THEATER CONCESSIONS RUINED MY DATE!

My wife Tracie and I went to see "Stranger Than Fiction" Saturday night. Wow! What a great movie! I really like films that have a message to them, and this one has many great messages on many different levels. I walked out of the theater feeling so very grateful for Tracie. I wanted to put my arm around her, hold her hand, open the car door for her...you know. Great film! Despite my amorous mood following such a powerful film, the only words that I could say as we walked into the theater lobby were "I gotta pee." When I came out of the men's room, it was painfully obvious "the mood" was gone. So we went to K Mart. What a date!!

I guess there's a pretty big college football game this weekend. As a fan of the pittifully hapless Michigan State Spartans, I couldn't be less interested in the U of M vs. Ohio State game. Ok, to be honest, I care a little - but that's only because I've endured years of Spartan shame...always second best. Spartan fans feel a little like Tommy Smothers of Smothers brothers fame whose familiar phrase pretty much sums up the Spartan neglect - "mom always liked you best!" She probably liked U of M best too. Maybe you've seen the reports that people on eBay are bidding up to $9000 to get their mits on the new Playstation 3. The new game systems retail for around $600, but the demand to be one of the first to play it is driving prices beyond the bounds of reason. $600! My wife would KILL me! In protest, I dug out my Playstation 1 yesterday and played NASCAR 98. If you're like me, you've had November 17, 2006 circled on your calendar for months in anticipation of the new James Bond film. I've been a huge Bond fan for years and own almost all of the films on VHS or DVD. Daniel Craig is bond actor # 6. Fourty some years ago Sean Connery introduced us to 007. What if Connery were still our beloved Bond? The idea does have its upsides - - like the sponsorship opportunities a geriatric James could provide. Imagine 007 endorsing an anti-itch cream - Bond, Gold Bond. Or possibly the denture adhesive - Bond, Sea Bond.

Lunch meeting jealousy,

An attitude of worship,

& Sleep smarts

My wife Tracie is jealous that I've had three lunch meetings this week - jealous because she stays at home with four kids all day and eats PB & J for lunch. Meanwhile, I'm at some waterfront restaurant yukking it up with friends and co-workers. Can you feel her pain? Yesterday I met with my pastor at Panera Bread in Grand Haven. I love their sandwiches! For a moment, I thought about bringing some Cinnamon Crunch bagels for Tracie and the kids, but didn't because I Tracie said we're a little tight on cash this month. Listen to the voice of experience - it is NOT the thought that counts! Next time BUY THE STINKIN' BAGELS! My pastor and I had a good talk about the worship team (for which I'm responsible). I don't actually lead the worship, but I'm the elder who oversees it. I also play guitar and provide background vocals. There was a time when I wanted to take full control of the team and lead worship. Having lead worship off and on since my youth group days, and having played guitar, drums, and keys at times, I believed I could do a better job and would have the committment to be there for all practices and services (something that's been a struggle in our small church). But the second my pastor said he wanted to sit down and talk about it, I realized what's most important in God's work is not your qualifications - it's your heart. My motives were prideful and controlling - why should I expect God to honor that? So, I'll stay in the background knowing that God is truly using the worship leader we have now. Have you ever gone to bed fully clothed (and sober) and woke up under the sheets buck naked with no idea where your pants are? Weird things happen while you're asleep. For two nights in a row I've awaken in the middle of the night sans clothing. I start kicking around under the sheets in a search for my pants...nothing. So I get up to use the bathroom and step onto this flannel lump on the carpet - MY PANTS! Then, I've got to get them on in the dark. I feel around the waist band, find the label that lets me know which side goes in back, and I slip them on. By now, I'm wide awake - and starting to sweat under the covers. Is is possible that I'm smarter while sleeping?

No Excuses, No Regrets Okay, okay - I've been ignoring you! Turns out blogging isn't the most convenient practice one can engage in. When you're busy, it can be work enough just to get to bed at a decent hour - I'm not going to stay up another fifteen minutes just to write a paragraph in the blog. Heck, on my rickety home computer with dial up internet, there's no guarantee it would only take fifteen minutes. So I'm throwing you a bone. My goal will be to blog my devotions every weekday. I'm beginning a walk through the book of Philipians. An introductory entry will follow. Brian