Category: Personal

In these pictures I’m not doing the work. My landlord is. I’ve been working on some of this stuff as well, but today I was taking the pictures. Tom Hunt, my landlord, owns all the heavy equipment. I have to say that the work is fun. Right now we’re cleaning up the piles of limbs and logs and other debris produced by clearing.

I expect to have most of the logs done and ready for splitting this week.

In any case, that’s a personal update. I don’t do that often on this blog!

At Huffington Post. Well, about 21 of these apply to me.

As I move on inexorably toward 60, I am encouraged by this. Of course, I couldn’t play baseball at 20, and won’t be able to at 60, but there are other things!

Dave Black links to an essay from his wife Becky Lynn regarding dealing with cancer. She believes that she’s on the home stretch. A taste:

My goal has always been to display Christ to know His calling in the midst of dealing with cancer. We have dealt with cancer as stewards for the Lord Jesus.

I empathize with Dave and Becky a great deal, because as I read their emails and blog posts I recall the summer of 2004 when James was on his run to home. That final story began when Jody was in Hungary leading a mission team, and she got to hear of the return of James’s cancer via e-mail.

But the biggest struggle is not with cancer, as Becky notes. I would mention fear, which takes away your life while you’re still alive. Treasure the moments you have.

One accusation made against Christians is that we’re weak and require Jesus as a crutch in order to get through life. I don’t argue with that. I’m weak. Without Jesus, I wouldn’t have made it. I understand that others handle these things without that comfort and hope, but I confess that I am too weak to do that.

I pray that the Lord be especially near to Dave and Becky at this time and with all who are in need.

Here’s what’s outside!

In Memoriam: John William McKenzie Brady

Since I got started with some personal notes yesterday, perhaps I’m now in the groove, or is it a rut?

Those who know me quickly become aware that I work best just short of chaos. Well, some would actually claim that I cross over into chaos. The fact is that an excessively organized workspace (in appearance) makes me twitch. On the other hand, there is a point that gets beyond my toleration, and that is usually when all my flat surfaces get covered.

I frequently take in dead computers, or even reasonably functioning machines that are just too old for their owners. Recently, I received a huge number from a client of my computer business and so for a period of time I had more than 20 computers, eight printers, and innumerable accessories from cables to mice. The machines took up all my flat space, not to mention all my floor space. I actually have two workstations (monitors, keyboards, network connection available) but of course there was much more than would fit in and around them.

I have finally gotten far enough through the process of dividing what can be salvaged from what will be recycled, and I recovered my desk (picture at top left). From all of this, I managed to salvage three working systems that I will deliver to Top of the Bottom Ministry, an inner city ministry here in Pensacola. They’re just Windows XP systems with 512 MB each, but they will be useful where they are going. In addition, I rescued five printers out of the mess, so those will head out soon as well. Then will come the day when I load the rest into my van and haul it all off to recycling.

Oh, and the picture at the bottom right is one of the machines at a workstation being prepared for its new home.

Both pictures were taken with my Palm Pixi.

Well, since Dave started it, and everybody else is doing it, I thought I’d provide a few facts about myself. I’m following Dave’s list except where it’s inapplicable

• My favorite food is … broccoli. Really. The only way you can make me avoid it is by overcooking it.
• I cannot stomach … okra.
• My favorite TV show is … The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.
• In my spare time I … read, light reading being science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries.
• One word used to describe me when growing up … extreme introvert.
• One word used to describe me today … active.
• If I had a million dollars I’d … so many needs could be fulfilled, I couldn’t even list them. I get requests every day.
• I send this many emails each day … 25-30 (should be more!).
• Being a publisher/editor is … challenging.
• My favorite book that I’ve written is … When People Speak for God.
• My (earthly) hero is … my uncle Don Neufeld who got me started in biblical languages.
• My favorite theologian is … Paul Tillich, even though I often disagree; I steal his vocabulary all the time.
• I went to high school at … I’m a high school drop out.
• My favorite spot on earth is … Sacajawea Peak, Wallowa Mountains, Oregon. I’ve only been there once.
• If I wasn’t a publisher I would be… a teacher (if I could keep the job!).
• My favorite Bible verse is … Jeremiah 18 (really).
• My favorite pet is … currently I have only one, our cat, Cheena, but my favorite pet of all time was my goat Carroway, part of my herd of four when I was 12.
• My favorite commentary on Leviticus is by … Jacob Milgrom.
• I am embarrassed that I … can’t keep appointments straight.
• I used to teach at … Country Garden School (elementary), while I was a college student.
• I was a substitute teacher …  for a full two weeks for first graders in their first two weeks of the year–never again!.
• Jody and I honeymooned in … North Carolina.
• Our first mission trip together was to … eastern Hungary, serving children from the Ukraine.
• My first mission trip ever … was on foot (cargo on two mules!) in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico when I was 8 years old. My job was to carry out the garbage and sweep floors for the medical team.
• My first journal article appeared in … no journal articles. My first paid publication was an article in The Traveler’s Journal, regarding role playing. It’s even online now. (There’s nothing academic about it!)
• I was once asked to … become the theological librarian for a seminary.
• After completing my MA in Religion (concentrating in Biblical Languages), and one quarter post masters I … joined the U. S. Air Force.
• Before I joined the Air Force, I lived … three countries, 5 states and 16 houses/apartments (that I remember)
• In the Air Force … I was stationed at only one base for nine years after completing training.
• Once they get to know me, most people are surprised that … I play war games, but am abysmal at chess.
• Most people don’t know that I … really enjoy tinkering with old computer hardware and just about any electronic equipment. If I didn’t have work to do, I’d rather tinker than have working equipment.
• I have never been in … Australia. And I want to go.
• The number of states in the U.S. I’ve been in is … 42.
• While in high school I made … spent all my time reading and traveling around Guyana, South America. Thus I have 2 1/2 credits by correspondence, and eventually took a GED.

OK, that’s probably TMI. 🙂