Pastor's Thoughts

Hot sauce and other stuff....

2008-11-05T22:00:03Z

Linda and I had lunch today at a “Mexican Grill” called Qdoba near the house. It’s new and we’ve been a couple of times. The food isn’t too bad and it has some flavor unlike most places. Anyway, I got a taco salad and the girl that was preparing it asked me if I wanted hot sauce or very hot sauce. Now I never liked spicy food before but it seems the older I get the spicier I like it. I told her to make it as hot as she could. And she did. I got the salad home and woofed it down as is my usual custom. I broke out in a sweat, turned red and choked it down loving every minute of the suffering. Unfortunately a few hours later my “inards” were on fire. Wow…. Two Tums didn’t work and someone at church tonight suggested ice cream as a cure. I dutifully forced myself (yeah right) to eat some ice cream but am not saying it worked necessarily. Maybe I should try more…

We’ve signed on to a new technology at the church that allows us to send video emails. It’s really a pretty cool thing and I get to share short announcements or other information with people. If we don’t have your email I’d love to have an opportunity to get this to you. I know that you are thinking… “This guy is going to be sending me stuff all the time and binding up my computer…” Nope, I promise we are not going to overdo this and it comes to you through a website so it doesn’t mess up your computer.

Storing up movies to view on my iPod. Just did 8 old movies of the Bowery Boys and am working on Sherlock Holmes. These are old B/W ones with Basil Rathbone who was the best of the actors playing the great detective. When I am done with my own movies I should have 50 to 75 ready to view.

Jerry going to watch an old movie on my iPod – out…..

Hello again

2008-11-03T21:23:56Z

Why I haven’t been here in a while is that Linda convinced me that Facebook is what is happening and that blogging is passé. Okay so I bought in to the whole deal and not only do I have a facebook page or whatever you call it, but I also told the church to each have one. Now I have gotten a lot of response from people I haven’t seen or heard of in years which is typical for facebook I guess, but the thing is just too complicated for me. It took me forever to learn how to do the blog thing and now I have to learn something else. Just thought I’d stop by the blog here and say hi.

The election is tomorrow. I don’t really want to say anything about that.

Linda and I are alone again. (Leah and the boys are in Alabama now that Paul is back from overseas.) Of course Sasha is here too but it is really quiet. I do miss them though – gotta admit.

God is doing great things at Destiny Church. We are pushing 500 in services and God is doing wonderful things in the lives of His people. They are coming into relationship with Him and are being healed, blessed, and provided for. Just had a missions emphasis and our pledges to missions are up by 11K over last year. That just thrills me. As we are committed to missions I know that it opens the door to even greater blessings from God here.

I have to go now to try to do some stuff on the facebook thing. Ugh. It is tough being techno-challenged….

Jerry

Conference, Sunday message, Old Time Radio, Paul is back, and other stuff

2008-09-21T19:50:57Z

CONFERENCE: Just returned on Saturday from a 3 day conference in Lakeland at Victory Church. The All Church Ministries Convention is an annual event sponsored by our District. There are workshops for all kinds of things. I taught 5 workshops in 2 days. The most exhausting part was running from one end of the church to the other for each workshop. Guess they couldn't set it up where I did all 5 in one place for some reason. Got some great information myself by going to some sessions when I wasn't teaching. Got something really good about video emails that we are looking forward to checking out.

SUNDAY MESSAGE: Talked to everyone today about the Laodicean Church in Revelation 3. Encouraged to be passionate and not lukewarm. Linda and I are very excited about the future of Destiny Church. Am more "fired up" about the vision and the future than we have ever been. We serve great people who are a pleasure to lead. It is such a blessing when people are coming along side you as a pastor and not stonewalling. The future is entirely possible because of the power of God and the faithfulness and dedication of His people.

OLD TIME RADIO: At various times my son Michael has bought me old time radio programs on CDs. I have about 900 on iTunes. Suspense, Boston Blackie, The Shadow and others. They are from back in the ‘40s and ‘50s. You know people had to use their imaginations back in the days before TV, movies and the internet. I understand why families would sit around radios to listen together. Anyway, while I love technology and love the days we are living in, I still love the old stuff too.

PAUL IS BACK: Our Son-in-law Paul is back from Kuwait. Arrive in the states today. Leah will meet him in Minnesota on Friday and they will leave on Monday (?) to come back to FL. They should be here by Wed. Then they will go to Alabama to rent a house at their new duty assignment.

GOOD FAST FOOD: There really is such a thing sometimes. I like spicy food. Most places just have things that are pretty bland and then they say it is spicy or label it that way for people who think even mild is spicy. Anyway most of the stuff has no flavor. But we have a new place near our house called Qdoba. It’s a “Mexican grill”. Anyway, the food really has some flavor. Had a Taco Salad today with spicy salsa and some kicking queso that was really good. There is also a place in our mall called Twin Cactus that has a spicy chicken deal that is hotter than blazes. I turn red, break out in a sweat, and my nose runs. Man I love that stuff!

STARTING A SERIES OF MESSAGES ON GAMBLING ON OCT 5TH: Take a look at the banner on the home page for details.

More on the kids and a great day at Destiny...

2008-08-24T17:53:52Z

HOMEWORK , MEALS, AND GOING TO BED: The boys just started school and have homework every night. I sure am glad that they are staying with us now and not later. Jordan is in 3rd grade and Sam is in first. Never watched Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader (http://www.fox.com/areyousmarter/) but am happy that I don’t have to be concerned with that. Really good that we don’t have to deal with heavy duty math or science. We’d just be in deep trouble with Algebra or Calculus. I already graduated from High School 4 times. Really. I graduated in 1969 (Wow that’s a long time ago) from Martin Van Buren HS in Queens, NY. Then when Linda was going to HS (I met her when she had just turned 17) I graduated from Lakenheath HS in England. Then I graduated twice from Minot HS in North Dakota with Michael and Leah. I have paid my school dues. Even got a BA from Southeastern University (http://www.seuniversity.edu/) in Lakeland FL.

Okay meals. Talk about finicky eaters. Jordan will anything as long as its pizza. I guess he can choke down a few other things too on occasion. Ice cream is always in order as well as chicken patties on hamburger buns and hot dogs. But he puts ketchup on the hot dogs. Its downright uncivilized to put anything but mustard on a hotdog. Glad we have a freezer. Sam is a little easier. He does eat spaghetti which is his favorite all time meal, hamburgers, and chicken nuggets. Ben who is 17 months has his own preferences which is anything that is messy. Of course Sasha loves Ben and follows him around constantly in the hopes of getting “the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.”

At bedtime we go through the take a bed, get in your PJs and say your prayers. It just seems like kids forever to do what you want them to do. The try to stretch out the bedtime thing for as long as they can.

RECORD ATTENDANCE: We had a total of 425 in church today which is awesome when you consider that it is still summer and none of our “snowbirds” are back yet. Our children’s church for ages 3 to 12 (in 2 locations) was packed and the 2 nurseries for infants through two years old were overflowing. We are blessed to have so many young families in the church. We’ve had 2 babies this year and have 3 more coming. But attendance and numbers aside, I am more blessed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in the people. People are coming into real relationship with the Lord. We are aware of a presence and power of the Spirit that is affecting worship, prayer, the message from the Word, and altar time. The response to the ministry of the Word has been great. I started a series today on the attributes of God. We started with the omniscience of God. That is that He is all-knowing.

Gotta run….

Blessings,

RAISING 'EM; WEATHER AND ELECTIONS

2008-08-23T17:34:47Z

RAISING ‘EM IS EASIER: Linda and I have been babysitting the 3 boys while Leah is in North Dakota clearing out of their house on the Air Force Base. So we have the whole schedule thing – Tutoring, martial arts, school of course (taking them and picking them up with all the soccer Moms and Dads), church of course too (Now we have to get 5 ready instead of 2), plus the regular house routine. Linda has been working from home and watching Ben while his brothers are at school. Linda is much better at this than I am – as she constantly reminds me its her youth that makes it easier for her. She is younger than I am but I do believe that hot flashes have multiplied recently. As the “old geezer” grandpa, visiting for a few days is much less stressful than FULL TIME. I already paid my full time dues with Michael and Leah. Don’t get me wrong I love them, and even love having them here (Yeah okay maybe not “love” but it has been nice). Here’s the problem though, when you are raising kids you can be and are expected by your kids to be totally un-understanding, unreasonable, and freaked out with rules and stuff. But when you are a grandparent you are supposed to spoil them and not be enforcing rules all time. I have to confess that I am rethinking my idea of retiring when I am 70 and mooching off Michael and Leah by rotating 6 months with each. By then though the kids will be in college and I will be able to convert their rooms to my very own, then they will never want to stay there again because the place will smell like “old guy.” Sweet revenge.

HURRICANE, NO TROPICAL STORM, NO HURRICANE, NO TROPICAL STORM FAY: Unbelievable. All the weather guys were predicting that we (especially Tampa) would get hammered by Fay. There are places north of us that have gotten over 2 feet of rain and bad flooding. She spawned tornadoes as well. Of course we’re happy to not have been hit but sorry others in Florida have gotten more than their share of storm problems. The thing that really irritates me though is that the local weather guys actually seem disappointed that the hurricane didn’t hit us! It’s like they get to justify their existence by scaring people with their predictions.

ELECTIONS – UGH! – PULEEEEEEEZE LET IT BE OVER: Okay Barak Obama has named Joe Biden as his running mate. It should be interesting to see if the McCain camp or anyone else for that matter, reports on how Biden had to pull out of his own Presidential bid when he was exposed as a plagiarist and liar. Now the country waits with heart stopping anticipation for whoever McCain will name. It could be a surprise but I really think it will be Romney. One of the cable news stations is actually doing a countdown to November 4th. Just shoot me…..

A wedding in Mississippi and other stuff

2008-07-18T07:43:55Z

A WEDDING IN MISSISSIPPI - Linda and I are going to Oxford, MS on August 8th for a few days. I will be officiating at our nephew David's wedding to his fiance Erica. David, Erica and I have been emailing back and forth concerning details of the ceremony. I am, of course, complete "cool, calm, and collected" as the old deodorant commercial used to say. But with the rigors of graduation from Ole Miss, and an impending wedding nerves are beginning to become a little raw. That's understandable. The wedding day is so important and has so many memories that will be recalled years and years later. Everyone, especially the bride wants it to go off without a hitch.

I ministered recently about "The Wedding Planner" and shared about the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins of Matthew 25. It is so exciting to know that Jesus the Bridegroom is returning for His Bride (us) and that it will be an awesome experience. But you know, I'm not "nervous" about it. I know that I love the Lord and He loves me and I know that my lamp is trimmed and have oil at the ready. When Jesus returns for the Church it will be the greatest event to have happened in the history of mankind since His birth in Bethlehem and His death on the Cross. (Can't forget the Resurrection of course, but you know what I mean.). Jesus will be the focal point of our worship for eternity and nothing else will matter but being in the fullness of His presence. Wow!

FOUND SOME "OLD FRIENDS" - While we pastored River of Life A/G in Minot ND lots of folks went through there because of the fact that we had an Air Force Base in town and many of our people were with the military so we had a pretty regular turnover. Anyway, we still hear from many of the ones that we knew there. Linda recently made contact with a couple who are now Children's Pastor's in OK. What a blessing to find them, serving the Lord and His people in such a way. It does bless pastors to know that what they spoke in to someone's life or what they did for them has produced ministry fruit.

BENNY AND THE JETS - Leah and the boys are still with us and we are really enjoying it. Sure schedules are hectic and toys get stepped on but who cares? It's worth it to have them here. Benjamin is the 16 month old and is definitely in charge of all the rest of us. He especially likes Linda because Grandma spoils him even worse than I do. At least I will say no sometimes, but she is a pushover and he knows it. Jordan and Sam are great. The only thing with them is that they operate at one speed - hyperfast! Running through the house and careening into furniture and bouncing off into each other is something we (Leah and I) are working on.

ALYSON AND LAURYN: We really miss the girls. We had them here for just one week and we miss them so much. Its just not right to have grandchildren so far away. We talk to them on the phone but its never the same. Michael and Tara are doing well. He's in China for about a week on business and Tara is getting her classroom ready. She will be teaching kindergarten in a public school this year.

Richest blessings, gotta run....

Jerry

"I need this like a sharp stick in the eye"

2008-07-07T13:23:46Z

Maybe you've heard this expression before. In other words almost anything would be better than the thing that you are dealing with. Generally, I don't have an attitude like this about most things, but blogging - now that's a different story.

I have a real struggle with this stuff. Not because I am technologically challenged. I do like the toys. Just got a new bluetooth rig for my phone and it is pretty cool because I can just say "call Linda" or someone else's name in my call list and it will dial for me. Don't even need to touch the thing. So anyway, I like tecky kind of things more or less. But this blogging. Ugh. It's not even that I don't want to let people know what is happening but it just takes time and that is the problem. What we need is a gizmo that will let me think what I want on the blog when I am doing something else and will just type it. Nah, too much like new age telepathy etc.

Let me tell you some good things about Destiny Church and what the Lord is doing in me that have especially blessed me lately. For the last 3 weeks or so there has been a strong presence of the Holy Spirit in our services. Throughout the worship, the Word and the time of prayer at the altar, God is showing Himself wonderfully present. More than that, He's been there all the time but some are just mustering the faith and focus to step in. Not just them though. The Lord has been something in me the last several weeks too. He is taking me (I was going to say push but that wouldn't be right") beyond where I was at. I have enjoyed ministering in the Word more than I have in awhile and the response of people to receive from God has been great.

Like anyone else, I can take things for granted or get in a rut. So the Holy Spirit talks to me about the Word of God and what He wants in my life before I get to share it with the church. I guess I just wanted to say that I want all that God has for me and that I am enjoying what He is doing in me. I don't expect every service to be a clone of the previous one because the Lord manifests His presence in many ways, but I am glad for whatever He does as He chooses. I just want whatever we experience to be genuine and really from Him.

We serve a great people here at Destiny and many are hungry for God.

Richest blessings,

Jerry

Bridge on the River Kwai, Father's Day and New Phones

2008-06-15T15:04:24Z

THE LAST WORD IN BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI – As an old movie buff (maybe I should say a fan of old movies instead) I love the quirky trivia that only movie people will remember. Anyway, remember the last word in the film Bridge On The River Kwai with William Holden and Sir Alec Guinness? The camp doctor is surveying the results of the final battle and says the last word in the movie – “Madness.” Then he repeats it as the credits begin to roll. “Madness.” Now this adequate describes the craziness we have had with 3 young grandsons being with us. They will be here until the middle of November probably and it is madness, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being a grandfather means I can tank them up on sugar (ice cream nearly every night) and then let their mother deal with them. They are really good, really.

FATHER’S DAY – Had a surprise for Father’s Day. Linda (without telling me) read letters from Michael and Leah. I was so moved. I love my kids and their spouses and our grandkids more than I can say. Michael’s letter was long but a wonderful blessing and surprise. Leah’s letter was shorter but just as heartfelt. I will keep and treasure them always. Leah and Paul (overseas) took us to the Olive Garden for lunch. Michael and Tara sent us a check to go to our favorite Brazilian Steakhouse – Boizao.

NEW PHONES – Our church business manager and I decided that the church would no longer provide cell phones for the staff. With several of us having phones, it has been an additional expense that the church doesn’t need. At any rate, Linda and I are now with Verizon and purchased Glyde phones. They are made by Samsung and really are just iPhone wannabe’s. The only problem is that we have to learn all over again. Linda is great at it but I am “technologically challenged.” To make it worse, it is a “touch” phone. As I said earlier about another subject – “madness.” So if you call my cell phone don’t be frustrated by me not picking up right away. I’m not ignoring you, I may just not know what I am doing.

Gotta run….

Park and birthday pics

2008-06-07T08:54:47Z

Girls leaving

2008-06-07T08:38:54Z

GIRLS LEAVING - WE HAD A GREAT TIME: Alyson who will be 11 on Tuesday, June 10th and Lauryn who will be 8 in September are leaving today after being with us for a week. Leah and her three boys (Jordan -8, Sam-6 and Ben-15 months) have been with us too, so it was a little crowded but we made do. All of us went to Disney World on Monday, took the girls to dinner at Red Lobster and to the Lion King at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on Tuesday (it’s a great show and worth the ticket price) and then we did Busch Gardens yesterday. Exhausted would be an understatement. The cousins got along pretty well but kids will be kids. Guess that since I already paid my kid dues, 5 at one time can seem a little overwhelming but we have survived. The real great thing about being a grandparent is that you can tank them up on sugar and give them everything that their parents say they can’t have and then send them home! It’s wonderful pay-back.

Deliverance....

2008-05-27T16:01:58Z

Our deliverance draweth nigh! As much as I love technology – I hate technology. But this may the answer for being able to do the blog in a way that I will be able to update it and not lose everything. There is a despicable force in the universe determined to drive me crazy with this stuff but with the help of Moe Somji our web guy we may have vanquished the dreaded foe.

BACK FROM MINOT: We had a great time in Minot, ND at River of Life Church that we pastored for 10 years. They dedicated a 59,000 square foot facility that they purchased from a foundation. God has richly blessed them with a wonderful pastor and wife who have a great vision for reaching out and it is paying off in the expansion of the Kingdom and growth of the church. They treated us royally and we loved the opportunity to minister there again.

I flew back on Monday (May 19) alone. Linda, Leah and our 3 grandsons left ND that morning and drove to FL. They got in on Wednesday night late. They will be staying with us while our son-in-law Paul is overseas until Oct. Its crazy but it is so good to have them there. Sasha is adjusting too but she isn’t used to not being the center of attention.

THE GIRLS ARE COMING TOO: Alyson and Lauryn our granddaughters in Baton Rouge will be flying on their own to see us on Friday. They can only stay for a week but we’ll make the most of every minute. We have several things planned so it will be a busy week but they are worth it.

Grandchildren are awesome.

BRAGGING RIGHTS: Linda will be upset with me putting this on the blog but I am happy to say that I have lost a little over 36 pounds since January 1st. It has been a job but I had to do it. Still would like to shed just a few more pounds for insurance shall we say but I am pleased with where I am at. It is hard because I love food and I love to eat. Just can’t do it like I did when I was a young pup and could eat anything and not gain.

GOTTA RUN: If this works there will be more frequent updates of the blog. If it doesn’t you won’t know about it anyway unless you can hear the gunshot as I put my computer out of its and my misery.

Finally?

2008-05-27T10:53:35Z

OKAY LET ME EXPLAIN: Both of our kids have griped at me for not doing any posting recently but it hasn’t been by choice. I have a laptop at home and when I have tried to post something I type the whole thing out and then when I’d try to post it, one of 2 things happened. Either it just disappeared never to be found again, or the website refused to upload it. Yes, I realize that I am technologically challenged but that’s just the way it is. I really don’t mind being in the 21st century but I have to confess that I hate this stuff sometimes. Anyway, I think that I have found the solution (which I did entirely on my own by the way). The “test” I did worked. Yeah!

Now let me bring you up to date. “To make a long story short…” as they say:

TRIP TO MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA: Linda and I are leaving early Friday morning for Minot where we were the Pastors of River of Life Assembly of God for ten years from 1989-1999. They have grown so much that they had to purchase another building and we will be part of the dedication. We are so happy for them. Haven’t met the new Pastor yet but he has been very gracious to us and we are very appreciative. The only problem is that it is still cold in ND. It snowed in Grand Forks (where Leah, Paul and the boys live) just a few days ago. It gets down in the 50s still. Anything under 70 is cold to me. Anyway I will be returning by myself on Monday but Linda will be driving with Leah and the 3 boys (Jordan, Sam and Ben) to FL. Our son-in-law Paul is a Captain in the AF and is going on temporary duty overseas for 5 months or so. Leah and the boys are coming down to stay with us during that time. We’ve moved a bunch of stuff around and cleaned out closets etc. We are looking forward to it.

THE GIRLS ARE COMING TOO: We’re really excited because Alyson and Lauryn our granddaughters from Baton Rouge, LA (Michael and Tara’s girls) are coming to spend a week with us at the end of May. They will be flying for the first time by themselves. We’re going to have a great time. It will be awesome to have all 5 of our grandkids at the same time. We’ve got several things planned with all of them and some things just with the girls since they’ll only be here for a week.

Gotta run for now…just glad that I finally figured this out. Thanks for your patience.

Testing - 1,2,3.....

2008-05-14T16:49:10Z

Having trouble with posting. Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

Made it through Sunday's message; ripples on the water; and other stuff...

2008-04-14T19:53:39Z

Well the "Great Sex" sermon is over and I got several comments from people that appreciated that I even addressed the subject. I had assured them the week before that there would be nothing crass or crude about what I said but that I would be frank about it. If there were any that were upset about it they never said anything to me about it. While I don't shoot for controversy, it sometimes follows me because I believe that there are real life issues that need to be addressed in the church. A part of the reason that the world thinks we are irrelevant is that we don't talk about the things that they are dealing with. The church and especially pastors are going to have to go beyond where they are at if we are going to equip believers for the realities of every day living and reach out to the unchurched. We never have to water down the message and never should, but Jesus talked about the everyday issues of life.

Having said that - there is still some "push back" on the subject of Pleading the Blood of Jesus. Guess I just don't understand why people get so upset. If they disagree with what I am saying they have a perfect right not to believe it. I really beleive though that the reason they get angry about it is that the problem is that they refuse to acknowledge even the possibility that they may be wrong. It's like "don't confuse me with the facts." I have had to admit from the pulpit that I have been wrong about things and have no problem doing it. I have had pastors that I disagreed with on doctrinal issues but I didn't leave the church or take an attitude with them, or talk to other people about it. I just went on choosing to focus on the things we agreed about rather than what we disagreed on. After all we're not talking about the diety of Christ or His virgin birth or His death on the Cross or His resurrection. It is amazing....

In spite of everything and anything Linda and I are so blessed to be serving at Destiny Church. They are a great group of people with hearts toward God and are a very great encouragement to us. I can't imagine being anywhere else. When you are in the perfect will of God you are at such peace. That is where we are - in the perfect center of God's will for us.

Gotta run for now...

Blessings

Jerry

It's not that I like being controversial, but....; more great questions; can you believe this? and cravings.

2008-04-07T20:48:05Z

IT'S NOT THAT I LIKE BEING CONTROVERSIAL BUT: If you saw the home page for our site you know that I am preaching this Sunday on "Great Sex." I've assured everyone that there will be nothing crass, crude or coarse about what I say but the Bible can be very graphic in its depiction of the love between married lovers. I know that it will make some people uncomfortable but this needs to be talked about in the church instead of on the street or in schools.

What is even more controversial is my Wednesday night Bible study. The challenge or title of the series I am doing is - Pleading the Blood of Jesus - Biblical practice or Christian superstition? My position is that the Blood of Jesus is only for the remission of sin and any other use like protection etc, is not Biblical. It has already made some folks mad (or at least upset). Now this series won't be on the webcast, but it will be available on CD and DVD. All I am doing is asking people to think about this practice. We have traditions just like anyone else and this is one of them.  One of the questions I have posed to the folks that come on Wednesday nights is, "If pleading the Blood of Jesus was such a powerful thing to be doing, how come there isn't one reference in the New Testament to any of the disciples doing it, writing about it or instructing us in it?" Anyway, I'm not doing it to make anyone angry. As a matter of fact I have said that I don't want to argue about it. Just present the case, let people consider it and if they choose to keep doing it so be it. I believe that things happen in spite of Christians pleading the Blood, not because of it so it just doesn't matter.

MORE GREAT QUESTIONS: Why do doctors make appointments so that you can sit in the waiting room for hours? Doesn't your time count for anything? What if you made them wait? Here's another one I've wondered about.  Why does the dentist ask you questions that require an answer when he/she has their fingers in your mouth?

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?  Okay, Oprah has sunk to new low - the pregnant "man." What's WRONG with this picture? Only Oprah has the power, and clout to pull this off and people actually take it in. The purveyor of her own personal brand of religion, Oprah is the high priestess of a new age cult that she is making up as she goes along.

CRAVINGS: I had a craving recently for Italian sausage and peppers(ISAP) (the title of the dish assumes the presence of onions too but we just don't say it) Anyway, I love making it and my mouth was watering for it so we went to the store, got the stuff and I made it. It was soooooooooo good. The only problem is that you have to have bread with it. No bread is like cereal without milk. Ugh. So it gets worse. Immediately after my ISAP craving, I got another one. Breaded chicken cutlets, salad and a baked potato. The other stuff isn't important but I love chicken cutlets (especially the way I make them). Again, however, bread is a necessary staple of such a meal. Yeah you gotta have bread. I love to cook and now I am craving lemon and garlic chicken. Guess what, you gotta have bread with that too.

Gotta run for now....

Jerry

Yankees game, freezin', and thank God I am in Florida

2008-04-02T15:40:58Z

Our sales rep for the Tampa Tribune (Nick Novo, a great Christian brother) got us tickets for the Yankees last spring training game at Legends Field (now Steinbrener Field) in Tampa. The Yankees were playing the Philadelphia Phillies. Needless to say, as a die-hard Yankees fan, I had to be there. I wore my Yankees jacket that Linda and I estimate is at least 25 years old judging by the fact that there are holes in the pockets and that if I put anything in there - its gone....

Anyway, most of the staff was there and some other friends from the church. We had a great time except that the wind was blowing 25 plus miles an hour and it was freezing. It reminded me, of North Dakota (in the spring of course). Notice in the top picture that although I am huddled next to Linda for the pic that my eyes are definitely on the game. However you can tell that by the time someone snapped the bottom picture I was more intent on keeping my hands warm than watching the game.

Know what the best part of a ball game is (besides the Yankees of course)? The food. Oh the food. Hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts, pizza, Outback Steak and blooming onions, etc. Unbelieveable. If I went to baseball games all the time I could supplement my income standing in for the Goodyear Blimp.

Anyway, just last night someone from Minnesota told me that their relatives up there said that they had 10 inches of snow (March 31st). Lord I am glad I live in FL! It was 80+ degrees today. Okay so occasionally you freeze at a Yankees game but the other 364 days are awesome.

Gotta run.....

Blessings,

Jerry

Great questions of life...

2008-03-28T16:53:59Z

Okay, I need you to help me on this. I was thinking again (as I often do) about why things are as they are. I mean we often just take things for granted don't we? Here's what I mean. I love Clausen pickles and thankfully on Weight Watches pickles carry no point value. (BTW - I've lost about 20 pounds so far and have another 10 to go to get to my goal but I'm not allowed to say anything about it.) Anyway, have you ever noticed that a pickle jar is absolutely filled beyond belief! So that when you take off the little plastic thingy that goes around the jar head and you open the jar - it is deliberately designed to slosh pickle juice all over you (or me as it were). Can there be a diabolical conspiracy to create a pickle juice contamination in America?

Anyway, let's consider this one of the great questions of life. Let me know of any of those nagging questions you may have... like why do people get tickets for running red lights until they die, then the hearse can go right through a red light and even have the police stop oncoming traffic so they can do it.

Medicine commercials. How about those? Why would I want a sample of some medicine to say lower my cholesterol when the commercial says that the possible side effects are diarrhea, skin rash, swollen ankles, blindness, stroke, mental collapse and thoughts of suicide? Hey this is a no brainer - give me the blood clot! Know what I mean?

Talking heads (especially during an election year) are making me sick enough to take something, no matter what the side effects are. Some politicians are making an issue of "torture" of terrorists. Waterboarding and other things have been condemned. Here's the fix - make them watch political commercials, listen to the talking heads and hear politicians promise everybody everything. Talk about torture. They will sing like canaries!

Gotta run.... still thinking about "the great questions of life..."

Saturday night at the movies (not really) and "Oh please God let me remember..."

2008-03-22T18:25:19Z

I am 57 years old and I was surfing the channels tonight (Saturday) and came across the Wizard of Oz. Now this movie is almost 13 years older than I am. It came out in 1939, but no matter how many times I see it I love it. I am going to preach a series in the fall of the year on the Wizard of Oz. Just can't decide if I will use video clips or use actors dressed up like the main characters. Its true that "they just don't make them like they used to."

We are doing a major Easter production tomorrow with 3 sketches. I wrote the one called, "According to Peter" I will be playing Peter as an old man before being executed. I wrote too much dialogue for myself but now its too late. More than remembering my lines is that I am praying for a great turn out of people who have been invited and that the Holy Spirit will minister to them. The entire service will be on the website the week after Easter.

Gotta run so I can practice my lines....

Will be in touch...

Jerry

Michael's visit, eating out (I was soooo baaaad) and New Centurions

2008-03-10T18:43:21Z

Linda took this picture of Michael and I at the Columbia Restaurant (http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/) in Tampa. The Columbia is over a hundred years old and has a great menu of Cuban foods. We each ordered something different convinced that "we would take some home for another meal." Yeah right! Well three cleaned plates later, I waddled out of the historic Columbia Restaurant.

The next night we went to Boizao. It is a Brazilian Steakhouse (http://www.boizao.com/) also in Tampa. Michael really wanted to go and was very insistent so I gave in and Linda and I tagged along as he went. Sure.... Anyway, this place is unreal. You could gain a ton of weight just on the salad bar. You know there is something psychologically slimming about eating at the salad bar no matter how fattening it all is. After the salad bar, they come at you with skewers of meat. There are 2 kinds of lamb (which I would starve if that was all there was to eat). Two kinds of pork which I love and 9 kinds of beef. Not to mention various and sundry other kinds of stuff. Amazing.

Linda and I did share a dessert but I have to confess that I think my sides scraped the door jam on the way out. It's an expensive place to eat but well worth it. Especially since Michael paid (again, since he picked up the check at Columbia too). Its wonderful to have successful children who know how to reach for the check. Besides food does taste better when someone else is buying. Verdad? (True?) Enough about food. Its back to Weight Watchers and frozen, low fat, low calorie, and low taste meals now. Of course, its not supposed to be a diet right? It is a lifestyle and my lifestyle took a two day trip to Fatsoville, so I am now back on the WW wagon.

Last year I began a one year discipleship ministry for men in our church called The New Centurions. After a year of monthly meetings we "commissioned" the 20 men who were able to stay with the ministry as New Centurions (Men of faith, authority and power from the Centurion story in Matthew 8). Each man was given a Roman sword and stand to commemorate the event. Since New Centurions was limited to men over 18 we felt we needed to do something for younger men to begin to prepare them. We had six young men (12-18) who went through a Young Centurions course for 6 months with Brook Bennett our Associate Pastor. The young men were given the shields you see in the pictures above. There are 2 Young Centurions who will are old enough to come in to the next New Centurion class I am starting at the end of April. In the middle picture the men draw their swords and take a pledge to God, their wives, families and church. The young men take a similar pledge. I am really excited about this ministry.

BTW the stairs aren't carpeted yet but we are working on it. Hopefully that part of the renovation will be done by early April.

Anyway, gotta go, guess I'll have a piece of fruit.....

He's back!; powerwashing; the Rosetta Stone; and other things

2008-03-04T14:22:32Z

Our son Michael is in Orlando again for a week. Its the last phase of some kind of business training that I guess is in very high demand in the corporate world. Its supposed to make him more marketable and upwardly mobile. Sure hope he makes tons of money. I am a firm believer that children should take care of their parents in a style to which they would like to be accustomed. We'll get to see him this weekend. He will be 32 years old on March 18th so we'll take him somewhere nice for dinner.

Just had much of the church powerwashed (something that has to be done in FL) now and then and the guy did a really good job. I'm going to call him to powerwash our house and screened porch. He can do it in half the time it would take me and do a much better job.

My sister in law Christy (Linda's brother Glenn's wife) and he sent me The Rosetta Stone language program for Christmas to help me with my Spanish. Just now loaded it on my computer. Hope it helps. For years I have been linguistically challenged shall we say, but our Spanish people are very gracious and tolerant. They are helping me so much.

Some people have gotten their tax refunds already - and spent them. Stimulating the old economy ya know... Anyway, hoping to hear from our accountant in the next few days. We too have some plans. Some will go to savings but we really need new bed. Queen size isn't big enough for me, Linda and Sasha (our 90 pound German Shepherd Dog) so we'll be in the market for a King size.

We've begun a renovation of our sanctuary. Starting with raising our platform to one level and then adding the steps you see in the picture. Next step is electrical and sound stuff to do on the platform then carpeting. After that its a bunch of other stuff. Just moving right along.....

Had a great revival with Dobie Weasel. All his messages are on our website in audio and video formats. Do yourself a favor and take a look.

Gotta run. Richest blessings.