Sabbatical - Day 3 - "where did THAT branch come from"

So, as promised, more pic's. Why don't I start with say, this one

For anyone who's been to our house, when you look out the front door, you don't normally see this huge branch hanging in the middle of the lawn. Well, somewhere while we were at Regent, my guess is that some very HEAVY squirrels decided to hang out on this branch, and hey, it broke off, right here

and is sitting neatly in the 'Y' part of this other branch, so now I have to figure out how to get up there and disconnect it from the tree, and dispose of. That should be fun!

Here's me at class, drinking what looks like to be a VERY large latte...either I have a very small head, or this is a Big Gulp version of a latte.

Anyway - my view from here is from the back of the class. Somehow, over the years, I think I've always sat at the back of the class. Here's my view

Nice size room. Now, on to the latte's. Ok, these aren't bad, but the one I really wanted to take a pic of, well, that guy wasn't on again today. How could it be better than this...


well, they just are, and when I get the pic's, you'll see why. This design came from struzelling some chococlate liquid stuff from a plastic squirt bottle, followed by another contraption that dumped a chocolate power star. This other guy creates art just by pouring the milk in. Hopefully tomorrow.

Class was awesome again today - so much to take in...now I just need to carve out some time to absorb it all.

It was a good day (except maybe for the branch creating an extra unplanned work project). I feel very blessed. God is good.

Sabbatical - Day 2

Sorry, no pic's today. Today was a little more relaxed than yesterday - just the one class, and not too many other things on the agenda for the day. That may be one of the biggest challenges, slowing the pace of life down. One gets use to operating at a particular pace, and so what is "natural" is to keep operating at that pace, even when you're attempting to slow down.

Class was great today, and I will share one thought - probably the most challenging. In John, when Jesus washes his disciples feet, he then says that just as he washes their feet, they are to wash each others feet. As it was pointed out, he didn't say, as I wash your feet, so you should wash mine - as that would be easy, we'd love to wash his feet...look at all he's done for us...we'd love to express our gratitude to him by washing HIS feet - but we are to wash each other's feet.

He then quoted an author (don't remember the name - I can only type so fast) who put it this way:

"our neighbor is the appointed agent authorized to receive what I owe the master".

He then read it again, many times, but changing the second word...our spouse is...our children are...my boss is...my co-worker is...that person I don't like is...

If Christ were here, we'd love to lavish our love on him, do whatever we could to express our love and devotion to him...but he isn't here...therefore he says "wash each others feet" ...and "love one another, as I have loved you".

Lots to chew on! Pics tomorrow, I promise.

Sabbatical - Day 1

Day 1 Part B

So, this is where Connie and I get to hang out for the next two weeks! Actually, we've been there 1 week already, and having an awesome time.

Being taught by this man

on the book of John, while drinking one of these each every day

I just found out that that one large latte (mine on the right) is the equivalent of 3 8oz cups of regular coffee!! Now they tell me.

Brief story as to why we're taking this class - when we first lived in LA when we were in missions, we started going to this church where a man named Darrell Johnson was the preacher. We fell in love with his teachings and stayed there till our missions org started their own church. (Leaving his teachings I would consider one of our sacrifices of being in missions) Anyway, he moved to a number of places in the world, and currently is teaching at Regent - so when I saw he had a summer class, it didn't really matter to me what he was teaching, I just knew it would be worth it to hear him again.

We've been there one week already, and I've never been so inspired by the book of John as I am now.

Connie and I are taking the classes together which is great cause at our age, we'll need each other to remember all the good stuff. Once I have time to absorb it a little more - hopefully I might share some of those thoughts.

To wrap up day 1 - it was an awesome day! Class in the middle of the day, and then another 'free' lecture in the evening (also by Darrell), with friends (Matt & Cristina & Aaralyn) followed by frappachino's at you know where. I consider myself very blessed!

Tomorrow I hope to be getting pic's of the guy who makes our latte's - he's very good (I would say a Latte artist! You'll see what I mean when you see the pic's. He wasn't there today, and it was proven, not all latte's are created equal :(

Day 1 Part A
Ok, having been chastized by my own child on the lack of regular postings, I am now going to be posting at least once a day, for the next month for sure. My original material was actually just a way to set this up and test it SO that when I began my sabbatical, I could start this daily routine of reflecting about this whole "sabbatical" experience, never having actually been on one before.

This of course is not the post, but sort of a 'pre' post. I plan to do most of my post writings at the end of each as a way to reflect back - so, more to come tonight. This is just to say, this post will now be more about this 'sabbatical' journey, than about my dog, though I'm sure she will continue to get some air time & pic's here...so back later at the end of the eve.