tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-244929592011-09-21T08:50:03.436-04:00A log of my personal flap and some of the stuff Jesus puts on my heart.samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.comBlogger2191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-91670740710388708912011-04-27T13:46:00.001-04:002011-04-27T13:48:18.941-04:00

From Drop Box

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-17467660804200460532010-12-24T11:39:00.004-05:002010-12-24T11:56:33.943-05:00

Last night I was talking to a person about cross-country skiing. I mentioned something about 'boots' and this person said, "they're shoes". I said "I know they are somewhat like shoes and less like boots but they are referred to as 'boots' in the sport and in the catalogs and by most enthusiasts." The person said, "Hm, I've always called them shoes" and continued to refer to them as shoes the

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-87385307741365047522010-08-02T20:22:00.003-04:002010-08-02T20:39:48.023-04:00

I promised a friend that I'd post the absolute best pickle recipe we've tried yet. So here it is. I love dill pickles but I hate soft ones. They gotta have CRUNCH! This is the only recipe that we've tried in over 10 years of trying recipes that gives the desired crunch and has all the garlic and dill flavor we like.8# 3"-4" long pickling cucumbers4 cups white vinegar12 cups water2/3 cup

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-24058553927491401452009-12-16T08:21:00.002-05:002009-12-16T08:23:29.324-05:00

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-35727729148614355412009-09-29T09:03:00.001-04:002009-09-29T09:03:29.965-04:00

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/28/secret_service_probing_faceboo.html?hpid=moreheadlines Posted via email from In Advance Mode

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-77349815932553262752009-09-26T22:12:00.001-04:002009-09-26T22:12:45.817-04:00

will my whole social network be controlled by a text to POSTEROUS? Posted via email from Sam's posterous

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-54247416341189493702009-09-03T08:04:00.002-04:002009-09-03T08:52:07.209-04:00

All week I've been running around like a (insert favorite colloquialism here) and today I'm just not going to do it. I'm going to make every attempt to clean my desk, organize my activities, and enjoy the work that I do. I may have to speed up my body but I've had my mind racing enough all week to warrant some thoughtfulness, a little cogitation together with my action. For instance, typically

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-74444607592812234732009-04-23T14:27:00.003-04:002009-09-01T16:30:42.817-04:00

I never have been as busy as I am right now. God give me energy, all of it. I don't mean just the kind you get from calories being used up but the kind that flows from every fiber of your being. I can remember waking up in a sleeping bag next to a tamarack swamp and feeling the sunshine pouring through the side of the tent as it burned away the cold of dawn. Thats the kind of energy I'm

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-84628048972220841272009-01-21T10:14:00.002-05:002009-01-21T10:26:22.572-05:00

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-1612431151638664472009-01-16T09:11:00.001-05:002009-01-16T09:28:04.345-05:00

Since reading "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis I've had the feeling that the mythological fire and brimstone image of hell is not the last word on the subject. In a sermon to his congregation on Jan. 4, 2009 Greg Boyd unleashes a scholarly study of the Bible on this subject. Surely if a person is pre-destined to believe that St. Thomas Aquinas had the last word on the subject you will not

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-25305833493423830482008-11-27T21:46:00.004-05:002008-11-27T22:10:31.183-05:00

But here goes....I'm Thankful....simply because I'm able to be, that my heart is formed such that I can find something, someone, or some memory in this day of twenty thousand-some-odd breaths of air (of which every one I'm thankful for) to look upon with grateful eyes, a peace of mind, and say that- that right there is worthy of my thanks.peace and thanks for you -

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-84483629603229892122008-11-10T21:35:00.004-05:002008-11-12T12:06:25.811-05:00

Bulletin boards, email, chat rooms, instant messenger, myspace, facebook, twitter, google calendar, etc. I am a social networking addict. I began in 1998 in chat rooms talking about competition coon hunting, daschunds, gardening, Y2K, etc. It was novel and it was fun and it seemed you could soon discover nuances in the personalities of people that brought a level of intimacy that merely

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-55639914017522752442008-11-07T13:32:00.006-05:002008-11-07T14:10:48.239-05:00

The Poem of Leo Leafbudding treeblooming greensilky, airyjoyful gleespringgrowing, feedingshading, breathingbugs feed on mesummercolor changingyellow, red, orangefrosty, cold and wetwind drives a herdacross the lawnand men blow you into pilesautumncrunch, shatter, organic matterdead pumpkin smellyou're all brown and fallen downno more story to tellwinteror is there.....?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-65641350669994396712008-10-23T17:28:00.002-04:002008-10-23T17:34:11.146-04:00

I think we're getting one and something tells me it won't work with my paypal account or American Express. Don't the names of those companies just seem prophetic at this point? It would be ironic if it were the least bit funny.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-33414979038913204232008-10-09T16:28:00.003-04:002008-10-09T16:57:36.497-04:00

My good friend and pastor Andy Croel posted a halloween poll that I urge you to vote on. While you're there check out Andy's blog and download his messages. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-19884518921235387472008-10-07T11:34:00.007-04:002008-10-09T16:33:23.273-04:00

When I was a little boy and lived in the sticks in Northern Michigan my mother would put us 4 or 5 kids in the car and drive us all over the community trick-or-treating. I remember her often coming to the door with us and pulling at her polyester stretch pants to get her to stop chit-chatting and move on to the next house, which might have been a 1/4 mile or a 1/2 mile or even a mile down the

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-65572536923507119762008-09-17T12:48:00.002-04:002008-09-17T12:57:33.349-04:00

I just got done listening to Greg Boyd preaching on worship (I listen while I dig holes in the road with a pick). He taught and then they had a prolonged worship with communion tables set up. He made the invite to everyone and followed by saying they had open communion, "Jesus never did background checks and neither do we". So when I got back to the office I talked about this with Dave and we

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-55194151224240296362008-09-11T23:28:00.003-04:002008-09-11T23:40:30.926-04:00

I believe, help me in my unbelief...Five-year-old Michael was in the park with his dad. "Daddy why is all that money in that pond?" Daddy explained as he gave Michael a quarter, "you make a wish and throw your coin in the pond and don't tell anyone what you wished for and it might come true." So Michael hesitated for a moment, gave the quarter a good toss into the water and they went about their

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-90386276932632285962008-09-11T21:52:00.002-04:002008-09-11T22:38:31.664-04:00

This is for my friends Janet Clark, Leslie, MJ Soldano, and Sherrie Miller. They taught me not to underestimate bread."Truly, truly, I must say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-53946867004653529412008-09-05T12:44:00.002-04:002008-09-05T13:10:11.981-04:00

I was lying between my twin boys a couple of nights ago and we were in one of our great theological discussions of where we find God. We had named so many places and the lateness of the day was sweeping us dreamily into that place between wakefulness and slumber when Bubba drowsily said "Dad, I know where heaven is, I can see it". "Really? What's it look like Bub?", I mumbled back to him, now

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-21874345219015501332008-08-28T14:23:00.002-04:002008-08-28T14:26:59.085-04:00

just curious...what is the good news as you know it?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-37872485164324992042008-08-28T10:44:00.006-04:002008-10-24T08:12:47.630-04:00

For over a year and a half I have not really claimed any affiliation with any church (small 'c') although I remain on the roll at a local United Methodist church. My reasoning behind this was that it didn't make sense. The Bible says that our struggle is against the powers and principalities yet in the common church model there is a striving toward these same powers and principalities in the

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-87996921239463712452008-08-14T13:24:00.003-04:002008-08-14T13:32:10.830-04:00

I was reading through some of my old stuff and since we're going to be butchering chickens soon (see, not processing, butchering, and its ugly and terrible but there is no other way, none, to get chicken on a plate).I’m really stoked about what God might be doing. I don’t know how chickens play in that but I’ve been confronted with chicken messages 3 times in 10 hours so I know there has to be

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-13139311419795368232008-08-12T16:32:00.003-04:002008-08-12T16:55:02.821-04:00

For weeks I've been resolved and NOW standing here bent over these pickles, yards from the back door of HIS house, feet caked in mud, ankles, hands, and forearms itching, back aching, green slime tatooed up to my wrists, loathing the day I met him and you whisper "How can you love him?". Well I'll tell you what the hell it isn't! It isn't butchering his half of the chickens! It isn't feeding that

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-73376416112369402592008-08-10T22:53:00.002-04:002008-08-10T23:24:11.353-04:00

11 years and it seems like about half that. Today was our anniversary! I woke up to prickled flesh snuggling away from the 50 degree Michigan morning pouring through our open window. Lazily I reached behind me and felt every reachable inch of my beloved wife before a child's size 10 1/2 foot wiggled away from my touch. Ahhh another spooky dream of Calvin's. He's going through a stage but

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-84415767611254634842008-08-07T12:30:00.003-04:002008-08-07T12:56:40.592-04:00

I long thought that the words above were the assurance of Christ's victory over a sinful world and yes the evil will get what's coming to them! Drinking from the spring of Grace and the fount of Mercy changes these words for me. The "other" doesn't seem so "other", my enemies remind me of myself, beauty found in wrinkles and age spots, richness found in a hobo's cabin - barest of necessities

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-64515597423028575692008-07-21T12:50:00.004-04:002008-12-12T02:33:16.541-05:00

Here is a photo of our thriving garden. This is a year of plenty for those with dirt under their fingernails and in their shoes. The weather has been perfect for gardening and farming. We have teamed up with the Havens' on their 2 acres to grow all of our beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, greens, pickling pickles, sweet corn, and also fresh lettuce, carrots, peas, squash, etc. We've named it "

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-91598823424176264972008-07-14T23:16:00.002-04:002008-07-14T23:20:40.576-04:00

I went to a funeral today. Yes, it was sad, of course it was sad. The saddest part was when the focus went off what this child of God had spent her entire illness, 17 years, trying to teach people, that it is not about the struggle, its about the triumph. She died. She died with less limbs(both legs, an arm, and some fingers were taken), sores over much of her body(never healing but compounding

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-63441346715249430682008-07-08T20:21:00.005-04:002008-12-12T02:33:16.902-05:00

For about a month now I've been riding a little Chinese 49 cc moped to work. It is 28.5 miles one way and it takes me about 47 minutes to drive in to work and anywhere from 53 minutes to an hour and five minutes (prevailing wind in my face) to get home. It used to take me about 35 minutes each way. I really enjoy that little moped. I wanted to get a motorcycle but as many fathers will understand,

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-4588508620106734902008-07-05T22:39:00.004-04:002008-12-12T02:33:17.075-05:00

My eyes are dry and my heart is broken. I am crying out to humanity in this little village, no burg, that I have been placed in. There are five freaking churches and two or three benevolent societies here! I can't get a volunteer to give 3 hours every two months to just show up and be there for a small group of teens to let them know that there is someone in town that feels they have value. I've

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-30654760868225691012008-07-02T14:02:00.001-04:002008-07-02T14:03:53.955-04:00

Michigan governor outlines ways to save money - NewsFlash - mlive.comGov. Jennifer Granholm is riding her bike to work a couple of times a week,an example of a way she says Michigan consumers can save money.The 49-year-old governor lives just southwest of the city center, about 3 miles fromher office near the state Capitol. She rode her bike to work Wednesday,accompanied by her security detail.I

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-24050170201685981842008-07-01T12:15:00.006-04:002008-12-12T02:33:17.371-05:00

Pride can paint one in a corner. We say to ourselves, "I am this" and proceed to form our lives around being that, even when that starts looking like a burden we are not fashioned for, equipped for, or impassioned with. If everything goes according to plan we can look back and think ourselves 'very fine indeed' for having achieved just what we'd set out to achieve and forget that for us to

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-11385307727168803832008-06-26T13:16:00.002-04:002008-06-26T13:19:13.563-04:00

GOD BEING GLORIFIED

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-36486978351745339632008-06-11T23:37:00.002-04:002008-06-12T00:02:09.525-04:00

I worked until 9:30 p.m. tonight, alone. Its physically more demanding to try to do a land survey alone but it gives me alot of time to think and tonight what and who was on my mind doesn't matter as much as the concept that I was mulling over. It was really more like a song...or a prayer or, some otherness that I can't quite describe. Anyway, we postmodern followers of Jesus Christ cringe when

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-45345592049460135762008-06-05T14:18:00.003-04:002008-06-05T14:26:36.453-04:00

I can't think of anything more like redemption than my ex-wife coming to the house to teach my wife how to make the best apple pie in the world! Alot of water under the bridge but one thing you cannot take away from my ex-wife is her apple pie! She made me one to thank me for something, my wife had a piece and invited her over to teach her her secrets. In exchange, my wife the coupon queen,

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-38316619428592348902008-05-18T01:13:00.002-04:002008-05-18T01:42:05.725-04:00

I'm sick. I'm setting up with a cup of honey and ginseng tea with about a 1/3 cup of brown liquor topped off with hot water and trying to get rid of this nagging cough so I can get to sleep. Busy day today (actually yesterday). I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. and hit the snooze until 7:00, mixing prayer in with light sleep and birdsong in through the open window. Someone convince me it wasn't

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-46205010852402733462008-05-14T14:23:00.004-04:002008-12-12T02:33:17.693-05:00

I had a chance to do a read on Mel Lawrenz's "I Want To Believe". I found it a satisfying personal apologetic loaded with insite. Lawrenz does a quick synopsis of world religions and a serious critique on Western Christendom. His anecdotes are humorous and thought-provoking. I'd recommend this to all of you out there that have found yourself sitting in church and all of a sudden think, "How

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-914273780252284052008-04-05T16:45:00.003-04:002008-04-05T17:35:23.187-04:00

I left around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night, after finishing the last batch of venison jerky, packing 3 times too much gear, and kissing my wife and kids goodbye. I was off for three, maybe five, days of non-stop fun. It was a welcome respite after the day I'd had. Dave and I rushed through a topographic survey on the Maple River, in spite of a bitchy German Shepherd that would lay around for ten

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-21823046167252478932008-03-21T23:14:00.002-04:002008-03-21T23:37:33.112-04:00

Read the post I've linked the title of this blog. It is a nice perspective.Blain Butler, if there is one regret that I will have of my life it is that I never stopped and told you I appreciated the deliberate exhuberance that you showed when you waved to me as I passed you on the street. I can't do that now. You fell victim of the destroyer, the self-loathing that many of us develop quietly,

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-41555646461800627692008-03-07T17:37:00.002-05:002008-03-07T17:52:01.601-05:00

I listened to Richard Daukins (intentionally misspelled) this afternoon on NPR. Its a weakness to imagine that there is meaning to life. Why then does he bother to write books and go on radio? Its meaningless and a waste of his time. I think there is a little truth inside of every lie. Especially after I listened to him speak about the universe as if it is creating itself.I don't know if I

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-65903150592226780552008-03-05T12:37:00.002-05:002008-03-05T12:51:57.948-05:00

I don't know why he did it but Jesse took his own life last night. He was a gang-banger from Lansing, did 6 years for manslaughter starting at 18 yrs. old. He started following Christ while he was inside. Worked on a roofing crew and did youth ministry when he got out. He was one of my best friend's nephews. He called my friend his mentor. I met him a couple years ago. He was a little guy,

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-21856449541952417712008-02-27T12:07:00.002-05:002008-02-27T15:05:05.086-05:00

I stood in the long wet grass in my bare feet beside my sister. I held the plastic knife in my fat little hand and looked into the deep blue sky. I can still smell the chemical residue of the huge green pipe my dad scrounged from the chemical plant, the dog shit, and the fresh spring breeze that insisted on putting itself on record in spite of the gloom we felt beneath the low but warm May sun.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-824618059118926342008-01-22T12:37:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:28:09.724-05:00

When my son left home to go to boarding school never to return to live with us again it was a depth of emotion and pain that I'm not sure I really have felt before. Last night a new chapter was written when my 16 yr. old daughter came into the room I was busily writing in and just stood there grinning. She asked me what I was writing and sat down and read some of it and somehow she turned the

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-72642363310143187992008-01-03T12:07:00.000-05:002008-01-03T12:28:01.620-05:00

Dr. Peter Jones of "Christian Witness to a Pagan Planet". Listen to him on itunes on the Resurgence Podcast with Gary Shavey.I know these guys are really trying but they are somehow getting it wrong. Putting a line between created and creator for the sake of mankind is like worshipping a painting of Jesus, no hands or feet. One of the reasons we are created in his image is because he uses us

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-77855865358045171752007-12-27T16:39:00.001-05:002008-12-12T02:33:17.914-05:00

Confession is for me, not them. Everyone else already knows my sin. They know yours too. Secrets are an illusion for those stuck on earth.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-51873143897405881502007-12-26T12:40:00.000-05:002007-12-27T16:35:08.024-05:00

My son came home to visit last night. We had a wonderful evening but he spent plenty of time on his phone talking and texting. About 2 months ago his girlfriend of 18 mos. called their relationship quits. They spent so much time together that for all intents and purposes they were married, joined at the soul, a couple. So after about a month of grief and sorrow and anger he went out with another

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-86432750192854916672007-11-21T15:33:00.000-05:002007-11-21T15:55:01.498-05:00

I went to the city council meeting last night. I love to watch the people as their mouths open and hear whether they are trying to protect something or just being themselves (pretty arrogant of me to think I can even tell the difference). A friend approached me before the meeting. He's on the council and also goes to the church I haven't been going to. I can't say that I 'left the church' because

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-85825993121717327492007-09-25T16:07:00.001-04:002007-09-25T16:31:23.967-04:00

I have the greatest job in the world but it doesn't give me enough time to write about it! People are so exquisitely interesting. Today I met four people. Each one of them true and real and alive, all filled with blood, mucus, sweat and tears pouring out of them depending on the activity. A war with pollen and mold brings mucus, a war with evil-tears, a war with flesh - blood, a war with the

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-43337591759268174712007-09-14T16:53:00.000-04:002007-09-14T17:31:21.745-04:00

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday. She was born in 1934. She died in 2001. I miss her. She gave great hugs (if you didn't know how she would teach you how to hug and she didn't go for any halfway hugs) and made the best oven-fried chicken. She had blue eyes. She had a round face and many many crows feet from her smile that rarely left her face. When they did she was disappointing. She was

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-27718758067259903272007-09-12T13:59:00.000-04:002007-09-12T14:03:09.650-04:00

To the residents of Carson City and all those without jobs in Mid-Michigan:The last lines of Wendell Berry’s poem “A History” reads “This place, that the great nation passed in its hundreds of hundreds, becomes again the place that they were searching for.”As I read I was reminded of our own fair city of Carson City. I thought of the farmers and families that had carved a life out of

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-80372117439239561882007-09-03T22:12:00.000-04:002008-12-12T02:33:18.343-05:00

Check out this waterfree urinal. I saw some at the camp and they are clean, not smelly, and use NO water! Since the camp is in the same town as Pepsi's Ice Mountain water plant that is good news to the world. You'll have your bottles full and none of that precious water will be used to wash away urine at the camp. I didn't realize that Ice Mountain was there but we've been enjoying that water for

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-39908367688932335642007-08-27T13:02:00.000-04:002007-08-27T13:11:43.780-04:00

A quote by C.S. Lewis I recently read in a biography by Beatrice Gormley read (from memory)"I find at 50 that much of me is still that 12 year old boy and I suspect that at 12 I already had much of the 50 year old in me".As I passed a newly mown alfalfa (hay) field and smelled the richness of the sweet hay raked in rows awaiting transportation to feed bunks or plastic ag-baggers I imagined the

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-67130822633769562842007-08-07T15:42:00.001-04:002007-08-07T15:44:59.640-04:00

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-46944393535381632562007-08-01T08:09:00.000-04:002008-12-12T02:33:18.392-05:00

Last night I was reading from a Bible story book about the Genesis account of creation to my 4 1/2 year old twins, Calvin and Coleman. Day 1, God creates light, Day 2 God creates the heavens and the earth, Day 3 God separates the land and the water and creates all plants, trees, and flowers, Day 4 God creates the Sun, moon and the stars. Bubba (Coleman) stops me at this point. "Daddy I have a

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-19403720095858329992007-07-31T17:27:00.000-04:002007-07-31T17:27:47.474-04:00

I have two distinct memories of Beverly Ann Smith. One was where I would find her in the early morning when I woke up with a hangover at my friend Baldie's house or when I came over very early to get her two sons Baldie and Doug (now with our Lord) to go fishing or hunting. Dear Mrs. Smith would be leaning over her sink, much of the time potatoes frying or just finished frying in a pan for

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-84056110605210074782007-07-06T16:20:00.000-04:002008-12-12T02:33:18.549-05:00

Mr. McKibben wrote "The End of Nature" in 1989 and several other books about us, our environment, our joy, and how we live. He gave a great talk to UCSB and eloquently stated what I've had on my heart and have been trying to teach my kids for some time now. I wish I'd written down some quotes but one statistic he used was how a poll that has been done since the 40's asking Americans simply "are

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-88431850561328150452007-07-03T15:10:00.000-04:002007-07-03T15:10:04.169-04:00

My heart is broken over this tragedy. The family and community will be in my prayers. Farmers need confined space education.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-59672308845607306552007-07-02T19:05:00.000-04:002007-07-02T20:04:46.203-04:00

Friday night I helped my son change his brake pads on his car. We ate together and talked about our changing hearts and how different we both are and about redemption. We did church.After he left a person that has not been all that kind to me from the church I used to attend stopped by. He is going through a rough spot with his ex-wife and wanted to talk. We spent three hours together talking

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-9579360972769737082007-06-28T15:00:00.000-04:002007-06-28T15:07:09.589-04:00

Please read the blog post that the title of this post links to.I don't think I'll bother thinking much about this when others are so much better at it than I.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-84740138096757315662007-06-27T15:42:00.000-04:002008-12-12T02:33:18.736-05:00

I'm thinking if Jesus were getting into the debate over Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) and environmentalists he'd be packing NRCS dollars to fund biogas production from waste products. Today there are less cows in my home state of Michigan than there were in the 1970's but the problem lies in the fact that most of the cows are now located on farms housing and feeding from 500 to

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-64263488920796750652007-06-26T16:25:00.000-04:002007-06-26T17:05:15.966-04:00

Dang, I thought that was a great movie. I so was Jess in the 7th grade. A kid named Howard and another named Jimmy used to smack the crap out of me. One sat behind me and one next to me in Michigan History Class. Old Mr. Mckinnon, blind in one eye and couldn't see out of the other, would leave the room and I was the entertainment for them. Dark haired, dark eyed Jackie Byrne, my first love,

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-4113328509452693972007-06-19T16:03:00.000-04:002007-06-19T16:37:18.575-04:00

First, impacting the world is first a “matter of the heart,” said GeoffTunnicliffe, international director of WEA, during the commencement ceremony onFriday for Olivet University in San Francisco.To illustrate his point, theevangelical leader used the story of the Good Samaritan who helped a man different than him. Tunnicliffe emphasized that the Samaritan came near to the man when others seeing

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-59387558503015047792007-06-19T13:37:00.000-04:002007-06-19T15:21:28.326-04:00

Yesterday I made the painful decision to fire a young guy that has been working with us for a year and a half. I've known this guy since he was 12 and love him like my own son. I don't know why he's been absent alot and late alot and he doesn't tell me anymore, not since his girlfriend dumped him, but out of concern for our small company and the welfare of the families that rely on our small

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-36480166760963909722007-06-15T08:20:00.000-04:002008-12-12T02:33:19.409-05:00

My 4 yr. old twin boys and I have a nightly ritual. I lay between them on their queen-sized bed and we discuss their day, hope and dream about the next day, pray, and hugs and kisses then I leave them in the dark to sleep. Last night they each prayed and then I prayed and asked God to "continue to teach us his way so we can be like him". Coleman spoke up as I ended the conversation, "I still

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-88687187698094236002007-06-13T11:09:00.000-04:002007-06-13T12:43:36.335-04:00

This weekend I'm going to visit our garden at my dad's home that we haven't been to in 3 weeks. We thoroughly weeded the garden then and for the most part it will still be quite clean with the exception of the parsnips. Parsnips take a long time to emerge while weeds and unwanted grasses are the first to emerge. The situation ends up being a perfect example of the Parable of the Weeds as found

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-62083940536125164572007-06-12T17:00:00.000-04:002007-06-12T17:45:05.655-04:00

I grew up in a tough area. Its mostly working-class construction, plumbing, electrician-type. In the 70's a planned nuclear plant was shut down and the rich economy of that area took a serious hit. It seemed that depression just took over and has been claiming lives there since. Its probably no worse than any other rust belt village but to me its home and it breaks my heart to see what is

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-17752561540104466382007-06-12T12:33:00.000-04:002007-06-12T12:33:39.832-04:00

Random Reflections - Greg BoydI don't know how I never found it before but this is the blog of one of my all-time favorite authors. I cannot recommend his books enough. Even if you don't agree with him it is obvious he is genuine in his love for Christ.Here is his podcastHere is a podcast he did at Mars Hill last month called "Christos Victor" and it is awesome.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-76426982790569936902007-06-06T15:39:00.000-04:002007-06-06T15:47:31.013-04:00

March 21, 2007 Mike Johanns announced the availability of $176.5 million in loan guarantees and $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses.The deadline for applications for the grants is May 18, the deadline for the loan app. or loan/grant app. is July 2.Thats a short time to come up with

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-50422509980602347472007-06-05T14:49:00.000-04:002007-06-05T15:44:55.278-04:00

A friend was listening to a talk I was giving on the Psalms and interrupted me with the question, "Do you consider yourself melancholy?". I appreciate questions like that. Yes, I am melancholy but not depressed. Besides, of all the studies in the Bible there is nothing so bipolar as the Psalms and if my facts are correct, there is far more laments than there are praise Psalms. Life has so

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-78362111823094095652007-06-04T17:51:00.000-04:002008-12-12T02:33:20.551-05:00

I stayed up too late, drove 635 miles in two days, ate too much, shed too many tears in the rainstorm that came at the end of my son's graduation from Military prep school and got to watch Doug Ewandell (sp?) of "Here's your sign" fame with my dad while we sat in our underwear and ate popcorn. Some relationships take an entire lifetime to appreciate. Thanks God for such a rich life! Now I've

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-65205562002607347772007-05-22T09:48:00.000-04:002007-05-22T09:48:23.073-04:00

I have not fully read through this entire site but it looks like a way that we might be able to 1. Add jobs to village economies 2. support sustainable development 3. reduce fossil fuel consumption.The engineer that is manufacturing these small oil mills is a student of Ghandi and has many pages devoted to his teachings. They sound remarkably like Jesus in many ways.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-66127990559151964892007-05-16T13:21:00.000-04:002007-05-16T13:27:18.808-04:00

I have two lovely daughters 15, and 16 and whether I support reproductive choice in women or not I believe Planned Parenthood needs to be dismantled if this is their modis operandi.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-10958066955984410232007-05-16T10:04:00.000-04:002007-05-16T10:04:59.349-04:00

From the story link above........McDonnell pointed to a case of a Christian being unjustly harmed by the blasphemy law. A Christian boy was sentenced to death for writing blasphemy on the wall of a mosque. However, the boy was completely illiterate but was accused by Muslim “witnesses” of the crime. Under international pressure the boy was released but the family had to flee the country for fear

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-27440882482567259892007-05-14T10:51:00.000-04:002007-05-14T11:03:39.738-04:00

I was studying this morning and finalizing a talk I have to give on study (DeColores) and I read Exodus 16. It spoke to me. A few different things:1. If we are grumbling against something we are grumbling against God.2. When we get hungry we grumble. 3. When we get hungry we tend to think of what we’ve already eaten before rather than wondering what God will have us eat next.4. God promises

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-60937481299207094122007-05-10T16:51:00.000-04:002007-05-10T17:33:27.944-04:00

All things will be made new. Last night I viewed a school spring concert through the eyes of Jesus for the first time. I've had kids in spring concerts for 8 yrs. so this is not my first go-around at bleacher bruises. The difference was phenomenal though. For the very first time I looked at the faces of the choir and rather than picking out their differences I discovered how very much the same

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-65729991233830370352007-04-30T07:29:00.000-04:002007-04-30T07:57:39.636-04:00

I've been dreaming photovoltaics. I've been watching ebay and hoping to buy a good used diesel car to convert to burn Greasel (used cooking oil). I've switched out totally to those curly flourescent bulbs, serviced my bicycle and started using it, filled in our pool, and have my kids trained in shutting off lights when not in use (monetary incentives built into what we save in electricity) but my

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-16747138995705696702007-04-23T16:40:00.000-04:002007-04-23T16:53:40.703-04:00

I'll post pics tomorrow but we had the most precious baby at our home Saturday night and part of the day Sunday. Her mom and aunt are friends of my daughter's. They have had a very rough childhood. The mom, Amber, just turned 17. Faith, her daughter is 8 mos. old. My daughter wanted to treat them (the sisters) to a movie so my wife took the three of them to a movie and when they got back we

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-66077525839361331982007-04-23T16:39:00.000-04:002007-04-23T16:39:34.308-04:00

Dancing with Consumerism Out of Ur Following God's Call in a New World Conversations hosted by the editors of Leadership journalThis is a good article and particularly compelling for me was the final paragraph-The way that I think about engaging it is…well, let’s look at how Jesus interacted with his culture. Jesus used three primary movements in every context. The first movement is towards.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-60694900263534665872007-04-19T16:31:00.000-04:002007-04-19T16:32:44.744-04:00

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-2255439100486004052007-04-19T15:49:00.000-04:002007-04-19T16:02:49.587-04:00

Yesterday I was listening to Bob Seger as I was out surveying and stooped to look into a storm sewer pipe. I was beside a busy highway and couldn't hear anything but 'Beautiful Loser" when my sound went dead. It was only out for a moment and blared again in my brain before ultimately dying again. I removed the buds from my ears and looked in my pocket to see if my battery had gone dead but there

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-14912404873139034902007-04-19T13:15:00.000-04:002007-04-19T14:55:27.206-04:00

If you haven't heard Greg Boyd preach you are missing one of the prophets of our age. Opening statement to this weeks sermon which kicks off a sermon series he's doing called "Beautiful Mess" (I don't know if he knew Rick McKinley had a series by that name or not but who cares, they are both advancing the Kingdom in their own context) is: "There is a new world order coming and its called the '

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-68345344093956968932007-04-16T09:20:00.000-04:002007-04-16T10:31:05.080-04:00

This morning I got up at 4:00 a.m. intending to make a long day's trip to Indiana but the guy that was going to accompany me called me and cancelled due to illness. I was found with an extra couple of hours to spend with Jesus while I curled up on the couch with my 4 yr. old son and I'll have to say it was edifying. I spent such an awesome day yesterday with my family that I was still bowing

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-17872033750790276302007-04-13T12:46:00.000-04:002007-04-13T12:47:36.942-04:00

The Dude Abides

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-2727288776513696672007-04-13T08:10:00.000-04:002007-04-13T09:07:32.632-04:00

I was thinking last night about how many times God has redeemed his people. I have alot to do today so I'll keep this short, but over and over in the Bible and in our modern story you see God sprouting life (fragile and sweet like a pea sprout through the frozen straws of garden litter) out of death: Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Jesus, Paul, the reformation, the Puritans, the 2nd Vatican Council

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-91367607740961696652007-04-12T11:09:00.000-04:002007-04-12T12:33:38.870-04:00

I was watching M*A*S*H last night with my 16 yr. old daughter. I don't watch much television but I do take every chance that avails itself to move into those intersections that seldom come for a father and his 16 yr. old daughter. In this case it was a scene where Hawkeye was scrubbed and about to operate on a Korean soldier when he noticed the guy hadn't been prepped correctly (his pants were

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-896065437902072682007-04-10T16:03:00.000-04:002007-04-10T16:41:51.723-04:00

I just finished "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels. I also got the chance yesterday to sit for an hour and chat with a new friend from Chicago (in Michigan on business) about his involvement at Willowcreek. I was pleased to hear all that he was involved in and he shared his heart openly of his passion for the poor and homeless in the windy city. This post isn't about Chicago, Bill Hybels,

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-17991625565659867702007-04-06T08:33:00.000-04:002007-04-06T09:09:35.280-04:00

My wife and I have been previewing "Intersect Faith and Culture" (The Christian Vision Project), a six week DVD study series on being a missionary in the U.S. (its a little more complicated than that but that is not what this post is about). There is alot of theology in support of moving out of the suburbs and/or rural areas and into the city and we really are yearning to do just that but we

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-46648059029939812262007-04-02T10:07:00.000-04:002007-04-02T10:15:00.792-04:00

I wonder what Jesus' tracts will look like when he gets them published?I wonder how the hungry will eat them.Maybe lepers can use them as bandages.I guess if you glued enough of them together you could give them to the naked.Prisoners could write notes to each other on them if he leaves enough space.TRACTS ARE NOT THE GOSPEL. Love in action is the gospel.Of course Jesus' blog wouldn't look much

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-58434815360704357222007-04-01T19:59:00.000-04:002007-04-01T20:00:39.773-04:00

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-54191433258403982142007-04-01T18:41:00.000-04:002007-04-01T19:44:01.916-04:00

I read the book. Then I went to the Woodland Hills Church website and listened to the sermon series that Boyd preached leading up to the writing of this book. Boyd offers much insite on the followers of Jesus in the 'blue states' and I have to admit he changed my way of thinking about the abortion debate. I have been leaning (falling actually) toward a different approach than signing petitions

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-72132947673110816182007-03-26T15:23:00.001-04:002007-03-26T15:23:47.604-04:00

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-75650831625848458292007-03-22T09:44:00.000-04:002007-03-22T09:57:04.005-04:00

What if we got rid of the word "they" and always used the word "we".

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-30293192787469550892007-03-22T09:36:00.000-04:002007-03-22T09:44:45.245-04:00

What if the word "trust" didn't mean an expectation of superhuman proportion and meant "lack of fear of losing what I can't keep on my own".

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-54690669513010317872007-03-21T12:28:00.000-04:002007-03-21T12:30:26.952-04:00

I realized this morning, in a "lightbulb-over-my-head" way, why my marriage is so great. We both set our expectations very small and often live up to them.

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-82861828196204174342007-03-21T08:16:00.000-04:002007-03-21T08:17:28.324-04:00

What if we didn't laugh about eating too much? Would more people have enough to eat?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-75286810249525232972007-03-21T08:14:00.000-04:002007-03-21T08:16:25.017-04:00

What if it were considered fashionable to live in mobile home parks and inner cities so we could live efficiently with low-impact on our open spaces that we use to grow food?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-56204345467123671472007-03-21T08:11:00.000-04:002007-03-21T08:14:36.775-04:00

The world considered 'giving away' rather than 'collecting' a hobby? What if there were television shows, periodicals, and books written about it?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-78041166818943784982007-03-21T08:08:00.000-04:002007-03-21T08:11:37.243-04:00

What if people that built houses larger than 2000 sq. ft. were not praised for being successful but ostracized for being selfish?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-17569247320962124532007-03-21T08:06:00.000-04:002007-03-21T08:08:21.343-04:00

What if it was considered swinish to own more than two pair of shoes? Couldn't we all own two pair of shoes?

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24492959.post-24258891653438354842007-03-19T22:45:00.000-04:002007-03-19T23:26:50.850-04:00

I thought I'd check the time and date of Shane Claiborne's visit to Mars Hill, Grandville, MI and found an an article in "In These Times" giving press to the Christian revolution or "insurgency" as Rob Bell of Mars Hill refers to it. I'm looking forward to dinner with an old friend and then catching Shane's talk entitled "Finding Your Own Calcutta".I teamed up with about a half-dozen other guys

samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01599662350929444847noreply@blogger.com2