Special guided fishing trip at Kentucky Lake - $300

A room at The Dinner Bell Cottages the night before - $50

Non-resident fishing licenses for Kentucky (and fishing tackle) - $40

Breakfast at the Kenlake Marina during a thunderstorm - $20

A special day of memories when your little boy turns 16 on you……priceless.

Happy birthday, Squish!

My beautiful bride and I celebrated 20 years of marriage on July 16, 2008.  We are working with a friend of mine and his church in Millersburg, OH (yes….stupid me scheduled a mission trip to take place on my 20th wedding anniversary).

The great folks on the trip with us arranged for us to have a vow renewal ceremony.  The picture says it best.  We had cake, punch, and some very interesting vows.

We are conducting kids sports camps here during the days.  We’ve hosted 2 block parties, did some door-to-door survey work, and gave away nearly 700 bottles of water so far in the evenings.

We’ve seen 4 adults make professions of faith in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord so far.  It’s been awesome.  Please continue to pray for us.

Oh, by the way….we are going to be returning to Anna, IL on Sunday, July 20th…….my younger son’s 16th  birthday.

I know, I know….I’ll let Pastor James schedule the trips next year.

Do you agree or disagree?  In the last week we’ve learned that….

*The Redbirds’ biggest division rivals cashed in big in the trade market where starting pitching is concerned.  The Cubbies and Brew-Crew landed two of baseball’s brightest stars.

*Mulder will likely go back on the DL.  What a disappointment he’s been.

*Wainwright and Carp MIGHT be back in August.  Emphasis on “might”.

*While the Cardinals are still thick in wild card consideration, the pre-season predictions are beginning to catch up with them (shaky bullpen, lack of offensive swagger).

*I’m a fan through and through, but I gotta say…..I’m worried about the Cardinals after the All-Star break.

Super, super article that I just read at Monday Morning Insight.

Link is here.

This list sure got me to thinking.

Pains me to say it….but it’s true.  But for a Kerry Woods meltdown in game 2, the Redbirds get swept at home.

Now that I’ve got the “baseball fan” intro out of the way, may the true Cardinal’s fan come out for a moment?

Did anyone watching the series-opener Friday see Troy Glaus strike out in the bottom of the 9th?  Because I sure didn’t!  On a 3-1 count Glaus watched two more balls sail wide of the plate.  You’d think after 5 pitches that weren’t strikes a guy would be awarded 1st base.  Such was not the case.  Then Glaus pitched a fit (he should leave that to fans and managers) and sealed his…and apparently Yadi’s…..fate for anything close.  Sad.

I’m not sure if it would have changed the outcome of game 1.  But a man on first with no outs is a much different scenario than 1 out with the bases empty.  Especially when the Cards hadn’t gotten the lead-off man aboard all night.

If the Cardinals convert only half of their league-leading blown saves total into wins, they easily own baseball’s best record.  If you’re a Redbird fan, how does this resonate with you at the half-way point of the season? 

What are the Cardinal’s most glaring needs at the trade deadline (I’ll give you a hint…it rhymes with gull pen)?  Who interests you most in the trade rumor-mill?  What would you be willing to give up to acquire a needed arm or two in the pen?

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!

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.”

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!

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?