Jake And His Stories

Quite the day, quite the week, I must say. I preached at Malta Bend and Grand Pass yesterday--first time I had preached for months and months. Then met with 5 of the 10 students we had asked to come together and talk about pastoral visitation---a VERY lively discussion ensued. Then 5 evaluations today and hard work tonight on a project that had to be turned in TONIGHT. I just got it done and did the "happy dance" with an 18 year old young woman and a 16 year old young man, both who tolerated me.

When I got home this afternoon, after the five interviews and running a book over to Susan V.s', in my living room playing the now out-of-tune piano was Jake McDonald, whom I have written about before here a bit. Jake knows alot about Boulevard Brewery. He was telling us stories about how he used to live there. I will let you figure the rest out. Jake is Mr. Piano Man---he was trying to figure out the bass line for "Autumn Leaves" when I came in, and he was duly impressed that I knew what he was playing. The song went well with the mid century modern living room. Jake stayed for dinner tonight, and while Caleb and I got things ready in the kitchen, he wowed us with classical music which used the entire keyboard. At supper besides stories of almost drowning in vats of beer and how at 2 he bottled beer by hand along side his parents, he also told us that in Russia it used to be that when children were taught the piano, they had to play in cold, cold rooms because if they could play there and learn to move their hands quickly there, playing in the warmth would be a cinch. Caleb and I decided there must be a blog entry I could make out of this, or a sermon illustration. I told the old joke about the guy hitting himself in the head because it felt so good when he stopped. Hmmm...I will let you draw your own conclusions. It is late and I have six evalutions tomorrow. What a delight it is to listen in about people's ministries and lives. A gift for sure. Oh, yes, and there is that book I am supposed to have read by Wed. morning since I am leading a study on it for the pastors...

PS Thanks Jill and Kevin for such kind words today about the blog.