Retired & Thinking

Found another one on YouTube. Forgot all about this song. Man I loved the Talbot Brothers, yeah, I know, I'm dating myself. Enjoy. Peace Alan

Presbytery of the Cascades voted overwhelmingly to dismiss Kenton Presbyterian Church, and it's pastor [yours truly] to the EPC. Now all we've got is the paper work and that is well in hand. We have a gracious God and I believe that Cascades did a very good job in showing it's grace and compassion in this process. There is another congregation, a much different situation, coming up tomorrow so we'll remain in prayer for our sisters and brothers in that process. Alan

Hat tip to Spyglass who shared a link to Jared Wilson's blog The Gospel-Driven Church . Click over and read these. He's putting 19 of 95 thesis for the Church. For those of you who do not know your history Martin Luther posted 95 thesis on the cathedral door in Wittenburg which pushed the Reformation to a new point. My take on these. There's something to make everyone wince. These hit home with me # 5, 8, 11, 14-19, 23-25, 32. He will write more tomorrow... Alan

It's been hard to get this post up due to HTML errors and not a clue as to what they meant.... Sunday Kenton took a major step toward it's new incarnation as an Evangelical Presbyterian Church. About 2/3rds of our active membership [46] stayed for a congregational vote on Session's recommendation to seek dismissal to the EPC. The vote was 44-2 in favor, so letters will be written this week to Presbytery conveying the official request and we will be on the docket for November's meeting. What I want to do is take this opportunity to thank two groups of people. First is the Presbytery's Resolution Team. They did a great job working with Kenton. Soon into the process they realized that what was best for us was to see us dismissed with grace. They continue to work toward being our advocates during the upcoming Presbytery meeting. They were scattered over a wide distance which made some face-to-face meetings hard but they got the work done. The second group is Kenton'...

My oldest boy and I were talking prior to the debate about the candidates and how one goes about deciding for whom to vote. At the time I was wasting time by playing Civilization Complete and the idea hit both of us that what we needed was to see the candidates in action. I propose two five to six hour sessions. The first would be on domestic policy and administration with the second to focus on world politics. The first would involve both candidates playing SimCity and the second Civilization Conquests. I understand that Obama, being younger would have a leg up on McCain, but then Palin would have more city experience that Biden. All in all I think it would even out. During the play time they would NOT be allowed to have handlers coaching them on their next play, build or move. They would NOT be allowed to use crib sheets or have a walk through guide with them. Like most of us they would have to muddle through and hope for the best. The play would be on personal computers of ...

I'm starting a series of sermons/worship with each of the New Wineskin's Essential Tenets as the topics. Now that won't do much more than raise a yawn from most people but I thought I'd share something I ran across today as I was googling around the old internet. It's an old post from a Portland pastor dealing with different viewpoints when it comes to theology. It's a bit long but read it, take some time and play a tune on a harmonica while coyotes yip in the fall air, you'll understand when you read the link. Here's to all of us who are writing like mad for Sunday. Alan

John Wayne went way up North in 1960 . I remember seeing the movie with my parents at the Rancho Drive-in which was down tank-farm hill in San Pablo. Well my bride and I are gone for seven days and then fellowship camp with Kenton. We'll miss you all. I'll post photos if I take time to get online, but have a good week. I know I'm going too. Alan