MI-5

Sue sez, "Since it is the week before New Year's Day I thought we could do some reflecting on the past year."

1.What one unexpected joy did you discover?
This would have to be the 'joy' of becoming a grandparent. My oldest daughter gave birth this year to my grandson, Ethan. Its hard to explain how it made me so happy - especially because of some issues associated with the event. But there is just something "wonderful" about witnessing the family lineage continuing to the next generation. Its "joyful"!

2.What two things would you have done differently? Why?
a) I think I would have managed time a bit differently. I didn't accomplish some of the objectives I had for 2008.
b) I should have put forth more effort in developing friendships. Its hard moving into a new culture and place - where you don't know anybody.

3.What were the three most significant events?
I already named the birth of my grandson. Second would be purchasing our home in the village of South Thomaston. Most 'significant' may be positive changes I have seen in people around the church. A few people have stepped into the light and tapped into God's power for the first time. Others made great progress in a 'faith journey' begun some time ago.

4.What four things did you do that were the most fun?
#1 I took up snow skiing. That's something I had only experienced a few times previously, and didn't really get the hang of it until now (Thank you Dwane). #2 I went to California for the first time of my life ... something I had dreamed of for many years. #3 I went to Peterson Auto Museum and saw some of the cars I grew up watching (& admiring) on TV. #4 Also in California, Josey and I took a long motorcycle trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. All I can say about that is, SWEET !!!

5. What five things are you most grateful for?
Wow - I'm exausted. #1 My wife. We don't always agree on things, and that's why I am grateful for her. #2 I am blessed with children who as adults, still talk to me on a regular basis. #3 I am grateful for good health (for a 52 year old). #4 The natural beauty of Maine's Mid-coast. #5 A loving relationship with Almighty God.

This Ol' House

This Ol' House ... isn't that the title of a TV show? Yeh, it ought to be called, "My Nagging Pain".

I have been working on our "Ol' House" much of this week, and I find it SO time-consuming. I suppose tools and such were not so precise 150 years ago when she was built. And that makes it difficult to mate precisely machined lumber and hardware with the old materials.

I'm trying to trim out the inside of windows we recently had installed. Before I went to Lowes, I measured a window setback in order to purchase the right trim. Then I measured another - just to make sure all the windows were the same. I went and bought material.

I came home, got all the tools out to get started. First window went fine ... looks pretty good. Second window - THE TRIM DIDN'T FIT! Checked another, THE TRIM DIDN'T FIT IT EITHER! Come to find out, the two windows I measured were the only ones (out of six) with the same setback. It seemed like such a small job when I started ...

In referring to this new (old) house as "she", I think the place needs a name. How about 'THE BARN'?

MI-5

Questions for reflection; 
 
1. What book do you most want to read before years end?  
*I started a book by President, John F. Kennedy about a month ago. 
Its about "courage" - which I think is an awesome character quality. 
However, its about courage as it relates to politics. Though I have 
little interest in politics, I would REALLY like to finish the book.
 
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you would like to see happen
soon? 
*I would like to see my retirement fund stop going away. Its
the most depressing thing that's happened in a long time.
 
3. What's the most important trip you want to take yet this year? 
*I have already more than filled my quota for travel this year. My
answer a few weeks ago would have been to visit my mother in Florida.
However, I still would like to make a road-trip to Freeport, Maine. 
There is an classic car shop there I MUST visit. 
 
4. What habit would you most like to establish in 2009? 
*I have tried to journal a number of times during my life. I believe 
it can be very helpful on a few different levels. But I have never 
been consistent at it. Maybe in 2009!
 
5. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten
years? 
*Love my mother better. I'm sure I don't call her enough. She will
be 90 in January, and will not likely be with us in ten years. I 
don't want to have regrets at that point.

Billy's Five

Bill says, "This Five is not so much concerned with what kind of movies you like, but how you watch them!"

1) When you’re at the theater, how do you want your atmosphere? Do you prefer old theaters or megaplexes? Full houses or intimate seatings? Lots of kids, or none at all?

I just love the old style theaters - the ones with lots of drapery and sconces on the wall for light. I guess I'm thinking of a particular one that was near our home in Florida. I also like them large and somewhat crowded. But I must confess, I don't like sharing the arm rest with someone who refuses to give me half.

2) What’s your “home theater” like? High tech? VCR and TV? What?

We are still getting our home set up and don't yet have a "home theater". But at some point it will be a warm and cozy place to totally relax. For equipment we only have a TV and standard DVD player. The only "high tech" part would be that we recently got the latest satellite receiver (leased) from Direct TV which has recording capability. I DO run the audio through a home stereo ... WOO-HOO!

3) We’ve probably all got DVD and VCR players, but how about alternative movie watching gadgets? Have you got an Apple TV? Ever watch a movie over the Internet?

The folks we stayed with in Virginia last week watch all TV programs and movies over the Internet. They don't even have standard cable TV of satellite service. However, I tried it at home and it didn't work so well. I've been told the processor in our computer is not quite fast enough to handle streaming video. Someday ...

4) Do you belong to a subscription movie rental service, like NetFlix? If so, how many movies are you renting a month? Are you happy with the service?

We have no membership and we are not renting these days. We used to be 'regulars' at the local movie rental store, but that has changed. I don't miss it all that much, but my wife sure does. Its OK though, we find enough re-runs on TV to be entertained.

5) Share with us your ratio of buying movies to renting them. Do you rent more, or just outright buy your movies? Do you get DVDs, tapes, or movie downloads for your computer most frequently?

If we were renting or buying, the delivery system would definitely be digital. I finally 'chucked' the old VCR because I can no longer tolerate the picture quality of an image lifted from tape. I may OWN low tech equipment, but I really appreciate quality and changing technology. Would you say I'm spoiled? (:

Just finished this little book I picked up in an airport from Harvard Business Press about "execution". That's not referring to capital punishment ... its about carrying out plans within an organization. And some of the 'gems' in this book are most certainly transferable to church administration.

I don't exactly know why, but many - if not most churches have great difficulty seeing their mission come to pass. I am optimistic enough (maybe naive) to believe that church leaders have great ideas and honorable intentions. But for many their vision seems to fall short and the church can't seem to execute a plan.

I dare say, this may be the difference between great or effective churches and those that are little more than a community hall with a religious name. Certainly things like communication and power struggles within the organization cannot be overlooked. And other group dynamics are almost always a factor. But issues mentioned in this book have more to do with personal leadership skills - something I have been fascinated with for quite some time.

Maybe the most insightful information here comes from former Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft, Robert Herbold. His contribution to the book is in the area of "standardizing practices across business functions". He says when you create a plan, "Delegate clearly and use very specific criteria for defining what you want to happen." To me this is simple - but profound! And this guy has proven the power of his insight. In the six years (1994-2000) he worked directly under Bill Gates things definitely "happened" for Microsoft. They experienced a fourfold increase in revenue and a sevenfold increase in profits. YOW-W-W ... THATS EXECUTION!

Home Again

Finally arrived home in Maine last night. It was a whirl-wind trip to Virginia. What a month this has been! Josey and I traveled thousands of miles in the last several weeks. I feel like I haven't slept in my bed much. Honestly, I don't know how touring musicians and such do it. I don't know if I could travel long distances on a regular basis.

On the other hand, I had a RICH experience officiating the wedding of a former church member last Saturday. Yes, she is now a "Mrs." ... and I am SO happy for her! After congratulating her with a big hug, I told her I felt proud - like she is my own daughter. Not possible - since we are different race, but the emotional connection was definitely there. Ah ... the life of a pastor. Its AWESOME!

We also enjoyed staying with our friends, the Womacks. We have been blessed to know them for about 7 years now. But it seems like we are life-long friends. They also attended a church where I was pastor, and are part of our extended church family. Its interesting how we 'connect' with some and not always others. Guess that's part of what "makes the world go around".

A Rich Experience

What a wonderful Veterans Day Josey and I enjoyed. I was invited to be part of a re-dedication ceremony for a war memorial erected right down the street from our home. This particular memorial is in honor of Corporal Oscar Hix whom was the first (and possibly 'only') South Thomaston resident known to have died in World War I.

Something I found very interesting, was a type of segregation between people of local communities. Not racial segregation but, it was a kind of pride that definitely divides. We are talking here about communities of 'maybe' 2000 residents. And yet there are very distinct feelings of pride about ones place of origin. Its somthing that is foreign to me. Then again, I am the "foreigner".

I never did well in school when studying history. I am not very proud of that - it just wasn't interesting to me. And someone with my smarts (or lack of it) needs a personal interest to motivate them to learn. But the Marines I met while pastoring close to Marine Corp Base Quantico sparked a new appreciation for the discipline of study. In case you don't know, learning and knowing 'war history' is HUGE for officers in the Corp. Its only now, in my early 50s that I realize how important history should be. And I am more motivated than ever to learn.

I think the most enjoyable part of the ceremony was not my participation in the ceremony itself. However, I felt tremendously honored with the invitation. The real joy was in meeting so many interesting people from the village. I was introduced to most of the South Thomaston Historical Society, and then to some of the 'history makers' themselves. It was fascinating to hear a 97 year old woman speak about her memories of the area. And we saw a few pictures of our street taken back in 1912. WOW ... that's rich!