Marc’s Musings

Well, it finally happened. Not only a trip to the Emergency Room but also a bloody accident just before church.

We successfully avoided the ER for almost 7 years! (Except for my marinara sauce mishap in February!) But yesterday, about an hour before church, Cale was running around with a fabric “basket” on his head. (Don’t ask. I’m beginning to think testosterone makes us guys dumb.) He overshot the bathroom and ended up tumbling down the stairs. The blood on the side of his head was impressive.

After applying immediate care, Cale looked up at me and said in a small voice, “Dad, would you pray for me?” That just made my heart melt.

Fortunately we live close to Inland Hospital. The ER was amazing and Caleb was incredibly brave. They gave him staples, yep staples. I guess stitches are out of vogue. Who knew?

Renting a movie after church, Cale was asked about the bandaid on his head. He told the employee and said, “It’ll heal in 10 days but I’ve gotten prayed for three times so it’ll probably really be 8 or 9 days.”

Don’t you just love it? *grin*

I figure we got a two-fer. We can check the seemingly obligatory personal-family-emergency-just-before-church thing and the bloody-boyhood-head-injury off the list.  Those are done so we don’t have to repeat them.

Doesn’t that make sense?

Conversation with my almost 7 year old during today’s history lesson. We were talking about Benedict and abbeys and making connections with Redwall.

Caleb: I bet Methusaleh was really an abbot a long time before Father Abbot.
Me: I don’t think so. I think he was the oldest at Redwall but I don’t think he was ever Abbot.
Caleb: Why not?
Me: Well, not everyone wants to be in control. Some people are fine with that.
Caleb (with an incredulous look): Why?
Me: I have no idea.

Can you tell we’re both first borns? *Grin*

My ego is still being pumped by a great article and a great photo in the local paper! Check it out: Part-time pastors balance day jobs, flocks

It’s odd to think that 20 years ago this coming Thursday (August 17) I became a Christian.

Yeah, I know there are all sorts of philosophical questions like “how do you know that’s when it happened?” etc.

But August 17, 1986 at Camp Fairhaven in Maine, I committed my life to Jesus in a way that took (unlike the other four times I’d prayed “the prayer.” *grin*) I can see God’s hand moving in my life from way before 1986, but August 17 is very special to me.

And that was two decades ago.

I feel like that should make me feel old. But I just feel privileged. What an honor to be on this journey so long!

[Update: I just preach about some of this today. I took the time to list times that I can say the Kingdom broke through in my life. You can hear the MP3 of the sermon here. Or get it at the VCW Sermons page.]

Can anyone help me out with this? I saw this on Bill Cripe’s blog. (Bill’s a pastor here in Waterville.)

How did I miss the tires burning on the US News and World Report? I actually believed I was seeing a fire of a downed jet.

Check it out for yourself: Photo Fraud in Lebanon

It’s chilling to think that these images are doctored. Reminds me of Wag the Dog!

Here’s my question: does anyone know anything about aish.com? Is this expose legit?

For the first time ever, my ongoing article on Fundraising in the Bible is available in web format.

Web pages: http://fundraisingcoach.com/bible.htm

PDF version http://fundraisingcoach.com/fundraisinginbible.pdf

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Random violence and assualts are common in many parts of the world. But today I read about an attack of Silly String that chills me. Right here in Maine.

It also cracks me up. Why didn’t I think of that?!

Check it out at MaineToday.com From Away: I just don’t feel safe anymore

(You may need to register to read it. Sorry if you do. But Colleen’s blog is definitely worth it!)

The other day, my 6-year old son asked my wife if he could listen to music as he went to sleep.

She said he couldn’t.

So he asked, “Can I listen to one of dad’s sermons? They put me to sleep even faster than one of Phil’s.”

I think he meant that to be a compliment…sort of a “Dad’s works even better than Phil’s” but I think something got lost in the translation…

You be the judge:

My sermons: http://vcwaterville.org/sermons.htm

Phil Strout’s sermons: http://www.vcflewiston.org/messages/index.php

Use the comments to let me know if Cale’s right. *grin*