The Plaza.... via...The Shack!

As you might remember from my last post I put the audio of The Shack on our Ipod and was trying to convince John into taking a road trip to Kansas City for the weekend. With several incentives we took off Friday afternoon, listening all the way. Arriving in Kansas City only a little over 2 hours into the book (it reads 8+ hours) we stopped the Ipod and John said "yes it draws you in and is interesting"....we hadn't gotten to the part yet that I wanted to see his reaction.

We enjoyed the evening with our daughter, Debby, who drove over from Lawrence to join us for dinner. Saturday morning saw us running several errands and visiting Dean & DeLuca, checking out what we in Wichita have to look forward to....so we're hearing.

It was a beautiful weekend, weather wise. The Flinthills are verdant green pastures laced with yellows and browns in wildflowers and various grasses. A favorite destination for us in Kansas City is the County Club Plaza. I have many fond childhood memories of Kansas City as that is where I was born and where both my parents were from. Fortunately John enjoys the area also, so it's a fun getaway.

This past weekend was the yearly Plaza Art Fair.

Artists from all over the US come and display their mediums. There is music, food and lots of interesting looking people. I heard an estimate that 300,000 people attend the 3 day event. We spent the afternoon wondering through the displays, enjoying a lovely fall day. Dinner Saturday night was at The Bristol Seafood Grill.

A relaxing dinner started with steamed mussels, Caesar salad, grilled swordfish on a bed of orzo with Asian vegetables accompanied by a crisp, buttery chardonnay.

Sunday found us heading south and listening to the ipod. The drive was leisurely and lasted over 4 hours as we avoided the 4 lanes and took the scenic route home. We were able to get through quite a bit of the book. Enough at least to get the general idea and flavor of the story. Initially John's reaction was...."oh I don't know about this..." but as he continued to listen his thoughts changed. We turned off the Ipod and talked the last 30 minutes home, discussing some of the aspects of the book. At first hearing John said he couldn't see anything wrong with the theology, it mentioned some things he hadn't thought about before and it definitely takes God out of "our box." I want him to finish the book and see how Mack was redeemed!

Knock your socks off.........great!!

We have been away for several months and not in the general stream of information, so when a friend said "you have to read The Shack, it's very controversial." I said "ok" and wrote the name down on a napkin along with some other information we talked about. Several weeks later another friend said she had read The Shack and did I want to borrow her copy?

I had no idea what the book was about until I read a little from the cover. I must admit "controversial" peaked my interest. Now I'm wondering how controversial can it be after reading Eugene Peterson's comment on the cover of the book? I finished the book last night and while reading it I experienced all kinds of thoughts and emotions....tears, sadness, laughter, the WOW factor, what would John think? never thought of that......and a lot more. When ever I put the book down John asked what it was about. I told him, "you have to read it." And I said please don't read any reviews etc. I want to know what you think.
I was with a pastor friend the other day and asked if he had read the book. He got this big grin on his face and said 'Oh yes...it was great'. He said he was the first in his family to read it and when he passed it on to his wife....she would read and stop and then huff and puff (my terms) and he would say...'just read it please' As we talked I ventured out and said I really couldn't see anything blatently wrong about the theology....did he? His comment was not really but as you're reading remember it's fiction. He indicated he needed to reread it more carefully in regard to theology but at first read he thought it was fine. He also said what courage and imagination the author exibited in how he portrayed the characters. It was eye opening.
Well....I'm not going to 'spill the beans' and tell you anymore. I hope if you haven't read it you will and if you have read it I'd love to hear your comments. I've downloaded it from ITunes for about $6.00.....Now if I can talk John into a little getaway this weekend/road trip to Kansas City....-) I will be able to see his reaction first hand and we can have some lively conversation.

A short post script...after downloading I did read some of the comments. A majority were positive but to be fair there were negatives also...someone thought it was a psycological thriller that was misrepresented, particurlarly for those like him who were agnostics, glad he didn't spend any more money on it. Others said heresy and teaches false doctrine, terrible fiction, whiny and self indulgant....I hope you'll read it and judge for your self .

Introducing Grandchildren.....

Let me introduce you to our grandchildren. Liam, our youngest is 4 years old...looks like he might be a preacher some day! A delightful little guy, a joy to the family. Emma, 14 years old, plays the piano and is a freshman in high school. She runs cross country and is learning about public school after being home schooled for the last 5 years. Ian is 17 and a senior in high school, plays football, the guitar and is looking at colleges for next year.
Aidan is 12 years old and continues to be home schooled. He plays the drums, loves pancakes, his Xbox and he is becoming quite a reader.
All the kids enjoy youth group and by God's grace our Grans (as a good friend calls them)are happpy, healthy and fun to be around.

Our grandchildren are children of our oldest child David and his wife Barbie.

This blog (the process) is probably the most difficult task I've done in quite awhile and I'm not sure it's right yet. It started out as something completely different. I'll conclude for now and continue another day on how we launched retirement with grandkids.

Labor, Loving... and Ramadan

Today is Labor Day and we have labored. I must confess John labored harder than I. Last night I asked if we could get the house cleaned and in order...seemed like a good idea last night. This morning as I was reading and drinking my coffee...John said "are you ready?" and with that he got out the vacuum. He moves furniture, spots carpeting, goes over furniture for the cat hairs and cleans the kitchen floor on his hands and knees. His mom use to sweep the gutters when she finished cleaning inside. That would never have occurred to my mom, she had other qualities.
In retirement, roles can shift (I dusted, cleaned bathrooms etc) and I'm thankful he is willing to help, particularly with those things I don't like to do or do as well as he does. He was loving me with every push of the vacuum.

Besides being Labor Day, September first is the beginning of the month of Ramadan (a holy month of fasting in Islam). The following is a website www.30-days.net with information to be used as a guide for praying specifically for the Muslim world. Today we can pray for the country of Tajikistan and the many Tajik men who work in surrounding countries. Pray they might hear the good news of Christ and that hearts are open and receptive.

Retirement, a shift in perspective and/or emphasis...

Why do people retire? What is retirement? How do you "do"it? There are probably as many answers to these questions as there are people. Do we in the US look at this time of life differently than other countries? Are we in the US going to be able to continue to live this part of our life as our parents and grandparents have been able to live? Do I want to live the way they lived? Am I retiring to play golf, be a snow bird, travel, play with grandchildren? Getting down to reality, how much money do I need to live on in retirement? Wouldn't you like to have all the answers? There are answers out there to a lot of these questions and there are lots of ways to plan for retirement years. All you have to do is look for them.
It is said that "this generation" (I missed being a boomer by a couple of years) is the healthiest, wealthiest and best educated generation ever. http://www.finishers.org/core.php What an opportunity we have in retirement! What a challenge we have in doing all we want to do and make a difference in the way we live our lives. That difference may be in honing a skill or hobby, learning a language, using what you've learned in the secular world, spending more time with grandkids to help instill those qualities you'd like to leave for the future generation. These ideas help us keep in touch with the present generation and perhaps help our aging process, or at least slow it down. This is a time when we can truly give back some of those years of experiences we acquired. Where you give back is your choice.

Answering a meme?

When I asked "what is a meme?", I was told "it's kind of like a chain letter." Well I don't feel guilty any more about breaking a chain letter or any other kind of chain that's sent my way. I refrain (or try to) from sending anything on I get over the internet. My one weakness is the fun pics/videos of cats I send on to my daughter. Anyway I'll give this "meme" a try because my daughter in law tagged me.

What is your favorite faith-based hymn, song or chorus?

A hymn that stirs my soul is, When peace Like a River Attendeth.....the words are so rich with meaning. It is well, it is well with my soul. This line...My sin--Oh the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin--not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more--Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul

What was the context, content and/or topic of the last sermon that truly touched, convicted, inspired, challenged, comforted and or otherwise moved you?

It was a exegetical sermon given by my son (I'm not just saying this because I'm his mom). It was about Abraham and his trusting God. In Genesis 15:6, Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Satin wants us to doubt God and His goodness. It's ok to articulate this to God. Personally I like exigetical preaching. I was dismayed to read today the following.......http://markdroberts.com/?p=555 . What a way to lead people astray.

If you could have all the Presbyterians read just one of your previous posts, what would it be and why?

Since I've just started blogging....why not read all three of them? Probably Facing our Mortality would be the one. This is something that is difficult to do and not particurlarly enjoyable...but what a difference it can make in our life as well as those around us.

What are three PC(USA) flavored blogs you read on a regular basis?

I read my son's (when he blogs....), http://www.web.mac.com/davemoody/blog_126/Apologia.html my daughter-in-law's, http://www.celticpole.blogspot.com/ and good friends, Jerry and Mary Hilton, http://www.hiltonadventures.blogspot.com/. Jerry was our Interim Pastor. I think Mary started blogging while in Wichita. I admire her (both of them really) and contintue to be amazed at their energy and enthusiasm for life. Check out their adventures.
As an aside I am reading more Presby blogs.

If the PC(USA) were a movie, what would it be and why?

With tongue in cheek...my first thought is it would be a comedy or perhaps a fairy tale. If we were to go back in time and speak to those who have laid the foundations of our faith from Paul forward, what would their reactions be? Would John Calvin want us PC(USA) to throw a birthday party next year to celebrate his 500th birthday?

As for tagging anyone else out there I'll let any one of you take the challenge that would like to.

Facing our mortality

A good friend has said "you know you're getting older when you start going to funerals." We have been away for the last several months and while we were gone an unusually large number of acquaintances and friends passed away. In the two weeks we've been home several more have died. Some were expected due to age and specific problems and some were sudden. Faced with these deaths makes one, or in my opinion should make one, look at his own mortality, how he is living and what are the consequences of death.
We have known two couples over the years who have each lost a spouse to a catastrophic illness. Both couples had a living relationship with the Lord. They were told early on the terminal nature of their illnesses. Watching them both go through the process of living and thus dying was such a testimony to the power and grace of what God can and will do when we are submissive and living in His will. They grew closer to each other and to God. They were open and caring to friends and family letting them share in their fellowship and grief. They were able to speak about what is important in both life and death. They were showing those around them "how to die." What a privilege to be a part of their lives.
How would I act in a similar situation? I don't know, but I would hope I have learned through study, example, faith and the sure knowledge that God's grace is sufficient and He is sovereign over all. As the psalmist said, "Find rest, O my soul in God alone; my hope comes from Him." Psalm 62:5.