Hilarious Netflix Video Spoof

I am still not over the whole Netflix fiasco. I was telling my friend Karen about my blog posting and she told me about this YouTube video from the Conan O'Brien show that she saw. I watched it today and I could not stop laughing. I thought you might enjoy it as well.



I hope you're having a great week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

TGIF

Thank you God for Friday. Thank you for the end of a work week. Thank you for the privilege of having a job when so many people in America are unemployed. Thank you for having a job that brings me joy and that brings honor to your name. Thank you for work that makes a difference in people's lives.
I know that there are some days, even some days this past week, when I felt like I was just spinning my wheels. I wondered if I was really making a difference. It feels like there is so much more need out there than I or Habitat are able to address. There are so many people in TriState Habitat for Humanity's service area who will sleep tonight in some deplorable conditions. It honestly overwhelms me at times God.
Remind me that I am not Superman and my job is not to rescue everyone. You already sent a Savior to the world. My job is to trust in Him and in your unending grace. My job is to use the gifts that you have given me to serve families living in poverty in the best way that I can.
Thank you also God for a week that marked a milestone in my parents' marriage. It's hard to believe that they have been married for 47 years. When half of all marriages end in divorce, their love and relationship has endured. I'm grateful for the example of the love that my parents have displayed and lived out in their lives.
God, help me to find rest and renewal this weekend. I feel like I need to recharge my batteries. I want enjoy Sabbath time and also some play time. I hope to enjoy this wonderful region to which you have led me in some way. I don't know exactly what that means yet, but I trust that you will guide me.
God, most of all, thank you for your love that remains steadfast. You have led me to this place at this time and it has blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined. I am enjoying my work. I'm a part of one of the most gifted teams with which I've ever worked. I attend a church that inspires me and serves the city in some truly amazing ways. I have a family and friends who love me. I am filled with humble gratitude for your faithfulness in the midst of my life.
Thank you God for Friday and every day that are all gifts from you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Feeling Lonely

I'm feeling kind of lonely tonight. I'm not sure what's going on with me. Sometimes it just hits me. I wonder if it's a bit of depression setting in. I got to thinking about friends who live far away. I also was thinking about fun times I had with those friends in the past. I miss being with those friends. I also miss having friends who will spontaneously jump in the car and meet me for ice cream late at night. I haven't developed those kinds of friendships yet.
It's always hard for me to make new friends when I move to a new community. I think it's one of the curses of being an introvert. It just takes longer for me to build friendships than it does for extroverts. I know it will happen but I get impatient. I know getting involved in a small group at my church will help. I also know that just being in the community longer will help me to connect with people. Right now, it's just hard.
The good news is that I know God has some wonderful people out there whose paths I have yet to cross. So, I use times like this evening when I'm feeling kind of lonely to pray for those friends whom I haven't met yet. I pray that God will connect us soon. I also pray that God will allow us to be blessed by one another's companionship in wonderful and lasting ways. I also give God thanks for friends past, present, and future. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

An Open Letter to Netflix

Dear Netflix:

I have been a loyal customer of your movie rental service for a number of years. I have always thought that Netflix was a model of what good customer service could and should be for all businesses. You quickly mail DVDs to me through the U.S. Postal Service. You allow me to go online and organize my queue of movies. With the click of my mouse I can add new movies, rate them, and read what others have to say about them. Since you started offering the streaming option, I have been absolutely delighted. The quality has been great. There's nothing quite like the convenience of being able to watch a movie on demand through my computer.
I also have been impressed with the ways in which your company has approached customer service. You have set new standards in this area. You tell  me via email when you've shipped a DVD. You tell me when you have received a DVD I've sent back to you. You happily replace a DVD that gets scratched or cracked in transit with no questions asked. You often check in with me to monitor when my DVDs arrive in the mail and how the quality of the picture was on streaming movies I watched.
On top of all of this, your selection is fantastic. I don't know of any other company that has the number of movies and television shows that you offer for rental. It overwhelms me sometimes when I think about it. Whenever I learn about a classic movie that I've not seen before, I can usually find it through Netflix. I can also find what I would consider obscure films and television shows that no one else bothers to carry in stock or offer. Your library is truly a gift and one of your greatest assets.
In fact, you are my main source of entertainment. I decided a few years ago to dump cable television and get rabbit ears for my TV. I then started watching all kinds of television programs on DVD and streaming through Netflix. Your company has saved me a bunch of money that would have been wasted on cable television as well as spared me from the deplorable customer service provided by Time Warner Cable and Comcast. I felt as if by shunning cable television and embracing Netflix, I was gaining more control and dealing with a company that was reliable and I really respected.
In the last several weeks, I feel obligated to share with you that my respect for your company has decreased. I first received the email notice about the two tiered pricing structure for DVDs and for streaming. I didn't like the price increase and I don't think you did a very good job of explaining why you were making the change. However, I still felt that Netflix was a good deal and that while I thought the price increase was a big jump, I decided to stay with my combination subscription of DVDs and streaming.
This week I received an email from Reed Hastings, Co-Founder and CEO, of Netflix, informing me of a whole new set of changes regarding the splitting up of the DVDs subscription into a new service called Quickster and the streaming service will remain as Netflix. On top of this split, it also means that if I want to keep both subscriptions, the two services will be related to two separate websites. While I've really enjoyed the ease of one integrated Netflix website, now you are making it more difficult for me to receive the full benefits of your entertainment service. I understand that if I rate a movie in Quickster that rating won't translate over to the Netflix website. Also, I will have to check both websites to see what's available on streaming and what is available via DVD only. It feels like this will more difficult than just dealing with one integrated website. All of this would seem to add up to more confusion and less customer satisfaction.
What I've read in articles regarding the changes that you are making is that the future for your business is in streaming entertainment over the Internet. I get that. I understand that Netflix needs to move more and more in that direction. I realize that it is more cost effective for Netflix to stream movies to me than to pay for the postage to mail a DVD to me. This means more profits for your company and ultimately for your shareholders. Who knows, I may be one of the folks who benefits from this future shift as a shareholder through my retirement investments. I'm not really sure about that but I guess it's possible.
However, what I don't really understand at all is the lack of and confusing communication about the nature and rationale for these changes. It feels like you have not listened to your customers at all. In many ways it smacks of a kind of "we know what's best for you" attitude toward your loyal and faithful customers. It feels like you are going the way of Time Warner Cable and Comcast. I find it hard to believe that you didn't do any market testing and gathering of data and anticipated customer responses before you made these changes. That would indeed be poor business practice and demonstrate a true lack of insight.
I guess I just needed to express to you how disappointed I am in all of this. I feel confused and really frustrated. I feel ignored and unvalued. I feel as if you are taking my business for granted.
I know that you might be thinking that I'm overreacting. It's just entertainment after all. However, by it's very definition, enterainment seems like it should be something that is an enjoyable experience for the consumer. I deal with enough change and difficult things at work and in day to day living. I would hope that Netflix could be a dependendable friend to help me escape all of that other stress producing stuff in life even if just for a little while as I watch a movie.
I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet. I feel like I need to give the new system a chance. While change is hard for all of us, I don't ever want to be opposed to change simply because I don't have a full grasp of all the rationale behind the change. So, for now, you still have my business. I hope that this has just been a glitch in your company's history. I will give you what will now be a third chance.
However, you need to know that you no longer have my complete loyalty as a Netflix customer. You have my business but not my complete trust. In fact, I will be on the lookout for other companies who might offer me the same kind of service without all of the corporate drama. I don't know of any yet, but my guess is that there are creative folks out there who are going to use this time of mass customer defections from your company to create something new that will compete with your service in a way that you have not experienced before. My guess is the coming months are going to be pretty painful for your leadership, your shareholders, and employees.
My hope is that while it may be a very uncomfortable time for Netflix, I hope it will also be a season of listening and learning. Those two things combined could make Netflix even better and open doors to new and exciting possibilities for the future.
I wish you well and hope for the best.

Sincerely,
Kevin Buckley

News Blackout

Yesterday was another quiet day for me. It was probably too quiet. I ended up taking a long nap and then had trouble getting to sleep last night. I finally fell asleep around 1:30 AM. This was a huge problem for me when my alarm went off at 5:30 this morning so that I could meet my friend Karen to walk. I was a real zombie this morning.
I decided yesterday that I was not going to sit in front of the television yesterday watching all all of the ten year anniversary September 11 coverage. I watched little bit when I first got up in the morning and then listened to coverage on NPR on my drive to and from church. But besides that, I didn't watch much of it at all. I decided to put myself under a news blackout. It's not because I didn't think it was important to remember that horrible day in American history. It was more a way for me to say, as I did in my post yesterday, that life goes on.
I remember I was glued to the television back in 2001. I saw the image of the planes flying into the World Trade Center towers so many times, I felt numb. I heard all of the stories of survivors and all of the stories of family members of victims. I read everything I could in the news and online. Along with this, I was given the extra responsibility of trying to preach sermons in response to the terrorist attacks.
When I look back on those days and weeks following September 11, 2001, I realize that it was only by the grace of God that I was able to move through days. And this is also how I wanted to focus my heart on the tenth anniversary. I wanted to pause and give thanks for God's amazing grace in my life and along my journey since that time.
My pastor said it this way in his sermon on Sunday:

I like the way Julian of Norwich put it. Julian of Norwich lived in the fourteenth century during the Black Plague. Every day was 9/11 for her. But she had great hope that grew out of her faith as she faced the depths of the trials of her day. She wrote these lines: But all shall be well, And all shall be well, And all manner of things shall be well…He did not say, “You shall know no storms, no travails, no disease,” He said, “You shall not be overcome.”

Wow. What power. God did not say, “You shall have no storms.” God did not say, “You shall have no terrorists, you shall have no fires, you shall have no death.” God said, “You shall not be overcome.” All shall be well.
On this day, are the promises and protection of God enough for us? Are we able to say “All shall be well?” We may have to say it with a tear in our eyes. We may have to say it with a lump in our throats. We may have say to it with clenched fists. But in that whisper is eternity itself.
God’s faithful promises are our armor. Hope is in the enduring memory of God’s protection.
When the final 9/11 television special signs off for the evening, the last analysis has been offered, the last commentary spoken, and the last editorial written, I can think of no more beautiful eulogy than to say: But all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well…He did not say, “You shall know no storms, no travails, no disease,” He said, “You shall not be overcome.”

So, yesterday I napped and rested trusting that all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Tree Planted by the Water

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I saw this video as I was surfing the web today thinking about what I wanted to blog about on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The video struck a powerful chord with me. Even in the midst of the horror that scarred our nation on that day ten years ago, life goes on. Though we felt mangled and helpless and vulnerable, God gave us the grace to experience the only thing that really matters - God's love. God was and is with us calling us to new life, forgiveness, and healing so that we might be like trees that never fail to bear fruit.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
- Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV
 
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Quiet Day

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:28-30, NIV

Today has been a very quiet day. The biggest thing I accomplished was doing laundry.
I really like quiet days like this. I guess it comes with being an introvert. Some folks might think I'm a hermit but it's really more than that for me. Days like today help me to recharge my batteries. These are days to rest, relax, and renew. They are days to catch up on my Netflix, read, and sneak in a nap.
I am grateful quiet days like today that help to restore my soul and body.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

New Phone

Well, I finally did it. I got a new cell phone today. This is a major milestone in my life because this is only the second cell phone that I have ever owned. I got my first cell phone in 2006 in my home town of Mishawaka, Indiana right before I moved to Knoxville Tennessee. The reason that I decided to get a new cell phone was because my old cell phone was having a hard time keeping a charge. I think this might have been what caused my problem earlier this summer when I my phone shut off and I didn't know how to turn it back on.
When I went to the Verizon store today to get the new cell phone, the guy who helped me (who was probably still in elementary school when I got my first cell phone) said, "Your phone is really old." He then proceeded to try to sell me a smart phone with all kinds of bells and whistles. I told him "no." He then showed me their basic phones that were on display in the store. He suggested that I get one with a keyboard for texting and a camera. I told him "no". I then asked him if they had any other basic phone models in stock that were not on display. They had a catalogue and I pointed to some phones and he thought they did have a few of them in the back. I told him I had a $50 credit on my account and I wanted to use that to get a phone and that I hoped that they had phones that would not cost me anything if I used my credit. He went into the back stock room and emerged with my new phone. He told me that I would not have to pay anything for this if I used my $50 credit and that I could walk out of the store with a new phone. The salesman also warned me that this phone didn't take photos, connect to the Internet, or have a flip out keyboard for sending texts. He said it was just a "plain Jane phone." I told him that it sounded perfect.
So, I've spent the evening reading the manual for my new phone. I know. Most people just know how to use their phones and never even unwrap the manual but that's not how I'm wired. I like to read the manual and learn all of the little tricks to operating new phone. Of course, there are very few little tricks because by the rest of the world's standards, I am now the proud owner of the world's most boring phone.
In spite of the fact that I am really excited about my new phone, I also will miss my old phone. I may try to donate my old phone to the Smithsonian. Maybe they will display it next to Dorothy's ruby slippers.
That old phone has been my communication device with the world for the past five years. I think about all of the conversations I have had with friends and family using that phone. I have laughed deeply and shed many tears while using that old phone. I have heard good news and bad news while talking on that phone. I was talking on that old phone when I was offered the Family Services Coordinator position at TriState Habitat for Humanity. I have renewed relationships with old friends and talked for the first time when people who would become new friends. I have made plans and cancelled plans. I have offered and received words of encouragement on that old phone. That phone traveled with me from Indiana to Tennessee to Ohio. It went with me when I traveled. It has been the alarm that has awakened me every morning for the past five years. It has been a faithful companion and I will be sad to see it go.
I am grateful for both my new phone and my old phone. I am grateful for memories and new beginnings. I am thankful for new technology that will carry me into the next season of my life and journey.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Walking Advertisement

I stopped a local restaurant this evening on my way home from work to get some dinner. As I sat down at my table, a woman sitting at a table nearby said, "There's someone from Habitat." I wondered how she knew I was with Habitat for Humanity and then I realized I was wearing a shirt with the TriState Habitat for Humanity logo on it. Duh!
Anyway, I went over to the table and the woman introduced herself and her husband who was sitting with her to me. I introduced myself. We then talked for several minutes and I discovered that this couple volunteers with the Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity affiliate. They are very active construction volunteers and have been volunteering with Habitat for a number of years. In fact, they met for the first time as a single people on a Habitat job site and are now married.
After our conversation, I went back to my table and said a prayer of thanksgiving for running into these two dedicated Habitat volunteers. I was so glad that I was wearing my shirt. I am proud to be a walking advertisement for Habitat. I am passionate about our mission and the work that we do. I want the world to know the difference that Habitat is making in the TriState region, the United States, and around the world. I am so proud to be able to represent Habitat and to be able to connect with others who share my passion for bringing an end to poverty housing in the world.
I also got to thinking about how I am not always the best walking advertisement for my faith. I don't always represent Christ to the world in the most positive manner. I only need to look to my morning commute to recognize this. I am too often filled with road rage and certainly don't offer much grace to the drivers around me who I am convinced are all on the road driving stupidly just to make me mad.
I also am not the best ambassador for Christ when I remain silent in the face of the injustice I see in life. I often times would rather just not make any waves rather than stand up for what I know to be right in God's eyes. I take the easy way out by often people are led to believe that I accept the injustice that is taking place because I am silent.
So, tonight I'm giving God thanks for the opportunity I had to be a witness for the mission of Habitat. I am also praying that God will give me the courage and peace to be a more faithful witness for Jesus in the world.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Discipline

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

- 2 Timothy 1:7, NIV

Discipline. This is one of the things that often seems to be lacking in my life. I have times when I get really focused and can be disciplined on a specific thing, but sooner or later, I seem to slip back into old patterns that are undisciplined and even harmful to me.
This is certainly true when it comes to my physical health. I have so many times started diets and not stayed with them. I have started exercise programs and have not stayed with them. I have tried to watch my eating and tried to live a more healthy lifestyle and in the end I fail miserably at this.
I also feel that I lack discpline in my work life. I try to be more organized and plan ahead better. What usually ends up happening is that I procrastinate and run around feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I have attended workshops to help me deal with clutter on my desk and how to use my time better. I do well for a while and then it gets out of control. Right now, I have the beginnings of an unruly nest of papers that need to be filed. I fear that it soon will become a tall stack of stuff that will fill my desk.
I also feel like I lack much discipline in my spiritual life. I try to grow in my prayer life and add new ways of experiencing God. I may stick with them for a while and then I either lose interest or the will to stick with them. I seem to lack a kind of inner discipline even when it comes to the most importation relationship in my life.
The good news is that God is a God of grace and new beginnings. Every time I fall off the diet wagon, stack papers up to the ceiling on my desk, or don't take the time to nurture my relationship with God, God is still there to love me. God helps me start again. God renews my strength and reminds me that all things are possible through Christ Who strengthens me. God loves me where I am empowers me to grow in love and discipline in life and faith. Thanks be to God!

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Great Weekend

I have come to the end of a really great weekend. I got a call from my friend Mari to say she made it home to South Bend okay. We packed a lot of activities into our extended weekend. We had a good balance of tourist stuff and down time watching movies. I'm grateful for Mari's willingness to travel all the way here to visit. I'm also grateful for her willingness to put up with me. I am much more tolerable in small doses so Mari's willingness to put up with me for four whole days says a whole lot about her graciousness.
Now, it's back to work tomorrow. I'm hoping there are new applications for home ownership awaiting me when I get back to the office. I also hope we are able to get a family recruitment direct mailing out this week. Along with some extra meetings, it looks like it will be a busy week.
I hope you had a good holiday weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Friday Recap - Part 2

I'm continuing on with my recap of my big tourist day on Friday. After crossing the Ohio River on the Augusta Ferry, we were in the downtown historic area in Augusta, Kentucky and ready for our next tourist stop.

Rosemary Clooney Museum - The Rosemary Clooney House is owned by Dr. Steve Henry, former KY Lt. Gov., and his wife, Heather French Henry, former Miss America (who was born in Augusta). The museum was established to preserve Rosemary Clooney's house, to open it to the public and to house memorabilia from her life and career.

Starting in 1980 Rosemary began calling Augusta's 106 Riverside Drive home. Located on the banks of the Ohio River in historical Augusta, KY, this was her retreat from the demands of her career and a haven for rest between performances all over the world.
The house is a beautiful Federal style home. I think I was most surprised by how small it was. Knowing that Rosemary Clooney owned a huge mansion in Beverly Hills, her house in Augusta was tiny in comparison. The house has just two bedrooms that are not very big. In fact, they have Rosemary's big brass bed in her former bedroom and it took up half the room.

• The house is filled with all kinds of memorabilia from Rosemary Clooney's life including:
• childhood photos from her years in Maysville, KY
• the largest collection of White Christmas memorabilia anywhere in the world
• costumes worn by Bing, Bob, Vera, and Rosemary, as well as sketches by Edith Head and Bob Mackie for designs worn by Rosemary including the iconic red dress with white fur muff that Rosemary wore in White Christmas
• building materials from the demolition of her mansion at 1019 Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills

  Our tour guide was a hoot. She talked almost non-stop. She has lived in Augusta for over fifty years and seemed to know all about Rosemary, her family, and career. She shared some behind the scenes stories about Rosemary's personal life and relationships.

The museum also includes a bunch of memorabilia from movies that George Clooney has stared in or directed. His costumes from Up in the Air and Leatherheads are on display as well as a bunch of his movie posters.

You can check out the Rosemary Clooney Museum at http://www.rosemaryclooney.org/index.html

The Parkview Country Inn - After spending time at Rosemary's place, we were hungry and ready for lunch. My friend Roslyn recommended that we try the lunch buffet at the Parkview Country Inn. The Parkview Country Inn was constructed in the early 1800's. The Inn originally included a tavern. The tavern area is now the main lobby and sitting area. The Inn is operated as a bed and breakfast.
The lunch buffet was quite tasty. We even splurged and ordered dessert. I had black raspberry cobbler with ice cream. It was delicious! Over lunch we laughed and visited and Mari and Roslyn got to know one another better.
When we came out of the Inn, we had a little excitement in trying to get out of town to our next destination. They were getting ready for Augusta's Heritage Days Festival and they had the road blocked off by vehicles in one direction and by barricades in the other. We narrowly escaped being trapped in Augusta forever by sneaking down an alley and cutting through a parking lot and then we were on our way.
You can check out the Parkview Country Inn at http://parkviewcountryinn.com/

Maysville, Kentucky - We moved on down the road next to Maysville, Kentucky. Maysville is another beautiful historic river town along the Ohio. The architecture is amazing. I am in awe of how many of the historic buildings had been and are being restored. The downtown area is like stepping back in time. I could hardly take it all in.
According to Wikipedia frontiersman Simon Kenton made the first settlement in the area in 1775 but was forced out by the western battles of the American Revolution. Returning in 1784, Kenton built a blockhouse at the site of Maysville and founded Kenton's Station (frontier fort) at a site three miles (5 km) inland. Kenton met new settlers at Limestone, as the landing place was called, and escorted them inland to his station. In 1786 the village which grew up near Kenton's Station was established by act of the Virginia General Assembly as the town of Washington. By this time John May had acquired the land at Limestone and Daniel Boone established a trading post and tavern there. In 1787 the little settlement was incorporated as Maysville, though the name Limestone persisted well into the 19th century.

Maysville was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. The abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe visited the area in 1833 and witnessed a slave auction in front of the county court house in Washington, Kentucky. Stowe included the scene in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, published in 1852.

I wish we would have been able to spend more time in Maysville walking around the historic district. It's definitely some place that I want to visit again. You can learn more about Maysville at http://www.cityofmaysville.com/

Ripley, Ohio - We crossed the Ohio River again on the William H. Harsha Bridge which is a huge suspension bridge that is quite impressive. Once we crossed the river, we headed west again along the river towards Ripley, Ohio.
Colonel James Poage, a veteran of the American Revolution, arrived in the free state of Ohio from Staunton, Virginia in 1804 to claim the 1000 acres he had been granted in what was then the Virginia Military District. Poage was among a large group of veterans who received land grants beyond the Ohio for their service and freed their slaves when they settled there. Poage and his family laid out the town of Staunton in 1812; it was renamed in 1816 to honor General Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, an American officer of the War of 1812.

The proximity of the river and of the slave state of Kentucky on the opposite shore led to Ripley's role as an early stop on the Underground Railroad, a network of citizens helping slaves escape north to freedom. A number of prominent abolitionists lived in the town in the 1800s, mainly on Front Street near the river, including John Rankin, former slave John Parker, Thomas McCague, Thomas Collins and Dr. Alexander Campbell.
You can learn more about the history of Ripley at http://www.ripleyohio.net/

Rankin House - When we arrived in Ripley, we drove up the steep hill overlooking the town and Ohio River and arrived at the Rankin House. A National Historic Landmark, this was the home of Presbyterian minister John Rankin who is reputed to have been one of Ohio's first and most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad. In addition, he wrote Letters on American Slavery, first published in book form in 1826, and among the first clearly articulated antislavery views printed west of the Appalachians. Letters on American Slavery became standard reading for abolitionists all over the United States by the 1830s. From 1822 to 1865, Rankin, along with his wife and children, assisted hundreds of escaped slaves in their trek to freedom. Located on the Ohio River, John Rankin's home (and Ripley, Ohio in general) were considered one of the first stations on this route of the Underground Railroad. It was here that Harriet Beecher Stowe heard the escaping slave's story which became the basis for part of her famous work, Uncle Tom's Cabin. John Parker, a Ripley abolitionist and former slave who was active in the Underground Railroad, wrote of Rankin, "At times attacked on all sides by masters seeking their slaves, [John Rankin and his sons] beat back their assailant, and held its threshold unsullied. A lighted candle stood as a beacon which could be seen from across the river, and like the north star was the guide to the fleeing slave." (see photo above)
Visiting the Rankin House was like standing on holy ground for me. I kept thinking about all of those who climbed that steep hill in their quest for freedom from oppression. I thought about the Rankin family and all those who risked their lives to help escaped slaves. Slavery is certainly the most vial institution ever conceived and we need to have landmarks like the Rankin House to remind us how far we have come as a nation and that there are still people today longing for freedom in our world.
You can learn more about the Rankin House at http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw14/index.shtml

Parker House - John Parker (1827-1900), a former slave, lived in this house, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, from about 1853 until his death, and from this location planned many rescue attempts of slaves held captive in the "borderlands" of Kentucky. Born a slave in Norfolk, Virginia, Parker was sold at the age of eight to a doctor in Mobile, Alabama. The doctor's family taught Parker to read and write and allowed him to apprentice in an iron foundry where he was compensated and permitted to keep some of his earnings. Persuading an elderly female patient of the doctor's to purchase him, Parker, at the age of 18, bought his freedom from the woman with money earned from his apprenticeship. Parker moved to southern Ohio and around 1853 established a successful foundry behind his home in Ripley. Patenting a number of inventions from his foundry, Parker was one of only a few African Americans to obtain a U.S. patent in the 19th century. Though busy with his business, Parker was also active in the Underground Railroad and is believed to have assisted many slaves to escape from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Parker, who was well-known by regional slave-catchers, risked his own life when he secreted himself back into slave territory to lead fugitive slaves to safety in Ripley. Once the slaves were in Ripley, Parker would deliver them to Underground Railroad conductors in the town, such as John Rankin, who would harbor the fugitive slaves and help them to the next depot on the network. In the 1880s, Parker recounted his life as an Underground Railroad conductor in a series of interviews with journalist Frank M. Gregg. These interviews have recently been edited by Stuart Seely Sprague and published as His Promised Land: The Autobiography of John P. Parker Former Slave and Conductor on the Underground Railroad.
We had a great docent at the Parker House. He really knew all of the history and gave us a complete account of Parker's life. You can learn more about the Parker House at http://johnparkerhouse.org/

After our visit to the Parker House, we headed home. It was a long but really good day full of laughter, good friends, good food, and great American history. I am so grateful to Roslyn for doing all of the research before our trip and for driving us around. It was truly a day of blessings.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Friday Recap

After getting a good night's sleep last night, I am ready to go for another day. I don't know what we plan to do yet. We may just be lazy, watch movies, and try to stay cool.
Here's a recap of our activities yesterday along with some color commentary:

Maple Creek Artisan School - My friend Roslyn said that she had seen a sign for an artisan school and always wanted to check it out. So, on our way to our other stops, when she saw the sign, we turned down the road. We drove down a winding country road through a rather dense forest. I wondered as we drove along what in the world and who in the world could be living back in this woods. I told Roslyn and Mari and I was not really interested in joining some secret cult back in the woods. Who knows how many ticks I might get? After about a mile or so we came to a sign that identified Maple Creek Artisan School. It was a large log structure poised on the side of a hill in a beautiful wooded setting. It looked deserted to me so I just figured we would turn around and get the heck out of there before the cult members woke from their slumber and tried to get us to sample their Kool-Aid. But then we saw the sign that said "gallery". So, we decided to get out and see if anyone was around. The sign said they were open but I didn't see any lights on. We got out of the car and moved up the steep sloping walk to the log building. The whole time I was glancing around wondering if the Blair Witch was going to jump out and try to steal my soul. We walked up on the long porch and still no signs of life. There were some pottery pieces on display on rough hewn tables. They were really pretty and I was now feeling disappointed that we couldn't look at the gallery. I looked in the windows and didn't see any lights on. I moved down the porch to the main door and then saw a light on inside. I didn't think the door would be unlocked. Obviously everyone was tired from the night before when the cult members were out in some forest clearing sacrificing animals to some pagan god they worshipped. I thought it would be better if we got in the car and headed back to civilization. However, when I tried the door handle, it turned. I pushed the door in and it swung open and there was a woman holding a broom moving through the large building turning on lights. I wasn't sure at first if the broom was simply a cleaning device or her mode of transportation. She smiled and greeted us and welcomed us to the gallery.
What a treat the gallery was. They had all kinds of stuff on display. Much of it was from their students and other local artists. There was a lot of beautiful pottery. There were wooden bowls and carved figurines. There were some absolutely amazing pieces of furniture. They had rugs and wall hangings and blankets and quilts. There were paintings and photographs. They had some metalwork and handmade walking sticks. It was a huge display and I had a hard time taking it all in.
We also discovered that they offer classes there. Students are able to sell their works in the gallery. They have a regular pottery class in which students can have their works fired in a regular kiln, a gas powered kiln, and once a year they fire pieces in a wood fired kiln. We got to go down into the pottery studio and see some of the things that the students are currently working on.
The main building was constructed from the wood from two dismantled old barns in St. Leon, Indiana. They had photos of the two barns on display. I could see the wonderful care that had been taken to make these old materials useful again in a whole new way. I was most impressed by this.
The mission of the Maple Creek Artisan School is to provide and maintain a traditional arts education community with a focus on nature, fostering new artists and furthering the heritage of Appalachia. If you would like to check them out on the web and or plan a visit there go to http://maplecreekart.com/index.html

Augusta Ferry - We left the artisan school and were back on the road. Roslyn had shared that we were going to cross the Ohio River via ferry. I was excited about this because I've only ever been on a ferry twice in my life and I just think it is so cook that you can park your car on a boat and sail off across the water. Roslyn said we were going to get on the Augusta Ferry which takes you across river to the town of Augusta Kentucky. Just as we pulled into the dock area for the Augusta Ferry, we saw the ferry pulling away. The ferry was about twenty feet off shore and I suggested to Roslyn that she could still make it if she got up enough speed. She evidently didn't think this was a good idea. Of course we were all disappointed but knew that we could probably keep ourselves entertained for the time that the ferry made a round trip back to the dock. Then, we noticed that the ferry seemed to be moving back to the shoreline. Sure enough, the ferry captain was chugging back to get us. He glided back to the dock, dropped the safety cable, and Roslyn drove her car forward and parked on the ferry. We then were able to get out and stand on the deck of the ferry. The Ohio River is beautiful in this stretch. It's wide and as we pulled away from the shore, I looked back to see the rolling hills and ridge line that runs parallel to the river on the Ohio side. We could also see the town of Augusta as we headed across the river. While it was pretty hot yesterday, there was a nice breeze on the river. The ferry docked on the Kentucky shore and we drove off into the historic downtown area of Augusta.

Augusta, Kentucky - The area was part of a Revolutionary War grant by Virginia to Capt. Phillip Buckner, who first visited here in 1781. Buckner returned in 1796 with 40 Virginia families. The Legislature of Kentucky issued its charter on October 2, 1797. At the request of Capt. Buckner, the town trustees were chosen and Buckner deeded them 600 acres of land on which the city is located.
The city was named after Augusta County, Virginia. The city grew quickly and in 1796 became county seat of the Extensive Bracken County Area. The location was moved to Oxford then back to Augusta then finally to Brooksville in 1839 as county seat. The city was home to five separate schools, one private four public. The most famous built was the Augusta College, which served the entire Bracken area until 1887. The college continued to serve the city until October 31, 1896.
The downtown historic district is beautiful. There are homes (some dating back to the 1790's) that line the street along the Ohio River. There are many Federal style buildings as well as Victorian and Antebellum styled homes.
In the last quarter century, Augusta has been best known as the site of three major films: Michner’s Centennial, PBS’ Huckleberry Finn, and Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers. Augusta is also the home of the Nick and Nina Clooney family, former home of Rosemary Clooney and Miss America 2000, Heather Renee French Henry. Noted Playwright Stuart Armstrong Walker was raised on Riverside Drive and later patented the portable stage and introduced the individual spotlight system used in theatres today.
As we drove off the ferry and along the river front street and looked at the amazingly well preserved historic architecture, it felt like we were being transported back in time. You can learn more about Augusta at their website: http://www.augustaky.com/

To be continued tomorrow. . . . Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Vacation Activities

My friend Mari made it into town this morning. We had a nice day. We went to the public library in Hamilton and checked out a couple of movies to watch over the weekend. After lunch we then spent the afternoon at Ikea and a local used bookstore. After eating supper, we took a short walk to burn off a few calories and then settled in to watch a movie.
Tomorrow we are off to be tourists. We are going to meet up with my friend Roslyn. The three of us are going to visit historic sites in the area related to the Underground Railroad including some old mansions where fugitive slaves found refuge after crossing the Ohio River. We also plan to cross the river on a ferry and visit the town of Augusta, Kentucky. From the research I've done, it looks like Augusta is a small river town and has some shops that we will probably wander through. I also discovered that Augusta has a museum dedicated to the life and career of Rosemary Clooney. Also, this is the town in which George Clooney grew up. Who knows, maybe we will catch a glimpse of George wandering the town as he takes a break from his busy film career. I don't think I will hold my breath on this but I guess anything is possible.
It looks like it's going to be a fun day. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Cleaning

My friend Mari is coming to visit. In preparation for her visit, I spent some of this last weekend doing some extra cleaning in my apartment. After doing this, I realized my apartment really needed some extra TLC. While I try not to let it get too out of control, there are just some things I don't like to do.
One task I really hate is scrubbing the bathtub. For me, this is a pain in the neck. I aways have a hard time getting my tub really clean. There always seems to be gunk in the grout that won't come out or soap scum that seems to be fused with the tub itself. Thankfully, we have really good water in Hamilton and there is not a lot of lime or iron in it. In one parsonage I lived in, it took about two days for the toilets to turn orange from all the iron in the water.
In addition, I think I would like my life's motto to be "I don't do windows." Mostly I just keep the blinds closed so I don't have to see how bad the windows are. I don't know how they get so dirty. I could understand it if I had kids putting their hand prints all over them. However, it's just me and I try not to mess with my windows. Cleaning windows when they streak and smear drives me crazy.
I think the household chore I hate the most is dusting. This task just never seems to be done. As soon as something is dusted more dust seems to come from other parts of the world and gather on all of my stuff. I don't know where dust bunnies come from but I wish they would keep on hopping away from my apartment.
One thing about having company is that it does give me an opportunity to do some of this extra cleaning. When it's just me, I don't really care all that much about dust or dirty windows or soap scum on the bathtub. However, when I know someone else is going to see these things, I want to avoid having my guests run screaming from my apartment for fear they may get eaten by a giant dust bunny or need a tetanus shot after they use my bathroom.
I'm grateful to have most of the straightening done already. I still need to do some more dusting, clean the kitchen really well and give some more attention to the sliding glass door. I know it won't be perfect. I also know that Mari won't really care. But I care because for me this is a part of offering good hospitality. So, I'll do my best and keep on cleaning in preparation for what I know is going to be a great weekend.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

More Like You

More like you, Jesus, more like you
Fill my heart with your desire
to make me more like you.

- More Like You, Scott Wesley Brown

We sang this song today in worship. We have sung it before. It's just a simple praise chorus but for some reason it really hit my heart today. I felt as if God was trying to speak to me on a deeper level through this song. As I sang the words, I found myself in a very focused prayerful state of being. I almost didn't want it to end because I felt like I was connecting with God in a very intimate way as I sang my praise to my Creator.
Now that I think about it, this is really a scary prayer to pray. Because if I'm really serious about becoming more like Jesus then I've got to really get rid of a bunch of baggage. I need to be able to love more deeply and forgive more readily. I need to be willing to do what God wants in my life and not what I want. I need to be willing to walk difficult paths and trust in God to guide me.
I'm definitely not there yet. I've made some progress but for every step forward it seems that I take about three steps backward. I ask God to make me more loving and then God always seems to put people in my path who I find it difficult to love. I ask God to give me more peace and then God seems to allow the storms of my life to flare up and I become consumed by stress and worry. I desire to be more holy so that others may look upon my life as an example and then I say or do something that is far from holy. The truth is, I mess up because I am messed up by the human condition of sin.
While it would be tempting to just throw up my hands and forget it all and wallow in my sin. I know that is not the life God wants for me. So, I boldly and humbling continue to pray "More like you, Jesus, more like you." And each time I pray this prayer, God works in some new way in my heart. God moves me to do something I wouldn't normally do. God reveals to me something that I had not seen before. God shows me again the path of holy living and promises to walk with me.
So, tonight I'm giving God thanks for this moment of prayer, song, and praise to the One Who calls me by name. I'm giving thanks to Jesus who leads me and sometimes carries me when I don't have the strength to make the journey on my own. I'm filled with gratitude for my loving God Who molds me and shapes me into a new creation. I'm blessed by a Savior who calls me to follow him and be more like him every day.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Wonderful Evening of Writing

I just got back home from the gathering of writers. It was a reunion of folks who were in my writing class and I also invited my former boss from Habitat to join us. We had the most wonderful evening. One of the people in the group hosted us in his home. His wife treated us to a delicious dinner. I felt like I was in heaven - good food, laughter, and writing. It really doesn't get much better than that for me.
It looks like we are going to try to get together once a month. We are going to share what we've written and get feedback. I am glad to have this as a part of life. I think it will really help me to be more disciplined in my writing. Tonight really got me excited again about my novel. Hopefully I will get back in the groove.
Well, it's an early day for me tomorow so I think I'm headed to bed. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

P.S. - Thanks for your continued prayers for our family recruitment efforts at Habitat. In the past two days, we received seven more new applications. I am so excited!

Another Quote of the Day

I shared the amusing quote of the day from one of my co-workers yesterday. Well, I have another one to share with you. Today I was whining about the up and down fluctuation of the stock market. I complained that because our politicians can't get their act together, my retirement account is suffering. One of my co-workers tried to comfort me by telling me not to worry about the stock market. She said; "You never know what might happen. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow."
Well, that pretty much got my mind off the stock market and my retirement. Now I'm worrying about speeding buses. It certainly is never dull around my office.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Quote of the Day

Sometimes things just get a little silly at my office. Today was one of those days. I was helping my friend Karen clear a jam out of the copy machine. In order to do this I had to get down on the floor on my knees. Once I cleared the jam I tried to stand up. There wasn't anything to hang onto to help pull myself up and I struggled to get back on my feet. I said to Karen, "I need a winch to help me get up." Karen misunderstood me and must have thought I said "I need a wench to help me get up." I think Karen was a bit offended and surprised by my seemingly derogatory and sexist statement.
Our Office Manager then said, "No, he needs a pulley system, not a woman."
Well, I couldn't stop giggling about this for the rest of the day. I think if I ever write an autobiography, this might make a good title. :)
"No, he needs a pulley system, not a woman" is definitely the quote of the day and probably the week and it's only Monday. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Blessing in Disguise

Earlier this week my email account was hacked. Someone stole my password and started sending out spam to everyone in my contact list. It looks like most of the emails were meant to infect people's computers with viruses if they opened them. Thankfully, I think I now have the problem corrected.
I decided to send an email out to everyone on my email contact list apologizing that they might have received spam from me that could have caused damage to their computers. The wonderful thing was that I have had several email responses from folks that I have not talked to in a very long time. It's been a huge joy for me to check my email for the past few days as I catch up with friends. I have been reminded of so many wonderful people who have crossed my path in life and had a huge impact upon me.
These emails have been a sign of God's grace to me through the relationships that have helped define my life.
So, while I don't recommended having your email account hacked, it can be a blessing in disguise. Thank you for being a part of my journey!