Archive for the 'travel' Category

KAUAI: Someone Had to Do It

Published
by
Mike
on February 10, 2006
in Church of Christ, marriage and travel
. 29 Comments

All abuse coming to me is richly deserved. A pastors’ conference in Kauai?

Those Christian Church guys know how to pick a conference site. In Churches of Christ, we usually go for exotic places like Abilene, Lubbock, and Midland. (Well, there is that annual pilgrimage to Malibu.)

Actually, I think this was exotic even for them. They went there because this is the last year for Bob Russell (who I think maybe started the group many years ago) as senior pastor of the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville–a church of about 19,000. This year is the 100th anniversary of the formal division between Churches of Christ and Christian Churches, so it’s one of many activities planned together.

Building megachurches is no longer a big vision for me. I more prefer the idea of sending out Christ-followers who will seep into every crevice of society as they participate in the mission of Jesus. This may result in large churches, small churches, cell churches, etc.

Having said this, it was wonderful to meet so many of these men and women who have given their lives for evangelism. Very inspiring. (Some of the specific lessons I learned I’ll try to come back to later.) They have built churches that have preached and lived the good news.

We come from different backgrounds, different schools (theirs tend to be Bible colleges and ours tend to be universities), different conferences, different churches, etc. But we have so much heritage in common. One of their ministers told me that it seems to him that they were trained to be evangelists while we were trained to be theologians. That’s exaggerated, of course. But it does indicate that we could certainly use the help each group could offer the other.

Now — about Kauai. What can I say? (Unnecessary note to Highland members: yes, we paid our own way.) Diane and I love to hike together, so we hiked all over the canyon: on the stunning Kalalau trail (with views of the Na Pali coast), to the top of the Sleeping Giant on the west-side trail, to the bottom of Wailua Falls, and on parts of several trails through Waimea Canyon. I also snorkeled a little, but Diane thought the water was a wee bit cold. Against my best judgment (with a touch of acrophia that only kicks in with tiny aircraft, bridges, and some buildings — all things made by people — I feel pretty good on things that God made like mountains), we took a helicopter ride that is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done for sheer beauty.

We missed the last part of the conference. A 7th grade basketball game to get back to, you know.

Thursday, February 9

Published
by
Mike
on February 9, 2006
in travel
. 19 Comments

Diane and I just finished a flight through the night to get to LAX. I canNOT sleep well on a plane at night.

We’ve been at a “megachurch senior pastors” conference that is held annually by senior pastors of Christian churches. This year there were five of us (out of about fifty) from Churches of Christ.

It was a good gathering. I’ll try to write more later. But now I’m seriously tired.

Bad News Is Hard to Deliver

Published
by
Mike
on November 30, 2005
in travel
. 18 Comments

We had a perfect view of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade from 48th and Broadway. There were 14 giant balloons, 37 smaller balloons, 27 floats and 10 high school marching bands–plus the Beach Boys, Carrie Underwood, and Johnny Bench. To say nothing of 2.5 million others watching along the route. (When I ran the NYC marathon, there were an estimated 2 million lining the route. That made the race easier — it only seemed about 25.2 miles.)

Four blocks after it passed us, a 515-pound M&M ballon was blown into a light pole, puncturing it. As it went down, it pulled the light fixture off, causing it to drop down and injure two sisters (one of whom has CP and was in a wheelchair). All we knew was that emergency workers came rushing by, but we had no idea why.

The next morning the NY Times scathed NBC because the network decided they didn’t want their sunny broadcast interrupted by bad news. Not only did they not mention the accident and the injuries, but they also substituted footage from the 2004 parade when it came time for the M&M balloon to pass their cameras.

Al Roker pressed on with his script: “Will these classic candymen get out of this delicious dilemma? Hard to say, but when it comes to sweetness, Yellow and Red continue to melt your heart, but not in your hand.”

Bad news is so hard to deliver, especially when people are in a mood to celebrate. The names Amos, Micah, Hosea, and Isaiah (eighth century prophets) come to mind!

Macy’s Day Parade

Published
by
Mike
on November 26, 2005
in travel
. 8 Comments

The three of us have had a wonderful couple days in NYC. On Thanksgiving Day, we got up early to claim a front spot at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I’ve watched it since I was a kid, and it was a blast being there. In the afternoon we went to the Rockette’s Christmas program, which ends with a moving account of the birth of Jesus. In between we managed to squeeze in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Gallager’s. That night we went to the top of the Empire State Building, where the wind chill felt below zero. (My kind of weather!)

Yesterday we wandered in Central Park and then saw “Wicked” and “Hairspray.” Now we’re at the airport heading back home.

When Matt was young the three of us came here (while, I supppose, my mom kept Megan) — a trip he’s never forgotten. I hope Chris has the same kind of memories a decade from now.

“Must-sees” of the USA

Published
by
Mike
on August 3, 2005
in General and travel
. 45 Comments

I read where the Travel Industry Association of America just listed the “top 10 American treasures” after an extensive survey. Here’s the list of “must-sees”:

1. The Grand Canyon
2. The Statue of Liberty
3. Yellowstone National Park
4. White House/monuments of Washington, D.C.
5. Niagara Falls
6. Hawaiian islands
7. Mount Rushmore
8. Redwood forests
9. Glaciers/fjords of Alaska
10. Rocky Mountains

Having been to 9 of the 10 (all but Niagara Falls), I have no problem with any being there. Well, I don’t know that I’d put Rushmore in the the top 10, though it’s very impressive. But doesn’t Yosemite have to be there somewhere? What about the trees and mountains of VT/NH? Or the Florida Keys?

Let’s expand the list a couple more. What should be added to the list of “top 12 must-sees in the USA”?

Give Me the Mountains — in Estes Park

Published
by
Mike
on July 31, 2005
in family and travel
. 26 Comments

A note to my dear friends at Highland from your minister, St. Elsewhere. I can’t wait to be back with you! Four weeks of language school plus some vacation and study time has made this a summer away.

This week our family has been in Estes Park, Colorado, hiking every day in the Rocky Mountain National Park, one of my favorite places in the world. Just the five of us. Having a blast. Nothing quite like hiking up Deer Mountain or up to Bear Lake/ Nymph Lake / Dream Lake / Emerald Lake.

Take the beach. Give me the mountains. Sure, I’d miss the goo all over your body, the jellyfish, the sand that won’t wash out, the heat, and the skin cancer. But I’ll get by. Just set me in the mountains with my hiking boots and my family, and I’ll be fine.

Guatemala With Matt

Published
by
Mike
on July 24, 2005
in travel
. 22 Comments

Finally — back in the USA after three weeks of language school in Guatemala.

I haven’t been writing about it because Diane told me that she doesn’t like everyone on the internet knowing when I’m out of the country. (Come on, there aren’t THAT many people with internet access, are there?)

And of course she is right. So I’m going to try to follow my new policy of writing about trips (unless we’re all together) after I return. Don’t feel bad if you’ve posted something in the comments about my trip. You were just following my lead. But from now on, please don’t mention my absence unless I do. :)

And now . . . there is so much to write about. The best part, of course, is that I was with Matt every step of the way.

More later. In two hours I’ll be back in Abilene. I think this is my longest absence from Diane in our 27 years of marriage. Can’t wait to see her and Chris.

- - - -

Tomorrow is my day to get a call from Dickie Porche. (Highland folks know what that means.) Hey, Pal, I’ll have my cell phone on!

Cruisin’ Alaska

Published
by
Mike
on June 30, 2005
in family, marriage and travel
. 11 Comments

As Jimmy Buffett puts it, “It’s been a lovely cruise.”

We just finished a week aboard the Carnival Spirit (without ever seeing Kathy Lee), sailing from Anchorage to Vancouver. For my parents’ 50th anniversary, which they celebrate this summer, they wanted to take their children and spouses on an Alaskan Cruise. We have been surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation — animals (bear, moose, bald eagles, otters, whales, etc.), mountains, glaciers, and ocean — for the past week. Nothing restores my spirit like mountains. The rest was bonus.

And we ate . . . and ate . . . and ate. Like hobbits.

My parents were married in the summer of 1955. Eleven months after they married, I arrived. Their first year of marriage was spent in Pittsburgh, PA, where Dad was stationed. Then after a brief stay in Neosho, MO, we moved to Austin for two years, where they finished their degrees in journalism (Dad) and English (Mom). The other 47 years of their marriage have been in Neosho.

I’ll probably write more about it in August when the actual anniversary date arrives. But needless to say, I’m very thankful for their love that has survived and thrived through the past five decades.

Language School, Packing Enough Cloths, & Big C / Little C

Published
by
Mike
on June 16, 2005
in Church of Christ and travel
. 23 Comments

Diane says I never take enough clothes when I travel. For example, even though I was coming to Costa Rica for a week, I didn’t check anything through. A carry-on was plenty for me. I feel no need to wear clothes only once–especially when I’m around people I don’t know. (Besides, isn’t this an American thing? The very kind man I am staying with either has a wardrobe consisting of a half dozen shirts that are exactly alike . . . or he doesn’t worry about changing. He follows the GUY philosophy: If it was clean enough to wear at the end of yesterday, it is clean enough for this morning. And if it isn’t clean enough for this morning I shouldn’t have been wearing it last night.)

(Brief private note to my wife: Honey, that is all I’m writing for today. Turn off the computer and have a nice evening.)

. . . Having said all that, it appears that in this instance my Beloved may have been right. (Being up to my eyeballs in language school, I cannot help but wonder how long it would take for me to figure out the right words for “may have been right” in Spanish.) I may not have factored in how much walking and sweating I would do.

So this morning after breakfast (which we eat at 6:00 since they are also early risers) Georgina gave me a lesson on washing clothes by hand without wasting water. I hate to admit it, but I feel like I should receive a boy scout badge for conservation.

I like both my teachers. But my grammar profesora, a very religious woman, found out that I’m a preacher and it’s as if she is on a mission from God to get me to learn. Occasionally I see her wince a bit at what I’ve said as if the gospel might be at stake. I want to reassure her, “Lighten up. It’s all right. I’m not going to confuse the words for Jesus and Satan.” However, I don’t know the word for Satan. (A good guess would be “satan.”)

The other profesora is younger and apparently not quite as religious and isn’t concerned with what I do. What I like best is that she’s having fun teaching.

As I continue writing, mostly because I’m enjoying this moment in English, I wonder: Why do people keep writing “churches of Christ” instead of “Churches of Christ”? I hope it’s not the old illusion of innocence (to borrow from Leonard and Richard’s incredible book) that we’re the true church. I.e., since we’re the real church (code language: the LORD’S church), we are Christ’s church, or (lowercase) churches of Christ.

I prefer “Churches of Christ.” This admits that while we love much about our heritage and the nondenominational dream, we are a group, a denomination. We have our own colleges, our own camps, our own papers, our own quirks, our own family stories, and our own language. We’re just a small part of the body of Christ, however.

As I mentioned, the other student in my class is 18. She’s a liberal Episcopalian (her words) and I’m a conservative Church of Christ guy. All right, maybe moderate. Is it an accident that my strength is grammar and hers is vocab? I know the rules and she knows how to make words dance. Both are important. A good thing to remember when I think of the body of Christ.

Does God Laugh at Prayers?

Published
by
Mike
on June 15, 2005
in General and travel
. 11 Comments

Small blessings on day 3:

1. Have located the semicolon and question marks;?

2. ESPN 2 in Spanish

3. An 18-yr-old student in my class (the only other one in our intermediate II class) who sneaks me meanings of worlds. I´m the grammar hombre; she´s the vocab chica.

4. Fresh fruit. Lots of it. Mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, etc.

5. I led a prayer in Spanish and no one laughed. (Actually, God may have had a smile on his face!)

More later . . . .