Category Archives: Personal

Arrived in Florida

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The verdict is in: Monday night there was snoring to be heard! And yet we all seemed to survive the night, and got on the road in good fashion Tuesday for the drive through the rest of the Carolina’s, across a sliver of Georgia, in to northern Florida.

1501_11_58-palm-tree_web1Palm trees are really a change of scenery! Laurel’s folks live in Palm Coast, and Tuesday afternoon they warmly welcomed our weary band of pilgrims from the north.

Today we had a leisurely pace as we visited the ocean, and then the heated pool at the club! We’ve seen small green critters, painted buntings, and even an alligator. Heather gets to cling to her Papa, and delight us all with her swimming.

Tonight I am in Orlando for the start of the Ligonier Conference in the morning. On the way into town I stopped at St Andrew’s Chapel — where R.C. Sproul is the preaching pastor and enjoyed a quick walk around the place (did not bump into RC there).

But just now my growing enthusiasm for the conference has been tempered by the reality of some church troubles at home (I had to check my emails!). Yet the Lord can still instruct a heavy heart, and He knows what is best for me. I am not really here for myself, but actually for my congregation — that they might profit from my spiritual growth and further training under the Word of God. It’s sobering and humbling. I’m off to read Psalm 121.

pdb

PS – I’m also thankful for the timely ESV “verse of the day” from Jeremiah 29:11 (in the right margin of my blog). Amen.

Vacation is underway…

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Well it is good to have a change of pace — and this vacation is off to a quick one! We left New York after church on Sunday morning (and after lunch and loading the big van). After several hours drive down I-95, dodging NJ drivers weaving about us, we arrived safely in Maryland, at the home of old friends Dwight & Kim Chamberlain. What a warm welcome — even from the family dog, Chloe (is that how you spell it?), who seemed to like our Heather most of all!

Family vacations are also a good time for “character formation” (or so it would seem, from reading my daughter Kathryn’s blog, BLOOM AND GROW.)

i95After some great conversation it was off to bed. In the morning, we eat a leisurely breakfast while waiting for “rush hour” to pass, then it was off on the byways and highways to Virginia and beyond. Many parts of the drive were most interesting (long tunnels, and high bridges).

Tonight, after an hour long delay on the road (arrggg!), we have landed in Florence, South Carolina. We seem to have a brand new Holiday Inn Express all to our selves!

And everyone has since turned in to bed, while I do some work online (emails and this entry). My hope is that the boys, sharing the room with dad, will all fall deeply asleep before the old man starts “sawing logs” as they used to say! (stay tuned for results).

pdb