Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 125
May 22, 2016
What's your DIY project?
Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:18-20 New Living Translation
Before I headed into my office last night to write this blog, I asked the hubby what I should blog about. He is a very creative man, in his own sometimes warped way, and makes up poems off the top of his head. (Our family classic would be the famous, “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the microwave 20 minutes old”, on the night that we ate our entire dinner while the peas waited patiently in the microwave.)
We had been watching a DIY program where these two house-flippers needed to raise the whole house nine feet to comply with flood codes. It looked like a lot of work and I thought the house should just be torn down and they should start from scratch.
Speaking of starting from scratch, about that time, Hubby chimes in with, “write about lifting a house. Write your blog about raising a house in the air.”
The passage above is the first one that I thought of. Maybe they didn’t raise the whole house to get that paralyzed man in to see Jesus, but they did raise the roof.
When Jesus walked this earth as a man, sometimes people had to go to such extremes to see Him or be touched by Him. Once Jesus died on the cross and was raised again, that all changed. Jesus is with us every day everywhere we go. We don’t have to raise the roof or crawl under the house or do anything spectacular to be with Him. We only have to believe and ask Him into our lives and our hearts. It’s a pretty easy DIY project, especially because you aren't doing it by yourself. God's the best contractor there is.
Thank you God for sending Your one and only Son to this earth to save us all. Amen
Before I headed into my office last night to write this blog, I asked the hubby what I should blog about. He is a very creative man, in his own sometimes warped way, and makes up poems off the top of his head. (Our family classic would be the famous, “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the microwave 20 minutes old”, on the night that we ate our entire dinner while the peas waited patiently in the microwave.)
We had been watching a DIY program where these two house-flippers needed to raise the whole house nine feet to comply with flood codes. It looked like a lot of work and I thought the house should just be torn down and they should start from scratch.
Speaking of starting from scratch, about that time, Hubby chimes in with, “write about lifting a house. Write your blog about raising a house in the air.”
The passage above is the first one that I thought of. Maybe they didn’t raise the whole house to get that paralyzed man in to see Jesus, but they did raise the roof.
When Jesus walked this earth as a man, sometimes people had to go to such extremes to see Him or be touched by Him. Once Jesus died on the cross and was raised again, that all changed. Jesus is with us every day everywhere we go. We don’t have to raise the roof or crawl under the house or do anything spectacular to be with Him. We only have to believe and ask Him into our lives and our hearts. It’s a pretty easy DIY project, especially because you aren't doing it by yourself. God's the best contractor there is.
Thank you God for sending Your one and only Son to this earth to save us all. Amen
May 20, 2016
And the bridge goes up
I’m not gonna lie. This was one of the coolest things we saw on vacation the first week in April.
Because Hubby and I bounce out of bed at the crack of dawn 365 days out of the year, we are up and getting ready for our day by six or seven a.m., even if we are on vacation. The day we planned on going to Joliet was no exception. We left the resort by 8:15 and arrived at the Museum in downtown Joliet an hour later. Unfortunately, the museum didn’t open until ten. The sun was shining and though it was only 34 degrees out, we thought we would take a walk around.
We got as far as the Des Plaines River and decided we should just turn back and wait in the warmth of the car. Just then a bell started ringing. Hubby, being the astute man that he is, looked down the river and saw a little tug coming.“They’re going to raise the bridge,” he announced. I deftly turned the video on my camera.
I guess I am just easily amused or the little kid in me is fascinated by the simple things in life.After the bridge lowered, we returned to the car, ate a snack and waited for ten o’clock to roll around. You’ll have to wait until next week to find out what we saw next.
May 17, 2016
A Canal, two bison and my imagination
Here it is the middle of May and I still haven’t shared much of our vacation to Illinois this past April. I am still editing the pictures and trying to decide how many to post here, how much to bore you with. I think I just need to dive in, tell the stories that come to mind and cut myself off when I feel I have rambled enough.
Here we go.
I already wrote about the quaint and historic town of Ottawa. Here is one last picture.
It is of the I&M canal toll house, or collectors house, which is the little house along what used to be the canal. The caretaker there, or collector, collected the tolls charged along the canal when it was fully operational. Now, only sections of the canal are filled with water, and that mostly for tourism purposes.
This form of transport has fallen to the wayside, in favor of rails and the interstate. Another example of the romance of America having come to an end. I could write much more about it, but that would lead me down the rabbit hole of information I would find on the internet. So I am going to move on.
Buffalo Rock State Park is part of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor. The area has quite an extensive history, dating from way before the Canal was built in the 1840s and involving several Native American tribes, missionaries and even a tuberculosis sanatorium.
These two American bison, commonly mistakenly called buffalo, are not original to the park.
One of the things I really wanted to see here was the "Effigy Tumuli". In tribute to the Native American burial grounds, these mounds depict a snake, turtle, catfish, frog and water strider.
It was ridiculously cold out the day we walked these trails and maybe my mind was just too cold to imagine these animals, but I didn’t see much.
Here we go.
I already wrote about the quaint and historic town of Ottawa. Here is one last picture.
It is of the I&M canal toll house, or collectors house, which is the little house along what used to be the canal. The caretaker there, or collector, collected the tolls charged along the canal when it was fully operational. Now, only sections of the canal are filled with water, and that mostly for tourism purposes.
This form of transport has fallen to the wayside, in favor of rails and the interstate. Another example of the romance of America having come to an end. I could write much more about it, but that would lead me down the rabbit hole of information I would find on the internet. So I am going to move on.
Buffalo Rock State Park is part of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor. The area has quite an extensive history, dating from way before the Canal was built in the 1840s and involving several Native American tribes, missionaries and even a tuberculosis sanatorium.
These two American bison, commonly mistakenly called buffalo, are not original to the park.
One of the things I really wanted to see here was the "Effigy Tumuli". In tribute to the Native American burial grounds, these mounds depict a snake, turtle, catfish, frog and water strider.
It was ridiculously cold out the day we walked these trails and maybe my mind was just too cold to imagine these animals, but I didn’t see much.
May 15, 2016
Tell Others
“So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.”Matthew 28: 19-20 New Century Version
Everyone knows about Christmas and Easter and their significance to Christians. Everyone knows what to do on Christmas and Easter and how to celebrate these holidays. We open presents on Christmas and eat hard-boiled eggs on Easter. And Believers remember how Christ was born in a stable to humble parents and how He died a horrible death on a cross and was raised again.
There’s a third holiday in the church year, which is just as important but much less well-known. This weekend is Pentecost.
All I remember about Pentecost from when I was a kid going to Sunday School is that it was the time when the Holy Spirit filled the early Christians, flames appeared on their heads and they began speaking other languages, languages they had never learned, but now that they could speak them, they could share the Good News of Jesus Christ with foreigners. Just like that the Christian church was born and the Gospel could be spread throughout the world.
Maybe we don’t celebrate Pentecost because we don’t know what to do. No one started any traditions like giving away foreign language dictionaries or setting things on fire. What are we supposed to do to remember the events of the first Pentecost?
Well, you really don’t have to think about it that hard. I think the problem, though, is that it’s not as easy as buying presents or filling a basket with chocolates and eggs. What we are supposed to do with Pentecost is to get out there and tell others about Jesus Christ.
I know that’s out of my comfort zone. That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in.
Heavenly Father, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts and into our lives, even into our voices so that we can tell others of the saving grace they can receive through Your Son Jesus. Amen.
(If you want to read more about Pentecost, here’s a link with some good information: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/what-is-pentecost-why-does-it-matter/)
May 12, 2016
Waterfalls Ride
I really want to get back to my April vacation and share all of those pictures from Route 66, several Illinois State Parks, Joliet, Pontiac and a dozen other places. But since I still have not even finished editing those nearly 700 pictures, I feel I should at least clean up where I can.
Thus you get to see more pictures from the ride Hubby and I took up north last week. Since it is still Spring here in the Northwoods, I thought some of the easily accessible waterfalls would be worth the trip. Turns out, I was right.
I’ve been to Potato Falls four times in my adult life. As a kid it probably came close to that, but I can’t remember all the random rides my parents took us on, and since I didn’t have a camera, I have no record.
But back to my present life. Of the four most recent stops, there have only been other people there one other time. It’s not that far off the beaten path. And not even that bad a hike to the bottom. And since there is a beautiful upper falls and breathtaking lower falls, well, all I can say is that it is everybody else’s loss and my gain because I rather be there alone with Hubby and Dino anyway.
Not too far down the road is Copper Falls State Park. About as far off the beaten path at Potato Falls, but because it is a state park, it was crawling with people. Ok, not really, there were two other couples and an entire full-size van of an extended Mennonite family. Also, a big sign near the trailhead – “No Dogs Allowed”. I was ready to get back in the car, demand a refund of my $28 annual state park pass and just go home. Hubby talked some sense into me and he stayed in the “dogs allowed” area while I power-walked the 1.7 mile loop to Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls.
I even jogged part of the trail just so Himey wasn’t left behind for long. We didn’t check the time, but I was back to the car some 40 minutes, 75 stairs and 60 pictures later.
Last up was enchanting Morgan Falls. The last, and I believe only, time I was there was in the fall of 2000, when Hubby and I took my son Nick along on the ride and we conveniently and surely totally accidentally met up with his best friend and his family who just happened to be camping in the area and decided to hike to Morgan Falls and the top of St. Peter’s Dome that day as well.
That fall day however, Morgan Falls wasn’t more than a trickle. This time of year it spilled and splashed into the creek below.
Though there were two cars in the parking lot, we didn’t run into anyone, except half-way back to our car when we met up with an elderly couple. The woman was already huffing and puffing on the total even ground and they asked if we thought they could make it. What could we say? I lied and said, “Oh, it’s not much farther. You can make it.” Fine medical professional I am. I was tempted to wait at the car to see if they came back out, but there were now more people in the parking lot getting ready for the hike. I suppose I could have asked them to watch out for the old couple and maybe check to see if any of them knew CPR.
Thus you get to see more pictures from the ride Hubby and I took up north last week. Since it is still Spring here in the Northwoods, I thought some of the easily accessible waterfalls would be worth the trip. Turns out, I was right.
I’ve been to Potato Falls four times in my adult life. As a kid it probably came close to that, but I can’t remember all the random rides my parents took us on, and since I didn’t have a camera, I have no record.
But back to my present life. Of the four most recent stops, there have only been other people there one other time. It’s not that far off the beaten path. And not even that bad a hike to the bottom. And since there is a beautiful upper falls and breathtaking lower falls, well, all I can say is that it is everybody else’s loss and my gain because I rather be there alone with Hubby and Dino anyway.
Not too far down the road is Copper Falls State Park. About as far off the beaten path at Potato Falls, but because it is a state park, it was crawling with people. Ok, not really, there were two other couples and an entire full-size van of an extended Mennonite family. Also, a big sign near the trailhead – “No Dogs Allowed”. I was ready to get back in the car, demand a refund of my $28 annual state park pass and just go home. Hubby talked some sense into me and he stayed in the “dogs allowed” area while I power-walked the 1.7 mile loop to Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls.
I even jogged part of the trail just so Himey wasn’t left behind for long. We didn’t check the time, but I was back to the car some 40 minutes, 75 stairs and 60 pictures later.
Last up was enchanting Morgan Falls. The last, and I believe only, time I was there was in the fall of 2000, when Hubby and I took my son Nick along on the ride and we conveniently and surely totally accidentally met up with his best friend and his family who just happened to be camping in the area and decided to hike to Morgan Falls and the top of St. Peter’s Dome that day as well.
That fall day however, Morgan Falls wasn’t more than a trickle. This time of year it spilled and splashed into the creek below.
Though there were two cars in the parking lot, we didn’t run into anyone, except half-way back to our car when we met up with an elderly couple. The woman was already huffing and puffing on the total even ground and they asked if we thought they could make it. What could we say? I lied and said, “Oh, it’s not much farther. You can make it.” Fine medical professional I am. I was tempted to wait at the car to see if they came back out, but there were now more people in the parking lot getting ready for the hike. I suppose I could have asked them to watch out for the old couple and maybe check to see if any of them knew CPR.
May 10, 2016
Lots a Photos
I love returning to places I visited in the past. I find strength in renewing those memories, even if they are occasionally cloaked in sadness. The familiarity as well as remembering those stories brings joy to my heart.
Hubby and I took a ride up north last week, on a beautiful Spring to hike to some of the waterfalls I had been to years before. Each of these places evokes a string of stories, but for today, you only get the before and after pictures. Coz I love me lots a photos.
At a wayside overlooking the Gogebic Iron Range, October 1, 1994
Same wayside, May 5, 2016
Potato Falls in Summer 2005
Potato Falls in Spring 2016
Brownstone Falls, October 1, 1994
Brownstone Falls, May 5, 2016
Morgan Falls, September 30, 2000
Morgan Falls, May 5, 2016
Now, aren't you curious about all those stories? Except I've already shared them all here. It is up to you to go find them.
Hubby and I took a ride up north last week, on a beautiful Spring to hike to some of the waterfalls I had been to years before. Each of these places evokes a string of stories, but for today, you only get the before and after pictures. Coz I love me lots a photos.
At a wayside overlooking the Gogebic Iron Range, October 1, 1994
Same wayside, May 5, 2016
Potato Falls in Summer 2005
Potato Falls in Spring 2016
Brownstone Falls, October 1, 1994
Brownstone Falls, May 5, 2016
Morgan Falls, September 30, 2000
Morgan Falls, May 5, 2016Now, aren't you curious about all those stories? Except I've already shared them all here. It is up to you to go find them.
May 8, 2016
"In this World you will have trouble"
(Verses from John 16, International Children’s Bible)“I have told you these things to keep you from giving up.”
I’ve fallen into somewhat of a depression this week.
“Your hearts are filled with sadness because I have told you these things.”
Even though the weather is beautiful, the sun has been shining and the grass has turned green. Even though I had three days off from the day job last week, and Hubby and I took a couple rides to enjoy the outdoors. Even though we bought Hubby a new vehicle, and I think – praise God – that we can really afford it.
“When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world.”
Even though I have so much to be joyful about, so much to be thankful for, I’ve been feeling very down.
“It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be happy. And no one will take away your joy. In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. You have never asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. And your joy will be the fullest joy.”
I know why, but I can’t share that here. It’s not my story to share.
“I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”
I guess all I can do is pray for the situation, pray for God’s guidance and strength, pray for peace.
Lord, God, Heavenly Father, be with all Your children, everywhere. Fill their hearts with Your love and with the assurance that You are always there for them. Amen
May 3, 2016
Tip of an iceberg
Once again I need to apologize for neglecting this blog. I keep thinking, next week things will settle down. Yet this week I am once again buried in busyness. I forgot that following my CMA conference in April, as the keeper of the email accounts for the organization, I have to update the 30 accounts we have for our chairmen and officers. In addition, they added three more committees this year, which all need to have accounts set up from scratch. I kind of like doing it, but it is so time-consuming.
And there are no fun stories or pictures to be found in that task.
So, once again here are a series of pictures from our trip to Illinois a month ago. Was that really a month ago already? Believe it or not, I still have not weeded through the nearly thousand pictures which I took. Ah, the bane of digital photography.
These are all of one of my favorite subjects. Cemeteries. I probably took 50 pictures at the half dozen or so cemeteries we visited. I always think that is rather maudlin, yet so fascinating.
Remember, this is just the tip of my graveyard iceberg.
And there are no fun stories or pictures to be found in that task.
So, once again here are a series of pictures from our trip to Illinois a month ago. Was that really a month ago already? Believe it or not, I still have not weeded through the nearly thousand pictures which I took. Ah, the bane of digital photography.
These are all of one of my favorite subjects. Cemeteries. I probably took 50 pictures at the half dozen or so cemeteries we visited. I always think that is rather maudlin, yet so fascinating.
Remember, this is just the tip of my graveyard iceberg.
April 27, 2016
Ready for May
Since starting this blog over six years ago, I don’t think I have had a month where I have been as lax as I have been this month. Even when I was in Africa for two weeks on two separate occasions, I had blogs ready to post before I left and then got right back at it when I got home.
I know that I have been busy.
Vacation in Illinois the first week of the month. I took over 900 pictures and am still sorting through them. I don’t know why I think I have to snap a shot of every single thing I see, yet there it is. All those photos in a file on the laptop.
Those first two weeks of the month, both my kids were in Kenya. You would think that wouldn’t stop me from having a life, but yet it did. Waking up at two am every morning, knowing that it was mid-morning there and wondering if they were anywhere that had WiFi so that I could message them and they could message me back.
The weekend they got home, my son downloaded onto my computer a thousand pictures which he had taken. I seem to think that I should go through them now as well and do some editing and posting. But, THEY ARE NOT MY PICTURES. So I need to let that go.
Last weekend I had my CMA conference in Manitowoc. Not only did I attend two full days of educational sessions, my partner-in-crime Denise and I set up tables to sell our Kenyan merchandise. Made a good profit, all to go back to Kenya and our nonprofit organization, Tumaini Volunteers.
Last but not least, or so I think, tomorrow night I am giving a talk at Good Samaritan churchin Eland, Wisconsin. So I had to update my powerpoint with pictures from the latest trip and pack up a smaller bag of African goods to display.Umm, is that it? Right about now I am thinking, “Bring on May.”
April 20, 2016
Stained Glass Windows
"People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Who doesn't like stained glass windows? I think every house should come with some. I wish my house had them.
These are just some of the magnificent windows we saw at the Joliet Area Historical Museum when we vacationed in Illinois earlier this month. The museum is inside the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church and has thankfully retained the beautiful windows from the building's former life. Eventually I will get around to sharing the rest of the pictures and stories from that trip to northern Illinois, but in the meantime, here are those windows.
Who doesn't like stained glass windows? I think every house should come with some. I wish my house had them.
These are just some of the magnificent windows we saw at the Joliet Area Historical Museum when we vacationed in Illinois earlier this month. The museum is inside the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church and has thankfully retained the beautiful windows from the building's former life. Eventually I will get around to sharing the rest of the pictures and stories from that trip to northern Illinois, but in the meantime, here are those windows. 
