Talk about being torn.  I have had a marvelous and productive day and was looking at an early bedtime when on the TV I ran into AMC and a John Wayne Marathon!  And with an early start in the morning tomorrow the tension was really getting high.

So I thought about it for………okay, I really didn’t think about it at all.  The movie was “El Dorado,” with James Caan and Robert Mitchum, and it went an hour later than I thought it would.  And of course the first few minutes of “Cahill, US Marshal” made me consider if sleep was even needed at all.

But alas, I am in bed and wondering how many bad guys the Duke is reigning in while I am typing and pondering sleep. But in all honesty, I know the answer……..ALL OF THEM.

All I can say is that I hope and pray I dream about some of this stuff tonight.  Sure I will be tired in the morning from riding the range with the Duke.  But it would be worth it!  John Wayne was not just a great American hero, he was one of my personal heroes as well.

What a gift to get to watch him tonight!  Rest in peace Duke!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I got an email this morning from a reader who was a bit disappointed in my post.  The station wagon from “National Lampoon’s Vacation” was the picture, but my post was more of a reporting than a writing, and he said that I was really more on my game when I was wry (which I had to look up)…….but in all honesty, he was right.

For regular readers, you know that my primary reason for writing this blog is discipline and daily therapy from the stroke I suffered in 2008 (my daughter and wife will let me know if that is right because I have screwed the 2008 date up before).  But in all honesty, although I DO USE as daily THERAPY, is often has become a chore rather for me rather than a therapy session.  I do it because I feel the need to have to, BUT I also need to confess that when I am being actually WRY (see above) I feel far more satisfied.  In other words, the reporting has little to no therapeutic value for me…..it is h=just doing for the sake of doing.

So as I have processed this ALL DAY, I have come to understand that this blog is more than therapy for me.  I originally wanted to blog about the injustice and immorality that I was attempting to battle in this world……but in the end, I have come to the conclusion that I can post anything at this stage of my recovery, but it would be no more than obligatory fulfillment of the minimum agreement I have made for myself.  It an easy task, not challenging in the least, and only pressured by the restraints of my time. And I will share that I have thought about this most of the day!!

So yes, yesterday’s post COULD HAVE BEEN FUNNY……after all, Clark Griswald and I live truly parallel lives, other than the fact that in real life Chevy Chase is a lunatic liberal.  But yesterday’s post was not funny, yet if there were ever an award in blogdom for mediocrity, I may have been a contender!  It was just a picture to go along with the word “vacation,” of which I was, and am still not, on.

In the future however, I want to change my blog.  It started as a blog about the injustice of the Episcopal Church, which I still think is VERY unjust….that’s a lie….they are like honor’s students for immorality, but beyond that, I just want to be relevant!

It is just too bad that I do not know what relevant means…..

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well my wife, Steph, and Ben (along with Steph’s friend Celeste) are in Kansas visiting the people who I USED to call Amanda’s parents, but we will now call for the sake of honesty, Ben’s grandparents.  Scotty, who I swore was staying home with me over the next few days is not home, but he is not home and it is 20 minutes until tomorrow.  Viper and Puddy are my constant friends, but beggars cannot be choosers…..they are all that I have!

And I spoke with all the Tirmans in Kansas just a few hours ago.  It is never a good conversation.  When you are on vacation you really never want to remember that old boring place you will need to return to.  Only my niece Kayla, who is rooming out there with Ben, seemed interested in talking with me….at least for a few minutes.

But in all honesty, I really do not mind being alone anywhere.  I know most people who know me would define me as an extrovert, but in all honesty, I am more of an introvert.  I enjoy the solitude, and tonight I have it, or at least I have it as much as you can when you are rooming with a dog with a stuffed squirrel.  It will be a good night’s sleep with no wake up time scheduled, although I am sure it will be early.

AND, I stayed IN TOWN today for the most part and got some things done around here.  It has been “sort of” a restful day.  And I hope that tomorrow may be as restful as well!!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well Ben is now officially registered for kindergarten at Lapel Elementary School, something I am SURE you can see in the quality picture I have posted tonight.  Steph, Amanda, and Ben are in the picture, and Ben is wearing his first “Lapel Bulldog” shirt.  And unlike where I grew up where the mascot changed at each school, in Lapel he will be a bulldog all the way through graduation.

We had hoped to be able to see his classroom and meet his teacher today, but that has yet to be assigned.  We still took the opportunity however to celebrate.  It is a big thing for him and us.  I am just happy that both Steph and Scott will be home to be able to see him on that first official day.

But that’s really all the news I have tonight.  Amanda, Steph, and Ben (along with Celeste!!) are leaving for Kansas at 5am…..and driving.  So the clock is set, and I am out of energy!  I did however want to share the big news!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

When things get into the “zone,” it is just amazing at all that gets done.  I got home this evening after 11pm, and would have been later had not Amanda and Ben come up to help me at St. George’s (okay, they both came but only one really helped).  We were able to get the refrigerator cleaned up, installed and on.  We also got the sink into the kitchen area, plumbed and working as well.

Since Amanda, Steph, and Ben are leaving very early Wednesday morning for Kansas, Amanda wanted to come and scope out some decorating ideas for the church.  She and PT’s wife Jewel are generally the ones who do that work, not because we are chauvinistic in any way shape or form, but it’s because they both feel that PT and I are morons in terms of decorating.  She has just tomorrow to finish too, as Saturday we are hosting an Open House there for the public.

But things are truly flying along……at the speed of light (okay, perhaps a bit slower than that).  But it’s all looking good and for that I am very thankful!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

My plans today went a little south, as I was under the impression that Steph and Ben were going to the State Fair tonight as Amanda had to be there for work.  I figured I would pick up some things I needed to finish some things at St. George’s Muncie and could get them accomplished without any time restraints.   As it turns out, I will be doing them tomorrow.

Steph and Ben never went to the fair, so Ben was with me for at least the shopping portion of my day.  I got the majority of the stuff I needed, and even considered heading up to do some work, but Amanda finished her work and was heading “home,” but asked if we wanted to “meet” her at the ice cream shop in Lapel.

Of course saying no to such an invitation with a 5 year old in the car is never going to work…..nor would driving past the house when your 20 year old daughter, who would eat a free ice cream, is just sitting there watching the Olympics.  So we picked her up and headed for our rendezvous….it was a smashing success too.

Tonight’s picture is of the three of them deciding what they want.  It was fun to watch.  And we ate our ice cream at the table then, listening not to a superhero tonight, but to Ben explain how he was now 21, married and has a son who will be 5 tomorrow.  

I think he is making it up, but who cares?  Everyone had ice cream!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Of course with PT injured and Scotty doing something with the Marines, I was in desperate need of some help to pick up and deliver the used refrigerator we purchased for St. George’s.  So, as I explored my options, I came to the conclusion that my best bet would be the finely tuned college athlete who lives with us (my daughter Stephanie) and Molly, Scotty’s girlfriend, who is really not afraid of him at all.  And I figured that would be a pretty awesome crew.

And in fact, I was MORE THAN RIGHT.  It turned out to be most probably the easiest move of anything that I have had in my entire life.  They had fun, were very matter of fact about getting it done, and were quite surprised at the end that we were finished.  My only regret was that I had nothing else to move.

But it really signified something that happens at most of the churches that we plant.  People come in to help (our family always does) who may not attend there at all in the future.  They do it because they believe in what we are doing.  And that type of personal (and mostly nameless) gift is contagious.  It was a pretty cool afternoon, and I was blessed to be a part!

So tomorrow I will return to St. George’s and finish the kitchen in the afternoon.  Then there will be very little more to do.  Our first Open House is a week from today from 1-4pm.  I can hardly wait!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today the altar and podiums went into St. George’s in Muncie and the sign went up on the street.  It is all coming together, but it is not coming together without sacrifice.

PT, on Wednesday and on one of the last pieces of trim for the altar, had his saw kick back and cut his finger severely.  It was and is a mess.  He thought he would lose the end of his finger, but they sewed back what was there.  It however, will not be the same.

Still, PT was up with Deacon Kim and I this morning to deliver the altar and podiums he had made and to help install the signs.  AND, a week from tomorrow he will be at the Open House at St. George’s as well……in addition to doing some services this weekend.

It however is very typical of the dedication of the people in the Order to the work they do.  Sure, PT could be compared to the Black Knight in that Monty Python picture, but in all honesty, he is far more well-adjusted.  It is just part of the idea of sacrifice.  And he would have it no other way.

So tonight’s picture is of the altar, podiums and sign.  It is coming along!  Pray that we continue to move ahead.  And pray that PT continues to heal!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today has been a wild day, and very frustrating in parts, but in the end a fine one.  Although I was in Muncie to put our signs up and my drill died, I still was able to get home to take Stephanie to the doctor.  It was a great success!!!  She is fixed (no, not like a dog) but her heart has been fixed and today she was totally released to return to playing lacrosse for her college!

Honestly, there has been so much stress for us all over this, that it was finally nice to put it all to rest.  She LOVES playing lacrosse, but more than that, it’s her HEART and she NEEDS IT TO WORK!!  And today’s exam included a post procedure EKG to make sure that what they did to fix it did not do any lasting damage.  The good news is that it all turned out okay.

And while she was in her appointment, Ben and I went to the cafeteria at the hospital where he decided to take a few pictures.  So to celebrate, one of them is the picture for tonight’s post!

What a great day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Everything I read today is about Chick-fil-A and all that surrounds it.  I went there myself today, twice, to support not only their values (which I support) but also their right to express them.  Unfortunately, the wait was far longer either time than I could spare.  I however was impressed with the response.  Scotty actually worked there for a time, and it was a great company.

Two days from now, apparently others who disagree with Chick-fil-A’s values will come and attempt to express their views with a protest.  I am not surprised by this, but saddened by it, because it comes from a movement that seems to want tolerance, but defines it as “only if you agree with us.”

I came from such a place.  I spent the majority of my ordained career in the Episcopal Church which preached a gospel (SMALL g) of tolerance, but practiced it poorly.  Tolerance, inclusion, all the buzz words but there was never any room for me….someone with traditional values.  And it was only when I left that they insisted that there was “room at the table for everyone.”  But I was an enabler.  As long as I was there that could be preached as truth, but in fact it was a lie.  Ironically, I retired, yet despite not being a part of them, they still charged me, had a trial, and convicted me…..declaring me unfit for ministry.  And this is probably one of the most honest things I could ever say…..”ironic” is probably, by far, too insufficient of a word.  These people were some of the worst I have ever encountered.

But getting back to my point…..at some point in this life sex came to the forefront of what defines us, and that to me is unfortunate.  In truth, I do not need to know what you do in your bedroom, and in all honesty, that should not define you.  Everybody is in need of redemption, and everybody deserves respect.  I am not responsible for your soul and you are not responsible for mine.  We can speak what we believe is the truth to each other, which I will continue to do, but beating and extorting each other should be “out of bounds.”   We live in a world where people are not just wounded by such things, but they can be destroyed.  I have been the victim of such attempted destruction.  I will not set out to do it to anyone else.

On August 3rd, I will go to Chick-fil-A again.  You can too.  I will have a chicken sandwich, and I will if need be, encourage people to not destroy one another, and offer to pray for them (on both sides of these issues).

I am a traditionalist….and I feel strongly about my beliefs. I am not a “hater, a “bigot,” a “homophobe,” or even a bad guy.  Let’s just grow up…..this is not junior high.  It’s life.  And the best thing we can do is to act like adults and to treat each other with respect.  You see, when you do not agree with something or someone, stop patronizing it.  Extortion is an ugly thing, and never leads to anything good.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+