OK, I'm sorry! ... I'm a doting grandfather. I have been without internet service for a month, and this is naturally how I am getting back into the 'swing' of it. You gotta admit he IS CUTE.

I always heard there is a special bond between men and their grandsons - now I'm beginning to understand it. I'm already looking forward to the seeing little Ethan again. Josey will be going down in another month or two for a visit. Me, I don't know when I will get to see him again. I'm discovering some drawbacks to the bi-vocational thing, getting 'time off' is one.
So for now, I'll be satisfied with digital pics being sent as often as possible.

"Grampy" ... OH YEH!

Well I have been pretty busy and falling short on blogging. I'm busy because I'm fixing up an old house, and 'moving' into the house on top of everyday work/ministry responsibilities. All this while preparing a trip to Virginia to see my first grandchild. YUP - I will be called "Grampy". They tell me its going to be a boy too!

I'm certainly not looking forward to the drive ... and with gas prices? But what guy wouldn't be excited about his first grandson? Well, maybe it IS an "age-appropriate" kind of excitement - but I CAN'T WAIT!

Signed,
Grandfather - Grand Dad - Grandpa - Gramps - Granpappy ... no, "GRAMPY"

MI-5

Here are the questions answers for the week;

1. Do you have any weird OCD issues?

* WOW ... its a small world. As a former Church Planter in
Virginia, I have met Tally Wilgis. We used to meet in Richmond,
Virginia for monthly meetings. As for OCD issues, I try my best
to continually reprogram. But the bills in my wallet MUST all
face the same direction. Does that count?

2. What major decision/change did you make in your life that
surprised your family and friends & how did things work out?

*OK - this is weird! I left South Florida for a 'life-change' too.
But I moved to North Florida for educational purposes. I had
a great job, a wife, three kids, and a beautiful custom home ...
my family thought I was NUTS! Things worked out great!
My kids grew up and moved out. My wife and I are happy to
be living in Maine.

3. What is something you picked up and who did you pick it
up from?

*Eating biscuits. I learned the beauty of the biscuit from a
co-worker when I was in the fire service. I learned how to
make (and several ways to eat) them, and now I enjoy them at
every opportunity.

4. What is something you discovered by accident but has
enriched your life?

* That would have to be regular reading. I started reading
books in a particular genre a few years ago. I did it in order
get some new perspective on my work. I found that regular
reading prompted all kinds of fresh thinking and creativity.
So now I read at least one book per month.

5. If you could influence a behavioral change in someone else,
what would it be and how would you go about doing it?

*I would change attitudes concerning motorcycling - which
happens to be my hobby. I was alarmed to discover that
some people dislike bikers SO much that they will intensionally
run them off the road. I would do this by taking them for a ride
on a gorgeous summer day up Cadillac Mountain. One ride on
sensory overload like that ... and they would forever appreciate
motorcycling.

Dave

Disaster Relief

What devastation! I got this photo from the website of Mission Aviation Fellowship - a Christian ministry group that flies airplanes to Haiti and other poverty-stricken places.

Words cannot express the struggle and suffering such events bring. I was fortunate (I think) to be in the first search & rescue teams arriving in Miami after Hurricane Andrew back in the early 90s. I was working for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue at the time, and happened to be 'on duty' the night the storm hit. It was a life-changing experience I will never forget.

Now I wish there was a way to help the people of Myanmar. Truth is, the government there is not allowing much aide into the Country. Many people and organizations are on "standby" ready to respond with help. Its a sad situation.

Hey, we've got problems here at home too. Last week many homes and businesses were damaged by flooding in northern Maine. I have notified the Maine Baptist Association Disaster Relief (say THAT 5 times quickly) of our church's willingness to help. We are on "stand-by" there too. I'll keep you posted on that.

Yea ... I'm a Floridian

OK ... I'm 'from away' in New England terms.
I was born and raised on the east coast of
South Florida where the briny breezes are
constant and fishing is good year-round.
That means it's ideal weather for the elderly
who are very sensitive to cold winters elsewhere.
Our town had whole communities of elderly packed
in small apartments like sardines - and stacked
like cord wood.  So as you could imagine, jokes
about senior citizens are plentiful there. My
brother just sent me several ... and I thought
I would share at least one. Here goes ...

An elderly Floridian called 911 on her cell phone
to report that her car has been broken into.
She is hysterical as she explains her situation
to the dispatcher: 'They've stolen  the stereo,
the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the
accelerator!' she cried.

The dispatcher said, 'Stay calm. An officer is
on the way.'

A few minutes later, the officer radios in.
'Disregard.' He says. 'She got in the back-seat
by mistake.'

OH YEA!

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.