Take Two

The New York Times reports today that the Attorney General of New York is opening an investigation into the number of disability retirement claims filed and granted to former employees (now retirees) of the Long Island Railroad.  I had a short blurb about it here.

The problem, while certainly prevalent within the LIRR, actually is rooted in the Railroad Retirement Board which is antiquated body used to adjudicate railroad disability claims.  Apparently the standard for disability isn’t that high.

Standby for appropriate governmental official posturing and related stink storm.  This will be brilliant.

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• Hard To Beat Workin’ On This Railroad

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I am enjoying an evening at home tonight.  I watched videos with my kids which was great.  I was up at 5 AM to go to Toledo this morning which was not great.  It does however, pay the bills.  On my night home I also cleaned up my office.  I know that if my office is filthy I won’t be able to work tomorrow so by addressing it now hopefully (he said hedging his bet) I can be more productive tomorrow.  Tomorrow, I am home Bible studying it in Westerville. Wednesday is church night.  On Thursday I’m flying to New York and coming back on Friday.  I have dinner with a potential new nurse Friday night.  My week is officially shot.  It’s a busy week and there appear to be many more like it in store.  Happy day.

As for the picture of New York, Zemanta suggested it to me along with a whole host of articles based on the words of this blog post.  I previously wrote about the company here.  It’s a free download I highly recommend.

Gabrielle: I didn’t like that part in the Lion King when Simba’s daddy died. It made me sad.

Michael: You’re a moron.

Yep, these are my children.

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Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
KJV

I’ve been teaching a Bible study for a few weeks now.  Allow me to offer a few thoughts before getting to the meat of my post.  I am thoroughly enjoying teaching this.  Many moons ago, I noted that one of my colleagues on our pastoral staff would get so excited about teaching home Bible studies.  I, of course, thought he was a nut.  Everyone knows that the pulpit is where the action is right? Uh, not so much.  There is nothing wrong with preaching in the pulpit (clearly) but I have learned that the intimacy and give and take of a home setting is not only edifying to the students but to the teacher.  Again, I have much to learn.  Our Bible study has doubled in size since we started it and we’re moving from house to house (very Biblical) as the participants live in three different counties.  When a new member asks if you can come to his house to teach a Bible study the answer is always yes.  Walk through that door.

Now on to my somewhat provocative title.  Of course ideally, you are creating both.  But for me (and after talking to my pastor last night and feel very certain of this), I am trying to create followers of Christ who will become integrated into our church family.  Here’s a for instance.  For a new person who asks what is required of them I do not go to the manual of the United Pentecostal Church (although this is a wonderful document chocked full of good information).  I was posited this question this past week.  Here was my answer.  You need to pray 15 minutes per day (not necessarily in one shot).  You need to read your Bible 15 minutes per day (again, in bite size pieces will be fine).  You need to come to church when there is a service.  And that’s pretty much it.

The reason for this is I want folks to know Christ before jumping in head first.  You don’t (or shouldn’t) get married right after you meet someone.  Additionally, walking with Jesus is a life long relationship.  While a two-footed jump is great, it is important to get to know Jesus.  After all, He did say take my yoke upon you and learn of me (Matthew 11:29).  We can be light on the learning and heavy on the yoke.  It is imperative that our new folks have a foundation established that will keep them for the long haul- not just a religion built on rules and/emotion.  Doctrine is teaching and is so very important to the new person.  Why we do what we do.  And most of all, Jesus love you.

Just some random thoughts for Monday.  Go forth and have a great week.

1 Samuel 22:1-2
22:1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
KJV

I was reading this tonight and it struck me as funny.  David picked up a group of distressed, indebted, and discontented folks and became their leader.  Have you ever felt that way?  Has your pastor ever felt that way?  Yes to both from me.  Amazingly, David does great works with this rag-tag band.

Kind of reminds me of the whole book/cover thing.

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I have spent the last 15+ years working in occupational medicine and workers’ compensation.  Accordingly, I found this story in today’s New York Times of particular interest.  On the surface, it appears like a massive fraud is being played on the Long Island Railroad and, by extension, the taxpayers of the US (as railroad workers are covered by a federal act vs. state workers’ compensation law) especially since the LIRR counterparts on the Metro North have roughly 2% of the disability claims.

Crazy.

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• A Disability Epidemic Among a Railroad’s Retirees

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Yesterday, we went to Columbus to take in a production of Disney’s The Lion King.  The national tour is now in its fifth week in Columbus with one more to go.  For a Saturday afternoon, the place was packed as I imagine it has been for most of the run.  I’d never seen the Lion King before as Becky turned me down when I offered to take her in Toronto a few years ago so I was excited for the show.

The opening scene (Circle of Life) is amazing.  It actually gave me chills.  I’m not sure how they make all of the people act as animals (although giraffes require stilts and hyenas require flexible backs) but it was really tremendous.  The story itself was essentially the one from the movie with a few additional songs added.  Completely G rated and a great time for the kids.  Michael sat on my lap the whole time so he could see and didn’t take his eyes away from the stage the entire afternoon.  There was also a fair amount of African singing and dancing, the words of which I did not understand but enjoyed immensely.

If this show comes to your city anytime soon (or if you happen to be in New York like I will be next week), make sure you check it out.

In our house, the Schoolhouse Rocks videos were a great way to supplement the kids’ education. When I was a kids, ABC would put them on Saturday morning between the cartoons (a little spoonful of sugar with your medicine).  Hopefully, this video will help you understand the sub-prime mortgage crisis.  Or not.  Anyway, it sure is fun to watch.

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Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
KJV

I was blogging quite late last night and didn’t get a chance to really expound on our Bible Study yesterday.  We were covering the very basics of the books of the Old Testatment and division of the books.  I also pointed out where I few of the verses you may have heard of were found (like the above one) or ones found on a Christmas card (like Isaiah 9:6) or that Jonah is in fact a minor prophet that covers the story of (drum roll), Jonah.  It is very exciting to watch the scriptures open up to a new mind and see them drink in the Word of God.

Without a doubt, this was the high point of my week.  Can’t wait for next week’s study.

Happy Birthday Michael

Originally uploaded by ryaninmtv

Today is Michael’s birthday and he is eight. We had a great day today with him (which was not hurt by the fact that the electric is back on). He went and picked out a new bicycle for his birthday and we went to his friends’ house tonight and had pizza and cake. Happy Birthday, buddy!

We had a great time at our regularly scheduled Bible study tonight. It is so rewarding to see the light bulb go on in people’s heads when they get what you are talking about. It is probably one of the more rewarding things I get to do in a week. Unfortunately, the work did not stop piling up while the electric was off so there will be no basking tonight.

More meaningful and/or substantive thoughts tomorrow.