It Doesn't Get Better Than This!

There is nothing better than sharing your breakfast with your grandson!
Sam loves eggs.
Especially the "football beans" (kidney beans) that are part of the omelette.

I'm Impressed

I am impressed by a group of young (at least younger than me) pastors / leaders that are advancing the kingdom of God. Their spirit reminds me of the early apostles.

Mark Batterson hosted the Buzz Conference at his church he started a few years ago in Washington, D. C. It is a great success story. (National Community Church - http://theaterchurch.com)

Craig Groeschel, the pastor of LifeChurch.tv (Oklahoma City) was one of the main speakers. He shared what he thinks are four great qualities of innovative leaders:

1. Innovative leaders heal the sick. Jesus sought out those in need and met their needs. He stated, too many churches are inwardly focused and are not meeting the needs of unbelievers. And in order to reach those who no one is reaching, we will have to do things that no one else is doing. Our goal is to reach people for Jesus however we can and in order to do that, we need to teach our people to love people who don’t know Christ. His question was, “Who is God calling you to reach that no one around you is reaching?”

2, Innovative leaders break the rules. Jesus broke the Sabbath rules. Craig used the analogy of Nascar. “Go straight, turn left. Go straight, turn left.” Innovative leaders don’t take the common path. They turn right! Every great movement of God was started by a leader making a right turn. Question: “What is God calling you to do that’s never been done before?”

3. Innovative leaders offend the Pharisees. When you do something new to reach people for Jesus, the Pharisees WILL attack with a vengeance. Groeschel said we shouldn’t worry when the Pharisees are shooting at us. We should worry when they aren’t. Question: “What new thing will God call you to create that will be hated today and embraced tomorrow?”

4. Innovative leaders redefine success. Instead of saying how many people they are reaching and bragging about numbers, innovative leaders are constantly reminded how many people there are still to reach. We cannot be impressed with ourselves. We need to stop building attendance and start building the Kingdom.

I LOVE KIDS!!!

I want a HAPPY MEAL!!!!

I’ll bet her mom is not real happy!

Girl, 4, Called 911 Nearly 300 Times

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Authorities tracked down a 4-year-old girl who called 911 nearly 300 times last month by offering to deliver McDonald's to her suburban Chicago apartment.

Unbeknownst to her mother, the girl used a deactivated cell phone to call dispatchers 287 times in June—sometimes as often as 20 times a shift.

Dispatchers heard the child's voice but could only track the phone's signal to the apartment complex.

So authorities used a ruse to pinpoint her.

"We asked (the caller) what she wanted. She said she wanted McDonald's," said Steve Cordes, executive director of QuadCom's emergency center, which covers Carpentersville.

"We talked with her and we convinced her if she told us where she lives, we would bring her McDonald's," he said. "She finally gave us her address. So we sent the police over—with no McDonald's."

After police arrived, the girl's mother took away the phone, Cordes said.

Under federal law, deactivated cell phones still must be able to access 911. Many deactivated phones will contact an emergency call center if the user holds down the nine key.

Love Those Germans

Joy and I enjoyed a nice meal at R Place on Tuesday. I had to make a run to Big Red for some "farm stuff".


Couldn't pass up taking a picture of this man's shirt.
If you can't read it, it says, "Living with a German Builds Character."

Catching Up -

Sunday was a great day. The Stadium Youth Worship Band did an awesome job. I was so impressed with the heart for worship that these young people have. And they are excellent musicians. WAY TO GO.

That evening, the Children's Dept. (Missionettes specifically - I believe) sponsored a night at the Jackhammers. It was great weather, great people and a nice ballpark in downtown Joliet.



A popular part of the Jackhammers Ball Park is their mascot.
He took a liking to Josh and Tammy's baby Josiah!
You should have seen Tammy "tame" this mascot and make him surrender her baby!

Never mess with a mother's baby!

Ride of Your Life!

Did you see the story on MSN.COM? Incredible!

Wheelchair user taken on wild 50-mph ride

Chair becomes lodged on semitrailer's grille, travels 4 miles on highway

Michigan State Police photo of the unnamed 21-year-old man after his trip down a highway on the grille of a semitrailer.

Updated: 9:06 a.m. CT June 7, 2007

PAW PAW, Mich. - A man was taken on a wild ride when his wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was accidentally pushed down a highway for four miles at about 50 mph, authorities said.

The 21-year-old man, whose name was not released, was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt.

“The man spilled his soda pop, but he wasn’t upset,” said Sgt. Kathy Morton of the Michigan State Police.

About 4 p.m. Wednesday, a caller told police dispatchers, “You are not going to believe this: There is a semi truck pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway,” state police said in a release.

Prank call?
Authorities initially wondered whether the report was a prank call until others called with similar reports.

Officers stopped the truck — wheelchair still attached — at a trucking company. The driver didn’t believe officers until he stepped from his cab and saw for himself.

“When he saw us, he was like, ’What’s going on?”’ Morton said.

An investigation revealed the man in the wheelchair had pulled in front of the truck at a gas station and it somehow became lodged by its handles to the front grille.

I LOVE FISHING

A DAY ON THE WATER!

Let's go fishing, instead of just wishing.











Remember that old program on TV from many years ago? GONE FISHING - by Harold Ensley. I believe he also had one called THE SPORTSMANS FRIEND.


I just realized that most readers of BLOGS probably aren't old enough to remember "early television".

It was a great program. Well before all the high tech equiptment and boats.

Today was a good day. A day fishing is better than.... yes, a day in the office and a lot of other things.

Steve and I went out and caught 12 fish (walleye) in 1 and 1/2 hours.
We weren't "fishin'", we were "catchin'".

I was introduced to walleye fishing while living in North Dakota. It is one of the finest fish to eat. Can't wait to get these home.... yum, yum.

Yes, it is about one of the only things the "Raiders" have won at in the last few seasons.
But I'm still a fan of fishing and the Raiders.

Don't worry, I'm a Bears fan also, just not when they're playing the Raiders. That only happens once every two years, and this is that year. Unless the Raiders and the Bears go to the Super Bowl. I think Al Davis may not be around when that is likely to happen again. Right, all you Broncos fans?!? I just hope the Bears get back to the Super Bowl this year!

Sorry, this was a "fishing" post. I got carried away, must have been the shirt.
I'm going to wear my Joliet Steelmen shirt tomorrow - CHARACTER.
Go STEELMEN!