Plasterer's Pondering: 2023 Year End Expressions of Gratitude

This year, I am pausing to express gratitude. The song “Been so Good” has the phrase the reminder that we are to be grateful to the Lord, who has been with us every step and we are to never will forget. When we think of how the Lord has blessed us, and how the hand of the Lord has never let us go, we offer our gratitude.

I am thankful for Suzanne, our friendship, our growing intimacy, and the support we give each other. In the evening, we watch some TV shows and movies. If you want a different take on a dog movie, Hatchi: A Dog’s Tale from 2009, inspired by the true story involving the loyalty of a dog, is worth your time. TV Show Walking Dead, Season 11, was good again, zombie thing is getting old, but I have grown to like the characters they have developed. We watched Medium, which began well but became cheesy toward the end, Lincoln Lawyer, and Suits, which had a way of keeping our interest. Foundation, on Apple TV+. Band of Brothers on Netflix.
I am thankful for family, even though we do not see them often, but we some visit, like Randy this year, and regularly contact on the telephone. All our sons are in Indianapolis. I am thankful for the changes Randy is making in his life, for the improvements Tim is making in his home, for the advances David and Kari are making in their careers and the maturing of his children, and the changes Michael has made recently in his life and in his career. Randy spend two weeks with us December over Christmas, the first time to see him in seven years. It was delightful to show him around, but the weather was unusually cool and and rainy, like an Indiana fall season.
I am thankful for Susan, a Florida friend at whose funeral I officiated, and her husband Cato, James, a recent friend who died unexpectedly, and for Denny in Indiana, one whom it was my privilege to pastor, who also passed away.
I am thankful for our new home, the work of the handyman, and the neighborhood of Fairway Springs in New Port Richey, FL. We closed on February 7. We moved in on May 9. We are taking our time acquainting ourselves with the area. Steve, a neighbor, has helped with power washing the sidewalk and driveway. I was appointed to the HOA board and completed certification to do so.
I am thankful for the Nissan 350z and the Jeep, although there were some unexpected expenses beginning in the middle of October. I will not be going back to the local Nissan dealership, but Lokey Nissan in Clearwater is not far away.
I am thankful for health and fitness, especially some acquaintances at Crunch fitness, regular bicycling, yoga, and eating healthy most of the time. I have taken several long bicycle rides. I did have a bout with allergies at the beginning of the year and a couple injuries. An injury on my left calf, which has not hurt a lot but has been persistent and deceptive, has required some attention to get it healed. So far, extra zinc has helped keep seasonal illness away, as well as the local honey. Brian Moore, our insurance representative, helped Suzanne with some health issues toward the end of the year.
I am thankful for the continuing connection with the Indiana Annual Conference, to which I submit my retired pastor reports and a local charge conference relationship with St. Luke’s UMC. I am pleased that some of the congregations I served chose to leave the conference, but I am also pleased that many chose to stay. I was part of a Xoom meeting with Bishop Trimble.
I am thankful for the Chapel CC, the staff with whom I have become acquainted, the wonderful music Led by Pastor Jay, and the messages, most of which are presented by Pastor Q and Pastor Kyle. I am happy to be surprised by gratitude, since my theology does not align with that of the church. We have started attending Saturday night and meet friends from Palm Harbor on Sunday morning and then go out to eat.
I am thankful for the completion of what turned out to be a two-year project of a study of the Old Testament through the historical events that define it: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persian, Greek, and Rome. This has included a study of the apocrypha of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as Jewish pseudepigraphic writings from 200 BC to 100 AD. I am willing to share these studies with anyone who asks.
I am thankful for the Xoom book discussion group, which this year incudes Glenn and Lynn, occasionally Chuck, and new member Tim. Our reading has included Robert Jensen, Systematic Theology, Gunton, Act & Will, Patrick Oden, Hope for the Oppressed, Heidegger’s Confession, Hannah Arendt, Love and Augustine and Mind and Will. These studies have led to some recent theological reflections on my Pannenberg blog. In addition, they include reflections on Jonathan Edwards, the holiness movement, the evangelical tradition, the Christian notion of the end, and the Alexandrian school of early Christian theology.
I am thankful for Craig, Chuck, and Paul, who are Indiana friends who have maintained contact through the phone, and for many others who have maintained contact through Facebook, X, and Instagram.
I am thankful for the lectionary studies for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Common Time, especially for the time to do a theological study of the lectionary texts, for which I encourage anyone with interest to share insights and reflections. These studies will form the basis for future books I plan to write.
I am thankful for the time to reflect upon periods of my life to my 40s, doing so with music from each decade.
I am thankful for contacts with Wipf & Stock in the publication of my second book, Book of Prayers. I am thankful for the tv shows and movies.
I am thankful for the retirement seminar and the delicious meal provided at Flamestone.