Thanks Giving Weekend

So it was the day after Thanksgiving and the grandkids were up. I in the Maroon on the left, then youngest, then red is Gianna, then oldest in the light blue, then middle in the dark blue. As usual picture had to be done B's way. This was the 27th of November in Canal Park on a Beautiful Day, as Winnie the Pooh might say, if he so thought. This is the Truck that Andrew found and I promised to help him keep running. On the 29th of November.

Two totally awesome days, rewarding for entirely different reasons.

No Gales in Early November this year

On this date in year 1975, The Edmund Fitzgerald, legendary in Gordon Lightfoot's song of the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," plowed under the surface of the greatest of the Great Lakes, Superior, also named by First peoples Anishinabe as Gitche Gumee, the "shining, big sea water" of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha. The Anishinabe knew that of which they spoke.

November 7/8, 2009

Had fun with a friend and made a few new friends this weekend. We roughed up a garage.

Of course the pictures are chronologically backwards, but we started with a bare slab. Don is in the RED, Curt in green, Eric in gray, colorful bunch we were.

New Month - New Rule - New Post

Since snow is coming and it rained today it seemed appropriate to check out my life a little. We have enough wood for a normal winter, I have a job, my wife is getting healthier, my kids are adults, and my grandkids are too far away to play with every day, and I started to wonder what is the reason for living. Is it to just get ready to make it through the next day. That is a struggle for most, but for reasons that are sometimes diametrically opposite. Like some people are driven to distraction because they never get to leave the house, because of illness, money, kids, mobility and various other reasons, while at the same time others are exhausted and wish they could spend just one day in their house so it could be a home. What is that? Are we just by nature dissatisfied with living however it is we are living? Space, my son said. Yes that is it. We need space to move in and basics to stay alive. But what is the meaning? Why do we search for meaning? Is there a God shaped hole in our consciousness? Is there a God? If there is a God how would he contact us? Has God already contacted us? Is there a relationship that will satisfy the deep inner desire to belong and be loved? I have found this, that since I have accepted the historical fact that Jesus Christ died, and the record says the He would have done it just for me, and I have faith that he died for me, and don't lose sight of the fact that he is God Veritas, I have peace and Joy, that deep satisfaction that I belong to God and nothing can snatch me out of His Hand.

I hate pain, I love Healing

I hate Pain.

When family and friends and especially progeny are hurting I always want to fix. It disturbs me that it is the nature of life that we grow stronger with struggles, along with growing in appreciation of what is pleasant and a blessing to the peace of our life.

I am here right beside you if I know of your pain. My supplications go to the highest heaven and the greatest God to be revealed and to intervene. Yet the intervention sometimes comes after the strenghthening work is accomplished, and the dead branches are stripped away from my life. And yours sometimes. That is when I feel impotent. I realize . . . I am. My power is in submitting to God.
Not in myself.

Wedding Anniversary for Flavel and Evelyn

60 years ago today Flavel and Evelyn got married, with plans to leave civilization of Minnesota and be Missionaries in North Dakota.
Today, all of the children and grand children and great grand children know who the Lord is, and most know Him personally. And we serve wherever we are.
Also today, on this anniversay, Brother Chuck and neice Jo are headed for Yellowknife, NW Territiories, Canada for four months of service to a church needing an Interim Pastor, Peggy is filling an Obligation in Kenya, Vangi and family are serving in Japan, and some family members are separated by fewer miles than that in the continental North America.

The legacy is travel. The world is small to the family of Flavel and Evelyn.

Blessings on all who are separated, by 25 miles, 2500 miles or 12000 miles.

Grand Grand Kids

First of all there was a box of playclothes and costume stuff, and the kids got to the bottom before I got the camera!

The pictures speak for themselves.

Back home from the Park and ready for Naps.

At the LAKE Two Harbors.

So I caught Arly looking when we were at Two Harbors. That is Burlington Bay in the background. It was about 80 degrees there, but 95 in Danbury, so we spent the second to last day of vacation at the North Shore.

ND Pics

Chuck with my fish at the Arch
Chuck At Cass Lake Golf course

Chuck Fishing the Leech Lake / Kabekona Bridge

Chuck Fishing the Lake Andrusia Mission Bridge

Me at Metigoshe

Chuck at St. Michaels Bridge

Chuck back at the ARch

Walkabout North Dakota style In Minnesota first

This is me, Mona, and Chuck and the Picture was taken by Dean.

Well I know a vacation is supposed to be fun, and guess what it was. At 11:00 a.m. on August 3, 2009 Chuck and I stopped in Albany, Mn on the way to North Dakota for our first 9 holes of chase the ball. It was great weather.
After this we stopped at Charlies Cafe in Freeport for Caramel rolls, in remembrance of Dad, who stopped there every day when he was the track inspector for that section of the Great Northern Railroad.

On to the Evansville Cemetery to stand and pray at the temporary resting place of our sister and parents. We had decided to have three goals for each day. We will pray for those who need encouragement, pray with those who want to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ in their life, and pray for healing for those who request it.

We went to the Hardware store to buy our fishing licenses and ended up praying with the owners.

Then we visited and stayed overnight with sis Mona and Dean in suburban Erdahl. Mona is a great cook and we sang for our breakfast!

The next morning we went on to the Arch on Pelican Lake at Ashby and I caught a bass. Chuck was bummed because he is the great outdoorsman. That called for celebration so we went to Ruby's cafe in Ashby and had a caramel roll. (Do we have a theme?) And of course coffee. And met a missionary from somewhere sitting in a coffee clutch of 6 women.

On to the north. We went north out of Ashby to go to Cass Lake. On the way we missed Moll's becasue the trees are tall now. But we had decided we were not turning around if we missed something. Up through Perham, and backroads over to Menahga where we used to deer hunt. Stopped at Chuck's for Groceries for lunch.

Thought of Marty Giese as we passed by his church in Park Rapids. We stopped and Chuck ran into connections from Africa. Then Marty showed up and invited us for a fish fry for supper (dinner for you city folk), and put us up overnight. Great time of prayer and fellowship. I loved hearing about their old stories of Mo-kah-um.

The next day we encouraged a lady at the gas station, and then went on to Walker and fished on the bridge between Leech Lake and Kabekona bay. Chuck caught the biggest fish and we met Tommy and Jennifer, and Annabelle, and were blessed by being able to pray with them.

On towards Cass Lake. Chuck saw a golf course so we stopped for nine holes. Chuck found a memorial bench with the name Bill Ross, the son of one of dad's great mentors, and my spirirtual example as a child, Selam Ross. Selam was the only non family member who showed up for my college graduation. When we were done golfing Chuck said we should get on to Cass Lake. I told him we were already there! So we stopped and ate supper.

Then we went fishing at the Mission Bridge. No luck. Beautiful sunset. On to Fosston for the night. Tomorrow we get to North Dakota.

But first, Cabela's in East Grand Forks. Then a trek to Devils Lake where Chuck doesn't really comprehend what he was seeing in contrast to what it was like as a kid. But when we get to Churches Ferry and see the water there it started to sink in. On the way we stopped at a Garage sale and bought some stuff and prayed with the seller too, for her family.

On to Rugby the geographical Centre of North America, from the south tip of Mexico to the northe tip of the tundra. Pictures and food and then up to Dunseith. Not pleasant in Dunseith so on to Bottineau for a stay at the Super 8. Chuck met Frankie from Belcourt at the Walmart, and also an exwife of the sister of a classmate from St. John.. Chuck remembers everything.

Next morning on to Metigoshe to fish, but first of all a garage sale up by the lake. Good stuff and the lady of the couple had spent time as a missionary in Ghana. She has been a church music leader in Fargo for 35 years. or more. We prayed with her before we left.

On to the fishing store to buy licenses. Oh by the way it has been raining and cloudy all the time in North Dakota. So we went down to the bridge. Chuck started getting his gear together, and I put on a red and white daredevil and made a cast. I caught a 7-8 lb northern on the first cast. Then another three pounder, 20 inches.

We watched a man teach a flyfishing casting class. He was most excellent.

Then we went to look for the Dunseith Alliance Mission. Couldn't find it, so headed to Upsilon.

Went by Leo and Lorraine Haas' place and stopped to find Larry there. He invited us for supper. Then his wife came home and seconded the motion. Brother Carl from Andover, Minnesota was also there for a wedding. Great Spahgetti meal, with two adult daughters, one boyfriend and two grandkids from another of their children. We prayed and ate and prayed and were blessed and went on our way to Upsilon. On the way we stopped at Gravel lake and fished in the rain. No luck. Then we went to Upsilon and fished in the rain until almost dark. No luck.

Then on to St. John. Betty Davis had no lights on, and we drove around town having memories. We ended up at Ducky Laroque's where Jim Davis family used to live. That was a fantastic time of fun and catching up on when we were kids. Then we prayed with them and left blessed out of our socks.

Off to Rolla to find a motel. We both voted no. This was about 11:30. We kept going and finally ended up in Devils Lake at about 1:30. Super 8. Both Haas' and Ducky had invited us to stay overnight. But this way we could sleep in.

The next morning we went fishing on the St. Michaels Bridge on Devils Lake. The boaters were catching, but we weren't. We finally gave up and went to Fort Totten. They have built new roads so things looked different. We finally headed for Jamestown, and I saw the road to Wood Lake Camp and Belchers. So we turned there and then Chuck remembered where Jab's farm was so we went there! We found Carol who was the wife of the person he worked for. This was old home week for them too. We fixed her garage door on the quonset and then had coffee! Then prayed and on the way south. But we went north first, then down 20 to 200 and over to Cooperstown where I knew the pastor of the Free Church. He was not around so we went golfing until dark. Most excellent Course. Then off to Fargo for the night to pick up Arly's coat she left there earlier in the week.

Next Morning off to Minnesota.

Stopped at Fergus Falls so Chuck could Skype with Peggy. While at the motel, I talked with a man who compared himself to Job. He was not exaggerating. His wife died two years ago because of conflicting prescriptions. His house burned down on Monday, and his two cats and three dogs perished in the fire. We prayed with him for his encouragement.

Then back to Ashby and the ARCH. Chuck caught three bass keepers. At 4:00 we left the lake, stopped for ice, and at 8:00 we were back in Maplewood. Chuck ate the bass for lunch the next day, the 10th.

More Pictures to follow.

Duluth and Two Harbors

First DAY of Summer 2009

It is also fathers day today, and some nearly record high temperatures were experience in Duluth Superior Saturday.

I love my children, who are now adults and carving their own way through this world.

They are my daughter, Gianna, and my son, Andrew, whom I love, and with whom I am well pleased.

I love my grand children, and enjoy that they are so honest about their feelings.

I love my Son-in-law, who is a great father to his children, and a great husband to my daughter.

And I love my son's significant other, for being such a beneficient rock for my son.

And I love my wife who made this all possible.

Happy Anniversary

I love being able to say "Happy Anniversary." Happy is good. Anniversary is for celebrating.

To be married thirty six years means I must be kinda old, but my mind is playing tricks on my body, or is it my body playing tricks on my mind.

We are still learning about each other. Nothing stays the same and we grow in understanding and caring and affection.

This is all I will say about this subject in a public forum.

Obligations greater than time.

It seems like we always are having to make choices. That is not so hard when you greatly desire something, and the other choices which are left are not desired as much. And money, or lack of it, forces us into sometimes less than adequate decisions. But what really bugs me is that I only have so much time. The only thing that is mine to really give is my time. Having a job is great, and having a great job is really great, but it uses time. Time with kids, and grandkids, and friends, and old relatives who are dying, and young relatives who are living, and who knows, they might be dying too.
This weekend we went to a funeral of an aunt on my wife's side. I had not seen her cousins since one was an usher in our wedding. Here I am older and grayer, and 5'8" and he is a little younger than me and 6'7" and we got along famously. Another one did not recognize me even sitting with my wife his cousin in the family funeral room.
Their mom was great. She had her funeral all planned out. So it was like she was there.
But that took all weekend. The funeral was in Orange City, Iowa on Saturday, and we started in Danbury, and had to go to Duluth and Back and then down. It just takes so much time.
And next weekend I have a nephew graduating from college, and we are having a day with the grandkids, and both of them are super important to us. Grandkids will win every time, but it still is a choice. So I look forward to eternity where we will be able to fellowship. But in the meantime I only have 30 or forty years left if I am given a long life. Ten years if the averages hold true.
Really short when you think about it that way.
Got to get busy if I am going to finish what I have in my mind.

A Day for Play

St. Louis River Bay with an Ore Boat headed for Missabe Taconite Dock -

The Foreground are Superior Grain Elevators

The Big Falls at Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Looking Eastward from Silver Cliff -

The Encampment Tunnel entrance in the center of the picture.

Arly searching for Agates on Superior's Shore at Knife River.

Wave Spray on the East side of Stoney Point between Knife River and Duluth.

Religion

I have been challenged to think on the meaning of being alive, and whether or not we are but "goo by the way of the zoo", and what religion has to do with making life better.

So a couple of hundred years ago, an infitesimally insignificant amount of time in the existence of the universe as scientists now date it, there was a guy who said "Let's see, there is a three foot tall anthropod here, and a three and a half foot tall anthropod there, and a four foot tall anthropod over there, and they become progressively more erect, so therefore they must be evolved from each other." He was a poor little kid who actually had the wherewithal to sail around the world, and got this evolution idea while in the Galapagos islands. I know that is oversimplifying, but that is the pigeonhole in my head. And I don't even care. It doesn't matter to me if animals evolved. It doesn't matter to me what religions want me to think. What matters is that I have or don't have a relationship with The Creator of the Universe, not the way it was created.

Religon is 1. Human's rules to get along, 2. Human's attempts to reach god, 3. Human's attempts to control other people.

Christianity has been pillaged and raped and converted into a consumerism in Western Culture of Right Wing Reactionary Political Action or Left Wing Social Liberal liaissez faire. People go to church meetings to get their needs met once or twice or three times a week. I wonder if most North Americans know Jesus Christ know Jesus was a dark skinned Jew?

What about Islam? A lot of rules to follow for a chance to maybe go to heaven. Killing an infidel gives you a better chance. Being a martyr gives you an even better chance.

Where is Nirvana.

What does that have to do with Love.

Why are Turkish Christians considered traitors just because they are Christians.

The Churches of the first century in Revelation are all from Turkey.

USA is doomed, just like the Roman Empire, unless we quit being such arrogant, elitist, empire building, self aggrandizing, others diminutizing snobs.

Oh, and by the way, the "scientific method" evolved out of Christian Universities, I might even assert "Protestant" Universities established for the free pursuit of knowledge. Remember Galileo, excommunicated because of the flap of the world being flat?

How many of the most respected Universities in the world were founded by Christian Churches, such as Harvard, Brown, Yale, Georgetown.

Easter - What ?

Sunday - 10:26 a.m. I have been ill with strep the last 4 days. My natural immunity usually takes care of this but I guess there has been too much stress in my life the last year or two, so this time I used the fruit of the mold to ward off the icky little bugs. Right now is the first time I have felt even since last Wednesday.
So being under the weather, and not wanting to spread it to others, and being too weak to do a six hour morning list of Easter activities with the Danforth Community, where we now usually are to be found on a Sunday morning, and after listening to various news commentators on TV about the meaning of Easter and Passover, on the same day this year, and Religion, I feel like I must comment on my thought.
Passover is the celebration of a horrible event in Egypt during which the Jewish firstborn males were saved from death, while the non Jewish died. Being firstborn in our family, it gets very personal. Had I lived then I would have died. This is an historic event, as well preserved in tradition and writings of antiquity as is Babylon and the Wonders of the Ancient World. About 3,500 years ago.
Easter is what Christians celebrate. About 2,000 years ago Jesus, the Christ, an innocent of any sin, suffered a horrible death of crucifiction. But here is the difference. On the first day of the week after Passover Saturday, he rose again. Now no-one is mandated to die any more. Of course if you don't want to accept that gift, that is up to each person, but it is there for you. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to Love God, and the second commandment, To Love Our Neighbor as Ourself.
There is a problem with Jesus, according to Joe Stowell, MBI, and RBC ministries. The problem is that he said he was God. And that he was the only way to God. Jesus did not say, every other religion is full of all bad things, just that if it is God you are looking to have a personal relationship with, Jesus is the one way. The fact is, the Prophet Mohammed did not say he was God, Budda nor Confucious did not say they were God, Joshua, Elisha, Elijah, nor Moses nor John the Baptist said they were God.
If I did not believe that Jesus actually rose from the death in a human body and then ascended to heaven, I would follow Buddhism. The tenets of oneness, and peace, and love all make sense if there is not a supreme being over the universe.
But because I believe there is a supreme being, because nature cries out that it is so, and then believing there are realms of existance that are not apparant to our five senses, and with not understanding why the most intelligent persons as we measure it only use eight percent of their brain power, I look for this supreme being to send me a message. And on the first Easter he proved he was God.

I love my Wife, my Kids, my Grandkids, and my Kid's partners.
They are all wonderful people. And we don't all believe the same thing about God.

Catch up

I am such a bad blogger. But I have found out now that I prefer Blog to facebook, for what I want to say. So today, through the day i will catch you up.