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Half-Birthday Celebration Day

Saturday, January 28

After taking the mailing to the post office, I picked up Jordan and Diana for their “Half-Birthday Celebration Day” with us.  Jordan is 14 1/2 and Diana is 7 1/2.  We played computer games and watched March of the Penguins – a really neat documentary about the life of Emperor Penguins.

One of Diana’s favorite things to do in our office is shred paper!

Cerwin spent part of the day delivering propane for Ferrellgas – which he does about forty hours a week.  He doesn’t usually drive on Saturdays, but wanted to make a few deliveries due to spending two days working on chapel construction this week. 

When he got home, we headed for Cain’s Lanes.  I won the first game (had a strike on my first roll!) and Cerwin won the second.  

Diana and Grandpa – Diana bowling.  The little girl next to her knelt on the floor and bowled – and even got a spare twice!

Jordan and me bowling.  Didn’t that combination of pictures come out interesting?  Same lane – two different angles.

By the time our two games were finished, we were ready for supper at The Canvas Eatery.

Diana enjoyed a chocolate milkshake – macaroni and cheese came later.  Jordan’s choice was a turkey club.

Afterwards, we watched The Grizzly Man.  Cerwin and I wanted to see it because it was a documentary on the life of Timothy Treadwell, a young man who spent thirteen summers living with grizzly bears (unarmed and against the advice of authorities) in the area of Kodiak and Katmai, Alaska.  He was killed by a grizzly in 2004, and since we flew to Katmai to see grizzly bears when we were in Alaska in 2003, we thought we may see some of the same area.  We did, and it was interesting, but not a keeper for this house because of Timothy’s language and attitude toward God or anyone in authority over him.  

He was a very troubled man, however his photography was fantastic.  It was interesting how God showed Himself real to Timothy, even when he was cursing Him for lack of rain at one point.  Within a short period of time it began raining – pouring rain – and it was pretty much limited to the area where Timothy was living.  Timothy was amazed and a bit taken back, but it didn’t seem to change his life – like so many people living in the world around us.

My summary of a day spent with grandchildren

One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove; what kind of house I lived in; how much money I had; or what my clothes looked like. 

But, my values will affect the lives of my children and grandchildren – and consequently the generations that follow them.

The Mailing is Finally Ready for the Post Office!

Friday, January 27

I found another one-hundred-seventy-five newsletters that had Page 2 printed upside down on the back of Page 1.  I’ve been doing this for sixteen years and don’t remember printing so many incorrectly before.  I was probably occupied with something else in the office when I was printing these earlier in the week – and not paying attention to the second side of the newsletter.  I do much larger mailings, but I am ready for this one to get to the Post Office! 

My Sister

My sister Nancy called to see if her daughter Chelsey (who wasn’t feeling well enough to go to school) could stay here for two or three hours while she took care of several appointments.  That worked for me, because our children’s room is on the main floor and the office is in our basement.  That way Chelsey could watch March of the Penquins on DVD while I continued to work – hardly knowing she was here.

When Nancy got back, she noticed I still had several trays of envelopes to stuff, so spent a few hours helping.  Stuffing envelopes doesn’t take a lot of concentration, so it was fun to get caught up on each others lives.  Our houses are back-to-back in the same woodlot, but our busy lives have kept us going in different directions recently. 

A Sketch by Josiah Myers

Brunswick, Maine

Our fifteen-year-old grandson

Yesterday was one of those days.  I was grateful to know I could rely on God for grace and peace. 

I was working on a 1,400-piece mailing.  First, I discovered that I had printed about one hundred copies of Page 2 upside down on the back of Page 1.  Of course that meant reprinting both sides.  Then the folding machine jammed – several times.  One time I almost had to take the thing apart to get it working again. 

By evening I was grateful that I didn’t have to think about cooking supper.  Cerwin asked me earlier in the week to pick an evening that suited me to go to the new Applebee’s in Ephrata.  (A restaurant suits me almost any time!) I chose Thursday because he had a dentist appointment at 4 PM – routine check-up – so I knew that would be a good evening for him.  It turned out to be great timing for me as well – and my steak fajita meal was DELICIOUS!

Today should be less frustrating.  All I have to do is stuff 1,400 envelopes – how wrong can that go! 

That’s Too Far From Grandpa and Grandma’s!

The other day our son Jere and his wife Kristen were discussing a new house that had just been built – about two miles from them.  I guess their interest in it made their daughter Jana (above) think they were planning to move there.  Sometime later, Kristen noticed that Jana was crying, and asked what was wrong.  She said, “I don’t want to move to that house, it’s too far from Grandpa and Grandma’s.”  (Kristen assured her they are not moving!)

The feeling is mutual, Jana.  Having you live one mile away is much better than three!

Jared Wearing Grandpa’s Work Boots

If you are the only Christian someone knows – what is their impression of Jesus?

If you are the only person they know who attends your church, your school, or works at your place of business – what is their impression of that place?

On Saturday evening Cerwin and I attended a birthday party in Philadelphia for a TFC friend.  I noticed a woman in a wheelchair who was totally immobile.  It seemed that the only thing she could do was move her eyes.  She was well-dressed and appeared to be in her early fifties.  Later, I asked someone at our table, “Who is the woman in the wheelchair?” 

Our friend replied, “She is the wife of the president of PBU (Philadelphia Biblical University).  She has MS, and that is her husband next to her.  He is a model husband in loving and caring for her.”

I was so impressed by this person’s description and in watching him care for her, that it gave me a wonderful impression of PBU.

I can only imagine the dreams they had to give up as the illness claimed her body.  But, watching them also reminded me of the power and grace that is available to those who totally surrender their lives to Jesus Christ.

I HAD A NEAT PHONE CALL YESTERDAY

A woman named Louise called and said, “I found one of your books in a medical clinic this week and wondered if it would be possible to get one for myself.  I am familiar with the Bible, but this one was so easy to read, I could hardly put it down.  I tore your phone number off the back of the book so I wouldn’t forget it.”

“One of your books” usually means a Transport For Christ Road Map of Life New Testament.  We distribute between fifteen and eighteen thousand per year – mostly to truck stops, terminals, and restaurants.  The cover is personalized for TFC – with a rig on the front cover and several ministry addresses on the back.

“Easier to read than other Bibles” means she picked up a NIV version instead of the King James. 

The phone call prior to hers was a woman from Kansas, whose trucker husband found a Road Map of Life in a truck stop, and wanted to order several to keep in his truck, so he had some available as a witnessing tool.  That is a fairly normal call.

But, a medical clinic? 

She asked about the cost.  I said, “One for you personally is free.  If you want to order more to give to friends, we ask you to cover our cost of $2.00 per New Testament.”

Then, as I was getting her mailing address, the next unusual thing happened – she was from Newfoundland! 

It would be neat to know how that New Testament got from our office in Pennsylvania to a medical clinic in Newfoundland.

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”  (Isaiah 55:11).

I just received a phone call from Gene Gehman, saying that he will be driving his truck for the Rebecca St. James tour – hauling her lighting and sound equipment.  (See my Tuesday, January 17 entry.)  Rebecca has forty-one concerts on this tour, which begins January 29 and ends April 3.  She travels with her parents and siblings (some are home schooled), plus a sound and lighting crew.   There are three buses and one tractor trailer. 

I know Gene and Rose appreciate your prayers.