Saved, Sitting and Sour

Sunday Helen and I attended worship at our RV park clubhouse, led by a truly country Baptist preacher. He did well. Gramma, etc, was interesting, but his message was good. Made me think. Funny part of his message: he said there are three kinds of people in most churches...those who are saved, those who are sitting and those who are sour! Yes, I've known many like that. We had a good time in 'church', singing patriotic songs (many of which my politically corrent colleagues think inappropriate for 'Presbyterian' worship.) Hope you have had a blessed Memorial Day weekend. Larry

A Guy Named 'Ron' & Great Party

Saturday Helen and I had to waste some hours before going to a graduation party. So, it seemed logical to visit the Outlet Mall on GA 400 above Cumming, GA. While Helen was scoping out a shop of women's wear, I sat down on a bench next to black guy named Ron and we began talking. (I try to strike up conversations with people whenever it seems appropriate...and when it's not.) He asked where I was from and when I said, "Texas", he asked what I was doing in GA. I related our RV trails and tales of the last two years (25,000 miles). We talked for 15 minutes before Ron asked what I 'retired from'. When I said I was a pastor for 45 years, he lit up and exclaimed, "I gave my life to Christ two years ago!" He told of his life in drugs and wild women until a friend invited him to church where he said he sat with his arms folded until God, in his words,'woke me up'. He talked about not realizing what a great woman he had married, about not appreciating God's gifts to him, about his eagerness to worship the God who loved him in spite of his past life. Now, he said, he can't do enough to thank God. When Helen came out of the shop and met Ron, we talked about RVing and his and his wife's desire to do what we are doing across the country. We gave him some counsel about selecting an RV, how to begin to get ready to travel even though it will be some years before they do so. It was a delightful conversation. As we parted, Ron said, "Now I know why God told me to sit down on this bench." I might say the same thing. Ron was a blessing on Saturday.

Then, Saturday evening, we enjoyed a great party at our friends' home to celebrate Jackie's graduation. During the evening I had an interesting conversation with Leeman Bennett, former Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He has a friend in the Boise, ID area I will look up when we're back west. Small world, big contacts.

THANK YOU PARDNERS!

THANK YOU PARDNERS! From ‘The All-American Cowboy Grill” 5/21/10
-- from Helen

“THE LONE RANGER CREED”

I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.
That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.
That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.
In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.
That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.
That “this government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” shall live always.
That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
That sooner or later…somewhere…somehow…we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.
That all things change but the TRUTH, and the TRUTH alone lives on forever.
I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellowman.

“HOPALONG CASSIDY’S CREED For American Boys and Girls”

The highest badge of honor a person can wear is honesty. Be truthful at all times.
Your parents are the best friends you have. Listen to them and obey their instructions.
If you want to be respected, you must respect others. Show good manners in every way.
Only through hard work and study can you succeed. Don’t be lazy.
Your good deeds always come to light. So don’t boast or be a show-off.
If you waste time or money today, you will regret it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways.
Many animals are good and loyal companions. Be friendly and kind to them.
A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be neat and clean.
Our country’s laws are made for your protection. Observe them carefully.
Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate than you.
Be glad and proud you are an American.

“ROY ROGER’S RIDERS CLUB RULES”

Be neat and clean.
Be courteous and polite.
Always obey your parents.
Protect the weak and help them.
Be brave, but never take chances.
Study hard, and learn all you can.
Be kind to animals and care for them.
Eat all your food and never waste any.
Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.
Always respect our flag, and country.

BIRD'S OF A FEATHER STICK TOGETHER!

Reading the ESCAPEES Magazine this month led me to this new post. Many have asked us "What is it like to live on the road?" If you are a member of "Escapees" RV club you would realize how many friends and connections we have with us as we travel. You can go to ESCAPEES.com, read all about us and even JOIN!

Here are the different groups of interests now listed in the Escapees Magazine this month:

Alternative Medicine, Lazy Daze (Class C Motorhomes),

Radio Amateur, Medium Duty Trucks,

Barbershop Harmony, Military Veterans,

Bikes, Boots N'Paddles, No Limits (physical limitations),

Boomers, Nomads(Ministry of the United Methodist),

Boondockers(dry-camping lifestyle), Penwheels (assists writers),

Buff (self explanatory), Pet Lovers,

Christian Fellowship, Prospecting and Metal Detecting,

Computers, Quilt Lovers,

Disney Lovers (Friends of the Mouse), Red Hats on the Road,

Dove (works closely with the Red Cross),Rockskippers,

Dows(diabetics on wheels), Silver Bullet Skps (Airstream RV'ers),

Escapees Elk, SOLOS (singles),

Four-Wheelers, Sowers (servants on wheels),

Freethinkers(all who reject supernatural beliefs), Square Dancing,

Friends of Bill W., Stonewall (gays and lesbians),

Full-Time Graduating Class, TLC Sharing (Catholic group),

Genealogy, Traveling Threads (cross-stitchers),

Geocache, Woodcarvers,

Habitat for Humanity, Workers(work-camping, for pay or volunteer),

and Worldwide Travelers.


Pot luck party at Waggonhammer RV Park, North Fork, Idaho on the Salmon River!
Good friends.

A very diverse group and full of information. You can ask for help with any problem on the Escapees chat forum and you will receive an answer almost immediately. There are Escapees parks and one Escapee park with assisted living facilities. Only Escapees can park in the Escapee parks and it is at a much reduced rate. They also provide a mail service and much good information in their monthly magazine. Caravans are listed plus the Escapade events. We feel very much connected in our Escapees club. When you meet a "SKP" you always give and get a hug! You do not have to be a full time RV'er to be an Escapee.

There is a place for you in the Escapees too!!

Have a blessed May 11, 2010

Helen

"YOU CAN'T GO BACK AGAIN!"

You know the old saying "You can't go back! It will not be the same!" is very true.

This past month of April, Larry and I parked in Cumming, Georgia, and revisited many of our old haunts and friends. He was invited back to preach at the church that we organized and parented for 15 years. It was great to see old friends and see all of the grown up children - many of whom he baptized. The services that morning of April 18th were packed with old and new friends. It was wonderful to be back and very strange. No! "You can't go home again." Many changes have taken place which is what happens as time passes. However, there were some changes that shocked us and made us wonder "How good a job did we do of teaching and mentoring?" It has been a chaotic few years for this church family and they are still searching for strong leadership. We know God will provide in his time and season. Meanwhile, we pray for all of them.

We spent the other Sundays of the month attending services with our new friends at Parkway Presbyterian Church on Bethelview Road in Cumming which was just around the corner from our RV park. We found some of our old friends from COH there also. The pastor Bill Ford and his wife Teresa are full of energy, passion for Jesus and seem like "Happy" people. The church feels like a "Happy" church. Bill has been there about 18 months. We first discovered this church a year ago Easter when we returned to visit my ageing Mom. Besides parenting and leading a bouncing, growing church Bill and Teresa have five children which she homeschools. We look forward to visiting there in the future.

Today we are parked in an RV park in Cleveland, Georgia, just 5 miles south of Helen, Georgia. This retreat to the mountains has given us a chance to re-group and rest. We loved seeing everyone "in town" again but after many, many miles of traveling the backroads (where there is NO traffic) and communing with the cactus, we were wearing out. Actually, after noon and night partying solid for three weeks we were "POOPED" and not entirely coherent anymore.

But, we slept for about 48 hours and then grabbed our flyrods and went traveling up the "HOOCH" (Chatthoochee River) until we found it narrow enough to wade across and running crystal clear mountain water!! Heaven!! Soaking in the mountain laurel and watching the crystal clear mountain stream bubbling over rocks and feeling the deep forest breezes - WE BECAME RENEWED. I caught the first fish! Here's Larry in mid-stream:How, blessed we are!

Life is not all a bowl of cherries. We had hoped to see more of our grandchildren that we helped to raise and who live here. This has not been possible for family choices and reasons. However, we know they will grow into adulthood soon and our paths will meet more often. We will attend our oldest grandaughter Erica's graduation on May 29th and applaud her full four year scholarship to Virginia Tech. God will give her the knowledge that we love her and her brother the same as always when we nurtured them thru the chaos of their younger years. I know that God gave us the church to build and the lives of these precious babies at the same time for love and care. The ties will never be broken no matter how far apart we are. Aaron was the first baby baptized at The Church of the Hills. Larry's last duty here will be to baptize the baby son of Leslie Horne whom he baptized at First Presbyterian in Savannah and married at The Church of the Hills. It will be completing the family circle. He will baptize this baby on Sunday, May 16th at the 9:45 am service.

We look forward to more special times with other old friends here. Larry is going to play some golf in Alabama with one of his two golf buddy groups. We are attending the graduation of another daughter of COH on May 22nd. Her family were strong supporters during the formative years of COH. We will applaud beautiful Jackie Burleson as she moves on into college at Georgia Tech.

Life is good on the RV trail. We move on to Michigan where I have such deep roots and we will bury Mom on July 20th. All or most of the family will be there. Larry will conduct the graveside service.

Then we move WEST to Idaho. Idaho golfing and fishing buddies have been calling. You might say it is "The Call of the Wild"! Westward Ho! The west has become home for us too! And, we will be with "our girls in Idaho!"

God is in control. We pray for all our children daily everywhere. We miss those that are miles away and love being with those who are near. One day, we will all be together forever and there will be no goodbyes! And, I am beginning to believe that Heaven will have a distinctly western flavor! Bring your boots!!

Many, many blessings this Mother's Day!

Helen



Making it on www.jus.net

Young Adults Don't Worship...etc.

By Cathy Lynn Grossman / USA TODAY (copied by Larry from Presbyweb)

Most young adults today don't pray, don't worship and don't read the Bible, a survey by a Christian research firm shows.

If the trends continue, "the Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships," says Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources. In the group's survey of 1,200 18- to 29-year-olds, 72% say they're "really more spiritual than religious."

Among the 65% who call themselves Christian, "many are either mushy Christians or Christians in name only," Rainer says. "Most are just indifferent. The more precisely you try to measure their Christianity, the fewer you find committed to the faith."

"We have dumbed down what it means to be part of the church so much that it means almost nothing, even to people who already say they are part of the church," Rainer says.

Passion to Action story

Recently I wrote briefly about a couple in Alpharetta, GA that went on a mission trip to Kenya, Africa, returned home, sold their awesome home, bought a motorcoach and are now traveling the country to seek to inspire others to missions. Here is a photo of the family, an except from their blog and their website posted at the end.

"Our journey began the summer of 2007 when we went on a life-changing mission trip to Kenya, Africa.

While in Africa, we had many conversations with our country host, Paul Omondi, who grew up in the slums of Nairobi. He described the heart wrenching challenges he faced growing up in that environment and how he saw many of his friends pay for their wrong choices with their lives. He described how some of his friends were burned or stoned to death. He told us that what kept him alive in the slums was that he had a dream to one day be the President of Kenya. He spoke of how God places a dream in all of us. What was our dream? We knew it was buried deep in our hearts, but we were too busy pursuing the “American” dream to even acknowledge it. The 5 of us (Noah, being to young to participate, stayed in Atlanta with friends) served for 10 days in Kiu, a small community outside of Nairobi, Africa. We went there to serve and bless others, but we received much more than we gave. The people of Africa changed our lives forever. Until you see them face to face, their lives are only an image on a TV screen … looking very surreal. When you hug them, talk with them, see their living conditions and pray with them, it touches your heart in a way that is indescribable. They are the most generous, joyful people we have ever met. They are clearly poor and in desperate need of so much, yet they have a richness that many Americans will never experience. Their faces and our time together will forever be etched in our hearts.

Coming home to the U.S. was difficult as we experienced a myriad of emotions. How could we have so much and yet be so discontent? We were thankful for how blessed we were, yet at the same time wondered if all that we owned added to our life, or actually stole life from us? As we allowed these questions to surface and answered them honestly, we began to pray about what to do. As a family, we wept, prayed and searched God’s Word. We needed answers and direction. We discussed our dream of traveling the country full-time. We no longer wanted to wait for “some day”, nor did we want to just travel for site seeing, adventure, or home school reasons. We knew that this mission needed to have a purpose and that it was bigger than us. Initially, we felt a little crazy. We researched, prayed, questioned and wondered. We also wrestled with the fear of the unknown and the fear of failure. Through it all, we finally came to the conclusion this was in fact what we felt God was leading us to do.

In November 2007, we put our home on the market. We waited five agonizing months and during that time we were able to detach ourselves from our home and purge our hearts of materialism.

In March 2008, we sold our home. Two weeks before we moved, God provided the perfect used RV for our family and the owner offered to drive it to our home in Atlanta all the way from Las Vegas, NV. Through this and several other events we saw specifically how God was capable of meeting all of our needs.

On April 18, 2008 the house was sold, the RV was packed and we hit the road. Although we left behind many wonderful friendships, we knew beyond a doubt that we were following what God had put so heavily on our hearts."


THEIR WEB SITE, FULL ON INFO, IS: www.passiontoaction.org