Vagabonding 2

Last Friday traveled from the Fort Worth, TX area to the College Station area. On the way had 2 hours of fellowship with our brother Steve, a humble man, who is pioneering a relational community to transition long term homeless people off the streets. Rare touching of hearts. Then spent the weekend with friends in a rural county. Had BBQ with my friend Mike, whom I had promised to be the first with whom I would eat BBQ after returning to Texas. He wants to minister to men recovering from addictions. Then on to my friends B&L with the most wonderful hospitality. He teaches adult Sunday school and she makes an excellent breakfast. They treated me to pork rib eye, the best I have ever had.

Vagabonding

On November 22nd, left the Christian conference and retreat center where I had been in Connecticut to return to Texas. There first day's journey brought me to Tennessee, the 2nd to the Arkansas Texas border and the final half day to north Texas. Traveling on interstate highways is very crowded. Enjoyed hospitality of B&V for 2 nights. Transferred over to C&C for Thanksgiving. They have a separate guest house. Blessed to be with my daughter's family. Sunday went to my old church for early prayer, Equipping hour and the regular service. Sat with my good friend, George, with whom I had lunch the Tuesday before. Monday attended a men's Bible study on Daniel 11, sold the RV and rested. Tuesday worked through a chapter on justification and adoption in Wayne Grudem's "Christian Beliefs" with George. Wednesday evening went to my old home group where they are studying a book titled "Trusting God," by Jerry Bridges, an excellent author. Friday had a blessed breakfast with James, clean bill of health from Dr. Andy, and an extraordinary meeting with Steve S. To use an expression from a fervent brother that I know, we touched hearts. Finally I arrived in south central Texas.

Fiasco

Recreational vehicles, or RV's, are popular in the US. RV parks, both in live in or to use,while traveling are common, especially in warmer areas. I owned one for 4 years. Unless you have money to literally burn, or plan to keep it for the rest of your life, never buy one. Why? They are not well constructed. They are costly to purchase and repair. Two different repairmen worked on mine.Both charged a high fee just to arrive with a minimum of another hour at the same fee. If you attempt to sell it retail, you will find that you resided in the unit, people aren't interested.If you attempt to wholesale, I found that dealerships have a great business model, for them. They want to make a used vehicle into a new vehicle by someone else paying for the repairs- insurance, warranty, owner. While this process is ongoing, the price they are willing to give goes down steadily. It's a no win situation. I would rather be homeless than buy an RV.

Endurance Contest.

Sadly travel is increasingly dysfunctional in the US. Just completed a 1,750 mile (2,800 kilometer) journey by car. Outside of cities about 50% of vehicles are huge trucks which take up a lot of room, and have difficulty passing one another. The highways are 2 lanes in either direction. When there are 3 lanes, it makes a significant difference. Between crowded roadways, construction, weather issues and crazy drivers, God's help, protection and angels are very needed. Arrived safely at my destination which makes it worthwhile. Tonight I am with my friend Bill out in the country. He runs cattle for his son.

One more week

This morning I have one more week (barring snowstorms) here at the camp before I head west to Texas. As before when I lived and worked here, it has been a good experience even though things don't stay the same. Didn't achieve my goal of 20 hours of work a week, more like fifteen, in part because my skills are limited. Blessed with facilitating 1 and 2 Peter Bible studies, and initiating a time of prayer before the church service. Also had one on one time with Nate, the shepherd of the church and with my brother Kevin. Also appreciate the relative tranquility of this 98 acre property. Was able to visit friends in the region and participate in an annual discipleship weekend.

Consequences

"Elections have consequences." Yesterday 's elections in NY City and for governors in New Jersey and Virginia reflect God's ongoing judgment on this country. Although all three are Democratic party strongholds, the reality that someone like the mayor elect of the nation's largest city is an avowed Communist show how far we have fallen. It was only 24 years ago that Islamic terrorists flew planes into the,World Trade Center in New York. Now a Moslem will become the mayor. A brother of my acquaintance has written a book titled "Wars and Rumors of Wars" based on Matthew 24:6 in which he sets forth a case that the US is the Babylon of Revelation 19. He believes that the US will be destroyed by nuclear war. If God is just, as the Bible proclaims, it gets easier to believe this with each succeeding event. May our hope be placed in Jesus alone.

Writing Fiction

Enjoying writing what should be my sixth novel. I have a new freedom in that I am no longer writing with the hope that anyone will read what I write. Now it is solely to release the creativity that we, made in God's image, have that reflects Him as the Creator of the Universe. I am well along in the first draft of my current work so the characters are established. I started a new chapter today. All I knew was that it centered around one of the leaders characters. I had no idea what would happen. That's one of the blessings of the first draft, just letting the words flow, knowing I can go back and revise whatever needs it. I'd like to finish this post by thanking my mother, long gone, who gave me a love of reading and, encouraged .y writing. Thanks, Mom