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!

WALLET PAIN

When Joy and I were dating, I remember putting gas in her car and the cost was 13 cents a gallon.

Here are gas prices I saw today.


I couldn't bear the thought of filling the tank.


I really do enjoy my truck. It is a 1999 Chevy Suburban. It has a 42 gallon gas tank.
You do the math!!!



I know prices are even worse elsewhere in the world. Hey, some of you who have viewed my blog from China, Australia, Sweden, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Spain.... let me know what your gas prices are!

A BIG DAY FOR JOY!

Today is a big day for Joy.

She starts the day with the Annual Piano Recital for all the students she teaches.
She is the most amazing piano teacher. Her patience and warm encouragement she gives each student is truly remarkable. She instructs 10 lucky piano students.





I have heard some of these students for almost 7 or 8 years and I am amazed at their progress.
Hooray for them and hooray for their great piano teacher, Joy.

ALSO.....

Today, Joy performs her first wedding.


A number of weeks ago, a lady in our congregation came to Joy and asked her "Do you do weddings?" Of course, Joy replied, "Yes." Joy assumed it was a request to play music for a wedding.
Joy asked about the day of the wedding and setting.
She discovered it was outdoors at the country club of a beautiful golf course.
She asked what kind of a keyboard it would be.
The lady quickly said, "No, we want you to perform the wedding!"

Joy became a certified minister a few years ago and is fully qualified to perform weddings.

(The rehearsal on Saturday)

Erik and Glenda told Emma that Grandma was marrying someone on Saturday.
Emma burst into tears.
She thought Grandma was leaving the family!

Isn't it amazing how young children understand some of the dynamics of our society today.
They quickly explained what was actually happening.

Over the years, I've tried to avoid that confusion by stating I am "performing a wedding ceremony."

A minister friend caused quite a stir in his congregation years ago when he announced from the pulpit, "I'm marrying the governor's daughter next weekend."

So, Joy is performing her first wedding today. Hooray Joy!




(Thank you Jill for letting me use your beautiful pictures!)

Garden

Here it is.... the planted garden.
At this point, it represents POTENTIAL.
Nothing realized yet, but hopeful.
Hopeful for a harvest.

• You break up the HARD soil.
• You plan the best places for each plant for it to flourish.
• You provide everything so the plant can flourish.... fertile soil, water, protection from pests...

but it is ultimately up to the plant.
NOW WE WAIT....
AND, lest I forget, during the waiting for the harvest, is the constant care.
weeding, keeping out the pests, watering, providing the support of the tomato plants.

Every time I work in the yard/garden, the biblical parallels are overwhelming.

Planting a seed involves risk. In the hand, the seed is only potential.
It is only as you take the risk, place it in the soil and it dies that the potential is realized.

You've got to get on your knees, you've got to get your hands dirty. And that effort can yield a harvest... "a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:23)

I know that I'll be battling the thistles. I love Jesus' teaching in Matthew 13 about dealing with thistles and weeds.

Psalm 85:11-13 (NIV)

The LORD will indeed give what is good,

and our land will yield its harvest.

Psalm 107:37

They sowed fields... that yielded a fruitful harvest;