April 3, 2021 a thought for today, Prayer knocks till the door opens. English Proverb

It’s been one of those days that have been productive and yet relaxed at the same time. At a couple of our meetings at church recently there have been talks of some sort of bible study that could be shared with our visitors at the HM3 (free meals) evenings. I have taken time over the last couple of months looking for something that is free while at the same time packed full of the facts of the bible told in such a way that a wide selection of people could find them interesting and instructive. When I took some of my writing courses in college we were taught to aim our writing at the sixth grade level of reading so that the widest selection of humanity could relate to the story. 

The photo theme for yesterday was “people”. As you can imagine I have hundreds of photos of people. I don’t use photos of strangers without their permission so that cuts down on the available stock that I have. Another point on the subject, I stayed in today so I wasn’t out and about in the presence of people so I had to chose from my archives. These are three of my family of favorite people and I am sure they wouldn’t mind my sharing their happy time with all of you. 

In the search of commercial bible study books we have found it can be very expensive particularly to be handed out for free to fifty or more people. I have been unable to find something that was free or inexpensive and something that can be useful to someone who has little space if any to keep such information. My thinking went to something printable sheet-by-sheet (not in book format) that can be managed and handed out with ease. Finally I came upon a site that is written for young people but offers the information needed for this idea and is free. I spent sometime this morning printing the bible story about Easter and the related bible verses. 

In another vein, at the last meeting I attended, there was a suggestion for something as small as a business card that could be handed out to street people letting them know about our free meals. I volunteered to make the business sized hand out along with providing a flyer I had made for the same purpose for other outlets.

After I finished the business sized cards, pulled up the saved flyer on the computer and printed a copy, printed a copy of the bible study and the bible verses list, I took them to church along with the weekly messages (already printed and packaged). Once at the copier at church, I printed several copies of all of the material (I did the business cards on my home printer) and left it all for the volunteers coming in later to prepare for the evening’s free meal today.

On the way home I made the trip into a short excursion into a photo op for today’s photo of the day. 

Now I have to get on to making the dogs meatball treats.

The photo a day challenge for today is “chair”. On my photo excursion for today I found and captured

several interesting chairs. This one stood out due to it’s color. I wanted to give it a bit of an unique aura so I added a filter and increased the hue and saturation Photoshop adjustment.

The word for today is sufficient. A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love. Stendhal.  He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god. Aristotle. The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. Vincent Van Gogh. Sufficient for me is that honour which is not seen of men but is felt in the heart, as faithful is He who hath promised and who never lies. Saint Patrick.  I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself. Emily Bronte.  Cleverness is serviceable for everything, sufficient for nothing. Henri Frederic Amiel. A few vices are sufficient to darken many virtues. Plutarch.  Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I have not seen the case in which his strength would be sufficient, Confucius. There is sufficient reward in the mere consciousness of a good action, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Stupidity is sufficient unto itself. Wisdom can never learn enough, Mechthild of Magdeburg. The words you've bandied are sufficient; 'Tis deeds that I prefer to see, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Pleasure is the rock which most young people split upon; they launch out with crowded sails in quest of it, but without a compass to direct their course, or reason sufficient to steer the vessel; for want of which, pain and shame, instead of pleasure, are the returns of their voyage, Lord Chesterfield.  Every man's nature is a sufficient advertisement to him of the character of his fellows, Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

It looks like some more renovation is taking place in Ohio. There is an area in Utica Ohio described as “four historic buildings at the corner of South Main and Mill Streets” that is being renovated. At this point a restoration company worked on the interiors. There is an event space, a bed and breakfast and a liquor distillery. The space is being offered as a wedding venue and later on may be set up for “making spirits”. The inside of the mill’s storage barn is where the wedding events take place. Much of the structure has been left the same, rough wooden floors and walls, a gable ceiling and slabs of stone along one of the staircases. New tables covered with folded napkins, plates and silverware and a decorated bar “expensive looking liquor bottles on a counter in the corner. The designers wanted to leave a bit of the “bygone era” in tact. To add to the ambiance a wooden wheel has been added to the mill to replicate the paddle wheel that powered the grist mills in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Later a stone bridge will be built over a pond between two of the buildings. A “speakeasy” is being put in the event center. Much of the equipment from the distillery that was once in on of the buildings was left behind. There are plans to use it to restore the production of liquor again. People using the venue for weddings will be offered their own barrel of bourbon that will be distilled on the wedding day and bottled for them on their first anniversary. The event space is able to accommodate 175 people for receptions. Many other historic farm buildings in the area are being restored also.

I’m not sure about dinner yet. Bob and I may go out for a change. 

Joy