at Ashland Seminary

I had a great time this week at Ashland Seminary, meeting Allan Bevere who graciously hosted me there. Was good getting acquainted with him in person. And getting to hear Scot McKnight on the gospel. Four great lectures on the gospel along with good, stimulating question and answer times afterwards.

What was reinforced for me is that the gospel is bigger than many of us have understood it to be. It is centered in Jesus and out from him comes the salvation that is meant for the entire world and all of creation. And it is meant for each person and each person in their totality. I gained new insights into this with reference to the gospels, the early witness in Acts, and Paul, and how we work that out in the present day.

Was great to have the privilege of chatting at a coffee place with Scot and Allan. Allan himself is a gifted scholar, pastor and professor. I wish I could have heard him teach or preach. And with Scot we had a most interesting conversation over theology and what is going on in their work and from others today.

I must add that Ashland Seminary is an interesting place, and it looks to me like a very good work is going on there. And beautiful days there as you can see from the pics.

our 24th wedding anniversary

The Shack in Newaygo County, north of us, the main building. Place of our get away to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary.

Deb and I in the love seat in our room. Beautiful wood, and we enjoyed a hot tub.

One of the things Deb and I enjoy doing the most.

Deb loves horses and they love her.

As you can see it wasn't warm outside.

It is on a lake. Leaves nearing peak, and this pic doesn't do justice to some of the beauty we saw in the colors of the leaves.

wonderful time in Texas

Deb and I had the most wonderful time in Texas with my sister Maxine. Her and her husband Steve showed us the most wonderful time there. My sister Cheryl with most of her family came, and most of Maxine's family was present as well. It will be a time I'll never forget.

Deb and I in front of Maxine and Steve's house. It was hot, even if a bit cooled down part of the time for Texas itself.

We certainly did miss Tiffany, Chris and little Morgan. We knew they could not make it, but it's more than worth the mention.

My sister Maxine and I.

Me with my sisters Cheryl and Maxine.

Maxine and her husband Steve, with their youngest, Andrea. Their oldest daughter Angela could not be with us as she has been quite busy this summer in sales before college. We missed Angela.

Maxine and Steve's oldest, Douglas, with his girlfriend, Laura.

Cheryl with three of her four children: Jessica, Jason and Jenna. We missed Jamie, as well.

We enjoyed a very nice swimming pool in the back. And did spend one day at the best water fun place I've ever been at their Six Flags there. So we had plenty of water and sun. (That's Deb in the middle and Cheryl is barely in the pic on the right.)

Deb and I in front of The Sixth Floor Museum. The sixth floor of this building is from where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I still remember the day. It was a very moving time for me in the museum. Well worth your visit.

My sister Maxine, who took us.

The building itself, including the windows, I believe to the far right on the sixth floor as you look at the building, from where the president was shot. They had the boxes concealing the assassin just as they were on that day, November 22, 1963.

Dallas.

A beautiful time. So good to be with family. We missed Mom, and of course Dad, as well.

Thanks so much, Maxine and Steve.

belated Happy Mother's Day

A belated Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers. And I hope it was a special day for all you women. We had a good time in Ohio with my mother. Here she is with my wife, Deb.

It ought to go without saying that women are as important as men, and in some ways more important. They shape their children in ways that are unique. And I believe females being subject to males is simply a result of the Fall, and not a part of God's original design and intent in creation, nor in the new creation in Jesus. In Christ there is neither male nor female. Not obliterating our sexuality which in Jesus is redeemed and will be glorified as part of who we are as persons. But simply insisting that in the new creation in Jesus we are all one, in all our differences united together.

I am thankful to God for the women in my life. For my mother, who built into me some important habits I have now: a love for reading, for good music, for hard work, and an appreciation for nature. For my wife who has stood with me through thick and thin and whose love for God and for me I simply see as pure grace and a gift to me from God. To one of our pastors, Sharon, whose ministry by the Spirit demonstrates to us God's grace and care, in the truth that is in Jesus. For many other women as well that I've known and know. I thank God for you all.

Late addition: Let me add that my mother was instrumental in leading me to faith in Christ because of her faithful witness over the years. And my wife was a good mother to Tiffany our daughter, endeavoring to teach her the faith, the Spirit guiding her at special times in Tiffany's life.

Anyone have anything they'd like to add to this?

a nice weekend

Deb pulled out all the stops with a very nice birthday celebration for me yesterday- though just me and her, which in some ways make it nicer, of course! Along with that we planted a tree, as it was Arbor Day. I do love trees, so that's appropriate. This Red Point Maple, budding, as you can see here along with a needy lawn. This is how it looked when I walked in the door yesterday, greeted by my lovely wife, Deb.

I surprised Deb today with a visit to one of our favorite places around here, Meijer Gardens. I've shared pics from a past visit on this blog, before. We had high winds and heavy rain off and on, but still managed to have a very nice time there, seeing some butterflies indoors, red-winged black birds (a favorite of Deb's), daffodils (another of Deb's favorites), the horse sculpted in the tradition of Leonardo Da Vinci, a farm house and barn built as in the 1930's, and more. Some pics of our time there today:

After getting to our car and having our evidently too cheap umbrellas broken by the wind, we had a good time reading from Scot McKnight's 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, and a prayer and Scripture from The First English Prayer Book. And later, as we were walking around the park, and as we were leaving, I couldn't help but sing, For the Beauty of the Earth (the tune). Words so meaningful for celebrating life and our Father's wonderful world.

Last but not least the latest pics of our sweet granddaughter, Morgan!

a long, cold winter

This winter we've had plenty of snow as you can see from this picture of Deb. She stands beside one of the two major snow piles. I had to learn to use my legs more and my back less, through all the shoveling. Deb usually helps me more than well, but we now have only one shovel left. Deb is 4 feet 11 inches (149.86 centimeters). We're looking forward to Spring!