banished and looking...

for my dearest lord across the sea:

i searched for over 900 miles today...i met many eligible girlies and staged an inquisition of their "situation"...either they could cook and play pool...or they could ride a bike and cook...or they could play pool only...and she's a drinker, which according to your weekend rules, eliminates the later...

so, i came to the conclusion that any way i slice it, your still over there- and "she" is over here...across a big sea...i have failed miserably-but my deepest inclination concerning this matter rests in your ability to check your mail...i feel certain many "human females" have replied...except the address listed could have reached at least one out of every two males in london, if not all...ergo, i have come to the conclusion that fate will arrange the outcome...and i still have one whole week to venture further...

your dutiful-not to be confused with beautiful- servant... clay county girl

this is it...

well, on the eve of my last sermon for the summer, i find it to be a bit relieving yet a bit mortifying...so much of what has happened here these past six weeks has been formidable...possibly for all involved...

the largest bike race in the world happened this weekend...over 12,000 riders came to fallstown to ride the 25th anniversaray ride...it was incredible...

in a matter of days, i will be in the midst of the learning arena once again...maybe we always learn...sometimes it is more intense than others...

God be with you all until we meet again...in approximately 8 days...peace to all tonight....

a new door...

as the week winds down, i will be opening a new door that will take me to the life of the highway...at least for a few days until i arrive at the fabulous town of dubois, wyoming...where i will stop at the rustic and sit with the old men and their dogs and listen to how the day went while drinking a beer i reserve to my time in wyoming...

there is something liberating about the trip for me...22 hours of solitude does wonders for the soul...i am stoked for sure...

the wilderness men come home tomorrow...it's my last wednesday in fallstown...i'll remember my father as well...hell, i might even sing at open mic :) rambo leaves for VA...it's a typical paradoxical day...

the truth is- when you turn the knob on the door, are we ever certain as to what is behind it?

visitors..

i gotta tell you, when dhawn and georgie come to visit- it's such a great thing...it makes me know how anxious i am to get back...i actually wanted to study today...

this summer has been full of so many ups...good experience, good community...it has been a definite insight to pastoral work...i haven't had to do much business so it has been refreshing...just people and their lives...loving people...being involved in their joys and struggles...what an honor it is to be a part of their lives...

i get to head to wyoming next sunday...this is the ultimate vacation...it is the first week i have had off this summer...i am looking forward to the open skies...i am not looking forward to the increase in bears...should be a great adventure...love to all this day...

another sage

richard, you were soooooo right...thanks for the advice...

synagogue in capernaum

apparently this is where jesus taught on eating his flesh and drinking his blood...moments with children should be a blast this week...what can you say, seriously?

this week's title: offensive passion...

almost five years ago...

this weekend i had the privilege of providing music for two of the dearest people in the world while they were getting married...last night, as i was waiting for the rehearsal to start, the officiant (which is an old friend) pulled out this pen from his pocket and just smiled...

if you didn't know any better, it might seem to an onlooker that he was simply lending me his pen...but five years ago this month, he helped me bury my father...he was 54 years old...my sister and i gave him this pen as a thank you...

no sappiness...it was just a reminder that time remains the infinite friend/enemy...there are times when we are done with time...it isn't providing enough comfort...it's passing too slowly...or, happy hour can't get around fast enough...

maybe the insight is when it is helping you with whatever is ailing you- the belief might seem as if time is the enemy...when in all actuality, it had been the utmost friend in helping you survive...five years...not much time...but enough to know that it has been a bittersweet journey...

i don't pretend this insight is absolute...it is just a wonderful thing when you can remember without fear...remember without anxiety...remember the famous time cliche without smirking...

fo real...

i think tina had it right....

what's love got to do with it?

jeez...

i watched the film The Constant Gardner last night...i really love focus films and it sent me into a tailspin of thoughts...

i cannot decide if the detriments of a capitalistic society are worth the successes...when human life becomes what is at stake, it seems that somewhere, honor- truth- integrity would rise and defeat the antithesis factors...it seems that loving your neighbor as yourself disappears when you don't even love yourself as much as you love power and money...how could you possibly love another human? money has no feeling...power has no sense of mutuality...

it's amazing that these intangible things force us to behave in some system that keeps harming human life...and the kicker is: humans implemented the system...we are responsible...

it's rough serving jesus...

so basically, a day at the lake with a few peeps in "ministry" is a part of the job...who would have thought? it sucks that it has to take place in nature...on the water...in the sun...it's really tough...

i think i have learned a few valuable nuggets of info these past few weeks...

* there is a lack of listening among most americans
* there are hurting people EVERYWHERE
* people can change
* you can be infected with west nile virus