Father's Day

it was a good day for this father. actually, it was a pretty good weekend. i got to spend friday evening and most of saturday with my dad (and mom). they came up for megan's graduation from washington state community college on friday and spent the night with us. they haven't been up to our house for a while so it was good to have them here. i got home from lexington around 5 and susan had dinner already cooked. we got a new grill so she fixed hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixin's. the blakes and pauleys were here, plus jon (megan's) and aaron (susan's nephew). it was fun having everybody here. then on saturday afternoon we went over to church to a 50th wedding celebration for a couple in our church.
on sunday, father's day, i got a special treat. drew and i played guitar together and sang for special music during sunday morning service. we sang a big tent revival song, "faith of a little seed." i think that's the first time we've done that and we both really enjoyed it. the response was good too -- so we'll probably do it again. what a great father's day gift!
when i was in junior high my church youth group had a newsletter that was published periodically. each issue featured a "spotlight" on one of the youth group members. in one of the issues i was interviewed for the spotlight -- i think jane crouch (riffle) was the interviewer. anyway, i remember her asking me, "who is your hero?" my answer -- my dad. i've always looked up to my dad and have always wanted to be a man like him. he was, and still is, a tough, kind, loving, godly, passionate, opinionated, gentle, generous, loyal, faithful (i could go on) man -- and i mean man. he is still my hero and i still want to be a man like him.

Old Friends

i was in lexington, ky last week for some job training -- actually it was the third of three weeks of training for my position as lean six sigma champion for our plant. the training is/was very good but the treat last week was meeting up with an old friend from my teenage years -- Paul Sisk. paul's dad, ted, was the pastor of my home church -- got to see him too and his wife ginny. i knew paul is the pastor of anchor baptist church there in lexington so i contacted him about meeting while i was there for the training. i attended their wednesday evening service and afterwards went out to eat with paul and his wife. as i was preparing that evening to go to the church i started thinking about how long it had been since i'd seen paul. then it hit me -- it had been almost 40 years. now i realize i'm over 50 years old but in my mind i don't normally dwell on that fact. so when a realization of significant time passing comes up like that it kind of shocks me for a moment. then i started thinking -- ok, this is a little weird to meet up with a person i haven't seen for that long. we were 13 or 14 years old when his family moved to lexington. we've essentially lived our lives not in contact over the following years so the question came to my mind -- what in the world would we find in common to talk about? i was pleasantly surprised how much we do have in common -- family stuff, golf, trials of life, (did i mention golf?), and theology. it was really fun to spend some time with paul and i wish i'd had the time in the previous two weeks of my training to meet with him too. maybe i'll look for more training i can attend in lexington so that meeting can be arranged -- and definitely we'll play some golf too!