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Monday, September 03, 2007

end of the second week

What has the end of the second week on my first class of my master’s taught me.

1) I’m anal about this work.  Part of the reason for this is because I don’t want anything to stop me from a 4.0.  Unfortunately, a portion of that is out of my hands with the group projects, so I feel I must lead by example; and, perhaps, if need be, to push.
2) People are happy to let others lead.
3) I have a distaste for APA style so far.  Perhaps it will become sweeter as I consume it, but for now, it is vinegar to me.
4) Next week I won’t have an “extra” day off and will have other distractions - thus, getting things done early will be even more important.
5) I don’t have time to do my creative writing.  I am hoping to work in a little, but it won’t be nearly what I had planned before I started the degree.  I am not complaining here as this is an active choice and one that will benefit me much more than the creative writing will.

Friday, May 18, 2007

The Hands of God

A year ago April I wrote a story on my blog about my experience with a man named C. R. Hager.

Today, this man of God went to go be with God, and he took his incredible hands with him. (see http://www.asbury.edu/press/hager07 for a press announcement from Asbury)

The world can easily be divided into two groups - those who have shaken hands with this man, and those who have not. Obviously, I fall into the first category. If you too fall into this first category, then you already know what I am talking about. However, for those of you that do not, let me try to explain.

These hands were like blocks of wood. Or, perhaps, a better description would be to think of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz and imagine his hands. They are smooth, yet hard. However, when I think of the Tin Man, I think of cold metal. His hands were warm. His hands were solid. His hands were always outstretched toward someone with either a wave (and the accompanying grin) or outstretched to be shaken.

I have shaken thousands of hands in my (almost) 40 years. His stand out. His were, like the man behind them, solid.

I miss you my friend. I will miss you in the future. I will miss your smile. I will miss your hands. I will miss your heart. I will miss your stories. I will miss your compassion. I will miss your demeanor. I will miss your love.

I look forward to the day when I get to shake those hands again, when I get to see that smile, when I get to hear more stories, and share with him what is going on with my life once more. 

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

so, what’s the weather like for pascha around here

Our new Priest, God bless his soul, asked our Warden, “So, whats the weather like for Pascha around here?” To which the Warden replied, “Oh, anywhere between 80 and snowing.” Well, the poor Priest didn’t believe our good Warden as our new Priest was from Florida, and “Surely, it doesn’t snow in April!”.

Well, As you can see from the attached two pictures… yeah, it does.... Welcome to Holy Saturday!

You might not be able to see the speckles of snow which is a little more clear on the left picture (buy me a better camera, i’ll give you better pictures) ... but if you look off in the distance… that is not fog. 

That is snow…

Snow!  The thing about Kentucky is… if you don’t like the weather, wait around a few hours, it will change!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

History Is Important

I’m thinking I might start a couple different “blogs” or at least catetgories for blogs.  I have found that having a “diary” of sorts for my wife’s Dermatomyositis would have been helpful.  Also, I have found the the extremely sparse entries I have made about my health, about events, etc. have been good for me to go back to.  Thus, I may start that.

You have any thoughts on that?

Friday, September 08, 2006

Memory Eternal Betty Arlene Estep I will miss you.

Betty Estep

Funeral Time: Saturday, September 9th at 12:30PM

Estep, Betty Arlene, 61, of Independence, KY, formerly of Lexington, wife of Ron Estep, died Wed., Sept. 6, 2006 at her residence. Born in Lexington, she was the daughter of the late Kyle and Eulene Coyle White. Mrs. Estep was a graduate of Versailles High School and was an office manager/bookkeeper for Cutter Construction Company. She participated in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program and was a member of Mt. Edwin Methodist Church. Survivors other than her husband include a daughter, Angel (Ed Mowl) Harris; a son, Joey (Lauren) Harris; five grandchildren, Andrew Sells, Alyssa, Aaron, Alex, and Aidan Harris; four brothers, Jim (Agnes) White, Bill (Ruth) White, Jack (Linda) White, Joe White; a sister, Carolyn (Hank) Conley; and numerous other family members. She was preceded in death by a brother, Arnold White; and a niece, Barbara Connor. Funeral services will be 12:30 pm Sat. at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Rd. by Rev. Burt Eyster. Burial will follow in Blue Grass Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 5-9 pm Fri.

Memory Eternal in Russian - a must listen

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE DEAD (Orthodox Church)

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

The choir of Saints has found the fountain of life and the door of Paradise. May I also find the way through repentance. I am the sheep that is lost: O Savior, call me back and save me.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Of old You created me from nothing and honored me with Your divine image. But when I disobeyed Your commandment, O Lord, You cast me down to the earth from where I was taken. Lead me back again to Your likeness, and renew my original beauty.

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

I am an image of Your ineffable glory, though I bear the scars of my transgressions. On Your creation, Master, take pity and cleanse me by Your compassion. Grant me the homeland for which I long and once again make me a citizen of Paradise.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Give rest, O God, to Your servant, and place her in Paradise where the choirs of the Saints and the righteous will shine as the stars of heaven. To Your departed servant give rest, O Lord, and forgive all her offenses.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The threefold radiance of the one God let us praise, and let us shout in song: Holy are You, eternal Father, coeternal Son, and divine Spirit! Illumine us who worship You in faith and deliver us from the eternal fire.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, gracious Lady, who for the salvation of all gave birth to God in the flesh, and through whom the human race has found salvation. Through you, pure and blessed Theotokos, may we find Paradise.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God (3).

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your servant Arlene where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting.

Among the spirits of the righteous made perfect, give rest, O Savior, to the soul of Your servant. Preserve it in a life of blessedness which is from You, O Lover of mankind.

Within Your peace, O Lord, where all Your saints repose, give rest also to the soul of Your servant, for You alone are immortal.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. You are our God who descended into Hades and loosened the bonds of those who were in chains. Grant rest also, O Savior, to the soul of Your servant.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Most pure and spotless Virgin, who without stain did give birth to God, intercede with Him for the salvation of the soul of your servant.

Priest: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your great love; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Again we pray for the repose of the soul of the departed servant of God Betty Arlene Estep who has fallen asleep, and for the forgiveness of all her sins, both voluntary and involuntary.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: May the Lord God place her soul where the righteous repose. Let us ask for the mercies of God, the kingdom of Heaven, and the forgiveness of her sins from Christ our immortal king and God.

People: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O God of spirits and of all flesh, You have trampled down death and have abolished the power of the devil, giving life to Your world. Give rest to the soul of Your departed servant Betty Arlene Estep in a place of light, in a place of repose, in a place of refreshment, where there is no pain, sorrow, and suffering. As a good and loving God, forgive every sin she has committed in thought, word or deed, for there is no one who lives and is sinless. You alone are without sin. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your word is truth.

Priest: For You are the resurrection, the life and the repose of Your departed servant Betty Arlene Estep Christ our God, and to You we give glory, with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good and life‑giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest: Glory to You, O God, our hope, glory to You.

Priest: May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead and as immortal King has authority over the living and the dead, have mercy on us and save us, through the intercessions of his spotless and holy Mother; of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy Apostles; of our venerable and God‑bearing Fathers; of the holy and glorious forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of his holy and righteous friend Lazarus, who lay in the grave four days; and of all the saints; establish the soul of His servant Betty Arlene Estep, departed from us, in the dwelling place of the saints; give rest to her in the bosom of Abraham and number her among the righteous.

People: Amen.

Eternal memory, eternal memory.  Blessed repose and eternal memory.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

People: Amen.