Another movie review- Great one- Invincible

It's football's "Rocky!" Great movie. We had a group of about 14 of our guys from church to go see it. They all loved it. The majority of us are Eagles fans anyway. Football season is upon us. We love underdog stories, especially when it seems that one of us 'regular' guys gets a shot at something like that. We all feel the pressure Vince felt of not being able to make it in life. Then he loses his sub. teaching job and his wife leaves him. When she does, she takes everything and leaves him a note that pretty much calls him a loser. (SPOILER WARNING) He carries that stupid note around to motivate him I guess. One of the greatest parts of the movie is when he tears that note up. I think his greatest motivation must have been when he was driving around (feeling like he wasn't going to make it any farther) and sees a kid playing football in an empty lot with his #83 on his shirt in masking tape. He overcomes great odds by becoming a walk on player, the regular players hate him, he takes physical beatings on the field and he deals with naysayers off the field as well. Here's a review from Focus on the Family. http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0002847.cfm

Pluto gets short end of the stick

Pluto has been a planet in our solar system since Clyde Tombaugh discovered it in 1930. I think the International Astronomical Union, or IAU is prejudiced against things that are small and don't go along the same paths that everyone else does. Maybe they don't like Pluto the dog either?

I wonder at this point whether or not teachers and the like will follow the new guideline and accept it with open arms. I've always had an affinity for Pluto (the Disney dog and the planet). I'm a big guy and not obsessed with other big things. Small things fascinate me more. So, I like Pluto, out there on it's own, the underdog of sorts, doing its own thing. Ya gotta admire that.

Time for a movie review

Tonight we went to see "World Trade Center." I thought I was okay in going to see it. After all, it's been almost 5 years since it happened. That's enough time to forget, but not enough time to not remember. I really think everyone should go see it. We've got to remember who started this whole thing. We've got to remember the lives that were lost. We've got to remember the heroes that risked more than they knew that day and went into those buildings and helped people. The movie didn't use the old familiar songs that were written to commemorate that day, but they were playing over in my mind at times. It's amazing how I remember exactly where I was when all of that happened. I have a hard time remembering what I was doing last week, but I remember that day pretty clearly. I was actually at Black Rock Retreat Center in PA. Kathy and I went up there to get away from the tv and the phone and all. So when we went to get lunch around 12:30, we wondered why everyone was acting a little strange. Then someone said- "oh, you don't know, do you?" Then they took us to the big screen in the lodge. What a day.

Well, I thought the movie was very good. It is the story of 2 of the 20 that were found alive after the towers collapsed. It also shows how their 'rescuer,' a marine staff sgt. that follows the call of God as he feels compelled to go and search for survivors. Interestingly, the movie reminds us again of the spiritual awakening of people around this time. John prays the model prayer, sometimes referred to as the Lord's prayer during some of the worst of it. Will's mother is shown praying in the kitchen. Will has 2 visions of Jesus bringing him a bottle of water and telling them to come home. The bravery of the police and fire dept's and the military personell who helped during that time was shown in a way that will once again make you want to do something once again. I hope I have the guts to do what I want to do.

Sometimes I wonder if I listen to myself.

This morning I got to the church around 8:30 and started doing some printing, loading ppt's and videos into the computer for the service, etc. I met Keith for a minute. He was bringing back some tables and chairs he used yesterday. He's always good for a laff or two. He's like a walking Seinfeld episode most of the time. Then I tuned up the guitar and warmed up with the band. I was having fun, feeling pretty good, and just amp'd about being there. So, after warm ups, I got this brain child and decided to share it. We had quite a few there before service, so I just reminded everyone of a few basic things- make guests feel welcome, don't make people feel bad if they've missed a few Sunday's- tell them how glad you are to see them, then we prayed together. I walked away feeling kinda good and hoping my "words of wisdom" would have an affect and we would have a great day. Maybe someone would come in and feel the warmth and enthusiasm of being there. Not even 2 minutes later, I go over toward the office (which is near the front doors) and I see Michael (whom I didn't see last week) and start ribbing him about not seeing him for a while, etc. etc. About a half dozen people are looking at me with everything from the crook-eye to the hairy-eyeball with this laser vision, honing in on my forehead. I could tell they wanted to burn a hole right thru me for some reason, but their mouths hanging open in disbelief confused me. Finally, I go "WHAT?" And almost in unison, a few of them exclaim- "you JUST told us NOT to give anyone a hard time!!!" DOH! I apologized to Michael (as well as everyone else) and told him how glad I was to see him. Other than that, I think it was a pretty good day!

Happy Birthday

I'm not much for holidays and special days. I feel bad when someone remembers my birthday, because I probably haven't remembered theirs. I wish I were better at things like that. The next thing I'm trying is stapling a post-it to my forehead. But I do appreciate everyone that relayed the sentiment. And while I'm at it... why DO we celebrate birthdays? I think birthday's should be Mother's Days. We really didn't DO anything to deserve the celebration (except surviving another year in this crazy world, so I suppose that's worth celebrating). Hmm, maybe we should make a BIGGER deal of them after all!

Anyway, the day was fairly uneventful. I did the usual studying, reading, writing, etc. that I do on various days. Kathy had to work, so I drove her there and came back home, then went to the DQ with my kids, mom, and niece. Interestingly enough, God has a way of doing things when we least expect it and most of the time in spite of us, instead of because of us. As we were driving off, I got a call from one of the youth leaders, Jenn. Evidently, a 16 year old girl who had been to our church saw us there. I didn't see her, but she saw us. She hasn't been in a while, but when she saw us she called Jenn and said she felt so bad that she hadn't been to church or to youth group and she wanted to come back. It's humbling to think that God did that and none of it depended on me. I can't imagine if I would have had to look for her, remember her face and name and make sure I did everything just right for her to think about coming back to church. I'm glad God just used my ugly mug!

We're #6 !!! What? We can be #1 with a little effort!

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060817/NEWS/608170372/1006/NEWS

I have for some time now, deemed this area (and possibly coined a phrase) "The Grumpy Belt." People in Delaware are 'terminally irritated.' I've lived in the midwest and in New York. Nothing compares to Delawareans. Right in the middle of this article-

Wilmington councilwoman Loretta Walsh, who generally wakes up at least mildly annoyed, said she wasn't happy to learn her city beat Philadelphia on the list. She thinks residents of the City of Brotherly Love are much angrier than Wilmingtonians. "That really makes me mad," she said.

Doesn't that just help prove the point? I think that bumps us up to #5 immediately!