What a week

Last week was the week from Hell...I can't even describe to you how bad it was...the only good thing about it is that it is over.

Ok, so there were a few good things about it:

1. I got my bike, and I did feel guilty...but I still like riding it anyway, I'll post a picture soon.

2. Picked up Dan's V-star Classic...wow...I didn't get 30 yards down the road before I told myself, "this is gonna be my next bike."

3. Went to see Borne Supremacy with my beautiful wife and friends of ours...whats more is that the tickets were free!!!!!

I won't even give you a list of the bad, but I'll tell you that it cullminated with a trip to the ER with Sara on her 3rd day in a row of throwing up...this time it was blood(ulcer in the throat from too much puking) YUMMY!!!

She was a real trooper through it all though, she is one tough cookie that Sara Dilbone...by the morning they had her well taken care of and she was back on the road to recovery.

So I haven't had much time to blog, or even do much else lately. I'm hoping that we settle in to a laid back kind of schedule really soon 'cause this one's killin' me.

I haven't really been living in the full power of Christ's risenness as of late...I'm in some sort of funk. When I have some major changes going on in my life I get a little wacked out, just ask Sara. I hope in the next few days I get a little more back to myself.
I am enjoying being back with the fella's at school. It is good to be back and pick up with those relationships where they left of in June. I just need to get some focus back...resting in His presence...enjoying communion with the Father...just being...I'm ready to get back to that

Busy

Well, it seems like it's been a month since I posted last...ok so it's only been a week...

So much has been going on here I'm not sure where to start...God is good...even when I'm not...especially when I'm not...

I have really been searching and seeking where I, and we as a family, fit into the institutional church. I'm not sure I have any answers except that we are where we are supposed to be right now...other than that, I haven't a clue.

We hope to start our common meal night next week...I am looking so forward to that and to the relationships that will be fostered through it. Also we are going to have a big barbecue soon for our neighbors as school starts up again and schedules settle down a bit...pray that they'll actually come...we really want to love on them...

Started back to work today...it was good to see the fella's and be back in the real world. That is what is so hard about summer, it is so difficult to make connections with people and truthfully I just don't do a great job with that anyway.

I've been kicking around the idea of getting a newer motorcycle. I have an old Honda CX500 that was my first bike that I got a few years back and it has been a good first bike, but that's about it. I can't ride it without Sara referring to me as a "truck head"(that is a term she lovingly developed when we had that old 1964 GMC pickup truck and after I would be working on it for a while I pretty much wreaked of exhaust so she started using that "pet" name anytime I smell like that)
I really was going to sell the bike and forget about having a motorcycle...that is until my friend Dan got a bike, and we are going to be picking up this week. Yamaha V-Star Classic 1100...WOW, what a bike. So now I've got it in my head that I need to get a nicer bike that won't cause "truck head". I found one that will be a spectacular deal and just went to see it today. I hope to close the deal by the end of the week, but in all of this I am thinking, "do I really need this thing?"

I have wrestled with it for several days now and I know I obviously don't need this bike, but does that mean I can't or shouldn't have it. I really have issues with simplicity and how much I am actually allowed to enjoy material things. I really don't put a whole lot of stock in material things...I mean come on, I drive a 1987 Ford T-Bird that I am completely happy with(and it better last me another 70,000miles after we paid for that new set of tires I had to put on it). I really don't like to spend money and I have guilt issues after I do...
Am I rationalizing??? I don't know, but I will probably buy the bike and I'll probably feel very guilty for doing it and then I'll probably regret it and then I'll really enjoy riding it and taking Sara for rides too...
What's my problem??? Am I still talking??? I'll keep you posted, oh, and here are a couple of pictures of the bikes in question...

Dan's bike Chris' bike(maybe)

Way to go Dan

Here is a shout out to Dan my brother-in-law for starting a blog(finally)...you'll have to check him out...you'll be challenged and encouraged as you listen in on his conversations with himself.

A Day At The Park

What a day

Macee and I had a great time today out in the yard playing with her "soccer" ball. We kicked, rolled, threw, bounced, lost(in the ditch), and found the ball all in about a 20 minute time period. Then we sat out in front of the house playing the guitar and singing. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for exactly how blessed I am to have what I have...

Had a board meeting tonight and I continue to struggle with my role in the institutional church. We are talking about an addition...$900,000...yes that is the correct number of zeros. I just can't get myself to go along with it. I look at the size of our budget and the additional costs of more buildings and I just can't see it as being good stewards. A church of 250-275 just shouldn't have a $500,000 budget that mostly goes toward the maintenance of the organization. This same church only filled about 19 back packs with school supplies as a ministry for needy kids. Is this out of balance? I don't know... Is this just my own conviction or is there more to it than that? I can't say that having a building is bad, but do we continue down that road to become the next "mega" church or do we begin to change what "church" looks like? Why do we have to have such a nice building? What is wrong with a pole barn and a sound system? If the building isn't really who we are as the church then why do we care so much about what it looks like? Are we that concerned with what others will think of it? Are we afraid that people won't come because the building isn't very "nice?" Has our concern for good marketing overcome our concern for meeting peoples physical needs?
I am asking questions because I don't know what else to do...I need to think about these things...pray about them...
Some of these things just don't make any sense to me...and then I ask myself, "so what are you going to do about it?" I don't know that either...

A Week of Highlights

We have had a banner week here at the Dilbone house...I was just thinking about it and decided I should use one of my patented lists:

1. Last Friday night was a fish fry at Sara's aunt and uncle's in Botkins...all I have to say is 600 or so blue gill is a lot of fish...goooooood fish...wheeeeew

2. Monday Aldi opened up in BG. We have been anticipating this grand opening for some time now. The best part was that they sent us coupons to use on top of their already bargan basement prices. If you've never shopped an Aldi, you must...soon...

3. Tuesday Sara and I got tatooed again. Her second, my third...I think it is addictive...kind of like Sara and her jewelry...or me and my guitars...

4. Thursday at the wood county fair

5. Today at Myles Pizza and Pub and off to the Wiess' for some great snacks and conversations.

I don't know if I could handle another week like that...

A Fair Day

What a beautiful day to spend at the Wood County Fair. I've never been a huge fair fan...in fact, I would normally say that they are an absolute waste of time and money, but not this time.

Macee loved it...and I love that she loved it...
She had a ball going though and seeing all of the animals that for the most part had only been pictures in a book until today. She was just soaking it all in, smiling and talking about them as we walked through the different barns.

We had to participate in the traditional fair food as well, so we loaded up with a few "pork-a-lean" sandwiches, a tub of fries with vinegar, a funnel cake, and a lemon shake-up...boy did that hit the spot. It was probably one of the most fun family times since the live band in the park up at the lake last month.

Lord, help me not take for granted the most simple of times we spend together as a family...thank you...

Body Art

This addition to our body art was actually Sara's idea and a good one at that...
Since the beginning we have viewed our relationship as a "chord of three strands" as a reference to Ecc 4:12:

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A chord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Christ has and will always be the focus of our lives and our relationship...without Him we are a lost cause
So I drew it up and we got it done...yeah, I know, we're crazy...oh well