Oh, my, how the last few weeks have gone! Here's a quick update.
As you know, Naomi has recovered from her heart-cath and is back to work.
Charity called a week or so ago: Andrew sprained his ankle pretty good.
Josh finished his senior project (is it me or are senior projects a waste of valuable teenage time?) so he is now on the home stretch toward graduation. (June 2nd with his open house on June 3rd.)
Me? Well, what can I say? I've been reading (or should I say "swimming") through all the articles from the Wesleyan Church's "Doctrinal Symposium" held last May. I am quite impressed! You can find this at www.wesleyan.org , then click on Education and the Ministry and click "Doctrinal Symposium." Great stuff, especially if you are a Wesleyan pastor.
Blessings on all.
PS- I did the fatherly thing last week and finally broke down and signed up for that there high-speed internet thingy. Yep! It is faster. My son loves me again.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friday, January 20, 2006
Bad Weekend
Okay, last weekend had to be the worst weekend of my sports cheering life! Every team I rooted for in any sport lost!
First, our hometown Shelby Tigers got dissed by Whitehall. Okay, I can live with that. Then the next day Kentucky lost, Michigan lost, teams I don't care about but rooted for anyway lost. And I went "ofer" on pro football. Every team I gave a hoot about lost.
Now I approach this weekend gingerly.
First, I am rooting for the Steelers. Not because I am a Pittsburgh fan (I grew up jealous and despising the "Iron Curtain"). I like Bill Cowher. He's class guy and seems to love his wife and kids. I am also rooting for the Seattle Panthers or the Carolina Seahawks. I don't know. But it should be a good game. I guess I'll root for the team that needs to come back to win.
Second, I always root for Kentucky. Even when I go watch Glory Road I will wear my Big Blue jacket and probably scream my fool head off for Rupp's Runts. Kentucky finally has their offense clicking.
Third, I just hope to have a decent sports weekend. I need no more bad ones. Besides, I need a reason to preach on Sunday.
First, our hometown Shelby Tigers got dissed by Whitehall. Okay, I can live with that. Then the next day Kentucky lost, Michigan lost, teams I don't care about but rooted for anyway lost. And I went "ofer" on pro football. Every team I gave a hoot about lost.
Now I approach this weekend gingerly.
First, I am rooting for the Steelers. Not because I am a Pittsburgh fan (I grew up jealous and despising the "Iron Curtain"). I like Bill Cowher. He's class guy and seems to love his wife and kids. I am also rooting for the Seattle Panthers or the Carolina Seahawks. I don't know. But it should be a good game. I guess I'll root for the team that needs to come back to win.
Second, I always root for Kentucky. Even when I go watch Glory Road I will wear my Big Blue jacket and probably scream my fool head off for Rupp's Runts. Kentucky finally has their offense clicking.
Third, I just hope to have a decent sports weekend. I need no more bad ones. Besides, I need a reason to preach on Sunday.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Whew!
Wow, what a few weeks!
On the 7th we went over to Canada for our last Christmas with the Moultons. (See pictures)
And then on the 8th we sent Charity off with Andrew at the Detroit Metro. She arrived in Bangor before we arrived in Grand Rapids. Crazy!
And then on Tuesday life gave us one of those small seismic shifts! Naomi developed chest pain/pressure and was taken to Spectrum Butterworth in Grand Rapids. At the Meijer Heart Center a stress test was done on Wednesday that was inconclusive and so on Thursday she underwent her 27th heart-cath. A blockage was found and a stent was placed (inside of a previous stent). We came home Friday. I tried to recuperate Saturday in time to preach a couple sermons on Sunday.
What a week.
I marvel at how God sees us through these times. There is no doubt that His grace is always sufficient- especially in our times of weakness. As some already know, Naomi has had deal with more than her fair share of heart problems (Coronary Artery Disease) as well as diabetes. And, yes, there are times of "why" and yet there are more times of "okay, here we go, Lord."
Thanks for your prayers. She headed off to work today. A little winded- but feeling much better. Me too.
On the 7th we went over to Canada for our last Christmas with the Moultons. (See pictures)
And then on the 8th we sent Charity off with Andrew at the Detroit Metro. She arrived in Bangor before we arrived in Grand Rapids. Crazy!
And then on Tuesday life gave us one of those small seismic shifts! Naomi developed chest pain/pressure and was taken to Spectrum Butterworth in Grand Rapids. At the Meijer Heart Center a stress test was done on Wednesday that was inconclusive and so on Thursday she underwent her 27th heart-cath. A blockage was found and a stent was placed (inside of a previous stent). We came home Friday. I tried to recuperate Saturday in time to preach a couple sermons on Sunday.
What a week.
I marvel at how God sees us through these times. There is no doubt that His grace is always sufficient- especially in our times of weakness. As some already know, Naomi has had deal with more than her fair share of heart problems (Coronary Artery Disease) as well as diabetes. And, yes, there are times of "why" and yet there are more times of "okay, here we go, Lord."
Thanks for your prayers. She headed off to work today. A little winded- but feeling much better. Me too.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Which team?
Last night I was suddenly faced with a quadary: who do I root for? The two teams that I- a Michigan football fan- despise the most are Ohio State and Notre Dame. And here they were playing each other in the Fiesta Bowl. Not some lowly down under game, but a major BCS bowl game. As I watched the game I could not choose. And then, of all things, the announcers bring up Woody Hayes! Ugh!! I almost lost my wife's Mexian dinner!
So I considered the coaches. I actually like both guys. Charlie Weiss is a good man with a great football mind. He obviously loves his players and believes in them. Jim Tressel is the same. Which one will I choose? Neither man gives me any good reason to not like him. Weiss dresses kind of like me- for the sake of comfort. And Tressel reminds me of my preppy college roommate- for the sake of success. I like both styles.
Notre Dame is Catholic and I am a protestant minister. Should that make a difference? No. I like Boston College among other Catholic schools (my favorite player from there being Mike Ruth). I even have a few (very few) friends who are Notre Dame nuts. However, I just don't like Notre Dame.
Ohio State is one of our border states. Our state almost went to war with them over Toledo, 150 years ago. I like Toledo University football. I actually sat in the jacuzzi with their quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, in Clare, Michigan one time. A very polite fellow. I have a good ministerial collegue who is from Findlay. Yet, I just don't like Ohio State.
What did I do? First, I wished for the game to end in a tie. But with the overtime rules in college football that would not be possible. Second, I wished that a thunderstorm would move in and the game be called off because of lightning. Not likely. Finally, I decided that I needed to "fall of the log." So I chose Ohio State. Yes, I, being the consummate football fan during the holidays, and a Michigan fan, rooted for Ohio State.
After all, Jim Tressel dresses like my college roommate.
But I still despise Ohio State.
So I considered the coaches. I actually like both guys. Charlie Weiss is a good man with a great football mind. He obviously loves his players and believes in them. Jim Tressel is the same. Which one will I choose? Neither man gives me any good reason to not like him. Weiss dresses kind of like me- for the sake of comfort. And Tressel reminds me of my preppy college roommate- for the sake of success. I like both styles.
Notre Dame is Catholic and I am a protestant minister. Should that make a difference? No. I like Boston College among other Catholic schools (my favorite player from there being Mike Ruth). I even have a few (very few) friends who are Notre Dame nuts. However, I just don't like Notre Dame.
Ohio State is one of our border states. Our state almost went to war with them over Toledo, 150 years ago. I like Toledo University football. I actually sat in the jacuzzi with their quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, in Clare, Michigan one time. A very polite fellow. I have a good ministerial collegue who is from Findlay. Yet, I just don't like Ohio State.
What did I do? First, I wished for the game to end in a tie. But with the overtime rules in college football that would not be possible. Second, I wished that a thunderstorm would move in and the game be called off because of lightning. Not likely. Finally, I decided that I needed to "fall of the log." So I chose Ohio State. Yes, I, being the consummate football fan during the holidays, and a Michigan fan, rooted for Ohio State.
After all, Jim Tressel dresses like my college roommate.
But I still despise Ohio State.
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