MY TREE FELL ON PAUL'S CAR!

Last night, after a couple of late meetings after Awana at the Liberty Baptist Church of Van Wert, Ohio, My wife and I turned out the lights, set the alarm, and locked the church doors. We faced rain and severe wind as we jumped in our Dodge Mini-van, went through the McDonald's drive through, and drove home. As we entered our alley drive way, Coletta hollered out, "Jim, stop! There's a tree down!" I nearly hit the electric line, pulled out, parked in front of our house and went in our front door. I looked out our window and noticed that our tall pine tree between our house and the alley had snapped, blew over and landed on my neighbor's Buick. Part of the tree was also on their back porch. Sorry Paul and Linda.

The good news is that this morning a church member and three friends and neighbors helped Paul and me get the tree off the car, and cut the wood up with two chain saws. Paul's car is scratched up and dented, but thank the Lord, no broken glass. The city was quick to free the power line (it ended up being a large phone line), and cleared the alley, as the phone line was stretched across Main Street, and one pole across Main was so bowed I thought it would break. The police closed our block of Main Street until the phone line was raised. Thanks for the help every body! Thank God, no one was injured or killed.

Jim C. Burns

AN AMISH PLACE TO REST!

"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." (Mark 6:31)

Above is a photo of me and our Scottie Dog, Cabbie in front of the Glenhaven Cabin near Sugar Creek, Ohio. (Cabbie stayed in our mini-van in a cage. No pets allowed)! Coletta (my wife) took the picture. We were first introduced to Glenhaven Cabin by Dr. Jim Anderson from Kansas City, who stayed here for a week while preaching a Bible Conference at The Valley View Community Church. The cabin was built about 12 years ago and is owned by a fine Christian couple, Glenn and Esther Troyer. The Troyers live at their nearby farm, and Glenn has also driven a truck. They have become dear friends to us. Although we live in N. W. Ohio, my wife and I love to visit Amish Country in Eastern Ohio. Experiencing a sample of the slow peaceful lifestyle of the Amish and the area's Mennonites and seeing the beautiful rolling hills, farms, and trees near Sugar Creek is tranquil as well as breath taking. Our most recent trip here was blessed with our oldest son and family, Matt, Jenny, and Miley coming to join us for one night and the next day at the cabin.

Glenhaven has become our "home away from home." When Coletta and I become mentally, emotionally and spiritually drained in helping people who are hurting or struggling in their lives, or when we simply become physically drained from the demands of the ministry, we often go to Glenhaven. After visiting Ohio's Amish Country usually two or three times a year over the past 12 years, we have discovered some of our "secret and favorite places" off the main beaten paths that have become great "memory making spots" for the two of us. It is just a peace of Heaven. Both Holmes County, the Sugar Creek area, and just hanging out and relaxing at Glenhaven has always drawn Coletta and I closer to the Lord and each other. So whether you are in the ministry or not, give Glenn and Esther Troyer a call (877)852-4039 and do as Jesus commanded his disciples. "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while."

I'm Jim Burns, Pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church in Van Wert, Ohio, and that's something to think about! Email: jimmycburns@aol.com