AUTUMN RETREATS August 30, 2006
I would love to see you at one of the fall retreats I am speaking at soon…
Leaving Flint August 29, 2006
When we arrived in Flint four years ago we were filled with a sense of great inadequacy. God sent help and sustained us in ways for which there is no human explaination. There were times early-on when I battled an oppressive spirit, but by the grace of God that gave way to joy and purpose and fellowship. We saw the hand of the Lord on what we were doing. The years in Flint were good years of ministry that we will always remember with great fondness. If you were there you know.
No Empty Chairs
When you have kids, there is always something to worry about, something to keep you up praying at night and get you up early the next morning praying some more.
When Kyle was four and Charles was an infant Lois asked Kyle to watch Charles so he wouldn’t roll off the changing table. She had to run to the next room for something.
My Studies at Cambridge August 23, 2006
In the first summer of my graduate work I took a week-long modular course. I traveled to the college and stayed in a hotel while taking the class. Loitering around the campus early in the week, I asked one of the students if he could recommend a church that would have a mid-week prayer meeting. He enthusiastically gave me directions to his church.
Lookin Good August 21, 2006
My wife is a photographer and her most beautiful pictures are of our children. Most of them are posed, of course, even the candid ones are usually really posed, too. After all we want to look good. Can hear little Hopey‘s voice calling to me now in my memory, “How do I look, Daddy?”
Learning to Be A Fisherman August 14, 2006
A few years ago we considered taking up fly-fishing. When we wanted to learn fly-fishing we read about it. The literature on fly-fishing is extensive. The best fly-fishermen must spend most of the winter tying their own flies or writing first-class prose about the sport. It is an art-form and the aesthetic bent that draws a man to it must lend itself in many fly-fisherman to good descriptive writing. It is common for a good book on fly-fishing to be illustrated with some very satisfying watercolors.
Travels, Reading, and Links
INDIANAPLOIS Last week it was my delightful privilege to speak to hundreds of students and parents at our regional training conference in Indianapolis. I spoke for over an hour to the students, over an hour to the parents and then I stood around for three hours talking to friends old and new after that. We drove back to Hinsdale with Dewy Novotny and Victor Weib. The conversation made the over three-hour trip seem like minutes.
CHUK Charles passed another test while we were in Indianapolis so we celebrated that, too. Chuk is only three tests short of his B.A. degree and only 20 years old. He is exploring missions and ministry options now that his degree completion is in sight. He has some very exciting ministry ideas.
CHURCH Yesterday morning we attended the smallest church we have been in four years, but I left with tears of conviction on my face and a deeper desire to seek the Lord in my heart. The pastor is Dr. Tim Sisk, who is a professor and chair of the World Missions & Evangelism department at Moody Bible Institute. Here is a link to the delightful little church
CAMBRIDGE I was fascinated by reading John Piper’s account of his study sabbatical in Cambridge.
READING Saturday and Sunday I had some time to read a fascinating book about C. S. “Jack” Lewis and the influence of Ireland, Ulster, and County Down on his imagination and writing. The book is called “A Shiver of Wonder.” Lois caught me reading it on my little corner of the stone back porch.
Adam: “God, Why did you make Eve so beautiful?”
God: “So you would be attracted to her.”
Adam: “Why did you make her such an airhead?”
God: “That was so that she would be attracted to you.”
The Last Act of Our Chef August 7, 2006
Kim Cahill left last month to take a new job at Mt. Herman Bible Conference Grounds in California. That ended nearly five years of service here at the Character Inn as our head chef. She was a good one.
I Love Being A Dad
Sometimes being a Dad to four sons and four daughters is kinda’ hard. I have a lot of teeth to think about when I wake up in the night. It’s my responsibility that to see to it that they are not rotten or crooked. I have years of courtships to look forward to and to worry about in my weak moments. I have oil to change and gas to buy and bills to pay. With a big family they just keep comin’ at you.
YOUDADAD August 3, 2006
My friend Todd Wilson is kinda’ the court jester of the homeschool kingdom. He uses my stuff now and then. I always feel flattered when he does. Here is an example.
While youre at it you should sign up for his weekly e-mail. It is always good stuff for dads and funny. Surf around his site and you will see a way to sign-up.
Ken's new book - Sunset On Summer, now available for order, $13.95 each.