Hmmmm…well if you don’t know, then who does?

I just contacted the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist convention.  You know, the group that helps us fulfill the great commission….going to the world with the gospel.

I am trying to locate some simple and thorough gospel tracts in Mandarin Chinese.

When I called the toll free number (at least I feel as though I got my money’s worth), I told the operator who answered that I’d like to speak to someone there who can help me purchase some gospel tracts in the Mandarin Chinese language.  She replied, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin to transfer you for something like that”.  Silence.

I said, “Thanks”.  Then I hung up.

Good to see our cooperative program dollars going to such a well-oiled machine!

UPDATE:  Please see follow-up post dated March 3, 2008.  You can read it here.

The Academy Awards and political panderings

The Academy Awards will be given tonight.  It’s Hollywood’s night to shine.  But it won’t.

The people who win these awards are actors and actresses (or they deal strictly with acting).  Not only are these people “pretenders”, they are award-winning pretenders….they are the very best pretenders.

When they get their awards, some will choose to forego gratitude and climb aboard a political soapbox.  When they do that, remember that these are the best pretenders around.

When does honesty, integrity, and genuine heart-felt opinion begin and acting end?  Who can tell?  Remember that tonight.  When someone makes a tear-filled speech decrying some injustice around the world or takes up the cause of crisis “A”, “B”, “C”, or “D”…..remember that these are actors.  They’re paid to pretend.  They know nothing else.

Ramblings, wonderings, and observations

I just saw Barbara Walters on Good Morning America.  When does the botox-to-blood ratio in one’s body become dangerous?  Babs looks good for a woman in her 120’s.

I think that when an ice storm knocks out your electricity, it just might be God’s way of saying, “I would like for the whole family to stay home tonight with the television off.”

The days and weeks between the Super Bowl and MLB’s opening day are very long days and weeks for me…..can’t golf, can’t fish, and no critters are in season to shoot (unless you were fortunate enough to draw an early season turkey tag, which I didn’t).

Cheryl and I planned a week of vacation during the kids’ spring break and another week of vacation immediately after the last scheduled day of school.  The recent weather-related school closings may have a bearing on both of those weeks.  We’ll have to wait and see.

The more church planters I meet, the more convinced I am that these special individuals (and their families) are my heroes.

If one will determine to replace intentional gratitude (counting your blessings) with whining,  one will be more content. 

Ice storm 2008 — round 2

More ice, sleet, freezing rain.  What I wouldn’t give for a good old dump of snow a foot deep.

The kids have been in school a grand total of 2 1/2 days the last two weeks.  It’s been difficult for staff to get to the church building.  Our satellite television has been out since the 11th.

After I calmed down considerably, I looked like this.

It’s been a while…let’s catch up

We had a terrific ice storm here last Monday (Feb. 11th).  A very thick layer of ice stuck to everything.  Our church parking lot had as much as three inches of solid ice in places.  I surveyed folks in our 10:45 worship service and a dozen or so are still without electrical power nearly a week later.  Did you get any weather where you live?

The primary races have actually been newsworthy.  What’s your take?  Has the state where you live had its primary election yet?

Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.  Yeah!  How does you favorite team look?  Are you getting excited about the upcoming MLB season?

March madness is right around the corner.  I enjoy college basketball very much at this time of year.  Who’s your team?  How are they doing coming down the stretch?

What else is on your mind?

Romney backs McCain

Didn’t see that one coming.  Story here.

Does it even matter who’s elected to the White House in November anymore?

I’m saddened by Huckabee’s dwindling chances to become the Republican nominee.

Are any of you conservatives out there thinking of pulling a “Dobson”?  James Dobson has remarked that if his choices are H. Clinton, Obama, or McCain…he won’t vote.

Today is a sad day for conservative politics in America.

Romney calls it quits…..drops out of GOP prez race

Wow…now this is news.

Will Huckabee gain his supporters?

Stay tuned.

I’m usually a Foxnews.com guy, but….

When I look for news on the internet, I always go to foxnews.com first.  But I’ve been very disappointed the last couple of days to find that the primary elections have consistently been the lead story in the wake of the terrible storms experienced by our neighbors in the south.

Cnn.com has kept the victims of Tuesday evenings storms and the aftermath at the fore.  I applaud that.

Am I being too picky?

A lesson on “perception” and “reality….political primary style

Here’s what the media is saying today…Wednesday, Feb. 6th…the day after Super Tuesday.

“Obama has basically caught Clinton in the delegate count”. In fact Bill O’Reilly said that Obama was “leading” given what lies ahead and how well he’s doing in the states still to be contested.

“Even though Huckabee did well on Feb. 5th, the Republican nomination is still just a two-man race”.

Okay…that’s the perception. Here’s the reality….

Obama is 80 delegates behind Clinton, while Huckabee is only 79 delegates behind Romney.

How can Obama be 80 behind and “winning” while Huckabee is only 79 behind and “out of it”?

The next time some vast-right-wing-religious-nut-job (like me) tries to tell you that the media is more about creating news than reporting it, please listen….or at least give it a second thought.

Tim Ellsworth goes national…reports Jackson, TN tornado

My friend and blogging buddy, Tim Ellsworth, was featured on Fox & Friends this morning live from Jackson, TN. He is also quoted in this AP story by Woody Baird that appears on the Fox News Memphis web site. Tim and his family live in Jackson where he serves as news director for Union University. He is also a featured sports columnist for Baptist Press. A powerful twister hit the campus at UU. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

There I was, elbow-deep in my mini-wheats, when Tim’s mug appeared on my Sony big screen! He really did a good job. I would have gotten all cotton-mouthed and star-struck. But he handled it like the pro he is!

Tim, please remember the little people when this national news show stuff becomes your day job!