MI-5 Querry

What's the 'staple' in my life?
*I would say it is my relationships - starting with God. Talking to God and seeing the reality of God's presence 'in' and 'around' me really makes me "tick". This is experienced on some smaller level in relationship to my wife. So, I have 'meaning' and reason to live because I interact with others.
Pet name?
*I've noticed 'pet names' are common in Maine, they are not where I previously lived. The only one that comes to mind is my oldest daughter. I called her "punky" - especially when she was small. I will not go into detail about that other than to say, it has something to do with her birth. It a 'family thing'.
Style of eggs?
*I have always ordered "over easy" because I like to 'sop' the warm egg yokes with whole wheat toast. Never cold though ... YUK! These days I have high cholesterol and have to eat egg substitute - which as far as I know only comes in liquid form/scrambled.
Favorite summer drink?
*I like lemon-lime seltzer in the summer. I especially like guzzling it until my eyes water from the carbonation. (:
A chocolate or jelly-bean person?
*WOW - I guess I would like more clarification on that. But I LOVE chocolate ... especially "extra dark" cacao. I like the stuff that causes the saliva glands to explode. So maybe I'm a "chocolate". Yea. HEY MOM ... I"M REALLY CHOCOLATE!

A Loving Church

I have been 'terribly' busy the last few days, and have not been able to blog. But I want the world to know I am part of a the MOST LOVING church in the world. Last weekend they threw a baby shower for me and my wife.

A baby shower from a church for the Pastor and wife may not be unusual ... that is, a shower for the Pastor and wife's baby. But this shower was not on behalf of a new addition to the church family. THIS shower was for a grandchild being born some 650 miles away from the church community. Our congregation may never have the opportunity to see the baby, but they know how important this FIRST grandchild will be for their Pastor and his wife. So they loved ...

I am fully aware that in most cases the costs of gifts given did not come from wealth and big bank accounts. THIS kind of expression is indicative of Biblical love. It is a love that gives for the good and well-being of others. So they love ...

Yes, THIS kind of love is like that of God. God is 'just' and God is 'love'. These characteristics are unlike terms - but two sides of the same coin. So Ultimate Justice says, "all have sinned" and the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Ultimate Love then loves SO MUCH that He "gave His only son" that we may find forgiveness by believing in him (John 3:16). We are then simply given a choice to 'believe' - or not. So God loves ...

I am HAPPY to be part of a church family that loves like God.

MI-5 Weekly Questions

FIVE RIDDLES to solve.

#1 A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose
between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the
second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is
full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is
safest for him?

#2 A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him
under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him.
But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy
a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?

#3 What is black when you buy it, red when you use it,
and gray when you throw it away?

#4 Can you name three consecutive days without using
the words Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday?

#5 This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how
quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks
so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong
with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual
though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find
anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out.
Try to do so without any coaching!

Answers;
1. The third room. Lions that haven't eaten in three
years are dead. That one was easy, right?
2. The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture
of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry
(shot; held under water; and hung).
3. Charcoal, as it is used in barbecuing.
4. Sure you can name three consecutive days,
yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
5. The letter e, which is the most common letter used
in the English language, does not appear even once in
the paragraph.

More from MI-5

Here's the latest from my new blogging community (MI-5).
The following five questions come as our weekly opportunity
for reflection and confession. My answers follow the
asterisk.

1.  What is your personal policy regarding locking your
car?
*I lived in the Washington DC area the last 8 years. So
I lock my car from habit. If you leave your car unlocked
in DC, you'll be lucky to HAVE a car within an hour. If
you do, anything of value will be gone. Great thing to
say about our nation's capitol ... right? But I'm afraid
its true.

2.  If you had to do it all again would you choose the
same career path?
*ABSOLUTELY. I believe I am living out my God-given calling ... AND ITS
WONDERFUL.

3.  What is something you hope to do this summer?
*Go to Hawaii for my 30th anniversary. I have a sister
living in LA, so we would like to visit her and take a
quick flight over to "The Big Island".
Will we go? - probably not.

4.  Tell us something you are thankful for right now.
*I'm thankful for my wife. She is 'away' right now,
and I'm thinking about her. Guess its the notion that
"absence makes the heart grow fonder".

5.  Tell us of a book, movie, tv show, webisode, author,
CD, musician, comedian or any form of entertainment you
have been digging lately.
*Yesterday I bought a Best of Bonnie Raitt CD and really
like it. I enjoy slide guitar and her style communicates
to me. *On a heavier note, I have been reading reviews on
Samuel Russell's recent book, Letter To A Christian Nation.
Reading that stuff is intellectually stimulating - but
similar to walking with a sharp pebble in my shoe.

Thanks for the questions Jim!

Questions from The Beloved

Today's blog will be answers to questions sent by another MI-5 blogger - my answers are 'bold' type. Directions are;
You must choose from one of the 2 answers, "neither one" is not an acceptable answer. If you would like you can explain your choice.

Would You Rather:
1. Sleep each night with 2 harmless bats in your bedroom OR Always have 5 pigeons hanging out in your bathroom? Bats ... pigeons are WAY too noisy!
2. Sleep on the sidewalk for a week straight in normal weather OR Sleep for 1 night on the sidewalk in the pouring rain? One night with rain. I grew up in Florida where it rains about 200 days/ year ... its not so bad.
3. Never be able to smile OR Never be able to dream when you sleep? Never dream ... I can't remember them anyway.
4. Not be able to read OR Not be able to talk? Not read ... I'm a preacher 'for heaven sakes'!
5. Bang your funny bone 5 times in a row OR Listen for 20 minutes to someone scraping their nails down a chalkboard? I'll take the nails ... my elbows are really sensitive.

Thanks Sue!

Pastor's Business Card

My 88 year old mother e-mailed me this story today, and I
thought I would share it with you.

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners.
At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home,
but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote
'Revelation 3:20' on the back of it and stuck it in the
door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday,
he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was
this cryptic message, 'Genesis 3:10.' Reaching for his Bible
to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.
Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.'
Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I
was afraid for I was naked.' 

My Mom, Jeanette ... she's alright. 

I don't know what it is about sunrises in Maine that touches me. I look forward to them every morning. I have SO enjoyed living in our present location with an ocean view. I guess I feel this way because it somehow connects me back to my roots. I grew up on the Atlantic - enjoying the beauty and bounty of the sea. Life's journey has taken me through eastern states, sometimes as much as a day's drive from the coast. But my heart has always been in places where I can feel and smell the briny breezes of home.