Fall Break 2008

Fall is definitely here now. Lower temperatures. Colorful leaves. Crisp morning air. Fall break is coming up. I’ll spend a little additional time with the family.

I am getting ready to begin several books. I have a stack, but these are books I must move to the top of the pile – N. T. Wright, Tim Keller, and others demand a reading. I shall purchase these with gift cards that people have given me.

My wife and I will be taking in a few musicals at the Round Barn Theater. I have come to love those times and enjoy the drama filled music and rustic location.  We’ve seen several musicals there.

My walk with God is progressing. I feel closer to Him in these recent days. As I study the Word, and address the problems of people, He speaks to me in all of this. I hear Him saying things to me; things that I personally need and things I need to say to those I lead. Open my ears that I may hear.

My October 25-26 Weekend

Great weekend! Levi turned 12 so we ate out together Friday evening at Red Robin. They made him stand up in his seat so the staff could sing to him, which he thoroughly enjoyed, not to mention the ice cream too.

Saturday, we went to see Purdue play Minnesota at West Lafayette. The Gophers won and the Boiler makers looked complacent.

The boys really enjoyed being a part of the tail-gating experience with pickup football being played all over right up until game time.

I continue to touch base with many friends from the past, former parishioners, and fellow college students. Having lived in several places and worked in many churches, it’s nice to see all of these random contacts tied together in one place.

Speaking went a little easier today than previous weeks. I feel something stirs in spiritual places and we are beginning to prepare ourselves for this. Donnette sang today. She along with so many others are amplifying my themes beautifully.

Time Warp and Facebook

On a whim, I decided to create an account on Facebook. It has turned out to be an incredible surprise – Rip Van Winkle like. I have ended up connecting with friends that I went to college with – back in 1986 to 1991. It’s as if I’ve been asleep all these years and my memory of my friends has been frozen in time. I had lost contact with nearly all of them. Now, I’m seeing them on Facebook as we all hit our mid-life years. Talk about a time-warp! We all have kids, some have published books, others have moved all over the country, and so many have just grown sweeter with years.

And now, I’m getting ready to send a daughter off to college. She just got accepted to Indiana Wesleyan University. The circle of life continues.

My October 17-19 2008 Weekend

I performed a wedding this weekend.

I’ve spent some time setting up a laptop for the family to use – faster and more up-to-date. Levi and I listened to the Sox-Rays game on internet radio and found an online site that allowed us to watch the game for free while we listened to it. We even went to Yahoo Sports to check live stats of some of the players. Amazing info at our fingertips!

I walked with my wife, talked to my daughter about boyfriends and dating, and played some nerf football. Will wrestled with Ruger, cheap entertainment, especially when Ruger cops an attitude when he’s getting beaten (he bites harder and growls louder).

The fall leaves are nearing their peak and I love the cool, fall mornings.

I gave another talk at our gathering today. I found it hard to speak on my topic, but got through it and challenged the men to 30 days of sexual sobriety.

I’m working on an idea. I’ve been noting specific places in specific books that actually “lay me bare” – meaning that I’m just filleted by what I have read, thoughts that just open me up and expose some deep inner things that no one else knows about. These are deeply personal things, but things that I would like to write about and present on. Will continue to think about how to do this.

I have received several kind gestures lately, gifts that speak of appreciation.

I also watched the Bucket List, a movie about really living, despite impending death.

Joey Journal – You Just Have To Live

I write to discover my soul… to reveal my inmost desires and thoughts… to share life with others… to reflect on the good things as well as the bad… to find the humor in the everyday… to recreate a memory… to shape a life. “Do not fear death; fear rather the unlived life. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live (Tuck Everlasting).” Here’s to life and the journey.