And her computer problems today.  LOL Cats make it all better.

Excellent article today from the New York Times on people who move to the city and are either assimilated or broken.  As readers of this blog know, I do a significant amount of time in New York from my first trip last year to the most recent one a couple weeks ago, I have visited the city 13 times in the last eighteen months.  Side note- I’m going to be back there on September 8-10 and have already made great restaurant reservations.

The story notes that with each subject, there was a moment when they discovered that New York either was or wasn’t for them.  For most, it was when they discovered they had “gone native” for lack of a better term.  For me, that moment was in November (which was my sixth or seventh trip).  I noticed that I didn’t need the subway map, wasn’t worried about hailing a cab, and could give directions to tourists.  I also noted that my pace went up, my manner went down, and I needed to chill a little when I got back to the great middle west.  If you’ve every gone to New York, you will agree that it operates on a completely different tempo from any other city.  Like my former pastor Scotty Teets says, I love it and hate it at the same time.  I can’t wait to leave and can’t wait to get back.  Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

If it’s possible to be a mid-western New Yorker, that would be me.

I don’t think Fox News is the eternal bogeyman that some have ascribed it to be but we have officially crossed a line into idiocy.

This is not to dismiss the times when you have inspiration and churn out a message or thought as fast as it enters your brain.  I have those as well but my experience has been that those are the exception and not the rule.  For most of what I write to speak (either church or work), it is a process of several (disconnected) hours.  I have also found that I have much better clarity when I take the day to meditate on what I’m going to say.

Okay, back to the stove.

This reminded me of my brother-in-law’s stupid dog.

This morning Michael and I spent a couple of hours with LJ doing reconnect for our church.  For the uninitiated, reconnect is a follow-up program which we use to follow-up on all of the kids who have visited either Sunday School, Wednesday Junior Youth, Open Gym, or one of our other outreach programs.  If you remember the days of knocking doors in a suit (go on, you know you do), this is nothing like it.  Basically, we went with a stack of church business cards, flyers for tomorrow’s dinner and ice cream social, and a cooler full of flavor ice.  We go to the kids’ houses, give them a flavor ice, and see if they (and by extension their parents) are coming to church and if they need a ride. No fuss, no muss, no pressure.  It took about two hours and, because of the number of people committed to do it, it only requires one Saturday morning every 4-6 weeks.

One very cool (and humbling) aspect of the program is that you get to see the home life of the kids you are working with.  Most have very little in material goods but their faces light up when they see LJ and the church van because the church has changed their life for the better.  Not only do they receive biblical instruction, but food, clothing, school supplies, and any number of other needs they might have.  It has been transformational.

Allow me to inject just a little editorial comment here.  I am more and more of the opinion that the church must become an agent of social change.  And apparently, I’m not alone.  My friend Reg has blogged about this extensively.  If the church is to be effective, it must show the community that it cares about them and is prepared to serve them.  Only then, will it be interested in our theological message.  In John 6, Jesus fed the crowd before he preached.  I think the modern church should do so as well.

Enough of the editorial.  Had a great time at reconnect today.  I think a nap may be in order and then Bible study with our friends tonight.  Awesome.

• Our local Lowe’s has a building class for kids on Saturdays.  I’m going to go in with Michael this morning and he’s going to build a car.  I’m going to try to have all of my fingers when the class is over.
• It’s my weekend to do reconnect at church.  Michael’s going to come along with me.  We’re going to say hello to the folks who have visited church in the last few weeks.
• Charity is at the farmer’s market today with Gabrielle.  Becky has to work.
• My Monday/Thursday Bible Study is moved to this afternoon due to my stupid schedule.  Really looking forward to getting back into that.
• Don’t have to clean my office today because Charity took care of that for me.
• It’s stinkin’ gorgeous here today.  I may sit outside and read a book.

Have a great weekend.

Apparently, American Airlines is planning on launching “Go Go”, its in-flight internet service.  I fly American a lot and I’m thinking two things about this service.  First, I’m not sure I want to be connected while I’m flying.  It’s kind of nice not being able to access my cellphone/internet/e-mail for a couple of hours.  My second thought is $13 per flight.  Really?!?  After you’ve charged me $15 for my first bag and $2 for a bottled water (and the $500 ticket, let’s not forget that).

Survey says- we’ll pass.