KEDGING

Webster's Dictionary defines "kedging" as: to move (a ship) by means of a line attached to a small anchor dropped at the distance and in the direction desired. An example of this would be if a sailing vessel was near a harbor, and lost wind, a crew member could place an anchor in a safety boat with a rope tied to the sailing vessel, row into the harbor, drop an anchor and "kedge" the sailing vessel into the harbor by pulling it in with the rope. The process of "pulling the ship in" is very difficult, but the reward is the sailing vessel or "ship" comes to you safely in the harbor.

How can "kedging" help you in your personal life? To me, "kedging" to improve my life or the quality of my life would be to find some activity or event that I absolutely love, and do things to make that dream (event or activity) come true. Most of us only get to go on vacation once or twice a year if any. But if you can find something that is an absolute delight for you to do, you can look forward to that event several months in advance. Any of you that are in a high stress situation in your education or work know that if you don't get away from the pressure every now and then, you will likely snap or "burn out."

A dear Pastor friend of mine in Kansas who is now in his 70's loved golfing. Thus he went golfing sometimes twice a week, weather permitting. He would exercise, practice, take golf lessons and meditate on how he could improve his golfing techniques as he would be "looking forward" (kedging) towards his next golf game with other Pastor friends. Although some might criticize my Pastor friend for being out on the golf course twice a week, it was this time of fresh air, fellowship with other Christian men, exercise and "stress relieving" that very likely helped keep him in the ministry for now over 35 years. He is still serving in a church today even in his 70's, relatively healthy, and I might mention, he still golfs!

I do not like to exercise. My "flesh" does not want to get out of bed on a cold, rainy morning, wrap up and go jogging or hit the gym! But I absolutely love to snow ski! If you have ever been snow skiing when you were really out of shape, you know how miserable you were out on the slopes, and how sore your muscles were the week after your ski trip! Thus, as winter approaches, I jog, go to the Wellness Exercise Center in our town, and do aerobics and weight training with my first "ski trip" in mind as I work out! (I don't have a trip scheduled yet, but, I do hope to go skiing sometime this winter)!

It's the "kedging" of the weekly body work out routines that makes my skiing safer and more fun. The side benefit of my "kedging" is that I feel better mentally, emotionally and physically. These three things help me minister better spiritually. All of this "kedging" also helps fight discouragement and some feelings of depression that (yes) sometimes even pastors deal with. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment and well being. It also helps you stay alive and adds much "quality" to your life. (Have you ever noticed that when you get out of town and do something to get you mind off your pressures and problems you come home refreshed and ready to face the battles again)? This is why I believe "kedging" is so important.

So get out there and discover some good, healthy, wholesome fun! Discover an event or activity that you can aim towards and look forward to all year long. From the time you start "dreaming" about that trip, what you do to help reel that trip in is called, "kedging."

I'm Jim C. Burns, and that's something to think about! Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

OUR HOUSE IN OHIO, FALL 2009

This is where Coletta and I live. I took this picture today. When we arrived at Van Wert fourteen years ago, we asked the Lord to give us an old house with trees, on a quiet country road at the edge of town. We bought this home that fall in 1995. It is a block and a half from our old church building, three blocks from downtown on Main Street, across the street from the City's Police Station, Fire Department, and ambulance service! God has a wonderful sense of humor! Under the direction of Mr. Bill Keith, a former trustee of our church with many church members helping, this 115 year old Victorian was turned into an almost completely new Victorian! It seems like the Lord was saying, "Here's your (big) old house and your tree, but, I'm going to save you a lot of gas by putting you close to your church!" We are still only five blocks from our new church!

I'm Jim C. Burns, and that's something to think about!
Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

KERNEL COOPER'S CORN MAZE FIELD TRIP

Papa Burns with Granddaughter, Miley at Kernel Cooper's Corn Maze east of Van Wert. Miley is now 26 months old. She seemed to enjoy her visit to the Maze last Thursday.

That's something to think about! Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

TWO SPECIAL GALS

Our Granddaughter, Miley visited church last Sunday. Here's a picture I took of she and "Nanny Burns" (my wife, Coletta), just before they walked into our new church building for Sunday School. Please pray for Miley as she is recovering from an infection in her foot.

That's something to think about! Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

FALL MEN'S RETREAT A BLESSING!

Perfect autumn weather, cool temperatures, sunshine, great Christian fellowship and challenging Bible sessions made this year's Fall Men's Retreat a special blessing. God used Terry Ginther's testimony Friday night and Jerry Thacker's heart felt and informative challenges Saturday about living with HIV, to help each of us face adversity by the grace of God. We had a total of 27 men from three different churches, and Camp Cotubic, Ohio was the perfect setting. Several men enjoyed sitting around the camp fire for hours while some played hillbilly golf and others went fishing. A few of our men even won a game of horse shoes. The food could not have been better, and we all came home with a renewed desire to life for Christ in the midst of opposition and set backs. Thank you to all the Pastors and church men who helped organize this year's retreat and for all who took time out of your busy schedules to go. We had four men from our church come that had never been with us before on this adventure! It's so neat to see men want to serve Christ and grow in the Lord. This is what it's all about!



That's something to think about! Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

BACK IN THE BIG SKY!

Last Saturday Evening about 5 pm, I was driving out to a new bike trail West of Van Wert to jog off some pounds. It was an absolutely beautiful evening, perfect for flying (and jogging). I called Bill Rager, a Christian (Gideon) pilot friend, to see if by chance he was at the airport. He was finishing his days work, and said, "I will be there in 15 minutes if you want to go up!"

I was driving right by the airport anyway, so, sure! I met Bill and in a matter of minutes, we were 3,000 feet in the sky in his 1969 Comanche 260. Since I had taken some flight lessons a few years ago, and had been flying with Bill before, he let me handle the controls shortly after take off.

We flew East of Van Wert, looked at our local "Corn Maze" (It's Abraham Lincoln this year), then went North towards a small village called Grover Hill to check out several acres of Bill's corn and soy beans to see if any were ready for harvest. What a great night. It also made for a nice "sermon illustration" for the Sunday School Class I taught Sunday. It had been a couple of years since I had been up in a single engine private plane, and I loved it! Thanks Bill for the fun and fellowship. What a blessing to be back up in the Lord's big sky!

That's something to think about.

LABOR DAY AT LAKE MICHIGAN

(Pictured Above: Papa Burns with my little buddy, Miley).

Our son, Matt, daughter in law, Jenny and our granddaughter, Miley came by Van Wert, picked us up and took us to Southern Lake Michigan for Labor Day. The motel manager said he would be glad to take "Buckeye Money," as long as we would not wear red and gray in his motel! It was great family fun and the weather was too cold to swim, but perfect to be outdoors and relax. Sorry no beach pictures of my wife, Coletta, but, she wanted to be the photographer!

Below is Matt and Jenny with a pier and light house in the background.


I'm Jim Burns, and that's something to think about!
Email: jimmycburns@aol.com