Horses and Harleys

So it has been a few days since I last wrote here. Not much exciting by my standards to report, just continuous something next to do. I know that discontent is my worse enemy. Challenge and usefulness are not always enough to keep me engaged and enthused about life. I can't explain it well enough for even these statements to be accurate.

Nonetheless, I can't say that I am unhappy, just discontent. I want more or something else, I'm not sure if I can decide or say out loud. But for those of you who interact with me, it is not a surprise that there are a few things I am not sure how to change without making matters worse. So I keep plodding through the rut waiting for inspiration from above.

I have still been getting out once a week or so for hiking, though Saturday I took another traveler along with me. So I am past due for a solo trip some morning, maybe tomorrow to think and listen. Probably not, I will be tired and not eager for adventure before work in the morning.



BTW, Colcord Oklahoma is home of the interesting juxtaposition of the past and the present. The crawdad (mudbug, crayfish) was observed walking from one creek to another across a rocky point. And the waterfall is away from the trail at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. There was another waterfall at Dripping Springs but those pics are for next time. But I wonder what the story was behind the carnation in the stream.

I got my shoes . . .

Thank you Denise, I got my shoes Monday afternoon. So Monday night I grabbed my favorite shoes and went hiking! I was really stressed and needing some time alone to think, pray, meditate, chill, and work out some frustrations. I took a bunch of pictures, but that was secondary to just being outside and away from people. My roommates were glad that I did get away, though Michael was a little worried about me while I was gone since I flew out of the house to escape (I was also trying to outrace sunset). Devil's Den is an awesome little state park just 30 minutes away from Fayetteville where one can get away to nature and relax or campout or have fun. Being so close it is sometimes busy (by our standards), but folks are nice overall. The pictures were so-so considering how pretty it was that night with the fog and all. But I'll post a few just to help express the relief.



Tuesday night went well as I taught our large group worship service. They were attentive for the most part, and I enjoyed my part. Then tonight's youth group was better than last week (I think last week's full moon had them all weird or something) with the girls' group going really well with Amber leading that half of the youth group.

My regret is that I had some musings I was thinking about putting in here, but I forgot them (or they are not as relevant as they seemed when I mused them). My time management is suffocating me. And my competing and contradictory desires for escape, organization, family, friends, and solitude are not making my life simpler. Such is life.

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2)

Still here

Just a reminder that I am still alive. Been another busy weekend following a busy week (BWBW). We did have fun with the teens again for an overnight lock-in. No ridiculously silly pics this time though (I was too tired to operate the camera right I guess). And then today was spent preaching in Siloam Springs and visiting people. I did fix a flat for someone (future missionary, actually). And now I finished up work a little bit ago and ready to call it a day. Besides I cannot remember what happened last week. Except that our supporting churches voted to give me a raise and a title. I don't like the title, I prefer "intern". God the Son came to serve, Paul gladly called himself a slave for Jesus Christ, can't I call myself intern? Maybe tomorrow will make more sense.

Brad

"Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." (John 13:16)

Labor done

Labor Day came just in time. This morning I proved to myself that I was indeed tired. I took a long nap after breakfast! But then I felt like doing something and cut some firewood for Mom and drove the tractor and brushhog for a while. A sense of accomplishment. Sunday I had preached twice, hung out with Mom and Brian (he and I jabbered like crazy, literally, most of the afternoon). Then Sunday evening I stopped to check on Grandma. She hasn't been feeling good, but she was really pleased and perked up a little bit when I showed her my pictures of Gene, Denise, and their families. But almost 93 years of living takes a toll on the strongest of us I guess. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. I really admire her for her toughness and love for us kids.

It has been busy with work. Autumn means football season and that means for us at ABS parking cars for the games. This last Saturday was a big game between the Hogs and the USC Trojans. They whupped our team, but we parked around 120 cars in our yards. Long day but good for us. Our ministry here is heavily funded by people paying to park in our yard. So we have ulterior motives for hoping that our team does well the rest of the year.

Otherwise, just a couple humorous shots to go. One is my ninja brother wielding dual rakes against the apple tree, it surrendered less than 10 apples. The other is my ballcap after a tree branch fed my cap to the brushhog. Apparently, it only took one whack to make the big cut in the bill before ripping it right off the rest of the hat. Moral of the story, there are lots of dangers on the farm. More importantly, do not stick anything under the brushhog that you wouldn't want mangled.


"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16).