Kind of a strange thing for us to do - but, hey! Why not?

O.K. - so here goes. We bought a cow! Well, sort of - we bought part of a cow - splitting it with my Brother Carl's family and another family. I am not sure which parts belong to me and which parts belong to the others - but I'm sure it will all work out just fine.
We went to see her on Monday - she is helping to keep our friend's pasture "mowed" down - although right now there's still a lot of tasty weeds, berry bushes, brush and other stuff for her to feed on. There is also a nice creek/spring running through the property, so she has plenty of shelter and fresh water to drink. It seems a rather ideal situation - We bought her cheap at auction, God is feeding her and giving her water to drink - and then she will feed three or four families through the winter and spring of next year. Pretty cool!I think she looks rather delish... don't you?

Thoughts on Patriotism and celebrating the 4th...

Patriotism Revisited...
So, I've started commenting on this idea a few times now, but just haven't found the words to express it quite right.
First, let me 'splain. (**Cue the dream sequence harp music to signify some sort of time warp and/or disclaimer). I came darn close to joining the military on at least a couple of occasions in my life. I got several persuasive and persistent calls from recruiters after I scored in the upper ***th percentile on the ASVAB in High School and was promised quite a bit should I decide to join. I have also thought about it on several other occasions. Needless to say, I love our country, feel very patriotic and proud and have defended our countries honor (at least verbally) while on foreign soil; As it happens, I had the occasion to exchange fairly harsh words with a South African park ranger/tour guide while exploring a cave in the Mpumalanga province This park ranger made nasty comments about US taxes and needing to fund the "War Machine" - kinda cheesed me off - so, I felt the need to set him straight about what we are really fighting for. At any rate - I am a patriot - true-blue, red-blooded, proud, "ugly American." End of preface****

One thing that breaks my heart is how I recall that after 9-11 so many Americans came back home to the church, as if they realized that they knew they were missing something and knew where they could find it. One of my favorite worship songs ("We will embrace Your move" by Darrell Evans) contains the words - "to those who've rejected Him, He's reaching His arms out again..." That one line really summed up what was happening across the U.S. in the weeks following the 9-11 tragedy. The problem is, for many what they found in the church was not the true answer, but rather a call to patriotism. In a word - we are guilty as a nation of substituting patriotism for a geniune relationship with Christ.
Don't get me wrong - many churches get it right day after day, week after week, solidly preaching and living out the message of hope through a true relationship with Jesus. But why hasn't the church really grown in the wake of such tragedy? One thing we are guilty of is that as a church in generl, we have allowed people to buy into the lie that just being a "good" and patriotic American citizen, that God will bless and protect them, and somehow they will earn a spot for themselves beyond the "pearly gates" when they die.
What is the answer? I certainly wouldn't propose that we become ashamed of our heritage or anything but exceptional. My point is, I think it is a tragedy in itself that in many instances the church has somehow missed the opportunity to bring people the true message of hope. We Americans willingly settle for patriotism instead of the grace, forgiveness and true sense of purpose that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus.

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Other intersting stuff!!!!! (To me anyway...)
Just keeping up with tradition here, but I found it interesting that Joey Chestnut won his FOURTH coveted Yellow Mustard Belt in the 95th annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, held at Coney Island, N.Y. Read more about it here.
Apparently, this years' competition was a bit easier for Chestnut who ate just 54 dogs to defend his title. He set a new world's record last year downing 68 dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The REAL excitement occurred a few minutes after the competition was over when former 6-time winnner (and Chestnut's arch-rival) Takeru Kobayashi (who couldn't compete due to contractual restrictions) tried to rush the stage and was apprehended by police and subsequently taken into custody. Phew! Talk about your sour grapes (or weenies?). Better luck next year Kobayashi!

In Other News...
We had a great day with Kimberly and the boys. We ate dinner (Bratz, Pulled Pork and LOTS of other great stuff). We then went to a concert where Christopher and Clayton played with a commuity band at the Gazebo in Community Park. Cool Stuff.
Later it was fireworks at Nichols park with Darian, Erica, Beth, Cameron and Austin (Bryce stayed home with a sneezing fit - alergies?) At any rate - I'm pooped!

What is my motivation?

So - I just got a huge lesson in how utterly out of shape I am. I would like to say I can't believe it, but that would be stretching the truth. So, I'd also like to say that it is just the result of working too hard on my Master's and sitting out for a season or two but in reality, I've been working for quite a while at getting so flabby. Yep, you heard me - I've really worked at it! It doesn't come easily - you really have to try hard to get this out of shape. Which leads me to my next point - I'm going to have to work hard to get back into shape. My main problem these days is endurance. I get winded quickly, so I'm going to have to work into it. I am also going to have to stick to some kind of plan. We've been eating better for a few weeks now - and YES, I've been cutting back on my portions - even while on vacation I didn't go back for seconds quite as often (accept for when we had the bacon wrapped filets and salmon - couldn't help it!). So - it's a process.
In reality, this is kind of a picture of how things look for me spiritually too - I'm a bit flabby from neglect lately. It's not that I don't have fervor. I pray often, spend time in the word. We serve regularly, we give a healthy portion of our income (beyond 10% usually) - but I lack the discipline that I should have in terms of REGULAR "exercise" that I should have in my devotional life. In some ways, it has been for the same reasons - I've worked hard at NOT doing it on a regular basis like I should. As a matter of confession - I have ALWAYS struggled in this area of discipline. It seems that especially during those times when I should have been the most disciplined I have fallen short in my personal discipleship - namely when I was in Bible college, Seminary and serving full-time on staff are the times when I struggled the most with developing a consistent devotional life, whereas during other periods I found myself longing for more quiet time and regular time in the word. I confess, lately I have felt stirred more to pray, and I long for more time in the word - but I've let myself get a bit flabby and haven't really gotten to it like I should.
Proverbs 26:15 says, "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth."

So here's to getting off my flabby bones and getting some excercise - both physically and spiritually. For those who know me - pray for me and help me to stay accountable.

Too Cool not to comment on this one...

Not waxing philosophical here - just thought this was pretty cool. I am a bit of a fan of really BAD (AWEFUL) "B" movies - and this one is by far the worst by most people's standards - PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE is being converted into 3-D and will soon be coming to a theater near you!

As for my taste for bad movies, just ask my poor children and my neice and nephews about how I treated them to SANTA CLAUSE CONQUERS THE MARTIANS this past Christmas. I'm also a fan of ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES and of course BUCKAROO BANZAI (an all-time favorite).

I wonder if they'll do a 3-D Killer Tomatoes movie soon too?

Catching up on stuff....

More happenings... (Slightly more than minutia)


As I posted earlier, lots has been going on. Here's a few more details and pix.

As I mentioned, we had a graduation (Cameron) and Aunt J.J.'s wedding on the same day. Here's proof:

In other news, I also graduated (sort of) with my M.B.A. - I didn't actually walk in a ceremony, but I got my regalia just in case I need it in a future teaching gig..... but mainly so I can put it on and pretend that I'm a Jedi when nobody is watching. ;)

So, I now have my Master's - finally. Without reflecting too deeply, it came only about fifteen years later than I thought it would - and in a completely different field. I began this journey in the fall of 1993 at Fuller Seminary where I have earned 70 or so units towards a M.A. in Biblical Studies and Theology in hopes of teaching in a Christain College Setting (L.I.F.E. Pacific?????)

But alas, life takes its toll, time rolls on and we now find ourselves in central Illinois. Hence, when Ottawa University reinstated their tribal grant policy I began a new journey towards a business degree and viola some 15 months later I now hold an M.B.A. (Don't touch, the ink is still wet!)

Stuff I learnt' while gettin' a edumacation...

So, what did I learn through all of this? Well - for starters, I am now pretty good at analyzing annnual financial reports and balance sheets. I also know quite a bit about risk management and hedging with derivatives ;), But mostly, I'm now especially good at falling asleep in an upright position just about anywhere (Sorry Pastor Duncan!).

On a serious note, I can see God's hand in all of this, since He is the one who opened the door and made the way for all of this to happen. (More on that later).


Still Other good news!


I have been asked to teach a business course at MacMurray College as an Adjunct professor next Summer - I can't wait!

A bit disturbing...

OK. - So I ran across this very disturbing story about a two-year-old kid in Indonesia who is undergoing therapy because he is a CHAIN SMOKER! No Joke! Read about it HERE

I would include a photo or something, but I vowed that I wouldn't steal any more pix, so I though i'd draw you one instead - enjoy!

So, I have just one question................ Where are the parents?

Rites of passage and other stuff...

O.K. - A lot has been going on. For starters we just finished the week from heck - as far as being busy goes - we had visitors from around the world (California, Washington State, Italy??????) and lots of other crazy things going on. For instance:

I'm a Proud Papa -
Austin finished up (graduated from?) 6th grade and is very proud to now call himself a Junior Higher. He's aleady going to youth group now - it only took him one week!
Bryce just finished Jr. High and is now calling himself a JHS freshman. His "graduation" was last Tuesday nite - a very hot and muggy nite at that.
Cameron graduated from High School last Friday - yet another hot and muggy day - and also the day of Jamie and Daniel's wedding!!!!

Wedded Bliss - sort of...
Yep - we had a wedding and graduation on the same day - along with all the stuff that goes along with both!

Other Stuff

We're pooped. For now, enjoy these picures of Beth and her sister Robin getting my jeep stuck in the mud at lake Jacksonville on Memorial Day.

Bye for now.