April 20, 2006
Clearwater and Sunny
It’s been a good day. I was pooped when we got here. My weeks have been crazy and I had gotten up at 3:30 on Tuesday morning to try to get all my projects done before we boarded flight from Midway at 5:30 that afternoon. And that has been typical of the last several weeks. In the meantime, I was looking forward to a break in Florida by invitation of Clearwater Christian College (CCC).
CCC is initiating new program (I think) in which they are connecting with pastors by bringing them to Florida, treating them royally, exposing them to the college, pampering them, intoxicating them with sunshine, and hoping that all this results in a favorable impression of the school. A fabulous idea, everybody thought, but untested. Good ideas must be tested. Greg Linscott, Joel Tetreau, and I have willingly laid down our lives for the brethren in order to be guinea pigs in the CCC public relations lab.
Our day started with chapel. Dr. Dan Ebert, Chairman of the Bible Department, gave a lecture on integrating faith and learning. Then Terry Wild and Dave Burggraff (both Vice-Presidents) took us on a tour of the campus, followed by lunch with Dick and Holly Stratton. We have had a wonderful time of fellowship with these great people.
Jennie and I went to the beach this afternoon to splash our barefeet in the gulf for an hour or so before we returned to our hotel. My body was crashing. I had to sleep. After a break, we went back to the beach with Joel Tetreau, found a great restaurant with outdoor seating, and philosophized the sun right down into the gulf. It was beautiful. Not the philosophizing, but the sunset.
We have another day. Tomorrow we men will have a couple of meetings and then we will be put through another excruciating battery of public relations tests of more royal treatment, more sun, and more food. We will need your prayers. I hope that we will be able to give a helpful analysis by the time we leave Friday, but it seems likely that we may have to suggest that they run us through the tests again. Just to spare others.
Posted by Bob Bixby at April 20, 2006 03:45 AM | eMail this entry! | 370 WordsThis entry was posted in the following categories:
Indeed, ‘tis a heavy cross to bear.
http://greglinscott.wordpress.com/2006/04/19/on-sun-seafood-and-slowing-down/
Posted by: Greg Linscott at April 20, 2006 03:52 AMBob,
Saw the picture of you guys over at Greg’s blog. So what’s the deal with the suit and tie? Was that whole Lansdale “tie-less” thing all for show? You didn’t know there would be cameras in Clearwater? You’re busted, pal.
Ben
Posted by: Ben at April 20, 2006 07:24 AMHmmm, men not in ties at Lansdale . . . men in ties at Clearwater. Ladies did not accompany their husbands to Lansdale . . . ladies did accompany their husbands to Clearwater. Could there possibly be a connection? :-))
Posted by: Lyn Marshall at April 20, 2006 08:44 AMI sat under Dr. Ebert for four years at CCC and I am sure that it was a treat. He is scholar who is known more for humility than anything else. That is a rarity.
Paul
Say . . . how could a fella get on the “free trip to Florida” list? My football coach from high school (Mark Bates) is now the Dean of Men @ Clearwater, but I didn’t get an invitation? Hmmm.
Posted by: Ronnie Batchelor at April 20, 2006 10:04 AM
