Lesson Learned...

I just wanted to take a detour for a second and tell you about a lesson I learned yesterday.

I recently purchased a laptop computer (refurbished) from Buy.com. I had to send my computer back because the audio was messed up. If you don't know me, I am thrifty a.k.a. cheap. I took the laptop to a nameless shipping store and asked them to package it up for me. I was thinking it would be about $10, $15 at the most. I got the bill just for packaging it up and it was $25! Keep in mind, this did not include the shipping cost.

The Box- $8.50
The packaging materials (peanuts, bubble wrap etc.)- $8.50
The service for packing- $5.50
Taxes- $2.50
Total- $25

Bottom line: Package your stuff yourself before you send it off, to quote my illustrious grandfather, "it's a poor way to serve the Lord" to pay someone else to do it. I paid your tuition so you don't have to.

Expelled Last Night

A few of us got together over at Scott's house and watched Expelled.

It was a good time of fellowship and Scott is still doing well. One of the most helpful things was hearing from Scott how he has been sustaining his soul during the past week.

Scott ministered to Clif, Adam and me. I love having brothers with whom to walk through afflictions.

Scott is going back to Greenbrier today with his parents.

Jill's Memorial Slide Show

Here is the slide show. I finally got it uploaded to Youtube.

Grief is a Funny Thing...

Well, maybe not funny, but it certainly makes you do weird things. The rollercoaster of emotion is really draining and the fickleness and feebleness of my demeanor has been exposed. I thought I was pretty stable, but I'm really not. I can see a little better how people feel who have chronic depression. It reminds me of the greatness of our God and the words of the the hymn "On Christ the Solid Rock" I dare not trust the sweetest frame [of mind] but wholly lean on Jesus name... and when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. These words mean much more to me now.

It's funny how biblical concepts that you had a theoretical knowledge of become real when you experience them.

"Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" II Cor 6:10
"Bear one another's burdens" Gal 6:2

I had an idea of what they might look like, but I had never (really) experienced these concepts as I have in the last two weeks. It's good to have these categories in your mind so that when you experience them, you can say "Ah, now I understand what that means!" But don't expect to truly understand them until you experience them, and even then, in experiencing these things we "see as in a mirror dimly" and I look forward to when we will see "face to face" I Corinthian 13:12.

Hannah Medical Center Banquet

The banquet went really well last night. I put together a slide show for the banquet with comments from you blog commentors, and pictures set to the tune of "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" performed by Jeremy Riddle. It is an old hymn that was written by a miserable guy who had a big God. I hope to post the slideshow to youtube, and then I will link to it here. It is not "Scott Attebery" quality, so I may get him to remake it sometime and put his Midas touch on it.

I talked to Scott just a minute ago and he is on his way to El Dorado.

Hannah Medical Center

Tonight, the Hannah Medical Center will be having a banquet in Magnolia. They will be having a tribute to Jill and her service to Hannah.

For more information about Hannah Medical Center please visit the link above or visit their Facebook page here. There are also ways for you to contribute. It is a 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible. For more information on contributions please click here.

If you're wondering, the Hannah Medical Center is a crisis pregnancy center that Communicates Christ’s love by providing life-affirming services to women facing pregnancy decisions and by upholding biblical standards for sexual integrity.

Band of Brothers

I just got off the phone with Scott, and he is still doing well. I was very encouraged by all he had to say. I still can't get over the fact that even though he has been devastated like he has, that he still ministers to others in the midst of his pain.

In an email from Adam to Clif and me Adam said "I could not feel closer to you guys if I had just spent the last year in a fox hole with you." Going through something like this really brings people closer together. I understand more now the camaraderie that is created during times of war. It was such a privilege to have some dear brothers at my side in these days. Adam, Clif and Scott are a gift from God to me.

I have had other brothers who have been in the trenches with me during other crises. My blood brother Brian, Chuck Flurry and Bob Heinze. These guys have always been there for me. It is important to have those folks that you can always count on to be there for you. I'm thankful that I have these and many other people like this in my life.

A Grief Sanctified

This is a book by J.I. Packer. Anything with his name on it is golden. I will be adding it to my library. It includes a journal of Richard Baxter on the loss of his wife.

Talked With Scott This Evening

I talked with Scott on the phone for a little while earlier. He is doing well.

I have been inspired by Jill's journal to start one of my own. Mine is a little different than Jill's however. I started a blog and made it where only I can read it. It's pretty easy to set up though. Just start a blog at www.blogger.com and then set the permissions to where only the authors can see the posts. Then you have your own personal journal that you can write in where ever you are as long as you have internet.

Also, another easy way to keep up with this blog is become a "follower." If you have a blogger account you can go to your dashboard and click on the "blogs I'm following" tab. Then you can click "add" then type in the address of this blog www.theblessedbairdbunch.blogspot.com which will add this to your blogroll.

Jon

A New Baby at Wyatt!

Adam and Kelly Bishop welcomed John David Bishop into the world today. He was 6 lbs 10 oz and mom and baby are doing well.
Congratulations guys!

Jonathan