My life verse

"Commit your way unto the Lord; trust in him and he will do this" -Psalm 37:5 NIV

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Summer Ramblings

An update on what is going on in my life this summer. It seems summer comes and goes quickly, maybe because it always brings so many activites.

District Conference Preparation
One of my responsibilites for The NC East District Wesleyan Church is to make preparations for our district conference. Preparing for a district conference is more than meets the eye. I spend hours, days, and weeks in preparation. Our conference has about 300 delegates and we like to make it a inspiring day.


District Conference Day
Conference was at Durham newhope church July 16. In addition to seeing that everything runs smoothly througout the day, I also assist in recording all the daily activiities. This year God blessed us with one of the most inspiring conferences in years.

Intentional Interim Minister Certification
I have been working on finishing my certification from the Center for Congregational Health as an Intentional Interim Minister. The last step was my field project. I finished this summer and delivered a final report on the field project to the church I was working with. I have received my certification.

Supply Pastor
Late June the Pastor at Ramseur Kildee in our district suddenly resigned. I have been looking after the church and preaching for them.

Gardening
I enjoy raising a garden. This summer I have gardened and enjoyed spinach, brocolli,squash,beets, blackberries, peppers, green beans, tomatoes, and potatoes from the garden. A lot of work and sweat!

Raising a grandson
My wife and I are raising our oldest grandson. He has lived with us since he was born, he is now 10. A 10 year old can keep you moving in the summer. Little league baseball, repairing his 4 wheeler, and general dad stuff.

Yard and House Work
There is always plenty to do around the yard and house during the summer. We have a little over an acre of grass to mow and a 2,800 square foot house to keep up with.

District Camp Meeting
Our annual district camp meeting will begin Sunday evening, July 19 through Thursday, July 23. Although my district job does not include camp meeting responsibilities I will attend every service.

Our Son's Wedding
Our son, Shawn, age 24 is getting married August 15. In addition to performing the ceremony I have had the usually dad things to get done in preparation for his wedding.

No wonder suummer comes and goes quickly. I am ready for a vacation. It is coming last full week of July.

Friday, July 10, 2009

My New Ride




I have always enjoyed the outdoors and outdoor activity. I grew up in the country, twelve miles out from the city of Indianapolis,Indiana. We had no TV. What we did have were fields and woods to roam, and hunt rabbits and squirrel, creeks to fish, plenty of country roads to ride a bicycle on. In the summer I was up early and out the door and usually not back home until evening. There were some boys in my neighborhood about a mile away and we would spend most summer days in the fields and woods, fishing, playing sports, hanging out, or bicycling to a nearby small town. Recently I connected with one of my boyhood friends on Facebook, he now lives in Oregon, had not heard from him since I was a boy.

The love of the outdoors has stayed with me over the years. Recently I took up two new outdoor activities I had never tired before, fly fishing and motorcycle riding. I posted earlier and put up a pic about catching my first trout on fly rod.

I have rode a bicycle all of my life and to this day still do. I had never been a motorcycle rider before. To be honest I thought there was just too much danger and did not think I would enjoy it because of what I seen as the danger involved. However, since I started working at the district office and making the daily 5 mile country ride from my house to the office and back daily I began to think this would make a great motorcycle ride and since it is a country ride should not be much danger.

This spring I purchased a 2004 Harley Davidson 883C. I took the motorcycle safety course at a local community college. I got the motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license and begin to ride. Wow! I have enjoyed it. I not only ride back and forth to work, but find myself riding it to run errands to town and back. I love the wind blowing in my face, the roar of the engine and the freedom one feels on the bike.

I have always been one to try new stuff. Although the years are piling up, I enjoy greatly new challenges and adventure. Who knows what I might try next!