Maybe the Best Father's Day Yet!

I've been a dad for 14 years now, and this year's Father's Day may have been my best Father's Day ever!

We began the day with awesome homemade cards, some thoughtful gifts, and scrambled eggs with cheese and ham (a treat for a guy on Lipitor!).



Then, we hit the road to Cincinnati and the Great American Ball Park to see the Reds play the Boston Red Sox. I can still remember as a 10 year old kid watching the 1975 series, and how Carlton Fisk "willed" his home run to stay fair. I think that series was one of the top 3 or 4 of all time. And this was the first time the Red Sox have been back to Cincy since then. Sadly, the Reds of 2008 aren't quite the Reds of 1975, and they got shelled 9-0. But the sun was shining, people were laughing, and it was a great day to watch the best sport going.


On the way home, at exit 186 on I-71/75 just over the Kentucky border, sat that most enchanting of restaurants - nay not enchanting, but addictive. Yes, I am speaking of Chipotle. Jacob and I have decided that a great road trip would be to hit all the Chipotle's on a tour of Mexican goodness. We started with this one!

As we pulled back into our drive at the end of an awesome day, we were greeted with this sunset, which served as a fitting exclamation point to my best Father's Day ever.

I am blessed. Truly.

You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Literally. This movie is absolutely awful. The name says it all. Seriously, it's bad. There was nothing redeeming about it. NOTHING.

ADDENDUM: Just to clarify, as some of you have emailed me and asked, yes, I am saying this movie is terrible. When I say "don't mess with the Zohan" I am saying don't spend your money or your time on this trash. In fact, I can declare that this is the last Sandler movie that I will see - it's that bad.

Chipotle

Imagine Kevin Bacon in Animal House screaming "Remain calm - ALL IS WELL!" That's how I feel today. See, few places in life give me as much simple joy as Chipotle. The Chipotle where I like to experience the magic is on Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington. After the recent flooding, my little slice of grilled mexican heaven was in a bad way - check this out:

But, I just spoke with the delightful "Amy" from the IU Chipotle, and she assured me that all IS well, and they're ready to serve me a Fajita Burrito on Chipotle Friday. All is right with the world. Right on.

Laminin

PEPFAR and the ONE Campaign

PEPFAR, America's main vehicle for helping end the suffering caused by global AIDS is in trouble. The two most powerful senators, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, need to hear from us that we appreciate their past support and need their leadership now on this critical bill.

I just took action with the ONE Campaign and you can too, here:http://www.one.org/pepfarleaders/?rc=pltaf

Wrapping Up "Wild Men, Wild Alaska"

I finished McElveen's book this week, and I wanted to throw some of his final words at you - if these words challenge you, share a comment!

• Our culture as a whole, in my opinion, doesn't prepare young men to even want to seek their essence as a man, or to test themselves with real adventure.
• Deep inside every person, in spite of upbringing, is a yearning to live on the edge, to experience the thrill of real adventure, and to find out who they are in the process. I think, in this culture of ambitions, we forget to pursue who we were made to be, something deeper than a nameplate on a desk or a college degree from a prestigious school. I believe that every person that allows their mettle to be tested in the wilderness learns secrets within that may not be revealed any other way.
• Meaningful adventures bring deep reflection to our lives. On an adventure in a place like Alaska, you suddenly find yourself asking many questions: Why am I here? Why did I survive? What is driving me? Why do I collect wealth? Am I the person I should be? Am I right with my family, my friends, my coworkers? Am I right with God?

This book is a quick read, and well worth the time. A thought that's been in my head as I've read Wild Men, Wild Alaska is that as a dad, some good advice for me would be to spend time doing things with my children, instead of watching my children do things. Life is short - if you haven't realized how fast yours is flying by, please wake up! Enjoy it. Share it. Make it an adventure.

Here's to living well!

WWJHUD?

“The question should not be ‘WWJD- What would Jesus do?’ but ‘What would Jesus have us do?’ The onus is not on Jesus but on us, for Jesus did not come to ask semi-divine human beings to do impossible things. He came to ask human beings to live up to their full humanity. He wants us to live in the full implications of our human gifts, and that is far more demanding….We are meant to live as bravely and fully in our world and time as Jesus lived in his.”

From Peter Gomes in The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus

(HT to Troy Guthrie)

Wild Men, Wild Alaska

A friend loaned me a book that I'm now reading, called Wild Men, Wild Alaska, by Rocky McElveen. In its pages, you'll find stories of adventure and conquest, with thoughts on what those adventures and conquests can teach us about life in Christ. It's not been a super-deep read, but it has been fun (and it makes you want to go North, to Alaska!).

In the middle of a chapter, Rocky threw out a couple of paragraphs that really got my 43 year old attention:

"People don't realize how little they really matter to the regular pace of life. Leaving civilization is like removing your finger from a five-gallon pail of water. The little ripples close in behind you, the bucket of water becomes smooth and still, and in a matter of moments you can't tell your finger was ever there.

Things fall off you in the wilderness, pace slows down, and stress disappears. There are no packed freeways, drive-by shootings, negative news stories, horns blasting, road rage, endless lights, pavement everywhere, or paper, paper, paper! Even the smells of society are absent: gas, oil, perfume, garbage, soap, smoking brakes. There is a realization of how unimportant and silly some aspects of life can be."

What do you think about Rocky's comments?

What is Spiritual Formation?

Transformation

What do you think of these thoughts on transformation?

"Helping people through relationships and study to become more of whom they've been created to be."