Perspective

Last week I got a call in my office from our secretary. She said there was a man on the phone and he wanted to talk to a minister. I took the call and on the other line I hear a man say, "I need to talk to someone." I said, "Ok, where are you." He said, "I'm sitting in my trailer and I just need to talk to a minister." So I grabbed Dean and we headed over to address in which he gave me.

After knocking on the door we saw the face of a man who had obviously not shaved in several days and looked as though he had been crying. We had to watch were we stepped as we made our way in because the place had looked as it had been turned upside down. The smell of cigarettes mixed with mold made it difficult to breathe during our visit. We sat as we listened to this guys story. He was way behind on his rent and had an eviction notice on top of that. He had been out of work for months and to top it off his girlfriend and his unborn child had taken off because they need a safe place to stay. We listened as he talked about years of bad decisions and painful memories. He kept saying that all he wanted was his girlfriend and kid back.

As I listened to the pain and brokenheartedness pouring out of this man I noticed amidst all of the clutter on the floor a newspaper. There were lots of news papers on the floor but this one caught my eye. It was folded in such a way that all I could see was the headline. It read: DOWN ROARS BACK 965 POINTS. I could help but think of the irony that this provided. While we cheered the Dow bouncing back in his trailer sat a man who felt no effects of such a turn of good fortune. It helped to give me a better perspective during this election and tough economic time.

So what happens when the Dow does come back and stabilizes. What happens when the economy is good again. There are still going to be guys like this sitting in trailers breathing in toxic air hoping against all hope that their family could come home. Its as times like this I am glad I am not a Republican.

Its at times like this I am glad I am not a Democrat.

Its at times like this I am glad I am a follower of Christ. Jesus was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. This guy was a Jesus kind of guy and I was glad to hear his story.

hotlanta

i am leaving in about 30 minutes to go to atlanta for the catalyst conference...myself steve danny dean dave and raja will be flying down this afternoon for a two day conference...this will be my first big church conference...i am looking forward to good speakers worship and worshops....

leaving for atlanta reminds me of the last time i was in atlanta...we were coming back from puerto rico and it was pouring down rain...taylor clint tyler and myself were all in a car and all i know is someone had to pee in a bottle while they were driving while it was pouring rain while we were zipping by trucks...its a wonder we all lived...good memories...

hmmmm

i miss blogging so much now that i have started this weight-loss blog.  In the last couple of weeks the weight loss program along with the diet have begun to feel daunting and i haven't felt the motivation that i once had.  i hope to get started back with it soon, but with trips and holidays approaching i feel like i am in for a difficult ride.

ere of shabbos...

one of the memorable quotes from the movie the big lebowski:

walter: i told those guys down at the league office that i don't roll on shabbos!

donny: whats shabbos?

walter: saturday, donny, is shabbos, the Jewish day of rest.  that means that i don't work, i don't get in a car, i don't freaking ride in a car, i don't pick up the phone, don't turn on the oven and i sure as crap don't freaking roll!!!  shomer shabbos!

the dude: walter..

walter: shomer freaking shabbos!

tonight katie and i head to francesville for a little shabbos or shabbat...this weekend is the annual francesville fall festival...in case you aren't aware francesville is my hometown...francesville is a small (population 800) farming community in northwest indiana...some of the highlights of the fall festival include....

bingo (you use corn kernals to mark your card)

the parade

booths (stink bombs, fake poop, illegal knives knock off designer sunglasses and crafts)

pork producers pork burgers

chicken bingo (you buy a numbered square inside a chicken wire cage and hope the chicken poops on your number)

fish fry

pancake breakfast

fire department ring toss

i am looking forward to a relaxing weekend with my wife and my parents and all the goodness that the fall festival has to offer

two blogs

i haven't been posting on this blog very much because my blogging time has been devoted to the new weight-loss blog...if you haven't had the chance to check it out please do because i need the accountability...

www.gettinskinnie.blogspot.com

things at the church are going well and we are well underway with our new fall youth program...i am excited about this season...the temperature is good...college football...baseball playoffs...pro-football...its so great...

i hope you all are enjoying your fall as well...

chads blog inspired me to do a weight loss blog of my own...please check it out...and continue to view it as i believe it will help keep my accountable...

www.gettinskinnie.blogspot.com

charlie

so i thought id throw this on here for lack of anything good to blog about...i have been playing a lot with my new computer and i love the photo booth movie feature...here is gus chiggins/carl from slingblade...