Through the years the way we record our family history has changed. In the Old Testament the patriarch of the family always carried a staff. Of course the staff itself had many uses. It was a shepherd staff to keep the sheep in line. It was also a walking stick helping the young shepherd make his way through the rocky hillside. As the years moved along, the staff even took on more of a cane use instead of just a simple walking stick. Whatever the case may be, one thing was sure, the staff stayed with the patriarch throughout his life. 

But, the staff was far more than just a simple walking stick or cane. The staff also contained the geneology and history of that particular family. Etched along the patriarch’s staff were important events that took place in his life. Births, deaths, movements through time. All tracking and keeping a chronological order of the patriarch’s life.

The staff was how the Sojourner kept track of his journey as he made his way through life here on earth.

By Faith, Jacob Leaned On His Staff

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”
Hebrews 11:21

We find Jacob’s life, his journey here on earth, drawing to a close in this passage. As he blesses his grandchildren, he’s also leaning on the top of his staff. He’s pondering his mark on this world. He’s pondering his family, and he’s remembering those most important to him in this journey we call life. He’s leaning on his staff, which contains the history of his family. I’m sure his staff was also passed along to his own son. Why? So the memory of the family will continue from generation to generation.

I started thinking about keeping track of our life earlier this morning as I spent some time on Twitter. It all started with s0mething I read on the social network site that said this was 80sphotoday weekend on Twitter. As I read more, I discovered the idea was to post a profile/avatar picture of yourself from the 1980′s. Wow! Now there’s a scary thought! But, I also figured it sounded like fun so I decided to dig around and find an old picture. 

Let #80sphotowknd #80sphotoday On Twitter Begin!

I dug around some old pictures and came across that one from the early 1980′s. Pretty scary hair! But, I do remember that time of my life well. It was the early 1980′s. I was looking forward to graduating, and also starting a career in radio. Little did I know what the future held, but I knew I was having fun and having a good time. I even looked like that when I met my wife! I’m thinking it was the hair that really impressed her. We were married in 1984, and by then, I was working at my third radio station. Time marched on, we had our first child, and then, it was time for another move. The journey this time took me back to college.

Of course things changed, and so did styles.

By the late 1980′s I was trying to look more like a grown up. Okay, the glasses are still really big, but the hair has changed. This time around instead of looking forward to being a radio star, this is a picture taken while I was leading a group of college students on a mission trip into Haiti. Another great time on my journey through life.

How Are You Tracking Your Journey?

We’re presented with many ways to track our journey these days. Some use journals, some use blogs, others use pictures. Whatever the case may be, one thing has not changed. Just like Jacob of old, we’re all looking for a way to keep track of our journey. My New Year’s resolution this year is to become much better at sending out birthday and anniversary cards. The passage of time has a way of rising an awareness that yes indeed, we are all mortal. We are all on a journey, and it’s important to acknowledge, and keep track of events, as we journey through this thing we call life.

It’s been great fun today going through some old pictures. I’ve also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the lives of some of my Twitter friends looking at their old pictures. It’s true, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks to @erickbrockway You Can Enjoy The Fun Too!
80′sPictureDay Photo Bucket Display
80′sPictureDay You Tube Video

Then and Now

A few recent events have caused me to pay a little more attention to the passing of time. As I get older, I’m also coming to the realization that others around me are getting older too.  This year my wife and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage. My two brothers are 50 and over, my parents have been married more than 50 years, and I’m gaining speed on that number 50 as well!

Then, toss in on top of that the passing of good friends.

The Warren’s have been a fixture in the life of the Jeffrey’s for a long time. As a matter of fact, Duane and my Dad were school buddies. When my parents were married, Duane was Dad’s bestman. When Duane and Shirley were married, Dad was their bestman. Through the years we spent a lot of time together. Duane and Shirley have three kids, and Mom and Dad have three kids. We were also all about the same age. When Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th Anniversary a few years ago we were all together. It had been a long time since we were all in one place, so we took a picture of just the kids. (Well, with the exception of Scott. But I’ll have more on that a little later in this post.)

A few months ago, Shirley passed away, and that’s when Mom and Dad pulled out some old pictures. One picture caught my eye, and combined with the one from a few years ago, I ended up with a great Then and Now shot.

Now – From Left To Right
Me, Lance, (Scott), Chris
Girls – Debbie, Jill

Then – From Left to Right
Back – Lance, Debbie
Middle – Chris, Jill, Me
Front – Scott

I’m sure you may have noticed the picture of Scott in the Now picture is actually a picture of Dudley Do-Right. Scott couldn’t make it for my parents anniversary. But, since he’s an RCMP in Canada, I thought it appropriate to have my design guy put in a picture of Dudley Do-Right.

It’s pictures like the one above that help us to remember the passage of time. We are all on a journey. Many people come, and many people go. But the important people can be remembered through pictures.

How are you keeping track of your journey?

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

For me, my parents are coming to town this weekend. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this week, and we’re heading out to the Sterling Renaissance Festival in Sterling, New York. It’s always a lot of fun, and this year Laura from Royal Rags is going to dress my wife and I up in Renaissance period cloths. If you’re interested in seeing pictures, and if you’re on Twitter, be sure to follow me on my Twitter Account. I will be posting pictures throughout the day via Twitter.

If you’re not near Sterling, New York, here’s a list of some other interesting things to do…

Today, Friday, August 8

• Happiness Happens Day
• Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbors’ Porch Night (This sounds fun!)

Saturday, August 9

• Elvis Week begins at Graceland in Memphis, TN
• National Garage Sale Day
• Perseid Meteor Showers

Sunday, August 10

• National Resurrect Romance Week
• Weird Contest Week in Ocean City, NJ. One contest daily. Contests include artistic pie eating, saltwater taffy sculpting, french fry sculpting, we T-shirt throwing, Little Miss and Little Mister Chaos and Miss Miscellaneous Contest
• National Duran Duran Appreciation Day

So, there’s a list of some possible things to do this weekend. As I mentioned above, I’m heading to the Renaissance Festival. What about you? What are you doing this weekend? Leave me a comment and let me know what’s on your agenda.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

We we have three boys ranging in ages from 15 to 21. That means life many times can be a challenge. Just when you think you’re over one hurdle and they’re about to grow out of one stage, you suddenly find yourself entering a brand new stage. Of course with each stage, comes a new challenge. I joke with our boys quite often reminding them I use to have a full beard. But, as the years went on and they caused more gray to show up, the beard has been trimmed back to a goatee. But, even in the midst of the more challenging times, there’s always the great surprises that come along the way too. Such was the case a couple weeks during church.

For those reading this blog who don’t know, my wife and I are Pastors of a church plant called Fresh-Wind Ministries. Two of our sons are on the worship team with my wife and I, while our youngest son has floated around doing a number of different things in church pretty much trying to find his niche. Two weeks ago as I picked him up from the radio station where he works Ben told me he thought he had the message for the day. I asked him to give me a brief outline of what he was pondering, and I said, “Okay, I guess you’re preaching today.”

We arrived at the church for service, I didn’t say anything to anyone else about our conversation, we just started to worship and make our way through the service. When it came time for the message, I called on Ben. He came to the front, and gave a great message about the journey we call life. Using a Reliant K song as his jumping off point, Ben outlined how life can present a number of challenges along the way. But, in the end, isn’t it great to know that we are never alone. He even touched on some purpose and destiny imagery too. At one point Ben looked at me when he was talking and said, “It’s like you always say Dad, we all have a purpose and destiny. We just need to find it.” Wow! I have to admit I know I was sitting in the front of the church holding back a tear or two, and I have a feeling Sandra, my wife, was doing the same.

A lot of times in this world many people take their kids for granted. When it comes to doing chores around the house I will sometimes say, “Let the kids do it. That’s why we had them isn’t it?” (Of course that’s said with tongue firmly planted in check.) But, it does bring to light an issue we need to be very aware of – the importance of giving kudos to our kids.

So, with that in mind, my Positive Post Tuesday thoughts today send out huge kudos to Ben…

…our 15, (almost 16 year old), for sharing some great thoughts during church a couple weeks ago.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

But alas, life seems so busy now that many don’t even know what having dinner together as a family means. It’s something we’re trying to bring back to our house. It kind of goes in spurts and starts. But, for the most part, we do try to gather at the dinner table a few times through the week so we can ask the very simple question; What did you do today? I think sometimes we figure the answer to such a question needs to be long, filling in every detail of the day. But reality is, many times we’re looking for interaction with one another, and yes, even encouragement along way, as we reflect on the journey of the day.

I just read another entry from the Thomas Merton devotional and in this particular entry he was simply recounting the day and short visit he had with some friends. He simply jotted down a few thoughts of what they talked about, and how much he enjoyed the time with the friends catching up on what’s been going on in their lives.

So, what did I do today? Well, it is Labor Day, and it seems I did labor some. The day started with Sandra and I discussing some re-arranging in a room. She went after that with two of our boys, while I worked on some Live Line talk shows for air later this week. When I was needed to move furniture, I was called into the other room. Then it was back to my mixing program to finish off the shows.

By the end of the day, I must say we’ve had a very enjoyable day. We worked together as a family, and yes, we even managed to have diner together as a family around the table. To wrap it all up, we sat down for a couple episodes of the old show The Greatest American Hero. While some might think that show is far-fetched, and obviously not as well produced as the shows of today, I must admit, watching a show of old, with our sons these days, is quite fun, and I can’t think of a better way to spend some family time.

So, what did you do today?

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

Off to the china cabinet my wife went in search of candles, while the boys and I went in all directions looking for flashlights. Our middle son was working at the radio station, so I headed up to make sure all was well there. The back parking lot was like an ocean, so first I moved cars out of the water, and then headed down the road toward the station.

It was a very odd storm with a mixture of chain and sheet lightning. The rain would come and go, sometimes hard, sometimes not so hard. Making my way toward the station I also found myself avoiding tree branches along the way. All the time our oldest son was riding shotgun keeping his eyes peeled for big puddles, tree branches, and from time to time, even bigger branches. In the end, all worked out well. I think the power was out for a couple hours, but nothing major really happened.

The storm reminded me of what life can be like sometimes. Things are going well, when suddenly along the journey we find ourselves in the midst of a storm that seems to come up out of nowhere. When the storms of life hit us, how do we respond? Many panic, some bury their heads, while others declare “Oh woe-es me!”

How should we respond?

I’m reminded of the story about a group of men who suddenly found themselves tossed to and fro in a boat in the middle of a storm. The Person riding shotgun that day calmed the storm with a single word. So the story goes, the men found themselves safely on the shore, out of the storm.

So, did the storm stop completely? I really don’t know. But I do know this, the Person riding shotgun that day calmed the storm and helped the men find rest on shore. I also know the same Person is available today to help us find our way safely to shore too, when we’re in the midst of the storms of life.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

With that in mind, I thought I’d try this again, and maybe along the way, encourage a few others in this journey we call life.

Tonight I’ve been pondering the word relationships. So often the concept of relationship and networking revolves around not encouraging one another, but how can we use one another. What an outdated concept of networking and relationship. I believe true networking and relationship occurs when we come together to encourage one another, and help one another along in life.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus