Christmas 2005: It's A Wrap

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. I went to work today to rest and relax.

It feels like I did nothing but keep going from Friday on. We started cleaning house on Friday afternoon. I wrapped presents until after midnight Friday (while watching It's A Wonderful Life). Saturday was more house cleaning and I also cleaned up the yard while S wrapped presents. I took a break from that to sing in two Christmas Eve services, making it another late night. Christmas morning started about 7 AM when I drove to our daughter's apartment for breakfast and opening presents with our grandson. Then it was back home for more house cleaning while S cooked part of Christmas dinner. Meanwhile, it was so nice in the afternoon that we had our front door open and our cat snoozed in the sunbeam in our entry way (must be nice).

Then our guests began to arrive. My parents and my brother came first. Snoopy stuck around since they're nice folks (and mom said Snoopy was a pretty kitty), but he scrammed as soon as my grandson and his mom arrived. Another daughter arrived, then a brother-in-law, then my nephew (and his girlfriend and her very young sister), and finally a niece and her daughter. We had a nice visit and a nice buffet-style dinner with ham, chicken, and meatballs, etc. Of course, Princess, our little chihuahua-mix was quite the social butterfly throughout the entire affair.

I got what I asked for - War of the Worlds on DVD, and Nicole Nordemann's CD, Brave. That's all I asked for, but I got a few bonuses, including cash and gift cards (always welcome).

My wife also got me a really cool book, The D-Day Experience: From the Invasion to the Liberation of Paris by Richard Holmes (I am a World War II buff). This is not just a book, but it includes reproductions of actual maps, and pages from diaries, log books, letters, leaflets, a Stars and Stripes newspaper, etc. Very interesting.

Anyway, I went to bed at about 7 PM last night (on our new bed sheets) and read a little bit of my new book with a very tired little dog curled up next to me. I didn't last long - I was done by 8 PM after reading the same paragraph over and over. You know that great feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night after a very deep sleep thinking you've already slept the whole night and the alarm clock says you've still got a ways to go? That happened to me twice - at 10:58 and 2:02 - way cool!

Anyhow, that was my Christmas. Only 363 days to the next one.

How to Wrap a Cat

This is the link explaining how to wrap a cat (step 2 entails a liberal amount of glue) should you be inclined to do so.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Thank You Very Much

According to a recent poll, 69% of all Americans prefer the phrase, "Merry Christmas" over "Happy Holidays."

And for those people who think they can sidestep the whole religion thing by saying "Happy Holidays" - well guess what? "Holiday" is derived from the phrase "Holy Day." So stick that in your politically-correct hat and smoke it.

And Merry Christmas, thank you very much.

More Developments In Last Weekend's Shooting

More information has been released to the media regarding last weekend's shooting. Turns out the police officer is paralyzed as a result of being shot by Damon (my niece's boyfriend). We actually learned of the police officer's paralysis on Saturday (some of the information that had not been released to the press).

Damon's accomplice did turn himself in, and has been charged in the murder of the home invasion victim.

Meanwhile, my niece will be missing Christmas with us as she will be accompanying Damon's body to California. What a waste.

Donald, You're Fired!

In a surprise move today, Donald Trump completely pulled the plug on a high-rise project he was planning for the Camelback Corridor in Phoenix.

The proposed project would have exceeded height limits already set for the area; the Phoenix City Council waived those restrictions so the project could go through as planned. Well the residents in the area didn't like the idea of Trump's new high-rises blocking their view of the nearby mountains, so they collected 19,000 signatures to force the issue on the ballot. The city council then, today, reversed their decision to allow waive the height limit and let the voters decide. And that's when Donald threw in the towel. [source article]

Honestly, I don't understand commercial developers. They say our area is a hotbed for commercial development. Then why are there so many vacant storefronts? But that's another issue.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done, For
being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled,
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
DSN: 302-362-6828

Too Close To Home

I knew something was wrong early Saturday morning when I could see a police helicopter nearby. My brother-in-law, who also lives nearby, recalls hearing the sirens. We just didn't realize at the time how close to home it really was.

There was a home invasion within half a mile from our house. When the police arrived to investigate a report of shots being fired, the suspect vehicle was just leaving the scene, and a pursuit began. It didn't last very long. The vehicle blew out a tire and stopped. The suspect got out and began firing at the police officers. They fired back, killing the suspect.

When it was all over, two people were dead and another seriously wounded. Another suspect who ran from the scene is still at large. The man who was wounded was Peoria Police Officer Bill Weigt - he remains in critical but stable condition. One of the dead was a victim of the home invasion, shot dead by the suspect. And the suspect? That's where it hits close to home. He was the boyfriend of our niece (and daughter of the aforementioned brother-in-law).

It was the major news story here in the Phoenix area. Names of the deceased have not yet been released. But we found out about the suspect when my brother-in-law called, along with some other details which have not been made public (and I do not find it prudent to do so, either).

We had met this young man before - he seemed pretty nice. And besides being our niece's boyfriend, he was also father of their 6-month-old baby. He typically stayed home and took care of the baby while our niece went to work. None of us - our niece included - had any idea he was capable of such a thing. Everything seemed normal Friday night when he kissed our niece and the baby good-night and went out.

What was particularly eerie was that he tried to call our niece when it all went down. There is a message on our niece's answering machine. There are the gunshots and a voice saying, "He's not moving."

This is the sort of thing that you think happens to other people. And even though I'm not directly involved, I'm pretty close to it. This one's just too close to home.

Pray for the perpetrators, for the victims, and the innocent lives left behind to pick up the pieces of an unnecessary tragedy.

Today's Stewardship Pitch

Today I spoke at our 11:00 worship service to promote our current stewardship campaign. Here is the text of what I said:

Remember this saying, "A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest. Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.”

I’d love to take credit for these words, but actually they were written by another man named Paul in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 6-8.

It’s taken quite a leap of faith on my part, but I have learned first-hand that the last verse or so is absolutely true. God does love those who love to give. No matter what, [S] and I have always been blessed with whatever we needed at the moment, especially when we’ve been generous to the church.

Since I first came to [this church] 13-1/2 years ago, I’ve received countless blessings, the greatest of these having received Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

Brothers and Sisters, I stand before you today because you cared enough to plant a seed that brought my soul to harvest.

Do you have a similar story? Matthew 10:8 says, “Freely you have received. Freely give.”

I understand that a tithe, an offering of 10%, is a stretch for some. With that in mind, remember that God does not want 10% of your paycheck – He wants 100% of your heart. So follow your heart. Take baby steps if you have to. If you’re not giving at all, consider an offering of 1%. If you’re giving 1%, consider raising that to 2% or more. You get the idea. Just follow your heart and work your way up as you feel led.

A few weeks ago, Pastor [D] suggested that each of us read the Bible all the way through. A good discipline to be sure. I’ve been doing that myself, starting with the New Testament first and going on with the Old Testament. It’s ironic that as I was finishing up my second time through the entire Bible this past week, and as I prayed over what I would say to you today, that God gave me these words in the last chapter of the last book.

In Malachi 3:10, God says: “I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.” Coincidence? As my faith grows, I believe otherwise.

Are you up to the challenge God has placed before you? Are you ready to receive His abundant blessings?

Boy, I do enjoy preaching!

A Wonderful Tribute to Our Troops

Press the PLAY button to see this wonderful tribute to our troops:

Fresh Video from BlogTelevision.net (Source)

If Nothing Else...

If nothing else, the execution overnight of Stanley Tookie Williams will help underscore the point he was trying to make: stay out of gangs. Maybe this will influence some gang wanna-be's and maybe a gangbanger or two.

Mercy or Not?

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger could again be labeled The Terminator or he show mercy by granting clemency to convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams. [source]

Williams, co-founder of the L.A. street gang known as the Crips, was convicted in the brutal 1979 murder of four people. But since taking residence in the San Quentin prison, Williams has become an avid anti-gang crusader. He has written several children's books with an anti-gang message and donated the proceeds to anti-gang programs. He has worked very hard to dissuade young people from following the path he has taken.

I generally favor the death penalty. But in this case, I would definitely plead for mercy. Although our corrections system seldom rehabilitates criminals, I think Williams has truly repented. Does he deserve punishment? Absolutely! Incarceration for the remainder of his life should be sufficient, and perhaps he can make more of a difference in the fight against gang violence.

Then again, maybe he can set an even stronger example by being put to death.

Meanwhile, Charles Manson will continue to languish in his prison cell.

Rip-Roarin' Christmas Concert

Last night S and I along with her cousin D and wife D went to a rather rip-roarin' Christmas concert. Glendale Arena was the most recent venue for the Christmas concert tour put on by Steven Curtis Chapman and MercyMe. Wow!

MercyMe had more of the familiar Christmas tunes (played of course in their more raucous style), while Chapman had a few more more familiar Christian tunes overall.

Both artists started the concert jointly by performaning choruses from selected non-Christmas songs they would not be playing (an interesting and enjoyable concept) after which MercyMe opened their own set with their megahit, I Can Only Imagine. The "regulation-time" portion of the concert ended with both artists performing a raucous arrangement of Go Tell It On The Mountain immediately followed by the chorus from Steven Curtis Chapman's megahit Live Out Loud (a clever segue). The encore was White Christmas with fake snowflakes falling over the main floor. Looks like the musicians had a blast.

My ears are still ringing!

Like a Caged Animal

Well it looks as though the trial of Saddam Hussein has finally begun in earnest. As Mr. T would say, "I pity the fool." This trial should have everything we love about courtroom drama, especially with his courtroom antics. I'm especially amused over how he wields the Quran in his hand - as if he really lives his life according to the Quran.

The power that an individual has over people is given by God; if that power is abused, history has shown time and again that God gives that individual enough latitude to self-destruct. Saddam Hussein appears now as a caged animal. His true self is now showing for his nation - and the world - to see. A petty thief and murderer. Surely the Quran does not permit this? I know the Bible does not.

Each person's ways are clearly seen by the LORD, and he surveys all his actions. A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs, and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin. [Proverbs 5:21-22, the Message]

Rather than taking his own life, if Hitler had been captured, would he have behaved as badly in court as these men are?

Remembering the Good Old Days

You know you've arrived in society when the marketing analysts are targeting your age group. Fading into the sunset are those Cadillac commercials belting out Led Zeppelin. Now they're hitting us - US! - with ads featuring songs from Kansas, Electric Light Orchestra, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Makes me want to switch on TVLand and watch Happy Days or One Day at a Time (yeah - I had a crush on Valerie Bertinelli - and she's still pretty cute even if she is my age). Hey, who knows? Those denture cream commercials featuring the music of Barry Manilow may be just a few years away!

Today I came across this article about the latest - and perhaps last - compilation album released by the phenomenally popular Swedish quartet, ABBA. Former band member Bjorn Ulvaeus told Reuters on Monday that "ABBA had no intention of following in the footsteps of other famous bands that have regrouped in recent years." Bummer.

ABBA was there during my formative years as a gawky, geeky teenager. I guess that would explain a lot. You either loved or you hated them. And I loved them! I still do! I still have 45's with some of their songs and a bunch of cassette tapes (for you kids out there, that's how we used to listen to music - there was no such thing as an iPod or mp3). Heck, I even have a CD of their greatest hits.

It's no surprise that ABBA didn't get back together. I'm sure it was awkward enough when the female members of the band divorced the male members of the band. But their music continues to live on. I've even heard glimmers of the "ABBA sound" in some contemporary Christian music - and those naturally are some of my favorites.

Currently the two male members of ABBA, Bjorn Ulveaus and Benny Andersson, are attempting to get their show Kristina onto Broadway. "It is very difficult to go from something so Swedish to America, but on the other hand it's a subject that everyone knows and especially in America -- about emigrants and immigrants," Ulvaeus said.

But given their continued popularity, I don't think it would be all that difficult to get something Swedish into America. IKEA, anyone?

And We're Off...

We kicked off another stewardship campaign in church today. Even before the kickoff we had already received additional pledges of $11,000.

After I'd given the devotional after choir rehearsal on Thursday night, someone suggested we do lay witnessing in church on Sundays like we used to years ago. My name was immediately offered up as one of the speakers. It was just a matter of getting it into the bulletins for the worship services.

Well, we started the lay witnessing today with the co-chair of the stewardship campaign. The other co-chair will speak next week. I'm scheduled to speak in two weeks.

Church seemed different today. We are committed. We are on fire. Blaze, Spirit! Blaze!

Crunch Time: A New Hope

This has certainly been an interesting week for our church - one that I think will prove to be pivotal in the life of the church. We may be a little broken, but one thing is certain - there's a lot of life left. As for myself, I went into the week feeling somewhat discouraged, but now I am very encouraged.

Word got out on Sunday evening that the finance committee had left our organist's salary out of the budget. However I hadn't gotten word until I checked my e-mail. I had cleared it down to six over the weekend, but when I went to check on Tuesday night there were 35 e-mails in my inbox! So the fight had begun in earnest, and the first battle would be fought the following night at our all-church conference where next year's budget would be put to a vote.

I replied with my own e-mail stating that, in my own heart, I could not vote in favor of the budget. But I also stated that it was time for the church as a whole to roll up its sleeves and fight for its life. There had to be alternatives, but we would have to fight for them, otherwise next year we'd probably discuss cutting the choir director. And in another year or so, we'd be discussing putting the property up for sale.

And fight we did, yet we were all quite courteous in doing so. It all started about halfway through the meeting Wednesday night once the budget was brought up. It seemed pretty obvious to me that there was some fuzzy math going on. All ministries were asked to submit a budget that was 10% lower than last year's. Looking at the report, it was odd to note that Worship and Arts actually went up, at which time our choir director got up and said he did exactly what he had been instructed, so how come the budget went up? There were other things that were brought up that seemed odd as well.

The subject of apportionments also came up. Apportionments are the monies contributed by each church in the conference in order to maintain the connectional ministries of all the churches. The budgeting for apportionments (as we were told) is based on the expenditures of the church two years prior. I checked another conference's website - their apportionments were based on an average of the church's expenses for the three prior years. In my opinion, it's not a terribly fair and equitable way to assess the apportionments. It's great for the (few) churches that are actually growing. It's like the current real estate market where you get a nice low interest rate and now two years later, your property has appreciated considerably in value - a smokin' deal if you sell. But for the churches that are declining in membership and the resulting income, it's like getting a car loan for a vehicle that's two years old based on the value of that vehicle when it was still brand new on the car lot! That's not fuzzy math - it's just plain stupid.

The question was asked, "What if we don't pay all of our apportionments?" Our District Supervisor replied, "Nothing." I can pretty much confirm that just looking at our own conference's apportionment reports. There some churches that aren't paying all of their apportionments, and even a few that haven't been paying at all. This has been valuable research - I will be touch with our church's lay leader and finance committee.

Another question that was brought up was, "How many of us were even aware that we were in such dire financial straights?" Only a few hands came up. It was obvious that the various committees had not been talking to each other, let alone the finance committee and the SPRC (staff/pastor/parish committee). In fact, the SPRC was told by the finance committee to eliminate the organist position. Meanwhile, our choir director was expected to direct the choir and play the organ (which fortunately he can do) - and get paid less for it.

The great thing about this whole discussion is that it has brought us back together as a church again. It got people talking - several good points were made and wonderful ideas proposed. Naturally it was recommended that the finance committee to revise the budget. The most astounding moment was when that original budget went up for a vote - only three voted in favor.

We have a lot of work ahead of us. It's not going to easy, either. The budget obviously needs to be revised. A supplimental stewardship campaign is being launched. And we're trying to find creative ways to deal with the budget (my chiropractor was the SPRC chairperson at her church and she gave me some good ideas).

But the meeting on Wednesday night did something wonderful. It got us all talking to each other, speaking assertively but lovingly. The Holy Spirit has filled many hearts; it has ignited a fire in our church unlike any we've experienced in years. People are speaking boldly in their faith. While difficult - it is now an exciting time in our church.

In my prayers for our church, I pray for guidance, wisdom, discernment, creativity, humility, boldness, and perseverance for as long as it takes. Amen.

Crunch Time At the Old Church

I previously wrote a post regarding my personal struggles with our church, and tonight I feel no closer to a resolution than before.

Let me share a few things that have transpired since that initial post:

First, my wife and I checked out another church I was curious about - that was a tremendously positive experience (as I shared in another post).

Secondly, the results of our latest stewardship campaign are in - and it doesn't look good. As a result of dwindling membership, we are down 69 pledges from last year - and five of those pledges had previously contributed about $30K to our budget. So it's definitely crunch time.

I'm not involved in church politics whatsoever (I prefer to fight in the trenches rather than command), but it's interesting to hear some of the prayer requests coming from people that are - and they indicate that our church is in serious trouble right now

This coming Wednesday evening we are having an all-church conference to discuss our future. It's not expected to be terribly pleasant. We are all being urged to attend and to pray for what needs to be expressed at the meeting.

The truth of the matter is I'm not sure what I should pray for. I could easily see myself joining the church we visited on October 30 - in fact, if it were totally up to me, I'd go. But it's not totally up to me. It depends also on what my wife wants to do and upon circumstances.

A church is not just a facility or its programs - it's the people who make up a church. This other church has a wonderful bunch of people. So does my church. I've invested too much time and effort in these friendships to just walk away from my church.

Our music program is top-notch, and it is not dead - yet. We also have an organ that desperately needs repair or replacement. Another fact to consider is that our contemporary service is drawing slightly more attendance than our traditional service. I fear that our traditional music program is one of the things that may have to be sacrificed in order to save our church. I know that will stir up a lot of controversy in the church, especially amongst my fellow choir members.

There was a time in my life when I was seeking. I wanted more in my musical experience. I knew someone in a particular church choir, and I knew of the choir's reputation. After observing a few rehearsals and performances, I knew that D was more than a choir director; he was a truly a teacher and I could learn more from him. So I joined that church choir, not only finding what I originally sought, but finding things I didn't realize I was seeking. In fact, I'd say I was blessed a hundredfold. My church succeeded in its mission when I was lured there and brought into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

I have a deep affinity for the music ministry that brought me to my church and kept me there, and was my shining beacon during those times of trouble. I have a deep affinity for the people whom I share in that in ministry, to those who benefit from our ministry.

There are times when God goes to the Vine and prunes those branches that no longer produce. We, as a church, are facing one of those times. What needs to be pruned here? Is the music program one of them? I hope not, but we have to be realistic. We have to be good stewards and make sacrifices if we're going to save this church. And inevitably we will lose people before things turn around.

For that matter, am I someone who is being pruned by God? Is this the circumstance through which I am being pruned? I don't know, but I hope it will become clearer to me in the weeks ahead.

So therein lies my struggle.

Idiot of the Week: The Dangers of Smoking

This week's Idiot of the Week Award goes to a French woman who wanted to go outside for a smoke. Only problem was that she was aboard a jetliner in midflight. Admittedly the passenger was terrified of flying (as I'm sure all of her fellow passengers are by now), so she had taken some sleeping pills with alchohol before takeoff. She also has a history of sleepwalking, and has no memory of the incident. Doesn't she know the smoking lamp is out before the paratroopers jump? Hmmm... [source article]

Let the Holiday Melee Begin

The leftovers are in the fridge and our bellies are full. And if you've waited till now to start your Christmas shopping, you may already be too late - the 2005 Holiday Shopping Season kicked off early this morning.

I have to admit that just this morning I've braved a 40-minute wait in a checkout line at Best Buy, then to a bookstore (where I now have one Christmas gift on order), and then to Walmart for dog food and a few other sundry items (I didn't go to the Supercenter, though - what, are you nuts?)

Granted, it's a little early for me to Christmas shop - it's not even December yet. After all, I pride myself at having once started - and completing - my Christmas shopping in a record two hours on December 24. Something about the thrill of the hunt.

But at my older and wiser age, I've found the holidays to be a lot less hectic if I start earlier. The day after Thanksgiving is perhaps the earliest I've ever Christmas shopped. And you know what? There's still that thrill of the hunt. Let the Holiday Melee begin!

A Touching Tribute to Our Armed Forces

Here's something definitely worth checking out.

God's Sense of Humor: The Trials and Tribulations of Plumbing

A nagging spouse is like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet; [Proverbs 27:15, the Message]

The nice thing about a leaking faucet is that your wife does not have to nag you about fixing it. This week I'm on vacation, and my wife did mention that it would be nice if I fixed the kitchen faucet. She wasn't nagging, mind you. After all, a dripping faucet is one of those self-nagging home improvement projects.

Instead of just fixing it, I decided to go ahead and just replace the darned thing. So after a little grocery shopping at the Walmart Supercenter, I went over to Lowes and picked out a new faucet to install.

Now I've done this before, and most times when I've replaced a faucet or a toilet valve, I've also had to replace a supply valve and the water supply tube (a friend of mine who helped me re-tile our bathroom says my house was built by apes - and I believe him). I went into Lowes knowing that I might have to do more than replace a faucet but also hoping I wouldn't have to. However today was no exception.

As soon as I tried to turn off the hot water supply to the faucet, the cheap plastic handle broke (not surprising since the cheap plastic handle has had sufficient opportunity to become brittle in the nearly 20 years since those apes built our house). The valve on the cold water supply was not budging, but I knew it would break nonetheless. This was followed by the usual string of curses and profanities commonly uttered when one is working with plumbing. And although I tried and failed, it was nice to know that people don't usually look in the cabinet under the sink to see the hole you punched in the wall with a pipe wrench. I'm just glad that the neighborhood children were in school.

So I went out and turned off the water to the house, disconnected the old faucet and removed the old supply valves. I took one of the supply valves with me to Home Depot just down the street. A nice employee - who reminded me a little of my dad, of all people - pointed me in the right direction and told me he'd meet me there in a few minutes. Sure enough he came by, looked at my old parts, and picked through some new ones. He said, "God loves you," not necessarily because he was sharing his faith (maybe he was) but because he was able to find exactly what I needed and that it wouldn't cost too much.

Anyway, everything is back to normal and the new faucet looks nice. It doesn't drip, either.

The irony of this whole thing is that I read the above passage from Proverbs 27:15 just this morning. You gotta love God's sense of humor!

Sister Act: When Making Your Kids Do Stuff Pays Off

When my wife's daughters were little girls, she would keep them from fighting each other in the car by making them sing. Not only did they learn to sing well, they learned to sing in harmony. Eventually both of them sang in the choirs at school and at church, and were pretty good at. E, the younger one, even continued to sing in the elite choir in high school and was in a few musicals at school; recently she was in a musical review at church.

Today the worshippers attending the contemporary service at church got to reap the benefits of a seed sown by my wife some 20 years ago. In what our worship leader called a sister act, our grown-up daughters sang a couple of duets during the service. It was a quite a blessing! We've known that E has a pretty good singing voice because we heard her recently. And so does J! (we just haven't heard her because she hasn't been involved in music for quite a few years).

What's really amazing is that we didn't do or say anything to encourage this - they came up with it on their own. I think our worship leader (who's known the girls since they were little) said it best for all of us when he said this was a blessing that was long in coming.

So the moral of the story here is that it's okay to make your kids do stuff - someday it just might pay off.

Open Letter To a Homicide Bomber

Not all the bombs intended to go off last week in Amman, Jordan went off. A woman accompanying her husband also intended to be a homicide bomber at the Radisson SAS hotel. But by the Grace of God Almighty, her explosives belt failed to detonate, and she was later arrested. Here is her confession:

"Sajida Mubarak Atrous, born in 1970, an Iraqi national, living in Ramadi.

"On Nov. 5, I accompanied my husband to Jordan with a forged Iraqi passport, under the name of Ali Hussein Ali and Sajida Abdel Qader Latif.

"We waited and a white car arrived with a driver and a passenger. We rode with them and entered Jordan (from Iraq). My husband arranged our trip from there, I don't know.

"In Jordan, we rented an apartment. He had two explosive belts. He put one on me and wore the other. He taught me how to use it, how to pull the (primer cord) and operate it.

"He said it was to carry attacks on hotels in Jordan. We rented a car and entered the hotel on Nov. 9. My husband and I went inside the hotel, he went to one corner and I went to another.

"There was a wedding at the hotel with children, women and men inside.

"My husband detonated (his bomb), I tried to explode (my belt) but it wouldn't.

"I left, people fled running and I left running with them." [source]

So tell me, Miss Atrous: Did your explosive belt really fail to go off? Did you feel compassion for those celebrating a wonderful life event? Did you feel compassion for the children you saw? Did you find yourself in a position where you just couldn't pull the cord? If so, bless you. And may God help you through the ordeal you now face - widowed, imprisoned, and despised by millions.

Or did you go into that hotel of your own free will? Did you feel nothing for the people you were about to murder? Did you not think your own life to be precious? If so, I praise God for sparing you and the ones you would have taken with you. But in the eyes of the evil ones that made you do this, you are no martyr - you are a failure. And may God help you through the ordeal you now face - widowed, imprisoned, and despised by millions.

I can assure you that you've been misled by the Evil One. There are no forty virgins tending to your husband and the pigs he associated with. Where he is now is a place described in the Holy Bible where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir put it this way to the Palestinians: "We can forgive you for killing our children, but we can never forgive you for making us kill your children."

But you know what? God can forgive anybody, no matter what. God has spared you for a reason. Perhaps for your salvation. Remember that He loves you and does not desire that anyone bear His punishment. He weeps for your husband because they will not spend Eternity together. Don't let Him weep for you. Come to Jesus.

More Pics from ASU Homecoming

More pictures from ASU's Homecoming game have just been published on the ASU Band website. The Alumni Band did pretty well.

I'm in this picture - I'm the one just to the right of the tip of the "V" formation (actually it's an "S" but you can't see that). We're playing Star Spangled Banner in this photo.



Here's a slideshow of pregame (performed by the Alumni Band) and halftime (performed by the Sun Devil Marching Band) show that day.

Outrage in Jordan

Now that al-Qaeda has struck one of it's own (namely the three hotels bombed in Amman, Jordan), we're finally seeing some significant outrage from Muslims. It's about time.

Granted, in al-Qaeda's eyes, Jordan was probably asking for it. After all, they are quite friendly with the United States, and even with their Jewish neighbor, Israel, to some degree. They're also one of the more liberal Arab/Muslim states. You also don't see a lot of foreign fighters crossing into Iraq from Jordan.

But sadly enough, we're not seeing the same protests in Cairo, Tehran, Istanbul, Tripoli, Ramallah, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Damascus, Riyadh, etc., etc., etc. That doesn't shed a favorable light on Islam. Sounds like they condone the bombings, eh?

Recommended Reading For Children

This is pretty cool...my wife just read this to our grandson:

[go to Amazon.com]

You Know What Happens When You ASSUME

This is a most bizarre story - apparently a man found himself glued to a toilet seat in a Home Depot. When he called for help, store employees assumed it was a hoax. Well, you know what can happen when you ASSUME - and that's what has happened to Home Depot - they made asses out of themselves after they inadvertently made an ass out of this poor man. He's now suing for damages.

I especially loved the statement, "The company, Home Depot, could not immediately be reached for comment." That's really no surprise - rarely can a store employee can be reached for a price check, let alone real customer service. Frankly, I'm surprised the toilet seat appeared to be clean in the first place.

Don't get me wrong. I love Home Depot. There's one in my neighborhood. But when I go I always make sure I have my cell phone with me; otherwise my wife thinks I've had some sort of accident or I was abducted by aliens when in reality I'm strolling down the aisles dreaming of projects I'll never start. Besides, you can't have too many light bulbs and duct tape.

Home Depot truly is a do-it-yourself store. The moral of the story here is: be prepared to pry yourself off the toilet seat. Better yet, just look before you plop yourself down - you know what happens when you assume.

Sickening Story

Well this sickening story has certainly been a hot topic locally. Turns out a young couple here in town kidnapped a teenage girl and made her their sex slave. They kept her locked up in a dog kennel and threatened to kill her and her family. The woman finally confessed to police because she was afraid their victim was suffocating in the box under the bed. Probably more afraid she'd lose her meal ticket. I understand that the "man" was charged on hundreds of counts. Doesn't look like these animals will ever see the light of day again.

Worried About Avian Flu?

There's a lot of attention being given to the avian flu - more specifically the H5N1 virus - that's out there infecting and killing a lot of birds, and some people, too. Vietnam has just reported its 42nd death from the avian flu. Many are expecting a potential pandemic and comparing it to the one that struck the world back in 1918-19 and killed some 40 million people.

Personally, I'm not much of a chicken (get it? chicken?) when it comes to this bird flu thing. But I think it's a good thing that many health organizations are taking this seriously. Certainly people have contracted the H5N1 virus and have died. Many of these victims are those who work in close contact with poultry to make a living - and catching the flu (I've learned this is actually not an uncommon occupational hazard for these folks). Then there's the folks who don't cook their poultry long enough or not at all.

I once watched a show on the Discover Channel about what our bodies go through when we have food poisoning. It was not very pleasant to watch. The victim in this program had eaten undercooked chicken (many healthy chickens carry salmonella anyway). I've never been fond of pink chicken myself. But after watching that show - trust me - I don't eat undercooked chicken. If it has even the slightest hint of pink, back in the oven it goes.

So far, H5N1 has not proven to be terribly detrimental to mankind. Although it has spread from poultry to human on several occasions since 1997, the dynamic of human-to-human spread has not happened. Once it does, then we should definitely take notice. Perhaps at its first onset, we will still have time to prepare.

Now I'm no doctor, but it has to be noted here that the Spanish Flu of 1918-19 had a lot of help. World War I had just ended. There were a lot of malnourished people in Europe (many farms were not being worked since lots of farmers were making war, not food). The conditions were quite ripe for a virulent strain of influenza to come in and ravage a population whom most already had a weakened immune system. But obviously this was a very deadly strain, too, as many who were strong and healthy were killed by this virus, too.

I don't want to come off as seeming unconcerned. As for myself, I've made reservations for Heaven in advance (or as a good friend of mine says, "I have fire insurance."), so whatever happens to me is in God's hands. Now certainly the avian flu, if it turns pandemic, will take quite a toll on the U.S. But I think we'll do okay, considering. I'd be more concerned about Africa and places around the world like Africa. With a population already weakened by AIDS and hunger and what-not, Africa will be ripe for Death's harvest. I think it could very well turn out to be the most devasting plague thus far in history.

So are you worried about avian flu? Knowledge is your best weapon. The CDC has some good information to start. I even found a map where you can monitor the spread of this season's flu.

There's Something Rotten In Denmark, Too

You're not hearing a whole lot of news about this, but there's Muslims rioting in Denmark, too. [story] Not to mention that Danish police may have thwarted a terror plot there. [story]

French Culture - Getting a Bit Ripe For Some

Well, the French certainly have a mess on their hands. For 11 nights rioters (mostly youth and minorities - French-born children of Arab and black Africans) have taken to the streets in the suburbs of Paris and across France, setting fire to cars, businesses, homes, and schools. And now they're shooting at police. President Chirac is vowing that order will be restored. [story] Yes, I'm sure it will be, but at what price?

Perhaps the French are paying for their snobbish attitude against immigrants. I guess not all of them have been treated as nicely as some of their guests, notably the Ayatollah Khomeini and Yassir Arafat. What a better way for the rioters to show their disdain - by destroying their neighborhoods.

How this will be resolved is anyone's guess, but I fear it may get worse before it gets better. Certainly there will be a lot of arrests. And French have a pretty bad record when it comes to treatment of prisoners. Probably make Abu Gharib look like after-school detention. Maybe they'll bring back the guillotine.

Spiritual Food

As I've written before, I am having a struggle in my heart over my church. S and I took a bold step today by attending a different church. Wow! What a difference!. This place was so alive with the Holy Spirit! One could not help but feel it. I can see why it attracted our friends who go there. This place is alive!

The music was relaxed and casual, and very well done. They have a praise band and a worship leader who knows what she's doing. There's a tremendous emphasis on prayer (duh!) that I'm not used to seeing in my own or any of the other Methodist churches I've been to. In observance of Pastor Appreciation Month, several went up to pray over the pastors (who definitely need prayer always). I believe I even detected an altar call - imagine that! Worshippers are encouraged to come up front after church for further prayer needs.

We happened to visit on Family Sunday there. The children's choir sang and did a pretty good job of it (I especially enjoyed their rendition of Shout to the Lord). I could tell S was enjoying it, too (she used to lead children's choir at our church). There was also a puppet show that really was uplifting. And today the associate pastor preached a message which was very well-delivered and to the point.

What impressed us both the most was the cross-section of age groups; it was more like what you see in the non-Christian world. Our church has a much higher median age, and definitely not as many children and younger adults. I felt that we were at about the median age unlike our own church where no matter how much older we get, we seem to be in the younger age bracket.

I was also impressed with the friendliness of the people there. We had struck up conversations with at least a couple of strangers. And I did manage to talk to all the men from that church who attended the recent Walk to Emmaus (including T from my table).

A church is not a building - it is the people who call themselves a church. This was what we experienced today. This is a church where the people are engaged. I could hear it in the prayers. I could hear it in their singing. I could see it as they gave praise to the Lord (there was no doxology - but the praise was constant throughout the service). It is reflected in the messages given. This a a church where the people bring their Bibles unlike our church where the Bibles collect dust in the pews. Whenever the pastor mentioned a particular verse, I was amazed and delighted to hear the sound of people flipping the pages of their Bibles. It was not a distraction in the least - it was an affirmation!

All in all, it was a great experience. I was moved nearly to tears several times. "What a church!" I thought. "I wish our church could be more like this," I also thought. That in itself makes it all the more difficult for me to stay where we're at - a church that seems to be more on life-support than anything else. There is much left to be resolved, though, before we make any move. But just as much as I've felt in my own church, today I felt I was at home. Today I was spiritually fed. Lord, please close some doors in our life so that others will be opened.

Teacher Appreciation Day: Homecoming 2005

Where the bold saguaros
Raise their arms on high
Praying strength for brave tomorrows
From the Western sky
Where eternal mountains
Kneel at sunset's gate
Here we hail thee, Alma Mater
Arizona State! [listen]

Today I woke up sporting a nice sunburn. My lips are sore from playing a trumpet off and on all day (first time in I don't recall how many years - probably four or five). I have sore fingers where I held a trumpet most of the day. I also have sore legs and shoulders. Was it worth it? You bet it was!

Yesterday was the Homecoming game at Arizona State University. I was one of 285 members of the Alumni Band that marched during the pregame show - the most we've had for any homecoming ever. Most of the alumni are still pretty young (most graduating within the last ten years, and many grauduating within the last five). But we also had a pretty nice representatation of folks from "my generation" of about 25 years ago - also the best I've ever seen.

Each and every one of us made it the special day that it was. There were also several people that, through their own efforts, made a tremendous contribution. I have to salute one man in particular, though, and that's Dr. Robert "Coach" Fleming, Director Emiritus of the Sun Devil Marching Band. He saw, like many of us, the waning enthusiasm for the alumni band. He made it his mission to make the alumni band something really special to be part of, just like he made the Sun Devil Marching Band something that was really something special to be part of.

Those of us who were under Coach's direction were quite fortunate. To say he is a motivator is an understatement. He would tell us that he "eats, sleeps, and drinks Sun Devil Marching Band," and he made you believe it because he didn't just talk the the talk, he walked it. Coach had a way of making us believe in ourselves. He demanded the best from us, and he got it. Not because we did it for him (necessarily). We did it for ourselves, and we did it for each other - the friends we made as we marched and played together.

As a former member of the Sun Devil Marching Band, I have fond memories too numerous to mention. There have been only a few other mountaintop experiences in my life that compare to those after having performed what Coach called "the biggest show of your life." It wasn't so much the performance (which turned out awesome in itself), but that it was an experience that was shared with most of my closest friends.

And that's what Coach is trying to accomplish. The ASU Alumni Band is not there just to raise money for the band (although that's nice). It's not there just so we can dust off our instruments and try to make some decent music (which we did pretty well). It's so we can enjoy the company of our fellow bandmembers.

One day a year, we can experience together the "torture" that reminds us of the hard work and yes, even pain and discomfort, that we endured as we prepared a pregame and halftime show for every home football game (granted when we were a younger we didn't concern ourselves much with the pain and discomfort - it was just part of the process). One day a year, we can be reminded of how we reap the rewards for our perseverence through experiencing the accolades of an appreciative audience. One day a year, we can get together with old friends and share how we've grown and how we continue to apply the lessons we learned from Coach.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I enjoyed seeing friends I don't see often. I enjoyed making new friends amongst the younger alums. That's what it's all about.

Needless to say, I slept like a log last night. I'm going to go and heal, now. I look forward to seeing my fellow alums next year. [listen]

Jesus: Our Defense Attorney

I received this by email and thought it was well worth sharing. I think it’s a nice illustration of John 3:16:

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell. He is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise." When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan and beckoned Him to come forward.

As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me – my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court.

"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned – I won't deny any of these allegations. And yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished." Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine. His name is written in the Book of Life and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all." The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips: "This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed."

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one!"

I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?" Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you: Paid in Full."

I Hate When That Happens

My wife complained about a low tire on her car earlier this week, so I pumped it up. Yesterday, on her way to work it went completely flat. A nice man changed the tire for her (AAA didn't understand when she gave them her location and never came to help - but's that's another story). She says another tire is low. Time to go to the tire store. I hate when that happens.

Idiot of the Week: Lottery Winner Used Stolen Credit Card

This week's idiot of the week is most deservedly Christina Goodenow of White City, Oregon. She recently won $1 million in the Oregon Lottery. But there's a catch - she used a stolen credit card to purchase the winning ticket. [story link]

Obviously, those of us who make a living by researching fraudulent charges and tracking down the criminals who make them are ecstatic today. What? She didn't think anyone would check? What an idiot!

Tragedy in the Family

We got word this morning that our grandson's stepmother (our ex-son-in-law's wife) was killed in a motorcycle accident last night. Apparently she was thrown off the motorcycle and broke her back.

It was just the day before that she had reconciled with our ex-son-in-law (they had recently seperated). She was only 25. What a shame.

A Struggle In My Heart

Ninety-three years ago on her maiden voyage, the grand ocean liner Titanic sank into the icy depths of the North Atlantic. The real tragedy here is that the ship had been mistakenly deemed unsinkable. As the dying ship began its descent, there were still people on board who didn't believe they were sinking.

I fear this is what is happening in my church as well. Rumors started circulating a few years ago that the Conference was seeking to close our church. Our current pastor was brought in hopes that his experience in urban ministry would help keep the church afloat. When he first came in, there was a bit of exuberance in the laity of the church. He started a contemporary service on Sunday mornings which has helped bring in some new faces.

But the exuberance has waned. The membership is declining (and oddly enough, our contemporary service is drawing more attendance than the traditional). Several key members (those who gave substantially to the church, that is) have left. Even before this year's stewardship campaign started, the church staff was warned to expect a reduction in salaries.

We used to be a grand old church. Decades ago, there were three services on Sunday - all filled to capacity, with people standing outside listening to the loudspeaker. Now we look as if to be another statistic in the decline of mainline churches. Clearly we do not have the membership base that requires a large church facility. And clearly we no longer have the financial means to support a large church facility, either. I think that will become more apparent to more people when our stewardship campaign is over.

I came to the church thirteen years ago to join the choir. It was only a matter of months when I came to a point when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I attended my first Walk to Emmaus (and served on many teams thereafter) at my church. I got married there. My stepdaughter was married there. My grandson was baptized there. I've celebrated the lives of both my inlaws and several other friends who have passed on there. Since joining the church, I've been involved in other ministries and I have grown tremendously in my faith.

But I still have a long way to grow in my faith, and I no longer have the confidence that I can do it in my own church for much longer. Choir is still a joy, but it isn't enough. And in the other ministries I'm involved with, there seems to be a futility to it all. It's not that I'm not being spiritually fed - it's just that I seem to only be getting crumbs. There are times when our church truly acts as the church should, but those times are getting fewer and farther between. Pretty sad when you consider the distance we drive to church and how many churches we pass on the way.

A friend of mine attends a nearby church. He and his wife decided to just try it out once - they've never looked anywhere else nor have they gone back to their old church. I've met others from the same church. One in particular just happened to go with his wife on the day his teenaged stepdaughter was supposed to be baptized (she had been killed in an auto accident the day before) - they both came to Christ as a result of that one visit.

It's difficult and painful to leave your home church. It's just as difficult to watch it die before your very eyes. I fear the ship is sinking and the time is approaching to abandon it. The time has come for S and I to discuss an exit strategy. I think the first step is to visit our friend's church and see what it's like. Then it's time to figure out when to make our move. But until that time comes, we will continue to support our church through our gifts, our talents, and our prayers. Your prayers are coveted.

A Whole New Look

Hey, sometimes even bloggers get bored. So I spent a better part of the afternoon and evening working on a new look for this blog. So what do you think?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's. [Matthew 22:21]

Today was the start of our annual stewardship campaign at church. Pastor D kicked it off right away during the children's sermon.

Each child was given a Ziploc bag containing one dollar in dimes. They were then told that since everything comes from God (as represented by the dimes), we can show our gratitude by giving back ten percent - or one dime. We would still be left with nine dimes apiece while the church would receive many dimes which would help in doing God's work.

In a previous post I mentioned that technically there is no mention of tithing in the New Testament. However, we are still obligated to give back to God - with our time, our money, and our hearts - as a response to the wonderful Grace that has been given us (even though we don't deserve it).

I know it's not easy for some to come up with ten percent to give back. Many of us are slaves to consumer debt. I speak from personal experience on that point. Fortunately, I have been working to free us from that yoke, and we have been able to give almost a dime's worth back to the Lord. That in itself is liberating, as well as a blessing.

I implore you to give what you know in your heart you can give. I know you'll be blessed just as much as those are being blessed by your offerings. Brother (and sister), can you spare a dime?

Oh, And Another Thing

I don't do chain e-mails either.

Nothing good is going to happen to me just because I forwarded a chain e-mail. If God intends for me to win the lottery, he will give me the winning numbers and when to place them. He will probably do that through the still small voice in my heart. I don't foresee that happening; I can't see how my being a millionaire would necessarily bring me closer to God.

Nothing bad is going to happen to me just because I deleted a chain e-mail. If that were the case, then I should have died many times over or surely I would have endured the tribulations of Job at least several times. I've come close, but not to the degree Job has.

God is in charge of my life. He knew me before I was born [Psalm 139:13-14]. He knows what I'm going through now [1 John 3:20]. He has a marvelous plan for me [Jeremiah 29:11]. I have found my life goes so much easier if I fully trust in Him.

If you wish to send or forward chain e-mails, that's your business. Just don't include me - you're only wasting your time and bandwidth (or however they measure the cyberspace we use up).

Urban Legends: The Truth Shall Set You Free

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. [1 John 4:1-3, NIV]

Do you ever see something on the internet or get one of those e-mails forwarded from a friend making some outlandish claim? Here's some of the latest: Picture of President Bush and his father fishing in the streets of New Orleans; Gas Rationing is Planned in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; Strange Sea Creatures Washed Up From the Tsunami. Obviously these are all quite intriguing - some even plausible - but are completely and totally false.

It pains me to see people - even the intelligent ones - believe everything they see on the internet. Why do they do it? Do they believe everything they see on TV? Of course not! (at least I hope they don't) Dan Rather proved you can't even believe everything you hear on the news!

The internet is a wealth of information - a tremendous source of reference and facts. I also see it as a microcosm of society in general. There is a lot of good to be had out there. But Satan - the Great Deceiver - uses it, too. As far as he's concerned, the internet is the superhighway to your soul - especially when you consider all the crap out there in cyberland.

We who read the Bible on a regular basis are given the armor of truth to fend off Satan's arrows. Armed with Bible knowledge, we can "test the spirits" against the Bible to discern whether someone is telling us the Gospel truth (literally) or trying to deceive us away from the Gospel with their snake-oil sales pitch. Jim Jones and David Koresh come to mind - those trapped in their web got trapped because they didn't know their Bible. I can name other examples that are considered more "mainstream" and I would be labeled (correctly) politically incorrect if I did so. But the point is that no matter how insignificant or harmless it may seem, or the intent of the messenger, - that leads away from God is just that - it is intended to lead you away from God. Sadly, more and more people don't know the Bible.

What floors me are Christians who won't help someone who is down and out because "they don't believe their story" yet they'll believe all the crap they read on the internet. Just because it came from the internet doesn't make it true. And just because your best friend forwarded it to you by e-mail doesn't make it true either (by the way, I don't blame my friends - it just means that the originator of the message "got to them").

My suggestion to you is that before you forward any story to others, just check it out first. One really great resource is TruthOrFiction.com, a link that I have placed permanently on this site under US/World News. Hey, I've been "gotten to" before. It's not fun begging for forgiveness when I should have checked out the story first.

Some of the amazing stuff on the internet really is true! Also consider this wonderful Creation that God made for us and the amazing Grace He offers us (though we certainly don't deserve it, it's free for the asking). Why make stuff up when the Truth shall set you free?

Answered Prayer

Our daughter E was offered the full-time position we were all praying for; she started yesterday. Praise God!

De Colores! Walk to Emmaus #157

And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened the Scriptures to us? [Luke 24:32]

I've been pretty busy since I last posted. I was serving on the team for a
Walk to Emmaus weekend which ran from last Thursday evening through Sunday evening. And I've been recovering since.

As a member of the talk team, I served as one of two table leaders; we helped facilitate the learnings at our table of six pilgrims. I must say it was a very gratifying weekend as I watched these men grow in their Christian faith. We are all in different places in our experience and knowledge, but nonetheless, we are all on the same path towards Christ's throne.

The Walk to Emmaus experience is typically a very good vehicle for Christian growth, especially the pilgrims (a term used to refer to those attending for the first time). I've calculated that I've participated on these weekends sixteen times (including my pilgrim walk in February 1993). I still walk away from these weekends learning something new and a little bit stronger in my own faith. The bonds I form with the other participants are also most precious.

It's kind of funny how this all came about on this particular Walk. I had been praying for some time that I be on the talk team again. I felt I had a story to share; God was telling me yes, but wait - the story was still being written. That particular story involved a boy I had been working with at music camp for the last couple of summers. The story came to a happy ending. Ironically, I got the call to serve just a couple of days after camp was over. Well, maybe not so ironic - after all, God has a splendid sense of timing, and I had the sense to recognize it.

Not that it was an easy decision to say "yes." As much as I wanted to serve, I was praying about it just as my wife S went to the hospital with her latest bout of pancreatitis. With my wife's health a concern, I decided not to play the "what if" game and entrust her health to God. I decided to just trust God completely to God and do what I was called to do.

I have to say that it was the most blessed experience I've had for quite some time. There have been many times I've served on a team with other distractions (including my wife's health) going on, and this was no exception. But during the two-and-a-half months of preparation up to and then including the actual weekend, I said an overwhelming sense of peace flowing over me. And the weekend itself was a wonderful exclamation point to punctuate the end of the whole process.

This particular weekend has been an abundant blessing to me. My fellow table leader, T, and the other men at my table - B, T, D, C, J, and J - were a tremendous blessing to me. It is my hope and prayer that it was and will continue to be so for them as well.

Another Bonehead Maneuver by FEMA

In another bonehead maneuver, "The Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team has been suspended from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for deploying armed police officers to protect firefighters in violation of the agency's rules." (full story)

Excuse me?

Phoenix's Urban Search and Rescue Team has been instrumental in rescue efforts after some of our country's most difficult moments. They were there after the Oklahoma City bombing. They were in New after 9/11. And they were in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina swept through - while some of New Orleans finest took it upon themselves to loot from the people and properties they were sworn to protect. (full story)

Needless to say, Phoenix officials may refuse to deploy the Urban Search and Rescue team to future disasters if they are not allowed to protect themselves adequately.

Besides, doesn't the 2nd Amendment allow us to bear arms to defend against threats to the U.S.? I would think that includes shooting back at the wingnuts who were shooting at rescuers.

Jesus Christ Our LORD and Savior

Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me. [Luke 9:23, CEV]

I find it interesting that, according to some polls, about 85% of all Americans claim to be Christians. In other words, they claim that Jesus Christ is their Savior. But do they claim Christ to be LORD of their lives?

If 85% of all Americans claim Jesus to be LORD of their lives, then why does our country seem to be falling apart? Why do we have 16% of our children living in poverty? Why does our prison population increase? Why are issues such as declining moral values, same-sex marriages, violence and sex in our television shows, movies, music, and video games even issues? If Jesus Christ is truly the LORD of 85% of all Americans, then I should see my church filled to capacity every Sunday for three services and once again on Wednesday night.

But that's not happening. It's easy to say that Jesus is our Savior. But to say that Jesus is LORD over our lives is totally different. Too many are not even willing to take up a cross, let alone actually pick one up.

My own church is going through a struggle right now. Our senior pastor is technically retired as of July 1, but is serving as interim pastor until the next July 1. Part of the reason our Bishop and District Superintendant have not appointed a new pastor is because they're trying figure out what kind of pastor we need. Another part of the struggle is that the church is trying to find its identity and purpose in the community. I'm not certain that our church as a whole is able to discern its priorities (something I find hard to believe when you consider that Christ helped define our priorities).

At the risk of ruffling some feathers, I believe we have too much focus on the arts (of which I'm heavily involved in) and worship that some feel need to be just so; we don't have enough focus on outreach and stewardship. We have a wonderful choir, but frankly it's not filling the pews. We have a wonderful contemporary service which actually draws more than the traditional service. But it's not enough.

I think it's time we take a hard look at ourselves and make it a priority to take up our crosses - daily.

Here's Something You Don't See Everyday

This was pretty cool. Our daughter E was at some luncheon a few weeks ago where Arizona Diamondbacks leftfielder Luis Gonzales spoke. There were pictures afterwards, and so she got to meet him.

A Pretty Good Week For Our Daughters

J, our oldest daughter had an interesting conversation with her ex-husband. He apologized for what he put her through before, during, and after their divorce. Turns out his #2 wife is doing the same to him. Nonetheless, J feels vindicated. However, I don't feel vindicated; I actually pity him. My prayers go out to him.

Meanwhile, E, our younger daughter has been working as an intern for an architechtural/ engineering firm since she graduated from ASU West last May. The company she works for really seems to like her and have been doing everything they can to keep her. She had an interview on Thursday which could land her a job as an administrative assistant as early as this week. This would be a real job with benefits and everything.

E has also been part of an Irving Berlin musical review which will be playing at our church the next two weekends. Today in church, she and another cast member performed "Easter Parade" - it was pretty awesome!

Disappointing Week in Sports

Well, the Arizona Diamondbacks put up a great effort in the last couple of weeks, but it was too little, too late. They did end up in 2nd place in the NL West, 5 games behind the Padres. THere's always next year.

Meanwhile, there was a lot of hype over the ASU - USC game. As I expected, ASU did not win, but not after putting up a spectular effort against USC in the first half; USC faced its largest point deficit - 18 points - of its current winning streak. Wait till USC creams UofA next week - hee hee hee hee.

Diamondbacks: Just Not Ready To Die Yet

It's been a pretty mediocre season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. But it's been pretty mediocre for the NL West as a whole. And in spite of it all, the D-backs aren't out of it yet.

It will take a combination of two Arizona losses and/or San Diego wins to eliminate the D-backs. In fact, if Arizona sweeps its remaining games, and San Diego gets swept in its remaining games, Arizona will win the division. Looks good on paper, but I'm not counting on it.

As of now, the Diamondbacks just beat L.A., and the Padres are leading the Giants.

Remember, there's no crying in baseball.

Rising Tensions

The situation in Palestine continues to worsen. While Hamas continues to rocket Israeli civilians, the IDF has gone into the West Bank and arrested 206 suspected terrorists. There were also additional Israeli airstrikes on suspected weapons manufacturing facilities. (related story)

Whether you believe that there was an accidental explosion at a Hamas rally (as Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and other eyewitnesses contend) or that it was an Israeli airstrike (as the terrorists contend), it is blatently obvious that someone does not want this peace process to succeed.

Nice to see that Israel is not taking all this sitting down. If it comes down to it, I don't think they'll hesitate to reoccupy the territory they just gave up.

The Game is Up - Maybe

It was only a matter of time before the Palestinian appeasement process failed (see source article). After last month's pullout from Gaza and West Bank settlements, it was hoped that peace would settle in over Palestine. Right - and I've got a levee in Louisiana I'd like to sell you.

It all started Friday afternoon after an explosion during a Hamas rally killed at least 15 people. Israel denies any involvement, and the Palestinian Authority (whatever that means) blames Islamic militants for mishandling explosives during the rally. Hamas claims Israeli warplanes fired missiles into the crowd.

So Hamas retaliated against their own stupidity by firing 35 rockets into Israeli towns. Israel in turn has begun retaliation by launching airstrikes at suspected Hamas targets in Gaza. Israeli troops are now massing at the border awaiting orders for a ground incursion should it come to that. The Israeli government is putting a lot of pressure on PA President Abbas to get the militants under control - or else. A unanimous decision by the Israeli cabinet would get the IDF moving.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in danger of losing his job as early as Monday. His most likely successor would be Benjamin Netanyahu, one who has said all along that the recent Israeli pullout would be a threat to Israel's national security.

Naturally, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is alarmed that the peace process seems to be falling apart. Like that was a surprise?

Katrina Is Just a Warning - And An Opportunity

Some people who were there at that time told Jesus about certain Galileans. Pilate had mixed their blood with their sacrifices. Jesus said, "These people from Galilee suffered greatly. Do you think they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too. Or what about the 18 people in Siloam? They died when the tower fell on them. Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too." [Luke 13:1-5]

I want to expand on what I shared with the choir last night in my devotion.

According to a recent story, in a sermon delivered on September 6, a Jewish rabbi said "that the devastation wrought by [Hurricane] Katrina 'was God's retribution' for pressuring Israel to relinquish Gaza and the northern West Bank to the Palestinians.."

In fact, there are some intriguing correlations between major disasters and the treatment - or rather, mistreatment - of Israel. Coincidence? Maybe.

But consider that Muslim extremists also believe that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment against the U.S. for its evil ways and it policies in the Middle East.

Now wait a minute - if these are to be believed, then it sounds to me like we're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't. How could God be punishing our nation for acting in ways that are contradictory to each other?

That's the point - He's not. Jesus tells a completely different story. I urge you to read what he had to say about the End of the Age in Matthew 24.

Jesus specifically mentions, in verses 6-8, of what would happen before the End of the Age and His coming: ^"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." [New King James Version]

Jesus also made it clear to us that the signs of his coming would be as obvious to us as the changing of the seasons. Verses 32-33 state: "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!"

By the way, the use of the fig tree as an example is no accident; it is the symbol of the nation of Israel.

Here's one last quote which describes how the Christ's return will unfold (verses 36-44): “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

The 20th Century certainly has been the bloodiest in recorded history. The things we have witnessed just in our lifetimes have to give us reason to pause. The 21st Century has not yet rendered much for our troubled world to hope for - 9/11, bombings in London, Madrid, and Bali. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One hurricane after another stirring up devastation in Florida. A tsunami that snuck up and killed a quarter of a million people. Millions in Africa dying of AIDS and/or starvation. And Hurricane Katrina.

These disasters do not discriminate - just as the fallen tower in Siloam did not discriminate.

In my opinion, God is not punishing anybody. In my opinion, these are the "beginning of sorrows" that Jesus spoke of. These are warnings to those who have not redeemed themselves to Christ. This is an opportunity to come to Jesus.

For those who know Jesus, and the peace that surpasses all understanding, these are signs of hope - that he will soon come for us. In our lifetime? Perhaps. If things keep going the way they are (and I only see them getting worse), I'd hate to see what this world will be like in fifty years. Or ten for that matter.

To those who know Jesus, this is also an opportunity. An opportunity to testify to God's love. To give hope to those are otherwise hopeless. To bring healing where there is hurt. An opportunity to serve and show what a Christian is.

For some, this latest disaster has served to polarize race relations in this country. But I also know for a fact that we've come a long way since the Civil Rights movement of the sixties. Most of us truly believe that we can all get along - and we do get along. What a golden opportunity to let the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. come true in its fullest glory!

Meanwhile, let me remind you that the fig tree which symbolizes Israel was thought to be long dead. Toward the end of World War I, with the Balfour Declaration, it began to sprout buds. In 1948, the fig tree was in full bloom. Surely it must be summer by now.

One Nation Under God

Well it appears that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals - you know, the one located in the Peoples' Republic of San Francisco - is at again. This time a judge there has declared that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in schools is unconstitutional. (story)

Can we secede from the 9th Circuit?

Why Hurricanes Always Used to Have Women's Names

It used to be that hurricanes were named after women because women were considered unpredictable. Then again, this idea was hatched in the male-chauvinist-pig era of the mid-20th Century (and now male names are included in the rotation).

But do consider the hurricane that shares the name of a character from Shakespeare's Hamlet - Ophelia. Since becoming a named storm in the waters around the Bahamas last week, Ophelia has been upgraded to a hurricane three times, then downgraded back to a tropical storm three times. Now for the fourth time, Ophelia is back to being a hurricane.

Looking at her track can literally make you dizzy. She charges at the coast, then backs off, spins around some, sits around for a little bit, then makes another charge at the coast. Her expected landfall has shifted the whole time. First it was northern Florida, then Georgia, then South Carolina, then North Carolina. Now it looks she'll make most of her trouble over the barrier islands off of North Carolina (which fortunately, they're used to). In any case, Ophelia has been taunting us just off of the coast for a whole week. Pretty ironic when you consider that in the same span of time, Katrina was born in roughly the same waters and was pretty much used up - but only after destroying a considerable part of the Gulf Coast in the process.

Pretty darned unpredictable if you ask me. But men can be that way, too.

The Governor Comes to Church

Do you remember the episode of M*A*S*H when General MacArthur was coming to inspect the camp? There was so much hoopla over the preparations and they went to a lot of trouble to keep Klinger out of sight. They went as far as rehearsing it with Radar playing the part of the general, complete with his trademark corncob pipe. When MacArthur did arrive (earlier than expected), he never got out of the jeep as it drove through the camp. In fact, he barely even looked up. Only when the general's jeep passed by Klinger - dressed like the Statue of Liberty with a sparkling torch - did he take notice and returned a crisp salute to the dogface in drag.

That's the thought that crossed my mind this morning as our church service was starting. We've known for over a month that our governor, the Honorable Janet Napolitano, was to attend today's service and deliver a message. Predictably it was a three-ring circus - there's just enough uptight people in our church to make that happen.

For starters, our choir director picked some music to perform along with a brass quintet (we don't usually have a brass quinted - just at Christmas and Easter for the most part). The anthem was a screamer. We can usually handle screamers when we're well into the season. But this was the first Sunday of the season, and speaking for the 1st Tenors, our throats aren't quite ready sing screamers.

During rehearsal this morning, I was standing between two rookie(-ish) choir members. We were struggling to find the notes in the final chord progression (it was a rather odd progression). After looking at the score, I advised them, "The brass are doubling our part - just pick one of their notes and go with it."

The service didn't start off well. Our liturgist hadn't shown up yet, so N, the lady in charge of scheduling the liturgists (and the liturgist's mother!), took over. The choir wasn't lined up for the procession. The uptight folks were even more so. I was telling some to just relax.

Even with the minor hitches (the liturgist finally showed up) it turned out to be quite a lovely service. Our anthem went very well (we hit the right notes, and I got goosebumps) and the contemporary singers (of which my stepdaughter sings with) were awesome. Then Governor Napolitano delivered a wonderful message.

She commended the efforts made in our state towards helping the victims from Hurricane Katrina. She mentioned that is hoped that all who are being sheltered in the Veteran's Coliseum would have found more permanent housing by the end of the week. She commended efforts that churches around the state have been made and challenged us to continue those efforts in dealing with our own homeless population, which is estimated at about 30,000.

Did I actually meet her? Not really. I did pass within a few feet of her as the choir processed in and again as we recessed. As a matter of fact, during the recessional hymn I ignored the fact we were in church. I turned to her and said, "Thanks for coming." She smiled back.

I don't agree with our governor's politics - in fact it's likely we're opposites. However, she has addressed some pretty sticky issues that Arizona is facing and has kept politics out of it. For that, I'm impressed with the job she's done. Her message today was at least a subtle affirmation.

While there was quite a bit of fuss over this visit, I suppose that some of it was necessary. After all, a state governor is entitled to the appropriate amount of respect. But I'm not easily impressed by celebrity or position. I figured that Governor Napolitano is otherwise a regular person like the rest of us, which is why I was telling some of those around me to relax. Through her message today, watching her as she greeted members of the congregation after the service, and through my own brief interaction with her, I was proven right. I appreciate that despite her busy schedule, she took the time to be with us for the entire service (and didn't plow through like General MacArthur did on M*A*S*H). If she wants to come to my church again, I'd gladly welcome her.