Tag Archives: summer

Woman Re-Cycles History

13 Jun

A few weeks ago I took a bike trip out form the ranch here.  Just me and the road bike and western Montana.  It was sunny and warm, but still bearable.  I decided to ride to the Montana Valley bookstore in Alberton because I had seen a sign for it on the interstate.  I am happy to report that this bookstore is a goldmine.  I spent $40 dollars in used books!

So before I left I met the owner, Keren Wales.  She related her affinity for biking as well and told me about a trip that she was going to take.  She told me that she is going to Europe to tour the continent and buy books while retracing some of the steps her father took when he made they same endeavor and also to retrace some of the military history her father was involved in.  Sounded pretty cool to me.

She refilled my water bottle graciously and even provided me with a snack bar for my energy on the way back.  That is customer service! The energy was much needed because to a nasty headwind and the weight of the $40 of used books.

I checked out the stores website today (www.montanavalleybookstore.com) and found that Keren has already started the trip and I have been missing out on the blog posts.  Either way, you can follow the store too at Keren Wales is Re-Cycling History(kerenwales.blogpot.com).

If you are into books and live in or are travelling through Western Montana, be sure to stop in Alberton and check out this family business.  Great treasures in the books and people alike!

May the Lord’s Will be Done,

CWillZ

Whiteboard Masterpiece

15 Jun

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Presently I am working on a day by day basis to clear out the computers at one of Cummins Engine Company’s buildings after it suffered damage from the flood that has devestated parts of our town.

Our boss is the one in the shark’s mouth.

Graduation Playlist- Beta 1

15 May

Link
I made a fun playlist in light of graduation. Rules: had to be my music, no repeated artists.

1) “My Chains are Gone” by Chris Tomlin. I wouldn’t resist the opportunity to laugh on the way home.

2) “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by Tom Petty & the HBs. This is Taylor‘s song to me.

3) “Exodus” by Bob M and the Ws. Love me some Reggae. This was my nap CD freshman year, and the I am looking forward to the movement of Jah people.

4) “Fortunate Son” by CCR. Unlike The Dude, I still have my Creedence Tapes. Oh the Red Wide and Blue– I ain’t no senator’s sawzall.

5) “Gone” by Montgomery Gentry. Whats in a name?

6) “Graduate” by Third Eye Blind. Because 6th grade wanted its song back.

7) “If You’re Going Through Hell” By Rodney Atkins. This is for all those worn out juniors who will walk this lonesome valley next year.

8) “Into the Dark” by the Juliana Theory. For all of us who are unsure of the next steps.

9)”Me and Paul”by Willie Nelson. Its a song about learning from life, friends, and the cities of the nation.

10) “Run Like Hell” por Pink Floyd. 2 reasons: 1) the anti-school/social control theme of The Wall and 2) I left the first disc of the album in a middle-school classroom. Mrs. Boone if you read this, please send it to me.

11) “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper. Any man named Alice who can make it in the rock world deserves some respect. Also, this list would be 67.923% incomplete without it.

12) “Self Americans” by Dogwood. Lots of talent going unheard from this band. See previous post for rationale.

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Its Been Seven Years

2 Apr

     When I was fifteen I purchased my first car.  It was a 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon.  I took it home and started making it mine.  I changed the brakes, did some body work, and decided to repaint it “wind blue” to get rid of the less-than-appealing champagne/brown.  It became The Mystery Machine.

     She was not perfect, but she was mine.  
The summer after I graduated high school I had the opportunity to get a 1982 Vanagon Westfalia.  It was aircooled and came with all of the original camping equipment — even the kitchen sink.  I sold the mystery machine and bought the Yellow Submarine.  
Photo Courtesy of William Shirey.
Both Vanagons have been alot of fun, alot of work, and most the people I interact with each day do not know a me without a VW.   I sold the Yellow Submarine on Monday.  May it fare well with its new owners.  What car will I drive next?  
LEAVE YOUR FAVORITE VANAGON MEMORIES IN COMMENTS!!!!!
Example:  Remember that time we broke down on the way to a K.I.S.S. concert? 

Hail Yes

16 Mar


Last summer I worked in Juarez, Mexico with YouthWorks!.  We had US and Canadian high school students come for a week at a time while we gave them places to serve by building homes and spending time with children.

Each night we had a club time, which typically began with singing.  We had decided to do worship outside on the steps that led up to the church.  We concluded with the song “Grace Like Rain“.  We had heard that a storm was on the way, and the signs of the storm started showing up in the desert sky.  
I attempted to make a joke that it looked like we were going to get some grace tonight, and that we would have to move inside the sanctuary area for the rest of club time.  Being the only resident man on my staff, I was the one whose job it was to go shut all the windows and prepare for the storm.  
Long story short, I got stuck in the little tool shed area (bodega) in a different part of the property that was about 50 yards away from the sanctuary.  The rain was heavy and cold, then the hail came.
The ice cubes pelted the tin roof above me.  
I grabbed a seat on a bucket and rested in not being in control of the situation.  I started to sing “Grace Like Rain”, but quickly realized that I couldn’t even hear my own signing.  I sang as loud as I could, but the hail was louder.
God will do anything to help me realize how much he loves me.  Grace sometimes has to hurt to get it.  Grace drowns out all of my imperfect praise while at the same time inspiring it perfectly. 
Hallelujah!! 

What did I forget?

25 Jan

I just listening to a chapel message that my friend/boss/mentor/brother Justin Heth gave on January 14.  It is called “Practice Remembering”.

Inspired by the message, I began to turn through some pages in my journal.  Here is an entry from sometime in July 2007, when I was about a month into my time facilitating short-term missions in Juarez, Mexico.
Lord, lead me.
Give me your grace.
Speak to me in truth.
Let me not judge.
God, bless the American Christians
Teach me to love
I want to spit on your children,
I am sorry.  Help me to love the Church.
Lord, I want to denounce the radio and the bookstores.

I want to break the rich.
Instead Lord, may I teach LOVE.
I want to show these young people the poor.
Please Lord, may I show them a new friend instead.
Lord I want comfort and rest.

May Your will be done above all.  May I never grow weary of doing what is good.

Daddy, give me grace.  Send Your Spirit upon us, we who are hard and think we are humble.  We who know so much and yet are blind.  We who claim love and turn people down.  We who sin and then criticize.  We who teach and lack wisdom.

Lord–pour out yourself 
Lord–Bless us with humility
Lord- Do your will
AND please come quickly