Ten Chimneys

The slide show on our blog right now gives a glimpse of the wonderful estate Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt shared for many years. Ten Chimneys is just a few miles from Cedarly in Genesee Depot, WI, open to the public as a world-class house museum and natural resource for theater, arts and arts education. The past two summers I have done most of my volunteer hours working in the gardens on the estate.

Riding and Reading

On our trip west thru MN, SD, WY, and CO, I did a lot of reading on the road, so I have a few recommendations for you today. One of them is Jerry B. Jenkins new novel, RIVEN. He says, "This is the novel I've always wanted to write and it is unlike anything I've ever written. My hope is that is stays with you long after the final page....If a novelist has a life's work, this is mine." A condemned man with nothing to lose encounters a weary chaplain with nothing to gain. Death and despair are overcome with rebirth and forgiveness...take a look.

Maybe you have read Gary Chapman's book THE FOUR SEASONS OF MARRIAGE. It is a very heplful book in understanding how marriage moves from season to season with the cycle repeating itself many times through the life of a marriage. Gary has joined with Catherine Palmer to write 4 novels set near Camdenton, MO ~ small town America. The couples in this community go through these various seasons, bringing to life the principles of the marriage book. They could be very helpful if you are working with young couples struggling to understand how marriage works.

I rediscovered one of my favorite insightful and creative authors, Ann Tatlock. I'LL WATCH THE MOON and THINGS WE ONCE HELD DEAR are the two I read this go around.

A while back I mentioned a trio of challenging books by Jean Sasson about a princess in Saudi Arabia. This time I read about two more women ~ Mayada in Iraq and Joanna in Kurdistan and their life of hardship and survival under Suddam Hussein. MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ and LOVE IN A TORN LAND are both worth your time. Mayada grew up with wealth and royalty but ended up in prison, a target of Saddam's secret police. Joanna helps one understand the chemical attacks, bombings, and hardships in the fight for Kurdish independence.

Andy and I read to one another along the road for the first time. We have heard so much about THE SHACK by William P. Young from guests at Cedarly. So, we bought the book for the library and took it along. There has been a lot of controversey about the book, but we found it intreging and challenging. The book wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" There are a few chapters I would to go back to and wrestle thru again.

We also both read John Eldredge's new book, WALKING WITH GOD. More great insights on my struggle for intimacy with God each day. I have a bit more work to do as I interact with John's story and insights in learning to hear God day by day, finding joy and transformation along the journey.

Welcome, Anders Eric

Anders Eric joined Sarah and Joel early in the morning on 08/28/08 at 1:42 a.m. He was 7 lbs 14 oz and 21".

Oma and Opa loved being in Denver to welcome Anders! What a guy!

See more pictures and get more info on Sarah's blog

http://www.matthew725.blogspot.com/

Upper Room Dedication

On Sunday, June 22nd, we held an Open House/Dedication for the UPPER ROOM. It took a lot of time and effort in the spring to get it finished and ready, but we are so grateful to have it available for use.

This first picture gives you a glimpse of the stairway up to the room. One of our wonderful volunteers donated this beautiful stained glass window from an old church in the Milwaukee area. He prepared the frame and mounted it in the window space at the bottom on the stairs. It is a fabulous addition as people enter and leave the quiet of the Upper Room.

From this angle you can see how functional this space is for groups...a large table (seats 10-12) near the countertop, sink, and refrigerator and then the comfortable seating for more informal gatherings.

We still need to raise funds to dig a well and install a pump to provide water for the kitchenette and the bathroom in the Upper Room. We would also like to install a gas stove at the far end of the living room space for additonal ambiance and heat in the winter.

On the aftenoon of the celebration, guests placed a rock of remembrance just outside the entrance to the Upper Room as they prayed, thanking God for what He has done in providing such a wonderful place for groups to pray and plan. We cannot describe how much pastors in the area have loved coming to the Upper Room in the past few weeks. Several groups have used it (some a couple of times already). We are also using it as a back up for pastors to use when the Prayer House is full for the day they wanted to come. Resident guests have also spent time up there and enjoyed the quiet, peaceful time with God. Join us in thanking God for each volunteer and each donation that made it possible, and now each pastor who comes...

Something New and Different

Here's the stairway up to the top of Point Betsie Lighthouse. One lady took one look at the 10 story climb on open stairs and left the tour. Another woman got a little queasy about half way up and wanted to leave the tour but couldn't at that point. I thought it was fun.
Here's a shot of the shipwreck just off of South Manitou Island and the boardwalk I enjoyed so much in Manistee...

The winds and the waves kept us in Frankfort for a couple of days. One morning I biked around a bit...they have a pretty bike path from Frankfort to several other towns in the area. Another afternoon we rented mopeds and cruised the county...riding up to the Pointe Betsie Lighthouse, a pretty country club estate, and around Crystal Lake. It was my first experience riding a moped and I loved it.

We also celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary (8/8/69) while in Frankfort. A guest from Cedarly recommeded THE FUSION, an Asian resturant in town, and it was excellent.

On Sunday morning we attended church at a classic pretty little white 150 year old Congregational Church right down town. As it ends up, we knew the pastor ~ she had been at Cedarly as a guest earlier this year.

Leland is a quaint little town, complete with a 140 year old fishing village...lots of cute shops, galleries, and home made ice cream.

Not far away is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, including North and South Manitou Islands.

The weekend we were stuck in Manitowoc, the EAA Fly in in Oshkosh was taking place. So on Sunday we took off for the day and went over to check it out. Before and after this weeklong event, we see planes flying thru our area making their way to the show. It was fun to see it in action. Lots of planes on the ground and many of planes taking off to head home. There was a large military display area...Warbirds of America. The plane above is one of the B-25s that flew in the Doolittle Raid on Japan 18 April 1942. Late in the afternoon we enjoyed an airshow with 4 or 5 different aerobatic performers showing off and amazing the crowds.

Here's something different...it was windy and cool on the lake as we sailed from Leland to Arcadia. The only way I found to keep the wind at bay was with clothespins. We actually got some pretty nice sun tanning in, but not this day!
That's all for now.

Sailing on Sabbatical

Our sailing trip to Michigan was filled with beauty and wonder, fun and good eating, frustration and work, good weather and not so good weather. But all in all it was a wonderful get away and time to begin to relax and separate from the business and busyness of life and ministry at Cedarly.
We left home on Friday, August 1st, hoping to sail to Michigan on Saturday. But alas, it was not to be...engine trouble, a temporary crown thrown overboard by accident, rough waves developing...and we were headed back to the Manitowoc. It was Wednesday by the time we were ready to sail...with some doubts as to whether or not we were supposed to go. In the end, we were glad we went ahead with the trip. Altogether we were ON the boat for 2 weeks...our longest time aboard. We were actually in Michigan 8 days, docking in Manistee, Frankfort, Leland, and Arcadia. We motor-sailed across from Manitowoc to Manistee, MI (about 56 nm) on a pretty sunny warm day. It took 9 hours and a storm developed in the last 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Fortunately it was just a little rain and wind that cleared soon after we docked at the city marina. We have been to Manistee before and I fell in love with the 2 mile board walk along the river from downtown to the beach. The sunsets are magnificent...one of my favorite things about being in Michigan.

One of the things I love best about sailing is watching for lighthouses ~ and visiting them when we can. I find the history of the lighthouses and the ships they served to be facinating. The stories of the lighthouse keepers and their families was often lonely and difficult, but they saw purpose and meaning in their work.

This trip we were able to see several and visit/tour two. The one above is the Pointe Betsie Lighthouse in Benzie County, just north of Frankfort. It is the 2nd most photographed lighthouse in the USA...and I took my share of pictures. The lighthouse was in operation from 1858-1984 (the last manned lighthouse in mainland Michigan).

The lighthouse below is the South Manitou Island Lighthouse and is a part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It was in operation from 1871-1958 and was key to the shipping route through the Manitou Passage to Chicago. For many years the Island provided a natural harbor for ships needing a safe refuge and it also was a wood fueling site for steamers.

Twice along the way we had some gas leakage into the engine compartment...a bit disconcerting to say the least. Both times, God placed men in sailboats next to us or across from us in the marinas to give Andy sound advice and encouragement...a wonderful provision.

Along the way we spent many hours thinking, reflecting, and reading. We realized later that we really didn't talk that much. It was our own little mini retreat (minus the services of Mike, the chef). Andy read WALKING WITH GOD ~ John Eldredge's newest book. On our road trip, I plan to read it and we will talk about it as we drive.

I read a variety of books (almost one a day). One of the most challenging ones was a biography about Madame Guyon. She was shunned by her mother, given in marriage as a young teenager to a much older wealthy man, abused by her mother-in-law, and persecuted by church leaders. From 1698 to 1702 she lived in solitary confinement in the notorious Bastille (at the same time and place as the legendary prisoner #64389000, the man with the iron mask). In all, she stayed in prison eight years. Then she lived in exile for the rest of her life. Her crime? She believed that anyone could pray to God any time, any where. She wrote a book calaled A SHORT AND VERY EAST METHOD OF PRAYER.

The Manistee North Pierhead Light has been working, providing a fog signal and a light tower, since 1871. This particular one was actually built in 1927. One of the nights we were there, the waves were 3-5 feet ~ the water looked foreboding, fierce, almost angry. The waves crashed against the breakwater and provided quite a show.

We left for home on Thursday, the 14th. It was a 62 nm trip and took us 10 1/2 hours. The water was completely still and like glass when we left Arcadia. By the time we were 15 miles from Manitowoc, the wind and the waves were pounding the White Iris. We are grateful for favorable winds both ways so we could motor-sail and make good time. We were especially grateful for safe passage.

Sabbatical Starts

Andy and I have been given our 2nd sabbatical since being at Cedarly...one month every three years is just amazing. It comes at a good time for us. The spring and summer have been jam packed ~ full of good and productive and fun things, but we are a bit weary and in need of a break. Thru the winter and spring we had some amazing help finishing up the Upper Room project here at Cedarly. It is a beautiful room and several groups are already committed to using the space, some on a regular basis. We are grateful it is finished. We are praying that God will provide the last $4000.00 to dig a well and put in a pump for a water supply (ie bathroom) out there. The dedication was on Sunday, June 22. We would not have been ready if our wonderful small group hadn't helped us clean the garage, the stairwell, and the room with us They also helped with food after the ceremony. We hope to have some pictures up on the blog before long...no, actually after the sabbatical.

Right after the dedication Faith and Avery came, then Aimee, Gary, Sarah and Joel joined them, then the Hagen clan arrived, and then we had the Ekedahls here one afternoon, too. It was a whirlwind of activity and a very good time of good eating, lots of laughs, fun activities, catching up...

The year at Cedarly started out slowly as far as attendance goes, but since Easter we have been full just about every week...and we will be full until at least Thanksgiving. God continues to encourage us as we see Him at work in pastor's (and spouses) hearts and minds. It is truly amazing what He can do in just 5 days. It's a great ride, but a long stretch.

Unfortunately Andy and I haven't had a lot of time or energy to prepare for this sabbatical. We have some good ideas ~ where to go, things to talk about, books to read together, ideas to consider ~ so that is a start. We'll head out and go for 10-12 days on our sailboat, the WHITE IRIS. We hope to go across the pond from Manitowoc, WI to Manistee, MI. It takes a full day ~ about 65 miles. We are trusting God that the winds and the waves will co-operate. From there we will head north along the coast to the small fishing villages of Frankfort, Leland, Northport and possibly Charlevoix.

Then we plan to take a road trip, ultimately ending up in Colorado just after the arrival of Baby J. Joel is going to take a few days off from work when the baby arrives so they can enjoy some special time bonding as a new family together. So, we will take off, traveling thru southern Minnesota, across South Dakota, and around Wyoming, enjoying the natural wonders along the way. When we get the word that Baby J has arrived, we will still have a few days to make our way to meet him. We are trusting God to work out the details, the safe arrival, and the timing.

I have just finished reading a little book called GIFT FROM THE SEA by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Have you read it? It was originally published in 1955 and was a "ground-breaking, best-selling work". Now fifty some years later, it is still helpful and insightful. Lindbergh spent two weeks alone in a little cottage on Captiva Island on Florida's Gulf Coast. She shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment ~ things she thought about and wrote about during her time on the beach picking up shells and reflecting on life. Much of it strikes a cord with me because she talks a lot of time and space for contemplation, quiet, simplicity, and creativity...as we do here at Cedarly.

I do not have any desire to write a book while on this Sabbatical, but I am taking a Journal with me. I hope to reflect on my where I have been and where I am going...consider how I want to grow in my relationships...pursue getting to know God in new and deeper ways. I do not know where else the Spirit will take me. I will have to share that when Sabbatical Ends.