This entry will be short as it is 12:20am and we just arrived in Tulsa after driving in from Nashville, TN. We would have been here earlier but we made a stop in Memphis, TN to tour the Civil Rights Museum and see the Lorraine Hotel where Martin King Jr. was shot. It was very interesting and another chilling moment being at the motel and seeing the famous balcony. I remember, as an eight year old, seeing the news and that balcony after the shooting had taken place. I remember my dad pointing it out to me and the significance of it. I am glad that we stopped and glad that our kids saw the museum. It is about the entire struggle for civil rights in America and not just about Martin Luther King. It was all the more interesting as we had just seen the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and The Hermitage in Nashville.
There was a protester outside the museum complaining about the "gentrification" of either Martin Luther King Jr. or the entire subject of the civil rights struggle. I plan on studying this complaint further as I am not real sure that I have a grasp on what the protester meant....plus I just finished a ten hour drive so my mind is a bit mushy (or more than usual at least).
Andrea and the kids are now laughing loudly, poor Papa who goes to bed before 9:00pm and trying to sleep now, with stories about the trip which are things that I had completely forgotten. Stories about me falling on the snorkeling boat because Andrea was wearing my water shoes after swimming to shore in her dress, and about her getting sicker on the dock because of the fishermen gutting their fish right off the boats.
It reminds me of our first day in the water when I was sure that I had found a severed human head floating past me. I chased after the head with full intentions of picking it up, something that now concerns me, all the while thinking that this was going to make a very interesting post on my blog....a fact that concerns me even more. It turned out to be a baseball style hat carrying the logo for "Paradise Farms (or Ranch)" in Texas on it. I had plans to keep it and wear it as a cool souvenir, Andrea and Grace thought otherwise and threw it away without my knowledge. Although it concerns me that my first thought was the entertainment value, you have to admit it would have been a story of a lifetime.
Our money has run out so the remainder of our vacation will be spent at Grammy and Papa's. I am sure that the irony is not lost on them that our vacation will mean more work for them. But, I am still on vacation, only now it will mean a lot less driving.....cool!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Vacation - Day Seven
We are definitely not at the beach anymore! Arrived in Nashville early afternoon today to find that life is definitely still going on and the crowds are still wherever country music and all-you-can-eat buffets exist. We checked into the hotel where we soon found a totally new version of a bed which is not a single but nowhere near a queen or even a double....on this I will be sleeping with 360 turnaround boy Isaiah....I could be an interesting night. The only consolation is that they are SelectComfort beds which Isaiah has already set on the softest setting which means we are sunk in like a taco so neither of us will be able to move all night....I have a feeling that my back will be locked into the taco position for sometime to come.
This afternoon we toured the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's plantation home. While in the house I stepped off the carpet and onto the original wood floors. This is a "no-no" according to daughter Hannah who quickly came over and corrected me. The authentically dressed tour guide then chose to go on break since her job was being done better by this twelve year old girl.
Andrew Jackson was a very interesting guy who married a lady who was still married to another man. People made fun of them as a couple since he was tall and skinny and she was short and stout. He was for the little guy unless that little guy was a slave, a native American, or a female. He adopted a son of a relative allowing him to have an heir since he and his wife had no children of his own. He was an interesting guy who worked to keep the Union together, but not quite willing to get the Union to the moral place it needed to be.
Tonight we attended the Grand Ole Opry. It is a something that I thought my kids needed to see at least once and am surprised that they are wanting to go again in the future. None of their favorite county singers were on the bill tonight but they were still entertained. I must admit I am still trying to figure out what I thought of Little Jimmy Dickens singing a serious and very sad song to and with a Raggedy Ann doll. At one point he was holding the doll to his face and singing of how the doll helped his daughter get through the death of his wife and then him to survive the death of his daughter. Tonight being the Fourth of July gave cause for many patriotic songs to be in the program but otherwise I now realize that most country songs are directly or indirectly about sex.
Tomorrow we will decide if we continue the vacation or head to Tulsa to spend a few days with Grammy and Papa. The kids are split on their opinions of what we need to do...I just looked at the bank account and am wondering if we can afford gas to get home.
I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
This afternoon we toured the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's plantation home. While in the house I stepped off the carpet and onto the original wood floors. This is a "no-no" according to daughter Hannah who quickly came over and corrected me. The authentically dressed tour guide then chose to go on break since her job was being done better by this twelve year old girl.
Andrew Jackson was a very interesting guy who married a lady who was still married to another man. People made fun of them as a couple since he was tall and skinny and she was short and stout. He was for the little guy unless that little guy was a slave, a native American, or a female. He adopted a son of a relative allowing him to have an heir since he and his wife had no children of his own. He was an interesting guy who worked to keep the Union together, but not quite willing to get the Union to the moral place it needed to be.
Tonight we attended the Grand Ole Opry. It is a something that I thought my kids needed to see at least once and am surprised that they are wanting to go again in the future. None of their favorite county singers were on the bill tonight but they were still entertained. I must admit I am still trying to figure out what I thought of Little Jimmy Dickens singing a serious and very sad song to and with a Raggedy Ann doll. At one point he was holding the doll to his face and singing of how the doll helped his daughter get through the death of his wife and then him to survive the death of his daughter. Tonight being the Fourth of July gave cause for many patriotic songs to be in the program but otherwise I now realize that most country songs are directly or indirectly about sex.
Tomorrow we will decide if we continue the vacation or head to Tulsa to spend a few days with Grammy and Papa. The kids are split on their opinions of what we need to do...I just looked at the bank account and am wondering if we can afford gas to get home.
I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Friday, July 3, 2009
Vacation - Day Six
This morning we said a sad goodbye to the beach and headed out after first stopping and adding our final contribution to the Walton Beach tax base by buying souvenirs.
Garmin once again chose to take us on the smallest roads possible through Florida and Alabama to Fulltondale which is just outside Birmingham. We stopped for gas in Brantley, Alabama where gas is 25 cents higher than either of the towns ten miles before or after Brantley. The gas station doubled as a fireworks stand but the monumental attribute of this station, and possibly the town was their unique approach to bathroom facilities. Upon entering the station/fireworks stand you see the prominent sign pointing you to the bathrooms. I was very glad to see this sign as I greatly needed to go to the bathroom following the multiple cokes I had consumed at Boogey's in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. I was less sure about the whole endeavor when I realized that the men's bathroom was actually a urinal posted on the wall in the back hall, there was a partial partition which still permitted everyone up front buying groceries, or fireworks, to clearly see you at work. I debated just how full my bladder was, quickly analyzed the possibility of this town having an actual private bathroom, and then went ahead and put aside all modesty. Also in the hall/bathroom of the gas station/fireworks stand was a doorway with a sign that said "Danger, Do not Open this Door", directly below the sign was another sign that said "If you open this door you are Stupid!". I stood there really wanting to know what was behind this dangerous door but also not wanting the world, who had just watched me go to the bathroom, to know that I was indeed stupid. I chose to retain a bit of dignity and did not open the door, a decision I somewhat regret as I am writing this blog. On the way out of the gas station/fireworks stand there was a canister on the counter that had yet another sign on it that said "Donations for bathroom supplies". I was going to the ask the lady behind the counter exactly what "supplies" the donations went for since I had seen no supplies in the hallway/bathroom, or if the "supplies" include an actual door but when I looked at her I was filled with great fear so I chose to pay for my 25cent higher gasoline and an individual bag of M&Ms...it was the largest bag of individual M&Ms I have ever seen possibly giving Brantley, Alabama yet another claim to fame.
We finally arrived in Fulltondale and checked into our hotel, thanks to Grandma for giving up all your final reward points to pay for hotels in Louisiana and Alabama! In the elevator going up to our third floor room we were joined by Alma from South Carolina who was sharing with her husband that she heard that someone had pooped in the pool. "They really let it rip!" she said. I am not sure what bothered me more, the fact that there may have been poop in the pool or that almost 70 year old Alma from South Carolina said "let it rip".
We then headed to dinner choosing to try to stick with our "local" restaurants theme we have had throughout the trip so we passed Chic-Fil-A and headed to Doodles World Famous Muffalettes. We did not realize until entering that this was a Louisiana Cajun restaurant which had everyone giving looks when the notebook size menus were thrown on the table. The kids chose the authentic Cajun dishes of Pizza, Fries, and Grilled Chicken with a dessert of Ice Cream. Andrea and I had to stick with our "You need to try new things" lectures so I ate probably the one type of food I have never been drawn to.....yes, Jaimie and Andrew, I ate your Louisiana food and I am still alive. I asked the waitress what "Dirty Rice" is, a question I thought was totally appropriate since it was on the menu, and she told me that every morning the cook comes in and puts all the rice on the ground and walks around on it and then puts it in the oven. I ate the Dirty Rice proving to the kids that I will even eat food from a state where the preparation involves putting it on the floor.
As all the Dirty Rice and Shrimp Creole was almost gone from my plate, or at least pushed around so it looked eaten, we began to talk with the waitress and the other customers in the restaurant who all seemed to be related to the waitress. I was asking about attractions we should see in the area and all anyone could think of was the IMAX. Realizing that I was in a Louisiana Cajun restaurant in Alabama I could not help but see how this group of southern white folks felt about the civil rights significance of their area. I asked about 16th Street Baptist Church (where the four girls died in the early sixties after the KKK placed 19 sticks of dynamite under the auditorium) and the Civil Rights Institute and Museum in Birmingham. There was a quick pause and the conversation changed, it was very obvious. "I think there is an art museum down there also," was her response. It was very interesting.
Not sure that we will have time tomorrow before heading to Nashville we went ahead and drove downtown by the church. It was the most ordinary site you could imagine, making it all the more chilling. Our kids got the speech, the kids defined it as a lecture, about labeling people and taking on hate. We talked about Hitler, minorities, gays, etc stressing that the labels can come from anywhere including people that we respect and admire.
When we got back to the hotel we went ahead and took a chance on the possibility of poop in the pool allowing the kids to suit up. I grabbed my new Donald Miller book and Andrea grabbed her latest health book, we may never get to eat anything tasty again. We sat down by the pool while the kids got in.....there was no poop anywhere to be found.
Tomorrow we head to Nashville where we are going to go to the Grand Ole Opry tomorrow night, unsure what is next.....I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Garmin once again chose to take us on the smallest roads possible through Florida and Alabama to Fulltondale which is just outside Birmingham. We stopped for gas in Brantley, Alabama where gas is 25 cents higher than either of the towns ten miles before or after Brantley. The gas station doubled as a fireworks stand but the monumental attribute of this station, and possibly the town was their unique approach to bathroom facilities. Upon entering the station/fireworks stand you see the prominent sign pointing you to the bathrooms. I was very glad to see this sign as I greatly needed to go to the bathroom following the multiple cokes I had consumed at Boogey's in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. I was less sure about the whole endeavor when I realized that the men's bathroom was actually a urinal posted on the wall in the back hall, there was a partial partition which still permitted everyone up front buying groceries, or fireworks, to clearly see you at work. I debated just how full my bladder was, quickly analyzed the possibility of this town having an actual private bathroom, and then went ahead and put aside all modesty. Also in the hall/bathroom of the gas station/fireworks stand was a doorway with a sign that said "Danger, Do not Open this Door", directly below the sign was another sign that said "If you open this door you are Stupid!". I stood there really wanting to know what was behind this dangerous door but also not wanting the world, who had just watched me go to the bathroom, to know that I was indeed stupid. I chose to retain a bit of dignity and did not open the door, a decision I somewhat regret as I am writing this blog. On the way out of the gas station/fireworks stand there was a canister on the counter that had yet another sign on it that said "Donations for bathroom supplies". I was going to the ask the lady behind the counter exactly what "supplies" the donations went for since I had seen no supplies in the hallway/bathroom, or if the "supplies" include an actual door but when I looked at her I was filled with great fear so I chose to pay for my 25cent higher gasoline and an individual bag of M&Ms...it was the largest bag of individual M&Ms I have ever seen possibly giving Brantley, Alabama yet another claim to fame.
We finally arrived in Fulltondale and checked into our hotel, thanks to Grandma for giving up all your final reward points to pay for hotels in Louisiana and Alabama! In the elevator going up to our third floor room we were joined by Alma from South Carolina who was sharing with her husband that she heard that someone had pooped in the pool. "They really let it rip!" she said. I am not sure what bothered me more, the fact that there may have been poop in the pool or that almost 70 year old Alma from South Carolina said "let it rip".
We then headed to dinner choosing to try to stick with our "local" restaurants theme we have had throughout the trip so we passed Chic-Fil-A and headed to Doodles World Famous Muffalettes. We did not realize until entering that this was a Louisiana Cajun restaurant which had everyone giving looks when the notebook size menus were thrown on the table. The kids chose the authentic Cajun dishes of Pizza, Fries, and Grilled Chicken with a dessert of Ice Cream. Andrea and I had to stick with our "You need to try new things" lectures so I ate probably the one type of food I have never been drawn to.....yes, Jaimie and Andrew, I ate your Louisiana food and I am still alive. I asked the waitress what "Dirty Rice" is, a question I thought was totally appropriate since it was on the menu, and she told me that every morning the cook comes in and puts all the rice on the ground and walks around on it and then puts it in the oven. I ate the Dirty Rice proving to the kids that I will even eat food from a state where the preparation involves putting it on the floor.
As all the Dirty Rice and Shrimp Creole was almost gone from my plate, or at least pushed around so it looked eaten, we began to talk with the waitress and the other customers in the restaurant who all seemed to be related to the waitress. I was asking about attractions we should see in the area and all anyone could think of was the IMAX. Realizing that I was in a Louisiana Cajun restaurant in Alabama I could not help but see how this group of southern white folks felt about the civil rights significance of their area. I asked about 16th Street Baptist Church (where the four girls died in the early sixties after the KKK placed 19 sticks of dynamite under the auditorium) and the Civil Rights Institute and Museum in Birmingham. There was a quick pause and the conversation changed, it was very obvious. "I think there is an art museum down there also," was her response. It was very interesting.
Not sure that we will have time tomorrow before heading to Nashville we went ahead and drove downtown by the church. It was the most ordinary site you could imagine, making it all the more chilling. Our kids got the speech, the kids defined it as a lecture, about labeling people and taking on hate. We talked about Hitler, minorities, gays, etc stressing that the labels can come from anywhere including people that we respect and admire.
When we got back to the hotel we went ahead and took a chance on the possibility of poop in the pool allowing the kids to suit up. I grabbed my new Donald Miller book and Andrea grabbed her latest health book, we may never get to eat anything tasty again. We sat down by the pool while the kids got in.....there was no poop anywhere to be found.
Tomorrow we head to Nashville where we are going to go to the Grand Ole Opry tomorrow night, unsure what is next.....I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Vacation - Day Five
Our last full day at the beach, we have fallen in love with Santa Rosa at Walton Beach, Florida. Andrea, the kids, and I have all signed on, hopefully, for a repeat next year.
It was a pretty uneventful day, spent mostly at the beach except for a couple of hours this afternoon when we had to get out of the approaching storm. Made us appreciate what a hurricane must be like. Ate dinner at Amore's and dessert at Lucille's and then back to the beach until dark. Caleb buried Isaiah twice, once giving him a female body complete with anatomically correct, although quite inappropriate, body parts, the second burying was with Isaiah's ideal male body, ripped abs, etc. this also with anatomically correct, still inappropriate, body parts. Isaiah wanted a picture for his face book page, I insisted that the questionable body parts be surgically removed prior to the picture....we have learned much from cousin Drew's facebook picture postings.
After Isaiah dug himself out of the sand he began to tell me of his other life long dreams, in addition to the ideal body. These included going on a cruise, something he has wanted to do his "whole" life, eating the world's largest sloppy joe and then eating the world's smallest sloppy joe (he doesn't like sloppy joes by the way)....then we got sidetracked by a spotting of the worlds largest crab swimming around or feet. By this time I looked up and saw that Caleb had now buried himself and had somehow managed to give himself anatomically correct, yet still inappropriate, body parts....at least we have hope that he will do well in biology this year in high school.
Kids are now in taking showers, it came to our attention that two of the Anthony children, male children to be specific, have not bathed since Louisiana (maybe Oklahoma). Since we are about to sit in a vehicle together for the next couple of days it was decided by the females in our group that they would shower with soap. They protested but were outvoted....their argument that they have been in the ocean and the pool did not carry much weight......my testimony regarding them using the bathroom in the ocean seemed to seal the deal for the girls argument.
Speaking of argument, I have been spending the time this week prior to going to sleep reading the Justification argument going on between theologians N.T. Wright and John Piper. Evidently this argument has been going on for over a year, with both men writing a complete book since it began. Even though I am a year behind I am finding it fascinating, not just that they are on this topic but that this past year this has been the same journey God has taken me on in my time in the Word. I find much of what both men say insightful and interesting and find myself encouraged that this discussion, especially the idea that our lives show fruit if we are truly justified, taking place not just among theologians but pastors and lay people.
Well, the rain is hitting hard again and I need to get off the patio. Tomorrow we head to Birmingham, Alabama where I hope to get to take the kids on a visit helping them better understand the battle for equality that has taken place in this country.
I am on vacation!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
It was a pretty uneventful day, spent mostly at the beach except for a couple of hours this afternoon when we had to get out of the approaching storm. Made us appreciate what a hurricane must be like. Ate dinner at Amore's and dessert at Lucille's and then back to the beach until dark. Caleb buried Isaiah twice, once giving him a female body complete with anatomically correct, although quite inappropriate, body parts, the second burying was with Isaiah's ideal male body, ripped abs, etc. this also with anatomically correct, still inappropriate, body parts. Isaiah wanted a picture for his face book page, I insisted that the questionable body parts be surgically removed prior to the picture....we have learned much from cousin Drew's facebook picture postings.
After Isaiah dug himself out of the sand he began to tell me of his other life long dreams, in addition to the ideal body. These included going on a cruise, something he has wanted to do his "whole" life, eating the world's largest sloppy joe and then eating the world's smallest sloppy joe (he doesn't like sloppy joes by the way)....then we got sidetracked by a spotting of the worlds largest crab swimming around or feet. By this time I looked up and saw that Caleb had now buried himself and had somehow managed to give himself anatomically correct, yet still inappropriate, body parts....at least we have hope that he will do well in biology this year in high school.
Kids are now in taking showers, it came to our attention that two of the Anthony children, male children to be specific, have not bathed since Louisiana (maybe Oklahoma). Since we are about to sit in a vehicle together for the next couple of days it was decided by the females in our group that they would shower with soap. They protested but were outvoted....their argument that they have been in the ocean and the pool did not carry much weight......my testimony regarding them using the bathroom in the ocean seemed to seal the deal for the girls argument.
Speaking of argument, I have been spending the time this week prior to going to sleep reading the Justification argument going on between theologians N.T. Wright and John Piper. Evidently this argument has been going on for over a year, with both men writing a complete book since it began. Even though I am a year behind I am finding it fascinating, not just that they are on this topic but that this past year this has been the same journey God has taken me on in my time in the Word. I find much of what both men say insightful and interesting and find myself encouraged that this discussion, especially the idea that our lives show fruit if we are truly justified, taking place not just among theologians but pastors and lay people.
Well, the rain is hitting hard again and I need to get off the patio. Tomorrow we head to Birmingham, Alabama where I hope to get to take the kids on a visit helping them better understand the battle for equality that has taken place in this country.
I am on vacation!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Vacation - Day Four
We got around early this morning, 9:30am (remember, we are on vacation), and headed to Destin to meet the Pelican Adventures boat which was going to take us snorkeling and dolphin watching. We got lost, but after calling Vern, the Pelican Adventures lady, we discovered that we were actually lost in the parking lot of Pelican Adventures....we were now "The Stragglers" according to Vern, I started to share with her my Native American heritage but thought that getting lost may not be a trait of that heritage. Andrea also feels that Earl was wrong and that the only thing Native American about me is that I was birthed in Oklahoma against my will.
We got on the boat after preparing Andrea with a double dose of nausea medicine and after the rules were reviewed which included "Please tip the captain and crew after the boat ride for their hard work". Andrea had chosen not to wear her swimsuit because her fantasy plan for the day included her not getting sick (I brought a plastic bag just in case), the captain gently taking her up to the shore where, upon the gentle arrival, she would have a lounge chair waiting under a palm tree where she would read her latest health book. The captain was only able to get a ways off the shore which involved all of us jumping from the boat with our snorkeling gear and swimming to the best fish viewing location. The captain did not seem to understand the plans of Andrea even when she later shared them with him. After sitting on the boat with the captain, the snack shop lady and the passenger with a infant for about an hour, and after the waves began to shatter the one final part of the fantasy (Andrea will not get sick) she chose to go ashore. The captain still did not feel that he could bring the boat to the shore, nor did he seem to understand the whole palm tree, lounge chair, and book plan, so Andrea jumped off the boat in her sun dress and swam over to us. Once the snorkeling was over and we got back on the boat the captain, still not understanding any part of the fantasy especially the "not get sick" part headed out of the bay to see the dolphins. Two dolphins began swimming in front of the boat which led the captain (still forgetting the fantasy) to chase them up and down over the waves. Andrea had now begun a new fantasy which included as few people as possible being hit by her seasick expression. Once back on the dock, still no seasick expression, Andrea made it to the car, looking worse than any hospital patient I have ever seen, where she vividly expressed her seasickness.
She took more medicine, she emptied her stomach, she took more medicine. She began to not care.
When we arrived back at our condo all five kids were forced to endure a hell greater than any they have endured thus far in their lives....they had to wait, before heading to the beach, for mom and dad to take a nap. Dad had to sleep off the fact that he is almost 100 years old, Mom had to sleep off her mega dose of "I don't care if I am seasick pills".
At 5:30pm we finally headed out. By this time all fantasies had been set aside and the kids were now in complete control. Andrea stayed by the pool with Hannah and Grace, who were tired of the beach, and I headed to the beach with Isaiah, Lily, and Caleb. At about 7:00pm, as the sun was beginning to set, Andrea and the two girls joined us at the beach. We dug giant holes, we buried siblings, we took care of that pesty shell problem the ocean has, we quickly got out of the water when we saw a stingray....I looked up and Andrea was sitting on a straw mat (no palm tree) reading her health book without a hint of sickness. After the sun had set and it began to be dark we headed back to the condo where we got in the pool....I looked up and there was Andrea, sitting on her lounge chair and under a palm tree, reading her health book. Fantasies just take a while.
Later we decided to do a reverse dinner and go for dessert and then return for a sandwich dinner. We walked to the nearby restaurants just as they were shutting down for the night. So, we loaded up the car and ended up at a Karaoke Bar and Grill where we ended up eating dinner and listening to 15 year old Ashley sing "I Do Dirty Things Cheap", and Slim sing "Wild Thing", and Bud and his father-in-law sing "You Don't Have to Call Me Darlin, Darlin." They did not serve dessert, apparently dessert does not go with Karoake, so we ate appetizers and other non dessert items. We finished eating at 10:15pm just as the DJ announced that it was the end of the Jr. Karaoke time, we were not real sure how much more unjunior you could get than "I Do Dirty Things Cheap" so we decided that it was time to head out.
We are now home, I checked our bank account and we can still buy gas for the trip home, the ducks are still loud, and I have no idea of tonight's sleeping plans.....I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
We got on the boat after preparing Andrea with a double dose of nausea medicine and after the rules were reviewed which included "Please tip the captain and crew after the boat ride for their hard work". Andrea had chosen not to wear her swimsuit because her fantasy plan for the day included her not getting sick (I brought a plastic bag just in case), the captain gently taking her up to the shore where, upon the gentle arrival, she would have a lounge chair waiting under a palm tree where she would read her latest health book. The captain was only able to get a ways off the shore which involved all of us jumping from the boat with our snorkeling gear and swimming to the best fish viewing location. The captain did not seem to understand the plans of Andrea even when she later shared them with him. After sitting on the boat with the captain, the snack shop lady and the passenger with a infant for about an hour, and after the waves began to shatter the one final part of the fantasy (Andrea will not get sick) she chose to go ashore. The captain still did not feel that he could bring the boat to the shore, nor did he seem to understand the whole palm tree, lounge chair, and book plan, so Andrea jumped off the boat in her sun dress and swam over to us. Once the snorkeling was over and we got back on the boat the captain, still not understanding any part of the fantasy especially the "not get sick" part headed out of the bay to see the dolphins. Two dolphins began swimming in front of the boat which led the captain (still forgetting the fantasy) to chase them up and down over the waves. Andrea had now begun a new fantasy which included as few people as possible being hit by her seasick expression. Once back on the dock, still no seasick expression, Andrea made it to the car, looking worse than any hospital patient I have ever seen, where she vividly expressed her seasickness.
She took more medicine, she emptied her stomach, she took more medicine. She began to not care.
When we arrived back at our condo all five kids were forced to endure a hell greater than any they have endured thus far in their lives....they had to wait, before heading to the beach, for mom and dad to take a nap. Dad had to sleep off the fact that he is almost 100 years old, Mom had to sleep off her mega dose of "I don't care if I am seasick pills".
At 5:30pm we finally headed out. By this time all fantasies had been set aside and the kids were now in complete control. Andrea stayed by the pool with Hannah and Grace, who were tired of the beach, and I headed to the beach with Isaiah, Lily, and Caleb. At about 7:00pm, as the sun was beginning to set, Andrea and the two girls joined us at the beach. We dug giant holes, we buried siblings, we took care of that pesty shell problem the ocean has, we quickly got out of the water when we saw a stingray....I looked up and Andrea was sitting on a straw mat (no palm tree) reading her health book without a hint of sickness. After the sun had set and it began to be dark we headed back to the condo where we got in the pool....I looked up and there was Andrea, sitting on her lounge chair and under a palm tree, reading her health book. Fantasies just take a while.
Later we decided to do a reverse dinner and go for dessert and then return for a sandwich dinner. We walked to the nearby restaurants just as they were shutting down for the night. So, we loaded up the car and ended up at a Karaoke Bar and Grill where we ended up eating dinner and listening to 15 year old Ashley sing "I Do Dirty Things Cheap", and Slim sing "Wild Thing", and Bud and his father-in-law sing "You Don't Have to Call Me Darlin, Darlin." They did not serve dessert, apparently dessert does not go with Karoake, so we ate appetizers and other non dessert items. We finished eating at 10:15pm just as the DJ announced that it was the end of the Jr. Karaoke time, we were not real sure how much more unjunior you could get than "I Do Dirty Things Cheap" so we decided that it was time to head out.
We are now home, I checked our bank account and we can still buy gas for the trip home, the ducks are still loud, and I have no idea of tonight's sleeping plans.....I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Vacation - Day Three
Today was a great day as we spent most of it at the beach after sleeping in....well as much sleeping in as is possible when five kids are itching to get to the beach. I managed to not get in trouble once by kids or wife....this truly is a vacation (of course we were many feet from anyone who could witness my true dorkiness so that may be the key). I put on SPF 50 sunscreen at least five times throughout the day which means, with my Anthony, Miller, Stansfield, and Leamaster blood, I am a slight red on most parts of my body. The kids put on even more sunscreen but they have the additional blood of the Johnsons, Tuckers, Bonds, and Benningfields, which means we may as well go ahead and get the butter sauce ready to go with their lobster skin.
I did learn that I am, at least part, native American. Pick yourself up Ruby! This is according to Earl, who has a vacation house here after falling in love with the beach when he used to race greyhounds at the track here but actually lives elsewhere in Florida and is a Creek Indian, complete with all the knowledge of the Creek tribe including their association with at least one Randy Jackson song and how all the Creeks that were at least 1/16 were forced to move to Oklahoma but most of them claimed to be Scottish (or Irish....I was having to tell Caleb to not throw sand at his sisters during this part of the story) so they would not have to move to Oklahoma which is why most of the Floridans who claim to be Scottish (or Irish...thanks Caleb and your blasted hand of sand and ornery plans) are actually Creek Indians. Earl says that I have the undeniable facial features of a Creek Indian. I woke up a hopeless traveler and am going to bed a man with a proud heritage! Andrea is wanting to know if this could help us pay for college.
The topper of the day was after eating dinner in Grayton Beach, and adding further to the tax base of Walton Beach, we decided to drive down and check out the community at Grayton. All the University of Alabama boys that were buying their beer at the market next to the restaurant made us wonder if it might be a neat place to stay. With all the beer they were buying it is possible they will still be here passed out the next time we visit. Grayton is a laid back area with a great deal of sand, a great deal...enough sand to get a vehicle stuck. Luckily a very nice man in a jeep, who Lily is convinced was an angel because he appeared out of nowhere and drove off into the dark and was dressed very nice, stopped and helped us out of the sand. You may see the video on YouTube soon that Grace made while we were getting it unstuck including her yelling "Push, Push, it is going to blow up!" over and over. She also said several folks sitting on a nearby porch were yelling as well. I started to be humiliated but then remember the University of Alabama boys and realized that no one, except for my kids, the angel, and everyone who watches the video on YouTube is going to remember anything in the morning that took place tonight.
One other thing we discovered today is that Lily has the perfect aerodynamic body for boogie boarding. While Isaiah had been able to consecutively go the furthest with the waves all of his records were blown out of the water as Lily went at least double the distance over and over. Go Lily...Isaiah is filling an official protest which he outlined at dinner.
So, we are back at the condo, Jessica, wonderful Jessica from Republic bank, once again corrected our mistakes so our bank account is now back in order (at least until they get the debit for dinner), the ducks are still loud, and I am ready for a nice night of rest.....last night we had a major bedding shift as Hannah and Lily decided they did not like sleeping near the front door which meant that once again I did not get to sleep with Andrea...tonight, I just found out, there has been another bedding shift and Isaiah has been kicked out of the bunk beds and into my bed....it may not be the best night of sleep ever (Isaiah practices full body spinning in his sleep)...but I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
I did learn that I am, at least part, native American. Pick yourself up Ruby! This is according to Earl, who has a vacation house here after falling in love with the beach when he used to race greyhounds at the track here but actually lives elsewhere in Florida and is a Creek Indian, complete with all the knowledge of the Creek tribe including their association with at least one Randy Jackson song and how all the Creeks that were at least 1/16 were forced to move to Oklahoma but most of them claimed to be Scottish (or Irish....I was having to tell Caleb to not throw sand at his sisters during this part of the story) so they would not have to move to Oklahoma which is why most of the Floridans who claim to be Scottish (or Irish...thanks Caleb and your blasted hand of sand and ornery plans) are actually Creek Indians. Earl says that I have the undeniable facial features of a Creek Indian. I woke up a hopeless traveler and am going to bed a man with a proud heritage! Andrea is wanting to know if this could help us pay for college.
The topper of the day was after eating dinner in Grayton Beach, and adding further to the tax base of Walton Beach, we decided to drive down and check out the community at Grayton. All the University of Alabama boys that were buying their beer at the market next to the restaurant made us wonder if it might be a neat place to stay. With all the beer they were buying it is possible they will still be here passed out the next time we visit. Grayton is a laid back area with a great deal of sand, a great deal...enough sand to get a vehicle stuck. Luckily a very nice man in a jeep, who Lily is convinced was an angel because he appeared out of nowhere and drove off into the dark and was dressed very nice, stopped and helped us out of the sand. You may see the video on YouTube soon that Grace made while we were getting it unstuck including her yelling "Push, Push, it is going to blow up!" over and over. She also said several folks sitting on a nearby porch were yelling as well. I started to be humiliated but then remember the University of Alabama boys and realized that no one, except for my kids, the angel, and everyone who watches the video on YouTube is going to remember anything in the morning that took place tonight.
One other thing we discovered today is that Lily has the perfect aerodynamic body for boogie boarding. While Isaiah had been able to consecutively go the furthest with the waves all of his records were blown out of the water as Lily went at least double the distance over and over. Go Lily...Isaiah is filling an official protest which he outlined at dinner.
So, we are back at the condo, Jessica, wonderful Jessica from Republic bank, once again corrected our mistakes so our bank account is now back in order (at least until they get the debit for dinner), the ducks are still loud, and I am ready for a nice night of rest.....last night we had a major bedding shift as Hannah and Lily decided they did not like sleeping near the front door which meant that once again I did not get to sleep with Andrea...tonight, I just found out, there has been another bedding shift and Isaiah has been kicked out of the bunk beds and into my bed....it may not be the best night of sleep ever (Isaiah practices full body spinning in his sleep)...but I am on vacation.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Monday, June 29, 2009
Vacation - Day Two
We are here, I am now sitting on the balcony of our condominium which has a gulf view...however, the gulf view of the neighbors is greatly disrupting our gulf view, but still, we are here. Here is Santa Rosa on Walton Beach, Florida which is right next to Destin, Florida.
The remainder of our trip here was basically uneventful. I made my usual "count of kids" every twenty five minutes to make sure we had all the kids even though no one had been out of the car for the past two and a half hours, a fact that my dear daughter Hannah reminded me of....every twenty five minutes She finally told me that she would be in charge of counting Anthony kids and would let me know when someone was gone....I still asked and I still got in trouble.
The trip went pretty smooth until the last hour when, like clockwork, we revealed that we are not the Duggars. An argument erupted from the back row which caused the second row to chime in, I soon saw feet in the air when I glanced in the rear view mirror. I was assured that all seat belts were still buckled and that I still had five kids in the vehicle. I inquired if all the kids still had all their limbs and other body parts, I received no assurances.
It was raining pretty heavy when we arrived much to the chagrin of the kids who didn't understand why lightening was keeping us from walking over to the beach. I soon succumbed to the pressure and we walked across to the beach with the promise from all five Anthony children, including Isaiah, that we would only wade and not get our body's wet. At the beach I soon recognized the feet that I had seen in the rear view mirror earlier and had to send Caleb into the surf to retrieve his submerged and upside down brother. The girls, who were grabbing shells before the crabs dug into the sand, soon pointed out that my shorts were wet from the surf and why was I allowed to get wet and not them. I then stupidly pointed out the situation with their brothers which only served to add weight to their argument. I, once again, lost, everyone but mom was now in the water, she was sitting comfortably, not wet, in a rental beach chair that we had not paid for.
Later we found a place to eat and then a Walmart to prepare for tomorrow. At both places we made up for the money we did not pay for the beach chair. Walton Beach tax base is greatly benefiting from the Anthony visit.
It is 11:00pm and I am on vacation. I hear the kids running around inside the condo but the downstairs neighbors have not yet complained (if I counted right they have eleven kids down there so we may remain off their radar), I just found a mistake on our bank account which has caused insufficient funds to develop, and we have some ducks around here that are louder than a train. It is 11:00pm and I am on vacation......Cool!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
The remainder of our trip here was basically uneventful. I made my usual "count of kids" every twenty five minutes to make sure we had all the kids even though no one had been out of the car for the past two and a half hours, a fact that my dear daughter Hannah reminded me of....every twenty five minutes She finally told me that she would be in charge of counting Anthony kids and would let me know when someone was gone....I still asked and I still got in trouble.
The trip went pretty smooth until the last hour when, like clockwork, we revealed that we are not the Duggars. An argument erupted from the back row which caused the second row to chime in, I soon saw feet in the air when I glanced in the rear view mirror. I was assured that all seat belts were still buckled and that I still had five kids in the vehicle. I inquired if all the kids still had all their limbs and other body parts, I received no assurances.
It was raining pretty heavy when we arrived much to the chagrin of the kids who didn't understand why lightening was keeping us from walking over to the beach. I soon succumbed to the pressure and we walked across to the beach with the promise from all five Anthony children, including Isaiah, that we would only wade and not get our body's wet. At the beach I soon recognized the feet that I had seen in the rear view mirror earlier and had to send Caleb into the surf to retrieve his submerged and upside down brother. The girls, who were grabbing shells before the crabs dug into the sand, soon pointed out that my shorts were wet from the surf and why was I allowed to get wet and not them. I then stupidly pointed out the situation with their brothers which only served to add weight to their argument. I, once again, lost, everyone but mom was now in the water, she was sitting comfortably, not wet, in a rental beach chair that we had not paid for.
Later we found a place to eat and then a Walmart to prepare for tomorrow. At both places we made up for the money we did not pay for the beach chair. Walton Beach tax base is greatly benefiting from the Anthony visit.
It is 11:00pm and I am on vacation. I hear the kids running around inside the condo but the downstairs neighbors have not yet complained (if I counted right they have eleven kids down there so we may remain off their radar), I just found a mistake on our bank account which has caused insufficient funds to develop, and we have some ducks around here that are louder than a train. It is 11:00pm and I am on vacation......Cool!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Vacation - Day One
Perhaps taking a vacation the week after a major church youth trip in Texas was not the best idea. An even worse idea may have been to attend a family reunion in Stillwater yesterday. To add to this, our plans to board Slinky fell through late Friday night so Andrea had to drop four of the kids and me off at the reunion and then turn around with Caleb and take Slinky to stay with her parents in Tulsa. The reunion was to end at 6pm so we felt that we had plenty of time for her to go and return, this was until I realized that all family members were pretty much finished reuniting by 4:45 which is when I saw people began to clean up. Andrea was still over an hour away, I quickly hitched a ride for four kids and myself (not that easy of a task). I say this may not have been the best ideas for two reasons, the first being that we were totally not ready for the alarm to go off this morning at 7:00am, and then again at 7:09am, then again at 7:18am, then again at 7:27am, then again…I have to stop here due to my poor math skills. The second reason is that Slinky is living the life of luxury at my in-laws, they had a heating pad ready for him to sleep on and sat and pet him for hours his first night. I feel certain he is going to laugh at the thought of returning to our mad house where he has to share attention with “those” five kids. So, at 7:something Andrea and I finally pulled our exhausted bodies out of bed.
It was clear that our departure goal of 8:00am was not going to work since I had not even packed yet, but we shot ahead anyway. Things were going smoothly until I went out and opened up the back of my dad’s SUV which we borrowed for the trip only to discover that the luggage room had somehow disappeared. Mom and Dad coyly mentioned this to me last night as I took the car but, having never seen the car with the seats all up, I felt that it would be fine. This morning, as I stood there with a stack of suitcases I began to doubt my confidence.
As I began the harrowing process Isaiah comes out carrying his toothbrush in hand, “Do I need to bring this?”
Near completion I had to go inquire if Andrea was really serious about going on vacation with us since we could really use her seat for luggage….she said I would have to buy her an airline ticket, I looked at our bank account and quickly found room for all the luggage and her. At least I thought it was all the luggage, as four of the kids were in the car in their claimed seats, I see Grace come out of the house pulling a suitcase….Isaiah’s suitcase.
“Oh, yeah,” he said from the back, “I meant to bring that.” He then returned to his DS.
Finally we were in the car and on the road, “Wait a minute,” Isaiah shouted from the back of the car, “Do you mean we are not going to church? I thought we were going to church first.” We then attempted to explain the entire Florida vacation plan, “Oh, yeah,” he commented and then returned again to his DS.
We chose to rely on the Garmin to direct us on the trip; Gar has never failed us thus far. What we did not know was that Gar has some prejudice against the major roads in Texas; we now are intimately acquainted with the small towns of northeast Texas. Particularly Bonham, Texas which is where we stopped for lunch, we knew it was time for lunch as it was at this point that Isaiah began to torment his sister Hannah, that was a point of no return…food was the only solution, that and sitting at separate tables. Gar led us to a downtown Mexican restaurant which was very good but apparently has no concern for speed; we were now over an hour behind schedule.
Because the clean bathrooms at the Mexican restaurant were not good enough we soon had to stop for a potty break. This was possibly our biggest mistake. As we approached the outside bathrooms of the Shell Station in somewhere, Texas, the manager came running out with a light bulb.
“You will need this,” he began, “ and you won’t want to use the men’s room since it has been stopped up since this morning, darn (I am using my pastoral censorship here) teenagers, that is why we are installing an inside entrance so we can keep an eye on what goes on in those. They stuffed an entire roll of paper towels in the toilet yesterday and I am the only person in town that can do plumbing!” He then began to walk back into the store where we later discovered that he is also the corndog and ribs cook as well, “You will need to have someone stand outside the door because it does not shut all the way.” I soon saw the look of horror in Hannah and Grace’s eyes. I went in first and attempted make it suitable for a princess, paper towels on the seats and all trash put in the can. It didn’t work and they soon yelled at me to come in and help them with it…this was not completely understood by the locals who were also standing in line for what must have been the only working toilet in town.
“We will just wait,” the girls said as they left the bathroom.
The rest of the day went pretty smoothly. We are saying that a large area of east Texas smells very bad since on one admitted responsibility for the odor. The bridge over the Mississippi gave the girls quite a scare as they were not sure it was properly engineered, a fear that I do not think is a reflection on Louisiana engineers, just my girls life of doubt in…well, just about everyone and everything.
So here we are, at the Fairfield Inn in Baton Rouge getting ready to get a good night’s sleep before we head to Destin, Florida tomorrow morning.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
We are watching “Ice Road Trucker” so I think I will be ready for just about anything on the road tomorrow.
It was clear that our departure goal of 8:00am was not going to work since I had not even packed yet, but we shot ahead anyway. Things were going smoothly until I went out and opened up the back of my dad’s SUV which we borrowed for the trip only to discover that the luggage room had somehow disappeared. Mom and Dad coyly mentioned this to me last night as I took the car but, having never seen the car with the seats all up, I felt that it would be fine. This morning, as I stood there with a stack of suitcases I began to doubt my confidence.
As I began the harrowing process Isaiah comes out carrying his toothbrush in hand, “Do I need to bring this?”
Near completion I had to go inquire if Andrea was really serious about going on vacation with us since we could really use her seat for luggage….she said I would have to buy her an airline ticket, I looked at our bank account and quickly found room for all the luggage and her. At least I thought it was all the luggage, as four of the kids were in the car in their claimed seats, I see Grace come out of the house pulling a suitcase….Isaiah’s suitcase.
“Oh, yeah,” he said from the back, “I meant to bring that.” He then returned to his DS.
Finally we were in the car and on the road, “Wait a minute,” Isaiah shouted from the back of the car, “Do you mean we are not going to church? I thought we were going to church first.” We then attempted to explain the entire Florida vacation plan, “Oh, yeah,” he commented and then returned again to his DS.
We chose to rely on the Garmin to direct us on the trip; Gar has never failed us thus far. What we did not know was that Gar has some prejudice against the major roads in Texas; we now are intimately acquainted with the small towns of northeast Texas. Particularly Bonham, Texas which is where we stopped for lunch, we knew it was time for lunch as it was at this point that Isaiah began to torment his sister Hannah, that was a point of no return…food was the only solution, that and sitting at separate tables. Gar led us to a downtown Mexican restaurant which was very good but apparently has no concern for speed; we were now over an hour behind schedule.
Because the clean bathrooms at the Mexican restaurant were not good enough we soon had to stop for a potty break. This was possibly our biggest mistake. As we approached the outside bathrooms of the Shell Station in somewhere, Texas, the manager came running out with a light bulb.
“You will need this,” he began, “ and you won’t want to use the men’s room since it has been stopped up since this morning, darn (I am using my pastoral censorship here) teenagers, that is why we are installing an inside entrance so we can keep an eye on what goes on in those. They stuffed an entire roll of paper towels in the toilet yesterday and I am the only person in town that can do plumbing!” He then began to walk back into the store where we later discovered that he is also the corndog and ribs cook as well, “You will need to have someone stand outside the door because it does not shut all the way.” I soon saw the look of horror in Hannah and Grace’s eyes. I went in first and attempted make it suitable for a princess, paper towels on the seats and all trash put in the can. It didn’t work and they soon yelled at me to come in and help them with it…this was not completely understood by the locals who were also standing in line for what must have been the only working toilet in town.
“We will just wait,” the girls said as they left the bathroom.
The rest of the day went pretty smoothly. We are saying that a large area of east Texas smells very bad since on one admitted responsibility for the odor. The bridge over the Mississippi gave the girls quite a scare as they were not sure it was properly engineered, a fear that I do not think is a reflection on Louisiana engineers, just my girls life of doubt in…well, just about everyone and everything.
So here we are, at the Fairfield Inn in Baton Rouge getting ready to get a good night’s sleep before we head to Destin, Florida tomorrow morning.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
We are watching “Ice Road Trucker” so I think I will be ready for just about anything on the road tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saved by the Diet
Last night was another rushed evening at the Anthony household. I barely got to sit down and eat dinner with Andrea and the kids before I had to hurry Lily and Hannah to batting practice prior to their final tournament game of the season. So, all during the game I looked forward to getting home and eating a hearty helping of spaghetti, my real dinner, which Andrea had assured me was awaiting me in the fridge. We lost the game, which is why I said "final" earlier, and which is why many of the parents, after sitting in the heat night after night, seemed to be leaving the game with a smile on their face. After the game we hit Maggie Moos for an end of season celebration and then home and then back to family video to return the four videos and two games which were due by midnight but purchased with our report card "A's". Finally, we were home and I prepared for my awaiting spaghetti. I got into my pajamas, I took off my glasses, and stuck the plate in the microwave. Once it was finished I decided that it would be nice to add some Parmesan cheese to the top. I looked around in the fridge, without my glasses, and finally found a different looking container in the door that didn't look exactly like cheese but it was closer than anything else in the fridge. I started to sprinkle some on my spaghetti when I remembered my anti-salt diet and made the right choice, I put the "cheese" back in the fridge unused.
I made a good choice.
This morning I pulled Hunter, Isaiah's anole, out of his cage in order to clean his habitat. We are getting ready to head to Dallas for a church youth trip so Grandma or cousin Maggie will be taking care of Hunter and we felt a cleaner container may make the entire process a bit less revolting. Once I had his home clean enough for an anole I put him back it and sprayed some water on the sides (anoles are apparently very picky about how they receive their liquids). Then I thought that it would be nice to feed him so I began to look for the crickets which were no where to be found. Before giving up I remembered that Andrea and I both had visited every pet store in the area yesterday only to find no one had crickets but that everyone expected a delivery soon, much like my Christmas search for Wii Fit. Andrea had decided to substitute meal worms for the crickets since it had been a few days since we had fed Hunter and his color was quick changing to a funeral black. I searched the house only to find that the meal worms were as evasive as Hunter would like to be. I then remembered my Parmesan cheese. I remembered that it didn't look like Parmesan cheese, it didn't smell like Parmesan cheese, it had absolutely no resemblance to Parmesan cheese. I put on my glasses only to find that it was not Parmesan cheese but meal worms.
The meal worms were none to happy about my discovery but Hunter and my stomach were more than grateful!
Thank goodness for my God forsaken low salt diet.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
I made a good choice.
This morning I pulled Hunter, Isaiah's anole, out of his cage in order to clean his habitat. We are getting ready to head to Dallas for a church youth trip so Grandma or cousin Maggie will be taking care of Hunter and we felt a cleaner container may make the entire process a bit less revolting. Once I had his home clean enough for an anole I put him back it and sprayed some water on the sides (anoles are apparently very picky about how they receive their liquids). Then I thought that it would be nice to feed him so I began to look for the crickets which were no where to be found. Before giving up I remembered that Andrea and I both had visited every pet store in the area yesterday only to find no one had crickets but that everyone expected a delivery soon, much like my Christmas search for Wii Fit. Andrea had decided to substitute meal worms for the crickets since it had been a few days since we had fed Hunter and his color was quick changing to a funeral black. I searched the house only to find that the meal worms were as evasive as Hunter would like to be. I then remembered my Parmesan cheese. I remembered that it didn't look like Parmesan cheese, it didn't smell like Parmesan cheese, it had absolutely no resemblance to Parmesan cheese. I put on my glasses only to find that it was not Parmesan cheese but meal worms.
The meal worms were none to happy about my discovery but Hunter and my stomach were more than grateful!
Thank goodness for my God forsaken low salt diet.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
All Things to All Men
I was just listening the "The Story" on NPR which is one of my favorite radio shows. The radio story was about a couple who got a new land line telephone number which they soon discovered had previously been a prayer hotline. They could not convince the callers that this was no longer the prayer line and soon found themselves immersed in the problems and concerns of complete strangers.
It reminded me of an experience I had with my grandma Bill when I went to visit her after I had moved to Colorado. We were visiting when her phone rang which she went to answer. I could not help but eavesdrop as I heard her say, "OK, so that will be two large pepperoni pizzas, now what is your name and address?" She then hung up the phone and walked back over to me and proceeded to pick up the conversation where we had left off.
My curiosity finally got the best of me and I asked her about the call. She then shared that the local Pizza Hut had recently put out a flier to the students on campus and mistakenly listed her home phone number. She told me that she had notified Pizza Hut who had corrected the mistake but not before there had been hundreds, or more, fliers distributed. As the calls had begun to come in she attempted to explain to the callers of the mistake but they seemed resistant to accepting the information. So, she had just given in and started taking their orders. I am sure that as complaints began to arrive about pizzas not being delivered Pizza Hut determined to never make this mistake again.
I will never forget the image of my grandmother taking pizza orders without any hint of a smile or guilt.
I wonder if this is what the apostle Paul was talking about in I Corinthians 9:19-23....
Here I Dwell,
Rick
It reminded me of an experience I had with my grandma Bill when I went to visit her after I had moved to Colorado. We were visiting when her phone rang which she went to answer. I could not help but eavesdrop as I heard her say, "OK, so that will be two large pepperoni pizzas, now what is your name and address?" She then hung up the phone and walked back over to me and proceeded to pick up the conversation where we had left off.
My curiosity finally got the best of me and I asked her about the call. She then shared that the local Pizza Hut had recently put out a flier to the students on campus and mistakenly listed her home phone number. She told me that she had notified Pizza Hut who had corrected the mistake but not before there had been hundreds, or more, fliers distributed. As the calls had begun to come in she attempted to explain to the callers of the mistake but they seemed resistant to accepting the information. So, she had just given in and started taking their orders. I am sure that as complaints began to arrive about pizzas not being delivered Pizza Hut determined to never make this mistake again.
I will never forget the image of my grandmother taking pizza orders without any hint of a smile or guilt.
I wonder if this is what the apostle Paul was talking about in I Corinthians 9:19-23....
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Full Day
Yesterday I had to preach in a drug store pair of reading glasses. My glasses had to go to California to be fixed in order to keep them from jumping off of my face. I think that this was just a ploy for them to go to Hollywood and see movie stars but that is just speculation. Anyway, the drug store glasses are only for reading and not tri-focal like my real glasses. The reading glasses mean that I can see to read but cannot see far without falling over or throwing up. I thought through the entire situation on Saturday night as I prepared for the next morning, I blew up my message outline to a size 20 font and then placed the two large print pages visibly on the stage table Sunday morning. The only hitch was that at the last minute I added a scripture which meant I had to put my glasses on twice during the message. While preaching it hit me that I could leave the glasses on between scripture readings and just tilt them up.
Evidently, the tilting up did not look too good. I was made aware of this fact as we sat at Sunday lunch and my extreme goofy look quickly became the topic of discussion. I think my mother even joined in on the conversation in agreement…I know my own wife did not even attempt to come to my defense. Apparently, Grace, my eighth grade daughter had spent a great deal of the sermon attempting to get my attention to “dedork” my classes. My seventh grade daughter Hannah had joined in and then most of our youth girls had also tried to rescue me for dorkland. Andrea and ninth grade son Caleb did not join in the frantic hand motions during the sermon but did confess to unsuccessfully holding back laughter. Lily and Isaiah shared that they were glad that they were in children’s’ class during the message so they did not have to witness the horror that took place in worship.
I actually had fun sitting and laughing at myself with my family. I have had lots of practice; I have given them plenty of reason to laugh.
That evening I was headed to Pei Wei for Andrea and my Sunday night stay at home date when a Captain Kangaroo lookalike in a red convertible Mazda impatiently passed me as soon as he could. Although I was not excessively speeding I am sure that I was going the speed limit or a little higher but I found that I was not going fast enough for the Captain. As I caught up to him he waved his fist at me, an act that I did not remember ever seeing outside of black and white movies.
“I could have made this light,” he shouted.
“Yeah,” I responded in a pastorally mature voice, “I’m sure that it was really important to get wherever you are going.”
I sat there, still being the mature pastor, unable to let it go, “I have five kids,” I said as I turned to him, “they go up and down this street frequently.”
I was both proud that I thought to use the kids yet underwhelmed that I did so in such a minimalistic fashion. I waited for his equally mature response but he had none. I saw him consider what I said and then say nothing. I wanted to revel in triumph but I could not get over the fact that he said nothing. We had plenty of time as we waited for the light to change and he said nothing.
When I got home I wanted to make fun of him as I told Andrea but I had a tough time getting over the fact that he said nothing.
As I ended the day I was happy that I had laughed with my kids and glad that I had seen the example of the Captain. It was a full day!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Evidently, the tilting up did not look too good. I was made aware of this fact as we sat at Sunday lunch and my extreme goofy look quickly became the topic of discussion. I think my mother even joined in on the conversation in agreement…I know my own wife did not even attempt to come to my defense. Apparently, Grace, my eighth grade daughter had spent a great deal of the sermon attempting to get my attention to “dedork” my classes. My seventh grade daughter Hannah had joined in and then most of our youth girls had also tried to rescue me for dorkland. Andrea and ninth grade son Caleb did not join in the frantic hand motions during the sermon but did confess to unsuccessfully holding back laughter. Lily and Isaiah shared that they were glad that they were in children’s’ class during the message so they did not have to witness the horror that took place in worship.
I actually had fun sitting and laughing at myself with my family. I have had lots of practice; I have given them plenty of reason to laugh.
That evening I was headed to Pei Wei for Andrea and my Sunday night stay at home date when a Captain Kangaroo lookalike in a red convertible Mazda impatiently passed me as soon as he could. Although I was not excessively speeding I am sure that I was going the speed limit or a little higher but I found that I was not going fast enough for the Captain. As I caught up to him he waved his fist at me, an act that I did not remember ever seeing outside of black and white movies.
“I could have made this light,” he shouted.
“Yeah,” I responded in a pastorally mature voice, “I’m sure that it was really important to get wherever you are going.”
I sat there, still being the mature pastor, unable to let it go, “I have five kids,” I said as I turned to him, “they go up and down this street frequently.”
I was both proud that I thought to use the kids yet underwhelmed that I did so in such a minimalistic fashion. I waited for his equally mature response but he had none. I saw him consider what I said and then say nothing. I wanted to revel in triumph but I could not get over the fact that he said nothing. We had plenty of time as we waited for the light to change and he said nothing.
When I got home I wanted to make fun of him as I told Andrea but I had a tough time getting over the fact that he said nothing.
As I ended the day I was happy that I had laughed with my kids and glad that I had seen the example of the Captain. It was a full day!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Friday, June 5, 2009
Watching People
Growing up, I remember my Uncle Jim always wanting my cousins and I to go downtown Stillwater with him to watch people. I don't remember ever going but do remember him coming home laughing about all the different people he had seen. He would just go sit on a bench on main street for hours enjoying watching people. I thought he was crazy. How could anyone enjoy spending hours sitting on main street when there was acres of pasture land and creeks to explore. In his later years, while he was still able to leave the house, he moved his people watching to Wal-Mart. Every time I would go visit him he would say, "Ricky, you are not going to believe what I saw at Wal-Mart the other day!" He died last year, I wonder what type of people give him reason to wonder and laugh in heaven.
Being married to a psychology person has caused me to have a greater appreciation for watching people. She loves to watch and analyze why people do what they do. She has helped me to a better understanding of others which has really permitted me to be far slower to become angry, annoyed, or aggravated by the actions of others. Attempting to figure out the "why" of behavior allows me to be much more gracious and patient with others. It also has given me ample opportunity to look at many of my own actions and the underlying reasons.
While I think Uncle Jim just enjoyed the actions themselves I have a feeling he would have had a great time discussing the "why" with Andrea. They would have had many actions to look at and analyze in this world.
The past eight days have provided me with an abundance of interesting people to watch and consider. A couple of weeks ago Caleb, Hannah, Andrea and I were asked to be "people in the diner" along with other scenes in a movie being shot here in Oklahoma. Andrea was unable since our shoot day was last Friday, a day that Andrea was teaching an intercession class at OU. My sister Beth was then cast as my wife which my brother-in-law and my son Isaiah both agreed was creepy. Usually Caleb is up for these type of projects but his one had a major hitch - he would have to get a haircut fifties style. Caleb has very thick and long hair that is full of body causing it to stick up and out in every direction you can imagine. Although I am not a fan of long hair on guys I have come to appreciate his hair as it allows me to spot him a half mile away on the soccer fields or on his school grounds at lunch when I drive by. The casting agent needed to know that day if we agreed to do the project so I picked Caleb up from school that day. Even though the scene would be basically just us and the two "A" list actors, neither really impressed him. What did impress him enough to agreement however was the fact that it would be a possible twelve hour day which, even at minimum wage, would be a big contribution to his XBox fund. He spent the days leading up to last Friday googling "fifties hair cuts" to see what he had agreed to. You would have thought he was going into major surgery. On Friday, as we sat in the makeup room and watched the pile of hair on the floor grow to a massive height he began to look like a totally different kid. I have to admit, that day, with the fifties clothes he was wearing I was not too excited but I am now liking this new look alot....he continues to ask me why, after an entire week, his hair has not yet grown back. We did use this haircut to convince Isaiah to get his hair cut which I was a miracle.
Anyway, back to people watching, it was very interesting to watch these famous actors and all the people around them.
I also had opportunity to people watch as I took our church young people to Student Life Camp at Windermere in Missouri. First I have to say that this was possibly the most exceptionally planned and executed camp I have ever experienced and that is saying alot since I worked on traveling staff of Centrifuge for two plus years and have been taking kids to camps since the early eighties. The staff, speakers, and musicians were all not only exceptional at what they did but they were also great examples of servanthood and humility. I am taking a group of elementary children to another Student Life Camp in July and looking forward to it very much. There was, however, a very ugly acting church group attending the camp as well. The adults in this group were possibly the most hateful people I have ever seen (not just at a camp but truly anywhere) and in turn their young people were equally hateful. Thankfully our youth were not impacted much by this group so it did not diminish our kids experience.
What was interesting to watch about this group and the celebrities at the movie shoot was that they all seemed to be acting out of the same place. They all seemed to have a need to impress or tear someone down, they all appeared to reveal a certain level of insecurity.
On the other hand there was the junior high age boys that came with our group which included my son. I loved listening to their discussion and watching them interact. One had a girlfriend by the end of camp, while the others found most every girl there annoying. What I especially enjoyed watching about them was the fact that their behavior was not defined by anyone. While I would watch so many others in worship raising their hands or dancing around, often watching what others were doing, my junior high boys stood their with arms crossed calmly singing along. They weren't being a distraction but they also had no need to fit in with the crowd. It did not bother them at all if they were not doing what everyone else was doing nor did it bother them that others were acting the way that they were. When worship was over they moved on to the next thing which was often catching crawdads in the creek. There was this immense sincerity that I believe came out of an inexplicable security, which is all the more amazing considering their ages. They didn't need to impress nor did they need to tear anyone else down. Amazingly I found these junior high boys the most enjoyable to watch and analyze, it is seldom you get to see people just being who they are and ok with it.
It is amazing what confidence does for you and how you act.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Being married to a psychology person has caused me to have a greater appreciation for watching people. She loves to watch and analyze why people do what they do. She has helped me to a better understanding of others which has really permitted me to be far slower to become angry, annoyed, or aggravated by the actions of others. Attempting to figure out the "why" of behavior allows me to be much more gracious and patient with others. It also has given me ample opportunity to look at many of my own actions and the underlying reasons.
While I think Uncle Jim just enjoyed the actions themselves I have a feeling he would have had a great time discussing the "why" with Andrea. They would have had many actions to look at and analyze in this world.
The past eight days have provided me with an abundance of interesting people to watch and consider. A couple of weeks ago Caleb, Hannah, Andrea and I were asked to be "people in the diner" along with other scenes in a movie being shot here in Oklahoma. Andrea was unable since our shoot day was last Friday, a day that Andrea was teaching an intercession class at OU. My sister Beth was then cast as my wife which my brother-in-law and my son Isaiah both agreed was creepy. Usually Caleb is up for these type of projects but his one had a major hitch - he would have to get a haircut fifties style. Caleb has very thick and long hair that is full of body causing it to stick up and out in every direction you can imagine. Although I am not a fan of long hair on guys I have come to appreciate his hair as it allows me to spot him a half mile away on the soccer fields or on his school grounds at lunch when I drive by. The casting agent needed to know that day if we agreed to do the project so I picked Caleb up from school that day. Even though the scene would be basically just us and the two "A" list actors, neither really impressed him. What did impress him enough to agreement however was the fact that it would be a possible twelve hour day which, even at minimum wage, would be a big contribution to his XBox fund. He spent the days leading up to last Friday googling "fifties hair cuts" to see what he had agreed to. You would have thought he was going into major surgery. On Friday, as we sat in the makeup room and watched the pile of hair on the floor grow to a massive height he began to look like a totally different kid. I have to admit, that day, with the fifties clothes he was wearing I was not too excited but I am now liking this new look alot....he continues to ask me why, after an entire week, his hair has not yet grown back. We did use this haircut to convince Isaiah to get his hair cut which I was a miracle.
Anyway, back to people watching, it was very interesting to watch these famous actors and all the people around them.
I also had opportunity to people watch as I took our church young people to Student Life Camp at Windermere in Missouri. First I have to say that this was possibly the most exceptionally planned and executed camp I have ever experienced and that is saying alot since I worked on traveling staff of Centrifuge for two plus years and have been taking kids to camps since the early eighties. The staff, speakers, and musicians were all not only exceptional at what they did but they were also great examples of servanthood and humility. I am taking a group of elementary children to another Student Life Camp in July and looking forward to it very much. There was, however, a very ugly acting church group attending the camp as well. The adults in this group were possibly the most hateful people I have ever seen (not just at a camp but truly anywhere) and in turn their young people were equally hateful. Thankfully our youth were not impacted much by this group so it did not diminish our kids experience.
What was interesting to watch about this group and the celebrities at the movie shoot was that they all seemed to be acting out of the same place. They all seemed to have a need to impress or tear someone down, they all appeared to reveal a certain level of insecurity.
On the other hand there was the junior high age boys that came with our group which included my son. I loved listening to their discussion and watching them interact. One had a girlfriend by the end of camp, while the others found most every girl there annoying. What I especially enjoyed watching about them was the fact that their behavior was not defined by anyone. While I would watch so many others in worship raising their hands or dancing around, often watching what others were doing, my junior high boys stood their with arms crossed calmly singing along. They weren't being a distraction but they also had no need to fit in with the crowd. It did not bother them at all if they were not doing what everyone else was doing nor did it bother them that others were acting the way that they were. When worship was over they moved on to the next thing which was often catching crawdads in the creek. There was this immense sincerity that I believe came out of an inexplicable security, which is all the more amazing considering their ages. They didn't need to impress nor did they need to tear anyone else down. Amazingly I found these junior high boys the most enjoyable to watch and analyze, it is seldom you get to see people just being who they are and ok with it.
It is amazing what confidence does for you and how you act.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Aging Accidents
I spent a great deal of time this afternoon trying to catch the two crickets that got loose in the kitchen when Isaiah I were attempting to feed his new Anole. He came home yesterday after "winning" one of the class Anoles. Mrs. Costa, along with all the other third grade teachers are now home laughing and probably counting their kickback money from Petsmart. Anyway, we did catch the crickets and gave the Anole the extra treat for today. He will either die from overeating or live to be 100. I best not say what I am pulling for.
Anyway, this is not my point, I am actually writing to try to document my latest suspicions about Andrea. As I have said in previous posts, I have been quickly showing my age. My sight has been failing, my hearing diminishing, pain in my arms and knees, and quite frequently an inability to remember....anything. I now have reason to suspect that I am not actually showing my age but am being framed in a Hitchcockian type manner. This afternoon Andrea and I were both at the house when we each had a moment between appointments. She had to leave before me to see a client. Then, as I got ready to leave I could not find my keys. I went to the place where I was sure that I had left them only to discover they were not there. I searched the house finally deciding that I once again was having age related memory lapses.
After I had accepted the fact that I was now home bound and extremely old, Andrea called. I am sure that she called out of guilt, but she admitted to me that she had "accidentally" taken my keys.
Please remember this when I "happen" to go missing and am found living under a bridge in northern Idaho.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Anyway, this is not my point, I am actually writing to try to document my latest suspicions about Andrea. As I have said in previous posts, I have been quickly showing my age. My sight has been failing, my hearing diminishing, pain in my arms and knees, and quite frequently an inability to remember....anything. I now have reason to suspect that I am not actually showing my age but am being framed in a Hitchcockian type manner. This afternoon Andrea and I were both at the house when we each had a moment between appointments. She had to leave before me to see a client. Then, as I got ready to leave I could not find my keys. I went to the place where I was sure that I had left them only to discover they were not there. I searched the house finally deciding that I once again was having age related memory lapses.
After I had accepted the fact that I was now home bound and extremely old, Andrea called. I am sure that she called out of guilt, but she admitted to me that she had "accidentally" taken my keys.
Please remember this when I "happen" to go missing and am found living under a bridge in northern Idaho.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Two Questions
Yesterday I went with Andrea to help her as she ordered the 8th grade graduation t-shirts. The sales rep at the t-shirt shop is married to a former pro-baseball player who is now a pro scout. I found this incredibly interesting and pursued the subject with many questions. I later found out that I pursued with too many questions.
When we got in the car Andrea informed me that from now on I am only permitted to ask people two questions. I attempted to explain to her that it was showing an interest. She attempted to explain to me that it came across as nosey, intrusive, and obnoxious.
She won.
She then attempted to understand how I survived 33 years without her.....I frequently ask the same question.
I can now only ask two questions.
Today I have chosen my questions carefully.
So, don't be offended if I come across as uninterested, it is just that I may have already used my allotted questions.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
When we got in the car Andrea informed me that from now on I am only permitted to ask people two questions. I attempted to explain to her that it was showing an interest. She attempted to explain to me that it came across as nosey, intrusive, and obnoxious.
She won.
She then attempted to understand how I survived 33 years without her.....I frequently ask the same question.
I can now only ask two questions.
Today I have chosen my questions carefully.
So, don't be offended if I come across as uninterested, it is just that I may have already used my allotted questions.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Working for a Living
Sunday night I went in to kiss my youngest son, Isaiah, goodnight and to say our prayers. After he had prayed I lay beside him and began to ask him about his weekend.
"Did you get married," I asked, "or get a job?"
"No," the eight year old disgustedly replied.
"Well, when are you going to get a job?" I continued, "When are you going to start paying your own way?"
"Dad, you don't even have a job," he replied with even more disgust.
"I have a job," I responded with equal disgust.
"What is your job?
"I work at the church?"
"That preaching thing," he asked with a certain sound of shock, "they pay you for that?!"
At this I realized how glad I am that my son is not on the church leadership council come payroll decision time.
When I told Andrea of the experience she jumped into supportive wife mode, "It is because you made it all look so natural and easy." I could tell by the look on her face and tone of her voice that I needed to be thankful that she was not on leadership council as well.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
"Did you get married," I asked, "or get a job?"
"No," the eight year old disgustedly replied.
"Well, when are you going to get a job?" I continued, "When are you going to start paying your own way?"
"Dad, you don't even have a job," he replied with even more disgust.
"I have a job," I responded with equal disgust.
"What is your job?
"I work at the church?"
"That preaching thing," he asked with a certain sound of shock, "they pay you for that?!"
At this I realized how glad I am that my son is not on the church leadership council come payroll decision time.
When I told Andrea of the experience she jumped into supportive wife mode, "It is because you made it all look so natural and easy." I could tell by the look on her face and tone of her voice that I needed to be thankful that she was not on leadership council as well.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Trash Time
Andrea has bags of books , picture frames, and other assumed abandoned items in our garage. She is going to have a garage sale. Bags of discarded items on the garage floor or near the trash always scare me. Shortly after Andrea and I were married I began going through the trash each day before going in the house after I got home from work. I would have to save items that Andrea had deemed unnecessary in the Anthony household. I am a keeper, Andrea is a throwitallouter.
As I was secretly going through the most recent stack of soon to be rejected Anthony heirlooms I came across a stack of discipleship books. My first thought was that I had to save these never used books. The reason....I had written a recommendation on the back cover of each of the books. The publisher I was writing for at the time had asked me to write the rec and being flattered at the offered I agreed. I am not sure that I ever actually read the books but I made them sound good on the cover. I think the publisher just sent me an overview and I based my words on this summary. Ironically, this same publisher had just rejected a proposal I had made for a discipleship series.
So, all these years later we still have this stack of books which have never been used. They have never assisted anyone in their walk with Christ, they have just sat on our shelf or in our garage. They have made it through at least one house move and yet never used, never opened. They have been saved because they have my name on the back cover. They have been kept, not for what is inside, but for my ego.
It is time we get rid of them, Andrea will be so proud.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
As I was secretly going through the most recent stack of soon to be rejected Anthony heirlooms I came across a stack of discipleship books. My first thought was that I had to save these never used books. The reason....I had written a recommendation on the back cover of each of the books. The publisher I was writing for at the time had asked me to write the rec and being flattered at the offered I agreed. I am not sure that I ever actually read the books but I made them sound good on the cover. I think the publisher just sent me an overview and I based my words on this summary. Ironically, this same publisher had just rejected a proposal I had made for a discipleship series.
So, all these years later we still have this stack of books which have never been used. They have never assisted anyone in their walk with Christ, they have just sat on our shelf or in our garage. They have made it through at least one house move and yet never used, never opened. They have been saved because they have my name on the back cover. They have been kept, not for what is inside, but for my ego.
It is time we get rid of them, Andrea will be so proud.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lessons from Pajama Days
When Caleb was in sixth grade, his first delicate year of middle school, his mother, my wife, insisted that he take part in his middle school spirit week. He begrudgingly agreed and trusted her to dictate to him the daily spirit week attire. That was the last week that Caleb participated in spirit week, it may have also been the last time Caleb trusted his mother to dictate anything to him. The week included crazy sock day, purple pride day, and pajama day, that was the day that caused the problem. It was while fully dressed in his pajamas that Andrea drove him up in the oval for drop-off that he, and his spirited mother, noticed that most everyone seemed to be dressed in purple and almost no one, except Caleb, was dressed in their pajamas. Caleb, being the trooper that he is, stayed at school even as a repentant mother offered to run him home to change to purple. He survived a day in his completely non-purple pajamas on purple pride, and not pajama, day.
Today was my unintentional pajama day. Last Friday Caleb was scheduled to participate in a jr. high tennis tournament in Edmond but with the approaching ice and snow storm the event was moved to Monday. Yesterday we received a quick phone call giving us instructions regarding the tournament scheduled for today which included the transportation details. So, this morning the alarm went off at 6:00am and I went to wake Caleb to get ready so we could meet his ride at 7:00am. I then returned to bed for what I assumed would be an additional forty minutes of sleep. I had forgotten the extremely strong "be there early" gene which is passed down from Papa Bob. I was awakened at 6:25am with instructions that it was time to go. I slowly rolled out of bed and pulled my coat over my sleeping clothes (that is what an almost 49 year old man calls his pajamas....especially when they consist of a torn up, and holey, old long sleeve t-shirt and too short and weird pants). I assumed that I would soon be back home to bathe and dress (I had squeezed in tooth brushing thankfully), I assumed wrong. We arrived at the tennis court at least 15 minutes early thanks to Papa and his strong genes. We sat in the parking lot all alone for fifteen minutes wondering if anyone else would show up. At 7:00am Caleb's doubles partner showed up but no one else. Finally at 7:20am we reached someone on the phone who we thought would know something but found that he actually knew nothing, including what had happened to the ride. So, at 7:20am I put the car in drive and headed for a forty minute plus drive attempting to get there by 8:00am. We stopped by grandma's house for her GPS, since I had no idea where I was going, then darted north soon hitting a major accident backup on the highway and finally arriving at the tournament where it was obvious that I would not be able to escape back home. What made things even better was that Caleb and his partner had a win which prolonged my pajama day. It got hot and I was in a heavy coat, a coat that could not come off due to a manly sleeping shirt being what was beneath the jacket. I survived my pajama day with hopes that it will be my last.
I learned a couple of things thanks to pajama day:
1. Always brush your teeth and put on your shoes when you leave the house. I actually did this today but there are days that I drop off the kids ...at least without shoes.
2. Put on a public approved shirt before going anywhere, unless you want to look "scary tough" or at least "scary".....or are willing to stay in a heavy coat in Oklahoma spring temperatures.
3. Take something to do while you are not at home taking a shower and dressing. I did learn that Oklahoma has the top five worst hunger rate, a top divorce rate, and that Julia Sweeney had a revelation from God that helped her survive a messy breakup leading her to a renewal of faith and then she read the Bible and was disillusioned by the answers her priest gave her about the parts of the Bible she didn't like and then she read Deepak Chopra who led her to science and so she is now an atheist who explains her revelation from God as a mere work of her frontal globes thanks to her new found knowledge of science.....oh, I also learned that Barak made the CEO of GMC resign and told the folks at Chrysler they had to make a deal with Fiat.
4. Always make the transportation plans for your kids yourself.
Here I Dwell, showered and dressed,
Rick
Today was my unintentional pajama day. Last Friday Caleb was scheduled to participate in a jr. high tennis tournament in Edmond but with the approaching ice and snow storm the event was moved to Monday. Yesterday we received a quick phone call giving us instructions regarding the tournament scheduled for today which included the transportation details. So, this morning the alarm went off at 6:00am and I went to wake Caleb to get ready so we could meet his ride at 7:00am. I then returned to bed for what I assumed would be an additional forty minutes of sleep. I had forgotten the extremely strong "be there early" gene which is passed down from Papa Bob. I was awakened at 6:25am with instructions that it was time to go. I slowly rolled out of bed and pulled my coat over my sleeping clothes (that is what an almost 49 year old man calls his pajamas....especially when they consist of a torn up, and holey, old long sleeve t-shirt and too short and weird pants). I assumed that I would soon be back home to bathe and dress (I had squeezed in tooth brushing thankfully), I assumed wrong. We arrived at the tennis court at least 15 minutes early thanks to Papa and his strong genes. We sat in the parking lot all alone for fifteen minutes wondering if anyone else would show up. At 7:00am Caleb's doubles partner showed up but no one else. Finally at 7:20am we reached someone on the phone who we thought would know something but found that he actually knew nothing, including what had happened to the ride. So, at 7:20am I put the car in drive and headed for a forty minute plus drive attempting to get there by 8:00am. We stopped by grandma's house for her GPS, since I had no idea where I was going, then darted north soon hitting a major accident backup on the highway and finally arriving at the tournament where it was obvious that I would not be able to escape back home. What made things even better was that Caleb and his partner had a win which prolonged my pajama day. It got hot and I was in a heavy coat, a coat that could not come off due to a manly sleeping shirt being what was beneath the jacket. I survived my pajama day with hopes that it will be my last.
I learned a couple of things thanks to pajama day:
1. Always brush your teeth and put on your shoes when you leave the house. I actually did this today but there are days that I drop off the kids ...at least without shoes.
2. Put on a public approved shirt before going anywhere, unless you want to look "scary tough" or at least "scary".....or are willing to stay in a heavy coat in Oklahoma spring temperatures.
3. Take something to do while you are not at home taking a shower and dressing. I did learn that Oklahoma has the top five worst hunger rate, a top divorce rate, and that Julia Sweeney had a revelation from God that helped her survive a messy breakup leading her to a renewal of faith and then she read the Bible and was disillusioned by the answers her priest gave her about the parts of the Bible she didn't like and then she read Deepak Chopra who led her to science and so she is now an atheist who explains her revelation from God as a mere work of her frontal globes thanks to her new found knowledge of science.....oh, I also learned that Barak made the CEO of GMC resign and told the folks at Chrysler they had to make a deal with Fiat.
4. Always make the transportation plans for your kids yourself.
Here I Dwell, showered and dressed,
Rick
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Celebration Lesson
Tomorrow we are having our twelve year anniversary celebration of Grace Fellowship. The church first officially met on the first Sunday of March 1997, but it was the last Sunday of that month that Andrea and I joined the church as Associate Pastor. It has been an amazing ride which I would not trade for the world. Our third child had just been born less than two weeks before that Sunday; tomorrow we will celebrate with a total of five children, two of which are teens. (talk about a ride!). I also made the transition to Senior Pastor November of 2006 which is a position I never expected or desired. I think that is one of the the greatest lessons I have learned from being a part of Grace Fellowship. God brings the most unexpected things into our lives at the times we are most ready for them to be a normal reality of our lives.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Happy Birthday
Today Andrea and I become parents of two teenagers, we are very afraid! Happy Birthday Gracie!!
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Friday, March 13, 2009
Finished Missing Out
I heard from a Willem “Bart” Ebbink this week, he is an old friend from High School. Willem was one of the jewels in the drama group at our high school, always playing the funny and inevitably scene stealing roles in all the productions. I was the hack in the speech and drama that ended up there because it looked like they were having fun. The pros like Bart were very patient and kind to the folks like me who appeared to have made a wrong turn on the way to Remedial Math. As I heard from Bart he told me that he is now living in Amsterdam, still involved in drama and managing a bistro, and spends his free time on the canals of the historic parts of his city enjoying the laid back life. As we emailed back and forth he reminded me that his parents were from that region of the world and that he had made a decision to reestablish his dual citizenship after living in New York and England.
I immediately was struck with the realization that I do not think I ever knew that I was in High School with a cool international. Actually, it hit me that all I ever knew was that we called him Bart, I never knew that I had a friend with such an exotic name as “Willem”. It also reminded me of an incident ten years ago that involved my 21st class reunion. My high school reunions always seem to be at the ten plus one year mark. This may explain my own tendency to procrastinate….I really have no right to say anything since I have not lifted a finger to help with any of the three reunions since my high school days. Thanks to Cheryl and Wally and their teams that are putting together our 31st reunion planned for this summer. Anyway, after that 21st reunion, which I failed to attend, the planners sent out a class directory detailing everything going on with my classmates. I immediately glanced through it to find out the scoop on my old buddies from high school. One such friend was a young lady that was in my “group”. We, including this girl, were all pretty much connected at the hip from seventh grade through high school, yet in her bio in the directory she talked about meeting her future husband while in high school. She talked about how she had known they were meant to be from the moment she met him her junior year and that the two had dated throughout high school. I was surprised since I had thought I knew this person very well. I was shocked to find out that I had missed so much about someone I assumed I knew.
In looking back at this it hit me that I have missed a lot in life, largely due to a life lived with a limited focus. This took me to think of Christ who lived a life with no limits on his focus. He didn’t miss out on a little man watching him from atop a tree or a needy woman touching him in the midst of a crowd. He didn’t miss strong friendships nor did he withdraw due to the reality of enemies. He didn’t limit where he traveled because of cultural prejudices nor did he restrict who he related to due to unspoken, or spoken, taboos. His entire goal of becoming human was to experience the entirety of the human experience. As He experienced the cross He did so with a full understanding and appreciation of the human experience.
I look at my own life and can quickly identify many things that I have missed. I missed out on history from my grandmother, a history spanning two different centuries, a history that defined my ancestry. I lived in Colorado for six years and daily would stare at the beauty of the mountains yet seldom climbed up to the top. I spent little time dancing and celebrating and now have a lack of appreciation for either. I missed much because I was either focused mostly on myself or because I had placed unneeded and unnecessary restrictions and boundaries on myself.
A couple of weeks ago the doctor gave me an intense steroid shot for tennis elbow. He said that I might experience “minor discomfort” later in the day. For the next two days I was hoping that I would find someone who would just shoot me and put me out of my misery. While my wife was experiencing what it was like to be married to a big baby I suddenly understood what a lady in our church was going through who had to have steroid shots in her back and neck. Experience often permits us to understand and empathize with others, much in the way Christ did and does because of His earthly and subsequently painful experience.
I don’t want to miss out anymore. I want to know when I have a friend in Amsterdam and when my good friend is in love. I want to understand.
Today, at 3:30pm I have a massage appointment. I did not make the appointment; my wife did after getting a coupon in the mail for a new place that only does massages. I told her that I have seen these types of places on the crime shows on television and that I am not really big on strangers touching my body. She told me that I am going to have this experience. I am going to do it because I am finished missing out.
I also hate camping, I have spoken of this many times. I hate sleeping in the dirt, I hate being so far from a shower, I hate being uncomfortable. In two weeks I am taking my boys on an overnight camping trip with the men of our church. I couldn’t be dreading anything more but I don’t want my boys to miss it. I don’t want to miss out on it.
Eventually I am going to learn to dance and celebrate. I want to enjoy my kids’ weddings and not embarrass my daughters. I don’t want to miss out.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Others
Last night Andrea tasked me with the job of working with daughter Grace to figure out what activities she would be involved in this semester. She wants to participate in tennis, soccer, and track. There are already some conflicts with other activities such as her small group. We also have the element of her hurting knee, so are questioning if soccer is a good choice. As I entered her room I closed the door slightly so that we could have some privacy.
“Why are you shutting the door?” Grace questioned with a tone that told me that this was not going to be a very productive discussion.
Anne LaMott says that when her son became a teen he soon became two different people. One of the personas was Sam, the sweet gentle boy that she had originally brought home from the hospital and raised all these years. The other was a boy named Phil who was moody and disrespectful and not always easy to live with. When our oldest, Caleb, hit the teen years he also developed his dark side. Although we have not named this “other” we are fully aware when he is present. We know when the “other” is around there is no need to attempt to discuss anything of importance or expect anything of significance, such as math homework.
My daughters, however, are a different story. All three of our girls didn’t wait until their teens, they came home from the hospital with their “other”. I have become very acquainted with these three additional members of the family. So, last night I immediately knew that I was no longer dealing with Grace but now it was the “other. I went ahead and attempted to begin our sports discussion. I knew that it was not a good idea but still, being a dad, I plowed on ahead.
“I really want to talk to mom about that,” the other said, “I don’t really want to talk to you.”
I attempted to ask why but she just informed me that it was not going to happen. I then went and passed the job onto Andrea who not only failed to seem surprised, she also refused to explain it all to me. I have at times attempted to have one of the daughters explain her female siblings with me and am repeatedly told that I just wouldn’t understand and that it best if I just accept it.
Last night I accepted it and moved on. When I went in to kiss Grace goodnight and say our nightly prayers I actually found Grace there waiting. Grace, not the “other”, asked me to lay down beside her for a moment as Grace frequently does. Sometimes I find the “other” who tells me that she is still mad at me simultaneously there with Grace who tells me that I still have to lay down until she goes to sleep. Last night it was just Grace. I don’t know where the “other” goes on these times but I have just decided to enjoy the time away.
This morning we had to get started early as Hannah was to be at Rose State College by 8:00am for the Inventors Fair. She had made it past the semi-finals at her Middle School and was chosen to go to the state competition. I attended this last year with Grace so had an idea of all that I was getting myself into, I took plenty of books and a comfortable chair. Actually I had not factored in the “other” element. The “other” appeared as we hit almost stand still traffic on the way through the city. I quickly tried to turn the radio so that it no longer showed the time but it was too late. The “other” had already seen that it was fast approaching 8:15am. I knew, from past experience, that once the “other” appears it is tough to get rid of her. I buckled down for a long and rough day. When we finally arrived at the presentation hall I quickly helped Hannah to set up her booth. The “other” then directed me some distance away where I was to set up my chair and sit for the morning. A few times I ventured over to see how it was going and was quickly corrected and sent back to my corner.
Andrea had a small break between clients during which she was able to come up to the Inventors Fair. The “other” seem to disappear when she and grandma appeared. It was a mystery. Andrea had to spend part of her time there attempting to work with me to map out the plans for the evening which included Lily’s afterschool Manyawi, Caleb’s Tennis, Grace’s track at the high school, Caleb’s High School orientation and Middle School K-Life just to name a few. It was no small task.
After Andrea and grandma left and the judging was over we headed to lunch. I hung back allowing Hannah to go and sit with her friends. I assumed that they all also have “others” and that all the “others” get along nicely. When I did enter the lunch room Hannah quickly yelled to me and pointed to the seat next to her which she had saved for me. Then later, in the presentation auditorium, she also requested that I sit with her. I had never seen such a quick exit of the “other”!
Hannah won fifth place in her division which got her a trophy and $10.00 which was very cool. Even the “other” would have had to show some excitement.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
“Why are you shutting the door?” Grace questioned with a tone that told me that this was not going to be a very productive discussion.
Anne LaMott says that when her son became a teen he soon became two different people. One of the personas was Sam, the sweet gentle boy that she had originally brought home from the hospital and raised all these years. The other was a boy named Phil who was moody and disrespectful and not always easy to live with. When our oldest, Caleb, hit the teen years he also developed his dark side. Although we have not named this “other” we are fully aware when he is present. We know when the “other” is around there is no need to attempt to discuss anything of importance or expect anything of significance, such as math homework.
My daughters, however, are a different story. All three of our girls didn’t wait until their teens, they came home from the hospital with their “other”. I have become very acquainted with these three additional members of the family. So, last night I immediately knew that I was no longer dealing with Grace but now it was the “other. I went ahead and attempted to begin our sports discussion. I knew that it was not a good idea but still, being a dad, I plowed on ahead.
“I really want to talk to mom about that,” the other said, “I don’t really want to talk to you.”
I attempted to ask why but she just informed me that it was not going to happen. I then went and passed the job onto Andrea who not only failed to seem surprised, she also refused to explain it all to me. I have at times attempted to have one of the daughters explain her female siblings with me and am repeatedly told that I just wouldn’t understand and that it best if I just accept it.
Last night I accepted it and moved on. When I went in to kiss Grace goodnight and say our nightly prayers I actually found Grace there waiting. Grace, not the “other”, asked me to lay down beside her for a moment as Grace frequently does. Sometimes I find the “other” who tells me that she is still mad at me simultaneously there with Grace who tells me that I still have to lay down until she goes to sleep. Last night it was just Grace. I don’t know where the “other” goes on these times but I have just decided to enjoy the time away.
This morning we had to get started early as Hannah was to be at Rose State College by 8:00am for the Inventors Fair. She had made it past the semi-finals at her Middle School and was chosen to go to the state competition. I attended this last year with Grace so had an idea of all that I was getting myself into, I took plenty of books and a comfortable chair. Actually I had not factored in the “other” element. The “other” appeared as we hit almost stand still traffic on the way through the city. I quickly tried to turn the radio so that it no longer showed the time but it was too late. The “other” had already seen that it was fast approaching 8:15am. I knew, from past experience, that once the “other” appears it is tough to get rid of her. I buckled down for a long and rough day. When we finally arrived at the presentation hall I quickly helped Hannah to set up her booth. The “other” then directed me some distance away where I was to set up my chair and sit for the morning. A few times I ventured over to see how it was going and was quickly corrected and sent back to my corner.
Andrea had a small break between clients during which she was able to come up to the Inventors Fair. The “other” seem to disappear when she and grandma appeared. It was a mystery. Andrea had to spend part of her time there attempting to work with me to map out the plans for the evening which included Lily’s afterschool Manyawi, Caleb’s Tennis, Grace’s track at the high school, Caleb’s High School orientation and Middle School K-Life just to name a few. It was no small task.
After Andrea and grandma left and the judging was over we headed to lunch. I hung back allowing Hannah to go and sit with her friends. I assumed that they all also have “others” and that all the “others” get along nicely. When I did enter the lunch room Hannah quickly yelled to me and pointed to the seat next to her which she had saved for me. Then later, in the presentation auditorium, she also requested that I sit with her. I had never seen such a quick exit of the “other”!
Hannah won fifth place in her division which got her a trophy and $10.00 which was very cool. Even the “other” would have had to show some excitement.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Cuss Words
A couple of months ago I sat in the bleachers at Isaiah’s, my eight year old, basketball game. It was before the game and I noticed that he was standing in the middle of the court with another boy from his team and the two were laughing. This was particularly interesting because this boy had been somewhat of a bully to Isaiah all basketball season. Isaiah had actually not enjoyed playing on this team, even though the coaches were wonderful, because this boy had been so unpleasant to him. The night before this game, however, Isaiah had stood up to this bully and now, here the two of them stood in the middle of the court laughing.
After the game my curiosity got the best of me and I finally asked Isaiah what he and this other boy had been laughing about. “I just told him something that I saw today on the slide on the playground,” he casually responded. This just served to spark my curiosity and I pried more to find out what this hilarious piece of playground information actually was. “I just told him that when I was sliding down the slide I saw that someone had written the ‘F’ word in the tunnel.” He then attempted to return to his movie he was watching.
I, being the progressive dad that I am, sought to use this as a teaching moment…..I also could not resist finding out why this was so funny. Later, Andrea reminded me that a cuss word is as funny to an eight year old as it is to an adult at the comedy club, the only difference is that the adults have to actually hear the word and don’t understand if you just refer to the first letter of the word. I asked Isaiah if he knew that it was an inappropriate word, he did. I also asked if he knew what it meant, he did. I then asked why he thought to share this with the boy. “I just did,” he said.
That was the end of my progressive daddyness and the end of our conversation.
It was an interesting close to an interesting day. That morning I had started at the Hospital Emergency Room visiting a church member who had been rushed there. As I approached the door I dodged a car speeding to get to the handicapped parking space near the door. At the same time I saw a pick up truck that was honking its horn with an obviously mad driver. I later realized that the first car had cut off the second car to steal the coveted parking space. The pickup was dropping off an elderly gentleman who was obviously needing to get into the ER. As I watched the scene unfold I found that both vehicles were driven by very overweight, very elderly white haired women. As the lady began to get out of the parked car, the lady in the pickup yelled to her, “You know, you really are a B…..”, (It rhymes with witch but I am choosing not to use the words because I am not ten...and I also am not in a comedy club, or at the store, or at the hospital). The large, white haired lady getting out of the car casually raised her arm into the air and gave the pickup driver the finger.
I had approached the desk by this time and suggested that they might want to call security because a riot was about to break out and I was not going to get in the middle of it. I was scared of both women (I am actually scared of most women, my wife and daughters..and most women in my life, have instilled this in me).
Before the people at the desk could pick up the phone, the finger saluting woman walked past me heading for the inner parts of the hospital. The pickup woman gently approached the desk to check in her husband. The fight was apparently over, words were said, a salute was given, and life went on.
That afternoon I heard another conversation involving a gentleman who is a member and leader of another church in town. He was mad. He was very spiritual and proper in his speech, liberally sprinkling another ‘B’ word (rhymes with mother but starts with 'br' instead of the 'm') throughout his tirade. It soon became obvious that he was giving a spiritual finger salute. It was a very disturbing and troubling conversation in more ways than the simple word and finger discourse that I had witnessed at the hospital.
As the day ended, all cuss words had been said and fingers had been raised, I realized that the worst thing I had heard all day was the second 'B' word. It is a unifying word, not a word meant to assault, yet somehow, in that situation, it had achieved that destructive status.
I also remembered the many times I have used good words to abuse and attack. Times that I have attempted to control through the manipulative use of words that were never meant to be tools of manipulation. Times that my heart has revealed what my words attempted to disguise.
For it is the heart that makes something dirty. It is the heart that makes us dirty. It is the heart that makes our actions and words either dirty or clean.
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul addressed this when he said, "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
Then, when he was speaking to the church at Galatia, he said that "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit......The fruit (outflow) of the walking by the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law."
It is what is inside that impacts the message and flow of what is seen on the outside.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
After the game my curiosity got the best of me and I finally asked Isaiah what he and this other boy had been laughing about. “I just told him something that I saw today on the slide on the playground,” he casually responded. This just served to spark my curiosity and I pried more to find out what this hilarious piece of playground information actually was. “I just told him that when I was sliding down the slide I saw that someone had written the ‘F’ word in the tunnel.” He then attempted to return to his movie he was watching.
I, being the progressive dad that I am, sought to use this as a teaching moment…..I also could not resist finding out why this was so funny. Later, Andrea reminded me that a cuss word is as funny to an eight year old as it is to an adult at the comedy club, the only difference is that the adults have to actually hear the word and don’t understand if you just refer to the first letter of the word. I asked Isaiah if he knew that it was an inappropriate word, he did. I also asked if he knew what it meant, he did. I then asked why he thought to share this with the boy. “I just did,” he said.
That was the end of my progressive daddyness and the end of our conversation.
It was an interesting close to an interesting day. That morning I had started at the Hospital Emergency Room visiting a church member who had been rushed there. As I approached the door I dodged a car speeding to get to the handicapped parking space near the door. At the same time I saw a pick up truck that was honking its horn with an obviously mad driver. I later realized that the first car had cut off the second car to steal the coveted parking space. The pickup was dropping off an elderly gentleman who was obviously needing to get into the ER. As I watched the scene unfold I found that both vehicles were driven by very overweight, very elderly white haired women. As the lady began to get out of the parked car, the lady in the pickup yelled to her, “You know, you really are a B…..”, (It rhymes with witch but I am choosing not to use the words because I am not ten...and I also am not in a comedy club, or at the store, or at the hospital). The large, white haired lady getting out of the car casually raised her arm into the air and gave the pickup driver the finger.
I had approached the desk by this time and suggested that they might want to call security because a riot was about to break out and I was not going to get in the middle of it. I was scared of both women (I am actually scared of most women, my wife and daughters..and most women in my life, have instilled this in me).
Before the people at the desk could pick up the phone, the finger saluting woman walked past me heading for the inner parts of the hospital. The pickup woman gently approached the desk to check in her husband. The fight was apparently over, words were said, a salute was given, and life went on.
That afternoon I heard another conversation involving a gentleman who is a member and leader of another church in town. He was mad. He was very spiritual and proper in his speech, liberally sprinkling another ‘B’ word (rhymes with mother but starts with 'br' instead of the 'm') throughout his tirade. It soon became obvious that he was giving a spiritual finger salute. It was a very disturbing and troubling conversation in more ways than the simple word and finger discourse that I had witnessed at the hospital.
As the day ended, all cuss words had been said and fingers had been raised, I realized that the worst thing I had heard all day was the second 'B' word. It is a unifying word, not a word meant to assault, yet somehow, in that situation, it had achieved that destructive status.
I also remembered the many times I have used good words to abuse and attack. Times that I have attempted to control through the manipulative use of words that were never meant to be tools of manipulation. Times that my heart has revealed what my words attempted to disguise.
For it is the heart that makes something dirty. It is the heart that makes us dirty. It is the heart that makes our actions and words either dirty or clean.
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul addressed this when he said, "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
Then, when he was speaking to the church at Galatia, he said that "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit......The fruit (outflow) of the walking by the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law."
It is what is inside that impacts the message and flow of what is seen on the outside.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Friday, January 30, 2009
Truth and Abuse
I spent part of today sitting on a commercial shoot as my youngest son participated in the filming. It was for the Oklahoma Education Fund....if I was not a Baptist Pastor (actually I hesitate calling myself that as much as the Baptists cringe at the thought of me having that affiliation) I would most likely call it the Lottery. "Lottery" is actually what it said on the little "action" clapboard. It was an ironic day, a Baptist Pastor's son was involved in a Lottery Commercial being filmed at a Presbyterian Church. That should give critics enough to talk and write about for a long time.
It was not our first involvement with the Education Fund. Daughter Hannah spent a couple of years on Education Fund billboards around the state a couple of years ago. We have, however, turned down many auditions that include films where the topic was men that eat children, men that abuse little children, and men that behave like little children. We do have some standards.
Baptists are bigtime anti-gambling campaigners. I remember as a staff member at a Baptist church in Colorado when that state was deciding if it would permit gambling in some of the mountain towns. On the Sunday prior to the election our education minister stood up and said that everyone needed to vote "no" since gambling was clearly a violation of scripture. There were many "Amens" from around the auditorium but I sat silently. I was not sure that I could identify the specific, clear, anti-gambling commandments in scripture.
Now, don't get me wrong, I had no problem identifying gambling as being a destructive force for many individuals and families. I also agree completely that the abuse of gambling violates many Biblical principles. I cannot agree, however, that it is clearly forbidden in scripture. The debate always reminded me of the stories my dad would tell about how he was looked down upon because he liked to play pool when he was growing up (he thought it was hilarious when my youth pastor put a pool table in our church youth room when I was a teen).
What did get my attention was a couple of years ago when I ran into a high school, non-Christian, friend who I had not seen for many years. She, and her husband, work in film and advertising. As we shared and caught up on our lives I shared that my kids had been involved in filming some movies and commercials. She wanted to know what projects and in the list I shared that we had been a part of the Education (Lottery) Fund. I was then surprised to hear a long, long, lecture about the evils of the lottery and of this easy and available type of gambling.
Her argument was the first to actually catch my attention. It caught my attention because it did not incorrectly use and abuse scripture but instead attempted to present truth.
I have to wonder how many non-healthy and possibly abusive things could be better approached with truth rather than abuse.
"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!" John 8:32
Here I Dwell,
Rick
P.S. So.....Rick....why did you participate in the commercial? Good question!
It was not our first involvement with the Education Fund. Daughter Hannah spent a couple of years on Education Fund billboards around the state a couple of years ago. We have, however, turned down many auditions that include films where the topic was men that eat children, men that abuse little children, and men that behave like little children. We do have some standards.
Baptists are bigtime anti-gambling campaigners. I remember as a staff member at a Baptist church in Colorado when that state was deciding if it would permit gambling in some of the mountain towns. On the Sunday prior to the election our education minister stood up and said that everyone needed to vote "no" since gambling was clearly a violation of scripture. There were many "Amens" from around the auditorium but I sat silently. I was not sure that I could identify the specific, clear, anti-gambling commandments in scripture.
Now, don't get me wrong, I had no problem identifying gambling as being a destructive force for many individuals and families. I also agree completely that the abuse of gambling violates many Biblical principles. I cannot agree, however, that it is clearly forbidden in scripture. The debate always reminded me of the stories my dad would tell about how he was looked down upon because he liked to play pool when he was growing up (he thought it was hilarious when my youth pastor put a pool table in our church youth room when I was a teen).
What did get my attention was a couple of years ago when I ran into a high school, non-Christian, friend who I had not seen for many years. She, and her husband, work in film and advertising. As we shared and caught up on our lives I shared that my kids had been involved in filming some movies and commercials. She wanted to know what projects and in the list I shared that we had been a part of the Education (Lottery) Fund. I was then surprised to hear a long, long, lecture about the evils of the lottery and of this easy and available type of gambling.
Her argument was the first to actually catch my attention. It caught my attention because it did not incorrectly use and abuse scripture but instead attempted to present truth.
I have to wonder how many non-healthy and possibly abusive things could be better approached with truth rather than abuse.
"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!" John 8:32
Here I Dwell,
Rick
P.S. So.....Rick....why did you participate in the commercial? Good question!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Basic Survival
We survived day two and are now gearing up for day three. Even some our kids complained when they discovered that schools would be closed again tomorrow.
Here I Dwell,
Rick
Here I Dwell,
Rick
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