be damp dish towels. And, sometimes, Tim and I went out on the roof. But, to be honest, I did not really mind the heat too much. You do get acclimated and we knew no better. The vast majority of people around us did not have A/C either. Our cars, at least when I was a kid, did not have A/C. So, I have lived with it and without it. I prefer having it, but know that it is entirely possible to get along just fine without it. In many ways, it really is a luxury. Anyway, today it is hot and muggy in East/Central Illinois. Reminds me a bit of Louisiana.

Longest Day

2009-06-22T08:50:00.002-05:00

Summer has officially arrived. The summer solstice occurred yesterday, Sunday - June 21st. It is always a bit depressing for me. Isn't that awful! What bothers me is that the days start getting shorter. The sun has stopped the ascent it makes and now begins descending lower and lower. Every day we shave some minutes off of the amount of daylight we experience, unlike our dear friends who live near the equator. And, yesterday was Father's Day. It was a good day - all three children were home. Andrew read scripture during the worship service at church, which was nice. Connie fixed a delicious dinner. We topped it off with homemade ice cream. At least we tried. The mixer/freezer ran and ran and ran. After several hours, the mix was the consistency of buttermilk. This morning, after it spent the night in the refrigerator freezer, it was finally hard enough to be considered ice cream. The family gave me some nice gifts. We played hillbilly golf late in the afternoon. I was most grateful for their kindness.

Stars and ISS

2009-06-08T10:02:00.007-05:00

Look closely in this photo and you see a streak. That is the International Space Station flying over the U.S. two weeks ago. (Click on the pic and it should enlarge) The ISS is VERY bright. All the solar panels hanging off of it has made it amazingly reflective of sunlight. So much so that some folks are spotting it during the daytime. It was low on the horizon the evening I made this picture. Not the best locality for observing or photographing.

I also made some "star-shots". Here is one. Again, click on it and you should see an enlarged version. It is a bit "noisy" but the stars are very obvious. I am interested in doing some astrophotography but the equipment costs are significant. It would require me purchasing a different mount for my telescope and some other equipment used to attach my DSLR to the telescope. Maybe later.

In the mean time, check out the web site "Heavens Above" to see when the ISS will next pass over. You will need to enter your locality. I have found it amazingly accurate in the predictions it offers. Finally, life may be like a box of chocolates - never knowing what you get. In this last image, if you click on it, you will see a surprise. I was unaware of it until closer examination. It is amazing how much "stuff" is flying through our atmosphere.

Rain

2009-06-02T08:52:00.004-05:00

I love rain. Frankly, and this is dangerous to say, I would rather have too much than too little. Yes, I have had my basement flooded and had to rip out carpet and tear out walls. And, certainly, I don't wish a flood on anyone. I was in western Illinois by the Mississippi River in 93. The devastation was breath taking. But, when there is too little the earth becomes parched and barren. It is as if the wind itself becomes a moan emanating from the planet for rain. And, when it comes, it comes as refreshment unmatched. When it has been dry and rains, it makes you want to run outside and dance in it and lift your face and let it run down your chin.

And, I love thunderstorms. Sorta. I don't like it when people or property are damaged in storms. But, I love a hot and dry day that ends with a cacophony of sound and fury and downpours of liquid cool. And, as quickly as it begins it ends and the day has been transformed in a moment. Where it was hot and buggy and stifling - it is now cool and clean and relaxing. And, there are no firework shows on the planet that can match a good summer thunderstorm for its intensity and pure excitement.

The Bible describes rain as a blessing from God. It is used as an example of His common grace. It rains on the just and the unjust. Showers of blessings, showers of blessings we need, mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead! Words to an old gospel song that describe rain as a symbol of the goodness of God coming to us.

Hoss Update

2009-05-19T14:18:00.004-05:00

Some of you have asked how Hoss is doing. I am pleased to report that he is doing well. Not that he has not been doing well. He does have a rather enviable existence.

It is Spring and with Spring comes downpours - downpours of white hair. His shedding is not so noticeable in the winter. He continues to break things - just by virtue of his running into stuff. His snoring has gotten worse - age and weight gain??? Please let me know if you have information about a manufacturer that makes nose strips for dogs to help decrease snoring. Breath Right is the name, I think. His breath is not bad, but when he drinks he carries about a quart away in his mouth and deposits it in a long line of dribbles. Those puddles have caused several falls because they are on hardwood floors and create a glaze just like ice.

He eats grass, swallows burritos whole, barks at cats, and hates rabbits and baths. His appetite knows no end and he believes napping is mandatory. He loves to be outside, has no leash discipline, and loves to eat flies. Other than that, he really is a good dog. Believe it or not, he possesses a unique dignity though it is not always readily apparent. I think we shall keep him.

Graduation

2009-05-19T14:00:00.004-05:00

We are rejoicing with Andrew that he has graduated with his Masters from the University of Illinois in Springfield. The program is called PAR - Public Affairs Reporting. PAR involves class room work and an internship. Andrew has been working at the state capital and has gotten a whole other education reporting on state politics, especially during the events of this past year.

Now he faces the rather perilous pursuit of a job. The current economic climate causes some concern as does the state of journalism as a whole. Newspapers are struggling thanks in large part to the internet. We are praying for Andrew and asking the Lord to give him wisdom as he continues to seek where he should live and what he should do. In the mean time, if it is not evident in the picture, we are proud parents and thankful for his diligence. The time has flown by. It seems like we were just preparing him for kindergarten.

Keeping Up Appearances

2009-05-06T08:19:00.002-05:00

He soars over the rim and jams it home! Boom! Move over Shack. Get out of town LeBron. Aaron is going to school you. He is a good 2 feet over the rim - and still less than 6 foot tall. No more retirement worries for me, baby. NBA by the time he is 18. Yeah! It is Hummer time.

And yet and alas. Someone told me it does not count if the rim is only set at 7.5 feet. Even Keith Gaesser could dunk at that height. But, just looking at the picture from here, it sure looks like he is flying.

It is all about the appearance. People say that pastoring is not dangerous. I work with wonderful people, spend a lot of time in a church building, and am surrounded by great books. The most precarious part of my day is the walk/drive to and from the building. But, there are dangers not so obvious and I am not talking about germs. I am talking about seeming to soar over the rim when it is only set at 7.5 feet. I am talking about keeping up appearances and maintaining perceptions. Talking about praying but not praying. Talking about holiness wihtout being holy. Talking about God without bothering to getting to know Him.

And, the Lord shows such grace and patience. He brings people and circumstances into my life to bring me back to the reality. He is faithful!

In the mean time, Aaron will keep jamming it home at 7.5 feet. And, he is still growing. Maybe, just maybe!

Sermon Work

2009-04-28T10:09:00.003-05:00

An oxymoron - "sermon work"? It can be. It is easy to get sermons via the internet. One pastor used to say that he did not work his sermons up, he got his sermons "down". Meaning they came directly from the throne room of the Lord. That would be nice. And, in some ways, the Word and the Spirit do work together to produce the message through a human vehicle. More often than not, however, rather than receiving post cards from heaven messages arrive through the work of study, prayer, and thought.

Sometimes I am asked how difficult it really is to prepare a sermon. Sometimes it is very difficult and sometimes not so much. Occasionally it just flows. More often than not, however, it is laborious. I say it is a bit like giving birth, but saying that gets me in trouble every time. (We'll see!) The hardest part for me is the application. I mean that in two ways. How does this sermon apply to the hearers? What should they do with the truth of this text? The second struggle with application is more personal. How does this text apply to me and how am I seeking to live out the reality of it? Jesus warned about those who teach one thing and live another. There are certain topics that I blanch about when I preach on them. Suffering, for one. All people suffer to some degree or other. But, in the face of the catastrophic suffering some folks in the congregation go through, my pain seems a bit trivial.

As Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks

were walking out on Sunday,

Said Tommy Snooks to Bessie Brooks,

Tomorrow will be Monday.

And that is in the front of my mind - tommorow is Monday and what will this message mean then - when the saints move out into the homes and jobs. That is the application. Living out our faith in the context of the world into which God has called us with His glory in mind.

Dear Deer! NOT!

2009-04-22T11:09:00.003-05:00

Well, the white deer saga continues. Turns out, it apparently is not a deer. Well, sorta. I have been told by those who know that it is a "Seka" deer which is actaully a tiny elk. Furthermore, I have also been informed that it is an escapee. It ran away from someone for some reason. It certainly is an odd deer, very friendly, not shy with a bouncy gait when it does run. Regardless, the white deer, er elk, is currently MIA from the GCBC property. Perhaps he read the earlier blog and was offended.

Hobby - Help? Hinderance?

2009-04-20T10:16:00.009-05:00

Hobbies - are they a good thing? A hobby, by definition, is "an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure". Are hobbies a good thing or do they serve to siphon off valuable resources in terms of time and money - resources that could or perhaps should be invested else where? Should we be feeding children with the money we spend on our hobbies? Do our hobbies stop us from serving our neighbors like we should. Hmmm.

I have two hobbies that I will admit to. One is the collection of diecast airplanes. It is a rather innocuous hobby. Here is a photo of one. It is an A-10 Thunderbolt. If you could see the tail (or vertical stab for your airplane aficionados) you would see the designation EL which means it is a model painted in the scheme of A-10s which were with the 23rd TFW and stationed at England Air Force Base. I used to watch these planes straffing at the nearby bombing range. This particular diecast model was a gift - I bear no guilt in owning it. But, I have 91 other diecast models. Some of them were also gifts, but many of them I purchased. Most of mine are fairly inexpensive, especially when compared to the $150 models collectors purchase. I add 2-3 new planes a year, sometimes receiving them as Christmas gifts.

The other hobby is astronomy. (There is a theme here - both require looking up). It can be an expensive hobby. I looked at a telescope advertised on the web today. This is a "personal" telescope mind you. $156,000! My telescopes were not quite that expensive. I own 4, three of them I purchased used. The one new one is the one in the picture. It is a nice telescope - a 4 inch refractor. Not only do you need the telescope, you also need a mount to put it on, a diagonal which holds the eyepieces, and the eyepieces. Then there are accessories such as cases, finders, red flashlights, books, etc, etc. It would be easy to spend thousands. But, you don't have to spend thousands. It would be hard to be in astronomy and not spend hundreds, however. A decent used scope is $250 - 300. A decent used eyepiece $50 - $75. And on it goes.

Of the two hobbies, the astronomy one takes me away from the family. None of my family really has an interest. They told me that when I am with the Lord, they are liquidating all of my equipment. So, when I am out looking, I am usually alone. I would like to change that and am thinking about starting a club here in Gibson.

Anyway, I would be less than honest if I did not think that at times I should be rid of all of it and give away the money and invest the time else where. But then, there is something about developing more in our lives than simply work. We were, I believe, created to work. But, we were also created to be creative. And, participating in a hobby broadens our world, opens opportunities, increases our knowledge, expands our horizons, and invigorates our imaginations.

So, I guess as long as I feel, to some degree, the tension, as long as I seek to be moderate and am open to abandoning it all should the Lord call me to do so, as long as I hold it all loosely, as long as it does not become a god, does not injure my testimony, does not hijack my faith, does not impede my service - then it can be a good thing. What do you think about hobbies?

Cyber Community, Connection, Talking

2009-04-17T08:15:00.004-05:00

Never say never. I am now on "Facebook". It is a good thing, I think, to be connected with people. A very good thing. It is Biblical. We don't do it enough. We need to be involved in the lives of others. It is a demonstration of our faith to "bear one anther's burdens". But, is it correct to call an electronic connection a community? If so, it is a whole other way of thinking of it - different from the past view of seeing community as a collection of people who love, care, and serve one another in tangible ways. (I am NOT saying that people connected by the computer do not express those, but I do think the temptation is there to not) The danger of an electronic community is that we can become voyeuristic, not in some perverted way, but in the way that we look through the window of our computer at the lives of others, people we really care about, and our only involvement is through words typed onto a screen. It is a means of satisfying our curiosity but not a means of applying our love. It is like the old saying, "thinking about praying is not the same as praying". Reading the agony someone is experiencing is not the same as heading to their home and seeking to help them. It may be argued, of course, that at least we now know about the agony.

And yet, for all the shortfalls, it DOES connect us in a way we have not been doing. It does provide the opportunity for legitimate expressions of love, for tangible and viable opportunities to meet needs. And, maybe I am taking it all to a place where we don't need to go. Maybe cyber community is about having some fun with other folks, a light touch, but a touch nonetheless.

Anyway, I do have to be careful with my time. And, I don't want to loose face to face, hand to hand contact with people. As good as cyber communities may be, they can never, ever replace the need for us to sit together, face one another, share our joys, burdens, prayers, concerns, and victories together.

Dear Deer

2009-04-14T11:31:00.005-05:00

Dear Deer,

Dear me. You have caused quite a stir. For some reason you have adopted our church property as your residence. Some see it as a miracle, a sign. Of what, I am not sure. I do not sense any increased "blessing" since you showed up. Now, if tomorrow, someone walked in and paid our church building off, then I might change my mind. In fact, I still think you (please don't take offense) might be a goat. My grandpa raised goats and you bear a striking resemblance to them. But, you don't smell like them. Regardless, Dear Deer, I would tell you to be careful. For one thing, you are way too trusting. You let us get too close and I fear that one day someone will want to get close to decide whether White Deer is as tasty as Brown Deer. And then there is highway. Cars and Semi Trucks are not your friends. Stay far, far away from them. Someone talked about trying to capture you and put you in a pen as curiosity for folks to come and see. Somehow that seems to take the joy out of things.

I would suggest, Dear Deer, that you lay as low as possible. You are easy to spot, so try to keep a very low profile. Stay away from people wearing camo, don't be drawn to bright lights at night, and be wary of folks bearing gifts of corn.

Thanks for coming to see us.

Sincerely,

Paul Thomason

Ressurection Musings

2009-04-14T11:03:00.005-05:00

This is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly which is enjoying the blessing of an azalea. I photographed this last month during our time in Louisiana. Forgive me for sounding morose or for not moving on, but for some reason I found comfort in seeing this insect during the difficult time of experiencing the death of my father, a renewed sense of the death of my mother, and the death (at least the ending) of what has been a significant part of my life for 51 years by preparing the "Place" to sell.

I am not attempting to simply "get over it". Sorry, but that does not happen. If you just "get over it" then whatever you are "just getting over" certainly did not mean much to you. Instead, the butterfly and what it symbolizes to me helped put everything in perspective. What does the butterfly represent? It is a reminder of The Resurrection. Not just any resurrection, mind you, but The Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The butterfly "dies" in its cocoon, those of you who are entomologists (as if one would read this blog!) would correct my perception, but this is representation or illustration - which is not always exacting in comparisons, and then the butterfly comes back to life. It is Spring. And, The Resurrection is not some lame story that has evolved as a Spring Passage Story thought up by our forefathers as symbolic of the earth coming back to life after the dormancy of winter. The Resurrection is the shock wave that shoots through the universe and changes every thing.

Sunday worship here on the day we celebrate The Resurrection was awesome. The music was amazing, we had a great attendance (400 - 500), and the Lord gave grace during the message. My point was to take the worn out cliche - You Cannot Get There From Here - and to turn it on its head and say that The Resurrection is about - You Cannot Get Here From There. I understand how Jesus got to Dead, in that there is no mystery. We are all headed for Dead. But,
getting from Dead back to Life, that is amazing and therein lies our hope. And, The Resurrection is not just about an exclamation point at the end of the death of Jesus. It is not just about me saying "Nan Nan Na Nana" to death. It literally changes everything. Jesus is taking back the universe. He is not giving the devil an inch. This good earth is going to be transformed back to what the Lord intended it to be in the first place and the power that is going to accomplish that has already been unleashed by The Resurrection. And we, the people who are recipients of His grace are also being transformed by that same power to become more and more like what He intended us to be from the beginning. It is a process that won't be complete till Jesus comes back, but the power is already at work in our world.

And, it all comes because Jesus has provided a way in order to Get Here From There.

The Place, The End

2009-03-30T13:38:00.007-05:00

At 4:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 27th, Aaron closed the carport door for what I am assuming was our final stay at "The Place". It had been a long week. My mother and father were both keepers. Perhaps that was a result of their experience of growing up during the depression. This picture is a sampling of the stuff we had to go through. Every piece had to be handled; every item required a decision. And, while many were void of memories, a lot were saturated with them. Flashes of forgotten experiences came roaring back with the tactile experience of touching and smelling and seeing my parents household goods. Pots, pans, clothes, rings, pictures, aftershave - the list was almost endless and so was the emotional ride attached with them. All in all, it was an exhausting experience. Not only was there the sadness attached to cleaning out their home, there was also the physical exertion of carrying, lugging, moving, burning, stacking, transporting - all sorts of stuff. In the end, I think the decision making process was the hardest. Who gets what and why do they get it. What do we keep, what do we give away, what do we throw away. The truth is, most of the things we wanted most had little intrinsic value. It was a my father's favorite glass, a figurine my mother loved, an old tool often used, an worn out pair of binoculars - those were the priceless goods with which we had to deal.

And, there was the place. Working in the house was like playing old home movies. In the corner of the kitchen I could see my Mom standing and eating out of a bowl, one foot propped on top of the other. My father loved sitting on the porch smoking a cigarette enjoying the cool of the evening. The old barn and shed were work places where we fed chickens and chopped wood and fixed old lawn mowers. The house sits on a hill which slopes down to a pond in the back. It was a place to fish, shoot snakes, and relax. Behind the pond were the woods. A better theme park has never been built. The woods were full of mystery and surprise. You never knew what adventure awaited you when you entered them. It was a great place to play and to allow your imagination to soar. But, the Place could also be lonely. It is remote and quiet. But, for me, that was okay.

The heart of the Place has gone. It lies buried in the cemetery beside Pine Ridge Baptist Church. I could have arranged to have owned the Place. Tried to have kept it in the family. But, without the heart, it was empty. Hold things loosely. Be thankful for the past, relish the memories, trust the Lord for the future. The Place was were I went to visit, to relax, to see family. Home is where I now live and love. The Place will live in my mind in memories - sweet memories of parents and family and friends. Memories of a boy playing army in the woods, of catching fish with grandpa, of feeding chops to chickens and hay to cows. Memories of a mother who loved flowers and a father who loved mowing. Memories of hot summer evenings and cool dips in the creek.

I hope the person who will soon live at the Place will form their own special memories there. I would love to sit with them and tell them the story of the Place. How my father built it, how my mother loved it, how my grandfather worked it, and how my brother and me felt about it. I hope they love it and care for it. But, I would warn them to hold it loosely. To recognize that one day they too will leave the Place for the last time. And, to know that this Place is only a preview of the Place that is to come. No more crying there - that is a permanent address.

Sign of Hope

2009-03-11T16:37:00.003-05:00

The Robins have returned to the Gibson City Bible Church field. That is a very good sign. It means that Spring is close behind, Lord willing. Every year we have fairly large flocks of Robins migrating through. They are starting to show up and that is encouraging. I love Spring. Without trying to overly spiritualize it - Spring is connected with the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus changes everything - for the better. Spring is coming! And, the power of the resurrection if felt throughout the world as we anticipate the transformation of the resurrection changing brown to green, cold to warm, dead to live, bud to flower, hope to reality.

"NO!"

2009-03-09T13:42:00.002-05:00

Down the road from where my father lived, there is this sign. It is approximately 24 inches square. One word, nothing more. It has been up for a long time. Whenever I am in Louisiana, I take walks down this road and have passed this sign bunches of times for many years. I would assume this is not the whole message, but I could be wrong. Perhaps "No Trespassing" was the original intent, but the sign is on a telephone pole on a public road. Hardly a place to prevent people from being. Maybe it was a protest against something. But the location would guarantee a very limited readership. It could be that the person placed it there in response to a question someone had asked them. Maybe a shy bride was answering a suitor or a kid was being defiant toward his parents. Maybe it is meaningless, but, knowing where it is located - I am guessing it was there for a reason - in light of the expenditure of energy to place it.

No is a powerful word. There is no ambiguity about it. Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no". It is a negative, but there are some very positive things about "No". We teach our children to say "No" to drugs. It can be an ominous word: "No turning back" or "No way out". But, it can bring great encouragement: "There will be no more tears, no more sadness, no more sorrow".

I don't know what the "No" sign means out in the woods in central Louisiana. And, I don't think I ever will. The environment is working against it. One day it will fall off of the pole and lay on the side of the road and be reclaimed by the ground on which it lies. It will then be "No" more. How unlike us. A glorious future awaits all those who have cast themselves on the glorious "Yes" of Christ.

Elders and Comets

2009-02-24T09:44:00.013-06:00

Last evening was an Elder meeting. It was a good meeting. Praise God for good and godly men who are willing to serve the body of Christ. Even so, Elder meetings are often tiring. We make decisions with a degree of soberness that comes from the sense of responsibility and accountability before God and the people of GCBC. Our meeting was pleasantly interrupted by the home coming of a fellow from our church, Joe Andris. Joe has been on a long - short term missions endeavor on Copper Island. Copper Island is located off of the coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. It is a beautiful place which does a beautiful work with a vision to restore the Name of the Lord where it was used to abuse. I have been there and hope to go back.

The meeting went till around 11:00 P.M. Which I did not mind, this time. Because, at home my Orion ST120 was cooling down so I could take it out and look at Comet Lulin. The scope is a 5 inch refractor. The comet was easy to find because it was so close to the planet Saturn - which is beautiful in its own right. The rings of Saturn are almost "flat" in their oritentation to us right now. Someone has described it as looking like the planet with an arrow through it. And it does. I easily found Saturn just below the constellation "Leo". And, just off from Saturn, the comet Lulin. It was discovered in 2007 by Quanzhi Ye, 19, and a meteorological student of at China's Sun Yat-sen University. He was working at the the Lulin Observatory doing a sky search when he first saw the comet.

This is an image of something like I saw. It was taken by Jerry Lodriguss. My eyes did not detect the color that the image shows but I could see the shape of the comet and the bright core. (Saturn is the bright spot to the right, though the rings are not visible) It was a smudge, a "faint fuzzy". Some folks, under very dark skies, are able to detect the comet with the naked eye.

The comet will be visible for a while. You can check on the Internet for the time to go out and see it. A pair of binoculars will do, especially if they are 10X50. Expect to see a fuzz ball of light.

We are a bit like comets. We are travelers, pilgrims. We are not simply passing through, however. Followers of Christ are bringing the kingdom to bear on where they live and work. And, we look forward to a new heaven and earth. The current universe is amazing. I cannot wait to see it as it will appear liberated from the impact that the fall has had on it. In the mean time, take some time out under the clear night sky. It can be a refreshing experience.

2009-02-16T15:09:00.000-06:00

I thought you might enjoy this video of the "Place" down in Louisiana. It is where I grew up. The video starts at the pond, pans past the pecan trees my dad planted, the shed, the house - where if you look closely you can see a grape vine my dad babied for years - the greenhouse, garage, gazebo, barn, barnyard, and concludes pointing back to the pond.

Weddings and Marriage

2009-02-16T11:35:00.001-06:00

Someone recently asked me how many weddings I have performed in the 23+ years I have been a pastor. Good question. Early on, I did not keep records as well I do now. My estimate would be between 50 and 60. That is not a lot, considering the 23 years of ministry. Interestingly, they come in waves. This winter has been a busy one with a wedding a month: December, January, and February and a vow renewal in January. And, thankfully, the weather cooperated every time. Each ceremony was different and each was beautiful and an honor to be a part of.

The first wedding I did was July 11th, 1986 - a year into being a pastor. I do remember the ceremony was held in a building that was not air conditioned and that the temperature was about 101 degrees. I also remember standing in front of the bride and groom and having an out-of-body experience as I was speaking while thinking to myself how interesting it was to see the make-up of the bride run off of her face.

Through the years I have had a few people faint. That is always exciting - having someone keel over during the ceremony. Thankfully, no one has ever thrown up though a few have threatened. I have been amazed that I have never had to miss a wedding because of my own illness. I have an ongoing dream that I am unable to get everything together on the day of a wedding and am late. I have forgotten to "pronounce" a couple as husband and wife. Were they?I have forgotten to have couples sign the marriage license - were they married??? In the eyes of the Lord, yes. In the eyes of the state, I don't know. I enjoy the pre-martial counseling more than the ceremony itself, only because getting all the pieces right in the ceremony is a bit nerve wracking. I have witnessed heated arguments before weddings - often involving extended family and the role they may or may not have at the wedding. No one has ever asked me to sing at a wedding or dance at the reception.

Doing outside weddings is always interesting. The setting is often beautiful but the risks can be significant. Weather does not always cooperate and neither do the bugs. One outside wedding seemed to be the equivalent to one of the Mosaic plagues. Bugs are attracted to perfume.

The first thing I do when I walk out to perform a wedding is scan the crowd for my wife. Seeing her brings a sense of calm to me. And, every wedding makes me think of my own and how blessed I am. My hope for every groom is that he finds in his wife the joy and delight I have found in mine.

Doing weddings is a real privilege. The longer I do them, the more honored I am that I am asked to do them. And, I look forward to doing more in the future.

On the death of my Father

2009-02-10T10:22:00.000-06:00

My father died in his sleep on the morning of Friday, January 30th, 2009. He was 83. We buried him on a windy, chilly, and bright Louisiana day at noon. The last weeks of his life were hard for him. And, he knew that his earthly sojourn was nearing the end. The apostle Paul's thoughts were on his mind - longing to go and be with the Lord and be free from the suffering and yet wanting to stay.

The trip from Illinois to Louisiana was eventful - we were clueless about the ice storm in southern Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. There was no power for miles and miles - meaning there were no hotels, restaurants, and at least for a while, gas stations operating. All of our plans had to change. The funeral visitation was long for us, but short by Louisiana standards. It started at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday afternoon and ended at 7:30 P.M. Some people came and stayed for the entire time. It was exhausting and exhilarating. I have never lived near family. It was so good to see them and feel a sense of kinship with them. The funeral service was what my Dad had wanted. The pastor did a good job summarizing his life and the special music was fitting. Because of the setting, we walked from the church to the graveyard preceded by the hearse and followed by guests. Because Dad was retired military, the honor guard from Barksdale Air Force Base was present. They served as pallbearers in the graveyard, folded the flag, gave a gun salute, and played taps. They were young enlisted men and it was very moving. I told them that my Dad would have been honored and pleased. We buried him beside my mother and walked back to the church for a delicious, albeit bittersweet meal.

And now. And now it is strange. Waves of sadness drift over me at odd times. It is hard for me to think of him as dead. The face of the man in the casket did not look like my Dad. It was the face of a very old, very thin, and very tired man. I still think of my father as robust. He was always strong. We will miss his phone calls, his weather reports, his expertise - in everything. He taught me to drive, to hunt, to be patient, to use tools. He was generous. Not perfect. He had a temper, felt compelled to tell everyone how to live their lives, was nosey, and could cuss a blue streak when stirred. He read little, was awarded by the Air Force for his public speaking ability, and refused to fly because of all he had seen through his work. He was a good father. I knew he loved me and was proud of me and sought to encourage me.

We are now dealing with the stuff he left behind. Some of it packed with memories, some of it mysterious. He had $18.00 stuffed in a sandwich bag in his safe. The origin and purpose of it gone with him. The sun has set on his life. Another tie binding me to this world has been broken. More and more people I love are in heaven.

Anticipation builds.

Place of Power

2009-01-27T09:58:00.001-06:00

We recently paid a visit to our oldest son who is working as an intern at the Illinois State Capital. It is a beautiful building. The wood and marble in it are gorgeous. And, at least the portions we saw, were immaculate. The day we were there (the Friday before the impeachment trial started on the following Monday) it was nearly empty. Andrew gave us a fascinating tour of a variety of rooms including the one where the trial would be held. The building is open for folks to tour. I would encourage you to go see it - and visit the Lincoln Museum while you are in Springfield.

The above picture is of the governor's office. It is nice and clean and well kept - and unoccupied! You can barely see in the above image a statue of Elvis in the window to the left of the desk. The current governor loves Elvis. What is currently happening with our governor is tragic. It is tragic for him and it is tragic for the state. No man sins alone. We think our little peccadillo's are private. We think we can sin in the dark and get by with it. Not so. The Lord sees the night as day. The Bible warns us that we can be sure that our sins will find us out.

So, head to Springfield and take a look at the capital. Eat a horseshoe and enjoy the Lincoln Museum. And never put your trust in man, but in the Lord. He alone is worthy.

The Wind

2009-01-26T11:13:00.000-06:00

Twin Groves Wind Farm lies in McClean County, just west of where we live. There are 240 Wind Turbine Generators that rise above the flat farm ground like giant pinwheels. They are nearly 400 feet tall from the bottom of the tower to the the top of the arc of the propellers. Gleaming white, the turbines glint in the sun as they swish round and round. As you can tell from the above video - the wind blows with some power making the generators produce electricity. It is fascinating to watch, especially by standing directly under the towers. I recently took my brother from Louisiana out to see them. It was 6 degrees and the wind was howling - not a good environment for a fellow from Louisiana.

The bible talks about the wind. There is something mysterious about it Jesus told Nicodemus. And, the scripture speaks of the Spirit in terms of the wind. I want our church to be like the wind turbines - used by the Spirit, moved by the Spirit, made for the Spirit. And, like the turbines, I want us to be a light on a hillside.

2009-01-16T11:13:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of the thermometer in my house this morning, January 16th. When I moved to the north, I expected cold weather. But, I did not anticipate anything quite this cold. There are colder spots on the planet, but none around my house.

And so, the saga of Hoss the Boss dog continues. He has the audacity to want to go outside even when it is -17. And, at 6:22 this morning, with school canceled, I am the only one awake. I had the wonderful idea of having breakfast with someone this morning - the coldest day of the decade. Hoss was ALL AGLOW about heading outside. I can only wish that I could anticipate heaven as much as he anticipates going out. He does the "Hossy Dance" and becomes 75 pounds of wriggling, wiggling dog. His little doggy mind is thinking about rabbits and smells and 15 stops at 15 differnt bushes, and people to bark at, and jerking his owners back and forth. And so it was this morning. But, his perspective was transformed by the reality. It was a strange sight. Hoss displayed his usual exuberance of being outside. But, his outside prance was soon replaced by his tip-toeing around the yard, literally. It is as if a sumo-wrestler put on a tutu and had taken up ballet. Tip, tip, tip we go, delicately, slowly, pirouetting around, till he just stopped. It was obvious that it was uncomfortable for him and that is a bummer. But, one thing is for sure, this trip outside was of a short duration. Hoss usually walks back and forth, back and forth seeking out that one secret spot in the yard. Round and round we go an where we stop only Hoss truly knows. What that particular spot has that all the other yard does not, I don't know. It can sometimes be an agonizingly slow process. Not today. We walked out, danced on tip toes, immediately found the secret spot and headed for the door. The cold weather is aggravating, but there are some benefits.

2009-01-12T10:09:00.000-06:00

A while ago I wrote a blog about how refreshing and rejuvenating it was to spend a day at Spring Creek especially when my grandpa took us. He would fall asleep and put no pressure on us to hurry up so he could get back home. There was another place my grandpa would take me that was a bit more exhilarating.Our home was and is about 7 miles from the Claiborne Bombing Range which was primarily used by England AFB as a training ground. Being that close afford us the amazing opportunity to watch F-100s, T-37s and the occasional F-4 (all designations for planes in the Air Force inventory) rolling over my house as they made their bomb/strafing runs on the bombing range. Later it would be A-7s and A-10s. Today it is F-16s and B-52s from Barksdale AFB. I saw my first F-117 Stealth Fighter flying a pattern over Clairborne.

The bombing range was like a magnet to the boys who grew up around it. Watching the airplanes was a draw. And, insanely enough, so was the ordinance they dropped, especially the unexploded bombs and expended bullets we would find. Occasionally we would hear of someone maimed or killed by picking up a bomb and taking it home with them. We knew better than that, but it did not prevent us from going to the bombing range and doing some pretty dumb stuff.

My grandfather would occasionally drive us through the range. There were old trucks and tanks that were used as targets and they were cool to look at. And the whole place had a certain eeriness to it - sort of like a Western ghost town - that would draw us. The road that ran through the range was a public road. It did not dead-in at the range. So, folks would use that road to get places. There was a flag system, as I recall, that would alert locals to the road being opened or closed because of the range being used. Air Force personnel would actually be present on the range as observers. Once, my grandfather was driving a group of us boys through the range in the back of his GMC pickup. He was a slow mover, not overly ambitious, and not too excitable. As we are crunching along on the gravel road a certain sound began to grow. It would have been the same feeling you get if you are paddling on a river and around a bend you hear something that sounds an awful lot like a waterfall. We found ourselves on the range road with jets appearing overhead. I doubt we were in any true danger, but at the time we felt like there was some young Air Force pilot who was bored shooting at old wrecked tanks and became animated by the thought that the Air Force would provide him a moving target that would be more of a challenge to his skills! We felt as if a large red target was painted on the roof of that truck. It was if someone had poured a bucket of angry bees down the pants leg of my grandpa. He stomped the gas and set us to bouncing around in the back of the pickup truck like popcorn popping. We roared down the road slinging gravel and throwing dust. When we emerged on the other side of the range, we laughed the laughter of those who, in our minds, had faced death and defied it. The truth is, the real laughter was probably taking place in the cockpit of those jets. Those pilots had just witnessed a GMC pickup light its afterburner. They could probably see us boys flopping around in the bed of the truck.

The only real danger to us at that point was Grandpa and his ejecting us out of the truck. I don't think we told my parents when we got home.Most of what I have feared most in my life has never happened. And, there is much to fear in life. The more people you love, the greater your fear becomes. The more stuff you have, the greater your fear becomes. The older you get, the greater your fear can become.

Chicago!

2009-01-02T15:03:00.000-06:00

The view from my hotel - Marriott Magnificent Mile - this past week in Chicago. I was attending a conference entitled "Following Christ 08". It was sponsored by Intervarsity. The conference was aimed at graduate students, professionals. and professors. There were not many pastors there. And, that was okay. Sometimes it is good to be at a conference not centered around pastors, to be around "normal" folk!

Although, these folks were not necessarily normal, or at least ordinary. Many of them had lots of brain power and education. But, they were saved by grace through faith. Hearing their testimonies and their calling to serve Jesus was exciting.

I met Ruffin and his son Adam there (see below). Dr. Alphin has been in our church twice. They are from Virginia. It was good fellowship and the food was not too shabby either. We ate at a Louisiana place called Heaven on Seven and at a Chinese Bistro that goes by the name of PF Changs. The speakers were very challenging. Sometimes, it takes a while to process everything you hear and even longer to implement it into your life.

I am hopeful that the Lord will continue to stir into rememberance those things He wants me to know. It was a very good three days for which I am thankful. More on it later.

Chinny, Chin, Chin

2009-01-02T14:47:00.000-06:00

Andrew, Lydia, Connie and I had just finished ordering our meal at Red Lobster when the cell phone rang. It was Gibson City calling to inform us that our youngest, Aaron, who had chosen not to go out to eat with us, had split his chin open and would need some stitches. The person telling us this was a nurse and I assumed she knew what she was talking about. Connie asked if we needed to come right away or if we could eat our meal. The nurse said there was time and that Aaron was not in too much distress. It is amazing how your view of child raising changes with time. Had this happened with our oldest, we would have blasted out of the restaurant and driven like banshees home. As it was, we enjoyed our food and conversation and then drove through some of the thickest fog I have seen in order to get to Gibson.

The first question from Connie to Aaron had to do with how he was doing. My first question was what he was doing when he fell! Well, said Aaron, I thought it would be fun to ride my bike on the ice. And it was, at least momentarily. However, ice and bikes do not go together and when he fell, he literlly took it on the chin. A gaping would was the result.

When the doctor saw us in the emergency room he told us it had been a very busy day. Lots of folks had fallen on the ice. None, however, had been riding their bike on the ice. It is good to be unique. I was confident he would band aid the chin and send us home. Nurses are always right, however. An hour and six blue stitches later we were on our way home.

There is pleasure in sin for a season, I guess. But, the fall is always inevitable. The stitches are now out and we are waiting for everything to heal up completely. It looks like there won't be much in the way of a scar. Memories of ice skating on a bicycle will remain, however.

Louisiana Trip, Again

2008-12-22T10:32:00.000-06:00

I just returned (12/20) from a quick trip to Louisiana. My dad was in the hospital when I arrived. He has a variety of health concerns. He was able to come home the day after I arrived. He was thrilled, but the health problems linger.

It was a rather melancholic trip. The picture above is of the pond behind my father's house. The tree lying in the water was blown over by a hurricane earlier this year. It represents a bit of what is happening with my dad. He has kept an immaculate "place". His joy has been mowing and sawing and raking and burning. But, he is not able to do those things now. I was able to do some. It is very enjoyable for me to run a chain saw - as long as I don't lose a limb. But, I am only there briefly. So, things like this tree in the pond go undone, at least for now. We shall see what the Lord has for the future.

It was good to see family. And, I did have some delicious food. Soon after arriving I had an oyster po-boy at Robbie G's - my favorite Louisiana restaurant. (See pictures below, jealous?) The place is not fancy, but that is not why you go there. The day we were there it was full of Louisiana State Police. The flight home was interesting. I was due to fly out on Friday but everything was canceled going into Bloomington. I did make it to Atlanta the next day but things were looking iffy about flying on home. I thought I had it made when I boarded the plane. However, the girl seated next to me said she was on the same flight the day before and had flown to within 20 minutes of Bloomington before the plane turned around and returned to Atlanta. PTL we made it home! It was wonderful to be greeted by my family and to have a celebration dinner together.

A Firehouse Visit

2008-12-15T09:35:00.000-06:00

This past Thursday evening, December 11th, I concluded my Thursday evening class on "Spirituality". Before driving home from Champaign, I decided to take Bill B. up on his invitation to come by and visit him at work. Bill is a Champaign firefighter. It was exciting to go by the station and see his work environment. Station #3 has one engine, shown in the picture above. (The interior of the truck is in the picture below) Bill described the types of calls the firemen receive and how they go about responding to those calls. He also gave me a tour of the facility and explained to me a variety of the equipment he uses. It was all very fascinating and I really appreciated his taking the time to do so. The Lieutenant at Station #3, Jeff L, also spent time talking about what it means to be a fireman.

Walking into the station brought a flood of memories. My father was a fireman. Occasionally I would visit him at his fire station. Climbing in and on the trucks was always exciting. There was also an occasional event in which the families would be invited to a big show with the firemen. We would be standing in an open area and a large puddle of Av Gas would be lit. That, in and of itself, was pretty exciting! Then the fire trucks would come roaring up. It was like the cavalry charging over the hill in a western movie. The firemen would jump out and be dressed in silver suits with full helmets and tinted visors. They looked like astronauts. They would spray the fire down with foam. I always knew which one was my dad because he was so tall. Next, they would light the gas again and the truck would drive up to the fire and knock it down with a boom located on its front bumper. It was a great show - exciting for a boy to watch.

Being a fireman is a dangerous job. It can also be emotionally draining. Firemen sometimes are able to do what they really want to do: help people in some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. Sometimes, however, they are unable to spare people from the tragedy that threatens to envelop them. Serving people is at the heart of what they do. Just like Jesus. He came at Christmas not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Numbers - What do they mean???

2008-12-09T08:58:00.000-06:00

Some folks love numbers. They like fiddling with them. My wife is always writing numbers on scraps of paper she finds around the house. I don't know what some of them are. When the children were small I told them to not stand still for very long because their Mom would probably write a grocery list on their foreheads or scribble some numbers on them. She is a lover of numbers. Maybe it is not the numbers themselves, but what they represent. There are those who love to dink with numbers because those numbers represent money. Still others are always writing down numbers that represent dates. Numbers tend to be inflexible. That can be a little irritating at times. If only I could move the decimal on my bank account numbers or if, for just a little while, I could suspend the rigidity of numbers and make 10 times 100 equal 1 million. That would be nice.

I think about numbers. In fact, I was pondering numbers at 3:00 this morning. The numbers that I think about are church numbers. But it is not what you may think. I don't worry too much about the money. We have good and godly people in our church that do that so I don't figure I have to do that so much. But, I do have some prayerful concern (I would never admit to worry!) over the numbers representing our attendance. They are not growing, they are shrinking. Why? The attendance numbers are not the ultimate measure of God's blessing. But, neither should they be ignored. So, whether I like numbers or not, I am thinking about them these days. And, I am also thinking about other numbers - like Christmas Gift Numbers and the days I have left to buy Christmas Gift Numbers and the amount of money I have to spend on Christmas Gift Numbers and how much should I spend on Christmas Gift Numbers in light of the advancement of the gospel in the world. Oh my, numbers can really be upsetting at times.

Building Usage

2008-12-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

This month (December 08) the Chamber of Commerce used our building for their monthly meeting. It is the coolest Chamber meeting because the Gibson City High School Jazz Band led by Frank Titus comes and plays Christmas music for the program.

I am very grateful for the building and thankful that we are able to use it for such events. It is an extension of common grace into the community. This past Sunday, for example, the community presentation of the "Messiah" was here in the afternoon. The building is a gift that we steward to the best of our ability to the good of people and the glory of God.

The final picture is a special blessing the staff received when we were visited by carolers from GCMS High School. They were under the direction of Benjamin Kelly

Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

2008-12-01T08:52:00.000-06:00

Our first snow - this is Sunday morning, November 30th, 2008. I must say, snow still fascinates me. It did snow where I grew up in Louisiana, but it very rare and never did last long. Snow changes the appearance of everything. At night everything seems brighter and during the day everything looks cleaner - at least for a while. There is something "romantic" about snow - it makes me feel the way the movie "White Christmas" does. And, Hoss loves it. If you listen carefully you can hear him during the above video. He is flapping his ears. Snow energizes him. He runs and jumps and eats it. And then he tracks it in the house.

There is the down side. Driving in it can be dangerous. When it starts to melt it makes a mess and it requires the extra time to dress for it. Shoveling it can be a literal pain in the back.

But, I will take the down side of snow. For me, the positives far out weigh them. And, snow always reminds me of the Scripture that speaks of the Lord making us "white as snow, though our sins be as scarlet". Snow is a promise picture.

Swwwooooosssshhhh

2008-11-21T08:42:00.000-06:00

My youngest son, Aaron, has begun his basketball career. The way my retirement is currently going, it is imperative for him to become a professional. But, he has gotten off to a rather inauspicious start.

Last evening I was on my way home from teaching a seminary class in Champaign. I called home to see how someone from the church was doing (when I left Gibson they were in the emergency room) and to see how his game had gone. Aaron's team had won their first three games. He was getting playing time and was doing pretty well, especially rebounding. His mother put him on the phone and he said to me: "I made a basket"! I was a proud poppa. That's My Boy! My son was an awesome player. He was destined for greatness on the court, his name would be in the papers, and I could retire one day! Then he said, "A kid from the other team missed a shot and I grabbed the rebound. I was fighting for the boards. When I came down with it - no one was guarding me! So, I made a beautiful lay-up and promptly scored 2 points - for the other team! That is right, Dad, I forgot to take the ball down the court and scored 2 for the other team". My wife said the gym was dead silent. No one knew what to say. Our team lost - I was afraid to ask by how much! Thankfully, it was by 7 or 9 points.

Aaron told me his team was pretty good about it. The coach said "It happens". Aaron said he told the coach: "I want labels. One goal labeled 'THEM' and one goal labeled 'US'."

Maybe I better not think too much about retirement. And, I am thankful Aaron could laugh about it, finally. I know how he feels. Sometimes it seems like I score points for the opposition as well. In the end, the Lord is gracious and forgiving. Aaron is going to play again. Maybe basketball is not his sport. Maybe I should get him thinking about football, or golf, or baseball, or water polo!

This and That

2008-11-17T10:20:00.000-06:00

There is something about water that is relaxing and refreshing. This was a waterfall Connie and I saw north of Vancouver, B.C. The photo does not do it justice in terms of its beauty. The Psalmist has written My God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night . . . The grace of God rolls over us like waves - and they are refreshing.

This past week has been a roller coaster. I cannot imagine the grief of the families of the two girls who died Tuesday morning. Everything about that event still seems a bit surrealistic to me. The world is not the way it is suppose to be. There are no simple answers. May God's grace roll over the families like waves. I was so pleased that we could offer some solace by providing the church building to the family who requested it and by volunteering time and workers. We estimated about a thousand people were at the visitation. How good it was to see people willing to serve.

Sunday morning was an exhilarating experience. We witnessed how the providential grace of God orchestrates a persons life so that they are deployed in kingdom work in ways they never thought imaginable. "Here I am, send me" was clearly demonstrated for us all to see. Joe Andris would not have believed, a year ago, that he would be spending the winter as a short-term missionary on Copper Island. But, he is. His willingness to do so was a potent testimony. May the Lord's grace roll over Joe like the waters that surround the island on which he will be working.

The worship this past Sunday was powerful. Keith and Sue do a great job. They invest so much time and effort and prayer and energy into seeking to provide God-honoring worship - and they do. May they also find refreshment in God's grace.

Sunday evening there was a pot-luck/carry-in/provide food for everyone else supper for the small group that meets here at the building. About 30 folks showed up. The food was delicious and the conversations around the table energizing. We laughed together, prayed together, grieved together, and shared together. Such relationships are some of the water of grace that God pours into our lives.

When I got home Sunday evening I was bushed. And, the water of God's grace came in the form of playing a game with my son and wrestling with my dog and a hug from my wife. Refreshing water - deep, cool, clear water. Sometimes it seems we are in the desert. And then, the rain comes, streams of mercy are ours and they refresh us. Heaven has a river in it. I look forward to sitting by the shore of it and celebrating the wonderful grace of Jesus.

Swimmin' Hole

2008-11-10T12:16:00.000-06:00

It is weird, but today I have been thinking about Spring Creek. When I was a kid, Spring Creek was a refuge, a haven, a natural and God given Disney World. Not that there was much to it. It is a rather small, meandering creek that winds its way through Rapides Parish. It begins near Otis and eventually dumps into Cocodrie Lake.

Growing up I experienced summer days that even those "acclimated" to the heat found unbearable. The temperature would be in the mid to upper 90's and the humidity would have joined it. The air was still and so was everything else. The cows would be lying under shade trees chewing their cuds. Dogs would seek the shelter of the porch or carport and do little more than pant. I have seen cats do the same. Even the crickets would quiet down on those oppressive days. We had no air conditioning. It seemed hard to draw your breath and no one felt like doing anything.

On those miserable days we found relief in Spring Creek. Big Bend, the Tilly Hole, Hogans Hole - all were delightful swimming holes located in Spring Creek. Before my brother could drive, we would try to convince my grandfather Jimmy to take us. He had a 1961 white GMC long wheel base truck that he used to peddle fruit (and various other commodities). It was just right for carrying a load of boys to the Creek. We would pile in about 1 or 2 in the afternoon. All of us would be wearing cut off blue jeans (NO ONE wore a bathing suit that I ever remember other than the cut-offs). Our mothers would not allow us to swim too soon after eating dinner (which was served at noon where I grew up). "You swim too soon after eating and you will get stomach cramps and sink to the bottom of Spring Creek" is what they told us. Grandpa was good to take us and often would roll out a blanket on the creek bank and go to sleep. It is impossible to describe the feeling of swinging from a rope off the bank of the creek and letting go. In the moment it takes to fall into the creek you thought about what was coming. The shock is unbelievable. Looking back, I am surprised it did not kill us all. There were those folks who climbed into the creek an inch at a time. I thought that was torture. By letting go of the rope, I knew that there was no turning back. I went for the total immersion method of entering the ice cold water. It always felt like I was having a heart attack. The shock from the coldness of the spring fed creek literally would suck the air out of your lungs. But, oh, it made you feel like you were resurrecting from the dead. A sense of exhilaration would explode through you. Often you would rise to the surface of the water and let out a woop of joy.

We would spend the afternoon swimming, jumping off the rope, wrestling, splashing, dunking, playing games, hiding from the scorching heat. The temperature always seemed cooler down by the creek. I can remember shivering from the cold of the creek when riding home in the back of Grandpa's truck. We all looked like prunes from being in the water so long. I also remember that wonderful feeling of being so tired and sunburned and hungry from an afternoon at the creek. I have heard it said that there is a "good" tired. This was it.

Perhaps those afternoons have become idyllic with the passing of time. Maybe I have exaggerated in my mind how good they were. The fall of man invaded those places. Sometimes we would get into fights, there were mosquitoes and the occasional water moccasin with which to deal. And yet, there was something wonderful about those long, hot, lazy afternoons spent immersing ourselves in Spring Creek. There is no going back. Some of those swimming holes are filled in. None of them seem as large as I remember them. But, every now and then, when I visit them, in the whisper of the hot summer wind I can hear the voices of boys delighting in the simple pleasure of cold water on a hot day.

A New Day

2008-11-05T08:07:00.000-06:00

The sun rose on a new day in America today. I am a bit groggy from staying up and watching the election returns and the candidates speeches. I thought that McCain was gracious and Obama eloquent. In some ways, it was a surreal evening. For the first time in my life, we have a president that is younger than I am! The image of an African American basking in the success of his campaign for President is a vision many thought impossible but a few years ago. What is most astounding about the victory of Barack Obama is the meteoric trajectory of his past few years. In my mind it easily eclipses the ascent of Clinton from Hope, Arkansas to the White House. One moment we hear him say, "Hello, I am Barack Obama", and the next we hear "Hello, I am President Obama".

In an earlier time, I had voted for an African American running for president - Alan Keyes. I did not in this election. For me, there is something vaporous about Obama. I cannot get my hands on his substance. He is electrifying, eloquent, energizing, and expressive. But, is he capable? He is the perfect post-modern president. He seems to me to be "Every Man" and that is disconcerting. There are certain issues that drive the way I vote. Abortion, same sex marriage, and the role of the government in our every day lives are among the significant concerns for me.

I think that, as believers, we are compelled by scripture to pray for our president and the leaders of our country. We are called to recognize that regardless of the leadership of the country, our hope and faith are in the Lord. We are called to continue dispersing the gospel and expressing the love of Jesus Christ to the community in which we live. We are called to know the joy of the Lord as our strength. We are called to repent of our sin and grow in our love of Jesus.

Now is not the time for Christians to predict that the sky is falling and we should run for the hills. Now is the time God has called us to let our light shine before men - a city set on a hill. Now is the time for us to be salt bringing flavor to our culture. Now is the time for us to give an answer for the hope that is within us.

I pray that all of our leaders know God's grace, mercy, and strength. That the decisions they make will reflect a sense of concern for that which is honorable, right, and gracious. And, that we see a revival sweep through our churches which results in our faith being energized and animated.

VOTE!

2008-11-04T09:27:00.000-06:00

The folks at the polling booth told me that the turn-out has been very good! I voted at 7:30 this morning. They gave me a little sticker that said "I Voted". I usually do not wear the sticker. Seems a bit ostentatious to me. But, today, I am wearing it. My conversations with a Chinese student in my seminary class has created a deeper appreciation and impression about the privilege of voting. Later, I am going to talk about who I voted for and why.

Latest "Adventure"

2008-11-04T08:43:00.000-06:00

Jerry Sanders, a man from our church, had asked me about riding with him to Starved Rock State Park. Starved Rock is 100 miles north of Gibson City. Apparently, it is one of the state parks our governor has chosen to spare. Connie and I had been there once before, but it was at night because we had driven to the lodge with some friends after eating at the Cajun Connection (great place!) in Utica. The park does look different during the day. It is a spectacular place to go and see, especially with the leaves having turned. It was also fun to watch a push-boat and barges run through the lock.

Jerry and I climbed up to the peak of "Starved Rock". Afterwards, we ate a delicious lunch in the beautiful lodge. The only bummer about the lunch was the group of high school students eating near us that had two boys threatening to beat each other into oblivion. The group leader seemed oblivious until the boys stood up and started really getting into each others face. Nothing like a good rumble to spoil a lunch! They were separated and calmed down. All this happened behind Jerry and he was as oblivious as I was nervous.

The trip was all the more adventurous because we road motorcycles to get there. It was sunny and 74 degrees. We had attempted to ride up twice before, but weather and schedules got in the way. Jerry is a great guy to be around. His enthusiasm for life and the Lord is contagious. But, I was a bit nervous following him on a bike for 200 miles. For one thing, I have some fairly vivid memories of experiences in a vehicle with Jerry. We were in Canada on a short-term missions trip and I was in a van Jerry was driving. He almost got in a fight with a home-less guy and he drove a bit close to the folks in front of us. Jerry use to drive race cars and it shows. None of that was evidenced yesterday, other than riding through a school zone at 55 and passing a policeman at 65.

The glory of the Lord is all around us, if we but look. The changing of the seasons recall His faithfulness. Spring time and harvest declare something about Him if we but listen. You don't have to go to Starved Rock to see that majesty.