Prepare Ye

Good News - Mom's home, feeling better & getting around on her own. I've actually had to yell at her to slow down. Good News - I'm driving back to the 'burg on Sunday & starting CPE later in the week. Good News - A crisis lets you know who your friends are and who you can count on. And who you can't.

I'm going to be moving to Gettysburg the next few days, so there won't be any positing for a few days. (Not anything earth shattering.) The next time I post, it shall be from my apartment. Before I go however, its time to empty the mental mailbag . I'm glad I didn't order the Big Brother feeds. I've been watching the shows and following the feeds and this year's housemates aren't that interesting. Maybe they're not interesting because there is a jerk/bully who's dominating the show. Dick (his real name) is a tyrant who seems to have a 3 year old's fit anytime someone has an opinion or does not follow his directives. I'll pay attention when I see someone has the spine to nominate and evict him. The Tigers (MY Tigers) are in a funk and can't seem to get out of their own way. But fortunately, the Tribe is right there blowing games along with them. I'd love to see them trade for a relief pitcher, but it doesn't look like it will happ...

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about God putting some of my old friends back in my life before I go. On Saturday, I got reacquainted with a lot of friends from college. On Monday, two of my best friends from college showed up at my office to capture me and take me on a road trip. We drove up to our old college, had some pizza, a few beers and swapped stories that for various personal and other reasons can not be shared. I am so thankful that God is putting people into, or back into, my life when I'm making this big change. Everyone has been so supportive, understanding and reassuring. It's great to know people see things in you that you don't, or aren't sure you have. God will not have you do anything you can not do, and He will give you whatever you need to complete the task. That includes renewing acquaintances.

U2 - One (the rare buffalo video) My college roommate (back in the mid 80's) kept coming up with these weird music groups that he thought would be the "next big thing." He'd play a record or tape and tell me how great the band was. I shook my head, said "OK" and ignored him. But he would play it over, and over and eventually, it grew on me. Skronkle, thanks for introducing me to this album and this group. The music, lyrics and thoughts behind their music has helped me and lead me on my journey toward Christ. Then he kept playing this "reconstruction fables" tape by a group called Remmy or something. After college, he started listening to this "chili" group and some weird album . Instead of selling nuts, he should have been a record exec.

Actually, what a extended weekend. I've been feeling a little blue about leaving my hometown even though going to seminary is what I want to do, what I should do and what I am being called to do. One of the depressing things is leaving my family and friends behind and moving 10 hours away. What was piling on me was realizing that I have done a horrible job in keeping in touch with my high school friends and my college friends. I hadn't kept in touch and missed the people who were like brothers to me. I got a flyer in the mail a week or so ago about a reunion that my HS football coach was putting together for July 7th. He coached at my HS for over 15 years, and coached a number of sports and was inviting all of his former players to a picnic. I was debating if I should go and ultimately decided to go. When I walked into the picnic pavillion, I saw several people who I had not seen since graduation night 20+ years ago. It was just like we had only seen each other a few days ago. ...