Quiet

Our day started before 6 am. Zach called from Korea. We had a good conversation, found his location on google maps while talking and found out some of his plans. He is going to Japan tomorrow for his week long summer break. We saw him on a video camera and he showed us some of the food he was eating, sushi.

One of the things some of the teachers do during short breaks is called airport roulette. They go to the airport, find the cheapest fare and travel there for the short break (usually 3 day weekends). That sounds like so much fun!

Later we went to Starbucks and talked to several people, including a young man who is moving away. He has traveled to several countries and lived in some. We will miss visiting with him. Starbucks is a place where we visit with other ministers, missionaries, students and many others from all over. We also read and study there.

We spent a few hours at Starbucks working on our sermons for Sunday, writing, revising, sharing ideas. Sermons take a lot of time, thought and study. We had already been working on them this week and had things mostly written. The rule of thumb taught in seminaries is one hour of study and preparation for every minute preached. Sometimes that's about right.

My brother is driving down from St Louis to visit this weekend. It will be good to see him later in the day, possibly eat together.

We can't spend the whole time together because of the needs in getting ready for church tomorrow. In addition to the morning sermon, John will make sure Jean was able to get the bulletin, he will check the technology and make sure it is ready, he will go through the building and make sure all is set up, he will check the temperature, he will have calls from people and will answer anything that is needed, often people will call to talk about personal issues so he will take time, he will prepare his Sunday school lesson, he will practice his sermon, he will get calls about who is riding the van and will check to make sure there is a driver in the morning, he will do many, many little things until into the late evening.

The church has an attendance now similar to that of a full time pastorate so he spends far more hours than are apparent. I take care of many practical things. I also take care of things quietly and make sure some things are happening. I appreciate people who are dependable and take care of things they promise without being reminded. Everything runs so much more smoothly with responsible and mature adults. God bless them!!