Monday, September 28, 2009

New Mechanics at Keepville

Vincent (7) and Kenton (9) fixed our van....they took out the alternator. This is making me a happy man. Since Vincent is 7, that gives me at least 11 more years of him working on my vehicles. This makes me a happy man....I guess I already said that.

Kendra Loses Another Tooth


Playing Sorry Charley

Tom and Connie Rodgers stopped by for a visit and we are as we type playing Dominoes. Somehow the women keep winning....I wonder what their trick is?

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Going Going Gone....

The old porch on the rental house is getting replaced.


The kids worked hard hauling away the old porch debris. I believe my kids for their age are the hardest working Pastor's kids I know.

Andy helping out clearing some holes for the posts.

Out of the Doghouse

Just for the whole world to know...that shriek heard round the world last night at 8:35 came from my wife. I guess I had accidental took the last "sip" of her Pepsi. I will not say how many pots and pans were thrown at me, evil looks rendered, and names called....but I have renounced my evil act, repented of my evil deed and have made proper restitution. What is so great about the restitution is I bought her so much Pepsi, she will never know when I take another sip.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

She Taught Us So Much!

While so many people's theme in life is "Why Pray when you can Worry!", Rose's life theme never went down that road. Despite her 3 year painful battle with cancer, she always remained very positive and sprite. We loved her and the cheer she brought to our church these last few years. So many that were impacted by her life, had to take note of their own. So glad we were a part of her last few years of life here on this earth.
Home Going
Memorial Celebration
for
Rose Fields Shumate

February 12, 1925 - September 7, 2009

Rose Fields Shumate of Albion, Pa., passed away Monday, September 7, 2009 at Rolling Fields Nursing Home, Conneautville, Pa. She was born February 12, 1925 in Topeka, Kansas. Rose moved to Albion, Pa 5 years ago to live with her son, Roland Roy Shumate and his wife, Sherrie Shumate. She will be returning to Harveyville, Kansas to be laid to rest beside her husband, Walter, who passed away December 2001. While residing in Pennsylvania, Rose made many new friends at the Albion Senior Citizens Center, the Barnett Building, and at Rolling Fields. Known for her love of flowers and gardening, Rose gave advice to many on how to grow beautiful flowering plants, especially orchids, which were her favorite. She was also an avid reader, sharing her collection of books with many friends and neighbors.
Mom will be missed by her surviving children; Ronald Shumate and his wife, Judy, of Harveyville, Kan., Roy Shumate and his wife, Sherrie, of Albion, John Shumate and his wife, Chris, of Topeka, Kan., and Letha Meyers and her husband, Greg, of McPherson, Kan. She is further survived by her daughter-in-law, Judy Shumate, of Topeka, Kan., wife of Terry Shumate, who passed away in 1995. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She was affectionately known by them as “Grandma Rose”.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Carey Funeral Home in Burlingame, Kan. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Keepville Church in Albion with Rev. Byron Gurnee officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Keepville Church, 11520 Carter Road, Albion, PA 16401.

Monday, September 21, 2009

A Visit with Some Small Mountains - The Hill Family

On our way to fly out of Anchorage, we stopped for several days to visit our friends Warren and Carla Hill and their kids. Last year they kindly gave us their vehicle to drive around Alaska.
Uncle Byron with his only nephews:
Cameron, Clayton, and Nicholas.
With my Beautiful Bride at the Wesleyan Nazarene Campgrounds.

My Alaskan Grouse

Showing the kids how to de-breast a grouse(pheasant, chukkar, etc.) in 5 seconds. My wife forbid me to post the pictures that followed this one. I took it home and cooked it up.....tasted pretty good. If you click on the picture and enlarge it, check out Carla in the right side window area.

Cameron

Clayton


Friends for 18 years



The biggest pile of nuts and cones I had ever seen.

The Culprit - A Pine Squirrel

Having fun playing with the kids.

Carla and Clayton

Warren and Ashley

Melody Fair stopped by to visit.

It looked like it came out of the showroom.

This was taken in Montana...only half way.
It was far worse by the time I started cleaning it.

Proof enough!

Giving Karate Lessons.



After Ashley finally let me hold her.

With all of the "nieces and nephews".

Denali Snaps

















Warning: Thanksgiving Is Being Prepared

You were warned. His name: Thanksgiving. We hope he tastes as nice as he looks. Right now he is on ice on his back after his open intestine procedure. We will let you know how he progresses by November 26.









Another One Rides the Bus...

...heh heh it's Kendra!

Sr. McAdoo

Today I went to see Marie McAdoo - one our churches "Old Faithfuls" and our oldest member. We certainly miss her in our services. Marie is currently residing in the Pleasant Ridge Manor between Fairview and Girard. Stop in and see her. Her room number is J-29.

What I Love about Pastoring Part 1

A Pastor's work is never done,
from early morning till setting sun.
Oops... I forgot to add "and the hours in between, 7 days a week, 49 weeks a year."
One thing I love about Pastoring is my flexible schedule. Since technically as a Pastor I have no "weekend" like most who work "normal" jobs, our two days off can come just about any time except the weekend. Sometimes the days off come in a day here or there, and sometimes it comes in a half of a day here or there. To the dismay of my kids and wife sometimes it does not happen at all. Many times spending time with Daddy means riding along to Erie to get supplies and hoping he treats them to a $5.55 Hot and Ready Pizza from Little Ceasers.
Saturday for a Pastor is just another busy day like Sunday in preparations calling and the most important sermon preparation that has been brewing all week in prayers and devotions. Many times after long busy days, late nights are spent gathering sermon illustrations, trying to de-cipher scribbled notes from thoughts that have come during the day, and as usual the three fingered typing of sermon notes. Usually by the time the Sunday sermon time has rolled around the sermon has been re-tweaked many times.
Sunday starts off very early in the morning like 5:00 a.m. and even earlier 3:00-4:00 a.m. in the winter time to check the church furnace and make sure the heat is on and the proper vents have all the rooms warming for Sunday School. The bulletin has been typed, but gets added to and then copied and folded, the church gets a once over to make sure it looks as presentable as a country can. I think I forgot to add Sunday School class preparation and teaching before worship service begins. Sunday afternoon is met with phone calls to a few who did not make it to church, an occasional visit, continued preparation for the evening service and then if time permits...a blog entry or two. Then after the last person is talked to after church on Sunday night, the pastor and his wife go home and usually are in one of two moods. They either are excited about what has happened that day or are ready to submit the already prepared but never used resignation letter. It happens to the best of us. Then once in awhile like yesterday when at least 4 people tell the pastor that the sermon that morning was not only the best that they had ever heard, but were so helped in their spiritual life, the pastor feels ready to re-preach that same sermon the next 3 Sundays. As they say "A blind squirrel gets a nut once in awhile." It is days like that end like that, that keep the country pastor going. Even if a small negative comment is thrown out during the course of the day, the feeling of thanks to God for His help seems to override it.
Everyone gets a couple of days off, but when does the pastor? Some times there are weeks after laboring 70 - 90 hours that you get none at all. The overtime is not compensated for, no pat on the back, but just the satisfaction of eternal treasures that make it all worth while. Of course there are the days that the compliments come and the pat on the back is given....yes and those fuzzy warm feelings. In a normal job setting I don't get complimented for doing what I am paid to do, so when it happens to me it is a big bonus.
In every church setting the methods of outreach can be vastly different. Many use door to door calling, which in some communities can be very effective. Although I am not sure of the reasons, our church has shown growth by various methods including door to door visitation. Just recently an older couple started attending our church. The reason they came - recommendation from one of my neighbor friendships. Although the neighbor has his own church, he recommended to his father ours. We were very happy at that.
There has been a great amount of work that has been put into this method: helping put on pool covers, mowing hay, use of my backhoe, helping cut down a tree, plowing someones driveway in a blizzard so they could get to work on time, hanging out and listening and sharing stories of hunting or the surrounding community, pulling someone out of the ditch, giving electrical advice or just helping out with it, lending tools, being there in emergencies and death, and the list goes on. It all is accomplished through my flexible schedule.
The blessing our church has received from this schedule are amazing. God has used my gift of gab and working with my hands to make friends that have ended up helping the church out just when we needed it. I guess if my schedule had not allowed for the flexibility, many "helps" might never have happened. God is good!
It is the flexibility of the schedule that makes pastoring enjoyable and the effort so worthwhile. This week I choose to take my time to not only help my church by becoming a better person, but also to take my two days off. I will head off with a group of Pastors and men from their churches to Beulah Grove Camp to the Men of Integrity Retreat This retreat which the conference strongly encourages their pastors to attend is one that helps christian men in their personal lives. I wish some of my church congregants would be able to attend but their work and schedule won't allow them to go. They all said as the Cleveland Brown's fans say "Next Year!"
Well since this is my day for the church I will leave to go help a man that I have been working on to come to church for the last 4 years. I have nursing homes to visit, and the church rental to work on.....
Since my earthly goals have eternal values I keep plugging away.....
....just loving doing what I do!!!
So in retrospect, what I love about pastoring is my flexible schedule.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Kenai Fjords National Park Boat Ride


A view of Exit Glacier.








Sea Otter




Orca Whale - Killer Whale







Mountain Goats

Bald Eagle

WWII Bunkers on top of mountain.




The National Park Ranger that was our tour guide.