A New Perspective

I just got back from visiting my relatives in Ohio. My Aunt Evelyn lives in Hamilton, OH and my Uncle Paul lives in Georgetown, OH. Both live in care facilities. It was wonderful spending time with my loving relatives and I had the opportunity to share this with our three kids (Unfortunately, Jennifer had to work).

Uncle Paul, back in the day, owned his own printing business. Uncle Paul was very successful in what he did and he is one person I admire. He ran a very successful business. Uncle Paul lives now in a Veteran's Home. It's a beautiful place, newly constructed in a farming area on the outskirts of Cincinnati. Uncle Paul and I talked for a few hours before my cousins arrived and we all went to dinner. It was great to see Uncle Paul doing so well.

We also had the opportunity to visit my Aunt Evelyn. Aunt Evelyn is approaching 90 yrs of age. Aunt Evelyn's faith in Jesus Christ has always been a powerful influence in my life. Aunt Evelyn worked in a bank near Dayton for many years until her retirement. Aunt Evelyn is now in the skilled section of the nursing home, rooming with Alzheimer's patients. Our visit with Aunt Evelyn was not too long, as she could not handle much more. During our visit, she made many comments that showed her mind was beginning to fade. This saddened me greatly. I knew a woman, as a child, who was full of life. Now she sat in a wheelchair, watching the days pass by.

I believe our visit will strengthen my ministry to the elderly. So often, I see the elderly in nursing homes as people who have "always been there." After this visit, it struck me that the people who have "always been there" are in fact, people that have not "always been there." People like Uncle Paul and Aunt Evelyn held incredibly prominent jobs, supported families and cared for the community just as people my age do now. One day, I will be their age and I will long for relationships with my family and others around me. This new perspective will allow me to better understand those whom I visit and listen to the stories they share or even just to sit there and hold their hand. May I be attentive to the ever increasing needs that I see around me.

It was great to visit and to love our extended family.

A Very Special Person Turns Eight

This weekend, we are celebrating a birthday! Alayna turns eight on Monday. Tomorrow, we are going to have a party! Alayna has been counting the days for her birthday for two months! With Alayna, parties are a must! I'm looking forward to the day too! She's got a heart of gold and always is willing to share Christ's love to everyone, including all her friends at school! Thank God for Alayna!

Practical Stuff

Jennifer found something this week on the web that has made our life so much easier! If you have multiple people in your house and you can never figure out each other's schedules, this website is for you! Go to http://www.cozi.com/ This online tool is free and can organize your entire family's life! I now get text messages straight from http://www.cozi.com/ that tell me what to pick up at the store on my way home! Check it out! You'll be glad you used it when you're coming back from soccer practice and there is that one thing you need to pick up and you just can't remember what it was!!! Good find Jennifer!

Open Seating...A First for Me

Yesterday, I flew Southwest Airlines for the first time. Usually, I fly other airlines, but this was the first time I have ever used the open seating option.

Lining up was an experience in itself! I was one of the last people on the plane. I like window seats, so I found a window seat near the rear of the plane. Sitting down next to me was a business man. I said hello and he said hi. I opened up the book I was reading and I heard a mother and son talking in the aisle. It was the first time this young boy flew since he was very young. He was nervous and his mom was hoping to have two seats where they could sit together. The man next to me got up and said, "You can sit here." The little boy sat next to me and the mom sat on the aisle seat. Upon take-off, I asked him if this was his first time flying. He said yes. I asked him if he was from Pittsburgh and he said yes again. I then said, "Oh, so am I. What town do you live in?" He did not know. His mom said, "Whitehall." I smiled and said, "Wow, so am I!" I few more minutes passed in conversation and I said, "I'm a pastor, at Baldwin Community United Methodist Church, across from Caste Village." The mom smiled and said, "That's where my son went to preschool!" Again we smiled at just how small of a world this really is. The mom began to ask me if I knew some of the teachers. When she came to one teacher, I said, "The teacher you are talking about is at my house right now, babysitting our kids!" The mom then laughed because her daughter is dating our babysitter's son! Way too small of a world! Following about a 45 minutes conversation with the mom and her son from PSP's, Steeler Training Camp and even Alternative Worship, she said she might just come to church and check us out! I gave her the times of worship and said we would love to have them come.

I am thankful that the Spirit of God was at work with the "open seating" on Southwest! Thank God the business man got up and the mother and son sat down with me and we were able to talk church! God is good! All the time!

New Opportunity

Monday morning I leave for Baltimore-D.C. area for a new opportunity: I have been accepted as a Lewis Fellow at Wesley Theological Seminary. The Lewis Fellowship http://www.churchleadership.com/programs/lewis_fellows08.htm will be a year in length with opportunities to travel to different parts of the country to meet with various church leaders. This first gathering will be focused on vision and leadership, two areas Allan Brooks and I are focusing on currently at Baldwin Community. I am truly excited but nervous at the same time for this awesome opportunity I have to grow in my ministry so that others may benefit. Please keep me, my family and our church family in prayer throughout this journey together.

Back to it!

Blessings Friends,

I'm back in blogland. It was a great couple of weeks away; refreshing ourselves after a very busy spring season. The Outer Banks was hot; a great place for a few dips in the pool. 16 members of my family went to the beach this year. We truly enjoyed every moment together.

I am happy to say that I did win the "Biggest Loser-St. Clair Edition!" I ended up losing 55 lbs or 19.7 % of my body weight. My brother-in-law, Eric was right behind me at 51 lbs or 17% body weight. My sisters lost 30 lbs and Jenn lost nearly 20lbs! My dad even lost .8% or 2 lbs!

What a great incentive this was to get me on track and eating right once again. Thanks Casey for the great suggestion!

Vacation Fun

I'll be out of blogland for a few weeks as we are packed and ready to leave for the beach! See you in two weeks!

Wish me well. Tomorrow is the final weigh in for the "biggest loser- St.Clair edition!" I'm going down 53 lbs lighter! I'll let you know who wins! Hopefully I'll be on the other end of Brett's 6/10 of a percent!