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Coffee with a Story

We had a great evening with some close friends at The Melting Pot. I tried to pass myself off as a Master "Fonduer", but I'm not sure  I convinced anyone. What a great time and a great meal.

Tim and Kim gave us The Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee as a Gift. The sale of this coffee makes a difference for some of the people in Rwanda. I hope you check it out. As the Coffee with a Story people say - Drink Coffee. Do Good!

Teach Your Kids to Drive Fast!

Fernando Alonso will be paid $51.3 million dollars a year to return as driver for team Renault in Formula 1 racing. As the number one driver for Renault he won the championship in 2005 and 2006. Good thing he is getting the extra .3 million. He is already 26, so I would hate to see him not make all he can before he becomes too old to drive!

In other news...                                   Help!

Greg Stier - Up Close & Personal (Sort of)

Late last month I let you know that I was interviewed by the Denver Post for an article on Greg Stier. It cracked me up how many people at Northern Hills mentioned it over the last two weeks. Apparently some people do read more than just the sports section. In case you missed it, you can check it our here.

Evel Knievel: A Redirected Faith

Growing up Evel Knievel was a pretty big deal. Whenever he made his jumps my family would plan to gather around our black and white TV to watch. (Yep. I'm getting old). My buddies and I would make ramps and do our own version of his great jumps and sometimes as a result do our own version of his injuries.

Evel Knievel died today. I had heard a while back that he had recently become a follower of Jesus. Interesting that he went from putting his faith in himself and his bike; to putting his faith in Jesus. Like Evel, we do not lack faith. In fact our faith is always on display. However, what or who is that faith in?

Below are two videos. The first: his greatest human leap of faith. The second: his all-time greatest "jump".

Thanksgiving Feast Recap

Here is the tally from what was eaten yesterday by yours truly:

• 1 slice of Cinnamon bread
• 3 cups of coffee
• 4 bottles of water
• 3 small oranges (after my morning run which hopefully negated some of the effects from a day a feasting)
• 4 slices of turkey covered with gravy
• medium sized helping of mashed potatoes with gravy
• small serving of green bean casserole
• 2 chicken tacos loaded with all the good stuff
• a side of cilantro rice
• a plate full of chips and green olive cilantro salsa (my favorite)
• 3 pieces of my wife's terrific APPLE PIE!
• 1 cup of iced tea
• 3 chocolate covered peanut butter balls
• 1 package of shark fruit snacks (I have no clue as to why I ate this)
• 1 can of Diet Pepsi (I wouldn't want to risk gaining any weight)
• 2 cookies
• a handful of celery, carrots and green olives

Can you say Gluttony? Today I am thinking that I will eat a cup of yogurt and call it good!

Thanksgiving Monopoly

Growing up, the holidays usually meant spending some serious time playing various card games, and of course -  Monopoly.  When I was a kid, my Kansas cousins and I would play Monopoly games that would sometimes last a whole week. During the summer we would usually sleep outside in a tent and play the game late into the night. On one occasion we left our unfinished game in the tent during the day while we were out working on the farm. A huge thunderstorm hit that afternoon and our game became,floating Monopoly. No problem however, because we were clever ten year olds. We put all of the money in the dryer and it came out almost perfect except for a few wrinkles. Not sure the dryer made out so well... according to my Aunt Martha.

Anyway... if you are planning to play some Monopoly this  Thanksgiving, here is How to Win! If you want the probability of landing in Jail or any other space, then this is for you!

Vacum Cleaner Salesman Donates Kidney

A man who was selling vacuum cleaners door to door (I didn't even know they still did this), lost the sale and lost a kidney. The man to whom he was trying to sell the vacuum said that he could not afford a vacuum because he was saving up for a kidney transplant. In addition, he had not yet found a match or willing donor.

Yep, you guessed it. The vacuum salesman, named Jamie Howard, discovered that he was a likely match, went outside to pray, called his wife and father and made the decision to give one of his kidneys to someone who was a stranger moments earlier. Howard said that it was something he was called to do.

Dude is my hero! What a way to follow a calling.

Full Story

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Once again our nation and the world has been stunned by a senseless act of violence. It is horrific, disturbing, and shocking each time an event like this happens. Yet, in some ways it is no surprise.

The world is full of people who are without hope. The world is full of people who place very little if any value on life. The world is full of people who do not believe that there is a right and wrong way to live. The world is full of people who have an addiction to violence. This is a dangerous and volatile mixture which produces life ending and life changing consequence.

What to do? Here is some perspective from my friend Greg Stier.

Yesterday I heard two parents interviewed who lost children eight years ago at Columbine. The hurt and pain was very evident as they knew firsthand what those in Virginia are experiencing. Please continue to pray for all involved.

Political Poop

Watching ten minutes of TV or listening to the radio will quickly remind you that the political season is upon us.

I must admit that when I view politics as a sport or as a competition, I typically get energized and drawn into the "discussion". After all, this view makes it all about winning - at any cost. (Shallow of me I know).

However, when I step back and look at the whole process I get weary, frustrated, and a bit angry. Earthshaking statement coming... Politics is so political.

Does anyone really say what they believe? The few times that people really do share what they think, it soon becomes watered down by spin and explained in a way that leads to many interpretations. Candidates on both sides are misrepresented, attacked, and made to look (take your choice), stupid, as a liar, insensitive to seniors, children, and the environment, catering to special interest, etc...

Typically, candidates and parties spend more time and money talking about what is wrong with their opponent than they spend putting forth their own ideas.

It is probably too much to expect, but what would happen if politicians and voters practiced James 3:17-18.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

"Weight" Just a Minute

A couple of weeks ago I heard on the radio that the world now has more obese people than starving people. Then a couple of days ago I read that religion makes us fat! Do you agree?

Now my point here is not to criticize people who struggle with weight issues, or even take some cheap shots at Baptist or Jerry Falwell. But I do wonder how the the church is contributing to the problem and/or the solution. What should the role of the church be? After all, most preventable diseases are associated with being overweight. Is our silence deadly?

I don't really have the answer unless it is somewhere in the following questions:

1. Is the article true? Do we as Christians substitute food in place of other addictions?
2. The Church is quick to point out the "sin" of drinking, smoking, pornography, etc..., but we usually do not speak out about eating too much or too little. What would it take for the church to address this issue? Does it matter?
3. By it's silence, the church typically gives a green light to the addictions of sports, TV, shopping, busyness, and appearance modification. Is this just grace?
4. Is it a holiness code issue?
5. For many Christians smoking a cigar would be considered a sin, but eating this is OK?
6. Is weight the real issue? (I don't think so!) Some people eat healthy and battle weight, while some people eat anything and everything and always remain thin. Is it more of being wise and a good steward of our bodies and eating in a way that is healthy?
7. Should the teaching from the church deal with us being at our best physically (spiritually, physically, emotionally, all the "allys") and doing so is part of living out this?

What most resonates with me in my initial thoughts about all of this is that I really should strive to be at my physical best for God. I am not saying that I or anyone needs to be a workout maven, or eat only organic food that is 100% good for you. In fact I would argue that ice cream is one of God's greatest creations. Enjoy!

Through eating, working out, reading, in everything we should honor God. I am not suggesting some legalistic code to follow. No! NO! No!Just an approach to life that makes our primary consumption the creator, not the creation.

My personal application? It means that I should be more intentional about getting more sleep. I know that I do not get enough and I have a bunch of really good excuses why. (Probably a pride issue when you get right down to it). However, not getting enough sleep keeps me from being at my best and it is no less out of bounds than the person who overeats.

I am still thinking all of this through. Interested to know your thoughts.