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.

=============================================
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.

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Just found this interesting....

Soooooo.......... A lot has been happening. So what does it take to get me to post again. Well, interesting stuff like this - coupled with a few minutes of downtime and a sincere need to curb my guilty conscience for not posting in awhile. Soooo, check this out. Post your responses, but be nice, o.k.???

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20091120/bs_ibd_ibd/20091120issues01

Ciao!

It doesn't just "happen" - or does it?

Just sitting back pondering. We are all given the same 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 1/2 days a year. So, how is it that some folks are able to write dozens of hit songs in a few short years, others write thousands of pages - published in books and articles, Some are able to take a creative idea and some hard work - and make millions of dollars from their efforts.......

And yet, I can barely manage to get the trash taken out to the curb once a week?

This just in (a few hours ago)...

In keeping with tradition - given that today is solely dedicated to the tradition of celebrating the fact that we as a nation are free from the tyranny of British Rule! (Hey, look it up! - That's how this holiday weekend got started!), I have made it a point to follow (all-beit loosely over the years) the ever-popular annnual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest held at Nathan's in Coney Island every July 4th.

This year, Joey Chestnut again beat his arch-rival Takeru Kobayashi, 68 - 64.5 - both setting personal best records, and Chestnut breaking his own former world record. The 10 minute contest featured 19 contestants, but the two of them easily beat out the others - making it an interesting show between two bitter rivals. This was American, Joey Chestnut's third win in a row - securing the coveted Yellow Mustard Belt for yet another year.

Soggy Fourth -

So - it's raining here in Jacksonville, IL. Supposed to be a light rain, but rain nonetheless. Not fishing, not golfing, probly going to do chores and homework all day long.

Happy 4th.

On a lighter note, we BBQ'd yesterday with family - Tim, Lynn and the kids & Carl, Kim, Mom and the kids - also Beth's folks. We had a good time - and some great food.

I'll post again later - but for now, I'll leave you with this haunting childhoood memory.


I was about eleven or twelvish. While playing in the back yard, I spotted a really cool praying mantis. I watched it for a while, then decided I'd put it in a jar and keep it in my room. So, I found a flower pot and turned it upside down over the praying mantis to keep it safe until I could find a jar to keep it in. Somehow I got distracted and forgot about it.
...............several days later............ I stumbled across the upside down pot in the back yard and remembered what I had captured. I took the covering off - the praying mantis was still there - and still alive - but moving slowly. Perhaps the sudden burst of light had it confused. I coaxed it a bit to get it to move. Finally it started moving and walking away. I felt sooooo guilty for having captured it for no good reason, and forgetting about it for so long. I had taken several precious hours out of its already short life. I felt really bad. So, as the praying mantis slowly moved back into the grass, I apologized to it for having captured it.

Then, our cat pounced on it and ate it.

Thoughts on politically incorrect slang and other useless tidbits...

I never cease to be amazed at how naive I can be. Take for instance the fact that since I moved from California to central Illinois my eyes have been opened to several blatant instances of racism. Correct me if I'm wrong - but we live NORTH of the Mason-Dixon line - and this is in fact the 21'st century - not the 19th. Nevertheless, negative stereotypes abound - all around. (I made a rhyme!) Where was I?

Needless to say, I've heard a few 'NEW' racial slurs since I moved here. Without going into detail (NO I WILL NOT LIST ANY HERE) - I thought I'd heard them all by the time I had graduated from 6th grade. Apparently not!

By way of background, I grew up in California, in a low - to lower - to somewhat lowest of the low middle-class neighborhoods in a notso fashionable high-desert community in the less than desireable north-eastern corner of Los Angeles County. In gradeschool we didn't care about race - honestly. My best two friends in gradeschool were black, and Thai - and we were inseparable.

There were also families from Mexico, and Central America living on our street. We never - and I mean never, thought twice about who's house we were playing at, or what color they were, or even what langauage was being spoken.

The cool thing is, I grew up getting to sample authentic Thai cooking, real "soul food", homemade tamales and hand tossed tortillas, and a host of other great things. Sure, we knew we were different in some ways - but we all had more in common than anything else. We were kids playing together in the neighborhood.

"Well, good for you, Steve. You must be a wonderful person." That is not my point!

What amazes me, is how sheltered and naive I have been about the fact that there still are (apparently) soooooo many ignorant, racist people reproducing in this country.

Then again.... there are several towns out here with not more than two or three last names in the phonebook. Some new brides HONESTLY don't have to change their last name when they get married.

Though the above is NO exaggeration, let it be said, I don't wish to be guilty of the same thing for which I accuse those of the "redneck" persuasion. Let me just say, some of what I have heard and observed - in public, no less - definitely crosses the line, causes me much pain and grief and truly makes me sad. Just thought I'd share.

So, that being said, I'd prefer to have remained in my naive little world where kids just play together and don't care about the color of anyone's skin.

Soggy Father's Day Fun!

Father's day - and it's been raining off and on. Soooo, we decided to work on the basement - painting. As well, Darian and Austin painted a room upstairs. Not quite as fun as golf, but it feels good to get things done finally - and we're still doing something as father and sons.

Soon, we'll be feasting on an awesome pork roast!

I'll put up some pix when we get'r'dun!

Something is stirring....

O.K. - so here I am at Hardee's (Carl's Jr.'s cousin for those of you on the Left-coast). And though they are making some of those wonderful hand-scooped shakes in the background - that's not what is currently stirring.
Lemme 'splain.

I'm here having lunch with my trusty new Notebook computer open, and I just finished a homework assignment for one of my MBA classes. The other assignment I wanted to work on requires me to watch a Youtube video which their network won't allow me to access (probably wise on their part to restrict certain things in this VERY public location).

The point is - I feel something stirring within me, as if God is preparing me for new and exciting things. I still can't quite explain why I'm back in school - studying BUSINESS of all things. But, though I see through a glass, darkly, I believe things will get clearer as we get closer to our goal. As I've written before, in these posts and elsewhere, I still can't explain why we don't "belong" in vocational ministry somewhere - but I know that we just aren't supposed to be there right now. So what is a fellow with a B.A. in Biblial Languages supposed to do to feed his family? Should I stand on the corner wearing a sign that says, "Will parse Greek verbs for food" - ????? Nope.

The fact is, I work in an office setting. The stranger fact is, I'm good at it! How could that be - especially in light of the fact that I truly belive that I am called to the ministry? Well - for starters, I know that God has a plan for me, for us, for my family. He hasn't left us high and dry yet, and I know that He won't - despite my failures and my profound ability to make masses of things. The second thing is, I always have to remember to ask - what does "the ministry" look like? I love people - that's a topic for another day I s'pose. Ministry, of course doesn't involve working at a church or "christian" organization. However, I do feel ultimately called to that sort of thing - but perhaps in a different context. It's all quite fuzzy still. But I believe that in the near future, full-time vocational ministry will be the "exception" but not the rule- particularly in the U.S. This goes to my belief about the church in North America - get ready for some toe-stepping folks. Two things:

First, I really, truly believe that the church is in transition. Basically, I think we're really good at having meetings - but we're notso great at meeting people where they are "at" (bad grammar alert). I was excited to talk to a dear friend (and my former pastor) regarding their church's transition from the "traditional" model of having lots of meetings, to a small-group structure that seems to be taking root. Again - this obviates the point that by and large, the church is in transition - from having meetings, to reaching people where they live. Don't get me wrong - there's still a need for corporate worship - but by and large, the people aren't coming in droves just to attend one of our "meetings" - which are generally designed "by us, for us" - those of us who are already "In" so to speak.

Secondly, I firmly believe that churches who don't face the facts and do something to change in this regard are going to become irrelevant - soon, if they aren't already. (Ouch!) How can you say that, Steve? Well - look around! Are we reaching the next generation? Not only are they not even coming through the door, but what if our ultimate goal is to actually disciple people? In most cases (not all, but most) - our goal has been to somehow get them through the door, and down front mumbling "the prayer" at one of our "meetings." But, what if the goal is to help them become Jesus-like? Are we doing the job? Are we anywhere close? With little exception - in my opinion, nope.

But we do have some really great meetings,... don't we?

I'll probably regret posting this later.

Confessions of a first class procrastinator...

Soooooo,

I'm working on my Master's in Business Administration. It's a lot of work. So far so good. I've been getting solid A's so far. I've actually turned in papers that came back with perfect scores and no criticism - not because they weren't graded, but because there was nothing wrong with them. However, I have noticed something rather disturbing about myself, particularly this past few weeks. I can't seem to get motivated. I've always had a problem with proctrastination particularly when it comes to school and more specifically with homewok assignments. In many cases it is tied to lack of interest in the subject matter - this semester i'm doing marketing - which is actuallly quite cool, and I'm also studying Human resources planning and admin - yawn....

Me, a great student....

It's not for lack of engagement, however - sometimes my energy and interest just gets misplaced. I remember similar times while attending LIFE as a freshman back in L.A. I had a Western Civ.class and I got really excited when the instructor Chuck Middlebrook -( a really cool, but somewhat monotone guy), one day held up a book called "X-raying the Pharoahs" - I was hooked! I was so excited about my class that I immediately checked that book out from the library and that book led to another book, which led to another, and pretty soon I knew everything there was to know about mummies, and the latest and greatest finds in ancient Egyptian archaeology - I thought I was being a great student by showing soo much interest in the material!

...a great student of nothing important.....

Meanwhile, the rest of the Western Civ. class had moved on to...... well, to later periods in Western Civilization. And me....? Well,... I was left behnind, still covered in the dust of the ancient Pharoah's mummified remains. I didn't do so well that first term at LIFE.
The difference now, is that I am not pre-occupied with mummies - neither am I going to the library to check out additional books concernning the latest theories in Human Resources management - that is NOT likely to happen. However, I am a great deal more busy these days - and tired. I'm especially tired these past few weeks for some reason.

Lack of motivation? Or just tiredness...

The pattern that disturbs me is this. I don't seem to get motivated these days unless I have a pressing deadline. That bugs me. In some cases it is just the facts of life. Its not that the task is so unpleasant, or that there aren't rewards for doing well. The classes are quite challenging, and I have found that I am readily able to apply the material I am learning to my work environment - its just that I feel that I should have matured a bit as a student, since I am doing this voluntarily - and I am 40 years old - hence, I'm a little more tired than I was in my late teens and twenties, ....and thirties.........

Hypocrisy in action

We get on our kids about putting things off - chores, dishes, homework, etc... Am I really any better, or more grown up when I can't seem to do my bloody reading and response questions until the night before the deadline? Just food for thought.
Oops! Time to crack the books - I was going to do it earlier, but I thought I'd rather blog instead. Now, do you see my predicament?

Hot, Humid, Buggy, Monday Blues.....

I went outside this mornin'

'bout 6:30 a.m.

Next thing I know, I got skeeters and flies

Suckin' life outta my neck

It was hot and muggy and damp

As I got into my van

Them skeeters hadn't had their fill

Cause they chased me outta town

I got the Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo...

Hot, Humid, Buggy Monday Bluuuuueeeesssss!

It's half-full, seriously...

I was inspired the other night by my youngest son, Austin. We were sitting at the table and he asked me and Beth to help him remember some popular sayings, such as "sticks and stones..." So, we had a fun time brainstorming. He then began tweaking them and turning them on their heads - like, "April showers bring mud puddles..." and stuff like that - it was hilarious! He is apparently in the process of writing some sort of humorous story - I can't wait till it's finished.

The cool thing.....it's SUMMERTIME folx! Yep - he's writing a story, because he wants to. He came up with a creative idea on his own - and decided to write a story. He was really into it too - so much so that I had to be a wet blanket and make him go off to bed - he was still working on it late last night. Pretty cool stuff.

So, next time people talk about how messed up the next generation is, just remember that there are still some creative 10-year-olds out there who enjoy thinking creatively and have the discipline to challenge themselves even though they don't have to. If this is the case, then I'd venture to say the future is in good hands.

Just thought I'd share.

Motivation...

Sooo,
I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying about what it takes to push through to the next level in life. I'm also asking the same question I did about a year ago here.
There's an old saying, it usually has to do with weight loss & training for tri-athlons, and stuff, but it holds true for many things: You will never change anything about yourself that you are comfortable with. So, it goes without saying, if I have resolved to live with myself as the kinda guy who says, "pass me the chips" rather than the guy who says, "o.k., just one more set...." then am I somehow doomed to a life of failure.

However, what if that isn't the person God has called me to be? He wants me to be the best I can be, in all things - as a worshipper, servant, husband, father, son, brother. I am called to be a Godly example in all things, at work, and with my body, posessions & money. So, looking at those things, I often come up short - or tipping the scale the wrong way, as it were.

Walking in Grace

As with any struggle, or sin, as a believer in Jesus - He already nailed it to the cross - but I have to recieve and walk in that grace by faith. That means, I can't do it on my own.

Here's what I am NOT saying - I am definitely NOT an advocate for a "name it and claim" it "prosperity" gospel - and that isn't what I'm talking about here. I just want victory over these things I continually struggle with - namely that I settle for mediocrity in many areas of my life - such as my personal health (weight and appearance), my finances, attention to my family, and stewardship of our home (this is a biggie!).

The thing is, I'm always busy doing something - studying for school, doing stuff with the kids, and I am away from home from 6:30 am till 6pm most nights. So, I don't have very much time to waste - I just feel guilty that things are often left undone, and we always feel like we're playing catch-up.

What it really amounts to, is that I'm TIRED! There also always seems to be something new that we are obliged to participate in that we somehow know nothing about - camp registrations, sports practices, piano recitals, school events, parties the kids have been invited to., blah, blah, blah........ we can't keep up. So what are we to do? My normal response is to scramble to try and please everyone, and then feel guilty and condemned for not having been on top of it all. So, when does this cross over into the rhealm of sin, and when is it just Steve O. having a bad couple of days? (weeks or months?).

I must have had....... muuusic lessons...

This is CLASSIC!