Covenant College 50th Commencement

Last weekend Ken and I were back on Lookout Mountain. We flew east to see our dear little Tami graduate, which she did (Omedeto!).

Highlights included staying at the Mehne's comfortable hotel, having breakfast at Cracker Barrel with the Cigna gang, eating at various Chattanooga establishments with various important people, getting a tour of Andy Montgomery's wicked-cool St. Elmo house, and of course, worshipping at Cornerstone Church on Sunday with all of our old friends, plus Elder Scott & Joyce, Dennis & Karen Fullalove, and some other SF-peeps.

Lydia and Bruce - you were seriously missed by not a few people. Basically, all of the Loft and Damien say hi. Oh, and Lyd, did you know that you are in Charissa's wedding? :)

Just like anywhere I visit, I wanted to just move to the Noog the entire time I was there. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. It felt so homey!! But then I remembered how I feel about SF, not to mention how I always love Washington so much whenever I am there. So... whatever.

P.S. - I don't put recipes on my blog. ;) But if you want a good cookie, check out Martha Stewart's Lime Flowers. They are soo good. You can probably find them on www.marthastewartliving.com ... let me know if you can't find it and want the recipe and I will type it out for you.

Farewell, Pastor Bob

Our dear Pastor Bob Y. Eckardt has announced that it is time for his family to relocate to Dayton, Ohio, where he'll be serving as pastor of Redeemer OPC. Cornerstone just got the news, so no search has started for a new pastor. The church is in the Lord's hands... we shall see where it goes from here.

Andy Montgomery said, "Too bad Ken isn't finished with seminary already." Naturally I was complimented, and agreed... it is too bad. Wouldn't that be fun?! But then I started to hyperventilate. Can you imagine? Ken, the pastor of an established congregation with elders old enough to be his father?

Grief Counseling

I recently picked up Ken's copy of Jay Adams' classic pastoral counseling book, "Shepherding God's Flock," and read the section on grief counseling. Adams sees grieving people as ministry opportunities. I agree - it is important for pastors to minister to people who are grieving, especially since it is something that everyone will experience. We won't all get married, or have children, etc. ... but grief necessarily is something that we all go through.

Today I talked with a friend who is still grieving over the loss of her father several years after his death, mostly because she still has issues with him that she needs to forgive. I suppose forgiving someone who is dead is mostly for your own benefit - to eliminate bitterness which can eat away at your soul. My friend is certainly struggling; she cannot mention the subject without tears.

I wonder if Ken and I will be able to counsel people who are mourning the loss of a loved one - or even more complicated situations like this one. (By the way, incidentally - according to Jay Adams, the "Pastor's Wife" is not an office, and should not be treated as such. Thank you. How liberating.)

now i am going blog/picture crazy. here are connie, aaron and me at the APC. (aaron is a volunteer who is paid in candy, coins and small bills) 

My Most of My Church (back row L-R: me, Ray, Ralph, Chester, Stephen, Aldo, Eric, Nick, Chuy, Eduardo, Jonah, Bryan, Ju Jin, Bruce, Doree, Gertrude, Julie, Liza, Liliana. front row L-R: Rita, JT, Imma, Dave, Rachel, Dorothy, Susan, Helen, Buzzy, Pam, Michelle, Suzy, Alta, Danny, Scott. Not pictured: BARB, Ken, Pastor Mac, Donna, and a few others...) 

Fire Drill

Yesterday at my work we had a fire drill. Normally this would be fine, a good idea, etc. However: my work consists of 3 employees. The fire drill was complete with an announcement over the loudspeaker (what on earth?) and a "role-play" (i.e.: run over to the donut shop and stay there for 5 minutes until the "fire" is put out).
I would like to pose the question - is this really necessary? I think not.

Finally

Hi folks, Kermit thee frog here, reporting live from San Francisco, and excited to say that I have finally got a blog. Thanks to little sister Moisie for your selfless help to the technologically impaired.
OK, let's see if this thing works.