Update?

Yeah, I haven't posted again for a couple weeks . . . Not that I haven't been thinking about it! Just nothing newsworthy, I didn't think. Just got my nose to the grindstone, trying to get things done, especially since I've got a couple trips coming up. I'll try to post about them a little. 

As for our gardens, the blueberries are done. We did get a good crop this year, even though we were late getting our net up and the birds got a lot at the beginning! The tomatoes are coming in now. Some big zucchinis, purple peppers (?), and some watermelon. The first watermelon wasn't quite ripe - hopefully the next one will be better. 

We're taking my daughter back to school. Her junior year! Time flies. She had a good summer. Worked a lot and made some good money. She'll be happy to be back with her friends. We're helping more with my wife's parents now, too, as they are getting older. We'll stop and see them and do some things for them while we're out that direction. 

Been trying to ride regularly and stay in shape, though it's been a challenge with so much going on. I think something I'd like to do is ride Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah. It's approx. 105 miles. Hilly. I could try to do it as a fundraiser - for LFL, missionaries, something. I think it might be a fun ride. Before that, though, I have the hiking competition with my daughter in November. Ultratrax. We're going to try to win the "Wolf medal" by doing four loops (28 miles) in the ten hours alotted. I think we can do it, though maybe I am underestimating how hard it will be. We'll see. 

That's it for now, I guess. Stay tuned for updates!

Higher Things - Part Deux

So I spent last week at the Higher Things Conference at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. This time without my youth, serving as Conference Chaplain. It's a lot of work! But a great group of very dedicated and caring people. And serving the youth is great.

A few pictures . . .

The chapel set-up in the main ballroom. Nice view of the mountains in the background!

We had almost 900 youth in attendance.

With President Bruss of the Fort Wayne Seminary, getting ready for Matins.

A view of the mountains as we drove to the airport.

It was a very tiring week! I left right after church for the airport and arrived at CSU in the evening. My responsibilities: Monday was unloading the truck and setting everything up - and there's a LOT to set-up! Monday night is Service of Evening Prayer with the Staff. Tuesday the Conference begins. Final preparations and set-up, leader's meeting, the opening Divine Service, teaching a Breakaway session, Evening Prayer, Private Absolution, and Compline. Wednesday and Thursday are Matins, leader's meeting, Vespers, teaching a Breakaway session, Evening Prayer, and Compline. Friday is the closing Divine Service, followed by packing everything up, loading the truck, and then Staff dinner. Saturday is the drive to the airport and the flight home, finally getting back about 9:00 pm or so. That's a long week! But again, a good one!

A Few Days of R&R

This week we visited my older daughter in Virginia Beach and got a few days of R&R after the busy Higher Things trip last week. We had a very nice time and it was good to unplug. Thanks to our friends who let us use their condo for a couple of days! Right by the beach! Easy to walk right on. And we even got to see fireworks on Monday night. Some pics . . .

Kayaking with the dolphins

With my daughter, hiking at the State Park

There were lots of pelicans!

Interesting . . .

The Memento reading plan has a reading through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Two things that caught my attention this time through:

(1.) The kingdom of Israel was divided before it was split in two after Solomon's death. In 2 Samuel 2, David is "anointed king over the house of Judah," and then Ish-bosheth (a son of Saul) was made king over the rest of Israel! Then in chapter 5 the nation is united under King David.

(2.) 2 Samuel 8:18 - "and David's sons were priests." Hmmm. Only sons of Aaron were to be priests. David is from the tribe of Judah. This little phrase is just tacked onto the end of a listing of David's officials. The note in the Lutheran Study Bible says, "Or, "chief officials" (cf. LXX). Not Levitical priests but ministers of state through whom the king ruled and through whom others would do business with the king." 1 Chronicles 18 uses "chief officials" instead of priests. So I guess maybe that's so. But, hmmm. Maybe it's really pointing to Christ (THE Son of David) and then through Christ to the priesthood of the baptized?

Home!

Got home safe and sound last night. Nice to sleep in my own bed! This morning, found this next to our house . . .

. . . which looks like a spent firework to me! That's kinda scary . . . if it had fallen on our roof . . . hot? fire? Thanks be to God it didn't!

Higher Things Day 4

Last day! :-(  The week always seems to go by so fast and it's time to go home before you know it. So we had to get up early to pack up, load the van, and check out so we could leave right after the closing service to get to the airport. It was a little bumpy, but we got it done! 

After breakfast was the final plenary, before which was the announcements and one last chance for tetramorph teams to earn points and win. And we almost did! Four youths from each team (including one from our group!) got to do one final challenge - and whoever won would win the team competition. It was close, but our group cam in second. But a valiant effort.

The closing Divine Service was great, as were all the services. Already talking about next year! Thanks WashU!

Just a couple photos today . . .

Teaching my breakaway: "Rising Hope on Judgment Day"

Higher Things Day 3

Day 3 started as Day 2 did - with an early breakfast to get our choir member to practice. The we began with Matins, where I preached on the Parable of the Sower. I'll get that posted soon. A terrific plenary session followed, then lunch.

But in the morning, it was meet old friends day! 

First up was Kathryn Peperkorn. When we lived in New York, she would fly out to have a lesson from her voice coach in New York City and stay with us in our house. We haven't seen her in many, many years, so it was great to catch up a little.

Next up were the Hensleys! With me here are Mary, John, and Lucy. When their father was finishing up his Ph.D. dissertation, they lived in Virginia and attended my church. I baptized John and Lucy in those years, and now here they are attending Higher Things! They now live in Saint Louis where their father teaches at the Seminary.

Preaching at Matins.

After lunch there were two breakaway sessions with an adult/group leader thank you reception in between while the youth did a service project. I taught in the second session of the day (the final breakaway session) and it went much better than yesterday. I get to teach this twice more in Colorado. Someone took a picture of me teaching, but I didn't receive it yet.

After dinner, we went over to Concordia Seminary for Evening Prayer, free time activities, and Compline. We had two youths in the talent show, and they both did really well. The winners of points for their tetramorph teams will be announced tomorrow morning.

The Hensleys also sang with the group from their church.

But this wasn't just old friend day - we also made new friends. I met the pastor of a former member who now works as a recruiter for the Fort Wayne Seminary. We took a picture together and sent it to her.

The youth made new friends, too. And the free time activities were a lot of fun.

Had to get this giant ball around an obstacle course!

Now it's late and we have to get up early in the morning to load the van and check out before breakfast so we can get to the airport right after the Closing Divine Service. Hopefully nothing will go wrong with the flight home!