Home again

Blogging from home tonight. A big thanks to the Darby's of Westerville for fine hospitality and hearty eats. The big adventure Friday was the the Cosi Center in Columbus. Think massive kid-friendly science center with everything from aquatics to mechanics to physics to biology to anatomy to technology to history. I was impressed. The only downside were my allergies, which made breathing a torture and sleeping more off than on.

We made good time yesterday; I marveled at the change in and around King's Island north of Cincy. By far the highlight of the return trip was the Louisville gas stop: $2.66. My little Ford Escort is good to me as far as gas mileage goes, but not the least bit comfortable for long drives (and by long drives, I mean anything more than a trip to our neighborhood Aldi's). Some mornings I'm sore by the time I get to the castle (the girls refer to DCHS as 'the castle'). So for 8-hour multi-state holiday excursions with children...the ride can get long. But when you have wonderful children (who really were quite good if I do say so myself) and a groovy vintage CBS orchestra Christmas CD, the long road from Ohio to Tennessee can be made bearable.

Today had me back in the pulpit at Central Church in Romans 9-10. I need to make a few edits (I always add/delete/change/rearrange/rephrase at the last minute) to the sermon before I post it.

This week: golly what wonderful things are in store for me this week! Stay tuned boys and girls.

Seen in a church bulletin this last week: "You may have pains, but you don't have to be one." (Can't we do better than that? Just imagine the ruckus if someone were to suggest that we scrap the bulletin altogether! It's late, I better not get started).

And so to bed.

Brother Gatling Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Gatling Gun of Warm Humanitarianism.

Get yours.

Be sure to refresh your browser. Often.

And don't neglect to read the article by Jon Carroll explaining the Unitarian Jihad.

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I found the link above while cleaning out my favorites list. I've added several new links and blogs to my 'bibliophilia' page. Thanks to the high-speed connection at Baymont Inn of lovely Westerville Ohio, I can clean things up on the blog.

A fine meal was had by all earlier in the day. Tomorrow promises to be a day chock full of adventure.

No snow here yet, but you never can tell.

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I've got a bit of reading to do for Romans 9-10 for Sunday morning. Then off to bed.

More about Charlotte Avenue

Not long ago several of us attended the Friday Night Singing at Charlotte Avenue Church (the last to be held in that building, which is modeled after the Ryman Auditorium). This article details some things about the merger of CA and West Nashville Heights: http://www.westviewonline.com/

Grace and peace to both congregations as make this transition into one body. And may the day hasten when the unity of the body will be more and more fully realized and experienced.

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Dr. Michael Matheny

Word comes of the passing of Dr. Michael Matheny, one of my favorite profs at Lipscomb. I think I took just about every course he offered at Lipscomb, from Family Ministry and Youth Ministry in 1995 through 2006 for a summer class in Small-Church Ministry, and probably a dozen courses and two practicums in between. He was a leader in campus ministry (publishing one of the first books on campus ministry in Churches of Christ) and taught for over 10 years at Lipscomb.

I will always remember his personal interest in us, both as students and as people. I will remember that he was concerned that we be well-prepared, well-rounded, competent ministers, and that we engage in ministry with all of our hearts and minds. As a professor he was well-read and always well-prepared. He stayed current, had a good recall of the literature, and had a deep well of personal experience in ministry from which he drew often. I also sensed that cared about us, that he knew that what he did mattered, and that ministry was a calling worthy of our very best. Its hard to put that intangible quality into words, but suffice it to say that it showed in his teaching and that is why he was one of my favorites.

He seemed to have found a niche at Lipscomb. I remember him once mentioning to us in class that he came to Lipscomb on a one-year trial run…ten years ago. We could tell he said it with pride and joy. He was also capable in textual courses and he had a good knowledge and appreciation for the best of our Restoration heritage.

I hear the news of his passing with sadness and joy. He and his family endured much in the last year, especially. I rejoice that he is free from that pain. But I also grieve the many years we could have had him to train and mentor students and ministers.

Hiatus

Let’s do a little math:

Extra preaching at Central Church + Holiday travel + Gearing up for 2008 at DCHS + a new Nick Basbanes book = no blogging for a while.

See you in December.

Grace and peace.

"The office was seldom swept and almost never scrubbed.

Some garden seeds that were lying on top of the bookcase had started to sprout and grow there, in the dust and dirt." (Dale Carnegie, Lincoln the Unknown, Forest Hills, N.Y.; Forest Hills Publishing Co., 1932, p.80)

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My office, on the other hand, is in fine order (there’s something about a Board of Director’s meeting that helps in getting the place under control).

The blurb above is about Abraham Lincoln. There’s more to it, plus some photos of the home office/study of James D. Bales, longtime prof. at Harding, here: http://www.jonbales.com/family/Office/Office.htm

When Laura comments about my study at home, I remind her of Bales’ book house. That’s right, an entire house: next door, backyard, I forget, but he had an entire house. Actually Laura is very gracious and understanding. She has a collecting bent of her own (holiday plates among other things). And our children do very well. I’ve got a few books with crayon scribbles in them, but they are not from my children. Having plenty of books of their own keeps them well-occupied. It also helps that one of our house rules is that Dad’s books are not toys. Another is no jumping in Dad’s study. Laura is afraid the books on top of the shelves will fall off, not a totally unfounded fear.

I’ll post a couple photos of my own when I can get around to it. I may even submit one to this site: http://yourhomelibrary.wordpress.com/