Studying

April 25, 2007 (12:49pm)
48º F, Hazy sun, E wind 8 mph.

Good afternoon,

We had a very profitable Bible study yesterday - a potluck brunch at on member’s home. We really delved into the topic at hand. Much interest a rather good discussion and better fellowship. Of course the food was good too. This is the end, actually between two studies. The last one on the book of Acts was a commercially written one and really only went to the "feel-good" stuff and not any deeper in to the book. I didn’t like it and it really wasn’t my choice. One of the gals, Helen, led the group for the past two studies. She asked me if I would again lead the next one, so I chose and am writing one on the Parables. One of the members took exception to my or anyone else leading other than herself. She didn’t think it was democratic or fair. Rather than study the Bible, she wants to "study" some of the feel-good books written by folks who have TV shows she watches. We tried to explain this is a Bible study and if she wanted to lead a group like that, she should, but not Tuesday morning Bible study. I expect Helen and I will experience her wrath in time and for a long time. Oh well, I have most of the first session’s study finished, but it probably will take two sessions since it is a lot of contextual setting and preliminary material. Stuff we don’t normally look at or study.

The gal, Lois, who hosted the study has spent most of the last year, in one of the Carolina’s I think, helping her son and his family as he died of cancer a little bit ago. It was so good to see her back (she lives with her daughter on their farm here) and she is happy to be home again too. It has been a tough year for her. She is a sweet lady and really adds to our family of Grace and most certainly the Bible study.

Helen is mad at me for our move to Up Nort’ too. She hoped she would not need to lead anymore in the future. She is more than capable and has really grown in the past decade I have known her. I told her that on this study I would write it, but she had to be ready to step in and lead if we could not be here with the moving &c. She really didn’t like that idea, but agreed, then it hit her that we would be moving! Yesterday was the first time most of the folks there also found out about our impending move. All were surprised. We did take some pictures of the new place (have to figure out a name for it yet) and they seemed to agree it was a good buy and nice place. I did offer that they could come up every Tuesday morning for Bible study and we would feed them in the deal too. Not too many takers on that idea though.

Part of today, too big of a part too, we have been looking at the pictures we took of the house and trying to decide on some of the finishing and modifying we want to do. Part of the "thinking" is also trying to get a handle on the cost and the labor involved. Probably more of each than we anticipate or wish. That’s part of the fun - isn’t it? Since we have many good sized pine trees on the property, some of them will become lumber. That means I will finally have to set up a sawmill and get cutting. Probably will be one of the first things done, so the wood cut can dry before we really start to use it. There are many projects I will have for it and a lot cheaper in the long run than buying the lumber. There are many hardwoods on the land too, so might find uses for some of them, besides firewood if the logs are good.

One of the major changes will be the heating system. At present, the hot-air wood furnace is actually an add-on to an existing furnace burning some other fuel than wood. The net result is that there is no real distribution system for the air, or any air filtering. Not very healthy at least - moves dust and other things from here to there. I will put in an outdoor boiler and it should be fairly easy (as compared to most houses) to install all of the piping. There is a dealer on the other side of Crystal Falls, so hopefully shipping should not be a big problem, since they normally weigh well over half a ton empty. The brand they carry is a pretty good one too. The wood it takes is about twice the length of "normal" firewood we now use. That is good and bad. Big logs I will have difficulty splitting blocks that long if I can’t lift a whole block that size to carefully put it in the firebox. Might have to figure out some kind of a funnel to handle them. Worry about that tomorrow.

Margriet is building Bavarian pork hocks for supper tonight. Actually it is the shank end from a fresh ham we bought before Easter. We think it is big enough to use in place of the two hocks the recipe calls for. It sure smells good? She started it early, since it still is partially frozen and she is doubling the time called for. I have to suffer longer.

We also talked with the real estate agency yesterday. More information needed and more questions for answering. This time it was not necessary to send anything there. The "noble assistant," Karla asked in the email though that I call her. When she came on line she said she was glad that I called, as she likes to talk to me. That is mutual. She is a character and we make a good pair in that. Still no indication on the end of this, before the next adventure, but expect the widow that owns it will need a couple of weekend to take the rest of her things from the place. We are anxious to get up there though, even if it will mean many trips between here and there. More stops at the Amish store I can tell.

Time to get a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><