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weekend wrap up

Lots of words to describe this weekend:

• I spoke a TON--preached 4 services at Calvary, 2 chapel services for minor league baseball teams, and delivered the opening message for SOS (our sorta-city-wide youth camp)
• put some kayaks in the water with Andy yesterday morning, followed by some good grub at the Bellefonte Waffle Shop. I love that guy.
• not much sleep happening in my life this week, or last week for that matter.
• SOS is in full swing. Great band, led by Stephanie Peters. She is a blessing to the church!
• I could not ask for better people to work with--friends in ministry together makes it so much more than a JOB--it's pretty much fun.
  
• I was thrilled to see more than 50 students playing, worshiping, and getting geared up to go serve our community together this week. God is going to do some good things this week!
• Kim and her Mary Kay buddies had a booth at the Spikes game tonight. These beautiful (inside and outside!) ladies were showing off their "before and after" pictures! I think some of the pictures were even shown on the jumbotron--talk about bravery!
• Calvary is launching an of-site venue at the high school South building in October, which should be an awesome opportunity for us to move closer to saturating our community with the Good News of Jesus.
• my phone was resting quietly on a wooden stool during my message last night when it began to BUZZ. Not once, but twice, plus the unfortunate BEEP of a message waiting. That'd never happened to me before. It was kinda funny, but embarrassing, too. It won't happen again.
• I told on my self for leaving the phone on during the 9:15 service, and didn't someone else's phone starting ringing!
• started an email conversation with a guy who stopped in last night with his family to worship. He runs a ministry in the next county over, and it looks like the kind of thing that would be right up Calvary's alley.
• Kim and I got to talk tonight for a good bit. I love my wife! God totally blows me away with his goodness...
• I'm beat, but I want to read a little before turning in.

I took a littl blog breather

but I'm back...

We went away for a little family vacation, and where we landed had no access to the interweb (ht SMM). In fact, we were about 30 minutes outside of the nearest town, at the very end of a dirt/gravel road. Kim booked us in a little cabin nestled on the Shenandoah River, and it was wonderful.

We spent 5 days playing in and around the water, making mountain pies and memories...

Then we cruised down the Upstate (that's South Carolina) to see my folks. They live on a lake, and my kids can't get enough of the water. They loved being dragged around the lake behind Paw Paw Rusty's boat. It was a great time to reconnect with my parents and MawMaw.

If you're interested (or bored) you can view some photos here...

I love the 80's

The sermon series kicked off tonight, and the set looks great. Adam knocked off the Rubik's Cube in no time at all, and he and Scott Mangene did a great job leading worship. I only wish that we had added some 80's music to the set...I'll have to watch that I don't get caught up in the memorabilia and lose sight of the main message.

Last week I discovered/remembered what trips me up preaching all the weekend services--my memory. I forgot to tell one of the stories at the 11:00--I thought I had already shared it. Oh well.

I enjoy preaching. Most folks ask me if I get tired from all the speaking, but it energizes me.

This series (Psalms in the 80's) should be a good one, with lots of points for us to grow as followers of the Most High. Plus, there's the cool toys on stage...I seriously want to play the Atari.

late night rambling...

sorry for the lack of posts in the last few days...this week has flown. I have to figure out how to manage my time better with the preaching...

• Kim and I got the most encouraging letter we've ever received today. It came from a young lady who was part of our youth group, now in college. She is a jewel, and growing so deep in the Lord. It blessed our socks off.
• I'm starting a new series at Calvary this weekend: I Love the 80's! While the trappings and set will focus on the decade of decadence, the content will flow from the Psalms in the 80's. Not the decade, but the Bible, Psalms 80-89. Read ahead if you want...
• I'm still frustrated with trying to move this here blog. I have a domain name, but I'm needing HELP!
• 17 couples met me on the field for a pre-game renewal of their wedding vows tonight before the Spikes game. One couple was actually celebrating their 64th anniversary! How cool is that!
• Check out Joshua 14--Caleb steps up to claim the promise that he was given at age 40. He spied out the Promised Land and was one of 2 (Joshua was the other) who gave a thumbs-up. Moses promised him land. He's now 85, and wants the hill country, even though there are Anakites living there--Giants who ruled the land. He's still strong, able to fight, and vows that "if the Lord is with me, I will drive them from the land." I want that kind of vision, faith, and perseverance. I'm 40 myself, you know...

some like it hot

but not me so much.

We've lived in PA since 1990, and have never lived in a house with air conditioning. I know, if you're reading this in one of the southern states, that sounds crazy. But they didn't put AC in homes built in this part of the country until the 80's (my guess; I have no proof of this, but it sounds right.)

Most of the year, that's not a problem. We have a bunch of great shade trees, and our house stays cool long into the day. When it's in the low 70's with low humidity, our house can actually fool me into wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt when I head out in the morning. We have an attic fan that does a great job of pulling the cool night air in to make it oh so comfy for sleeping.

But when it's muggy and reaching the mid-80's, our house is a veritable sweat box. The night air is clammy, and there's no escaping the humidity. I get out of the shower, dry off, and in a few minutes feel like I need a towel. My flip flops are sticky wet. Nights like tonight make me wish that we had AC, or make me want to grab a sleeping bag and take the family over to the church for a camp-in...

Fortunately, the number of nights like this are few, and we'll soon be back into the low-humidity, cool nights that we love so much.

thanks

Many thanks to those of you who were praying for us over the past few days.

Kim and I got home this evening, and we're about ready to crash. Pap's funeral was today. I got to lead the service, and it was an honor to lead people in celebrating Pap's life, so full of faith, hope, and love. Pap lived well and full. There were lots of tears, and lots of laughs. Several people spoke about how Pap influenced their life and faith.

Pap was a constant in our lives, and even though most of us didn't see him every day, we always knew that Pap was there, praying for us. It's going to be difficult to visit Bedford, knowing that Pap won't be there. I can't even imagine what Gram must be going through. 66 years of marriage...how do you wake up and face the day without your lifelong best friend?

There was a great wall of photos recapping Pap's life. All the grandkids and great-grandkids loved looking at those photos, seeing what Pap looked like when he was young and strong. It was fun to be reminded of special times together.

Everyone was interested in seeing where they showed up in Pap's life. But I think the bigger thing now will be looking to see where Pap shows up in our lives...