I recently came across a banner ad for a “Christian Clothing” vendor. I eagerly went to the site to see what they have available. I was disappointed, however, that after intense searching I was unable to find any Christian Underwear for sale.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Let's Rewrite History
Just saw the latest Caldwell Banker commercial where the portraits of Caldwell founders talk to each other.
One says “Hey Caldwell, do you realize we’ve been in the Real Estate business for (some impressive high number) years? The other replies, “Yes, we’ve been around the block a few times.” The other says, “Yeah, do you remember the 1942 Holiday party?” The reply: “That’s not what I was talking about.”
Tell me something. Did anyone call them “Holiday” parties in 1942?
Wouldn’t want the dead people to offend anyone, now, would we?
One says “Hey Caldwell, do you realize we’ve been in the Real Estate business for (some impressive high number) years? The other replies, “Yes, we’ve been around the block a few times.” The other says, “Yeah, do you remember the 1942 Holiday party?” The reply: “That’s not what I was talking about.”
Tell me something. Did anyone call them “Holiday” parties in 1942?
Wouldn’t want the dead people to offend anyone, now, would we?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
PFC Alex Knapp
We just dropped off breakfast at the VFW Settler’s post for the group of men cooking for Alex’s fundraiser today. Newspapers, TV stations, and radio stations are helping to promote the pasta dinner fund raiser that runs from 1 to 7 today. Its at the VFW on Wilson between 24 and 25 mile off Van Dyke in Shelby Township.
One of the soldiers who was thrown from Alex’s vehicle when the IED exploded will be attending today, as well. His family had just moved to the area.
The Veterans of Modern War will be there, as well.
We won’t. Planning didn’t work in our favor, and although we want to be there and help out in the worst way, our middle child is graduating from college today in Grand Rapids and we are preparing to leave for the day. Amanda has gotten her degree in Socialogy with a minor in Non-profit business. She’ll be doing an intership for a single-parent daycare this summer, and planning a 6 month service in the fall for an orphanage in Tanzania.
I’m so proud of her.
But back to Alex. If you live in the Detroit area, please drop by. If you don’t, please pray for a great turn-out and generous patrons. The Knapp family is the best. They deserve an outpouring from their friends and the community that they have served so generously over the years... and the country that Alex sacrificed so much for.
T
One of the soldiers who was thrown from Alex’s vehicle when the IED exploded will be attending today, as well. His family had just moved to the area.
The Veterans of Modern War will be there, as well.
We won’t. Planning didn’t work in our favor, and although we want to be there and help out in the worst way, our middle child is graduating from college today in Grand Rapids and we are preparing to leave for the day. Amanda has gotten her degree in Socialogy with a minor in Non-profit business. She’ll be doing an intership for a single-parent daycare this summer, and planning a 6 month service in the fall for an orphanage in Tanzania.
I’m so proud of her.
But back to Alex. If you live in the Detroit area, please drop by. If you don’t, please pray for a great turn-out and generous patrons. The Knapp family is the best. They deserve an outpouring from their friends and the community that they have served so generously over the years... and the country that Alex sacrificed so much for.
T
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Use your VISA or the Flowers Will Die...
The Garden shop is working in synchronized manner with the gardeners in pastel raincoats, aiming their watering hoses in crystal arches. The cafeteria line is in such a groove that the jello is dancing the 2 step, and then some thoughtless dill-weed, dressed like a preppy (or a dumpy “out-of-it” older woman) comes in and wants to pay for his food or flowers with (ahem) cash, or even worse... a check.
The flowers die, the milk spills, the music slows to a stop. People look annoyingly at dill-weed. People stare at the frumpy woman writing her check. The cashier looks at them like, “hey, what can I do, its just the way things are...”. They finish paying while the next people tap their fingers on the counter, impatiently. He grabs his ham sandwich. She grabs her flowers. And the music starts up, and the world goes back to.... normal.
NORMAL?!?
Am I the only one who feels an itching on my forehead and the back of my hand when I see these commercials?
The flowers die, the milk spills, the music slows to a stop. People look annoyingly at dill-weed. People stare at the frumpy woman writing her check. The cashier looks at them like, “hey, what can I do, its just the way things are...”. They finish paying while the next people tap their fingers on the counter, impatiently. He grabs his ham sandwich. She grabs her flowers. And the music starts up, and the world goes back to.... normal.
NORMAL?!?
Am I the only one who feels an itching on my forehead and the back of my hand when I see these commercials?
Alex Knapp Fundraiser
contacts out on the caringbridge.com site. It means so much to Alex
and the family. He was able to read through the guestbook yesterday
and the out-pouring of support brought him and the family to tears.
On April 26th, friends of the family are coming together to raise
funds for the family. If you live in the Detroit area there's going
to be a dinner/fundraiser with raffles and food. Located at the VFW
on Van Dyke between 24 and 25 mile road on Wilson Street, the event
will start at 1PM and run to 7 PM. Stop in during the day, for great
food, great prizes, and a chance to help a warrior and his family.
Suggested donation for entry is $10 or a $40 family max.
If you'd like to make a cash donation, or have something you'd like to
donate for the raffle, please reply to this blog and I'll put you
contact with the right folks.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
I Can Surrender All By Myself!
I was recently asked to lead a small group for a church-wide campaign. Excited by the group of people who asked me to lead, I agreed and then went in to pick up a copy of the curriculum.
Crud! It was on surrender. God is a comedian. He had to be ROFL.
I’m pretty good on my own. Far from perfect, and always flawed beyond my expectations, I, nonetheless think I can make it on my talent and skill alone (because, of course, I think I have enough to accomplish the task)
I find its easy to surrender many things to God. Mostly, the things I suck at. Other things, the things I’m pretty good at... not so much.
As a songwriter, I should know by now. Artists don’t cut pretty good songs. (unless of course they write their own stuff.)
Crud! It was on surrender. God is a comedian. He had to be ROFL.
I’m pretty good on my own. Far from perfect, and always flawed beyond my expectations, I, nonetheless think I can make it on my talent and skill alone (because, of course, I think I have enough to accomplish the task)
I find its easy to surrender many things to God. Mostly, the things I suck at. Other things, the things I’m pretty good at... not so much.
As a songwriter, I should know by now. Artists don’t cut pretty good songs. (unless of course they write their own stuff.)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Extreme Home Makeover Gets Makeover
Good friends of ours are having a hard time. Our son played with their son on the high school soccer team. We’ve known their son since grade school, but became good friends with his parents when our sons began playing club soccer a few years ago.
In the middle of his college career, their older son enlisted last year, went through bootcamp and shipped off to Afghanistan. Last fall, the father was diagnosed with colon cancer and just finished his second round of Chemo. He’s been having a hard time, but the treatments were coming to an end and their son was due to come home on leave last week.
Through it all, the wife of this family remained the most giving person, cooking food for parties she couldn’t even attend due to her husband’s illness. Never one to ask for help, she works in the mortgage industry (in the Detroit market... need I say more?) and he’s been missing a lot of work, due to his treatments. Everyone’s suffering financially, these days, but they are getting hit inordinately hard.
My wife and I are part of a small group and we decided to do something nice for them. They were planning on being out of town over the Easter week, so we were planning to sneak into their house (with the help of relatives) and do some home improvement / spring clean-up while they were gone. Things were coming together quite nicely.
Two days before his leave, their son, Alex, was driving an armored vehicle outside of Bagdad (yes, I know.. IRAQ?) when he drove over (or past) and IED that exploded. The soldier next to him lost both legs. A kid in the back seat, lost a leg, couple toes, and can’t use one arm. One soldier in back walked away unscathed. Alex’s legs were badly damaged, and it became apparent if he kept them he’d be in a wheel chair for the rest of his life. Yesterday afternoon the amputated both legs beneath the knee, and because of extensive damage to the back of his thighs, (which were life-threatening enough by themselves to kill him) they may need to take more.
His parents are living outside of DC in a Marriot Courtyard, and events are unfolding as I type. Alex is in Walter Reed and will be there for quite awhile. Alex’s father is not doing well. After coming off his last Chemo treatment, he’s weak, susceptable to infection, and can’t even go in with his son, being both in danger and dangerous to his son at the same time.
Needless to say, we’re not thinking about doing home improvement any longer, although Extreme Home Makeover might be an option.. (I’ll get the video camera)
Perhaps its stories like these that are written in blood that make us stronger. Make us appreciate the blessings of life.
They make us examine and question our values, our priorites, our government. They make me look up to God and say.. “Why?!?”
But the answers can wait. Right now... we.. those who know and love Alex and his parents, or empathize with their plight, need to act.
More later...
In the middle of his college career, their older son enlisted last year, went through bootcamp and shipped off to Afghanistan. Last fall, the father was diagnosed with colon cancer and just finished his second round of Chemo. He’s been having a hard time, but the treatments were coming to an end and their son was due to come home on leave last week.
Through it all, the wife of this family remained the most giving person, cooking food for parties she couldn’t even attend due to her husband’s illness. Never one to ask for help, she works in the mortgage industry (in the Detroit market... need I say more?) and he’s been missing a lot of work, due to his treatments. Everyone’s suffering financially, these days, but they are getting hit inordinately hard.
My wife and I are part of a small group and we decided to do something nice for them. They were planning on being out of town over the Easter week, so we were planning to sneak into their house (with the help of relatives) and do some home improvement / spring clean-up while they were gone. Things were coming together quite nicely.
Two days before his leave, their son, Alex, was driving an armored vehicle outside of Bagdad (yes, I know.. IRAQ?) when he drove over (or past) and IED that exploded. The soldier next to him lost both legs. A kid in the back seat, lost a leg, couple toes, and can’t use one arm. One soldier in back walked away unscathed. Alex’s legs were badly damaged, and it became apparent if he kept them he’d be in a wheel chair for the rest of his life. Yesterday afternoon the amputated both legs beneath the knee, and because of extensive damage to the back of his thighs, (which were life-threatening enough by themselves to kill him) they may need to take more.
His parents are living outside of DC in a Marriot Courtyard, and events are unfolding as I type. Alex is in Walter Reed and will be there for quite awhile. Alex’s father is not doing well. After coming off his last Chemo treatment, he’s weak, susceptable to infection, and can’t even go in with his son, being both in danger and dangerous to his son at the same time.
Needless to say, we’re not thinking about doing home improvement any longer, although Extreme Home Makeover might be an option.. (I’ll get the video camera)
Perhaps its stories like these that are written in blood that make us stronger. Make us appreciate the blessings of life.
They make us examine and question our values, our priorites, our government. They make me look up to God and say.. “Why?!?”
But the answers can wait. Right now... we.. those who know and love Alex and his parents, or empathize with their plight, need to act.
More later...
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