Ten Days in California

This month we spent 10 days down in California for church meetings etc. It was in Anaheim CA To be exact. In fact we were staying about three or four blocks due South of Disneyland. (You can insert your own comments here about denominational annual meetings being their own sort of Disneyland.)

I had to be there to complete my five year term of work on the board of ordered ministry. It was really good to see that work come to an end. I found it to be very fulfilling and very intense work but also very satisfying. Especially when we were able to help a pastor or a church leader who found themselves in a difficult situation. Especially especially when they were willing to be helped. 

Last night of our meetings the board held a dinner to celebrate those who were leaving the board. There were two of us this year and the evening turned out to be very moving. The many individuals who were on the board had become friends over the years, somewhat even brothers in arms. They were amazingly kind and generous in their affirming comments. It was considerably humbling to sit and listen as they thanked me for all the different gifts that I brought to the table.

Following that was the ministerial meeting and then the next days began the denominational annual meeting. I have been wanting to take Lauralea too many times but this time I wasn't taking no for an answer and I booked her a flight.    

I would say we had a lot of fun those days. We found an amazing little Mexican restaurant across the street from the hotel, and beside that was a target store which was just more fun for us. 

Yes we made it up to Disneyland for a few hours the one day. Of course the temperatures were high but we found the sun wasn't as hot as it is here in this field. Anyway we snooped around there and got a couple of souvenirs and headed back to the hotel and the air conditioned room. 

It was great to get away and to show Lauralea the people and the work that I've been doing for the past five years. It was fun to share some good meals together a bunch of laughs and sharing in some experiences that we can remember in the years ahead.

Maybe some pics of the fun.

California at the hotel

Hotel Entrance

By the pool

My first taste of crab

At Disneyland

A beautiful evening by the pool

The Delegate gets to work

Board Friends

 

Vacation 2023

 Lauralea and I realized that we hadn’t taken a vacation since last October, and it was all starting to catch up with us so it was time to take a break. 

Well, kind of a break I guess.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it here before but one year ago Lauralea and I purchased a Home in Lanigan Saskatchewan. It’s kind of our cabin if you will, but maybe one day it might also be a retirement place for us. In the meantime, it’s a good place to go to connect with some of the kids and my siblings and my mom. 

It is 100 year old house, and in many ways it is a great blessing to us. And in a few smaller other ways, it needs some love so last autumn we had the roof replaced. But now the outside needed some attention Brown had to go.

So the plan was to hire some painters and to head out and see the transformation happen. I got involved with the painting as well but I couldn’t quite keep up to their speed. It was fun mostly.

Do you want to see some pictures? Well here you go.

Travellin Man

I have been in Jacksonville Florida since Tuesday and already I have used "Y'alls" in too many sentences. 

Oh and I had grits for breakfast today. With cheese on top.

And yesterday there were biscuits beside a big pot of porridge, at least I thought. Then someone told me it was sausage gravy for on top of the biscuits. Close one.

So we are in meetings all day and most evenings until the end of the day next Monday, and I am already bagged. Yesterday was a particularly difficult day and I couldn't fall asleep till late. Or better said, early.

But it is so beautiful down here in the +26C temperatures. I just got to get out more.

This was me last night, sort of completely bagged.

This is the view from my room. Complete with battleship. 

So far I've only been out at night here, but it is a strange thing to experience a warm breeze late on a January night.

"Kansas City Here I Come"

 So I find myself in KC for a week of Board meetings. It seems like a. nice place but dang is it hot here, well at least as compared to home. And humid.

I realized yesterday that this work has allowed me to see some iconic (at least to me) American cities. These are cities you see in NFL or other sports events and now I get to experience them first hand.

Last night we had some Southern food for dinner and it was a pretty great experience. This morning for breakfast I had a fresh biscuit with gravy on it. Who know?  There are some fun tastes out there to be experienced.

But also you see the head offices of corporations you've heard of. Kind of cool. So I realized last night that I could see the Hallmark Cards head offices across the street.

I wonder if they make the movies there too.

Eight Years Ago Now

This photo turned up in my social media feed from eight years ago.

 
We had to move quickly between and around buildings because of the fighting in Bethlehem. The tear gas was thick and burned. We were moving quickly down a street and an Arab shop owner pulled us into his shop. 

He and his sons got us something to drink and gave us the cure for the tear gas, smelling cut onions. (It works) Then we hid out in his shop for a while till things calmed down outside. 

We wanted to get some things because he had cared for us so well. He got out some of his products and before I could communicate my discomfort, he was dressing me in this Bedouin garb. I did the face because the other guys were taking pictures. We laughed pretty good, but it's a memory I will always cherish, of this caring Arab man and his sons and their shop in Bethlehem.

And I Made it Home.

A delayed early flight, a running to catch the next flight they held for me, my passport wouldn’t clear, nearly got to go to stay in Minneapolis, and home late but home.

It is good to be home, and to get the hotel food out of my system. Among other things.

So good.

Tomorrow life returns to normal rural life. :)

The flag on one side, the leader on the other.

It’s not too difficult to see here in this country the great divide. This country is deeply divided especially along lines of race.

We have our own racial challenges in Canada, but they are more to do with how we see our First Nations peoples. Racism is at work wherever in the world we may be.

We each have a part of the story.

Caring for broken leaders, and their families

I'm in Chicago because I am on a board that does some really good work.

I get to work with some pretty amazing people and though the work is hard, we press through it together. Our work twice a year is to try to help pastors and church leaders who are in some difficult times, or they have made some bad choices in life. Either way, to try and care for their spouses and families and to get them some real help.

It’s working with broken people so that can just be tough work sometimes. But it can be very fulfilling work as well.

God Bless America...

...and all the other countries.

Snowing here in the Windy City. Doesn’t feel that bad to me.

A long day of meetings and tonight reports to read. But I feel like I’m able to contribute, and that makes it worthwhile to be here.

Now to find some supper.

An update... with photos

For a host of reasons, this summer has been a most challenging one. I can't recall in recent memory a more challenging summer season. So the photo on the right kinda is how I am seeing life presently.

Yeah, I know. Lots of attitude there I'm afraid. But I'm working on that.


But, the truth is that this season has been a most wonderful season as well. Of visits from our granddaughters and their parents, of Micah and Sharayah's wedding. Of family gathered for the first time in a few years, sharing life in the +30s heat of a Saskatoon summer.

Of strength to do the work that I enjoy doing, when there are not enough personal resources to see the day through. Of new roads with God. Of new conversations with old friends and old conversations revisited with new friends when "New" actually means eleven years or so.

And I bought a bike.
I immediately felt like I was 11 years old again when I first rode it. The breeze and smooth ride, the balancing and speed all just takes me back to a freer simpler time. It's pretty fun.

And now a few photos to remind myself. :)

Omaha

Of course there are probably only a few of you who will remember what comes to mind when I say Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom!

But Omaha is pretty tonight. Beautiful night to be here, and the rain has stopped, for now.

Another piece of life's puzzle fits into place

It has been terribly cold here in this Field for us these past few days. -38C this morning as I got ready to leave the warmth of the house. (I don't do windchill temperature any longer as it seems to be a different number in different places. And anyway if its -30s I already know its stinking cold out there and don't play around.)  So yeah, very very cold.  One poor heart froze to death in Edmonton yesterday. It is not safe out there.

I was in Denver for 10 days recently and a large part of that time there was to do the work of the Board of Ordered Ministry, a group of people in our church who gather to oversee and care for our credentialed leaders. It was my first meeting and it was challenging, intense and stressful, and fulfilling and extremely satisfying. Working with individuals who are considering credentialing with us, helping those who have stumbled and are under care, establishing processes that are helpful to individuals and churches who are looking for pastors.

As I say the work was intense yet profound, but much of the amazing-ness of the time was feeling like I was held in a level of grace so that I could do the work. Seven straight days of 10 plus hours each day, at an altitude that would always be a challenge to my lung condition, yet it all went so smoothly. I slept hard at night and woke early to face each days challenges. Then in the meetings and interviews when I needed to know a direction to move in I could simply quiet myself and I would hear the internal direction to move in, from other than myself, and it always led to life, always.

It is a reminder that when I am weak then there is room for God to be strong. It is a comfort that in those meetings that will change the whole direction of an individuals life, God is clear and leading well.

The gift to work with other hard working, Godly people from around the world is an added benefit to me. I am shaped by their discernment and grace and I am shaped by our shared experience together. God works in me, through them. And in ways I can't always immediately see, I am changed for the better. More goodness in my life.

I have been elected to five years with this board and there are at least two gatherings each year, and with the support of the local church here, it seems to be a great fit for my spirit. I am looking forward to more opportunities to live in this grace that overwhelms so deeply.


What's one of your opportunities for growth this year?

Chicago from above

I found this picture I took from high up in the clouds in a Chicago Skyscraper. 110 Stories high.

My After Shave Collection

I stopped wearing cologne a long time ago because it was just too strong and I don’t need to smell like a teenager. So I started using aftershave because it’s not as strong.

I’ve been adding to my collection and through my travels I’ll hit old little drugstores, especially in America, and find all these old familiar names and smells. :)

Yesterday I got some Old Spice so I'm pretty up to date on what available around here
Now I just need to find some Hai Karate. 😀

(Oh and know what they put on the Old Spice box?)

Classic indeed.

Webcams to watch

Just a post to hold some links I like to visit on grey days.

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/deutschland/brandenburg/kyritz/kyritz-brandenburg.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/israel/jerusalem-district/jerusalem/western-wall.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/france/ile-de-france/paris/tour-eiffel.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/campania/salerno/santuario-avvocatella.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/iceland/greater-reykjavik/reykjavik/hallgrimskirkja-church.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/united-kingdom/england/st-ives/st-ives.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/schweiz/graubunden/silvaplana/silvaplana-switzerland.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/norge/nordland/lofoten/henningsvaer.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/hrvatska/grad-zagreb/zagreb/trg-bana-jelacica.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/liguria/genova/genova-bagni-lido.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/iceland/austurland/hofn/jokulsarlon.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/calabria/vibo-valentia/tropea.html

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/liguria/genova/portofino-riviera-ligure.html

Sitting by the sea, reading

From our time on Iona in 2007.

Visiting the Kids

well, not all the kids, but the ones with the granddaughters.

We took a week off after the annual meeting to cross the river into Wisconsin and visit Johanna and Nate and their girls. Being papa is a part of life I always thought I would love and I sure wasn't wrong. Yet.

Yes it's hard being far away as they grow up and no its not always easy when they are celebrating their milestones but their mom and dad work hard to help us feel connected and we are grateful for that.

And by the way, they have very patient and kind parents who love them. It's really tough parenting small people who get up way too early and are quite demanding and often unreasonable. But they are doing a better job at it than I think I ever did.

We took each girl out for lunch one day and we took them to swimming and gymnastics and watch them play with their neighbourhood friends. Its good.

We make as many memories as we can and try to keep them safe in our minds for the upcoming year, and we take pictures. Some of them prefer not to be in pictures so I try to honour that by asking them if its just a photo of them. Then they come and ask at some point if I can take pictures of them, like they know its going to be a long winter without their photo on my desk. :)

Then, all too soon its time to go home. You kiss and hug them all and your eyes get a little wetter than last time and off you go.

The week goes by quickly, but it is good just to be present to their lives and activities and their growing personalities.

We love em all.

Oh, and Nate introduced me to the best pretzels I have ever tasted. Oh my.