WASSSSSUUUPPPPPPPP?!?!!? Friday…..June 20th edition

Wassup with you?

We are finishing up Vacation Bible School today.  Then getting ready to send a 27-person team on a mission trip to northern Illinois to do two construction projects and two Vacation Bible School ministries.

We have 3 other mission trips planned for this summer….

*July 13-20 in Millersburg, OH to conduct a children’s sports camp.

*July 22-29 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada to support a planting-pastor with relationship-building in his community.

*August 8-10 in Maywood, IL to support a planting-pastor with relationship-building in his community.

What are you up to?  What is your church up to?

Do tell!

Cardinals get swept for first time in ‘08

At home……by the Royals…..ugh.

I believe it was the prophet Forrest Gump who said, “That’s all I want to say about that.”

Lifeway’s Outrigger Island VBS material is awesome!

We are wrapping up our annual Vacation Bible School emphasis tomorrow (Friday, June 20th).  And it has been absolutely wonderful!

This year’s theme is Outrigger Island.  The Bible lessons are down-to-earth and doctrinally sound.  The music is outstanding.  The video and audio support materials are good.  The craft ideas are very true to the theme and come in at an astounding $1 a piece!  The snack recipes are creative and in keeping with the island motif.  And everything is very user-friendly.

If you haven’t selected your materials yet for this year, give this title some consideration.  You won’t be disappointed.  These kids certainly weren’t!

 

Compare your church office atmosphere to…

Whether you are on staff in a local church or you are a very involved servant-member, you’ve likely spent some quality time in your church’s main office.  What’s it like there?

1.  The funeral home:  Everyone is very somber.  If there’s any music playing, it’s that canned stuff.  The dress code is more formal.  Every once in a while you take everyone’s pulse just to make sure that…..you get the idea.

2.  Grand Central station:  Lots of visitors, but no one stays very long.  Everyone that comes in is on their way somewhere else.  Might need a copy, might need a phone number, might need a quick drink from the fountain or a pit-stop in the restroom.

3.  The trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade:  People everywhere, papers whirling about, loud voices shouting.  Some come happy and leave that way.  Some come angry and leave that way.  Anyone who visits and feels as though they had a winner of a day knows that tomorrow might be much different.

4.  The living room:  It’s casual…the dress, the atmosphere, the music.  We know we’ve got a job to do, but “Chill, Mon”.

Maybe none of these fit the bill for your situation.  What’s your church’s office atmosphere like?

Gas prices SHOULD drop significantly today

Here’s my reasoning…

When we get news of crude prices going up, local refined fuel costs rise immediately.  Why it happens that way, I don’t know.  But what am I going to do about it?

So now that we have news that oil production is going to be increased in the Middle East, shouldn’t the price I pay locally go down…and fast?

I’m just sayin….

Cardinals injury woes continue, Looper and Ludwick respond

The team’s ace, Adam Wainwright, goes on the 15-day DL.  The team’s slugger, Albert Pujols, is out at least 3 weeks.

How does the team answer?  How about a 10-0 drubbing of the lowly Reds and a 3-hit, complete game shut-out by Braden Looper?  That was awesome!

I read earlier today several reports that the Cardinals are just trying to get to the All-Star break for some much needed rest and rehab.  I couldn’t agree more.

As good as the Cardinals have been, they have to maintain some reasonable semblance of a contender in the wake of these disastrous injuries.  The all-of-the-sudden “mighty” NL Central is a front-runner for the designation of toughest division in baseball.  And the Cubs are red-hot.

2008 Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis

I didn’t go this year.  We’ve been very busy with family vacation, Vacation Bible School plans, and preparing for 3 mission trips.

Did you go?  What were the highlights?  What were the low lights?

I realize that I could just google the answers to these questions.  But I’m more interested in what ACTUALLY happened than what the secular media wants everyone to think happened.

Pro golf’s second major

Who do you like in this week’s US Open Championship?

Tiger or the field?

If you picked “the field”…please be a little more specific.

 

NBA Finals – Celtics in a sweep

I’m no fan of the NBA.  But I’m a huge fan of ESPN and Fox Sports.  And from what I’ve seen in the highlights of the first two games of the NBA finals, the two teams shouldn’t even be on the same floor together.

The Celtics are dominating every aspect of the game:  offense, defense, hustle, free-throws (attempts, made), you get the idea.  Heck, if you listen to Phil Jackson, the officials are even playing for the Celtics.  He didn’t say that so much when he coached “his royal air-ness”.  Go figure.

So what is all this talk you hear about the Lakers not being finished?  I’ll tell you where that’s coming from…it’s coming from all of the media outlets that are driven by the people paying for the commercial time they bought for games 5, 6, and 7!  Follow the money, people!

The Lakers are done.  Period.

Obama and the evangelical Christian vote

How could an evangelical Christian vote for Obama given his well-documented views on abortion and traditional family values?  (BTW, my vote is cast on the basis of issues NOT party affiliation.  I have voted for candidates on both sides of the aisle.)

Kingdom issues aside, is Obama even qualified to lead a super-power nation?

All views are welcomed for this thread.  But remember to keep your posts respecful.