Finding a Voice
Friday, June 30, 2006
finally a new post!
My personal blog has been rather dormant lately. I've been working on a blog about my grandpa: http://www.elmerbowes-family.blogspot.com/. I've been busy with not one but two trips to Ontario for a Student Development conference and then for the Write! Canada conference, and in the middle of all that my grandpa died, I fought off a flu, I've been trying to find my feet again at work, and I am dealing with some unique on-going health challenges. Wonderful and strange summer so far.
Went to a doctor and naturopath this week for the first time in 3 years. The doctor ordered tests. The naturopath prescribed some supplements and is putting me on a strict "anti-candida diet" which means no sugar (including fruit), no white starchy foods, and no dairy (except maybe plain yogurt) for 2-3 months. Sigh. This is a terrible time of year to go off fruit! Even so, I've done the diet before (it's really a cleanse) and it made a big difference in my overall health -- and in my appearance. There are a surprising number of interesting foods to eat, but it's socially challenging because it's not what everybody else is eating. I might make some allowances on Sundays -- you know, feast days.
I'm looking forward to Free Methodist family camp at Arlington Beach where I will lead a small group on spiritual disciplines and where my cousin Marilou and I will lead worship together. Marilou said it gave her shivers thinking about leading worship with me. :-)
In the small group we'll have 5 sessions, 75 minutes each. Our sessions will explore Wesley's "means of grace" especially prayer, searching Scripture, the Lord's supper, fasting, and "Christian conference" (aka group fellowship), supplementing from Renovare materials (Richard Foster), Gary Thomas (Sacred Pathways) and others. We will explore one or two disciplines per day with teaching time, readings, and discussion, then each participant will choose one simple exercises to try for the next 24 hours. If the group is over 12 people, we will divide into smaller groups for more personal interaction. Participants will go home with an enriched perspective on and approach to devotional life, having experienced a variety ways to commune with God.
Thunder and lightning storm outside. I'm still at the office. Maybe I should go home before it rains ...
Went to a doctor and naturopath this week for the first time in 3 years. The doctor ordered tests. The naturopath prescribed some supplements and is putting me on a strict "anti-candida diet" which means no sugar (including fruit), no white starchy foods, and no dairy (except maybe plain yogurt) for 2-3 months. Sigh. This is a terrible time of year to go off fruit! Even so, I've done the diet before (it's really a cleanse) and it made a big difference in my overall health -- and in my appearance. There are a surprising number of interesting foods to eat, but it's socially challenging because it's not what everybody else is eating. I might make some allowances on Sundays -- you know, feast days.
I'm looking forward to Free Methodist family camp at Arlington Beach where I will lead a small group on spiritual disciplines and where my cousin Marilou and I will lead worship together. Marilou said it gave her shivers thinking about leading worship with me. :-)
In the small group we'll have 5 sessions, 75 minutes each. Our sessions will explore Wesley's "means of grace" especially prayer, searching Scripture, the Lord's supper, fasting, and "Christian conference" (aka group fellowship), supplementing from Renovare materials (Richard Foster), Gary Thomas (Sacred Pathways) and others. We will explore one or two disciplines per day with teaching time, readings, and discussion, then each participant will choose one simple exercises to try for the next 24 hours. If the group is over 12 people, we will divide into smaller groups for more personal interaction. Participants will go home with an enriched perspective on and approach to devotional life, having experienced a variety ways to commune with God.
Thunder and lightning storm outside. I'm still at the office. Maybe I should go home before it rains ...
Monday, June 05, 2006
my grandfather
My grandfather passed away in his sleep
in the wee hours of the morning
on May 26th, 2006.
Ironically, I received the news
while sitting in a conference
session on "homecoming."
The evening before Grandpa died
he said good-night to Grandma
who told him, "You go straight home now."
And he did.
He really did.
For pictures and memories
visit the Bowes Family Blog.
in the wee hours of the morning
on May 26th, 2006.
Ironically, I received the news
while sitting in a conference
session on "homecoming."
The evening before Grandpa died
he said good-night to Grandma
who told him, "You go straight home now."
And he did.
He really did.
For pictures and memories
visit the Bowes Family Blog.
