Dear Ones,
​
     I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all you did during the time I had the brain bleed and during the time of recovering from it.  You provided emotional, physical and spiritual support for Joanie and our family.  You provided support for me while I was in the hospital ICU for 10 days, most of which I do not remember, at least not in detail.  I was told by Joanie and some others that I was pretty much out of my head during that time.  The nurses were asking questions every hour for several of those days and I had a really hard time coming up with the answers.  On one occasion they asked me my wife’s name and my answer was “mashed potatoes”.   On another occasion they would ask me to smile and I would answer “ok” and then not move my lips at all.  There was a lack of connection between my brain and my body. 

     As time went on I improved and they sent me home.  They said to rest up.  They didn’t really need to tell me that; I could not stay awake.  I was falling asleep in the middle of sentences.  At first the only time I was awake was while I ate and when I went to the little boy’s room.  I still need more sleep than I have for a long time.  I do pretty good a few days and then have a day or two when I’m really tired.  I am back to putting days in the office and preaching part of sermons the past three Sundays and will preach part of this Sunday’s message.  I think I can preach a full message until Sunday night and I’m dog tired and realize that I would not have been able to.  Each week I seem to be gaining strength.  It’s that two steps forward and one step back thing.  I realize it will take time but I’m impatient.  I don’t know how many cards I received; it was a lot!  Also a lot of emails and text messages.  All appreciated! 

     You visited, gave money, brought food, offered to provide transportation and multiple other grace filled actions. In addition to this, many of you helped to move my folks here from Kentucky.  I was on a 5 lb weight limit at the time and not feeling that good anyway.  The church at Russell Springs had a crew help load and several folks from Sterling came down to help as well.  You drove the moving truck back to Indiana.  We asked for folks to help unload at 10:00 a.m. and at 10 minutes until 10:00, there was one person besides us.  I went into the house to see how Joanie had labeled the rooms to direct where to take the boxes.  When I came back out in just a few minutes there was at least 20 people there helping.  I carried a small box in and when I came back out there were at least 40 people there.  You guys had the truck unloaded in 20 minutes.  Amazing!  You made the beds, placed the dishes, and set the furniture.  You have provided a garage to store mowers and tools in until Mom and Dad are able to get a storage garage built at their house. I am so blessed.

Love,
​Gary

PACKING WHEEL BEARINGS 

​I have been looking for a flatbed trailer for many years now.  Not wanting to spend much money I have been waiting and watching for a “good deal”.   Well I found a really good deal on an older unit that was in pretty good shape.  Funny thing, there was a hay rake I was looking to buy and it just happened to be sitting on the trailer so I bought the whole package.  As usual, with many good deals, it “needs a few things”.  I went to pick it up a few days ago and noticed that a couple wheel bearings were very dry…which led me to the mental debate…"do I try to make it home and hope for the best, or wait and fix this problem first?”  I decided I didn't need another roadside experience like the jeep so I left it there and decided to return later.  Joe and I went with tools and grease to fix it, we packed all four wheels (his first time doing this) and made the trip home with no problems.

What can wheel bearings teach you about life???  We all have those moments when we realize something is not right.  Maybe a relationship all of a sudden feels strained, maybe a recurring sin that we struggle with, or a temptation we can see on the horizon.  What do we do when that moment is in front of us?  We have a choice; we can drag on down the road hoping and praying for the best, or we can pull over and wait to fix the problem the right way. 
Jesus addressed these and many more problems in the sermon on the mount (Mathew Ch. 5-7)  In relationships: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.

First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”  If the problem is repetitive sin:   “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (ouch!!)  If it is both combined:  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”   
 
We all need fixed in many ways, it’s not that we are cast aside as useless, we simply need to continue to address our personal issues as we become aware of them.   So what is the last thing Jesus needed to park you for and do some maintenance?  Did you let Him help you with that problem?  If left unaddressed we likely will find greater trouble down the road.
 
Dave