Starting a Bible Study

On May 3, something unusual happened. I went to New Life Church as normal that morning. I had to go to work unexpectedly for a brief time, so I left after my duties were finished at church.

By the time I had finished helping at work, church was over. As I drove back toward Renton, I decided to stop in Factoria to get something to eat since there were several fast food restaurants there. I knew that I was going to have the night off with my aunt, and that we'd be spending time together. I also realized that she probably wanted to have Mexican, so I crossed Taco Time off the list, but I went to Taco Bell instead. I don't even know why I did it since it made no sense to me.

I didn't feel comfortable at Taco Bell because I didn't trust some of the people there. I sat in the corner, facing away from the crowd. This was also unusual because I normally face the people in a restaurant, and I already didn't trust some of them.

After I finished eating I realized that some people behind me were talking about the Bible. They were discussing 2 Corinthians 4. One of them was trying to help the other two understand what it meant, and he was doing a pretty good job at it. But there came a point at which he couldn't really explain what 2 Cor. 4:8-9 meant.

I turned around and told them I could help them understand this and asked if they'd like me to help. They invited me, so I explained the whole thing to them.

Weeks later, I asked how they started the Bible study together. Sometime during the week before May 3, a homeless man asked Caleb about the Bible and wanted to understand more of it. To Caleb, this was fairly random, but he knew who this guy was because he'd had some interactions with him. Caleb answered some of his questions, but knew there were too many to be able to answer all at once. He suggested that they meet for a Bible study that following Sunday, May 3 at Taco Bell. That's how they met me.

Since we've started this Bible study, we've seen one man give his heart to Jesus, and another rededicated his life to Him. We started studying the book of John on May 10, and this coming Sunday we're going to be studying John 18. We've also changed locations. By the way, the guy who originally had questions about the Bible is already saved.

God is changing the hearts of the homeless in Factoria, Washington.

God has given me some new friends.

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14 NIV)

RoozenGaarde

It was the last day of the tulip festival, and I still needed to see it. I drove to Mount Vernon on April 20 so I could see the last of the tulips at RoozenGaarde. The fields of flowers had already been taken and so only a little was still there. Even what little was there was pretty spectacular. Hopefully I'll be able to go while the fields are still in bloom next year!

A crab apple tree among the tulips

Catching Up on 2015: Greene County

March 30 was going to be my last adventure in Alabama on this trip. Scott still hadn't taken me turkey hunting, and he really wanted to take me out. I couldn't actually hunt or even touch a gun without a permit, so really I was going to watch Scott hunt turkeys.

Scott made arrangements to go to a relative's house in Greene County to hunt. When we got there that morning, it was raining, so we waited out the weather for a couple hours. Finally things had dried out enough to attempt this adventure. This was my first real exposure to turkey hunting, so Scott basically showed me all the ropes. Scott told me that it was my job to make the tom turkey horny by imitating a hen, and it would be his job to blast him in the face when he came by.

Scott wears camouflage for this turkey-hunting adventure.

You can't tell, but it's actually me!

You get a point if you can find Scott.

Unfortunately we didn't see a turkey much less get one. Regardless, it was a relaxing morning on the property.

Scott walks back to the house next to a pollen-laden pond.

For lunch, we met Amanda and her mother Teresa in Aliceville at Jack's. Of course Amanda brought Naomi with her and we all had a great lunch.

Teresa and Amanda

Afterward, Teresa had to go back to work, but we went to Eutaw to see Amanda's grandparents. Scott and I drove around town, looking at the numerous plantations and historic buildings. There is quite a bit of history in this quaint little town. Amanda cleaned her grandparents' house and we visited for a bit.

Kirkland Plantation in Eutaw, Alabama

It was getting late in the afternoon, so we drove to Akron where Amanda grew up. We went to her father's farm and I was delighted to meet her father's girlfriend, but I was unable to meet her father.

The sun sets behind an old barn on Amanda's father's propery in Akron, Alabama.

The day was quite relaxing and I really enjoyed touring this beautiful part of Alabama. It was a great send-off since I was going to go back to Seattle the next day.

Catching Up on 2015: Reuniting with an Old Friend

After church on March 29, 2015, Scott, Amanda, Naomi and I went to Logan's in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to visit with my friend Corey.

Corey and I were roommates for a time when I lived in Baton Rouge about 12 years ago. He's a good brother and a dependable man.

He recently was married to his beautiful wife, but I couldn't go to his wedding last year.

I was so glad to finally be able to meet her for the first time and to see him for the first time in 10 years since I visited Baton Rouge last. I was encouraged to see such how things have turned out for him over the years with the cards he was dealt.

I wish we were closer together so that these reunions didn't have to have so much time between them!

Scott, Corey, and I are together for the first time in 10 years!

Katy, Corey, and Wayne together for the first time since Katy and Corey were wedded

Catching Up on 2015: The Creation Museum

March 24-27, 2015 Scott, Amanda, Naomi, and I drove from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Cincinnati, Ohio to see the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. Although Scott and I visited the museum in 2005, this was Amanda's and Naomi's first time.

We drove a full day from Tuscaloosa to Cincinnati on March 24 and went to our hotel, TownPlace Suites. I really liked this hotel. Scott and Amanda had a bedroom to themselves, as did I. Naomi slept in the living area in a Pack 'n Play.

Naomi's ready for night-night.

 Amanda was super excited to finally arrive at the Creation Museum on March 25. We looked at the whole museum during the day and had a good lunch. Naomi even rode a camel. Once her turn was over, she cried since she wanted to continue riding.

Scott, Amanda, and Naomi pose in front of the Creation Museum.

When kids start going into school, they're immediately taught the doctrine of evolution and millions of years. It's unfortunate that our society doesn't recognize that the belief in the lack of a god or God is itself a religion, and that the teaching of evolution in schools is the furtherance of this religion by the state.

I think that once kids are in school, this museum is awesome. Even if they can't read, their parents can read to them, and there are a lot of videos there to help explain the exhibits. This museum's main goal is to show that although we're taught about evolution, God's Word explains better what we see today.

For a child of Naomi's age, there was very little to keep her interest.  Being not quite 2 years old, this was probably the first time that she'd seen life-sized dinosaurs and the like. She definitely didn't like the animated dinosaurs. They looked a bit scary. But then again, there was that petting zoo with the camel!

Naomi reacts to the sight of a pterodactyl above the Creation Museum Bookstore.

On March 26 we listened to Ken Ham speak about evangelization in a society quickly becoming secular. Having lived in the Northwest for most of my life, I saw his main point as being quite relevant.

Wayne, Naomi, Amanda, and Scott Dore pose with Ken Ham.

We drove to Scott's and Amanda's home on March 27 exhausted. I was glad to have the next day to recuperate.