A Slower Pace

As you are reading this, I am on my way down to the gulf coast of Mississippi. The hurricane rebuild mission trip is finally here! See original post from June here.

Please keep me and the team in your thoughts and prayers as we go down to be tools to be used for the Lord. Pray that we have a positive impact and can give some hope and help to folks who are going through some tough times. Better yet, say a prayer for them too.

I hope to post some pictures and stories as I am down there. Please feel free to pass this blog website along as well as to post comments.

I appreciate y’alls support!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Early this morning I was scheduled to leave for my mission trip down to help rebuild the gulf coast destroyed by Katrina. (Previous post on the mission trip here.) Unfortunately, a few things came up that decimated our group of 7 into just 2 — the pastor and me.

At this point a few decisions had to be made. Do we still send down an unfull vehicle with only two workers as a token gesture of our support? Or do we wait until the scheduled October trip to combine them? Or do we schedule another trip all together?

It was at this point that human factors come in – selfish interests, ease in scheduling, convenience. For me personally, I was pumped up from all the support I received, had the time off work, and was ready to get down there and get to work. I had also committed to family, friends, co-workers and readers/supporters of this blog to going down there to make a positive impact. I wanted to follow through and make change. I am deeply indebted to the spiritual and financial support from y’all and didn’t want to let anyone down.

But what I had to do was take a step back and really rethink the why of going down there. It’s not about me. It’s not about our church. It’s not about the volunteerism. It is about folks in need down there who are living this day to day. Right now at this very moment in fact. What do they need? How can we best help? Their needs and concerns need to be put at the top of our priority list for this trip to be successful. So I spoke with Pastor Paul and suggested he call down to the volunteer facility — Christus Victor — to actually see what they need. He found out they are currently at 75% capacity which is pretty good. Pastor Paul then asked them when they most would like us down there. They replied some time in September because they will only be at 25% capacity with everyone going back to school and work after Labor Day.

So now we have a rescheduled trip for a week in Sept. We have a meeting Tuesday evening to hammer out more of the details and to pick one of the weeks. I have already reserved the time off at work so I continue to be committed to this effort. I will blog more specifics as I come across them.

I want to thank everyone who has said prayers, kept me in their thoughts and sent in financial support. That means so much and I am committed to getting down there to be a tool of God.

Being a “glass is always half full” person, it does allow me more time to get financial sponsors. Please see my previous post for details.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This post is a request for help. During the second week of July, I will be headed down with a group from my church to help rebuild the Mississippi gulf coast from hurricane Katrina. I am taking a week of vacation to help distribute, tear down, rebuild, aid, feed and support the folks down there — basically being a disciple of example.

What I need is support and sponsorship from my blog readers. You can sponsor me for a whole day for $20 or a half day for $10. Basically, this is my adult version of a trike, bike or jog-a-thon. I’ll do the hard work missing my family and work and putting in the effort in the Mississippi summer humidity. You get the easy part — signing the check and watching your generosity in action.

Below are a few of the links to the places I will be volunteering at. They are God’s “angels with skin”.

Christus Victor Disaster Response – where I’ll be staying

Christus Victor Lutheran Church

Christus Victor pictures

Christus Victor volunteer blog

Christian Appalachian Project — the good folks organizing the group from my church

Even if you cannot give financially, please give me the best gift you can give me — your prayers. I will need them as I prepare for the trip, travel down there, work as God’s hands, and share the burden.

To contribute financially, please send me an email at “dan at aslowerpace dot net”. I will then give you my church’s name and address so you can earmark your tax deductible contribution. I appreciate your consideration and readership.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This is a pretty funny story — but you’re gonna have to do some linking to get the full effect.

First, go here — http://llamabutchers.mu.nu/archives/164253.php

UPDATE: seems that link might not work — try this…..

It’s a pretty funny utilization of Flash animation — the theme song to “The Llama Butchers” blog.

Anyway, I played it for the kids…..for about a half hour. It’s an addictive tune that sticks in your head like one of those annoying songs that once it gets in there replays through your mind the rest of the day. The liked the high pitched voice, the random lyrics and pictures and the funny duck. Again, go to the link, watch the animation and listen to the tune — this’ll all make more sense.

So I’m at work today and I get a cell phone call from the wife. She took the kids, her sis-in-law and niece to the Louisville Zoo. It seems that they have llamas there so the kids all started singing the song. Then they noticed the pond in the pen…..AND IT HAD DUCKS IN IT! They were so excited and were yelling “LLAMA, LLAMA, DUCK!!!!!”.

It made for a nice break to my conference call. I laughed.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot com

Below are 25 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. How many can you get right? These little simple questions are harder than you think. It just shows how little we pay attention to the commonplace things of life. The average person only gets 7 right. This is based on U.S. info, so use all lobes of your brain. This can be more difficult than it looks – it just shows how little most of us really see!

RULES: Put your thinking caps on. No cheating! No looking around! No getting out of your chair! No using anything on or in your desk or computer!

Can you beat 20?? (The average is 7) Write down your answers and check answers (on the bottom) AFTER completing all the questions.

REMEMBER – NO CHEATING!!! It doesn’t matter if you cheat, actually, because if you have to cheat, then you don’t know the answer, thus, you’ve already missed the question! BE HONEST!!!

LET’S JUST SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE. – If not, just have fun!

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?

2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don’t laugh, some people don’t know.)

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty’s torch?

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell’s soup label?

5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don’t have letters by them?

6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don’t you dare get up to see!)

7. How many matches are in a standard pack?

8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?

9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial? (Don’t look at that dial!)

10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise? (Get out of the bathroom!)

11. Which way does a “no smoking” sign’s slash run?

12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?

13. On which side of a women’s blouse are the buttons?

14. Which way do fans rotate?

15. How many sides does a stop sign have?

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?

17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?

19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who’s missing?

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

21. On which playing card is the card maker’s trademark?

22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

Email me — dan at aslowerpace dot net — for the answers.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Speaking of prayer, in my time here in Kentucky, not only has my faith been tested and strengthened, but the power of prayer has been truly revealed to me. I believe that most of us don’t really realize the great gift God has given to us in the form of prayer and communication with Him. It is indeed a wondrous, miraculous and powerful gift. Below are a few highlights from the blog that refer to the power of prayer. I hope at least one of them touches you enough to use the gift of prayer more often.

Prayer of St Francis:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

My prayers have been answered

Prayers during our move out to Kentucky

Prayer gift from a neighbor before we left CA — see bottom of post

I have a few other instances that I haven’t blogged about but that are wonderful examples of the power of prayer. Go pray — God’s waiting.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I came across this and it is appropriate since today is Sunday.

That’s a good kid and that’s a cool dog!

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Last night I had a date — not with the wife, but with my youngest little girl. In homeschooling, one of the motivational tools my wife uses is “10 marbles”. Each kid has a jar with their name on it. They earn marbles by “getting caught being good” — sharing with one another, helping around the house, getting all their homeschooling done without reminding or complaining, etc. They can also get marbles taken away by fighting, not listening, whining, etc. It is behavioral driven and when they get 10 marbles they can trade them in for stuff. My daughter’s trade in today was a pizza dinner alone with dad. That’s pretty cool! Another time she traded them in it was an afternoon fishing with dad.

So tonight after I returned home from work, she and I headed out to Pizza Hut and sat down at the checkerboard table where we could play “chess” with the salt and pepper while we waited for our meal. It was some nice time spent with her and she even enjoyed (or endured) the Autozone/WalMart side trips after. I think she just enjoys special time with dad which I appreciate.

By the way, Autozone has an oil change special — 5 quarts of any regular Pennzoil product with a Fram oil filter for $10.99. For those of you that do your own oil changes, it’s a great bargain. I picked up enough for my Suburban as well as my wife’s.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Since 9-11,…..actually since the Islamic terror attacks of the 70’s and 80’s, I have tried to understand what is going on when it comes to the Middle East and Islamic violence. While the cold war with the Soviet Union characterized the baby boomer’s generational foe, Islam and the Middle East is the generational foe for almost everyone after — Gen Xers, Gen Yers and probably my kids too. From the early 70’s hijackings to the Iran hostages to the Beirut bombings to the Palenstinian uprising to the late 90’s and 9/11 nationless binLaden cowards, we have been scourged with a plague of psychotic fanatics who WANT YOU — yes! I said YOU — dee, eee, aaa, dee, DEAD!!!!!

You know how after you buy a car (or if you are looking for one), you start to see that car on the road more often than before? Well, within the past day or two I have been coming across quite a few challenging articles, posts and material that are rebutting the apologist Islamists. Some are questioning the media and public perception that Islam is a “peaceful” religion. Others are outright calling it out onto the carpet. It is all good information to know since these fanatics are our enemies.

It reminds me of one of the scenes from the original Terminator where Sgt Reese, (Michael Biehn’s character) is trying to convince Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton’s character) of the seriousness of the situation. (42 min 45 seconds into the movie.) He yells at her “Listen and understand. That Terminator is out there. It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, remorse or fear, and it absolutely will not stop — EVER — until you are dead!” If you watch her expression, it takes her a while to process that information. She slowly changes paradigms from a trusting “I didn’t do anything wrong” regular civilian living her own life into a soldier willing to do whatever it takes to stop the evil. That, my friends, is what we each must do. And sooner rather than later. The sooner we, as a nation, realize this mindset, the sooner we are on our way to victory.

Click on the links below. They are interesting reading. I will be adding as I come across material, which at this pace recently, will be a lot. Props to Maggie’s Farm blog — http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/ — and Ex-Donkey — http://ex-donkey.mu.nu/ — where some of these links came from.

Western Muslim’s racist violence against women — http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=20646

Why are non-radical Muslims silent? — http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=122105F

A long term soldiers view of Islam — http://www.willisms.com/archives/2005/12/pundit_roundtab_9.html

Wed, 12/28 post at Maggie’s Farm — http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/

The religion of peace — http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot com

Well, 365 days ago we pulled into the driveway to make this place ours. I can remember it was an unseasonable 60F degree day. I thought to myself “This isn’t that bad”.

Today is also a beautiful day. Not 60F degrees — not even close. But with the sun out and shining, everything is beautiful and you wouldn’t know that it is only 35F degrees. I even took my mountain bike out on the back property. The crisp air and the quiet woods reflecting the bright sun were beautiful — but in a different way than when it was all green or when they were a bounty of fall colors.

Tonight we have the kids’ Christmas pagent/play/performance — whatever you call it. Afterwards we are going out on our traditional yearly Christmas light drive where we drive to some of the well lit up and decorated neighborhoods for the kids to see. We’ll play Christmas music in the truck and bring hot chocolate to enjoy as we drive around. It will be interesting because I don’t really have an exact route as I did back in CA.

And for celebration of our 1 year Kentucky anniversary, we’re gonna go to a very nice steak house where we made the decision to come here initially. Table number 11 is our special table. We’ll be there tomorrow night to ring in our second year in our new home state.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net