Dirty Knotty Blankie

This past Sunday I had the day off. I did not have to preach at either of the services. In fact my neighbor said to me that I am becoming a part time minister, I mean, I didnt even have to work the 2 hours a week that I normally have to work! :) (This coming from a neighbor who is a self proclaimed AAA Farmer, April, August and Arizona! Meaning they only work two months and then spend time in Arizona! That made me laugh!) Anyway, it was very refreshing to have Sunday off.

We had a guest minister who I have never heard preach before, but have heard his reports 2 times a year for the last 2 years. He is the Chaplain at the University of Calgary for the CRC. It was refreshing to be able to listen to good preaching. (Someone else said to me, "That is what others in our church were saying! ha ha ha). In the morning service though, he really tied in neatly with something I had talked about a couple of weeks ago.

A couple of weeks ago, I had done something pretty scandalous...I wore jeans and a t-shirt with a devilish looking skull with a cross going through it to church. I was talking about "By Faith alone" and how we all agree it isnt by our works, but but faith in Christ alone that saves us. The point I was trying to make was the fact that we agree with this, but how many people in our churches would accept someone coming to church dressed in this way? Every single person that morning had some thought in their mind about what I was wearing. It really helped to prove my point.

Sunday we heard about the fact that Jesus was hanging out with Prostitutes and Sinners! (gasp!) The pastor shared with us from Phillip Yancey's book "What's So Amazing about Grace" a story of a prostitute who needed to employ her 2 year old daughter. She said something along the lines of, "Why would I go to church? They just make you feel so bad." The pastor went on to talk about the fact that it was people like her, that Jesus hung out with. It wasnt the people in the suits, which we could almost associate many "Church people" as the modern day pharisees.

He used an analogy that was very moving. He talked about his kids and their blankies and how important those blankies are to his kids. The most important thing to take on any trip is those "dirty, knotty blankies." We are like the dirty knotty blankies to Jesus. He rejoices over us, like when he finds his lost sheep. He finds us and celebrates over us. The pastor's point, how do we react over the "lost sheep" are we part of the 99 that dont need to be saved? Do we accept the prostitute at our church? Or do we make her feel bad? It really tied in with my point of my friend who designed the shirt I wore to church that one Sunday.

The afternoon was equally was refreshing. I could go on and on about that here. It is amazing to me to see how a day off like that can really energize me and refresh me. I really needed that, especially as we head into the Advent/Christmas season.

New Hobby

I am finding that the more I try new things, especially new sports, I really like them. My latest thing that I found to be really fun is fly fishing. A few weeks ago I went with someone on a Monday evening. We got to the river about 4-4:30. We had to hike down to the river from the road. It was a place where the guy I went with said, "We will catch fish." Not many people go there since you have to hike down hill a bit. He also said to me, "I dont want to scare you, but I have bear spray just in case." I thought to myself, "good to know!" He said he has never encountered a bear, but he doesnt want to be caught empty handed if one did come on him.

But I tell you what, that was something I really enjoyed. We spent about 3 hours in the river fishing. By the end my feet were frozen! It is a sport that requires a lot of attention. Afterward I said I could see how a bear could sneak up on you. You are so focused on the fly and the river that you lose almost an awareness of your surroundings. It was absolutely amazing to be out in the mountains, in God's creation just enjoying his creation. It was extremely relaxing, yet not boring at the same time.

I like regular fishing as well, but after trying fly fishing only this one time, I think I might prefer it. You are constantly doing something as you fish. And it takes some skill. So, for my birthday last week, my wife bought me one of this guys fly rods and reel set up. I am excited to try my new hobby more and more...but unfortunately I have to wait until next season! Oh well, Ski season is right around the corner!!

Oh yeah, we did catch a bunch of little fish, but we let them all go.

Time Flies

I cannot believe that 5 weeks ago today, our daughter was born. It is just amazing how fast time goes these days. As I look at my blog, I notice it has been a month since I posted last. It isnt that I havent had anything to write about, it just isnt something I had as a priority I guess.

One of the things that I am finding is that it is difficult to focus while at work. I know this sounds like a familiar theme as of late, but now it is hard because it would be so nice to just be upstairs with Brenda and Irena. I need to really get myself to focus and get my work done. It isnt always an easy thing to do. I am glad that I have support from the church, and they have been really gracious to us in this time. We feel right at home here.

Great news

So, I know I am not always a "regular poster" but, I try to do one a week if not more. Well, I have an excuse for the longer time between posts. Last week Wednesday night, my wife's water broke and away we went to the hospital. Normally people would be excited about this, but my wife wasnt due for another 5 weeks. This is kind of scary. When we got to the hospital, they looked at her and said, "well, you arent going home!" Exactly 12 hours after her water broke we welcomed to the world our little daughter. She was 6lbs and 20 inches long. It is amazing to me to see again God's faithfulness. He watched over them in the accident, and watched over our daughter even though she was early, there was nothing wrong. She was out of NICU by Thursday evening and they both came home on Saturday! God is Good!

Feeling Torn

The past two weeks have been topsy-turvy for me. With the accident and all, my mind has not been too focused. This week I felt that I was geared up for the week. But there is a lot going on. There is a lot that has to be done. Now with the fact that we need to find a new vehicle, my mind is constantly thinking about that and what we should do. I havent had too much time to think about it, so I have talked to a lot of people. It is something we just werent planning on.

We got good news from insurance, but the bad news is, the second we settle with them, then we lose coverage for our rental vehicle. Which means that we have to figure out how to live again with one vehicle, or what we should do, we are not sure.

With that on my mind, I have tried to stay diligent and get my work finished. I was able to "finish" one sermon already yesterday. Which I thought was good. Now I turn to look at what I am going to preach on, I feel really torn. I began an series last week on "Life's Toughest Questions" found at the Calvin Institute for Christian worship. This weeks Question, "Why isnt life more fair?" As I began reading the "sermon notes" and the passage, I really began to feel torn.

What do I feel torn about? Well, this is a great question, that many people ask in their lifetime. I think it is one worth covering. But I wish I had more time to cover this question. I feel now there is a time crunch to get the sermon finished before Saturday, because I have to lead a candle light vigil for the family I did the funeral for a few weeks back. I would love to spend a lot of time on this sermon, but I feel I dont have that much time.

I feel torn because I would love to spend more time reflecting on this question, but dont have that much time. And I feel guilty with thinking that I shouldnt spend too much time on it if not that many people are there. Does the evening sermon deserve as much time as the morning sermon? Or should one focus more time on the morning, just because more people will be there? So, yeah, I feel torn. Instead of spending the time on it, I decide to waste time by blogging about it, ha ha ha!

Needing a clear mind

Last week I did not have to preach on Sunday, as there is 5 Sundays in August. Generally it is a great week to catch up with office work as well as some of my visits. Well, as my earlier posts shows, my week was kind of thrown for a loop. I am very thankful that everything is okay with Brenda and the baby. But wow, what a crazy week it was.

We had planned to go to Great Falls Montana to do some shopping for baby stuff. Everything is so much cheaper in the States, as well as no sales tax in Montana, what a sweet deal that is! We went down as planned and stayed by some friends in Conrad Montana. It was a great weekend. Saturday morning I golfed while Brenda shopped, good trade I thought! Then we met up and shopped some more! We got a lot of baby things.

Sunday we went to my friends church, which was a good experience. After lunch we headed home, taking the "scenic" route. We drove over to Glacier National park and drove the "Going to the Sun" road. That is an amazing road. You drive along the edge, and I mean edge of the mountain. It is so narrow that you could give other drivers a "high-five" as you drive past each other. It was pretty awesome.

But now as we are home, we have to get back to reality. I have one coat of paint in the "nursery" already yesterday. I can finish that today hopefully. We also have to wait ot hear from the insurance about our car. I have a feeling it will be totaled, but then we have to start the whole car shopping experience all over again. Do we get a minivan or car? Do we get used or new? So many things to think about.

I need to get my mind back into the sermon writing mode for this week. After last week it is a challenge. But, this weekend refreshed me and challenged me. It is good to see colleagues and how they preach in their "style." It was good to get away after all of what happened last week. But now, there is so much to do and only so little time. The baby is due in 6-8 weeks, crazy crazy!

Brenda's Accident

Yesterday morning was quite an eventful morning to say the least. Brenda had said goodbye and that she was going to go to work. I was going to sleep for another 20-30 minutes. About 10 minutes later the phone rang and she was all upset saying I needed to come get her, she had been in an accident.

She didnt see a van stopping to make a left turn down our highway. We waited until the fire department came and they said we should go in immediately since she is 31-32 weeks pregnant. We went to the Emergency and they sent us right away to Labor and delivery and did a stress test I think they called it on her and the baby. Everything seemed fine, so they called her doctor. He wanted to keep her there for a few hours to observe her and do another test. So we went back down to emergency, they checked out her knee which she had banged up and there was no crack or anything, so that was good. We went back upstairs and they did another stress test and they said that was good as well. So we were allowed to go home.

This morning we went back to the Doctor and he said it seems like everything is fine. We are very greatful that she is okay and the baby is okay and the other driver is okay.

One of the joys of living in a small community, is the fact that the people on scene soon after were all people we know from church or from the area and they all stopped to help out. By the time I got there, there were like 4-5 people from church and area helping her out. We were really greatful for this as well. Except the other side, everyone knows! So, I am thinking of putting an announcement in the bulletin to let everyone know she is okay since we dont have to be in our church this Sunday. Anyway, she is good, tired and sore, but good for the most part. We praise God that he was watching over her.

P.S - The car on the other hand, we are waiting to hear from insurance, but I have a feeling it will be totaled. We shall see. But these things are very minor considering she is okay!