Psalm 141

Psalm 141

1 O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me.

Hear my voice when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;

keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,

to take part in wicked deeds

with men who are evildoers;

let me not eat of their delicacies.
5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness;

let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head.

My head will not refuse it.

Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
6 their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,

and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth,

so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave. [b] "
8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;

in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,

from the traps set by evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

while I pass by in safety.

The book of Psalms has many beautiful and moving passages. Like the one about, it is not the 23rd Psalm, but it is beautiful. With passion and emotion written into it. The author is praying for what we all pray for, God’s assistance in allowing us to live a holy life. For it is the snares, and the evil doers that draw us away from Christ. Read the passage to your head with passion, the passion of your desire for Christ. Read it again, with the thought of you or I being the evildoers, or the snares.
We may not set up to do either one, and I pray that I do not, we find our selves in that roll. Instead of being the loving caring Christian, we are to concerned about the style of worship that we like. As we cling to a church, not ever witnessing to the “Normal” people, we become an evildoer. It is not a fact of saying, lets go be evil, rather it is evil because we hold the love Christ has for the world in our heart. Never allowing it to escape, and show itself to our family, friends, co-workers, or Joe down the street.

Blowing Snow

Last night I forgot to talk about feeling like Charlie Brown. There is a part in his Christmas movie where Charlie has picked a tree out, and Lucy says, “Charlie Brown, you can’t do anything right.” He then takes it home to decorate it, and when he puts the ornament and the tree it falls over. Sometimes I feel a lot like Charlie Brown, in that noting goes as planned.

Had a meeting at the church, and choir practice. We were working on singing a song that has a lot of ups and then downs. It has several places that I cannot get the correct notes. I have not spent much time at home today, which is a bummer. I only saw Cap durning lunch, and he was busy eating, and then playing. Outsie it is cold and snowy.

Below is a picture of the snowy conditions.




The crack down on sports drug abuse continues, and it is not pretty.

DOHA (Reuters) - Chess's world governing body will introduce dope testing at the
Asian Games this week, although the sport's top official in Doha said he had no
idea how drugs could enhance chess performance.
"I would not know which drug
could possibly help a chess player to improve his game," competition manager
Yousuf Ahmad Ali said.
"But, yes, there will be official monitors who may
demand that players undergo a drugs test after the rounds."
Drug testing is
the latest move by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to raise international
standards in the hope of making chess an Olympic sport in the future.
Along
with triathlon, chess is making its debut at the Asian Games, where more than 60
players will compete for the medals.
Among them are ex-world champions Rustam
Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Zhu Chen, a former Chinese international who has
switched nationality to represent hosts Qatar.
The Asian Games take place
from December1-15.

Charlie Brown, Internet, "Yada, yada, yada"

The internet offers some amazing technology when one ponders what you can do with it. For example, tonight I am listening to WNYC –New York Public Radio- as I sit in my Texas house. Newshour with Jim Lear is on as I type. (You might be thinking, he is a news junkie, and maybe I am, what is wrong with being informed?) It has opened up a vast expanse of knowledge for people. Along with the positive aspects of it, the internet also is host to many people out to do the devils work.

This morning I listened to an interesting report on Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special, 1965. It is titled Behind Vince Guaraldi's Timeless Holiday Soundtrack. I also watched most of the movie with Amy and Cap this evening, it was on live. (I can watch it anytime I wish, because I bought the DVD a few years ago.) I really like the Charlie Brown movies. This could be because I relate it to the 1950-1960’s American utopia. A time when the biggest issue on a sitcom was that Dennis the Menace destroyed some flowers or that Beaver left his lunch at home. These days our sitcoms deal with a cadre of issues, none of them subtle. The soap opera All My Children has reached a new low in it’s attempt to increase viewers. The headline reads: All My Children GLAAD-Hands New Character. They are introducing a new Trans-Gender character. It is very disappointing. Could you see Charlie Brown or Snoopy dealing with this subject, no I cannot either.

Tonight I went to the gym to do a little running, since I can do that now. I saw one of the guys I go to church with, who is 15-20 years older then me. He out ran be by a long way on the treadmill. We started at the same time and when I left he was still going, he is like the energizer bunny, except with blond thinning hair.

Below is the text from an AP Article. It has some really great on-liners from TV, in fact I think there is something for everyone in the list that will make you laugh, or perhaps cry!

NEW YORK - Sometimes it takes only a word, or just a few, to become immortalized
in television history. The TV Land cable network has compiled a list of the 100
greatest catchphrases in TV, from the serious — Walter Cronkite's nightly
signoff "And that's the way it is" — to the silly: "We are two wild and crazy
guys!"
The network will air a countdown special, "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes
& Catch Phrases," over five days starting Dec. 11.
"We have found that
television is such a huge part of baby boomers' DNA that it makes sense that so
much of America's pop culture jargon has come from TV," said Larry Jones, TV
Land president.
The greatest number of moments, 26, come from the 1970s. TV
Land identified nine moments from this decade. Ten are from commercials, and 28
from comedies, including six from "Saturday Night Live."
In alphabetical
order, TV Land's list:
_"Aaay" (Fonzie, "Happy Days")
_"And that's the way it is" (Walter Cronkite, "CBS Evening News")
_"Ask not what your country can do for you ..." (John F. Kennedy)
_"Baby, you're the greatest" (Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, "The honeymooners")
_"Bam!" (Emeril Lagasse,"Emeril Live")
_"Book 'em, Danno" (Steve McGarrett, "Hawaii Five-O")
_"Come on down!" (Johnny Olson, "The Price is Right")
_"Danger, Will Robinson" (Robot, "Lost in Space")
_"De plane! De plane!" (Tattoo,"Fantasy Island")
_"Denny Crane" (Denny Crane, "Boston Legal")
_"Do you believe in miracles?" (Al Michaels, 1980 Winter
Olympics)
_"D'oh!" (Homer Simpson, "The Simpsons")
_"Don't make me angry ..." (David Banner, "The Incredible Hulk")
_"Dyn-o-mite" (J.J., "GoodTimes")
_"Elizabeth, I'm coming!" (Fred Sanford, "Sanford and Son")
_"Gee, Mrs. Cleaver ..." (Eddie Haskell, "Leave it to Beaver")
_"God'll get you for that" (Maude, "Maude")
_"Good grief" (Charlie Brown, "Peanuts" specials)
_"Good night, and good luck" (Edward R. Murrow, "See It Now")
_"Good night, John Boy" ("The Waltons")
_"Have you no sense of decency?"
(Joseph Welch to Sen. McCarthy)
_"Heh heh" (Beavis and Butt-head, "Beavis and Butthead")
_"Here it is, your moment of Zen" ( Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show")
_"Here's Johnny!" ( Ed McMahon, "The Tonight Show")
_"Hey now!" (Hank Kingsley, "The Larry Sanders Show")
_"Hey hey hey!" (Dwayne Nelson, "What's Happening!!")
_"Hey hey hey!" (Fat Albert, "Fat Albert")
_"Holy (whatever), Batman!" (Robin, "Batman")
_"Holy crap!" (Frank Barone, "Everybody Loves Raymond")
_"Homey don't play that!" (Homey the Clown, "In Living Color")
_"How sweet it is!" (Jackie Gleason, "The Jackie Gleason Show")
_"How you doin'?" (Joey Tribbiani," Friends")
_"I can't believe I ate the whole thing" (Alka Seltzer ad)
_"I know nothing!" (Sgt. Schultz, "Hogan's Heroes")
_"I love it when a plan comes together" (Hannibal, "The A-Team")
_"I want my MTV!" (MTV ad)
_"I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl ..." (Larry, "Newhart")
_"I'm not a crook ..." (Richard Nixon)
_"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV" (Vicks Formula 44 ad)
_"I'm Rick James, bitch!" (Dave Chappelle as Rick James, "Chappelle's Show")
_"If it weren't for you meddling kids!" (Various villains, "Scooby Doo,
Where Are You?")
_"Is that your final answer?" ( Regis Philbin, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire")
_"It keeps going and going and going ..." (Energizer Batteries ad)
_"It takes a licking ..." (Timex ad)
_"Jane, you ignorant slut" (Dan Aykroyd to Jane Curtin, "Saturday Night Live")
_"Just one more thing ..." (Columbo, "Columbo")
_"Let's be careful out there" (Sgt. Esterhaus, "Hill Street Blues")
_"Let's get ready to rumble!" (Michael Buffer, various sports events)
_"Live long and prosper" (Spock, "Star Trek")
_"Makin' whoopie" (Bob Eubanks, "The Newlywed Game")
_"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! (Jan Brady, "The Brady Bunch")
_"Mom always liked you best" (Tommy Smothers, "The Smothers
Brothers Comedy Hour")
_"Never assume ..." (Felix Unger, "The Odd Couple")
_"Nip it!" (Barney Fife, "Andy Griffith Show")
_"No soup for you!" (The Soup Nazi, "Seinfeld")
_"Norm!" ("Cheers")
_"Now cut that out!" (Jack Benny, "The Jack Benny Program")
_"Oh, my God! They killed Kenny!" (Stan and Kyle, "South Park")
_"Oh, my nose!" (Marcia Brady, "The Brady Bunch")
_"One small step for man ..." (Neil Armstrong)
_"Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?" (Grey Poupon ad)
_"Read my lips: No new taxes!" (George H.W. Bush)
_"Resistance is futile" (Picard as Borg, "Star Trek: The Next Generation")
_"Say good night, Gracie" (George Burns, "The Burns & Allen Show")
_"Schwing!" ( Mike Myers and Dana Carvey
as Wayne and Garth, "Saturday Night Live")
_"Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy" (Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle)
_"Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids" (Trix cereal ad)
_"Smile, you're on Candid Camera'" ("Candid Camera")
_"Sock it to me" ("Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In")
_"Space, the final frontier ..." (Capt. Kirk, "Star Trek")
_"Stifle!" (Archie Bunker, "All in the Family")
_"Suit up!" (Barney Stinson, "How I Met Your Mother")
_"Tastes great! Less filling!" (Miller Lite beer ad)
_"Tell me what you don't like about yourself" (Dr. McNamara and Dr. Troy, "Nip/Tuck")
_"That's hot" ( Paris Hilton, "The Simple Life")
_"The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat"(Jim McKay, "ABC's Wide World of Sports")
_"The tribe has spoken" (Jeff Probst, "Survivor")
_"The truth is out there" (Fox Mulder, "The X-Files")
_"This is the city ..." (Sgt. Joe Friday, "Dragnet")
_"Time to make the donuts" ("Dunkin' Donuts" ad)
_"Two thumbs up" (Siskel & Ebert, "Siskel & Ebert")
_"Up your nose with a rubber hose" (Vinnie Barbarino, "Welcome
Back, Kotter")
_"We are two wild and crazy guys!" ( Steve Martin
and Dan Aykroyd as Czech playboys, "Saturday Night Live")
_"Welcome to the
O.C., bitch" (Luke, "The O.C.")
_"Well, isn't that special?" (Dana Carvey as the Church Lady, "Saturday Night Live")
_"We've got a really big show!" (Ed Sullivan, "The Ed Sullivan Show")
_"Whassup?" (Budweiser ad)
_"What you
see is what you get!" (Geraldine, "The Flip Wilson Show")
_"Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" (Arnold Drummond, "Diff'rent Strokes")
_"Where's the beef?" (Wendy's ad)
_"Who loves you, baby?" (Kojak, "Kojak")
_"Would you believe?" (Maxwell Smart, "Get Smart")
_"Yabba dabba do!" (Fred Flintstone, "The Flintstones")
_"Yada, yada, yada" ("Seinfeld")
_"Yeah, that's the ticket" ( Jon Lovitz as the pathological liar, "Saturday Night Live") _"You eeeediot!" (Ren, "Ren & Stimpy")
_"You look mahvelous!" (Billy Crystal as Fernando, "Saturday Night Live")
_"You rang?" (Lurch, "The Addams Family")
_"You're fired!" (Donald Trump, "The Apprentice")
_"You've got spunk ..." (Lou Grant, "Mary Tyler Moore Show")

Thanksgiving Update

With the passing of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the holiday season is upon us. There are a few houses on the street that already have their lights up, they stayed at home for Turkey Day. It has been several days since I have posted anything, I did not think that everyone want to read my laments about being sick over the holiday. I was sick, statically I went through one box of tissue paper in 24 hours, that is a lot of junk.

Amy and Cap left me at home on Thursday, as they made the pilgrimage to Clovis. I did not want to spread my joy to anyone, so I stayed at home, with the dog. My mom was nice enough to bring me several plates of food during my confinement. After two days of confinment, I made the drive to beautiful Clovis. We attended a wedding, and a reception that night, and had brunch at Amy’s grandparents. In lieu of attending church Ryan had a short devotional, and Amberly lead everyone in so hymns. It was a neat experience all in all.

I had a lot of interesting thoughts over the weekend that would have made good blog subjects, and one liners. I just did not write any of them down.

Cap playing in the leaves




The family at the reception

Celebrities

The celebrities and famous folks in the US have figured it out. Anytime they make a mistake, they can say, oh it was a joke, a jab, or I was mad. Today I was reading about Faith Hill and a comment that was caught on video during the CMA Awards show. When she did not win the female vocalist away she yelled “WHAT”. Latter she explained that it was only a joke. John Kerry last month made the statement, “If you do not go to school you will be stuck in Iraq.” His excuse was that he was making a jab at the White House and its administration. Only a few days ago, Kramer from the show Seinfeld shot his mouth off in a very derogatory manner at a comedy club. He said that he was angered by the hecklers…
http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/ap/20061121/116411532000.html

OJ who?

Nothing really exciting to blog about tonight. It is a short work week, which is great, especially after the morning that I had. Oh it was not to bad just frustrating… I think that I am getting a cold, which will be the 2nd or 3rd time I have been sick during thanksgiving. I got up at 3:30 am this morning and have not been back to sleep. I watch most of Miracle between 4:00 and 5:35 when I started getting ready. Other than that life is normal… I have been hearing a lot on the news about OJ Simpson, however, I have not figured out why he is on the news so much. I should just sit down and read about him.

The Backyard Report

This afternoon I sat in my backyard, and watched as the leaves rustled around they yard. Some slowly falling to the ground in a methodical dive, like watching divers in slow motion coming off the board. I also watched as a squirrel split nuts that he found in one of my trees...

My dad and his friend Monroe, who has always been a mystery man to Amy, came over tonight to visit. It was nice to see dad, and Monroe. Cap let Bear read a book to him, and they sat on the couch together. I was gone to praise band practice when they arrived.

Practice was good, I turned my mic back on, as it was off during the service this morning. This was only one of several things that pushed me toward being agitated. However, all was better tonight at practice. We sang one Christmas song, and that is exciting.

After thanksgiving there is a radio station that plays nothing but Christmas music until December 26, and you better believe that I will listen to it. I am glad this year because I can get that radio station in my office. I certainly hope that no one in the near by offices dislikes Christmas songs.

Right now I am watching a documentary about Penguins, wow, that is a rough life. I am glad that I am not a penguin, while they are most interesting animals to watch their life is tough. Marching across the ice, just to hop into the frozen ocean to catch some fish. Then they have to march back to the nest and share their food.

Kingdometide

Today I went to the park and walked 2 miles, which is the furthest that I have been since my body work. It was a pleasant day out, the breeze was a tad on the chilly side in the shaded areas. The shaded areas are decreasing in size rapidly as the leaves fall off the trees. This process was greatly enhanced on Tuesday of last week when we received 60 mph winds, with gust that were higher. That really blows the leaves off the trees. I will start jogging some once the Dr. says that it is okay, which will most likely be on Wednesday. Yippie!

While I was on my walk I listed to another podcast of the Asbury Chapel Service. It was good, the speaker went over Kingdomtide, and enlightened me to a few things. One thing that I pondered that was not discussed, loving our neighbors. More to the point, I think that the church in general and members in particular often struggle with this. As a church rolls out new programs, or as members sit in a Sunday school class and cover curriculum, there are people out in the world that need to experience God’s Love. By focusing on programming, and the next big thing we often overlook how simple it is to show God’s love. I find that I sometimes am consumed with my own life that I do not look up and around at other peoples lives…

I cooked tonight, we had grilled chicken breast, that had marinated in a lemon/orange with some spices marinate. We also had salad, toast, and Bush’s Beans, which were a big hit. I wanted to take the chance to grill while there was still a hint of autumn in the air before Jack Frost moves into the neighborhood for the winter.

PS3

It was a fast and furious day at work… I managed to spend 30 minutes in my office in the morning, and after that it was about 5:00pm before I returned. I was tried when I got home, so it was nice to play with Cap and take a short nap. Cap and I played with the wooden blocks, and the animals in the Ark. We also read a few stories, and ran (at Cap Speed) up and down the hallway. I almost feel like I am coming down with a little cold today.

While I am not a big fan of the television, I did watch the two Fictional shows that I make an effort to see tonight. They are The Class and Friday Night Lights. I am not sure why I find them enjoyable to watch, but I do. I might be that these are two shows that Amy and I both like.

I had an epiphany yesterday, but I cannot remember what it was. Some might argue that if I cannot remember what it was, then it was not an epiphany.

Today Microsoft release their new PS3 (I think it was Microsoft) and I was amazed at all of the people who waited in line outside of stores so they could purchase one. I find this behavior a little disturbing, like the people that camp out to get tickets to the Star Wars Movies. Sure I wanted to watch them, and I did, I just did not camp outside a ticket booth to get a ticker.

Stardate 200611151126

If this was Star Trek my blog would begin with, “Captain’s Log, Star Date 200611152300, location: aboard the Enterprise traveling where no man has gone. Today…” Last night I was in the mood to watch Top Gun. It was the first movie that I remember my parents purchasing on VHS, and it was one of the first movies that I ever watched in my parent’s living room. The first time I watch the movie I missed the first little bit and though that Maverick and Goose were in beginning flight school, and not advanced. Which caused a wee bit of confusion on my part. I made it about 10 minutes into the movie and fell asleep, so I will try it again tonight, unless I change my mind.

I went to Panhandle to pick up my dad because he dropped a car off for my sister. We visited about worship styles and church for about 20 minutes on the way home. It was a very insightful conversation, he brought back information from a church that he attended in Nebraska, that had a blended style of worship.

I have been busy cooking… …so I am going to sign out.

I am glad that I

The Devil Went Down to Wolf Creek

When I think of a musical ballad, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, just does not strike me as being a ballad, rather I think of a song like Wonderful Tonight, by Eric Clapton. However, according to the Wipekida definition of a Ballad, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, is a ballad. The word ballad conjures up vision of a soft guitar, love song with an attached story. Technically aside from the soft guitar song The Devil Goes Down to Georgia would meet my definition. You have Johnny, the kid who loves his guitar, and the devil who loves, well souls of course. Along with that goes the story, of Johnny challenging the devil and winning. When we, me and my closest friends from Big B, changed the words to the song a little. We did not care much about fiddling, we like to snow ski, but we still wanted to beat the devil. The end result was Us challenging the devil for out Skoal, and we would get a pair of golden K2 skis if we beat him skiing. A word about smokeless tobacco, don’t try it, it is overrated and bad for you. Once you start it is difficult to stop, and could take divine intervention for you to stop. There is nothing cool about it, epically all the spit, women, most women, find it repulsive.

We loved to ski especially at Wolf Creek. Actually, we still love to ski, still at Wolf Creek. My freshman year in college two of us bough our own skis and I skied a total of 24 days that winter, which is good considering it if 5 hours to the nearest mountain with snow on it from where we live.

There is something wonderful about skiing down a mountain, with the tall trees around, the snow falling on you, as you cut back and forth down the face of a mountain. Your face numb from the cold, icicles in your mustache and chin, no feeling in your hands. Looking around and can barely see 10 feet in front of you partly due to the blinding snow, and partly because you were too cheap to get goggles. Your legs, screaming in pain because of the burning sensation from muscles that you have not work in 11 months. That is the point that you ask yourself, “Now why exactly is it that I like this sport, can’t see, can feel my face, hands, or feet, all I feel from my legs is burning, and I am going down a black diamond with 12 inches of powder.

The Pink Shirt

Amy and Jenn went to some “girl thing” tonight, so Brandon and Peyton came over to assist me with Cap. We had a good time, and the boys certainly enjoyed each other. The women, or at least Amy, returned with a catalog full of more stuff to purchase.

I worn a Pink shirt to work today, it is a nice polo button down shirt, that I ironed myself. I was tormented all day long by one of my co-workers, whom we will call Stanley to protect his innocents. I like the shirt and think that it goes with my skin tone and color. I am certainly not wearing it because I am making some sort of statement, it is just a nice shirt.

On a food note, I had oatmeal for breakfast (Quakers), soft taco’s for lunch (Mexican), and Spaghetti (Italian) for dinner. My pallet went on a world tour of sorts, and it all happened in a 10 mile radius from my house.

The link below will take you to an NPR piece that was written by Lt. Col. Carl Grunow. It is a story the encapsulates some of the trials and tribulations of life in Iraq.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6481797

Maisy the Mouse

Bear came over tonight after he returned from Nebraska and visited with us. I was impressed that Cap threw him the ball a couple of times. He also listened as Bear read Snuggle Puppy. Cap got the book a few weeks ago and he loves it. It also came with a small stuffed snuggle puppy, that Cap has taken to. He really likes all of his stuffed animals. There are a few that are his favorites, but otherwise he seems to like them all.

Yesterday we went to the City to run a few errands. We went to Barns and Noble and they had Storytime with Maisy. Maisy is a character in one of Caps books; she is a mouse that has adventures. Lucy Cousins is the author, and when Maisy came in Cap was excited to see her. It was really neat.

Below is a picture of Amy and Cap reading Goodnight Moon. If you will notice, Cap is reading his own book.

Leaves

Last night we drove 24 miles to eat at a restaurant, turned around and drove back home. I have never though much about those escapades here in West Texas, because driving is part of living. I was visiting with a guy that works for a major oil company in their Exploration and Production department. He informed me that he put 31,000 miles on his company truck in the last nine months. I bet he has a lot of time to ponder life as he beats a trail down the road.

This morning I was captivated by the leaves falling off the trees. With their vibrant radiant red and orange colors, it is their last salute before the cold from Canada begins to creep in. In a few weeks it is possible that I will watch as snow gently falls from the sky and blankets the region. The white cover will give the and area a true feeling of innocence.

The Stream

Sometime I look at writing like it is a stream running through the wooded hill country of tall Texas. As the story winds across, the ground, around the trees, and down the rocky water falls, it resembles life.

The last few days, my stream has been dry, with nothing flowing in the creek bed. The last few days we have got to listen the news media focus on a dozen stories of voters having issues at polling places, all the while they do not report on the millions of people that voted without incident. There was a song released in the 80’s by Phil Collins about the news people chasing news that was morbid or death with deaths, or murders.

John F. Kennedy was interested in Journalism, however, he decided that it was not Journalist who changed things, it was politicians. I think that while that might be true, the news media of today has a lot more inherent power, and are jaded more to one specific political party. How informed can the public be on an issue if all they here is the 30 or 60 second sound bites. Yet, that is the world, and society that we live in.

Movies

It has always amazed me the types of movies that are produced and successful here in America. Take the movie, Napoleon Dynamited a quirky movie about a kid in high school. I watched the movie, and it did not make a great deal of sense to me. Most recently released was Borat, a movie about a journalist from a small county. The movie has actually received more press coverage than the real place that the character is suppose to come from. A few years ago there was a movie about a guy who was stranded at an airport for a few months. I liked that movie, but the preface seemed a little strange. Oddly enough I am watching a movie about dodge ball, that is right, they made a movie about a schoolhouse game, and made it pretty funny.

Reflections from a Foggy Day

In the event that this is the only place you get news, Saddam Hussein was convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed, for more click HERE!

Saturday night, I sang Amy my version of “White Christmas” in the ensuing discussion she said that Perry Como sang the song. I said that it was originally sung by Danny Kaye in the movie White Christmas. She did not believe me, or that a Danny Kaye even existed.

Today we had church because it was Sunday, we took the sacraments, or communion as it is more commonly know. I attended the Church’s Charge Conference, which is a annual meeting where reports are reviewed and approved. I have a friend that is attending Asbury Theological Seminary and he told me about their chapel services that are put out as Podcast. There were several that he particularly recommended, so I listened to a couple of them. The first one was excellent, and the second one felt more like sitting though a lecture. It was an awesome lecture, or study if you will, and I learned a great deal. If that is the amount of learning they do during chapel, I cannot imagine the amount that is done in the classrooms.

Question: Why does it seem so easy to connect with God and others while away from home on a Mission Trip, Ski Trip, Church Camp, ect…?

I have struggled with connecting with God at the same level I do when I am on a trip like those listed above when I return home. Many years ago I went on a mission trip to Oklahoma, and about 1 hour before we got home the discussion in the van just died off. I have always attributed that to people thinking about what they needed to do when they got home. Why do we stay so busy on the day to day stuff? Is it that these things are much more simply to complete and we can see the progress we have made? Why do I feel like I must conquer the world in one day, and spend that day just trying to get my foot out the door?

A Saturday Afternoon Drive Through Downtown

Once again, I have not had a great deal to write about, I have also been pretty tired after returning back to work. However, since today was Saturday, I felt like I should chronicle a few things about the day. First are foremost congratulations are in order for Jimbo on #3, which is also a boy. Secondly, today I drove through downtown and noticed that the City has already erected the Christmas lights along Main Street and Third Street. This leaves me with only one conclusion, The City is on the same calendar that Wal-Mart is on for Christmas. I also tried a new set of contacts today, and quite honestly I can see better without glasses then I can with those in. It seems pretty counter productive. Another noteworthy observation, the wind is not blowing here, and it is beautiful outside.

There has been lots of news lately about politics and politicians to read about in the media. These are the times that generally bring out the best in Saturday Night Live. Early on in the show Jimmy Carter was president and they did a skit with him answering a call in line. Every caller had a drug question and just by describing the shape and color of the pill he could tell the caller what it was.