All The Small Things

In an effort to give big events their own posts, you get updates on this weekend's small ones first.

The final Men's Breakfast of the year was last Saturday. We had a huge attendance. Thanks Carol for being so well prepared in the kitchen on your comeback breakfast!

Twas my first solo-ish rodeo and went very well. However, it only goes to prove how much I have to learn about delegating and seeing a big picture, but not being in control of every aspect of it. Jerry and Jeff took care of alot of aspects I took for granted and couldn't have done without them.

Ritch preached the gospel...whadayaknow! But also the dangers and signs of a man-centered gospel. A message which considers the extreme dangers and biblical call not to settle for simply a "good" gospel message absent of the true saving work and purpose of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same message can be dumbed down to apply to more than just what we choose to listen to or read, but what we choose to do. Settling for a lukewarm life of just "good things" wasn't what the authors of the bible had in mind when they said run the race and fight the good fight. A little "pin-prick for Jesus" here and there, as Billy A. says, isn't something to be proud of.

Sunday morning. Just a couple of things to point out here.

#1 - Nice people.
#2 - Duncan, how do you ALWAYS manage to sneak that into my pictures!?!

Along with tons of Saturday morning choir practices, Fred has managed to sneak in a couple of Sunday afternoon ones. Those are field trips to the Five Points facility where the Bethany Community Church plant meets, and Candlelight and Carols will be held this year! Get tickets!!


The EE folks rode together so we could ditch choir early, and we proved something very important. After getting lost twice in a row, the common factor wasn't the driver.


Yes, Joseph is playing at Five Points right now. It is also playing at Eastlight Theater in East Peoria the second week in December. Let me know if you are interested in going on Dec. 11.

Save The Bunnies!

I haven't been to a game night in a while. Since I'm the life of the party, I must assume that people are starving for some hang out time. Well, Kuntz recommended a friendly evening of rabbit massacre otherwise known as Killer Bunnies this past Friday.



Allas, while waiting for more of Kuntz's friends to show up, we just chatted, ate, and enjoyed a good story written and told by Miss Amanda.




Thanks to Becky's inquisitive and random mind, we had a rare but wonderful random discussion breakout. Thanks Becks! It was great. Now I have to read "Wild At Heart" and the follow up, "Captivating". Ya...they're girl books...so what!?! From the sounds of it, the later (maybe both?) doesn't offer up much biblical forward direction for Christian ladies. However, it seems wise to me to understand the WHY of a problem and root it out. I've never known anyone to think that you can recover from an addiction without understanding how you have a problem, or that you can be a Christian without understanding your own sin.

I've heard that the book references more modern media, like Movies and TV, than it does scripture. Well, considering the poor judgment young folks make in emulating what pop-culture wears and how it superficially defines happiness and relationships, it seems wise to point out it's flaws, or the few good things pop-culture has that are so easily missed. A person can soak up all the joy and silliness to be had in something like a song from "Enchanted", and miss the simple message in it about how to show a person they are loved. If you can't see that in something so enchanting, how are you going to see God's solution in His hard to take challenges? But again, a book that has good points but avoids God's solution may be usable in some points, but is still failed on it's own.

When I was in College, one of the ministries on campus was partially run by my friends, Eric and Char. They had a Bible study which met regularly, and occasionally they would have a "COW" night. It stood for "Can Of Worms". It wasn't necessarily hugely controversial topics which were brought up, but stuff people were convicted about and open enough to talk about in order to learn and open up to eachother. Certainly not a subjective truth council where a conclusion or compromise is made. There is one source and one interpretation of truth. We can better understand and apply it, as well as grow with brothers and sisters in Christ.

To God Be The Glory

Forever and ever Amen!

I Can't Make This Stuff Up

Don't forget to check out the blog roundup post below this one. This one is wordy.

Today, sitting outside of a Peoria County courtroom, I found myself chatting with one of the kids who broke into my garage a couple of months ago, his mother and one of his teachers. It turns out he lives one block from me with 11 siblings and a mother who works two jobs (the teacher informed me later in private). His teacher had been trying to drill into him the importance of good decisions for two years. She loves the kid to death.

Since the state is the one doing the prosecuting, not me, I tried to open a dialog and encourage the dude as much as possible. Since there is now another court date set for January, I'm not going to talk about it much yet. Plus, after they were done talking to their attorney, their attitude changed ALOT for the worse. I swear the dude got a blond Kelly Clarkson assigned as his defense attorney. Miss independent since u been gone because of you herself. They went in planning to plead guilty, and came out arguing with the arresting cop about weather or not he was even there. Hey, hello...witness right here!! I was never called into the courtroom or got involved in the case at all. Just sat in the hallway the entire time.

Earlier this year, I had a pretty huge breakdown over what will hopefully one day end up as a pin-prick in life. Eventually I made many poor and bitter decisions, trying to burn bridges and prove how unfair people and life had been to me. Just weeks after that started, I was informed about how a guy I know just went through an ugly and hurtful divorce, broke down and burned bridges in his life with his family, and turned to arson, alcohol and more for comfort. After time and counseling with Godly men over several months this year, he has a renewed desire to live under God's authority and Lordship, but with ALOT of consequences and pain still ahead of him.

To my astonishment, this divorced guy and his lawyer walked by me in the hallway. He didn't know who I was, but he recognized me from church and accepted my hug and encouragement. Since his courtroom wasn't ready for him, he sat down and eagerly talked with me. I had the opportunity to tell him what God was teaching me in my life, about how I had already been praying for him, and had the chance to pray for him right there and during his time in court. I've been wanting to talk to him ever since I heard about his situation, but it just didn't seem appropriate to try out of the blue. You can't make up opportunities God gives you like this...it's unfathomable.

Things are not getting easier. He's battling financial and custody issues now. After he left, two people who I think were his ex-wife and daughter came out of the same courtroom as he did. From the anger and hate I overheard in both their voices, it's clear that living with his consequences and this world's broken situations will not go away soon. With the hope and glory God gives us to live by, they don't have to go away, and we don't have to pretend they did. Alot of times we might try to hope or speculate that things might be getting better. But we don't know. If I could imagine (and I do) people talking about me like his family did, it would bring me down so hard (and has). But with our eyes fixed on God's glory and care for us, we don't have to feel beat down, but rather lifted up and on fire to be used for Him.

Another Blog Roundup

After catching up on 100+ blog posts which accumulated in weeks following the New York trip, I recorded some faves below...then got behind again. Here is a mix of old and new post highlights from some great blogs. All caught up again by the way.

Great book review, Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Fun pictures of the new Armstrong fam.

Fun learning ideas.
I never woulda thunk of something so simple!

How she did it!
Keep Austin Weird!

AHHH, cuteness overload! (two posts)

14 Bridesmaids. Jerelyn is such a lightweight :-)

Vote as though not voting.

I know famous people!

Oooooh snap, made it on someone's blog again!

Added some blogs to the list on the right. I was terribly behind updating it and still need to get the profile/purpose statement revamped. I don't have those roomies anymore!

With Google reader, I don't see the actual blog page very often, which makes me less likely to leave a comment. Plus the fact that I'm usually in daily catchup mode anyway. This understanding, plus my struggling desire to live out that my life is not my own but was bought with a price, has brought with it some blog resolutions:

-Keep up!

-Skimming wordy posts is ok. Just skim well.

-Actually respond to the people who graciously encourage me through the blog and other means. I love comments or "hits", but don't want to continue to be someone who covets them and then doesn't return the favor genuinely.

-When returning the favor, not to make flagrant or cliche comments, or to "check that off the todo list". Don't comment about myself or just to be noticed. The most popular word on my blog is "I". No need to pass it along.

Demotivating

Let's get yesterday's terrible title off the top of the screen shall we? Nothing much to speak of except Berean Bookstore continuing to disappoint, and a peak at the sliver of joy we have at work right now.

I need two copies of John Piper's book "Don't Waste Your Life", and I need them yesterday. Piper is popular enough in evangelical circles that the local Christian bookstore has to have at least several of his books in stock, even if it isn't THAT one right?

Wrong. I counted two and a half piper books (one was co-authored). Beating their Osteen Stock by .5 books. Bono had more copies of his picture book there than these guys combined. Oy. Borders didn't have it either, but at least I was entertained (lack of a better word) by their enormous selection of books authored by and for people reaching for something easy, comforting and completely subjective to get them through life.


I brought my Despair catalog into work the other day to entertain co-workers. I purchased a couple of items in there for my roommates a few years ago and still get it in the mail. Please scroll down this page and read EVERY single one of them. For you slackers who don't listen to me, here are some favorites. And they have been favorites for three years...in case anyone needed clarification.







Rodney's favorite

Albertson got this one for Christmas one year

Join us every other Wednesday at noon in room 204


Better ones have come along since my original favorites.


I informed a girl of this fact one time in college. That was when I learned should have learned never to correct, criticize or challenge a woman - ever.

This only applies to a very few blogs, possibly including mine.

Bloody Summons (wow that's bad)

A load of stuff was given to me by a lady at church to drop off at the Mission Mart. I made a quick run out there during lunch and couldn't keep from browsing a little bit. Josh dude, we got a set of fireplace poker things now. Been needing one for a couple years.

Instead of being Stan Laurel, Kari also gave me the option of playing F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Mystery dinner a couple weeks ago. I didn't know who he was, but she mentioned he wrote "The Great Gatsby". Now, I wouldn't recommend reading something just because Kari mentioned it...but I might. Not only did they have a copy for 50 cents, but they also had another interesting read from the past. Ash, if you wish you had a copy of the Fat book white elephant I stole from you a couple years ago, they have a copy.


Last time time Julie came over because of an emergency, something died. I couldn't let that happen again!! While preparing the milk containers I would use for tonight's milk run, one of them shattered and gouged a chunk out of her pinky finger. Sound familiar?



This time, I called the right nurse first, Cher bear. Sorry Kim...had to give someone else a shot. :-) With Cheryl's calming instruction, I quit screaming like a girl and gathered all of our (meaning Josh's) first aid supplies. When the bleeding stopped Jules got wrapped up and sent on her way.

What are the most awkward things you can think of to have happen when you're neighbors wife is at your house, bleeding on your living room couch? Peoria Sheriff knocking on your door get on there? I think it should. A couple weeks ago I was notified that I am a witness to the garage break-in at my house where the three juveniles were caught by my neighbor and friend, Rodney. And I have been summoned to court this Friday.

Apparently, they, don't rely on an RSVP from the witness based on the mailing. That's just warning before a Peoria Sheriff personally delivers a summons to your door. Thanks. Annoying thing is that I wouldn't even recognize these kids since I didn't see them break in nor was I the one who was asked to identify them when the cops brought them back. The one who did lives in Houston now. Apparently he's been trying to get in touch with the State's Attorney office for a while but they haven't been getting back to him. Looks like we have something to figure out before Friday.

Finished off the night with a field trip with Dan the man to the milk farm in Tremont. He and his wife have been wanting to try out the milk for a while, but I haven't had a chance to take them. He was pretty excited. :-)

Lethal Weapons

We're a little gun-heavy on today's post, and that's not including Josh's lethal biceps.


With Veterans day coming up this week, Bethany, as tradition, recognized those in the church who have served or are serving in the armed forces with a short video and asking those folks in attendance to come forward. It's interesting how the uniformed/non-uniformed guys got segregated. Pretty sure it was mostly coincidental. There is a bit of controversy with a few folks about the appropriateness of recognizing them in this way for several reasons. Because I'm thinking about the amount of courage and discipline alot of them had/have while serving, I don't tend to have much difficulty congratulating them. The mindset and motives of many in our armed services has changed (for the worst) to some degree. But these God fearing men are something to be proud of, I believe. From the leadership and fortitude of guys like Storm, to our strong yet tenderhearted retired Pastor Gary, a POW in Dessert Storm. I am quite honored to know them. Then there's Dad. He probably just caused alot of trouble while he was in the army, but I'm not sure. :-)

The class had lunch this afternoon at Avanti's where Sarah continues to vent her homicidal rage against Josh.


Shame on you for teasing so Lady Moon. This is completely inappropriate.






I've had a 9mm Glock pistol for several months now, but with no confidence having it around because I've only shot a handgun once in my life, and it wasn't this one. A compact, small-ammunition wasn't my first choice, but ordering online proved to be a huge pain, so I settled for something in stock localy. Glocks are pretty unique as this neat, interactive demonstration shows.



Trenton, form church took me and the Lueken boys out to the Chillicothe Sportsman's Club to get me comfortable with this piece, and get the other boys sighted for hunting season.


Henry just took a weekend training course on gun safety with his dad, so that all three of them can go hunting together for the first time this season.


Matthew checking out the Glock


Ted brung his single shot black powder gun. I don't know what you call it, but it is a somewhat modern muzzle loaded gun...interesting. On the left are the powder pellets which get stuffed (three at a time) behind the bullets on the top right. The other gun is Trenton's semi-automatic.



All these shooting pics reminded Josh of this hilarious clip from Lethal Weapon 1. Just skip the last few seconds to avoid the swear word.

This is my tribute to Greg and Steph. Come back to Peoria guys!! I froze my tucas off wearing just a suit, so you had better appreciate it! :-)


Thank you Trent!!

Graffiti

We had another Saturday morning Christmas choir practice this weekend. I can't complain yet because I have missed so many, but there are plenty more to come. Saturday morning practices, besides being longer, are harder to get into since it's probably the first thing most of us did, and earlier than most Saturdays. Philip (left) sings better with his eyes closed, but BenB was pretty chipper.

After choir, we tried to get together some folks for a quick stop at the hospital to visit Evan. Pete(r) is pretty sure this was his first time in a Peoria hospital. Pretty big day...he was excited. Evan was definitely more worn out today after getting very little sleep due to the drugs he's on keeping him wired. I could tell he's been making use of some of the stuff he got last night though. I wonder how many nurses have been shocked by the hand buzzer.

Kari's in there somewhere.
Next stop, deface some church property. During the construction of Bethany Baptist Church's new building, a ministry group has been formed to minister to the construction workers and involve the church body in the construction process. This weekend's opportunity was to write graffiti all over the recently placed steal frame.

The frame you see is only a portion of the building. It will be constructed in phases, and I have no idea how much of phase 1 is standing right now.




Pete had the mother of all sharpies and was pretty well prepared with some verses to write.








Kari still had to look hers up. I've got nothing to brag about. I wrote one without a reference (forgot it) another had to be copied out of an EE tracts...(don't tell Pastor Chris) and the last (not pictured) wasn't really one that made sense to put up. Those are "d"s, not "e"s!!



"Higher higher. Higher higher higher higher higher higher....lift Jesus higher!"

Some errands and a quick stop at Ben and Ashley's place to see the Amish style barn raising getting finished up today. I totally helped lift a piece of siding at one point...yup yup yup. Actually spent more time talking to Ashley about coffee cake than working on the garage. Oh well.

Josh and I bagged the leaves later in the afternoon, as promised. It goes quite fast with two people and a good system on Josh's part. There are actually 20 bags in this picture, and there's still more that blew over into Jed's yard. Where's Ben?




With the right tools, the front brake work finally got finished. Check one thing off the list of at least four that still need to be done on my car.

Team Evan

So there is a gigantic tree towering over my house. It saves alot of money in heating during the summer, but it has shown signs of poor health over the years with falling branches and other things. It also drops 20-25 bags of leaves, which it seemed to drop overnight while I was out of town. Roomie Josh piled up most of them while I was gone. I piled the rest but didn't have time to bag them. Looks like there's plenty to do if the rain/snow holds off tomorrow.

The dollar store is an amazing place to go if you feel like being random. I've never tried it about before, but had need of some fun random gifts tonight. Happy Bar-Mitzva card - check. Chinese finger traps - check. Hand shake buzzer - check. Plastic ball gun - check. Shiny balloon - cheeeeeeck.

A dude at church and in our Sunday school class who has persevered through a multitude of cancer related symptoms, pains and treatments recently finished successful treatment. Evan has always had an amazingly positive attitude, and defied all expectations in his recoveries. Late last night he fell and dislocated and broke his hip, then had surgery for it this morning. Neighbors Jed, Julie and I barely got out there before visiting hours closed to say wassup and drop off the sweet deals from the dollar store.

We got a little distracted by tonight's "Celebrity Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" with Gene Simmons being the guest Celebrity. He dropped out at $500,000. Good call.

I told you recently that all the medical "thingies" freak me out a little these days. Still do.

Last night and tonight, I've been trying to recruit a spy on the inside of tonight's "Girls Night" at the Moons. The ladies of CI Bible study were jealous of our man night last month (perhaps) and decided to have a something of their own. I got a "no" and a couple "I'm not gonna be there"'s. The remaining hold out must have snitched. Shame Becky Sarah K!! A few moments ago I received this picture and a five part message. "Go take a cold shower". "take" was a little slow, but that's because the sender was also....neeeever mind. :-) Thanks ladies! Hope you had fun.