Brookville, Indiana is just like Cowen, West Virginia...right? Well, not exactly. The weather forecasted for Brookville doesn't have 5 straight days of rain like Cowen did. So, instead of driving, camping, fishing, and living in the rain...I decided to take my "Lone Wolf" trip to Brookville instead.
Why Brookville? I had my heart set on fly fishing for trout and the Tailwaters from Brookville lake are stocked by Trout Unlimited every year and hold rainbow trout and brown trout. I've fished the tailwaters before, many times over, but the only time I have ever camped in Brookville was at Morgan's Canoe Livery with the Boy Scout troop back around 1997. The campground at Brookville Lake Park is pretty nice. I had no issue getting my camper in here and setup for the long weekend. I found that there are some camp sites at the Franklin County Park, near Morgan's, but they are all grass with no camper pad and look more suited for tent camping. They have a handful of tent sites up on top of the hill behind the fairgrounds that looked pretty cool. If you are around the area, you should drive thru and check it out. It is directly behind Morgan's Livery.
Gonna make this short as I want to get to my bible study / prayer time. Have a great day and talk to you soon.
From the woods (kinda).
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
April 25 - Sheepdogs
"What is a Sheepdog? A Sheepdog is a state of being, a state of mind. It is an unspoken understanding that we are the protector of the flock, a guardian to those not capable of guarding themselves. The old, the weak, the infirmed, the average, we oversee them all. We know that the sheeple we care for are often unappreciative. They may view us with a general disdain. We sometimes bear an uncomfortable resemblance to those that mean harm to them. We possess the same propensity for violence and the same predatory instinct. The difference being, what we choose to do with our individual assets."
This has been on my mind the past few weeks. Am I a "sheepdog"? In one word, YES.
I see my role as a worldly protector of the sheep, following the directions of our Heavenly Shepherd to keep the "wolves" at bay and herd the sheep back to the safety of the "flock". Does HE really need us to perform this role? I'm not sure that He "needs" our help but I believe he wants us to pick up the mantle of the "sheepdog" and work in a physical manner on this earth. When we follow His direction to protect others, guard their best interests, and keep the them safe I think we make Him smile.
Not everyone can relate to the sheepdog.Those of us who feel this calling should put it to practice within our household, our church family and, in our world in general. Don't ever pass up the opportunity to help and protect others. I am a firm believer in the idea that "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke). It doesn't matter if they are a close friend or a total stranger...be the sheepdog!
You all probably think I'm nuts, and maybe I didn't do a very effective job of communicating my feelings but, this concept is gaining ground with me. Maybe mentoring needs to be a component of the "sheepdog" as well. Not sure how this fits in the shepherd, dog, sheep analogy but I'll work on it.
I hope to get some feedback on this one...
****
Some of you know that I have planned to retreat to the mountains of West Virginia to do a little camping and fishing this weekend. Well, it doesn't appear that the weather is going to cooperate with my well-laid plans. All the weather outlets are forecasting a soaker for the whole weekend...for most of the midwest. Oh, well...you just have to roll with it. Maybe another location will become apparent to me tonight for some quiet, alone time with my Heavenly Father and His Word. I need some time to renew my focus on HIM and HIS promptings. I have been feeling a bit disjointed and even a bit "under attack" recently. This is what I posted on my FB feed yesterday evening ~
Keep your guard up!!! It is shocking how easily "Ol Hornhead" can mess with you and try to steal your joy!!! He's been after me lately.The best defense is a Great Offense led by the King of Kings!!! 1 Peter 5:8 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." NLT
Ol Hornhead apparently hasn't read all the way to the end of Revelation...WE WIN!!!
God intends for all of us to be VICTORIOUS THRU THE BLOOD OF JESUS!!! Reach UP and claim the power that He offers each one of us!
Satan is a PUNK!!! We are God's Mighty Warriors!!!
I still intend to get some "alone time" somewhere away from home...otherwise, I will be compelled to answer my phone and continue to work.
One final thought that continues to relate to my "Better than Blessed" title. Our friends the Melicks in Alabama posted some good news regarding Mary Grace this afternoon as they wean her from her paralytic drugs. "
This has been on my mind the past few weeks. Am I a "sheepdog"? In one word, YES.
I see my role as a worldly protector of the sheep, following the directions of our Heavenly Shepherd to keep the "wolves" at bay and herd the sheep back to the safety of the "flock". Does HE really need us to perform this role? I'm not sure that He "needs" our help but I believe he wants us to pick up the mantle of the "sheepdog" and work in a physical manner on this earth. When we follow His direction to protect others, guard their best interests, and keep the them safe I think we make Him smile.
Not everyone can relate to the sheepdog.Those of us who feel this calling should put it to practice within our household, our church family and, in our world in general. Don't ever pass up the opportunity to help and protect others. I am a firm believer in the idea that "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke). It doesn't matter if they are a close friend or a total stranger...be the sheepdog!
You all probably think I'm nuts, and maybe I didn't do a very effective job of communicating my feelings but, this concept is gaining ground with me. Maybe mentoring needs to be a component of the "sheepdog" as well. Not sure how this fits in the shepherd, dog, sheep analogy but I'll work on it.
I hope to get some feedback on this one...
****
Some of you know that I have planned to retreat to the mountains of West Virginia to do a little camping and fishing this weekend. Well, it doesn't appear that the weather is going to cooperate with my well-laid plans. All the weather outlets are forecasting a soaker for the whole weekend...for most of the midwest. Oh, well...you just have to roll with it. Maybe another location will become apparent to me tonight for some quiet, alone time with my Heavenly Father and His Word. I need some time to renew my focus on HIM and HIS promptings. I have been feeling a bit disjointed and even a bit "under attack" recently. This is what I posted on my FB feed yesterday evening ~
Keep your guard up!!! It is shocking how easily "Ol Hornhead" can mess with you and try to steal your joy!!! He's been after me lately.The best defense is a Great Offense led by the King of Kings!!! 1 Peter 5:8 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." NLT
Ol Hornhead apparently hasn't read all the way to the end of Revelation...WE WIN!!!
God intends for all of us to be VICTORIOUS THRU THE BLOOD OF JESUS!!! Reach UP and claim the power that He offers each one of us!
Satan is a PUNK!!! We are God's Mighty Warriors!!!
I still intend to get some "alone time" somewhere away from home...otherwise, I will be compelled to answer my phone and continue to work.
One final thought that continues to relate to my "Better than Blessed" title. Our friends the Melicks in Alabama posted some good news regarding Mary Grace this afternoon as they wean her from her paralytic drugs. "
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
April 24th - Tragic News / God at work
Just as I was completing my initial post in this blog on Saturday night, I received some very disturbing news about one of our Alabama friends. Apparently, our good friend Mary Grace from Christian Service Mission was struck by a drunk driver early on Saturday and was / is in the UAB Hospital in a medically induced coma. The news is so tragic but somehow also part of God's plan. He must need Mary Grace to show Jesus to someone in the hospital, or the EMT's, or the first responders to the accident, or someone that she would not normally come in contact with. Please PRAY for her and her family. Her husband and kids are real troopers but I can only imagine how tough this is on all of them.
Some better news is that Bright Christian Church has decided to focus their upcoming IMPACT DAY efforts in Holton, IN. I had not said anything to anyone at the church last week about my new "gig" in Holton when Rob Sweeney stopped me and asked what I thought about making our May 19th Impact Day a mini-mission trip to Holton. Imagine his surprise when I told him the news. Not a coincidence...God at work again. So, look for upcoming details about what will occur on that day but be sure that there will be enough work projects for everyone and we will be serving lunch for all the volunteers as well.
Still so very humbled by the Hands & Feet Ministry work day on Saturday. I find myself looking at the pictures over and over again and just smiling. They received some amazing news on Saturday night when the donations were totalled and found that some God-sized anonymous donations had been given. I won't mention the exact amount but, suffice it to say, everyone was BLOWN AWAY by the amount given. God at work yet again!
I'm trying to break away for some "Wild at Heart" time in the mountains of W.Virginia at the end of this week to do some fishing, a little work, but mostly to spend some quiet time with God in His word. Please pray for enlightenment and good weather. Love you all. Be blessed.
Some better news is that Bright Christian Church has decided to focus their upcoming IMPACT DAY efforts in Holton, IN. I had not said anything to anyone at the church last week about my new "gig" in Holton when Rob Sweeney stopped me and asked what I thought about making our May 19th Impact Day a mini-mission trip to Holton. Imagine his surprise when I told him the news. Not a coincidence...God at work again. So, look for upcoming details about what will occur on that day but be sure that there will be enough work projects for everyone and we will be serving lunch for all the volunteers as well.
Still so very humbled by the Hands & Feet Ministry work day on Saturday. I find myself looking at the pictures over and over again and just smiling. They received some amazing news on Saturday night when the donations were totalled and found that some God-sized anonymous donations had been given. I won't mention the exact amount but, suffice it to say, everyone was BLOWN AWAY by the amount given. God at work yet again!
I'm trying to break away for some "Wild at Heart" time in the mountains of W.Virginia at the end of this week to do some fishing, a little work, but mostly to spend some quiet time with God in His word. Please pray for enlightenment and good weather. Love you all. Be blessed.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The next chapter in my "book"...BETTER THAN BLESSED!!!
This past week has been a total "GOD WEEK" for me…full of amazing blessings. Please let me set the stage...
Some of you already are aware of my passion for tornado/disaster relief. These past few weeks have been full of amazing time spent assisting folks affected by the Indiana storms on Friday, March 2nd. I was able to make some face to face contacts in Holton, IN during the first week after the tornados and realized just how many people I actually know in Ripley County. During the following weeks, there were so many generous people who wanted to help is whatever ways possible.
Members of a new and immerging local ministry, Hands & Feet, were at the forefront of those wanting to get involved and were traveling to the affected areas in the weeks following the storms. Some of them went to the Chelsea/Paynesville area near Madison, while others then went to the Marysville/Henryville area. Over the past 2 weekends, we were able to organize and mobilize 2 different work trips to Marysville and Holton to do debris cleanup, run chainsaws, and help construct storage sheds…all while trying to bless others as they, in turn, blessed all of us. While we were serving in a “boots on the ground” capacity, others were collecting donations within a local school. The children of one of the branch managers at United Community Bank had taken a 1 classroom collection effort and turned it into a multi-classroom competition. This effort raised enough donated items to fill my suburban as well as a minivan. Brenda Wheat, my son Nick, and I were able to pick up and then deliver those donated items to the Ripley County Food Pantry and the Holton Christian Church on this past Monday afternoon (April 16th).
Nick rode along with me and, on the way home, we were talking. Not sure what exactly was going on in the conversation or why I said what I did but, I made the statement, “I wish I could do this every day. But I don’t know how to earn a living doing it.” This was mid-afternoon on Monday the 16th. To see hurting people and know that you can assist them in different ways was definitely on my heart and mind the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
Beth needed to run some errands that evening so we hopped in the truck together when I realized that, not only had I left my mobile phone in the truck but, I had missed a call and a voicemail message too. I hit “play” and Beth and I listened to Pastor Bob from Holton talk about their immediate need for a local reconstruction project manager and wanted to know 2 things...one, if I knew any names of qualified people and two, if I was interested in the position. I was a bit dumb-founded by this last sentence of the message and actually listened to that voicemail at least 2 more times before hanging up. Beth asked, “Are they offering you a job?” and all I could do was respond with total silence. A few minutes later, I called him back to discuss his earlier message and get some clarification. As we ended that brief conversation, I let him know that I would have to talk things over with Beth certainly PRAY about it. We agreed to talk again the following day.
As the days of this past week progressed, suffice it to say that God was at work. We were able to work out a scenario whereby I am now contracted by Holton to be 1 member of a 3 member “Long Term Disaster Recovery” (LTDR) team. This is for a minimum of the next 6 months while they secure additional funding for reconstruction projects and support efforts. So, my comment on Monday afternoon was directly addressed in a VERY positive way by Thursday morning. Beginning officially of May 1st, I will be adding this work to my current consulting projects. However, this one should prove to be the most rewarding personally and spiritually. Timing is everything as I was actually able to attend a day-long LTDR training that was held in Henryville yesterday (Friday).
I would like to conclude this initial “HOLTON LTDR” entry with 2 final points. #1 – God also moved in a very stressful customer relationship issue that I have been struggling with over the past few week and concluded it in a very positive way on Thursday morning. In fact, it was concluded just minutes after my final conversation with the Holton folks to accept their position. #2. – God also moved today, Saturday the 21st, as 40+ volunteers came together for the first “work day” to prepare the new location for the Hands & Feet Ministry in Bright, IN at the old “Bright Spot Café”. It was such a humbling day of service to others and with others where God’s love was evident around every corner.
Recently, I’ve been repeating a line that was said by our Senior Minister, Jeff Stone, during a sermon a few weeks ago…”If you really want to experience the love of Jesus, put someone else’s needs ahead of your own.” This concept has become a reality for me this week for sure and will become my mantra for the foreseeable future. (A mantra [1] is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation" (cf. spiritual transformation).)
As this new chapter unfolds, I hope you will join me for the adventure. Blessings to you ALL.
Some of you already are aware of my passion for tornado/disaster relief. These past few weeks have been full of amazing time spent assisting folks affected by the Indiana storms on Friday, March 2nd. I was able to make some face to face contacts in Holton, IN during the first week after the tornados and realized just how many people I actually know in Ripley County. During the following weeks, there were so many generous people who wanted to help is whatever ways possible.
Members of a new and immerging local ministry, Hands & Feet, were at the forefront of those wanting to get involved and were traveling to the affected areas in the weeks following the storms. Some of them went to the Chelsea/Paynesville area near Madison, while others then went to the Marysville/Henryville area. Over the past 2 weekends, we were able to organize and mobilize 2 different work trips to Marysville and Holton to do debris cleanup, run chainsaws, and help construct storage sheds…all while trying to bless others as they, in turn, blessed all of us. While we were serving in a “boots on the ground” capacity, others were collecting donations within a local school. The children of one of the branch managers at United Community Bank had taken a 1 classroom collection effort and turned it into a multi-classroom competition. This effort raised enough donated items to fill my suburban as well as a minivan. Brenda Wheat, my son Nick, and I were able to pick up and then deliver those donated items to the Ripley County Food Pantry and the Holton Christian Church on this past Monday afternoon (April 16th).
Nick rode along with me and, on the way home, we were talking. Not sure what exactly was going on in the conversation or why I said what I did but, I made the statement, “I wish I could do this every day. But I don’t know how to earn a living doing it.” This was mid-afternoon on Monday the 16th. To see hurting people and know that you can assist them in different ways was definitely on my heart and mind the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
Beth needed to run some errands that evening so we hopped in the truck together when I realized that, not only had I left my mobile phone in the truck but, I had missed a call and a voicemail message too. I hit “play” and Beth and I listened to Pastor Bob from Holton talk about their immediate need for a local reconstruction project manager and wanted to know 2 things...one, if I knew any names of qualified people and two, if I was interested in the position. I was a bit dumb-founded by this last sentence of the message and actually listened to that voicemail at least 2 more times before hanging up. Beth asked, “Are they offering you a job?” and all I could do was respond with total silence. A few minutes later, I called him back to discuss his earlier message and get some clarification. As we ended that brief conversation, I let him know that I would have to talk things over with Beth certainly PRAY about it. We agreed to talk again the following day.
As the days of this past week progressed, suffice it to say that God was at work. We were able to work out a scenario whereby I am now contracted by Holton to be 1 member of a 3 member “Long Term Disaster Recovery” (LTDR) team. This is for a minimum of the next 6 months while they secure additional funding for reconstruction projects and support efforts. So, my comment on Monday afternoon was directly addressed in a VERY positive way by Thursday morning. Beginning officially of May 1st, I will be adding this work to my current consulting projects. However, this one should prove to be the most rewarding personally and spiritually. Timing is everything as I was actually able to attend a day-long LTDR training that was held in Henryville yesterday (Friday).
I would like to conclude this initial “HOLTON LTDR” entry with 2 final points. #1 – God also moved in a very stressful customer relationship issue that I have been struggling with over the past few week and concluded it in a very positive way on Thursday morning. In fact, it was concluded just minutes after my final conversation with the Holton folks to accept their position. #2. – God also moved today, Saturday the 21st, as 40+ volunteers came together for the first “work day” to prepare the new location for the Hands & Feet Ministry in Bright, IN at the old “Bright Spot Café”. It was such a humbling day of service to others and with others where God’s love was evident around every corner.
Recently, I’ve been repeating a line that was said by our Senior Minister, Jeff Stone, during a sermon a few weeks ago…”If you really want to experience the love of Jesus, put someone else’s needs ahead of your own.” This concept has become a reality for me this week for sure and will become my mantra for the foreseeable future. (A mantra [1] is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation" (cf. spiritual transformation).)
As this new chapter unfolds, I hope you will join me for the adventure. Blessings to you ALL.
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