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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

RETREAT SEASON HODGEPODGE!


     Well, it's Wednesday so it must be time for another Hodgepodge. If you want to understand the title of this blog entry, read my Random Thought below. Thank you Joyce for more thoughtful questions.   

1. What's the best thing about growing older?
     One thing I like is having more flexibility with schedules and obligations. I have been retired for just over two years and I really am enjoying my life, notwithstanding the challenges vis a vis SWMBO's situation. 
     Also, seeing the grand kids is always a special treat.

2. When did you first feel like a grown up?
     I don't remember the first time I felt like a grown up. For me, that feeling tends to come and go and it often goes at the most inopportune times. If I have to pick a point in my life when I felt like a grown up was when I became a father, December 31st, 1972.

3. Chocolate cake with white icing or white cake with chocolate icing?
     Chocolate (Devil's Food) cake with white icing please.

4. What's the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
     The nicest and most endearing thing that anyone has ever done for me was to persevere in teaching me the Gospel and teaching me how to become a child of God. His name is John Brasseaux and he was absolutely unflappable. Believe me, I tried to get under his skin but he only responded with kindness and with what Scripture taught. That impressed me, that he always responded, not with what he believed but with what the Bible said. I will be eternally grateful to that Godly man.

5.  What's something you learned from your grandparents? 
     When I was a young boy my maternal grandparents lived with us. My grandmother taught me how to speak Canadian French. She could barely speak English so she had to converse in French. I enjoyed spending time with her. She was a terrific "Memere."

6. Wednesday marks a sad day in the history of planet earth-9/11...what's something you do (or can do) to bring peace to your little corner of the world?
     I pause during the day and pray for our Nation. I try to live as the Apostle Paul exhorts all of us "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12:18)

7.  Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song containing the word peace. 
     "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."         (2 Peter 2:1) There's a trite saying we Christians put on a bumper sticker "No Jesus, No Peace...Know Jesus, Know Peace." In this crazy world we could all use a measure of peace. It has been my personal experience that peace will only be found when we submit to the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. You have to know Him to experience the peace of which I speak.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     The month of September is when the  New England churches of Christ have their annual retreats. It's a time for our young people, the ladies and the men to make the trek to Raymond, ME, to Ganderbrook Christian Camp for three days, Thursday thru Saturday. 
     The first weekend is the Teen Retreat. The second weekend is the Ladies Retreat and the third weekend is the Men's Retreat. It is a great time of spiritual renewal and fellowship. Each retreat has it's own theme. Special speakers are brought in to present a number of uplifting messages. There is great food and special activities in keeping with the theme.
     I look forward each year to this time away from the cares of life. I enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow christian men. It's wonderful to compare notes on how their part of the Great Commission is doing and to give, as well as receive, encouragement. It really is a great time!

5 comments:

  1. Good morning! Just letting you know your link was incorrect in the hodgepodge. I think you left a letter off the end of your address and it was linking to another blog lifesp which is a spanish photo site : ) I deleted that one, so you may want to relink.

    I try to pray every day for our leaders, and peace in our nation and around the world. It feels daunting, but I remind myself nothing is too big for God.

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  2. Sorry about the link SNAFU. It was early, I'm not a morning person and I have short fat fingers. I could supply more excuses but I find three excuses is often sufficient.
    I spend a fair amount of time in prayer for our nation, its leaders, and for its revival as a Godly nation once again. I pray that "truth" will become valued and protected and not a casualty as is often the case now.
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. ...being able to tell us you were growing up with a grandparent is awesome. Wish I had that in my life. Enjoy the retreat when it's the men's turn. I'm sure you will.

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  4. Love your answer about the feeling of being grown up coming and going...at the most inopportune times. Isn't that the truth? lol

    Have fun at the retreats this month! Nothing like a good retreat to recharge your batteries. :)

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  5. I'm liking your answer to number 3! :)

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