Mín Englisc Blog

Memorial Day. Praise the LORD for giving us those who have died in our defence. Four of us from my Scout troop marched in the village parade this morning, and four others were in the Benjamin Logan Middle School band. Afterward, we went to the village cemetery for the annual observance. There have been lots more people there since 9/11. Dad prayed for the invocation at the start, followed by things like the band's playing of the Star-Spangled Banner, the reading of a poem, and the singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Another village pastor prayed to end the ceremony. Before praying, he noted, as he put it, "youth ready to lead us," in the band — and then me! Nobody expected that.
After returning from the cemetery, we went to Bellefontaine for lunch and returned to find Paul and another man replacing some siding.
Forgot to mention that Mrs. Miller from church gave me a box yesterday filled with stamps. This box included forty-three complete panes of stamps, fifty apiece. And that's not including tons of large blocks! Also at church, I got my new Scout shirt back from Mrs. Bump, who sews our patches. Now, I wear the new Star rank patch.
Clarinda RP is a church of about thirty people in extreme southwestern Iowa. The Rev. Jeff Yelton has served there for several years; before him, there had been several years' hiatus.

Dad preached today to over fifty people, including four families of visitors — the same people who came two months ago. Since it's the last week of the month, we had lunch followed by afternoon worship. The sermons were on (morning) the ten plagues, and (afternoon) the people who mocked Christ on the cross. Wes, the boy from our troop who was here yesterday, attended morning worship and stayed for lunch; hopefully he'll return.
Other than worship, nothing much has happened yet. I've gotta be off quickly because Dad's supposed to be starting a premarital counselling session via telephone at 4:00. This depends, of course, on when he gets home; he's not here yet.
Christ Covenant RP in Lawrence, Kansas, just called as pastor John McFarland. This group of fifty-something people had been without one for a long time.

Sorry about posting nothing until tonight; we've been busy all day and I haven't been online all day except once to check email.
Today is the last Saturday before Memorial Day, and here in Belle Center that means one thing: yardsales! A map was being handed out with names and addresses of yardsalers who had paid a fee; there were about forty different sales on it. Many people (including us) didn't put anything on, so there had to be plenty of sales. We sold, among other things, the cage for the rabbit (unused since rabbit died in July), an electronic typewriter, an old computer monitor, and an old bicycle. Besides that, very little — mostly toys. ELsewhere, I bought (in total) two old books. Interesting day.
A boy, Wes, from the Scout troop came here around 3PM and is still here after eating dinner. He was in DC and didn't get back until 5:30 this morning. While he was here, we watched LOTR Return of the King among other things. While I was at his house earlier, I had a new experience. Wes is in the Ben Logan band, playing tuba and Sousaphone — the latter of which was at his house. With his permission, I put it on and blew. It's a lot easier to produce sound with it than with a trumpet, but tons heavier. I don't think I'll be going into Sousaphoneing any time soon...
Meanwhile in DC, the new World War II Memorial was dedicated. The ceremony included a speech by the elder President Bush. As well, one veteran imprisoned by Japan for three years recalled his release the last day of the war, when the Japanese camp commander "came out and said, 'The American forces have defeated Japan. There will be no work today."' Those are they who made us what we are today.
Fare þú gód! Aiya i-Valar, Frodo. Aiya i-Valar.
No church today because we're in between presbyteries. Tomorrow starts Midwest Presbytery.

This comes to mind:

The LORD is my shepherd; no want shall come nigh.
Within the green pastures He makes me to lie.
Beside the still waters He leads me to rest;
My soul He revives when I'm faint and oppressed.
In right ways He leads me for His own name's sake.
Although through the vale of death's shadow I walk,
Since You are there with me, no evil I fear;
Your rod and Your staff give me comfort and cheer.
You set me a table before all my foes.
My head You anoint, and my cup overflows.
Your goodness and mercy attend my life's ways;
I'll dwell in the house of the LORD endless days.

I just finished my final Literature test and Mom's grading it as I type. I am now finished with high school.

Yet evermore I am with Thee:
Thou holdest me by my right hand.
And Thou, ev'n Thou, my guide shalt be;
Thy counsel shall my way commmand;
And afterward in glory bright
Shalt Thou receive me to Thy sight.
For whom have I in heav'n but Thee?
None else on earth I long to know.
My flesh may faint and weary be;
My heart may fail and heavy grow;
With strength doth God my heart restore;
He is my portion evermore.
They perish that are far from Thee;
Lo, in their lewdness they shall die.
But surely it is good for me
That unto God I should draw nigh.
I refuge take in God the Lord,
He is my portion evermore.

I made Star! Now I have six months until I make Life, the last rank before Eagle. Target date: Saturday, 27 Novermber 2004.
More schoolwork and mowing yesterday; what's new? Umm, we went to Bob Evans to celebrate for the first time since (I think) 27 January, when I got my last rank advancement.
Now this is bad: In Iraq, rebels attacked a convoy carrying detainees from Abu Ghrayb to a release point. Now how bad is that? They kill THEIR OWN PEOPLE!
Lynchburg Mission Church is a really new group meeting in that southern Virginia town. The group is served by Greg Cumbee, an elder preparing for the ministry.

On the controversial post:

I don't think the mother should be punished at all, for reasons I'm going to state in a few days.

Wow! I'm in the newspaper on the front page. There are some errors, like the one saying the bike trip goes from Indianapolis to Grand Rapids, IOWA. Still, check it out! Þas sindon tidugas nús and bliðes!
Come ON! Bill Cosby recently said that a big reason why black youth have little future is their parents' apathy and their own lack of education. Now there are cries of "Insensitive! Insensitive!" What else can explain it — except "Discrimination!" Yes, there is racial discrimination in America — it's called "affirmative action." Discriminating against majorities doesn't cause this minority problem.
Attorney General Ashcroft yesterday held a press conference wherein he revealed that al-Qaida is at least 90% complete with preparations for a terrorist attack to rival September 11. He also displayed names and faces of seven al-Qaida members suspected of being in the USA to help with this attack. God bringe friþ.
Besides being in the paper yesterday, I mowed two lawns and little more. Tonight is my Board of Review to advance to the rank of Star Scout. I'm sure I'll pass (though maybe not without trouble) and be just two ranks short of Eagle. If I get everything done on time, I'll finish Eagle exactly one year from today! .
Westminster RP in the Chicago suburb of Prairie View is a congregation with a checkered past. Since their founding less than twenty years ago, their history has been of great growth, followed by families moving away in droves and repeat. Hopefully, the (relatively) new ministry of Charles Brown will help stabilize the congregation. Currently, they have about seventy to eighty members.

Hey David, here's controversy for you.

What I'm asking involves something I thought of while mowing this afternoon, prompted by a recent event locally. A mother with her seven children (no father in the picture) abandoned them when faced with an advancing 16-year-old boy much bigger than she. He had a sharp blade with him able to kill her if she stayed. As a result, he attacked the children; two were killed, two have disappeared, and the other three were left by their dead siblings' bodies. Now what I'm saying is: should the mother be held at least partially responsible, or should she be let free because of her perceived inability to defend her family? Can there be mitigating circumstances in this situation? I'll offer my input in a few days; in the meantime, I want your comments.

Must post quickly because I was interrupted and will have to do schoolwork soon.
Isaac is fine today. Right now he's sitting at the other computer playing a NASCAR game and lapping everybody.
Paul Soma and another guy have been doing more work on the house the past couple days. They've been taking off the soffit and fascia, parts of the roof that cover its underside.
Triangle RP is a rather new congregation in North Carolina. This group of about forty people is currently without a pastor, as Rev. Doug Comin resigned recently.

I decided to post the poll because it's easier than some elaborate cookie counter.

Rain. It's only about 60°­ and I need to do outside work. Time to put on pants I guess.
Cincinnati is now on top of the Central Division of the National League! They swept the division-leading Astros in four games, beating Andy Pettite and (previously) unbeaten Roger Clemens. Now behind the Reds are Chicago -½, Houston -2. If they keep this up this will be their first playoff season in at least ten years. Go Reds!
Isaac and Mom had a bad day yesterday. Isaac was ill on the couch from about noon until bed — and that after a night of sleeplessness. He seems somewhat better this morning, but we'll see. Mom was also having her own problems, including with her three-week-old lawnmower. The part attaching the grass chute came off. I wonder if this is covered by warranty?
I've heard a rumor about me that involved someone at Southside. Where did that come from?
Sycamore RP in Kokomo, Indiana, is a new, growing congregation. Over seventy people are usually in attendance at worship. Pastor Barry York has served here since the congregation's organization.

They left. Waaah. Actually, they stayed pretty late, not leaving until past 3:15. Allen said that they reaching Indianapolis in time for the 6:45 (our time) worship at Southside. Altogether, I think everyone was here almost exactly twenty-two hours. Way too short, but it was fun. I hadn't seen Brian since Covfamikoi!
In the meantime, back to normal life. Today I have (depending on the weather) a lawn or two to mow, as well as at least one literature lesson. At least I'm done with all my other courses. Leornung hilpþ man mid aweaxende.
The media are now lavishing attention on President Bush's spill on a bicycle. Funny how they give so much attention when the President messes up like this, but they hardly noticed when John Kerry fell off his bike. Or when he crashed his snowboard and cursed out for causing the crash a Secret Service agent sworn to protect Kerry with his own life.
David wants something funny. I'll give the best I can. Yesterday at church we had six highschool age kids at church, and just one (me) voted for CYPU. It's called three are from elsewhere, one probably doesn't know what CYPU is, and the other has only ever been to one event. Why, I wonder, don't they go to these things? It's not too late for Lydia (turns 17 in eight days) to make friends, let alone Sean (15). Especially since Lydia went to the Winter Conference once.
Sparta RP in southern Illinois is another old, weak congregation. Pastor Ray Morton also serves the nearby Oakdale congregation. Put together, they'd have fifty to sixty members but attendance in the thirties. Sparta itself is a fusion of two congregations: Bethel and Old Bethel. Fifty-five years ago, both were over 100 people.

Well, just what I'd hoped for. Everybody got here around 5:15 and the fun started. After the party we sat around for a while before we piled into Brian's car to meet Dad and Isaac in Bellefontaine; Dad had bought pizzas for supper. After getting home we went for ice cream and then did other things, like looking at Brian's ALERT photos, before bed at 11:30. Allen and Zachary did stay overnight 8^D Ic eom eadig!
The party itself wasn't what I'd hoped. Late (around 5) there were plenty of people, but nobody from the troop (except the scoutmaster) and not as many people from church. I had been beginning to wonder if we would need even the ten chairs we had set out.
Other than that, nothing much happened yesterday except preparation. I helped take down and put up a large tent-like shelter called a dining fly and bothered with two tarps to cover the dining fly: one was old and messy, the other new and too small. Mom didn't like having to clean the old one.
Southside Indianapolis RP is the second largest church in Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery. They are in process of getting a new pastor, Gordon Keddie, after a few years without. Nearly half the highschoolers in the Presbytery go there, but I've never visited there for worship.

A day to which I've looked forward for weeks. Grad party today means friends! Allen and Zachary plan to arrive around noon and stay for several hours, and Brian and Kevin plan to arrive between 4 and 5 and stay overnight. It's been twenty weeks — almost five months — since I saw any of my Indiana friends.
The Cincinnati Reds won another game last night — against Andy Pettite! They've now won their last three games and six of their last seven. If they beat Houston tonight, they'll be in first place. Too bad Houston's starter is Roger Clemens.
I was amazed by the line of storms hitting us yesterday afternoon. On the radar, we had a band of red TEN MILES wide, interspersed with several spots of purple. The National Weather Service reported that we got two inches of rain in just thirty minutes. Apparently, it was worse down by Columbus, where power is still out in places. In Iowa, however, tornados destroyed a town and injured almost twenty people.
Southfield RP in that Detroit suburb is one of the oldest churches in Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery, founded in 1834. With somewhat short of 100 people, the congregation is served by Pastor Ian Wise.

By the way, check out this site. It has info you really need about something that's going to be really important soon.

I feel SO much better with more sleep.
Well, I'm done with mowing for the week, and there's just one thing of schoolwork to go (a short test) except for like five art lessons. I wonder how I did on yesterday's Literature test? And tomorrow it's PARTY TIME! 8^D
Paul continues his work on the house. Yesterday he put up new siding on the vertical edge of the porch roof. Today I think he might be reshingling the porch roof. You wouldn't believe how many birds' and wasps' nest were up there.
In Karbala, the military is slowly and surely on the offensive. Yesterday, they killed eighteen more rebels. 18 down, many more plus one cleric to go.
Selma RP in Alabama is the only RP church in the state. Pastor Ralph Joseph, widowed last year, serves a congregation with over sixty members; however, attendance is usually less than half that. The only primarily black church (as far as I know) in the RPCNA, Selma in 1948 had nearly 200 people. They've been going downhill for a while, although God seems to be grating them some relief now.

Finally I got a decent night of sleep. I actually feel kind of awake!
Yesterday there were reports of the military bombing a suspected Iraqi terrorist hideout near the Syrian border. Then the Media said that actually we bombed a wedding party. Now, the military says that they found tons and tons of weapons and lots of money. Of course you'd have lots of money with a wedding party, but weapons?
Another yard mowed yesterday, and also two tests. I'm now done with all of my major subjects except English and (of course) Literature. A test on that today.
I bought a Scout uniform short-sleeved shirt by eBay some few days ago. It came in yesterday, and I eagerly tried it on. Why hadn't I noticed that it was Isaac's size? At least he needed one. Plus, it came with a patch from Santa Clara County Council in Silicon Valley.
Second Indianapolis RP is one probably all two of you readers know. With over three hundred people, it's the largest church in both Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery and in the whole denomination. It also has three resident pastors (more than any other RP church): Dr. Roy Blackwood (senior), Rich Johnston (main) and James Faris (associate).

Rain, rain, go away... It's still raining. Hopefully I can get necessary mowing done.
Not a good troop meeting last night. Only six boys there — half of what we should have had. As a result, very little got done.
I've finally gotten my troop's website online. Unfortunately, I haven't figured how to put any of the files up except for text.
Orlando RP is the farthest south RP church. The congregation of about seventy to eighty people has just received as pastor David Smith after several years without a minister.

Why can't I sleep longer? I woke this morning 1½ hours ago. I should be just waking up right now!
Did you hear that the Iraqi rebels might have finally revealed Saddam's WMD's? They tried to set off a shell the other day that contained sarin, a chemical weapon. Now, all we'll hear from the media will be stuff like "It's ooooooonly one" or "It's Bush's fault! It took us THIRTEEN months to find stuff. If John Kerry had been president, he would have found them in thirteen DAYS!" After all, he did vote for the war etc. before he voted against it.
The meeting yesterday went pretty well. I got schedules for everything I'll need; plus, I got a counsellor for Cycling merit badge. I'll need to do work on that before the bike trip to Calvin.
Oakdale RP is southern Illinois is one of the oldest churches in Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery. Since 1834, it has had years of glory, as it was once the largest congregation in the RPCNA. Unfortunately, they are now very weak with only about thirty members — most aged. Pastor Ray Morton of Sparta RP serves Oakdale as well.

Monday morning, bright and clear. Good thing it's clear because I have a ton of stuff to do today. Mowing, a visitor coming from Bellefontaine, going to another Scout troop's meeting. Mom has other stuff, too. And did I mention schoolwork?
The head of the Iraqi Governing Council was killed in a car bombing today. Meanwhile, only 35% of Americans approve of Bush's handling of Iraq. What more can he do that they would approve of? I can think of stuff I'd like for them to do, but they'll never do it because it might cause half a dozen civilian casualties. Do stuff like Israel. Anybody know how long it's been since the last suicide bombing in Israel?
As normal, we had a lady from church and her daughter over for dinner last night after church. And as normal, a great time.
Multiracial RP in Pensacola, Florida, is a very weak group. They were founded in 1990 and since have had many troubles. One elder left his wife and the minister's wife left him and his family. Now there are only about a dozen people. Fortunately, things seem to be picking up somewhat under the ministry of Stated Supply Stan Copeland.

Ic wille þe ic meahte slæpan langra. I wish that I could sleep longer!
Dad's preaching this morning was from the first two chapters of Exodus, viewing the rise of Moses. As normal, very useful. Unfortunately, we had a bunch of people missing, whether from illness or something else; there were only (I think) 34 people there this morning.
Since lunch, I've been using an interesting program called NoteWorthy Composer, which creates MIDI sound files. Isaac found it somewhere online. Too bad it's only a demo! I've put in complete music and words for two Psalms as well as a well-known hymn I like a lot. It's what comes to mind when I think of church singing with instruments.
Lafayette RP between Chicago and Indianapolis is a thriving church with a fruitful prison ministry and large numbers of students from Purdue. They soon might have more people than building room — Pastor Dave Long serves well over 150 people each week. The congregation has called Lic. Jared Olivetti as an associate pastor with the intention of starting a second work in the city.

I changed the format back to the old one because the whole template got destroyed somehow. I think I'll stay with this. More later.

Too-day is Sat-ur-day and I'm still tired. I wish I could sleep later than 7:00!
More rain overnight and (as I type) still raining. I just wonder if I can go on a bike ride today. I am NOT planning to go nineteen miles!
Yesterday was relatively easy -- although I had a test, it was oeconomics -- and no mowing. Dad and I went looking for John James' (the "chaplain") house but found nothing; we went as far as the village of Ridgeway. Dinky place but it still had gas under $2 per gallon. After we got back, Paul Soma and some of Dana's family completely took down our chimney. It looks weird now but I guess we won't be needing it anytime soon.
President Bush spoke yesterday in Wisconsin. I read the transcript; what a good speech!
Hetherton RP in northern Michigan is one of the denomination's weakest congregations. Only about a dozen people come each week. Pray for the congregation and for Stated Supply Milton Harrington (they have no pastor) that God would continue their long history for a long time to come!

How do you like the new counter?

Well, I did PLENTY of bike riding yesterday. I went over to Rushsylvania (7 miles) seeking our troop's titular chaplain, the associate pastor at the Rushsylvania Church of Christ. Went to the old church; nobody there. Went to the old church; nobody there. Went to find his house (I had the number) and it took me over thirty minutes to find it -- and then I found he'd moved! AAAAARGH!
Rumsfeld went to Iraq yesterday or the day before to survey Abu Ghrayb. It's amazing what efforts our leaders have to take to exonerate themselves from spurious charges, and what lengths the media go to destroy their reputations.
Elkhart RP is a new congregation in northern Indiana. Pastor Andy McCracken seves over fifty people in this Great Lakes-Gulf church.

Yesterday, we had PLENTY of work at our house. Two plumbers replaced the downstairs toilet and took out the upstairs one. Meanwhile, Somas kept working on the roof. Mom and Dad's bed, on the other hand, broke; as a result, they must sleep on the hide-a-bed. Also, I began cutting wood for a rope-maker for the Pioneering merit badge.
I have to go, so this is all except for the church.
Columbus RP is a Great Lakes-Gulf congregation south of Indianapolis. This congregation of somewhat less than 100 people is without a pastor right now, as Rev. Andrew Schep recently left for Syracuse RP.

Not as good of a troop meeting as I'd hoped. Only my patrol (of three) had everybody there, so the others couldn't elect patrol leaders, so we can't have a governing Patrol Leaders' Council set up next week. We actually did decent work, selecting a name and flag. Besides troop meeting, I took two tests and mowed one yard yesterday. Only two yards left!
An American was beheaded some time ago, and the videotape of the incident was released yesterday. Now people will say: if we hadn't gone to Iraq, this guy would be safe. If we hadn't gone to Iraq, Saddam would be safe. If we hadn't gone to Iraq, tens or hundreds of thousands of Iraqis wouldn't be. Check to see average Iraqi reaction.
Cincinnati won late last night in San Diego. Jr. is actually doing well; at this rate he'll get injured before June and be out for the rest of the season.
Dad was at the courthouse all day yesterday. He is on grand jury for the next four months, and he'll have to go in one day a month.
Paul Soma is still working on top of the roof. He's gotten almost all of the felt put on; after that, he can put on the shingles.
Bloomington RP in Indiana is a growing congregation south of Indianapolis. Pastor Bill Roberts and Associate Pastor David Hanson serve this church of slightly over 100 people in Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery.

AAAAAND it's Tuesday. Important troop meeting tonight.
I'm glad that most lawnmowing people don't have to go through what I did yesterday. Mom and I mowed at the laundromat, using an old mower that leaves grass all over the place and a new, just-out-of-the-box mower. The property has a small fenced area, a large open "plain", and several other smaller but generally flat areas. I took the "plain" with the old one and wasn't finished when Mom completed everything else outside of the fence, easily more than I had. Then I had to mow another yard, using the new mower. I absolutely HATE the old one!
Idiots are still calling for the resignation of the "embattled" Secretary of Defense. Embattled? He wouldn't be anywhere near as "embattled" if the media would stop its slavish toeing of the Democratic Party line for more than a day or two.
For English yesterday, I had to write a sonnet. Here you go:

I've fun had in my/////final English year;
I've some learned from my/////book I'd never seen.
But now I wonder/////what I'll need to've been
To do my duty;/////God to me is dear.

Shall I bring forth the/////wonder of God's fear?
Shall I now shine to/////show whom Christ does glean?
I know to worship/////none but God; so mean
Are those that hate us/////that to Him are dear.

Forever true to God/////we trust for all.
And great will giv'n be/////gifts forevermore:
He'll take us through life's/////troubles to His hall.
So now I pray to/////Him; I need God's lore
To serve Him best. I'll/////by His stool now fall
In worship now and/////worship evermore.

It would have been easier than it was, but I decided for a challenge, so I took the more difficult Italian form. Moreover, I wrote the whole thing in alliterative half-lines, like Old English poets. It's hard, I'll tell you!
Dad just went in for grand jury duty. Proceedings are starting right now.
Belle Center RP is my home church. I've lived here since I was born, except for the time in Ireland. My dad Phil serves our slowly growing church, which numbers in the forties. We're a sad story, as when Belle Center RP was started, there were FIVE RP churches in the county; now we're the only one in the state! Most of the people left in 1891 after Synod's great "Liberal Trial"; since then, we've never been strong. My dad is the first pastor here since the split to see growth except by mergers. Pray for us!

I don't like the new Blogger.com format as well as I liked the old one. It's nice, but I was just used to the old one, I guess.
Not much happened yesterday and this morning. A lady from church came over after evening service, and she stayed for over two hours. Great time.
More and more people are calling for Donald Rumsfeld to resign. I am so frustrated and angry about this whole situation. If thirteen Ford assembly line workers sabotage production slightly, do you fire senior vice presidents?
No church today because I'm in between presbyteries.

Dad preached this morning from the last three chapters of Genesis, where Yaqob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh, where Yaqob blesses his sons and dies, and where Yaqob is buried and Joseph dies. Tonight's sermon will be from part of Mark 15, during the tortures of Christ.
Several visitors today. It is really encouraging to see new people coming and how the Lord blesses us. Two of the visitors, a husband and wife, were from up almost to Toledo; they are visiting his mother in our area and found that we're the only Reformed church in the area. Another four were Paul Soma's parents and their two youngest; the next-to-youngest, Laura, has been down here for like a week, and I think they will be leaving. If it's like normal, they'll get going around, oh, 3:00 AM!
Paul has finished putting the particleboard sheathing on the roof. Next step is to put a layer of paper called (I think) foam. After that, the shingles.
Last night we went to a family party for my cousin (see Friday's post). Contrary to what I said, her confirmation was scheduled for today. Anyway, we went to this Italian sit-down restaurant. It has just a small facade, but the place goes back a long way and it's a labyrinth in there -- completely confusing! After the party, we went to my couin's house before leaving for home; we arrived shortly after 10:00. Great time.
Berkshire Mission Church in far western Massechusetts is a new group that I'd never heard of before. Apparently a mission of Cambridge RP, it is young enough that it has no pastor or anything. This is the last of Atlantic Presbytery; next comes Great Lakes-Gulf, in which are Ohio and Indiana.

Nice part about Blogger: You can post anywhere. I'm at my grandmother's down near Cincinnati as I type. Moreover, I just found Zachary's like ten, fifteen miles away at Kings Island. Can I go see him?
Yesterday again was quite interesting -- nothing bad happening to me, but something very bad almost happening around me. Paul was still working on the roof yesterday morning when a thunderstorm approached, so he had to attach some tarps to cover the rafters. He hadn't bothered to do anything earlier, so EVERYTHING was being done as lightning was visible. I had to climb up a TV antenna tower to hand Dana (Mrs. Soma) a big tarp! After that, she came down, but he didn't -- he worked through the whole storm. Lightning hitting everywhere, hail coming down, he easily could have been hit. Fortunately he didn't.
Big news was Rumsfeld before Congress. Tons of Democrats are now calling for his resignation. Will somebody in the Democratic Party please exhibit a little bit of sense?
I'm going to have a bit of a problem with the churches. If I make a mistake, I'll change it when I get home 8^D
White Lake RP in New York is about ninety miles north-northeast of New York. Pastor David Coon serves over 100 people, as this is the largest congregation in Atlantic Presbytery. The Presbytery's summer camp is located on the shores of White Lake.

Unlike Wednesday, I had a VERY exciting day yesterday. Everything was normal until after lunch: I did a good deal of schoolwork and prepared to mow a yard. However, I'd just started with the yard when I heard a huge crunch and the mower stopped itself. The mechanic says that something covering a belt has come off, and the replacement part probably won't be in for several weeks.
Cincinnati won last night's game against the Brewers 9-6. Junior actually did decently -- 3 for 5, 5 RBI, one home run. Going by previous experience, he's going to be injured in a week or two.
Just remembered that I'll be leaving later for my uncle and aunt's down near Cincinnati. My cousin is having her confirmation ceremony at their PCUSA church tomorrow.
Donald Rumsfeld will be going to Congress today. He's going to be called on the carpet (and worse) for the abuse thing. What could he have done to stop it? Worse, several Dems have called for Rumsfeld's resignation and Bush to fire him if he doesn't resign first. Charles Rangel (D-NY) has even said he'll file articles of impeachment against Rumsfeld if he stays in office.
Ridgefield Park RP in the New Jersey suburbs of New York is a sad story. It's an amalgamation of SIX congregations: Montclair, Brooklyn, and First through Fourth New York. The Atlantic Presbytery congregation of about forty people is served by Pastor J. Bruce Martin, who is currently the clerk of Synod.
By the way, check out this site. I found it on some Icelandic guy's blog.

WOW! What a difference the new template makes. Thanks to David for the URL.
Paul Soma continues to work on the roof. Two days ago, he removed all of the tin — yes, a tin roof! Yesterday, he put some particleboard stuff on top, and today he will be adding more. He's not up there yet. I don't know when he's going to put on shingles.
Yesterday I did the normal routine: mow one yard, do schoolwork, etc. Not much of interest.
Fox News is reporting that Bush gave Rumsfeld a chastisement over the Iraqi prisoner thing. Meanwhile, Kerry, as ever, is going around saying that the president's response was slow and ineffective. What more could the president have been doing?
Hazleton Area RP in Hazleton PA is a small, young congregation in Atlantic Presbytery. With between thirty and forty people, this congregation lost its pastor recently when Mark England accepted a call to San Diego RP.

More of the same. Nothing much special happened yesterday. Mowed one yard, passed an œconomics test, stuff like that.
Cincinnati lost its baseball game last night to the Brewers, 6-2. A pity they don't continue winning.
President Bush plans to apologize on Arab TV for the maltreatment of Iraqi prisoners. It's shameful, but what's worse is the reaction. "Torture! Torture!" people say. If you want torture, read Solzhenitsyn.
An exception to the "more of the same" was last night's troop meeting. Our patrols (sub-troop) got redistributed, a third (leadership) patrol got added, and I got switched from the Hawks to it. Normally, a troop with three patrols has something like 25 guys; we have about 10-12.
Elkins Park RP, an Atlantic Presbytery congregation in the Philadelphia area, is served by pastor John Edgar. It used to be the old Third Philadelphia, but has shrunk a bit from the large group it once was — down to less than forty people.

AAAAAGH! No post again yesterday. I think I might start posting regularly in the mornings.
Yesterday was mostly mowing and some schoolwork. We had a boy from the troop here in the evening to help with the design of the troop website.
As I type, we have Paul Soma from church working on the roof. Yesterday, he and two plumber were here looking at our toilets. Now, he's doing something with the shingles, I think. Hopefully he's done by the next rain!
Coldenham-Newburgh RP in eastern New York is a fusion of three old congregations: Coldenham, First Newburgh, and Second Newburgh. Pastor Charles Leach serves this Atlantic Presbytery church, which has between forty and fifty people.

I'm tired but at least I'm here. Þes wí­ciende on græsum macieþ mec meðe.
Dad's preaching today looked at Gen. lxvi, lxvii where Jacob + family go to Egypt. Remember how Jacob sacrifices to God at Beersheba, and God blesses the journey? Dad said that C I Scofield thought that God never wanted Jacob to go. Now how does one get that from this passage?
As promised, I'm telling of the camping trip Friday and yesterday. All four of us from church (plus Dad) went with three others in the troop down to Springfield, to the Clark County Fairgrounds, for a regional "Camporee". After we set up, we checked out other troops' campsites. Some of them had grand planned archways, like a twenty-foot-tall tepee. Another boy and I worked on setting up a rudimental archway before we went to bed. In the morning, we visited various events like tomahawk throwing, archery, and crossing a high, thin log with only two thin ropes for bracing. Dad drove Matthew Bump (from church), Isaac, and me home just as a huge storm hit; the other four, we have been told, were up most of the night with tons of rain and thunder. Isaac, by the way, became very well known, for he was the only bugler among hundreds of Scouts. His playing of "Taps", "To The Colors", and other tunes made us prominent 8^D
Cambridge RP in that Boston suburb is an old but flourishing congregation in Atlantic Presbytery. Pastor Christian Adjemian serves around seventy people, including some Harvard students. Dad assisted communion at Cambridge four years ago when we took a New England vacation.

I'm back! Details will be forthcoming.