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I’m am looking very much forward to worshipping with a new congregation today.  Leader is just an hour down the road, but in the past ten years, I have never attended a Sunday morning service there.

My own responsibilities, up until this point, have meant I was either at the Kindersley Alliance Church, or taking holidays somewhere else.

Now, I am able to take a weekend here and there.  Where I can preach or serve in other churches.

Leader holds an interesting background for me.  In the late ‘70’s I was leading a youth group in Kindersley.  We prepared a play that we took down to leader.  Was it professional?  No.  Were all the lines right?  No.  What was right was the heart of the actors and the reception of the audience.

From that church, we also had opportunity to provide an hours long ride to a youth conference for one interested youth.  His name was Mark Bergen.  He is now pastoring the Prince Albert Alliance Church, where I formerly worked.

In the late 00’s (not quite sure how you write that), I met Jessica Kiunga, who hailed from Leader.  She became a vibrant part of our congregation before moving up to Prince Albert.  And recently our Alliance pastor’s wife in Rosetown also hails from Leader.  Can anything good come from Leader?  YES!

And so, I head to Leader to speak and to enjoy a time together with them.  Should be good!

Spring cleaning. 

I’m trying to find space for many things that have accumulated over the years.  Amalgamating the resources of two families, caring for materials from two estates of which I am an executor (and a third estate on the way), and my own immediate family’s stuff creates an indistinguishable mound in the basement.

And that mound needs definition.  So I have been attempting an inventory on one of those mounds. 

The effort returned me to thoughts of my archival studies.  We would seek out provenance, assure ourselves of the warehoused location, and then write an extensive description of the materials.

Maybe I’m getting old.  I know where the stuff came from, I know where it is and all I need to describe it is a picture.

So, I’ve spent the last day or so laying out the resources on the table, taking a photo with my phone, and passing on the information to anyone who could help me with the old question:  “What do I do with this?”

For those of you who think this is even too extensive – who would rather just throw the whole thing out (based on the years the boxes have not been opened) – this is fun for me!

At the end of the other day, my wife asked me if I was tired.  I had to answer honestly.  I was exhilarated.  Today I’m up early once again, ready to have fun.

Let’s see what is at the bottom of the well!

I preach in a town an hour away (Leader) on Sunday.  The request came as their pastor is currently on a mission trip to Niger.

I began to cast through my memory and find some thoughts that have stuck with me over the years.  Psalm 90 kept surfacing.

In an effort to see what I have preached on the topic, I went looking for a sermon I knew I had preached (I have a small card detailing the main points).  Apparently, for all my filing abilities, that particular sermon is not to be found.

So I had to actually rewrite the sermon – based upon a few words on a card and a whole Psalm in the Bible!  Not a bad approach.  I look back over the past six years and can see these prayers have stretched my life.  Here are the main thoughts from Psalm 90:13-17:

• Surprise me with your love
• Give me as many good days as bad days
• Show me what you are doing
• Captivate me with your majesty
• Make my work meaningful

Should be an interesting Sunday!

A clarinet choir is in town today.  One of my good friends is playing in this group based out of Brandon University.  They are at the beginning of their careers, and I expect will shine!  The concert is before a group of elementary students – who will be inspired to greater things in their own musical endevours.

Also today, a seminar on funeral planning.  This is the end of time.  Being ready to not “be”, at least physically.  This will have a sense of promotion, it is put on by a company that assists people in setting aside money for funerals.  At the same time, the information will be well worth it.

Off to the great expanse called today.  Who knows what else will come!