Galesburg Railroad Days

Yesterday was the annual Railroad Days in Galesburg, IL. It is held the fourth weekend in June and is a great gathering of railroad enthusiasts. Dad and I enjoyed visiting last year and we decided to go again this year.

Since our previous visit, dad has done a fair amount of work on our train layout. When I have extra funds, I have been ordering train cars as well as some scenery items. Like with every hobby, you can spend as much time and expense as you want and can still do more. However, a mixed freight train I have been putting together is now the correct length for the size of our track. While we have supplies for scenery, it has yet to be used anywhere.

Therefore, I didn't have any certain items I was looking for and knew I couldn't get much for cars or engines. Dad and I have a constant debate between what era to model. He likes older era equipment from the 50's and I like modern items that are on the rails today. With our two interests combined, we have far more items to put on the tracks than space allows. I suppose we could fill every inch of rail we have, but then trains wouldn't have room to move.

Dad and roamed through model train vendors for about three hours. I did end up getting a few items, but restrained myself from getting much. We then got a very late lunch and ate while sitting by railroad tracks for about an hour before returning home. The two of us left home at 8:06 Saturday morning and returned around 7:45 that evening.

It was a lot of driving for only four hours of doing what we had planned. It was still fun though and likely the only major outing I'll have this year. Dad has already discussed changes to make next year go better, but I was thankful I didn't suffer any major setbacks like last year. Now, I have a week to prepare for preaching twice next Sunday along with a busy work week. It is an interesting time of year for the quad life.

Meeting with Ham

Throughout history, God has selected certain people to be used for extraordinary purposes. In our current place in time, several men have been allowed to run organizations that point the world back to the truth of the Bible and to look to it for our sure foundation.

One of these individuals is Ken Ham, the founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis (AIG). Since its start, AIG has produced numerous books and videos about biblical creation and built the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky. I started following AIG around 2008 and God used this teaching to get me to seriously follow His Word and learn about the world we see today.

Therefore, Mr. Ham is one of the handful of people I have wanted to meet in person. I have been to the Creation Museum and Ark, but the organization's founder was not around at the same time. I didn't think I would ever get to see the man that God used to help me, but that changed on Friday night.

I received an email over a month ago that invited supporters of AIG to have dessert with Ken Ham at an event in Des Moines. It didn't take long for me to ask my caregiver Sara if she could take me and if we could rearrange her normal schedule so I could go. She also liked the opportunity to meet Mr. Ham and gladly agreed.

It felt odd driving to the city at a time of day I am usually at home finishing my day's tasks. Sara carefully drove through city traffic to find fast food for supper before going to our evening event. The church wasn't hard to find, but handicapped parking was already taken and we could see a line waiting to enter.

Eventually, we got parked, checked in, and found a pew in the medium-sized, but full, sanctuary. AIG's president gave a brief introduction before Ken Ham came up to speak about the ministry's past, present, and goals for the future. I have seen several presentations, and read many books, by Mr. Ham, but it was fun to see him in person. I could feel the childish grin on my face as I listened, but wasn't successful in hiding it.

When all the presentations were complete, Sara and I joined the line that quickly formed to meet with Mr. Ham. It moved slowly as some people took extra time to converse with the founder. When our turn came, the person directing people wasn't allowing much time to stop. I wanted to say how much AIG has done for me in bringing me closer to God, that I preach, teach, and write abut creation, and my dream job is to be a speaker with AIG.

Sara gave her phone to the security person who quickly took our picture. We maybe had 90 seconds with the man I have wanted to meet for many years. I tried to say what I had practiced in my head, but don't think he heard most of it as we were ushered away for the next group to come.

By this time, it was getting late and we had to drive home. I talked with a few friends that were also in attendance and several people that recognized me from volunteering at the AIG booth at the Iowa State Fair. The two of us returned home about 30 minutes after my night nurse arrived and was ready for bed.

Living the quad life, God has enabled me to serve Him in many ways. I'm thankful I was allowed to meet one person that has been used by God to help me, even if briefly. I doubt it will happen again, but I continue to pray that I will be able to help others learn maybe help them as I have been.

Week of Distraction

Sometimes, I have plans to get certain things accomplished in a day. When it's time for bed, I remember all the items I didn't finish. This week has been one of those times of intending to do more than I got finished.

I preached this morning, giving the same message I gave at a different congregation two weeks ago. The message was quite familiar and in my mind, but I still wanted to review it a few times. When I went to look at it late in the evening, I always felt hot and tired and convinced myself to try the next day. Therefore, I didn't look at it again until Friday night for the first time.

One of my web projects is going very well, but I'm too the point that I need more information from the site owner. It has been a rush project, but now I feel like I am getting behind on it. Hopefully, I can get it finished by the projected deadline, but that will depend on getting material and when I can sit.

Also this week, I have been a very hard time focusing on anything, as I'm noticing in this entry. It seems like as soon as I'm sitting and can work on something, that's when my family or someone wants to chat

or get help with something. By the time they are finished, a third to half of my 45-minute time period is up. I don't like starting on a project and quitting after only fifteen minutes of work, so I end up doing superfluous items like Scripture typing or looking at a game that's easier to do while upright (like my airline).

No matter what is going on in the quad life, I try to be sure not to be so distracted that I neglect God's Word. I'm thankful I got in the habit of daily reading slots more than a decade ago. I heard once that if you get in a routine before you turn 30, you are likely to keep at it (good or bad). My head may get distracted to other thoughts, but I feel like I have missed part of the day if I'm late at reading for some reason. Hopefully this new week will get better with less distraction, but I will try to push through whatever comes.

The Narrow Road

The last two weeks, I helped two congregations by preaching God's Word. Today was a week off, but I didn't have a nurse last night and won't again tonight. It's a tiring end and beginning to a week, but thankfully it doesn't happen every week.

I watched a Christian news segment recently that cited a study that found only 37% of American pastors have a Biblical worldview. It's a very saddening statistic to see, but I'm unfortunately not very surprised by it. In just the past few decades that I have seen compromise of Biblical authority continue to increase at an alarming rate.

First, as the study found, few pastors take the opening 11 chapters of Genesis as actual history. Many church leaders allow for secular, atheistic, science to dictate earth history instead of staying with recent creation in six days as the Bible clearly shows. If a foundation of a book is no longer considered true, then why should the rest be trusted?

That is what has been happening and why churches are not standing on the Bible's definition of marriage between one man and woman. The consequences of sinning against God are also downplayed with some congregations saying to just be a good person (even though Jesus said nobody is good, except God). With so few ministers believing the Bible, it is no surprise that church congregations are also compromised.

In this past week, I have been saddened to see some of my friends treat God like some sort of divine butler, demanding what they want. Another professes Christ, but speech and actions show a different profession. Finally, one close friend looking to disregard many clear teachings in Scripture to look at going to another faith.

The words Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:13-14 keep resounding in my mind, narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few find it. I continue to pray and share what I can with those around me, but my heart still breaks and I wish I could do more. Thankfully, I  have been given an active quad life that I can still be used for however God chooses.