Take Two

So yesterday, I was in New York City and around 1:00 PM I was presented with a couple of choices: a) I could get tickets to a Broadway show, have a nice dinner, stay in my very expensive hotel room and catch a flight home Saturday or b) rent a car, drive 500+ miles, eat at a Burger King somewhere in Pennsylvania, and sleep in my own bed.

I chose B.

I don’t know whether I’m traveled out or New Yorked (if that’s a word) out or what ever but the idea of heading to my house held fantastic allure.  Given the opportunity to choose again, I would still come home.  There is nothing like your own bed, seeing your family, and waking up to make coffee in your own kitchen.  I can sit at the desk in my office and type this post on a reliable internet connection.  Side note- you’d think you could get a good signal on a Verizon Air Card in New York City.  You’d think wrong.  Anyway, I kissed my wife as she left this morning and talked about college with Becky.  These are things New York doesn’t offer.  They are well worth an eight hour drive.

I’m glad to be home sweet home.

I am sitting at Jamba Juice at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue across fron the public library getting something to drink before dinner. As I have mentioned before, I love people watching (sorry no link I’m on my Blackberry). This is like Division 1-A College people watching. The pros, of course, would be the East Village.

Posted via Blackberry

Greetings once again from the Big Apple (also known as my home away from home).  I am writing today from the uber sheik Hudson Hotel.  As you recall, I stayed here about a year ago. It was an experience.  Fortunately, my room this time around is significantly larger. Don’t know why but I’m happy for it.  I only have a few minutes before heading out.  I am dining at Patroon tonight which is a classic Upper East Side steakhouse.  Good times.

So, with the irrational fear.  I was planning on going home tomorrow but there is an enormous storm heading up the east coast so I delayed until Saturday.  The flight out was not fun. You know it’s an ugly flight when the captain apologizes for the ride.  Yeah, not so much fun.  From the airport, I called our car service which brought me to the uber sheik Hudson Hotel.  The ride was nuts as anyone who has ever experienced this particular event can tell you but I wasn’t the least bit nervous.  I note this because you are much more likely to be killed in a car accident versus a plane accident.  It is an issue of control (ie, I can drive a car.  I can’t drive a plane).  The book Freakonomics outlines this beautifully.  It’s worth the read.

Now that my irrational fear is in check I’m going to venture out into New York.  I don’t have any fear about that.

Image via Wikipedia

The stink storm is in full tilt now. The New York Times is reporting that federal agents raided the Long Island office of the Raidroad Retirement Board.  Nothing good can come from this (unless you’re a taxpayer).  As I’ve noted here and here, the Long Island Railroad has an unenviable record when it comes to disability claims; especially those claims posted after the person retires.  It becomes an out of sight, out of mind equation.

This has become my new guilty pleasure. If you don’t live in New York or work in disability or workers’ compensation you probably don’t care.  For you folks, hopefully inspiration will strike soon.

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• Agents Raid Office in L.I.R.R. Disability Inquiry

This is absolutely brilliant.  The picture was taken during Chairman Bernanke and Secretary Paulson’s high colonic testimony before the Senate Banking Committee.

Someone needs to get this dude on the Fail Blog.

HT: Wall Street Fighter

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

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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.