Labor Day is upon us. I could swear we just got finished with Memorial Day recently. One thing is true here in Tatum. People do take their upcoming holiday seriously. When I was younger it drove me crazy with people being away from their usual places on Sundays. I finally reached an acceptance stage a few years back. The key is not being perturbed about abscences on this holiday weekend. It is how we move into the fall months that matters most in church life.

There is a new approach coming after the holiday. Lots of people are busily preparing for some new strategies for our Sunday and Wednesday night meetings. Several new families made their way into our building over the summer months. We are praying over the best ways to move them into membership as well as how to deepen spiritual life. I said publically on numerous occasion that I am not one who is into change just because it is the popular thing to do. One of my core beliefs is that when we line up with God's purpose then He will direct us into new adventures of ministry.

Just as the weather changed here in recent days, there are changes occuring around us. People are really not the same as they were even in the 70s or 80s. All we can do is to provide every avenue for them to link their life with God. Sometimes it is an experiment in futility. Sometimes our Lord blesses with results beyond our imagination. Paul understood this when he wrote that there is planting, watering but God gives the results. We will hit the ground running after the holiday with lots of planting and watering. I cannot wait to see God's results.

Bro. Trey

My daughter has a birthday tomorrow. I admit to mixed emotions about the occasion. On one hand, I am extremely proud of the person she is becoming. Without getting too personal, there are so many signs of growth in her. She is a remarkable young woman. My youngest may never be able to discuss sports with me due to his disability. God gave me a girl to go to baseball games with as well as be my travel partner on football Fridays. One minute she and I are discussing obscure baseball statistics and in the next she is on the phone with girlfriends. God gave me far more than I ever hoped or prayed for in those days prior to her arrival. So forgive me if my happiness is bittersweet on this day. She is my baby girl even if she is in Middle School. She always will be the first gift of parenthood. Happy Birtthday daughter...you are and always will be loved by your dad.

Bro. Trey

I am learning the differences in types of internet connections. While away in Minnesota, the connection was a much faster setup than possible here in Tatum. I know this because as soon as I blogged it went straight to the website. My last post was written on Wednesday and it took until tonight for it to show up. This is not a source of pleasure for me. There were several additional attempts made to get the blog updated. It appears the time between my instructions to the blog and its obedience is lagging. Either I need to know the future or there will need to be lots of attention paid to be sure everything gets posted. Ever wonder how long between the times God talks to us and the time of our response? Even Moses took awhile to come around before he agreed to God's guidance in the Exodus. I have a feeling that we do the same. God often talks to us if we are listening. Then we have to respond to His words. When we are already in the mindset that our response will be yes then we will not have to worry about the lag in obedience.

Bro. Trey

The weather says August but the calendar says it is the first day of school. We are two hours into a new year and so far, I don't like it! Summer came and went with its usual speed. Feels like only last week we were going through the last day of the academic year. Now we are moving full steam into yet another. The morning traffic in town says it is the first day of school to be sure. The roads were filled with emotional parents delivering their children to the waiting classrooms. My youngest got on his bus as he always does. My oldest was transported to her school by a father who was not quite ready to let go.

I got used to the kids being around this summer. In fact, it was a great thing for me. My son and I contributed much to the economy of the surrounding centers of commerce. Yesterday we went on our last trip before school. He wanted to eat at a real restaurant instead of fast food. So we enjoyed mexican food before I went to make some visits. It was not a bad way to end the summer break.

Remember to pray much for our students who are back to the grind. Also remember to pray much for parents who are either celebrating or mourning this day. Right now I can say that I am in that latter category.

Bro. Trey

Once upon a time, Kevin Costner thought Iowa was heaven. Having never been to Iowa, I cannot vouch for that. I do know that Minnesota has an amazing quality to it. The question came to me today while riding back from Rochester, how do you describe Minnesota? This makes nearly ten visits for me to the land of 10,000 lakes. Only one time did I dare travel up this way in winter. The cold cured me of any desire to make any more winter visits. However, the summer is a whole different story.

In spite of the heat this week, Minnesota is still as mesmerizing as ever. You look off the road while driving to see miles of farmland. The corn seems to just rise up in response to the perfect weather it has for maturing. The fields are everywhere. These are not small lots of farming. Corn rows go on as far as the eye can see. Where there is no corn there are peas or other crops that capture the eye. Houses here are almost always immaculate in appearance. Rare is the home that does not have siding as a sheild against the elements. Yards are mowed, watered, and landscaped with constant care. The grass is flush with the green that comes from the rain that falls on a weekly basis. It is truly very easy to imagine yourself caught in a timewarp. The scenes of daily life have not changed much in fifty years.

Garrison Keillor describes this world for us every week on his radio show. Perhaps that is why I long to hear him weave his stories about life here. It is one of the reasons I hope to return yet again to this simpler place and time.

Bro. Trey

It isn't quite a rainy night in Georgia, but it is raining in Minnesota. In fact, it could be called a toad strangler as hard as it is raining. We just got in from the baseball game a little while ago. A good time was had by all. Ok, my dad and his wife didn't have such a good time since the Rangers won 9-0. But it was a fun night all the way around. Emily and I got to visit with the Texas Rangers radio play by play announcer. I emailed earlier thinking we might could get another shoutout on the air. I heard someone call my name while I was standing at the dugout wall taking photos. Turns out it was the man himself! We visited for a few minutes before he went upstairs for the game. It goes without saying (though I'm saying it anyway) that father and daughter were pumped. Emily got to see her first grandslam home run in person. We are becoming quite media connected these days.

I wish I could say the Metrodome is a pleasant place but it really isn't. Getting into the stadium area is a nightmare compared to both Texas Stadium and Ameriquest Field in Arlington. The hallways inside the dome are cramped and noisy. The view from our seats was great so that is one redeeming quality. I left my seat to go purchase a program after an inning or so. When I reached the hallway there was Tony Oliva standing there. He is one of the all time great ballplayers in the major leagues. He was a star for the Twins in the 60s and 70s. I could have tickled him being so close. I chose not to do that. But it did just add to a terrific night with family at the old ballgame.

Time is drawing near for our return to the great state of Texas. We got to see rain along with feel some cooler air. Less than 48 hours before we return to the summer weather we know and love. I do hope keeping up with the blog helps with some insight on how its going here. I am sure I will come up with at least one or two more prior to getting back to the metropolitan area of Tatum. Just hope the AC is turned down at home!

Bro. Trey

Greetings again from Minnesota. Had to stop and write a few thoughts on one of the headlines today. Seems Mel Gibson went and got himself a DUI the other night. Yes, it's the same Mel who did "The Passion of the Christ." It is the same Mel who appeared in churches and on relgious television before the release of his film. Now I do not think the DUI changes the impact of that movie. It is still the most realistic depiction of the last hours of Jesus ever presented. I do not even bear any ill will towards Mel in this last arrest. Mel does not know me nor do I imagine ever meeting him. My real problem is in thinking back into how conservative Christians tried to wrap him up in our causes. One might think he was an evangelical believer rather than a hollywood icon the way we acted. Will the same ones who could not resist making such a fuss over him now look the other way? Believe me, I do hope he gets help with his problems. I would have no hesitation in thinking of him as another follower with private demons not yet exorcised. But we in the church cannot keep thinking that latching onto the coattails of the famous will do God's work for us. Jesus told us the way to change the world was one life at a time through the mission of His church. Yet, we keep trying to manipulate politics and even the media into our tools of evangelism. We the people are the only tools Jesus said could accomplish His purpose. This is why in one sense I am not overly worried about the effects of this arrest. God's plan has not changed nor failed even if Mel has. His plan only fails if we choose not to carry on with it.

Bro. Trey

To paraphrase Herman Mellville, "there be rain among us!" We are currently getting the much anticipated rain here in Minnesota. I know it will not be much comfort back home in Texas, but it is nice to see water fall from the sky again. Today is the day we go see the Texas Rangers play at the Metrodome. Let it rain, there is no way this game gets canceled due to the weather. My daughter is forcing me to wear the Rangers jersey even though they lost last night 15-2. Wonder if I can wear a bag over my head too?

Yesterday we attacked the Mall of America. If there is a store in the U.S. that isn't in the Mall then it just doesn't exist. We spent 3 hours walking only to come home with a few t-shirts. I am willing to wager that I will be one of the very few in Tatum who sports a University of North Dakota hockey shirt. We shared some boiled shrimp for lunch before returning to Zumbrota. A good time was had by all.

The break in the schedule is really nice. We do miss being home but there is much to learn being away from Tatum. There is a whole other world outside of Rusk County. I realize for some that this is hard to believe but it is true. I am also looking forward to getting out to find our church some mission opportunities. Getting away from the comfort zone is a good thing. We have far too much talent in our congregation not to develop it in challenges outside our area. No, I don't think we will go as far as Minnesota but we will look around the state. I'm off now to change laundry and start decorating my bag!

Bro. Trey