An Accomplishment

I know you all are interested in every aspect of my life....HE HE. This evening I was able to finish a 5k power walk. It was tough and I am not denying there were times I wanted to give up and leave because it felt like my calf's are going to explode but I was able to persevere and finish in less than an hour, that's an accomplishment for me. My biggest goal for the event was to not finish last, that was accomplished. So we will see if my calf's really do explode.

Talking about a Revolution

First off, I fell I must apologize my my lack of blogging. It's not that I did not have a lot to talk about it really come down to having the time to put those experiences in words. First things first, last weekend me about about 10 other people gathered at Camp Bountiful to help install the new playground. That was quite a learning experience for all of us.
Some of the people came early to drill necessary holes in the ground so the work, when everyone else was the went smooth. When we arrived at 8 a.m. we was greeted by a project supervisor, provided by the company the playground was purchased from.
We all worked together throughout the day to put the structure together quickly. There was a while we were working in the poring rain dumping bags concrete into holes so the rain could help it set properly.
The end result was that we got the structure up and stabilized. There is still some work that will need to be done before it can be properly use. A 12 inch bed of mulch will be placed around the structure.
After a day of working at Camp Bountiful I drove to Beavercreek, Ohio for a youth weekend. It was a good time. We were able to spend some quality time together, even thought I missed a majority of Saturday's activities. As a park of the Youth Weekend the youth lead the branch in a Sunday morning worship. Many members of the branch were pleased the youth were willing to participate in such a manor. Oh, and the staff did a rockin job as well. I think the next one is being scheduled for the fall, because of the upcoming camping season.
Beavercreek is about 2 and a half hours from the town I live in. The forecast called for that Sunday afternoon to be wonderful. So, the drive home was spent with the windows down, listening to whatever radio station was available.

Last week it was announced that a "Scioto Slimdown" was being formed. It's the same concept as the show biggest looser but with more participants. I was able to call on some people and we formed a team called Thin it-to-win-it, we are quite clever. As a part of the challenge we all had to weigh in to know our starting point. Boy, was that a scary reality. I will not bore you with more details, let's just say i have a long way to go to be in my ideal weight range.
The last time this competition was held I was able to drop 60 pounds in 10 weeks. It was a lot of hard work and was done through a lot of determination. The challenge started today and will last for the next six weeks.
It's my hope/goal to enter this challenge with the same mentality as last time and with any luck I can drop some pounds along the way.
Also, last week I was asked to help serve communion during Maundy Thursday services that will be held this week. That should be exciting to see how that turns out.
I have been away from my home branch (Pleasant Valley) for about two months traveling throughout the Western Ohio and Bountiful Mission Center's and attending retreats at Camp Bountiful, and today was the first day I was able to return. It was a good service. Someone did not show up that was supposed to so I was asked to offer the prayers during the service. It was a bit challenging but end the end was cool.
This morning I was also informed the registration for my ordination was sent in to be recorded last week. Once recorded the church will be able to issue me a priesthood card so it can be used for officials purposes. I was pleased to here that had been taken care of, I was getting worried.
A couple of other items of note include, I have my first preaching date in two weeks at the West Portsmouth Branch, and it's communion Sunday. I have been rolling some ideas around in my head, so hopefully I can bring them together in the near future. I have also agreed to preach at the Jackson Branch the first Sunday in June...
I am really excited for this one I also got approval form my work to talk off for the camps I will be staffing this summer, that's exciting. Now that that's in place the planning process has begun.


That's a of of things I just tried to describe to you. I hope you did not get to board, even though I think I might have fallen a sleep a couple of time, composing it.

Thanks for taking the time,

-Wayne

In Service

This past weekend I was able to attend the young adult retreat at Camp Bountiful. The theme for the weekend was Everyday Blessings. There were around 30 people at the retreat, with some who have not been at camp for a number of years. At the retreat were some awesome guest ministers, who provided some ministry that we all were able to relate to. One of the great things from the weekend was the safe space/community we were able to create. During one of the class a couple of people were able to profess some really deep stuff going on in their lives. I found it fascinating that we could form such a community in only a day of being together. We were united by the one that drawled us all together.
One of the aspects that will make this retreat memorable for me is that I was able to serve communion for the first time since being ordained. It was a humbling opportunity to being on the serving end of this sacrament. I was even afforded the opportunity to say the combined prayer.
While serving some said it was an honor for them to be apart of y first time serving communion. It was the first time I was able function as a member of the priesthood. It was exciting and scary at the same time.
Here are some photos from the retreat,

Weekend At Kirtland

Celebrating 175 Years of History

By Wayne Allen

An estimated 300 members and friends of the Community of Christ gathered on March 27 in Kirtland, Ohio for the 175th anniversary of dedication of the Kirtland Temple. The keynote speaker for the service was Community Of Christ President Steve Veazey who spoke about the importance of paying proper attention to our past of a denomination.
At the beginning of his address Veasy quoted several scriptures and quoted from a book called ‘Crow and the Weasel’ by Barry Lopez.
“The stories that people tell have a way of taking care of people. If stories come to you care for them, and learn to give them away, where they are most needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.”
Veazey said growing up the story of the Kirtland Temple spiritually cared for him long before he was able to visit the site.
“I’ve visited the Kirtland Temple many times, each time this time and space and story, including this weekend intersect and interacted in my heart and mind and draws me ever more deeply into Gods presents and redemptive work in the world,” Veasy said. “The place, the space and the story continues to shape my understanding of the ways Gods spirit, the churches identity, its understanding of mission and the message that we are called to share with the world.”
“In today’s incrensly seceptal, secular world the Kirtland Temple story calls us to deeper communion and experience with the spirit. A communion for which our souls desperately need," Veazey said. "Most of us are not aware how spiritually famished we are, because of the nature and fast pace of our lives. We easily become insolated and distracted from the spiritual dimensions and forward possibilities of the spirit in our lives. If we could just help ourselves and others pause long enough, in sacred spaces like this, our souls will awaken and stir and seek a deeper spiritual connection and relationship with God."
Veasy said the story of the Kirtland Temple continues to tell the church that, “we need to stop, and pay more attention to our spiritual lives as individuals and as a faith community.”
He said, genuine discipleship and effective ministry comes out of the over flow of a spiritual life that is attuned to the spirit of the living God. “That’s where the energy and vision for mission comes from. Thats when ministry and mission is no longer a task, it’s a joy because it’s coming out of the overflow of the spirit with our lives.”
Veazey then shared how a number of the church’s functions today have their roots at the Kirtland Temple. He cited the many educational opportunities that were offered in the early days of the temple. The churches first overseas missionaries were sent from the temple.
“I yearn for the church today to regain a since of mission and calling that will inspire such commitment and generous giving. So much of our discipleship is so carefully calculated and compartmentalized. The Community of Christ needs to recover a since of the gospel, that establishes the gospel in our lives as the one cause that is greater than life it’s self,” Veazey said. “This is how the story of the Kirtland Temple continues to shape the life of the church today.”
In closing Veazey commented, “in response to the history and spirit of this place, let us go forth into a world of great need to tell the story of jesus and his love as we have come to know it as a people of faith. Let our witness be fueled by the power of gods spirit which burns in our hearts and souls."
Throughout the service a number of the same functions were performed, such as the same songs be sung.

For Becky and Rob

This blog if you have not guessed it by now is dedicated to Becky and Rob's wedding. I know that they will be forever together in love. They won't see this for a while because they are in Spain, Bu thought it was important. More photos are on my facebook.

"Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something special in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger."

- Christian D. Larsen, Larsen was a New Thought leader and teacher, as well as a prolific author of metaphysical and New Thought books.

I just thought this was a good quote on how to stay on the sunny side of things. I've been trying to do a lot more of that lately than I have in the past. I figure it's not going to do anyone any good for me to be negative about life and the cards that it dealt me.
I am looking forward to this weekend. A dear friend is getting married and I know they will be happy together, because they already are.
Also this weekend I will be attending a class in Lucasville dealing with church history. The class starts Friday night, I will leave Friday afternoon to make it to the wedding and pick up on the class again Sunday morning.
Next weekend we are going to Kirtland for the 175th anniversary of the Kirtland Temple...More on that later...

As always thanks for reading,

-W

All You Need Is Love...

All you need is love!

As many of you know and most of you were in attendance I got ordained on Sunday to the priesthood of the Community Of Christ. It was such a powerful service. There were a number of people that made the trip to Camp Bountiful in support of me. It continues to amaze me how much love and support was present that day.
The service was held as the closing service for Jr. High Spring retreat. The theme for the weekend was I believe. We explored the idea of World Religions and how they relate to the Community of Christ. We also explored the idea of being support for one another and how easy it is to have our love tank drained and filled back up. We also wrote encouraging notes to others in attendance so they could reflect on them when times are tough.
As you can see from the photos three of my dearest friends were able to preform the ordination. Becky, Alicia and Lee Lee. With Alicia saying the prayer. This was the first time she has ordained someone since being ordained herself. You could totally tell once the service began she was divinely driven. I am so grateful to have friends that would say yes to being apart of this special day in my life.
I would be remiss if I did not tell you I was really really nervous about the service. I sat beside my friend Jessica during the service and we were able to laugh throughout the service. It was fun to be able to laugh through the nerves.
During the service there was paper hearts passed out. Those in attendance were advised to write encouraging notes to me. In the end there were a bunch of them that will provide encouragement to me for a long time.
I was also give a very unique piece of art work during the service...
Even through everyone could not be there, I was able to feel the love and support of those who wished they were there.
I do not think I would be the person I am today without each and everyone of them and you.

As always thanks for taking the time to read this...