Mark Twain on My Walk

Life out front

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

I joined what seemed like the rest of Shreveport out on a walk yesterday in the early evening. I was trying to help slim one of our widening chihuahuas as well as give our ticky terrier mix a release of energy. As I walked, the smells of spring were in the air. Blossoms, buds, and bees are showing up already, getting a little help from the 82 degree temperature today. The crazy thing is that our early summer temps disappeared some time last night while we slept, bringing in a cold reminder that winter hasn’t given up yet. Mark Twain must have lived in Shreveport.

 

Creaster Keys

These keys have been in our church foyer since Christmas. No one has claimed them, so I’m assuming a Creaster worshiper (Christmas and Easter) had left them. Time will tell.

Jack’s Deep Thoughts

Reblogged from jinnyhenson:

Last week, Jack was asked by one of Caddo Middle Magnet School’s counselors, Mrs. Guerrero, to speak at a meeting for parents of prospective students. This event was geared toward private school parents whose children recently tested for CMM.  I asked him what he planned to say about an hour before the event just to make sure he would not quote Hank Hill or something. Ya just neva know. Seated next to me at home, Jack gathered his thoughts and a serious visage overcame him. He then launched into a speech …

Wandering back into Wondering

Jinny and I just finished a writing project (she did 99% of it) and I have had some big projects I’ve been working on that have kept me too busy to do much blogging. I hope to be a little more consistent with posting here to Wondering Thoughts.

Thanks to Mike Pavell for the much needed blog encouragment.

Church for the Highlands is going well and some of the projects that have kept me busy are developing their own momentum.  We seem to be in a new phase, as we are seeing more people come in from the neighborhood (on foot, by city bus, or by catching a ride from someone). The racial and cultural diversity of Highland is becoming more visible in our worship and gatherings. Part of this new phase involves broadening our leadership, as we grow, through deeper involvement in issues and ministry in our area. We couldn’t even begin to meet the needs around us without the partnerships we develop with other churches and organizations in the neighborhood.

A great example of the kind of partnership is with the Highland Blessing Meal ministry that is beginning on April 12. This will be a weekly meal on Thursday nights at the Highland Center gym, put together by a diverse network of local churches and organizations. The idea grew out of a desire to meet a weekly hunger need in our community, one that continues in the spirit of the Thanksgiving Blessing. It will involve table cloths, real utensils, round tables, family-style dining, prayer requests and a short devotional time. We are primarily using a model from the Agape Meal in Ft. Worth, a ministry of Broadway Baptist Church, Ft. Worth. A more detailed explanation of our plan is here: Highland Blessing Meal.

Benjamin’s Life…Changed for Good

Reblogged from jinnyhenson:

When Chick-fil-A owner John Roden of Bossier City, Louisiana, heard Maggie Lee’s story at his church in early October, 2010, he wanted his restaurant take part in Maggie Lee for Good Day.  He shared the story with his marketer, Renee Wilson, who contacted us and asked if we were open to his Chick-Fil-A Restaurant (and, eventually the other two in the Shreveport / Bossier Area) to join in the second annual event. Of course we were ecstatic to have Chick-fil-A on board. A week later Julie Babboni …

Tax Help

Our church is providing free tax help for $50k and under filers.  We are an official IRS VITA location, set up to prepare and file taxes online.  Our preparers (angels, really) have passed an IRS Preparation exam and know how to handle most any situation.  It has proven to be a real challenge for our small church, but seeing people breathe easier after getting notice of a return makes it all worthwhile.  It is also good to know that we are providing free preparation, unlike the tax preparation shops with predatory loan practices on the returns.

By the way, a good friend asked why my thoughts were no longer wondering here on the blog, so I’ve been encouraged to get back to blogging.  Thanks, Mike.

Jinny’s Reflections on Two Years later

I’m a bit slow in getting a post up of the article Jinny wrote in the Times this past Sunday. You may have already read it in the paper or on Jinny’s Facebook page, but I wanted to make sure it was posted here on the blog.

Though our daughter’s death still doesn’t make sense to us and never will this side of heaven, we are able to see the many ways God and has not allowed tragedy to have the final say. As we mark two years since Maggie Lee’s death, it is helpful and deeply consoling to look back at what people have done to help bring out the good. Jinny wrote the following article recently in the Shreveport Times: