Black Dog Salvage

Se""Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke is an incredible,

 40,000 square-foot warehouse that features 

a stunning variety of antiques, 

commercial salvage and countless other unique items.

"As a marketplace, the warehouse contains original works from reclaimed materials as well as many products from a wide range of merchants and artists who rent space in the facility. Featured on the popular television show Salvage Dawgs on the DIY Network, Black Dog Salvage has become known around the country as a leader in the remodeling industry for its outstanding work and creativity in various building, design and salvage projects."

I have watched them for some time.

It is fun to see the stories of the rescues

 of materials out of old homes and buildings.

So when I heard we were headed

 to Roanoke, Virginia for a conference-

this was top on the list.

The Stone House is being renovated

 right next door as a luxury vacation rental.

Salvage greets you-

 right at the entrance to the parking lot.

Most of the inside is carefully curated stalls - 

mostly by individual dealers.

But, there is plenty of 

Black Dog Salvage scattered here and around.

Interesting things and fun to look at displays.

I saw this beautiful window

 and then happened to see an instagram post 

that it was purchased and being sent to California-

 Hopefully to a great new home!

Black Dog Salvage was created in 1999 to provide a home for Southwestern Virginia’s architectural past. The brainchild of entrepreneurs Mike Whiteside an

d Robert Kulp and inspired by Molly, Black Dog’s namesake.

A sunset over the mountain

 ends a perfect day in Roanoke, Virginia.

Traipsing North Carolina

Beautiful coastline of North Carolina

 Near Surf City.

Rolling riptides on this day.

Stopping in Kinston, NC 

and tried out the dough burger.

 A bit of Civil War history

 from Kinston.

 We always try to at least stop by the

 LCMS church as we move through cities.

 Next it was on to Wilson, North Carolina.
Our Redeemer is a beautiful stone church.

 Love the Luther's Rose
 stain glass window.

It sits right on the edge of the
 parking lot for Barton College.

Sort of by accident we stumbled across

 the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park 

near downtown Wilson.

Folk art fun and a really neat story 
of a humble man just sharing his talent.

                                                         photo from their website

And if you are looking for Fine antiques 
you just have to stop at 
Boone Antiques in Wilson.
boonesantiques
 I have seen a lot of antique stores
 in my time and this was beyond amazing.
Over 4 acres of inventory.

A bit of the history: (from their website)

Our dad, Edgar Boone, started Boone’s Antiques, Inc.

 in Wilson, North Carolina all the way back in the early 1950s. 

At the time he was a tobacco auctioneer; 

buying and selling antiques was just a small side business. 

But all that changed in 1961 

when he went to England for the first time. 

While there, he discovered a whole new world in antiquing, 

and immediately saw the potential of 

buying and selling antiques in large quantities. 

As soon as he got back, 

he went to work expanding the business.

Branch stores opened in other states,

 but have now consolidated into the original location. 

His sons, Tom and Doug, now run the business.

All in all- fun places to visit in North Carolina.

Digitized- Spiritual Implications of Technology- Book Review

I have been teaching and talking about

 living as deployed digital missionaries

 for about 10 years now.

This 2018 Concordia Publishing House book

 by Bernard Bull actually uses this

term within the framework of eformation.

Bull has studied technology trends 

for more than 20 years 

and is an associate professor of education

 at Concordia University Wisconsin.

His book is divided into 2 parts.

Part One:  How is Technology Shaping Us?

The chapters deal with information overload, 

information addition, the "daily me", 

hyperreality, celebrity, digital safety and security.

 I hear many conversations 

about the changing technology paradigm 

and the shift of influence for parenting. 

I rarely hear where adults 

are seeking good information

 and thoughtful tending of the issues they face.

The strength of Bull's writing is that he offers

 a framework of reflections and questions

 to look at digital culture

 and its impact on Christians. 

Scripture is the source of truth 

and outlines the way we need 

to respond to technology.

Even when we might wish for a 

less complicated digital world- 

we do live here and now- 

for such a time as this.

(Esther 4:14)

Technology IS shaping our thoughts, 

actions, families, communities and employment.

So.....

Part 2: How Do We Respond?

Even though it appears EVERYthing has changed,

some things have not.

The Triune God, God's Word, Human Nature,

Fundamental Human Needs and Desires, and 

God's Promises remain unchanged.

With the longtime tension 

between Christ and culture, 

we must begin to think like a missionary.

We are called to be witnesses of the 

Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.

In order to do that we need to engage the culture,

 learn the language, and build relationships.

This is the outline for living on mission

 in this time and place. 

Bull outlines 10 ways 

to embrace a missionary mindset.

This list is worthy of contemplation 

and discussion with collaboration and fellowship.

God's Word is a Lamp and Guide 

in the digital world 

and we need to build discernment skills

 that will equip us for this lifelong endeavor.

There is also a review of possible ways

 to approach faith and life in the digital world.

That can include everything from blogs and 

digital storytelling to podcasts and video sharing.

Bull's writing stresses the importance 

of asking questions, and evaluating 

rather than just offering distant criticism.

He also cautions about 

"jumping to overly judgmental or legalistic claims

 about the digital world, 

as well as the opposite extreme 

of blindly accepting and embracing

 every new development or innovation."

Digitized- spiritual Implications of Technology 

can be helpful for families navigating 

the intent and purpose of digital forms

 as well as school and church staffs and communities.

It is time to outline a plan to 

"think like a missionary."

Praying the Psalms-Psalm 30

 Bible Journaling- Psalm 30

Sketchnote style.

Praying these words into my life

 and those on my prayer list.

 "Lord, I can't define or describe you,

but I know by personal experience

your power and presence in my life.

Help me out of this tangled mess.

 You turned my griping into Gratitude, 

screams of despair into proclamations of JOY."

"Now, I can explode with Praises,

 I will spend eternity

 in Thanksgiving to YOU."

Supplies:

Psalms Now/ Brandt

 8 1/2 by 11 journal

 Fine point Sharpie

Colored pencils

Tag

Cork and stamp ink

Creative Haven-Gathered Together

We gathered mid-July 

for a Creative Haven event

 in my home.

Karen works on a

Prayers for my Children calendar.

Even the littlest might come for a bit.

Eve snuggles her little grandson.

Autumn and Amy 

journaling in Bibles.

Welcome- first -timer- Sonja!

Deshua uses a heat gun to dry

 a napkin in her Bible a bit faster.

We tried our hand at Polaroid Praises.

Thanks so much Michelle Bowden!

Prayer Calendars,

Napkins in Bibles.

 A special service in the Interleaved Bible-

 there is a full blank page between every page.

Polaroid Praise Watercolors,

Journal prep 

and an Enduring Word Bible margin.

Autumn hand -drew the elephants 

and we all thought they were a stamp.

Paired with a very thin napkin on the page-lovely.

Sharing more about the Enduring Word Bible.

What fun to see it on the cover 

for the new CPH Fall Ministry catalog.

And Koryn-

handmade macaroons-

 for everyone!

Thanks and what a treat.
Can't wait till the next time
 we can be together.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 29

Spending some time

 in my Psalms Journal.

Praying Psalm 29.

Reading this Psalm in multiple versions.

Thinking about it.

Meditating on it.

Psalms/Now by Leslie Brandt

 is the version I landed on for journaling.
Writing it out.
Perhaps condensed.
CliffsNotes version.

Give credit to whom

Credit is due.

God is Alive.

He deserves our perpetual praise.

His beauty is Manifest in all of nature.

There is a reason for REJOICING.

There is a God to worship and love.

All of our achievements and the advances

 of science are by the wisdom 

and power of the eternal God.

The Gory is not ours but God's.

We are to rejoice in the God

 who blesses us,

seek His grace to serve Him,

 by serving others 

by the abundance He blesses us.

This sketch note style works for me,

 as I use limited drawings.

It is the slowing down to write it out.

 I love to see how the words fit together

 when they are put together a bit differently.
Time to pray the psalms.

Supplies:
Psalms/Now- Leslie Brandt
Micron pens
Colored pencils

Enduring Word Bible-I will deliver you

 Enduring Word Bible- #17

Jeremiah 39

So Jerusalem has fallen to 

King Nebuchadnezzar -king of Babylon.

King Zedekiah tried to flee,

was caught and taken to Babylon.

The walls of Jerusalem are broken down.

But, Nebuchadnezzar 

gives a different direction for care for Jeremiah.

The captain of the guard

 is to take him home and care for him.

 Jeremiah is preserved

 and remains in Judah.

He goes to Gedaliah 

and lives with him among the people

 who were left in the land. 

Certainly hard, hard days

 in the land of Israel.

Even on our hardest days,

most of us cannot imagine 

that kind of cruelty 

and challenge for living life.

Lord, preserve our well-being, 

if it is your will.

Supplies:

Water color 

String for painting

Micron pen