Sanity Returns

After I put that title up, I began to wonder if it was honest. I mean, it infers that there was once sanity and it went away and now its back. Hmmm? When was I sane before?

Regardless, it has been amazing of late. The biggest events were only days apart.

Joel, my second oldest son, was married to Beth (Hoover) on the 19th of September. They became reacquainted after Joel returned from his 5 years in the Army last year. Although the Kings and the Hoovers have been friends for over 20 years, we didn't see this one coming. But what a joy it was to see these two care so much for each other and the Lord, and to seek His leading in their relationship. The wedding was attended by so many friends (we have an incredible overlap in relationships) on both sides that I knew - it was more like a reunion than a wedding! Joel and Beth will make their home in Lancaster where Beth is working with an accounting firm and Joel is attending college.

Then on the 23rd, only days after the wedding, Jan's mom Lydia Eckhardt died. She had fallen a couple of weeks prior in an unusual accident at the care center where she lived, and succumbed to complications from that injury. She was 94, and was sincerely looking forward to the day she would join her husband in the presence of her Savior. We all attended the Funeral in Gering NE. Again, another great reunion of caring people! God has truly blessed our family with a great circle of friends.

Now we settle into normalcy. Tim is getting ready a team to minister at the Brooklyn Tabernacle this weekend. His DRAMA Ministry had the privilege of ministering there a couple years ago also. It is a unique opportunity to serve, in that there is such a wide variety of cultures involved in that church.

I am quite busy at work at Brecknock Builders. We have continued to enjoy a full schedule of work in commercial steel buildings. I have been converting the computer systems over onto a more construction specific software (Foundation Software) from QuickBooks Pro. I have used QuickBooks for over 10 years in several businesses, so this is quite a change for me. I like change. It makes you think harder. And it makes you think about why you do what you do, and whether it is really necessary to do things the way you have.

We have also started a new thing - a young adults group - on Friday nights. We saw that our church, like many others, did not have an effective ministry to young singles who have left high school but don't really feel like they are part of the older adult circle. So... Jan and I and two of our friends at church (young adults themselves) named Jerud and Alexandria have begun this gathering. We meet for supper together at our house, then do a bible study on topics of their choice for an hour or so. Following that, we have snacks and play some games together, or visit about whatever topics, or continue to work through question on the study topic of the evening. We praise God for our new dining room with all the space it has. Last week we had 12 around the table. The group is growing and are a continual blessing to me.

Well, this update is longer than it should, but based on when I last posted - it might be a while till I do it again. Not that I don't want to post, but I either spend or waste my time on so many other things.

Happy Valentine's Day

Okay, I know it is not yet Feb 14, but I took my sweetheart out to supper last night (the 6th) to avoid the crowds. We went to Red Lobster because I had a $10 off coupon - we almost never go there because of their prices.

We had a great meal and conversation. Mid-meal, the inevitable... Jan got a call from one of her clients who was having contractions. Because the client lives over 30 miles from where we were, we had to end our meal right away so Jan could head over to her house. Tim met us midway, trading Jan's birthbag for me, and Jan continued to her client's house. Jan made it with plenty of time, delivering a 9 pound baby to the happy mom 2 hours later.

Life at the King house is always interesting, and plans need to be flexible. I love my life.

Okay - it's been a while...

  As the frog once said, time's fun when you're having flies.

It has been over a year since my last post. It's not like nothing has happened. Our lives are full and our house is full and our parking lot is full. So it is not the lack of material that keeps me from posting or updating. If anything, it might be the abundance of material that makes it difficult to find time to sit down and type.

I am in the midst of tax season, so time again is precious. I only do the returns of 35 or so friends, but it means much of my "spare" time is committed. Fortunately, this too shall pass. I actually enjoy the excuse to get together with people and talk about something other than the weather. (One wig commented that if it weren't for the weather, most people wouldn't have anything to say.)

At the end of 2006, Matt and I began a new company, Kingdom Communication Systems. Matt has been working in the telecommunications field for the past several years, and has always stayed up on the leading edge of the digital revolution. We felt there was potenial for a company that knows how to merge the phone systems with the computer networks, as well as take care of company systems efficiently. We have struggled some learning how to sell the services, but the work has been rewarding and growing. We hired a former co-worker in the middle of the year, and AJ has been are real asset to the company - very strong in telephones and a quick learn on the computer side.

A brief update on the rest of my children: Tim is in the final semester at Lancaster Bible College. He managed to maintain his full load while ministering full time with DRAMA. Praise God for those that make scholarships available to diligent students! Tim will graduate debt free.

Joel is about to complete his five years in the army, and will get out in time to attend graduation ceremonies of Tim (college) and Jessica (high school). We are looking forward to seeing how he restructures his routines as he gets to choose where he goes from here.

Michelle is in her second year of college, and is struggling through what major to declare for the next. She faithfully serves in DRAMA with Tim (and Jessica and Chris), and has a real gift for expressing the gospel's impact in her life.

Laura, our only married child, brought little Wyatt into the world in September - her fourth came forth. She and Ben and her four little ones continue to live in Nebraska and minister to my and Jan's parents who live within 15 minutes of them. Laura's willing spirit and busy life is family focused and an inspiration to other mothers. She has begun to homeschool her oldest two, Tyler and Emma, and that is amazing with two more toddlers in the house.

Chris is now taller than his mother. As our youngest, we are always surprised by his growing up, his moving from stage to stage of increasing maturity. He is a great help to his mother in caring for the dogs and in many other ways. Chris is a thoughtful young man, and growing in wisdom.

Jessica will graduate in May from our homeschool highschool. She, along with 89 other homeschool seniors, will march across the stage to receive her diploma from her parents. Jessica has an amazing voice, and a sense of humor that is equally amazing. She is probably our most traveled child at her age, having been on a midwest tour (5 weeks), twice to Granada (2 week missions) and once to Great Britain (2 week mission). All that in addition to east coast missions trips make her high mileage. "Go" should have been her middle name.

Now I'll see if someone can help me put some pics in this update, and you'll see that these are all real people.

Hunting Season in Pennsylvania

Well, this was a first since we moved to PA.

Chris and I got our hunting licenses this year, and the season opened on Monday. Pastor Barry invited us to join the group that goes up to his cabin in Centre County and hunts near there. It was a real different experience.

We went out in the early morning - around 5 AM with flashlights to find our way to our positions - and waited for the dawn and the movement of the deer back into hiding for the day. Chris and I neither one got a shot off, but had a great time anyway. In the evenings, we played UNO after a great supper. There were 12 of us - five teens and seven men.

I cooked breakfast on Tuesday morning. Each of the men took a turn at providing and preparing a meal. We ate more than I am used to and slept less (I got up at a quarter to four to squeeze in my devotions before making breakfast). All in all, a wonderful time, even though we came home without a deer.

but I came home with a song. I was moved by Psalm 29 and have another song. When I get it parced, I'll post it. It may not be anyone else's tea, but God spoke to me in it. Have you heard God's voice?

dave

Scotland receives a King - or three of them

On Thursday, Tim's DRAMA Ministry team (including Jessica and Matt) assembled from his current three teams and a couple alumni, will head for Great Britain with S.C.O.T. to share the gospel in their unique way. They will be southeast of London for the first week, then trekking to Scotland where they will minister in Burntisland in the Kingdom of Fife.

Please pray for this incredible opportunity.

• For the team members, who will face a very full schedule and be stretched out of their comfort zone.
• For the unsaved who will be confronted with the claims of the gospel, in the streets of England and Scotland as well as in the schools where DRAMA has been allowed to present.
• For the believers of the UK - that they may be encouraged in their faith and blessed by the energy of the team.

Funds have been fully raised for this outreach by the gifts from friends and family and churches who have experience DRAMA's ministry in the past. Much thanks for your graciousness. May God cause his blessings to abound to the account of those who make such ministry possible.