What the Hell is THAT!!

I have 2 blogs. This one (obviously), and the blue one linked to the Forums. I've debated ditching one because I usually just copy from one to the other. But I now find the value of having two. This one isn't really seen by anyone but family, the other by folks on the Forum, so I can rant about emotional or personal stuff while getting to choose the audience.
Cool, an entire paragraph and I haven't even said anything! Now, the point (assuming there is one)of this rant - The Singles Group. (See, how I've italicized for dramatic effect?)Tough call on how or where to start, so we'll go with a "free form" rant.

Yesterday we recieved an email from Lisa informing us that she and Ross would not be attending small group - they were going to NIOSA. Oh, and they were taking Paul with them. And Jennifer. Then Mikki emails saying she wouldn't be there because she wanted to spend some time with her boyfriend Roger (in other words - they were going to NIOSA also.) Kinda aggravating to say the least.

At 6:30 ( we begin at 7) two ladies that had visited once before arrive, so there goes dinner. It turns out we have 4 visitors attend, Linda & Rick (our coaches) and Kim. Nice. I felt bad for Kim, she had done a lot of prep to teach and the group ditches.
It goes pretty well, until prayer requests. A visitor, Melody, asks for prayer for her son who is struggeling with drug addiction and needs a job to help her with her bills. I ask her to talk with me after small group, because I may have work for him. We have several request for physical healing for assorted aches and pains. It turns out that one of the visitors, her name escapes me for now, reveals to us that she has the gift of healing, and proceeds to start laying on hands and going "pentecostal"! I try to keep an open mind, because I really don't understand how God works in all things. I believe that he does and can use people to heal, I'm just not sure that someone so gifted would brag about their scorecard of healing. What upset (okay - pissed me off) was how shocked & uncomfortable the rest of the visitors were with it. Kim, Sandy & I try to do damage control as everyone leaves, but unfortunately Linda thought the lady was wonderful, so I don't know - we'll have to see.

After group I tell Melody that my work is looking for someone to do the janitorial work and ultimately move into the shop as a hydraulic mechanic. I told her the pay and benefits are good and they don't drug test for that job. "Oh no! He wants to sell. He wants to be a salesman."
Help me here. Your crystal meth injecting, 15 jobs in two years, keeps bailing on rehab son wants to be a salesman? I'm sorry, I miss understood. I didn't realize that he really, really was responsible and that the drug & job thing were just a cover.

After everyone had left, we talked with Kim about how well she had done with her first group. Kim mentions that she also had been invited to go to NIOSA, but had declined the invite. So the group that we've opened our home to and supported to the hilt, just decided to basically dump on us. How freaking wonderful!

I gotta say, here and now, that Sandy & I are really struggling with our commitment to this group, truth is any group. I know all the God speak about service and community and such, but unfortunately I'm still weak in the grace department. A few years ago I would have said "Screw it! I'm done!" but right now I'm just at the "Screw it!" phase. But I gotta tell ya - "I'm done!" is very near. We're supposed to go to Lost Maples as a group outting tommorrow, but it appears Sandy may have a slight concussion and my "give a sh*t" is pretty low, so me may bail. I'm not sure how "warm and fuzzy" we would be towards them anyway. I'm weak.

Pray for us!

Bp

Funding the War

Today is Sunday, April 15. This date souns familiar? Ab-so-lutely, it's typically tax deadline day, but through the miracle of the Julian calendar, we gain an extra day to file. I took off Friday to get mine done because I knew I would owe 'em money. Boy howdy. They're done now, I just need to print, sign, mail & pray! The prayer is for no mistakes. I live in fear of IRS audits the way Jews in Nazi Germany feared the SS. As a matter of fact I believe there are more than a few similarities. The SS did have nicer uniforms though.
Bp

Yeah, This Is Great

How do I get myself into these situations? Jason called 2 weeks ago and asked if I would be willing to help with a video to be used as a sermon illustration for Easter Sunday and, being the faithful servant I am, I answered "of course - I'm honored". I envisioned my self portraying one of the Apostles at the last supper or a Roman centurion at the crucifixion or at worst a member of the Sanhedrin at the trial. Wow, drama. I can honor my Lord through drama. What a humbling thought.

Jason & I talked later and I asked what role they needed me to play. "Uhmmm, we need someone older", he replied. Just curious, what role will I be playing? A big grin spread across his face as he answered "We, uhhhh, we need to film shots of an old guy who is trying to recapture his youth. Trying to be what he's not. You know, with a wig, driving a fancy sports car, working out at the gym. You'll be perfect!" I completely lost it. I started laughing so hard, I couldn't stop! I literally had tears running down my cheeks, I laughed so hard my sides hurt. I was completely ambushed.
The week went by and the whole thing had slipped my mind. I figured they found someone else or maybe they changed their minds about the project. What a relief, I don't mind a good laugh at my expense - thank God or I would've developed a complex years ago! Then last night as I arrived home from work, the phone rang. It was my daughter-in-law Bre. Bre is the videographer for our church, but I didn't think about that at the time. I was hoping she was only trying to find Aaron or needed a babysitter. "You ready to shoot"? Shoot what? "Your video". Damn it!!

Bre came over and off we went to a local car dealership. She took some shots of me checking out a couple of Mustangs and ogling the price tags and such and we were done with that. Back to the house for more. This was where the wig came out. She took shots of me trying to put the stupid thing on, that was fun. She then had me dress up in baggy gym shorts, a very tight t shirt and knee socks and pretend I was pumping iron and riding an exercise bike while she filmed me huffing & puffing. "Annnnnd, that's a wrap"! Thank God! She tried to show some of the shoot, but I just didn't have the stomach for it. Being a fool is one thing, watching myself myself be a fool is something else entirely. I'll wait and watch this sunday. One thing for sure, I'm betting this is gonna be a memorable Easter!

And about the wig. I'm at complete peace with what God has given me, but there have been occasions where I've wondered what it would be like to have a full head of hair again. This episode took care of that. I looked ridiculous! My granddaughter, Abby, and the dogs would have nothing to do with me while I was wearing it. Abby kept telling me to take off the hat and dogs just stayed across the room from me. Now maybe a fanny tuck and face lift, but no wig!

We'll see how the video turns out Sunday. I'll probably post the review here, next week. Pray for me.