Yearly Archives: 2007

The skies were close this morning.  Clouds surrounded the town and droplets fell. 

At some points there was a plethora of rain.  At others hesitation.  The result was a shower to green the plants and water the thirsty soil.

All fine and well!!  I didn’t have a car — it’s in the shop.  I do have a bike.

So, I dressed for the fifteen minute ride.  Wind pants and rain repellent jacket.  Back pack with plastic bags inside.  An extra pair of clothing.

At my arrival I stepped inside the building door.  Drips of water and mud fell on the floor.  I stood the bike in the tiled entry.  Carefully removing my backpack, I carried it across the floor.  In the kitchen I removed the jacket and splash pants.  A bit of mud but not bad.

I stepped out of my shoes — one of my socks was wet and a bit muddy.  The back tire had also provided a stripe up my back.  Sitting on the seat of the bike did not guard me from wetness. 

Needless to say, but I will anyway, I was a bit wet.  After a quick change I cleaned the kitchen and headed off to work in my office.  And all before 9:00 — my usual time to start!

If nothing else, I have gotten exercise this past week!  Hammering cement, walking back from deserted cars and riding bicycles.  Life may be unexpected, but in it all — it’s good!!

Our basement is in for an overhaul.

Part of the plan is to clean up a section of air duct.  Unfortunately it is underneath the cement.  So today I chipped away a few feet of cement.  With a masonary grinder, a sledge hammer and sheer brute force the cement yielded.

Next step?  Replace the duct, put back some fill and pour some cement.  Should be done by . . .

Finally, the day ended with a bike ride.  Not planned.  I was off to a meeting.  The car lasted for a block and then died.  Maybe just a wire.  But nothing I could fix.

So, tomorrow looks like it will be a great time as well!

Years ago a sound technician spoke words to me. 

No, he was not angry.  Just past that time.  When ears melt.  Or something to that effect.

He told me — "You have to give your ears a break.  After an hour or two of listening, you’re not sure what  you are hearing."

Tonight I’ve been mixing, mastering and generally trying to get some audio tracks cleaned up.  After about the twentieth time listening to the same song . . . you kind of lose the "edge".

So, I’m writing this as a break.

Today has been good to me.  I’ve got a great outline for a Sunday sermon.  I’ve arranged travel and accomodations for a conference in early June.  And Jill had a delicious supper.

Not bad.  Now, I have to go face the music!!

I’m sitting in my office.  Working on a sermon series.

Back in January I had calculated the date when my series on Acts would be completed.  This past Sunday "The End" came.  I feel a little lost — Acts has been a great launching pad and growth ground for my thoughts.

In January I also sensed that the following series should be on prayer.  Not because of some crisis.  Not because the "fad" is currently to preach on prayer.  Not even because all preachers "should" preach on prayer.

NO, just a sense that prayer is where I needed to go.

In some ways the days have crept up on me.  I’ve lived for the last few months almost totally with pencil in hand — revising my schedule daily and sometimes even hourly.  God has been gracious — just giving me enough to do in His strength and not my own.

I’ve been spending time each day praying.  For years I have daily prayed a short prayer for my children.  For these past few months I’ve prayed "unbounded" prayers — just a minute of prayer without a boundary, or an "intention", agenda or direction — just prayer to God which sometimes is unspoken because I’m not sure what all to pray — I just need to pray.  I’m also praying to God for healing — a gradual healing of my knees.  Occasionally I get some burden (often in a crisis) and I go for a strong dose of prayer.

I’d like to say I pray in total faith.  I can’t.  I pray with God in view, but sometimes it’s a bit cloudy.

I have big desires — to see our community change, to see Jesus expressed in this locale in terms people will understand, to have our own church continue to find unity in Jesus, to see my chidren racing with God, to expect more than I can imagine from God.

That’s just a start.  I have more prayers related to family, and friends, and education, and discipleship, and mentoring, and writing, and ministry, and . . .

I guess my prayers are a rather big conversation.  One I’m not always engaged in as much as I would like to be.  But one I sense is important.