Daylight Savings Time

Don't forget to reset your clocks tonight. Set your alarm for 2 a.m., get up and change the time to 3 a.m.. Remember to do this precisely at 2 a.m. - that's when the change takes affect.

Or if you've got a rebellious streak, go ahead and change it now!

Of course if you'd done what I do, it wouldn't even be an issue. It's been just over 120 days since we changed out clocks the last time. I hate losing that hour of sleep in the spring, so ever since last fall I've been setting my clock ahead 30 seconds every day. That way, I don't even notice the change, and I feel completely rested. Of course it does make it a little difficult to stay in sync with the rest of the world. Their clocks are off anywhere from 30 secs to 59 and a half minutes from me, but I think it's worth it.

Tune in next time when I explain flying from one time zone to another, and how to avoid jet lag!

Sparky (1998?-2009)

Sometime over two years ago Sparky came to live with us. Her owner had died after a long illness, and Sparky needed a home. We were told she was nine years old, but we all think she was a lot older than that. For the first week we had her, she stood looking at the door, as if waiting for her master to come get her.

Gradually she became one of the family. She really loved Janelle and Ben especially. She moved with us first to Whitehall and then across country to Oregon. Although she slept most of the trip, it still seemed to take a lot out of her.

Lately she's been seeming confused. She would wander to a corner of our fenced-in back yard, or even into a corner of the room, and then stand there, not sure what she was supposed to do or where she was supposed to go. Every time she would wake up from a nap, she would stand there as if she was trying to remember where she was and who we were.

Something happened this week that caused her to slip downhill fast. She quit eating and spent even more time sleeping (if that's possible). She started having trouble walking, and fell down several times. If she could manage to get up from where she was sleeping, then she couldn't figure out how to lay down. She was so weak that she couldn't bend down without falling down.

We determined to make her comfortable as long as we could, until last night when she was lying on the kitchen floor napping. She peed right where she was (sorry to be graphic), and just laid in it. That was the tipping point for us.

Today, we said goodbye to Sparky and I drove her to the animal shelter, where I rubbed her head one last time, said, "Bye, Baby," and walked out. I have often said I wasn't very connected to her, but found out today she was more my dog than I realized, or would have admitted if questioned. She's gone now, and in my mind's eye I can see her romping with her old owner, reunited, at least in my fantasies.

2009.01.26 - Ministers and Spouses Retreat

We had a relaxing drive down to Newport, after stopping at the Woodburn outlet stores. The weather was clear and the skies were blue. Our first glimpse of the ocean was unbelievable, but then subsequent views just kep getting better.

My last post showed the web site hotel ocean view. This picture is actually from our room, albeit late afternoon with the light already fading. We can see a lighthouse, but my camera phone can't catch it; it's just too far away. Our church leadership was thoughtful enough to spend a few dollars more to get us an ocean view room, and we can't thank them enough.

We've already met new friends, and got to talk with people who were at the Installation Service, but who never got a chance to say, "Hi."

Pastor Jim Lyon (our speaker) shared in our keynote session this evening about wholeness in six areas: emotional, mental*, social, spiritual, physical, and intellectual. He connected these to the Church of God teaching on holiness, and made the statement that one cannot be holy (or whole), without being whole in all six areas.

Maybe I'll get to share more tomorrow... but I'm not here to blog. I'm here to retreat and regroup and reconnect, with my God and my wife.

* I did not take notes and this is the only one of the six that I'm not sure I have recalled correctly. I looked at several Internet sites that talked about six areas of wholeness or wellness and they listed occupational in place of mental, but that doesn't sound right from tonight's talk.

Ministers and Spouses Retreat

Friends, thank you for making our Installation Service so memorable. We had a great time, and appreciate the many expressions of support. We love you.

We'll be out of pocket for a few days. We're traveling to Newport to enjoy the Ministers and Spouses Retreat through Wednesday. I'll have my cell with me in case of emergencies, and I'll be back in the office on Thursday. Blessings.

The Biblein 365

Friends, you haven't heard much from me lately on The Masked Evangel. It's all good... no really; everything is good. Life has really been good in Oregon. I'm just spening a lot more time with my new blog 365 Forum. I've really been enoying it, and I think it's been benefitting my church family, too.

I'm going to keep The Masked Evangel open, and post occasionally, just because I don't want it to dry up and blow away.

Stop over soon, and say, "Hi."

In the mean time, "How about my Steelers?!"

Bring On Baltimore!

Okay, I admit it. I'm really enjoying watching the Steelers mop up the field with the Chargers. I could get all fidgety about next week's Steelers/Ravens game, but Matthew 6:34 reads: Do not worry about [next Sunday], for [next Sunday] will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

365 Forum

My new blog 365 Forum has been taking a lot of my time and attention. That's why I haven't been posting too often at The Masked Evangel. I'm still here, and having a great time. Come on over and check us out. Oh yeah!