Thursday, November 30, 2006

This is what you were deprived of as a child:

I saw this on Boing Boing:

Barbie doll set comes with plastic dog crap


200611300941 Here's a Barbie doll toy set that comes with a dog that eats biscuits and then defecates. The photo seems to show that there is no difference between the biscuits and the dog crap.

My Missions Jones

I'm here at my desk reading through some the training curriculum for our upcoming middle east outreach. I'm excited for those getting ready to experience, see, taste, smell, and touch things they didn't even know existed in a place they've only heard about from that glowing blue box in the middle of their living rooms. I'm grinning from ear-to-ear right now because I know they think they know but they have NO clue.

Here are some links to posts from the last trip: Middle East Mis-conception, Second Middle East Report, Camel's Milk, and First Middle East Report.

God loves you.

Can you imagine growing up and living somewhere where that is NEVER said? It's never printed on a bumper sticker or on a t-shirt. People there have never actually that God loves them. Can you comprehend that? There are NO known churches. They don't have four or five gospel radio stations to tune in to and hear and decide to accept or reject Christ's free offer of salvation. They don't even get the choice. They don't have any neighbors that are Christians. They don't have any Christian co-workers. Think of it. Try to imagine. How will they hear?

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Flat, Humid, Home Sweet Home

After running in the high, cold mountains of Carolina last week, running here at home is a pleasure. Especially in November. Both Monday and today it was rainy, windy and tropical. After Friday's twelve miles, man, today was sweet.

Distance: 8 miles
Run time: 1:1:44
Avg. pace: 9:01/mile
Best time: 4:34/mile (I don't know how or why I ran so fast. I did run past a scary house with a mean dog in the ghetto before the sun came up. Maybe that's where I picked up the pace.)
Calories: 994

Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode

Is it too late to weigh in on the flack over Michael Richard's potty mouth? We all saw the video of Richard's ridiculous rant. We saw his apology (which seemed to me more aimed at Jerry Seinfeld than anyone else).

And then the guys he offended hit the talk-show circuit threatening legal action. It didn't take long for them to find a lawyer.

Or maybe a lawyer found them:

"I am outraged!"

"I'm shocked by the wanton indifference in comedy clubs in this nation!"

Woe to Michael Richards if Jackie Chiles is on the case. Richard's actions that night were "lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!" and he'll get what he has coming if Jackie Chiles gets his victims the justice they deserve.

Jackie could keep this in the media spotlight for so long that "by the time this case gets to court, Richards will be nothing but a shrunken head."

There's not much in this life that hasn't already been done on Seinfeld.

Monday, November 27, 2006

chewing tobacco

We were talking in the office today about some of the stupidest things we did as kids because of peer pressure. Chewing tobacco is at the top of the list for me. Chewing Copenhagen was cool at my school. Wearing a little round circle into the back left pocket of your jeans was as much a status symbol then as sporting a shiny metal teeth is today.

This stuff made puke the first time I tried it. And the second. And the third. I puked everytime I put this junk in my mouth. The idea was to work up a tolerance to this junk, but I never could. Thank you, Lord.


How about those guys that walk around and spit in a cup or a soda can? Have you ever taken a sip off of one of those cans thinking it was your Coke? I have. Sick.

Have you ever caved into something this stupid and legal?

Book Review: Values Driven Leadership


One of the things I love to do on vacation is read. I usually read for fun and leisure during extended down-time, but this time I re-read Values Driven Leadership by Aubrey Malphurs. Malphurs is not a super-hip mega church pastor with a staff of ghost writers, he's a researcher and educator and his work reads a lot like Barna's stuff. In the back of his books are found a useful, but rare these days, tool like an index or an appendix. So this book can be used a sort of like a text book.

What I like most is that it doesn't read like a text book and it doesn't read like a transcribed sermon. It reads like someone is humbly sharing some common sense ideas that prod your own thought processes in a way that makes you think you could of come up with the same conclusions. It's like Malphurs brainstorms with you.

This is the second book I've read of his. I also read, along with some guys on our staff, Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century, which I would make the same kind of comments.

Aubrey Malphurs books are must reads for serious church planters, church staff, and para-church organizations.

Go forth and fill your head with knowledge.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

No Place Like Home

We are so glad to be home from vacation. Thanks to friends and family that helped us to have a restful and thankful time over the holiday week.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Case against the Cross



As you may have noticed, I've had some time to catch up on some news and assorted blog reading.

Check out this story on SFGate:
Back to that unusual intersection where corporate illogic, human rights and multicultural values all meet: After appealing to her British Airways bosses the company's rule that prohibited her from visibly wearing a Christian-cross necklace, check-in agent Nadia Eweida still will not be permitted to wear her religious-themed jewelry in a manner that allows it to be seen by her customers and co-workers at London's Heathrow airport. (BBC)

Eweida displays her "offensive" necklace
Eweida has been away from her job in recent weeks while BA's corporate honchos have considered her appeal. Eweida said "she was effectively 'forced' to take unpaid leave after refusing to conceal the [cross-]symbol" jewelry.

A statement from the company indicated that BA staffers are not forbidden from wearing Christian-cross jewelry. It added that the company's policy is that "personal items of jewelry, including crosses, may be worn - but underneath [a] uniform. Other airlines have the same policy....[I]t is not practical for some religious symbols - such as turbans and hijabs - to be worn underneath [a] uniform. This is purely a question of practicality. There is no discrimination between faiths."
(link)

This is another ludicrous example of over-zealous, nit-picky airport rules and regulations designed to make our travel experience "safe and convenient".

Speaking of Alternatives to Turkey

Alternative to Turkey Dinner

I saw this on Boing-boing this afternoon. This may be the next generation alternative to tofurky.

Blobfish: a creepy sea-critter




Mr Blobby (a fathead, blobfish or Psychrolutidae), pictured here, was "trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 1013 m and 1340 m, on the Norfolk Ridge, north-west of New Zealand, June 2003." I had no idea that things like this existed outside of the cartoons. He gives me the crawlies.

Link

(via JWZ)






posted by Cory Doctorow at 05:56:24 AM
permalink Other blogs' comments

Mountain Miles

I am aware of every muscle, bone, tendon, capillary, and nerve ending in my legs. Billy and I have been training for the Disney Marathon and even on vacation, I've vowed to keep to the schedule as best as I can. Our weekly long run is normally scheduled for Saturday mornings, but tomorrow Susan, and Ali, and I will be on the road. So I went out and did twelve this morning.

You may not be aware of this, but Florida is flat. People come to Florida from the Mid-western Flat Lands and say, "Yo, Florida's flat." So I've been training at sea level and challenged by the occasional bridge that spans various bodies of water in Stuart, FL. Sometimes, I'm so challenged that I walk the uphill side.

But here in the North Carolina Smokey Mountains, it's not flat and it's there is no terrain I'm aware of at sea level. This morning, I ran twelve Mountain Miles. I don't know what that translates to in Florida Flat Land Miles (I googled a conversion tool to no avail - there must be some dispute over the mathematic formula) but I'm guessin' that's like running 120 miles back home (I used a scientific multiplier of ten to the first power).

I ran from my mother-in-law's house to Mars Hill College (4.5 up-hill miles), ran six laps around the sports fields (3 up-hill miles), and back home (4.5 more up-hill miles).

So... I'm pooped.

How'd you spend Black Friday?

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Portable Church Interview

Pastor Bob Franquiz has been posting a series of interviews with guys involved with portable churches. For some crazy reason, I didn't get around to talking about until I found out he posted his interview with yours truly.

Keep Your Eye on This

Arab Christians are some of the most marginalized people on this planet. Often caught in the crossfire between East and West or Jew and Arab, Christian Arabs in the Middle East often find themselves left holdiing the bag with few allies to cover their backs. This story in Lebanon is one I hope doesn't get buried under useless jabber about how early the mall will open on Black Friday or the idiotic Play Station 3 frenzy. (Link)

Thanksgiving Reflections

Staying with family always adjusts my "attitude of gratitude." I have a great family and much to be thankful for.

Duet. 8:10
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God
for the good land he has given you.

Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with
thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 107:22
Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his
works with songs of joy.

Col. 1:12
giving thanks to the Father, who
has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of
light.

Col. 2:7
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the
faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

1 Thess.
5:18
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in
Christ Jesus.

Note to self: Do I want to be in God's will? I need to give thanks. I don't feel it. I do it.

Matt. 12:50
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother
and sister and mother."

Eph. 6:6
Obey them not only to win their
favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God
from your heart.

Heb. 13:21
equip you with everything good for doing
his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Out of State

We're vacationing up near Asheville, North Carolina. I love this place. We're staying with Susan's Mom & Dad. Coming here is always like coming home.

I'm still trying to keep my training schedule for the Disney Marathon I'll be running in January. Yesterday was my cross-train day, so my nephew, Gary, and I went off into the Blue Ridge Mountains and hiked 5 miles. This morning, I ran around the track at Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC. Friday, I go twelve.

There's nothing like running in these mountains.

We'll head down to Charleston , SC, on Saturday and spend the night with our friends Mike and Mary.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Packing for vacation

If you want to catch my wife and I in a fight, come over while we're packing for vacation. She feels compelled to pack and organize and clean and fold laundry, and I understand the truly important things in life like making compilation CD's for the ride and telling everyone that reads my blog I'm getting ready for vacation.

What's her problem?

This weekend's long run

Billy finally saw the light and purchased current technology. He was in denial about his old school stride measuring step-o-meter. We've been running side-by-side, him using the step-o-meter, me using the Garmin GPS, and his was always getting us to the turn around point early. The longer our run, the furthr apart our gadgets read.

Last week, we're running on the downhill side of a bridge, and Billy is like, "man, we're doing four minutes a mile right now!"

I lookd at my GPS and it said we we're doing about eight minutes a mile, but I didn't have the heart to say anything. He was comfortable with his denial. So I just say, "Cool."

Run distance: 17 miles
Avg. pace: 09:35/mile
Best pace: 7:10/mile
Calories: 2102

Friday, November 17, 2006

Oh, no you didn't

Bob.

Dear, sweet, Bob.

Jason.

Poor, Jason.

Do you guys not know that your kids, when they are teen-agers, will use this video to taunt you and black mail you and torture you? When emo-screamo bands are gone and remembered unfondly as disco and glam rockers and the mullet are remembered by thius generation, your video will be in wide circulation. Sad, really, when you think about it.

Let's go ahead and get that circulation rolling:

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Driscoll Clarifies

Pastor Mark Driscoll opened up a can of worms with some crass statements he made while sounding off about the Ted Haggard affair.

He clarified, and in my opinion, was pretty dang humble with they way he did it. Here's how he ended his most recent post to his blog:
Lastly, I want to thank my critics, especially the most vocal. They have helped me to understand that more than just pastors are following what I am saying. Subsequently, they are helping me to learn how to more clearly articulate what I am trying to communicate. In that way, they have been of great assistance to me as I seek to pastor most effectively for Jesus. I have waited some time to post this clarification because in times past I have gotten angry and responded with a tone that was defensive, prideful, and not helpful. I am learning that critics in some ways are also friends because there is often some truth in what they are pointing out. Subsequently, God is using my critics to teach me and is asking me to be willing to listen.
(read the whole thing)

My Wife is Cheating

I don't mean that the way it sounds. We're in a little contest. The first one to lose ten pounds in two weeks gets to go out and buy a new pair of jeans. We're ten days into the contest and yesterday, I weighed in at 182. My starting weight was 192.

She said that it doesn't count because I just came in from an eight mile run and it was all water weight. I was at 183.2 this morning after working out, and THAT doesn't count either.

What's the deal? When can I weigh myself and have it count? Any thoughts???

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Women: Know Your Limits!

In light of the recent flack, confusion, and controversy surrounding the role and function of women in society and the church, this blog's management felt it necessary to provide the following instructional video.


(HT: bob.blog)

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Go Bono

Rick Meigs over on the Blind Beggar blog linked to this Newsweek article called "A New Social Gospel".
Nov. 13, 2006 issue - During my time in the White House, the most intense and urgent evangelical activism I saw did not come on the expected values issues—though abortion and the traditional family weren't ignored—but on genocide, global AIDS and human trafficking. The most common request I received was, "We need to meet with the president on Sudan"—not on gay marriage. This reflects a head-snapping generational change among evangelicals, from leaders like Falwell and Robertson to Rick Warren, focused on fighting poverty and AIDS in Africa, and Gary Haugen, confronting rape and sexual slavery in the developing world. Since leaving government, I've asked young evangelicals on campuses from Wheaton to Harvard who they view as their model of Christian activism. Their answer is nearly unanimous: Bono.
(read the whole article)

Monday, November 13, 2006

my ISSUE with Driscoll's recent statements

I really didn't want to take up this issue, but I blew it last week in a post where I made an admittedly vague reference to statements made by Mark Driscoll. Friends have emailed me and approached me personally about it. And some have left comments on this blog. Typically, on this blog, I'll lean toward feeble attempts at comedy and sarcasm before I jump into the fray over the latest scandal.

Let me first say of Pastor Mark Driscoll that I love his teaching (and plagiarize it when necessary) and what he's doing up there in Seattle. I'm jealous of him, in fact. I love Seattle. I think it's cool that he's up there growing a church by not being churchy; by being naturally hip. I can't seem to pull it off.

That said, here are the comments he made that rubbed me the wrong way:
Most pastors I know do not have satisfying, free, sexual conversations and liberties with their wives. At the risk of being even more widely despised than I currently am, I will lean over the plate and take one for the team on this. It is not uncommon to meet pastors’ wives who really let themselves go; they sometimes feel that because their husband is a pastor, he is therefore trapped into fidelity, which gives them cause for laziness. A wife who lets herself go and is not sexually available to her husband in the ways that the Song of Songs is so frank about is not responsible for her husband’s sin, but she may not be helping him either.
(link to read the whole article in context)

Let me do this one sentence at a time:
Most pastors I know do not have satisfying, free, sexual conversations and liberties with their wives.

If this is true, this is a truly sad state of affairs. The pastors I know seem to have this base covered. It ought to be a requirement for entry into ministry. It shouldn't be an issue that needs to be overhauled; it should be maintained. I wonder if Pastor Mark is exaggerating a little and confusing something extreme with something common. I can't say that I know this for sure, but that's the opinion I hold to.

At the risk of being even more widely despised than I currently am, I will lean over the plate and take one for the team on this.

Driscoll is definitely not the one leaning over the plate and taking one for the team with this statement. This whole article was posted in response to Ted Haggard's coming out scandal. If anyone leaned over the plate too far, sticking his bat into the other batter's box and take one for the team, it was Haggard not Driscoll.

It is not uncommon to meet pastors’ wives who really let themselves go; they sometimes feel that because their husband is a pastor, he is therefore trapped into fidelity, which gives them cause for laziness.

I'm at a loss for words. I'm going to pretend he didn't say this about our sisters. Changed my mind: again, I wonder if he's confusing extreme examples with common examples to make a point. If so, what is his point? In my experience, it's not uncommon for the pastor to let himself go and still expect his wife to look like his high school sweet heart after bearing his children. Liposuction on fake boobs are commonly part of the discussion. But ask a pastor to maintain his fitness, and he'll thumb through the old excuse rolodex and list a pile of reasons why he's built like he's lazy and then he'll tell you he's too busy to stay fit and live like he's in this thing for the long haul. It's more common for the pastor to live like his wife is trapped into fidelity.

A wife who lets herself go and is not sexually available to her husband in the ways that the Song of Songs is so frank about is not responsible for her husband’s sin, but she may not be helping him either.

I feel like Driscoll is trying to have it both ways in this statement. He's basically charging the wife with a "sin of ommission" to leads to the comission of sin by her husband.

What is going on in a marriage where a wife is not sexually available? And what does "letting herself go" mean? Did she have kids? Has gravity and age and a life in ministry taken a bit of a toll on her body? Are you, pastor, sending signals that she's not living up to your Barbie doll image? And you wonder why she's not sexually available. She's just breasts and booty to you. Not a soul that God has loaned to you to care for and treasure.

Maybe we need to re-write some wedding vows to read something like "Do you solemly swear to stay hot, a size one, and sexually available while your husband packs on the pounds and watches sports from a dent in the couch with a remote control in his hand?" That scenario is more common in my pastoral experience.

My big question to guys that complain about their wives over these issues is are you loving your wife like Christ loves the church. Are you serving her? Are you laying down your life for her?

If not, why not?

Oswald Chambers quote

If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character; it is "the pure in heart" who "see God."
...Oswald Chambers

How to Fail in Ministry: Be a rock star

In seventh grade I wanted to be Paul Stanley of KISS.

In Tenth grade I wanted to be Ted Nugent.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest was my guy when I was a senior in high school. (Yes, I know he's come out of the closet and takes part in Gay Pride Day in Pheonix, Arizona, now, but back then, I didn't know my heroes were some day going out themselves. I guess the leather should have been a small indication, but what did I know? I grew up North of San Francisco where everyone wore leather and little cop hats.)

After Halford, when I had a regulation haircut and wore our nation's uniform, I wanted to be gigilo, David Lee Roth.

After I got out of the service, through a series of events and life circumstances, I met Jesus and became one of His followers. The desire to be the man that drew all eyes went away... for awhile. But then, I wanted to be Super Pastor.

Like David Lee Roth, Ted Nugent, Paul Stanley, or many a TV Preacher, I want to strut. I crave center stage. I need all eyes on me.

But for some reason, super preachers don't simply fade from the scene and end up on classic rock FM stations to quietly live out their days in cable raio obscurity; they crash and burn. All eyes are definitely on them then.

When I want to attract more attention to me than to Jesus, I need to learn from John Lennon's immortal words: "We're bigger than Jesus now."

BANG.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Thoughts on the Ted Haggard Situation

These are Craig at Triple X Church's comments.

Friends have time for friends, don't they? What message does this send. I will tell you it sends the message that if you go down this path and you get caught many Christians, even friends will want nothing to do with you. You will be fired or asked to leave your job, you will loose everything, and the world will continue to think we are a bunch of hypocrites. So, the only option these guys that are hiding have....remain in hiding.
link
These guys are always spot on.

I appreciate that the ministry atmosphere I work in fosters the kind of caring friendships and accountability necessary to keep the us on track. The easier the mechanism is to access, the better chance I have to stay on track.

Information-able

I had the responsibility this weekend to MC the service at church while we had a guest speaker. Sy Rogers was our keynote speaker for Sunday's service, which was awesome, by the way, and I was privileged to introduce him.

When Sy wrapped up, I plugged his resource table by saying that I've benefited from his his materials and that they were "information-able".

Information-able. Nice.

As I walked off the stage, hoping no one noticed my little word invention, I could hear a couple of guys chuckling under their breath and repeating my new-fangled word to each other.

Sweet.

I was met by someone our staff that told me my closing was very information-able. "Nice job," he grinned.

I really should write down what I'm going to speech-ify. That would be much wise-ment.

George W. isn't the only word invent-able Republican.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Fire in the Hole!

The dude in the linked article tried to launch a rocket from his back door. I bet he was bummed out when the firecrackers in his crack blew up. He will now be the butt of many a joke. Pucker up, pal.
"And also the body naturally produces methane gas, so combine that with the firework and the exploding effect with methane's flammability - it certainly could have been a lot worse than it really was."
Link

Iraq Video

I grabbed this video from Glen Beck's website. It's definitely worth watching...

Sy Rogers

I've never been above a little bit of shameless name dropping. I just got off the phone with Sy Rogers. He'll be taking our Sunday service this weekend while Pastor Dan is out of town.

Sy is an incredible speaker and will be sharing his story about his exodus out of the homosexual lifestyle. This will be the third time we've had him out to Calvary Chapel Jupiter.

A Fall TO Grace

Brian Baily from the Blogging Church posted about and linked to this piece by Ed Young. It's a good read.

We call it "a fall from grace": a Christian man or woman caught in some type of sexual, financial, legal or other ethical or moral indiscretion who falls from a position of high esteem. The most recent example involves Ted Haggard, founder and former senior pastor of New Life Church and former president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).

Have you ever wondered where that phrase, "a fall from grace," comes from? Galatians 5:4, "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (NKJV).
link

It seems like we can't get enough grace and we definitely can't give enough grace.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

They're in





How to Fail in Ministry: Be a Bully

I use my spiritual authority in ministry to push people around and impose my will on them. I do this while sounding very spiritual.

The following video has caught me in action taunting and bullying our volunteer computer guru.

This Morning's Run

Distance: 8 miles
Run time: 01:12:29
Average pace: 09:03/mile
Best pace: 05:29/mile
Calories: 223 Calories

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Ted who?

I never even heard of Ted Haggard before this weekend. Is this because I live under a rock?

The only thing I have to say is: "there but for the grace of God go I."

My Sin, My Son

The Friday night talk at the men's retreat this weekend past was given by me. I candidly spoke about my struggle with internet porn and lust. I just told the guys that ever since I was a little kid, I didn't have to go looking for dirty books with naked ladies in them; they found me.

Where I grew up in San Diego county during my elementary and middle school years from 1972-1978, we built forts and ran all through the woods and fields in undeveloped areas. In every fort, every drain pipe and in every clump of trees there was a stash of Playboys and Penthouses some little boy had liberated from under his dad's bed or big brother's closet. These are what my friends and I found whenever we looked for a cool place to build a fort, play with matches, or smoke cigarettes stolen from our moms' purses.

Emotions and body parts stirred to life before I even learned what those things were for. And I over-indulged an appetite that as a grew up I hoped would disappear when I married my wife. You know, because when you get married, you now get all the sex you ever dreamed you'd need.

Yeah, right.

So we talked about accountability and the values that define us as men. And then we talked about those things with one another around the camp fire.

Sunday morning at church, one of the guys came up and asked me what it was like to talk so transparently about my own sin knowing that my seventeen year old son was there in the group listening to me share. "Aren't you afraid your kid's will throw your sin in your face?"

You can count on people, even your family sometimes, bringing up past sins. But guys, sons included, have to know how common their struggles and weaknesses are. Pastors have the same struggles. You couple that truth with the hope offered through God's forgiveness and healing.

During heated discussions with my teen agers, if they even hint at my early years without God as some kind of amnesty from parental guidance, I simply tell them that I'd be insane to allow them to indulge in the same self-destructive stupidity. But that's doesn't prevent them from finding a few things out on their own.

I appreciate the people I've come in contact personlly that have modeled this for me. Pastor Bob of Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale has been extremely candid in sharing short-comings while challenging listeners to obey God. My mentor and ministry-coach, Pastor John Chinelly is an example of a life destroyed by sin, surrendered to God, and rebuilt by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I also appreciate the candid writing of bloggers like Anne Jackson and the guys over at TripleX Church. This is a conversation that needs to be taken public. People who struggle with lust are not weird, strange, perverted, or sick. They're pretty normal. We need to start acting like it.

Men's Retreat Recap

We put on a men's retreat this past weekend for the guys at our church. We went to Camp Sparta in Sebring, FL. It's on a lake and is set up with a paintball course, cabins, boats, cafeteria, and camp fire. The retreat was a blast.

We visited the fundamentals of being men that follow Jesus.

We bounced across a lake behind a power boat on skis, wake boards, inner tubes, knee boards, and one dude even brough a surf board. I drank gallons of lake water and had my sinuses seriously flushed out.

The guys 30 and over battled the younger dudes on the paintball field. The losers had to eat a jar of pickled pigs feet. The battle was brutal with the younger guys emerging victorious, but not without more than their fair share of welts and bruises.


These guys are known as the "Horsemen of the Apocalypse"




Norman on his wake board




Me staying up.




My son Aaron and I.




Bald skier in prayer.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Hello, from Irak



Will any leaders we can take seriously emerge in U.S. politics in our generation?

Too Early!!!

I was in Lowe's Saturday and they already have CHRISTMAS merchandise out. It wasn't even Halloween yet.

So I've been thinking of organizing a protest. Corporate America and the World Trade Organization pushes up the merchandizing and exploitation of this holiday earlier every year. Do you thnk they CARE about Baby Jesus??? NO! They are just trying to drive profits up while raiding their employees retirement accounts. And I'm not gonna take it. You shouldn't take part either. We're all blind consumers being led into a ditch of materialism by money grubbing Pied Pipers. I'm sick of the commercialism of the holidays.
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But isn't this outfit Charity brought home for Ali cute?
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