Had a great day relaxing at the Fred and Juanita's ranch. Went to Bible class at CC Winfield and let Pastor Mark and his church family educate us on Proverb 9. It's always great to hear different perspectives on God's Word.
The serendipity of the night was receiving a loaf of Juanita's home made zucchini bread still warm from the oven. My, oh my! That was delicious! Had to finally say good-bye to to all our friends in Winfield and make our way south. I promised Lucy I would take her to the St. Louis zoo. She loves animals and the zoo here is known as one of the best in the nation.
Another serendipity came our way when we called our friend Bob Leavitt and found out he was returning to St. Louis from Texas tonite. So we're looking forward to a Terrific Thursday!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Test Run In the Yellow Submarine
We're on the road this week testing out our RV. Trying to find out what switches work what, checking for leaks or shorts or glitches of any sort. So far so good!
Right now we're out north of St. Louis, MO and heading south to Saddler Chapel in Bell City and Dexter City UMC later this week.
Did some storytelling at Calvary Chapel-Winfield this past Sunday. Always good to see Pastor Mark. Met up with Fred & Juanita who have got to be two of the kindness people around. They invited to hook up the RV out at their place and spend a few days or weeks or months!
We joined their entire family (about 18 or so including grand kids) for Sunday dinner. It was great sitting around the kitchen table and taking in the overflow of love. Fun to watch. I introduced young Brent to thumb wrestling. He giggled every time he beat me.
Sunday we met another couple (Randy & Glenda) who volunteer at a nursing home in Troy. They are part of the worship team at CC-Winfield. Glenda asked if we would share the story of the feeding of the five thousand with the folks at the nursing home. We readily agreed. Any time God gives us opportunity, we say, "YES!
The last Monday of each month Christian musicians volunteer to come and sing and play so we ended up being doubly blessed....we got to do some storytelling and listen to some great music as well. About 7 guitar players showed up (Randy was one of them), one fellow with a banjo, one fiddle player and one big ol' bass. It was great!
Right now we're out north of St. Louis, MO and heading south to Saddler Chapel in Bell City and Dexter City UMC later this week.
Did some storytelling at Calvary Chapel-Winfield this past Sunday. Always good to see Pastor Mark. Met up with Fred & Juanita who have got to be two of the kindness people around. They invited to hook up the RV out at their place and spend a few days or weeks or months!
We joined their entire family (about 18 or so including grand kids) for Sunday dinner. It was great sitting around the kitchen table and taking in the overflow of love. Fun to watch. I introduced young Brent to thumb wrestling. He giggled every time he beat me.
Sunday we met another couple (Randy & Glenda) who volunteer at a nursing home in Troy. They are part of the worship team at CC-Winfield. Glenda asked if we would share the story of the feeding of the five thousand with the folks at the nursing home. We readily agreed. Any time God gives us opportunity, we say, "YES!
The last Monday of each month Christian musicians volunteer to come and sing and play so we ended up being doubly blessed....we got to do some storytelling and listen to some great music as well. About 7 guitar players showed up (Randy was one of them), one fellow with a banjo, one fiddle player and one big ol' bass. It was great!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
August 31, 2009
It's official! We're starting our third 3300 mile walk across America for Christ the last day of August! We've cleared it with RV guru Bob Leavitt in beautiful downtown Kingsville, Missouri. Let the packing begin!
So much to do after months of waiting (and procrastinating)...Boxes to buy and fill, books to part with, routes to lay out, press releases to issue, businesses, churches, radio stations, newspapers to contact (told you we procrastinated a bit). Did I mention boxes to buy and fill?
This Friday we give notice at our apartment complex and then we are in official scurry mode..that's very close to panic mode but with a more positive attitude.
So much to do after months of waiting (and procrastinating)...Boxes to buy and fill, books to part with, routes to lay out, press releases to issue, businesses, churches, radio stations, newspapers to contact (told you we procrastinated a bit). Did I mention boxes to buy and fill?
This Friday we give notice at our apartment complex and then we are in official scurry mode..that's very close to panic mode but with a more positive attitude.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Decision Time
We have to give 30 days notice on our apartment and if we want to be on the road by August 31st, we need to make sure the RV is ready to rock and roll. Still a glitch or two to work out. Our friend Bob Leavitt is doing a wonderful job breathing life back into the old girl.
To put a little bit more of a crunch to our time frame, we are doing a pre-walk walk....No, I'm not stuttering. We're going to do a walk before our walk.
Pastor John Smith (not an alias) has asked us to walk and pray for Elwood, Kansas four days before we begin our 3300 mile journey. We can't say no to walking and praying! That moves our move out date to August 25th considering a day to travel to northern Kansas.
So we need to let the folks know at Hernnhut Apartments that we're moving no later than the 25th of July...just 14 days from today. We're excited! We won't be settled though until we start moving...that sounds a bit backward but...that's the way life goes sometimes.
When you're praying for us speak clarity into our minds, energy into our bodies and peace into our spirit. No matter what happens...God is good all the time; all the time God is good!
To put a little bit more of a crunch to our time frame, we are doing a pre-walk walk....No, I'm not stuttering. We're going to do a walk before our walk.
Pastor John Smith (not an alias) has asked us to walk and pray for Elwood, Kansas four days before we begin our 3300 mile journey. We can't say no to walking and praying! That moves our move out date to August 25th considering a day to travel to northern Kansas.
So we need to let the folks know at Hernnhut Apartments that we're moving no later than the 25th of July...just 14 days from today. We're excited! We won't be settled though until we start moving...that sounds a bit backward but...that's the way life goes sometimes.
When you're praying for us speak clarity into our minds, energy into our bodies and peace into our spirit. No matter what happens...God is good all the time; all the time God is good!
Friday, July 10, 2009
God Cares About The Little Stuff
My battery was dead and so I called Good Sam's for a jump. Within twenty minutes they were on the scene and I was on the road. Finished running my errands, came home and turned off the car and something told me to try turning it on again....click...dead again! I hung my head and slumped my shoulders.
I took a deep breath, looked around the parking lot but not a soul was in sight. I went over to the apartment office, nobody there. I sighed, came back out and saw a couple that I recognized. Said my perfunctory "Good morning" and got right into what I needed..."Got jumpers?"
Joseph and Mary (yep!..that's their real names) hooked their battery to mine, gave me the high sign and vvrrroooom! Back in business! Joe noticed that may alternator was charging and concluded that it was my battery that needed replacing. He said Wal-Mart had a good price and they would install it for me (great news for the mechanically inept...me!). I was sincerely thanking the calvary for the help when Mary started waving a checkbook at Joe. "God said to give him money for a new battery." Joe didn't hesitate and started to write a check.
"That's not necessary" I protested. "God said to do it," Mary told me. Joe mentioned that a battery would probably cost $85 but Mary called from the car, "Give him $100."
After they left, I left the car running, went into the apartment and said to Lucy "You'll never believe what just happened." "What did God do this time?" she said.
Lucy knows God. She expects Him to love and care for us because that is what His word says. Her faith teaches me every day. God never really surprises us anymore but He always amazes us! Almighty God cares about the little things in our lives. Wow!
I took a deep breath, looked around the parking lot but not a soul was in sight. I went over to the apartment office, nobody there. I sighed, came back out and saw a couple that I recognized. Said my perfunctory "Good morning" and got right into what I needed..."Got jumpers?"
Joseph and Mary (yep!..that's their real names) hooked their battery to mine, gave me the high sign and vvrrroooom! Back in business! Joe noticed that may alternator was charging and concluded that it was my battery that needed replacing. He said Wal-Mart had a good price and they would install it for me (great news for the mechanically inept...me!). I was sincerely thanking the calvary for the help when Mary started waving a checkbook at Joe. "God said to give him money for a new battery." Joe didn't hesitate and started to write a check.
"That's not necessary" I protested. "God said to do it," Mary told me. Joe mentioned that a battery would probably cost $85 but Mary called from the car, "Give him $100."
After they left, I left the car running, went into the apartment and said to Lucy "You'll never believe what just happened." "What did God do this time?" she said.
Lucy knows God. She expects Him to love and care for us because that is what His word says. Her faith teaches me every day. God never really surprises us anymore but He always amazes us! Almighty God cares about the little things in our lives. Wow!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Let Nothing Be Wasted!
"Let nothing be wasted." These are the words of Jesus to His disciples as they gathered up the leftover pieces of bread and fish after feeding more 5000 men. I believe these are the words of Jesus to us today!
Each of us has knowledge, and skills and abilities that others require. The nurse is here to comfort and care for the sick. The waitress is here to serve her patrons. The farmer is here to grow food to feed the populace. The trucker is here to deliver the food to the table and on and on it goes. The world is not as good as it could be if you and I don't use all that God has given us.
Just this week, we had some computer difficulties that are beyond our scope of expertise. We didn't know what to do or where to turn. We were speaking at Calvary Chapel Kansas City and I asked a gentleman if they had anyone in the church family that understood computers and websites. Before the day was over we met two men who have agreed to help us get back on track. Our problems are major to us but minor to them...we're delighted that they aren't letting their gifts lie dormant.
Share your knowledge. Use your talents. Somebody needs you. "Let nothing be wasted."
Each of us has knowledge, and skills and abilities that others require. The nurse is here to comfort and care for the sick. The waitress is here to serve her patrons. The farmer is here to grow food to feed the populace. The trucker is here to deliver the food to the table and on and on it goes. The world is not as good as it could be if you and I don't use all that God has given us.
Just this week, we had some computer difficulties that are beyond our scope of expertise. We didn't know what to do or where to turn. We were speaking at Calvary Chapel Kansas City and I asked a gentleman if they had anyone in the church family that understood computers and websites. Before the day was over we met two men who have agreed to help us get back on track. Our problems are major to us but minor to them...we're delighted that they aren't letting their gifts lie dormant.
Share your knowledge. Use your talents. Somebody needs you. "Let nothing be wasted."
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Being Dependent and Incredibly Thankful
Life changes. Up. Down. Over. Around. We try as best we can to roll with the punches, stay as positive as we can and do our best. Sometimes it's not enough...and believe it or not, that is a good thing!
Because as soon as we realize that we cannot not do everything by ourselves and that human beings weren't designed to be independent...that we truly need God and each other....it is then that the blessings begin to flow!
Something wonderful happens when things overwhelm us to the point where we say, "I need help." Speaking that need is actually the beginning of receiving help. Any psychologist worth their salt will tell you that identifying the problem is the first step to finding the solution.
It wasn't too long ago that we had a few dilemmas. We couldn't find a seamstress to make my Biblical walking outfits. One didn't have the time to do it, another wouldn't do it , another wasn't talented enough to do it and one person had to leave town to tend to her sick father. Our 1977 RV was a litany of money draining mechanical mishaps...radiator, engine, brakes, carburetor and so on and so on. Due to hospital problems and no health insurance, we were nearly $40,000 in debt and began to feel like our walk for Christ was never going to happen.
Then we read the story of King Jehosaphat....he had real problems! The enemy surrounded him, outnumbered him and taunted him. He didn't know what to do and so he cried out and told God his problem. God spoke through another human being and said...stand firm. Hold your ground and watch the deliverance of the Lord on your behalf.
What happened in the Bible thousand of years ago can and happens today...just believe!!
We had a wonderful seamtress volunteer her services and make three walking outfits, plus two belts plus two bags! Then a gentleman who used to build high end RV's in California, took our RV on as a project for the Lord and is not only fixing our mechanical woes but transforming the interior of the RV into something that could rival Extreme Makeover! On top of the that, the hospital forgave us over $20, 700 of debt!!!
There are times in life when we all need help. You can always depend on God and He will always help you through other people. Think about the people He has helped through you! Kinda makes you wanna smile, eh?
Because as soon as we realize that we cannot not do everything by ourselves and that human beings weren't designed to be independent...that we truly need God and each other....it is then that the blessings begin to flow!
Something wonderful happens when things overwhelm us to the point where we say, "I need help." Speaking that need is actually the beginning of receiving help. Any psychologist worth their salt will tell you that identifying the problem is the first step to finding the solution.
It wasn't too long ago that we had a few dilemmas. We couldn't find a seamstress to make my Biblical walking outfits. One didn't have the time to do it, another wouldn't do it , another wasn't talented enough to do it and one person had to leave town to tend to her sick father. Our 1977 RV was a litany of money draining mechanical mishaps...radiator, engine, brakes, carburetor and so on and so on. Due to hospital problems and no health insurance, we were nearly $40,000 in debt and began to feel like our walk for Christ was never going to happen.
Then we read the story of King Jehosaphat....he had real problems! The enemy surrounded him, outnumbered him and taunted him. He didn't know what to do and so he cried out and told God his problem. God spoke through another human being and said...stand firm. Hold your ground and watch the deliverance of the Lord on your behalf.
What happened in the Bible thousand of years ago can and happens today...just believe!!
We had a wonderful seamtress volunteer her services and make three walking outfits, plus two belts plus two bags! Then a gentleman who used to build high end RV's in California, took our RV on as a project for the Lord and is not only fixing our mechanical woes but transforming the interior of the RV into something that could rival Extreme Makeover! On top of the that, the hospital forgave us over $20, 700 of debt!!!
There are times in life when we all need help. You can always depend on God and He will always help you through other people. Think about the people He has helped through you! Kinda makes you wanna smile, eh?
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