Deer Cupcake Award (thanks Frogtown!)

I was tagged by David Kirk of Frogtown a looong time ago and finally realized it so I wanted to play.

1). What is your current obsession?
Evony video online game.  You build up cities, train armies, fight battles.

2). Where are you right now?
downstairs, at computer, at home

3). Coffee or tea?
two cups of coffee for brekkie, occasionally fun stuff at Starbucks;  decaff sweet tea at lunch or dinner

4).What’s one of your favorite movies?
Midnight Run with Charles Grodin, Deniro

5). What’s one thing you’re looking forward to?
my family coming home

6). Who was your childhood crush?
alyssa milano from Who’s the Boss, who has aged very well (still young, that’s the good part of having a crush on a young person while young)

7). What is your (current) favorite Song?
A Deeper Shade of Blue by Del McCoury

8). What would you like to get rid of?
10-15 lbs of my gut

9). What’s your favorite book?
Moby Dick (fiction); How to read the Bible for all its Worth (religious study); The Celebration of Discipline (religious devotional)

10). Why did you start your blog?
around my birthday about 5-6 years ago, it has moved 2-3 times but pretty much settled in now.  I like to write, that was pretty much the sole motivation.

11). If money was not an issue, what is one thing you would purchase for yourself?
A villa in Italy.  Maybe in Sicily, or near Anzio/Nettuno outside of Rome

12). If you could live in a foreign country, which one would you choose?
Already lived in Italy, would be glad to go back at any moment.  Otherwise, not sure.

13). Who is your favorite member of the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs.  I was in the left field bleachers for a game in Busch Stadium in St Louis in 1990 when he hit his 30th of 40 home runs just a few rows in front of me.  A few of the most exciting seconds of my childhood.

14) Who is your favorite character on Lost?
still Jack, and he is gonna rock the final season, just you wait!

15). What is one thing you’ve changed your mind about in the last ten years?
a whole lot about religion, church, politics

16). What is one thing you’ve changed your mind about in the last ten days?
when to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame

17) If you had to choose between books and movies and could only read or view one or the other the rest of your life, which would you choose?
books, fairly easy choice

18) Have you listened to the A Better View podcast yet?
Yes, and I love it!

TAG! You’re it!

Have you done this, Lisa?

My sister.  I know the answer to 18 at least.

Frank Bellizzi. You need a break from grading papers.

Ooops! I left out the instructions:

• I must replace one question I dislike with a question of mine own invention,
• and then I must add one additional question.

My Week

Hey everybody!

Well, I thought that with the family out of town I would blog more.  I haven’t even been reading a whole lot, just staying busy.

This evening I will have eaten with 5 different members/families from church since Sunday.  It’s been fun.  Although, I am still hurting from the hamburger I ate on Monday.  Too big.

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I think tomorrow I will accomplish one of my childhood dreams and something I have been trying to schedule for the last couple of weeks–The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY!!

I already paid for a one-year membership which grants me admission for that year.  I hope to leave early and stay late.  Maybe I will get back up there in the winter, but I am looking forward to it.

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I saw the G.I. Joe movie last week and enjoyed it.  I didn’t go in expecting “Citizen Kane” or anything like that.  It was a typical action flick made special because of my childhood memories.  My inner child did not feel abused by the big screen adaptation.

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I checked out Mary Roach’s book, “Spook” which is a take on the scientific approach to learning about the afterlife.  I really enjoyed her book on cadavers, “Stiff.”  She has a really funny style.  I wasn’t aware of her hardcore modernism, though, until I read the prologue to Spook.  She was raised by devoted Catholics but won’t accept miracles or anything that is not scientifically proven.  This book on the afterlife may be more interesting than entertaining to consider a lay person’s anti-supernaturalist beliefs.

You know, not everyone we want to save is a post-mod, emergent.  Other and older folks still need Jesus, too.

Two other books I hope to check out from library and may blog about after reading:

• Getting Things Done by David Allen
• The Definitive Book of Body Language by Pease and Pease

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I have enjoyed cooking as much as I have eating out lately.

Last week I made some pasta with squash, tomato, and red onion.

The  next day I made some chicken wrapped in bacon, cooked in olive oil and marsala sauce, with various seasonings like Basil.

Then I cooked some eggplant from the garden (not ours, in-laws) with olive oil and fresh mozzarella.

Yesterday, I made some chicken and veggies with soy sauce, and threw the cooked rice in the skillet.  It didn’t turn out quite like fried rice, but it was yummy.

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I watched Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood last night.  I would love to blog more about it but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone.  Please watch it if you can handle the language.

On one level, it was a slow movie, but not boring at all.  It had a slow build-up and the ending was marvelous.  It’s a great story of transformation/redemption.

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Well, that’s me.  Just a few more days till my fam gets home.  The kids are having a blast staying in hotels (with a pool) and playing with cousins and getting gifts.

What is your week like??  What’s up with you?

The Week that Was and Is and Will Be

Wow! I have had a week.  A good week.  A busy week.

Monday

On Monday, I was a little groggy from allergies and tired from all the driving and walking in Philadelphia.  It was a fun weekend.  At least two people have assumed it was for rest and relaxation, I had to remind/explain that trips with children do not involve rest and relaxation, just lots of fun.  We had lots of fun.

Monday evening, I did watch House and am glad I did.  WOW! Another fantastic episode.  House’s breakdown, as we have seen it coming, in recent shows was something.  Next to Lost, this is the only other thing on TV I really look forward to watching.  Anything else is just dealing with boredom or vegging.

Tuesday

Tuesday was a full day.  I left the house at 7:45 (some days I am not awake that early) and was still late to my destination.  I am taking a 9 session (one day a month) leadership class.  It was AWESOME!  I am excited about the next one and sad I will miss one session while away at Bible Camp.

If you ever get a chance to take the Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI), you really should.  It reveals your Motivational Value System.  Kinda like Meyers-Briggs but different.  There are only 20 questions but they draw out the info and seem to be very accurate.

The results are color coded.  It reveals what motivates you, what you value, and what demotivates/discourages you.  It is a color-coded system.  Reds are about winning, results, action.  Greens are about being right, doing right, logic/analysis.  Blues are people persons, sensitive, creative.

I am a blue-green.  And as the teachers of the class where explaining to me what my results meant (as they did for each of us), I was astonished.  It was like talking to a mind-reader.  Pretty cool.

We are using this to learn about ourselves, then to learn about communication and conflict resolution.  We did exercises that show how each color perceives the other.  It makes it easier to understand lack of communication and the source of conflict if you recognize others’ motivational values.

I went straight from there to a school board meeting and didn’t get home until 11 pm.  What a day!

Wednesday (spoilers)

How about that Lost season finale?!?!?!  I love this show.  I dread the 7 months of waiting and I am sad that next season will be the final one.  I like the multiple storylines, mystery and confusion, and the great characters.  They show confused many but wasn’t boring.

I really wish we at least knew the name of Jacob’s enemy.  The shapeshifting guy who has probably been behind a lot of the weird stuff on the island, like Christian Shepherd roaming around and talking.

I want to know more about Richard’s story, too, and hope we get  flashback in the final season.  Is Locke really dead?  If he is, that’s okay with me.  I still prefer Jack, especially the new Jack of Faith.

The death was really sad.  I hated to see her go. Definitely go read Doc Jensen’s summary/thoughts about the show.  He really studies up on history/religion/etc. and provides thought provoking stuff and points out things you may have missed.

Thursday

In the midst of a busy week, I went and saw Star Trek yesterday.  I needed a break and this was a good one.  I felt refreshed and calmer after enjoying some fun.  The movie is really good.  It went by quickly, had an easy to follow story, lots of action, a fantastic score, and was fun.

I did think of Mike Tyson with his face tattoo every time I saw the Romulans, though.

Thursday evening, I took the kids to McDs to play and eat so mom could get work done at the house.  Our girl who has had a few potty accidents recently, came to me holding up her ballerina dress after playing a while.  She had a load in the back of her panties.  Sooo, we had to get shoes on, get to bathroom.  I cleaned her the best I could without wet wipes.  Had to toss the undies.  UGGH!  She has been trained for about a year.  Had recent pee accidents in the last couple of weeks.  This one like others occurs soon after we ask, encourage her to go potty.

Today and This Weekend

Just working today.  Taking a break to blog, though.  Working on three lessons for Sunday, plus a bulletin.  There is our monthly bidness meeting tomorrow morning.  There will be a brief VBS meeting Sunday after worship.  I need to finish two Bible camp lessons: one on Jesus attitude of sacrifice, and the other on Jesus’ attitude of service.  I have the lesson mostly finished.  The hardest part is coming up with the Multiple Choice questions.  I usually get around 10-12 before really stretching.  I need to come up with 15-20.  We use them for Bible Buzzer Bowl during the week.

Next Week

Maybe, just maybe, I will blog more next week. I do really want to share about how God worked in my life while I lived in Rome.  It’s coming but I hate to make promises and have lots of work to do.

Hey! Remember when I used to Blog?

We had a great weekend in Philadelphia.  We all have allergies now, but otherwise it was fun.  I have been so busy and this week will be as busy or more than recent ones. I need to finish two Bible Camp lessons in addition to regular stuff.  I will be out all day Tuesday, spending 8 hours in the first session of a leadership class, then finishing the day with a few hours of Board meeting in the evening.

I can’t promise to blog about my time in Italy although I hope I can.  We will see.

Day 3 Report–Tulsa ISSW

Yesterday was a blur…a white, wet, and fluffy blur technically.

I spent an hour in the morning talking with Randall Adams about his plans for Italy and got real excited. Check him out.

At 10AM, I heard a great testimony and a great lesson on suffering and Christ Crucified. Find out more HERE.

Snow had a teeny impact on the blog luncheon. We all got there late because of the blizzard and then the power was out. We had a candle-lit lunch. Steve Tucker tried to hold my hand. Brad Palmore of TheoBloggers did a great job under the circumstances and we had a nice lunch and a lot of fun.

It was fun.  Everyone was as nice and real as you  think they are.  Trey Morgan is as sincere and humble and good as you might think from reading his blog.  Patrick Mead is just as funny or more.  John and Maggie Dobbs are sweethearts (obviously with each other, but I meant to the rest of us).  Tucker is as down to earth as he claims.  I left some people out but I enjoyed spending time with all of them.  (I already knew Palmore, he is about the same)

Trey also did a great job talking at 4:00 pm about blogging.  He shared how his blog has allowed him to meet hurting people in his community.  Very inspiring and encouraging testimonies.

A few of us had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and laughed a lot.

I cried a few times this weekend.  Sometimes from the emotional videos shown, like the Iranian woman who was rejected by her family when she accepted Christ and is not allowed contact with her children.  I also cried from laughing numerous times, usually when Patrick Mead was talking, at the bloguncheon, and everytime someone said “heinous” at dinner on Saturday night.

What a week!  I hope to be there next year!  What about you?

My only regret is that I didn’t meet Rick Atchley.  I was hoping to tell him what a big fan Don Neyland is of him.

Day 2 Report–Tulsa ISWW

Day 2 of being a preacher groupie was awesome.  I was able to swipe a cloth that Jeff Walling used to wipe his brow and it healed my headache.  I will cherish it always.  I was able to shake the hand of Rick Atchley (and it didn’t even burn).  I was within 10 feet of Patrick Mead and felt something like a shiver go up my leg.

Anyway, on to the report.  None of that is true but I did enjoy hearing each of those brothers speak and was blessed by it.

The day began with Rick Atchley (after getting lost.  I made an extra, unnecessary turn and we didn’t notice for awhile).  He spoke on the Identity of being an Ambassador.  Here are some short highlights

• Self-help is trying to fix what needs to be buried
• We need re-creation, not rennovation
• we are saved to be sent, not to sit
• Ambassador is a citizen of one country living in another as a resident alien (Tim! go find this sermon at RHchurch.org, it might be a good resource for your book)
• Ambassador is a representative of His/Her Ruler and People, who embodies the values of the home country 24/7.
• Ambassador is a messenger of the Ruler who has sent him/her.

Jeff Walling was next.  He spoke on LIFE–Living Intentionally for Eternity.  He shared some great thoughts on Luke 16, that unusual parable of the shrewd manager that almost seems to promote lying, cheating, and stealing.  Here was the summary:

• The Manager only had a little time
• The Manager only had a little stuff
• The Managaer, therefore, only had a little influence
• Spiritual Application:  Use the little time, stuff/money, influence we have for the cause of Christ daily.

Patrick Mead is terribly hilarious.  But he also has some great stories of what God is doing in Michigan.  The most amazing for me was the outreach to skaters, who contacted the church after one friend ODed.  They offered their church building for a memorial service.  Prayed with and supported the skaters.  Some gave their lives to Christ over time and travel the world as skateboarders but take the Gospel with them. For example, they travelled to Nepal, where missionaries are not welcome, but they had open, public discussions about the Gospel with Buddhists.  It all happened because some from the church sat and watched, occasionally talked to and took pictures of some pot-smoking young people and showed them love and acceptance. He spoke a lot about “Jesus and the Nobodies.”  Their church tries extra hard to reach the really different in our society.

Then Walling preached on Love being the basis of Evangelism.  It is so obvious yet so lacking.  Here are some short bits:

• Forget Evangelism until to you have love
• Evangelism is not a debate
• Instead of inviting a neighbor to church, do nice things for them for a period of time. Something loving.
• Love cannot keep silent. 
• Be brief.  Be personal.  Give all the Glory to God.
• Having a Christ-focus in your evangelism gets you to baptism much better than having a Baptism-focus gets you to Christ.
• Ask God, “Who do you want me to love today?”

The evening session was Joe Almanza, who is highly involved in prison ministry because he spent much time in prison.  His conversion story is a powerful example of God’s love, power, grace, etc.  He grew up in the Mexican Mafia.  Became a leader.  Lived the big life.  Got hooked on Heroin.  Was in and out of prison. Was shown love by some brethren and began changing his life.  Had an amazing encounter with a “taxi driver.”  And on and on.  I hope you can here the story someday. Order the CD if you want to be amazed and inspired.

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Blogger Buddy Report

Many of us gathered at CiCi’s pizza buffet for lunch.  I met some guys from TX I didn’t know and got to visit some with John, Trey, John Pease, Tucker and his family and friends, and many AIM missionaries.

I got lost again on the way to lunch.  Tulsa is a great place to be lost.  It is full of Church of Christ brethren and was full of water.

After the evening session I went out for pie with John and Maggie Dobbs.  No one else came so I didn’t have to share them.  They are a great couple and I really enjoyed being with them. Oh, and we all ended up eating a meal.  The pork chops were great.