Henry and Houdini

Houdini was lonely and we decided to let Vincent get a goat since Kenton had gotten one. We drove out to the goat farm and Vincent picked out Henry. Don't ask me where the name came from, but I liked it better than "Thunder".

Henry and Houdini

Tom McCann knows all his goats by name. The old rams are big old babies that come running to get their ears scratched.

Here is Bill - the father of Henry and Houdini.

A hunting friend stopped by...

...complete in his woolworth hunting coat, dreaming of days of yore and just gazing at the walls. Too bad he was camera shy. Stop in anytime Rod!

Restitution Made...

...and I will not say anything more.

The person mailed it from Zanesville, no return address, and a $5.oo bill in it. A late birthday gift? A bothered conscience? A gambling debt? The latter sadly is the story. I was bet that I could not climb to the top of the nearest tree. Should I accept this money? Should I return it? Hmmmm.....

PS. Thanks Holly. I actually owed Dave a couple of bucks when I ran short at the auction. I will buy him a case of birch beer and bring it your way soon.

Men's Prayer Breakfast

We gathered at Tom Rodgers home for a prayer breakfast. Connie helped out by doing the cooking and then disappeared to let the men do their thing. We had sausage bisquits and gravy.

Tom serving up the bisquits.

Clockwise (l to r) Paul Klein, Tom Rodgers, George Randall, Kenton Gurnee, and Blaine Cosner.

George pouring Kenton some Florida sunshine.

We had a good devotional time and then prayer.

I can not stress the importance of christian fellowship!! We need it spiritually as much as our body needs food and drink physically. Thank you Tom and Connie for hosting a much needed spiritual get together.

One Game Behind

GAME 3

Penguins - 3Redwings - 2

Can You Find the Monkey?

PS. Holly you still owe me $5.00!!

Of Fish and Fingers

We caught everything from fish, pollywogs, to fingers. The reflective pictures were great and everyone had a great time.

Little Fish

Big Fish

Finger Fish - caught with a tri-hook.

Generic Entertainment

...and the walls came tumbling down!

On the way home from the funeral, the boys had to stop and watch the house get ripped apart. Unfortunately I was not thinking quick enough to get pictures sooner.

I thought Kenton was trying to ham it up until I heard the crash and turned around and saw that the house had collapsed.

I can think of a few more buildings in Albion that need a visit from this machine!

Full Military Burial

I did not get my camera out in time to show the honor guard firing their guns, but was able to get one of the presentation of the flag to Marcella Mooney.

Tom Mooney Memories..

...are found here: http://gurneejourney.blogspot.com/2008/05/tom-mooney-goes-home.html

Tom Mooney Obituary

http://www.legacy.com/ErieTimesNews/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=110283283

My Last Trip to Visit Tom...

Tom went to be with the Lord this evening. I feel bad I was not there went he crossed over, but was able to be with the family in his room for awhile afterwards. Pray for Marcella and the family as they plan his Homegoing Celebration.

At the End of the Rainbow...

is the Albion State Correctional Institution. I wonder if there is any gold in there?

What a Relief....

As we anticipate the Calhouns coming to our small parsonage we are greatly relieved to know they have "other arrangements" for sleeping. It is sure crowded in our hut and this will make their visit a little more tolerable. Since Tim does not title his posts, click this link and go to this date:5/20/2008 ready for the road....

General Propane

My friend Wes Black and his boy Brian stopped by last night. He was working on our gas lines for our home. After an hour of work installing new pressure regulators on the new tank and on the house. He showed us how the crane worked on the back of his truck. He showed Kenton how to run it and then gave us all a "lift".

I am not sure if it was the one handed hold or the fact he had put me up 10' in the air and back down and just let me hang that made me nervous. At 4' I held my 275 lbs. onto the hook for dear life. He was trying to figure out my camera and I was hoping he would figure it out very quickly. It was great to have him stop by for some late night entertainment.

Teach Your Pets their Address

I am not bored....I just thought this was interesting!

TOKYO - When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help. Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said. He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.
"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.
"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said.
The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years. But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.
"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.

Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule

1. Sat, May 24 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (VS., CBC)
2. Mon, May 26 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (VS., CBC)
3. Wed, May 28 – at Pit, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
4. Sat, May 31 – at Pit, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
5. Mon, Jun 2 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
6. Wed, Jun 4 – at Pit, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
7. Sat, Jun 7 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)

GO PENS!!!!!!!!

Half of My Alloted Days...

....are already past! Thank you Julia for your post. See here.

Church: When It's Time to Move On

Pastors share their thoughts on when you should leave your church and how to do it in a God-honoring manner.

by Gail B. Houston

Looking for the perfect church? Look no further; it doesn’t exist. The church is made up of people. Until we get to heaven, we can assume churches will have problems.

Regardless of church size, denomination or location, pastors are often troubled by how easily many members leave their church families. When someone leaves, the body is injured. Think of losing a finger or a kidney. You would feel the loss, and so does the church.

Most of us would not leave our biological families, but this doesn’t always translate to our church families. Members frequently leave without a word or with vague answers when contacted by a church staff member who misses them. This is personal for pastors and ministers, evoking emotion, passion, confusion and hurt.

There are both poor reasons and good reasons for leaving a church. Make sure you know the difference.

4 Poor Reasons to Leave

Things in the church are changing, and I don’t like it. Your pastors recognize that the world and the church globally are changing, and they want to stay relevant. As your church adapts, it is critical to realize what is biblical and what is cultural. Your pastors feel they can give on some cultural issues, but they also believe in holding the line on fundamentals.

I don’t like the music anymore. Drums and electric guitars moved into spaces where pianos and organs traditionally ruled. A good way to look at this issue is to realize that, in a church of 400 people, if you have the music the way you want it on one Sunday every 7.7 years, then you have had your turn. Let others enjoy their turn as well. Music style should never be more important than relationships.

An unresolved difference of opinion or hurt feelings. The church is a living parable on forgiveness, mercy and grace for a watching world. How we treat one another speaks loudly. The Bible is clear on dealing with problems: Go first to the person with whom you have the problem and try to resolve it for your own good, his good and the good of the church. Many times the real reason never surfaces. Instead a run around of easily repaired exscuses are given.

Another church has more to offer me and my family. If your church is lacking in an area, pray to be able to fill the space or for God to send someone who is able. Make the shift from consumer to producer.

3 Good Reasons to Make a Move

I feel a clear call from God to begin another work. Starting a new church, going into missions or a new ministry, or changing location are good reasons to consider moving. As we grow in Christ, He is able to use us in different areas. Your pastors would like the opportunity to grieve over losing you and rejoice at your new opportunity.

I have lost confidence in the church leadership. Major doctrinal differences, vastly different values and priorities, unclear direction or compromised leaders may call for a change. Praying for your leaders, pastors and their families is good preventative medicine. If you cannot support your leadership, pastors agree that leaving is better than staying and spreading discontent. Don’t worry about convincing other churchgoers of your need to leave; God is perfectly capable of revealing to others what they need to know and do.

I am more comfortable reaching people for Christ who are from my own generation or culture, and I need to be in a church more like me in order to be effective. As long as you are reaching the lost, encouraging new believers and continuing to grow and mature in your own spiritual life, most pastors would want you to be where you will best use your gifts and abilities.

Leaving?

If you do decide to leave the church, continue to pray for your former church. In the meantime, be cautious of what you say to others about the congregation you left; the Enemy will happily use whatever we say to cause harm. Use wisdom and discretion about any information you pass on to friends.

Last, but not least, please know that your pastors are only human. They will err, misspeak and otherwise blunder from time to time. The church is one of the best places to find mercy and grace and to extend it to others.

You are an important, valued part of the church on a mission to transform the world.

Determine not to be tripped up by trivial matters.

This article first appeared in the May, 2008 issue of Focus on the Family magazine. Copyright © 2008 Gail B. Houston. All rights reserved. Gail B. Houston has worked in church administration for 14 years. She lives in Tucson, Ariz.

GO PENS....

....TO THE STANLEY CUP!!

I can not say to much about the Cleveland team, but at least Pittsburgh is in the Championship game!! Will it be the Dallas Stars or the Detroit Red Wings???

Penguins win series 4-1
Game 1: at PIT
PHI 2, PIT 4 - Final
Game 2: at PIT
PHI 2, PIT 4 - Final
Game 3: at PHI
PIT 4, PHI 1 - Final
Game 4: at PHI
PIT 2, PHI 4 - Final
Game 5: at PIT
PHI 0, PIT 6 - Final

Cherokee Indian Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him for comfort.

Moral of the Story:

Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there.

Thanks to my buddy John "The Dragonslayer" Payne for emiling this to me.

Moving the Propane Tank

Guns in School

I am the guilty culprit. I took a gun to school, but I had permission from the principal. The day before the students learned military dress and drill, today I gave a PowerPoint Presentation on ammunition development during the Civil War. I enjoyed it immensely and only had a couple of the girls fall asleep.

I only took a very small sampling of cartridges in.

Mostly those developed during the Civil War.

The guys loved it especially all of the 2mm ammo.

Panoramic Pics...

Thanks to Jon Plank, I realized another capability of my Samsung Flipshot.

A friend stopped by...

John Rausch, one of our old timer neighbors stopped by to catch me up on the neighborhood this evening. News, weather, chiropractors, tractors, history, Orsen Wells's War of the World, planting oats, liquid fertilizer, getting tractors stuck, man landing on the moon, hunting, moose, elk, Jeff's new tractor and new backhoe, 80 lb hail stones, prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar, Alzheimer's, Russian winters affect on Hitlers assault, more germans died from frezzing than were shot, Siberia, Japan, WWII, Dictators, Right to bear arms, Himler, Stalin, Bin Ladin, Jews, Steelers, Russian Jews, German Jew, Poor Jews, Rich Jews, Penguins, dying of wounds in the civil war, body height shrinkage, Tom Mooney, fall scenery, leaves, siblings, Case tractor dealership on route 322 and route 6, Ray Anthony farmer south Meadville...

My Cup Bearer

If Kenton had been born long ago he would have made a great cup bearer for a king. The reason? Well he always takes a sip to make sure it tastes good like all cup bearer do. It is funny when you can tell he has taken a sip and it was just a little to hot for him. Look closely in this pic and you will notice he had just taken a sip of a "too hot" cup of Choffee. He brings them to me at all hours of the day or night. Most of the time he and make faces at each other when he pops in. The last time he caught me with a crazy face and I fear it will be posted on his blog.

I-79 Meadville Interchange

For about 40 years these bridges have done their job. Now they are getting an overhaul. Dad helped pour concrete on the northern side of the bridges when they were going in. He has a neat story about getting his job doing it. He was at the job office and out of a room of about a dozen guys he was the smallest, but he was also the only on that knew his Social Security number. He got the job.

A Hat for My Dad

The hat says it all.

Since he borrowed my chainsaw the other day....

PS. I love you Dad!! :)