Wow, what a day.
Woke up at 6:30 this morning, headed to the office by 7:15 and was on the road with 7 Junior Highers heading towards Fairmount by 8.
I left Fairmount after lunch time and came back here to the office to begin the “I’m back from vacation and camp” stuff.
My office looks as though it has been inhabited by gypsies (sorry to any gypsies who may read this!)
Leaving for supper now and then accountability meeting!
Yesterday evening, I finished the book, “Becoming A Dad” by Stephen James and David Thomas (Relevant Books). Before anyone gets too carried away, NO – we’re not having any children in the next 9 months or so.
My buddy Glen Robinson challenged me to read this book with him and I am super-glad that I did! In the last two weeks, reading this book off and on, I’ve learned more about fathering than I think I’ve learned in my lifetime.
Sure I’ve learned a TON about fathering from watching my own father, but some of the Spiritual implications about fathering, and some of the practical fathering tips about becoming a new father were outlined in this book very well.
Each chapter is followed by a couple paragraphs of “practical” new-fathering tips – very useful, I’m sure to a new or soon-to-become father.
I’ve learned enough reading this book to be even MORE excited about one day being a father!
One of my favorite quotes, “Parenthood is a dimly lit, rough path with many rocks along the trail. If you are living in it well, you will never full feel competent, confident, or secure.”
To read that and STILL be excited about parenting, something must definitely be wrong with me, huh?!
This morning Jess and I had the opportunity to visit the Nappanee Missionary Church on our final day of vacation. This church is about 50-minutes away from our home in Winona Lake, and the drive there was filled with the Amish scenery I have grown to love!
The service was great – we went to the “Connections” service – which meets in the gym. It’s mainly a youth and young adult service with modern worship songs – after the praise and worship time, they play a video of the Senior Pastor’s – Pastor Dave Engbrecht – sermon from the 8:30AM service! Very interesting way to hold a “contemporary” worship service!
The band was great, the atmosphere was “young adult-ish” with coffee and refreshments available as you walked in the door.
We were greeted VERY warmly when we first walked into Nappanee Missionary church – and were given directions to the “Connections” service in the gym without hesitation – it felt good, again to be “visitors”!
Pastor Dave spoke openly this morning about sexuality and the church’s responsibility of talking openly about how God intended sex to be for his people – an act that should only take place between a man and woman who have taken the covenant of marriage upon themselves. He related the covenant of marriage to the covenant God has with Israel – a neat perspective that I am sure I’ve heard, but heard in a new way today.
Following the service, we met up with Craig Helfrich – who now attends Nappanee Missionary, and he gave us a tour of the facility and joined us for lunch in Goshen at the Backyard Barbeque! It was his first time and he was impressed!
After a leisurely meal, we headed back home for the afternoon. On the way, just outside of Goshen, we saw a car on the side of the road that was engulfed in smoke – with fire dripping from the engine compartment onto the road. We approached cautiously as a number of men guided us past and maintained a safe distance from the flaming car. Of course I took a picture:
I purchased this album while at camp a week ago. It was made famous – in my mind – by the video for “Nuisance” which features the lead singer of Relient K. With the average 12 tracks, I’d say that atleast half of the tracks are NEW, while the other half sound like the typical John Reuben stuff.
This being Reuben’s latest album, I can see a maturing of his style of white-boy-rap, and am encouraged to see what he comes up with next!
