The View

Tea Time

Done

My Digital Photography class is done. I am no longer just a point and shoot man. I know how to work ISOs and White Balance. I know how to work with a histogram. I know how to adjust the exposure. I've picked up a few PhotoShop skills. My pictures have improved. There's a lot in the class I didn't understand, but I am ahead of where I was six weeks ago. I'm glad it's over. I'm ready to move on to other stuff. I might even get some reading in before the end of the summer. PS: You can look for my two portfolios on my FaceBook account.

Beyond the Pane

I took this picture somewhere between Hanford and Lemoore. I got inside this totally trashed house and the view through the broken window was pretty amazing at sunset. I really like the depth of field.

Sometimes pictures are a metaphor for life. Beyond the broken pain there is always hope for the Christian. I'm especially glad for that today. I just lost my friend Duane. And right after I found out about that, I got word that my brother-in-law Kevin had lost his Dad.

I'm glad for that which lies beyond the pain!

Bevy of Petunias

The Russian River Rose Company is a family run garden business in Healdsburg. Across the balcony of their home is this amazing bevy of petunias.

Seven Keys

I started a new book last night -- Seven Keys: Unlocking the Secrets of Revelation, by Jon Paulien. Dr. Paulien is Dean at the Loma Linda University School of Religion and one of our best scholars in the book of Revelation. This book is full of solid stuff that is easy to read and understand. The material is also well organized -- something that I appreciate. I'm ready to sit down and read a few more pages.

Come Rest a While

Half Time

Today marks the half way point of the sabbatical. The time has flown by and soon enough, I will be back in the saddle again. I am told that people are asking how I am doing -- I am doing fine. The first week was a time of fatigue and trying to catch up on some rest. The second week we moved Jeff. The last 5 weeks have been spent taking a class -- I've learned a lot and will be glad when it is over in another week. Soon we will have both kids with us for a week. Then its back into the school year for Linda and transitioning back to work for me.

One of the things that has surprised me in this journey is that I have not been very introspective. I have wondered about that and come to the conclusion that a lot of that was taken care of when I wrote the grant proposals last year. And it is possible that some of that will take place later in the summer. My days are rather loosely structured. I'm enjoying a quiet rhythm of life. I get some exercise each day, spent some time in the garden and with my family, and take care of class work. I'm chipping away at my reading list and watching some great movies.

I'm enjoying the moment and grateful for the gift of this sabbatical. And I'm grateful for my church family and their support in this venture.

We've Got It Good

I have just gotten home from yet another weekend out and am realizing just how good we've got it here. For starters, the climate is about as perfect as it gets this side of Heaven. It is 15 to 20 degrees hotter in the places I have been lately. And the humidity level here is pretty good -- not very sticky and not so dry that it is hard to breath.

The big difference for me is church. Sabbath morning worship, in the churches I have been in lately (Is there any nice way to say it?) has been rather boring for me. That's probably good, because it reminds me how fortunate I am to be in a place where worship is fresh and vibrant. The music is good. The worship leaders know what they are doing. The speakers have something helpful and encouraging to say. It is more than just a bunch a quotes strung together. The people are alive and connecting with God.

I am blessed to live and serve right here!

What I'm Reading

So far the summer has not given me the reading time I might have expected, but I have still gotten in some good books.

Just this morning I finished reading through the gospels, looking to see how Jesus built margin into His life. The busiest man who ever lived took time to eat and sleep. He got His exercise as He moved about the countryside. He often went into retreat mode -- He would go out in the early morning hours to pray. Sometimes He would even hide from the crowds (Mark 9:30-32) -- Evidently the public person has to have some private time if they are going to remain effective in public. One passage that particularly struck me was the time when Jesus was sleeping on the boat (Mark 4:38) -- He rested on a cushion! Evidently we all need to build a few cushions into our lives.

Other books --

Adrenal Fatigue (Wilson) has been an interesting read. The author has some helpful diagnostic tools to help you identify if you have adrenal fatigue and at what level. I've got it, but thankfully it is only at level one (not quite level 2). The writer then goes on to describe how to kick the healing process into high gear -- diet, exercise, vitamins, etc. It is at this point that things get a bit complicated -- where do you start?

R. Loren Sandford has written a book called "Renewal for the Wounded Warrior: A Burnout Survival Guide for Believers". As it turned out, the book is the catharsis of a charismatic preacher who journeyed through stage three burnout -- which is not my situation. The book seems to not so much address the issue of burnout, but how to keep going when moving through the dark night of the soul moments of prolonged human suffering.

I am very much enjoying reading Cymbala's "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" -- the story of how God brought revival to the Brooklyn Tabernacle. In one chapter he tells the story of a guest pastor who said, "You can tell how popular the church is by who shows up for the worship service. You can tell how popular the pastor is by who shows up for the evening service. You can tell how popular Jesus is by who shows up for the prayer meeting."

So what have you been reading lately?

Time With Family

Linda and I spent a long weekend with my family -- Mom and Dad, brother Ken, sister Becky and brother-in-law Kevin. A few aunts and uncles and cousins got thrown into the mix at different times over the weekend. It was good to have time together, especially as Dad and his sisters are processing their brother's death last week. The graveside services will be held on Friday and I have been asked to officiate -- pastors not only pastor their churches, they pastor their families as well.

On Sabbath we worshiped at the Lemoore church. Pastor Dennis preached a classic Adventist sermon out of Revelation 13 on the subject of America in Prophecy. It is a timely topic -- I just wish we could find better ways to identify and communicate the personal and practical value of such an important message.

It's good to be home for a few days. I need to get ready for the service on Friday and I need to put some serious work into my two photo portfolios.