Being the parents of multiples, Karen and I have watched Jon and Kate plus 8 over the years. It was heartbreaking for us Monday night to watch how fractured their relationship had become. It was almost uncomfortable. One TV critic said that one almost felt like you were watching something you weren’t supposed to. I don’t know what has happened to their marriage. I don’t know if anything the tabloids said were true. I know that marriages aren’t built or torn down overnight. What we saw Monday was not the result of “one mistake”, but the culmination of a couple that had drifted apart over the course of many months(many which weren’t televised). I wonder what percentage of reality tv marriages have ended in divorce. I know that many relationships started on tv have failed(see Bret Micheals now on season 3 of Rock of Love: Whatever). Hulk Hogan and his wife are going through a nasty divorce. Nick and Jessica split up after a few seasons of their show. I’ve been wondering if the tabloids just through out junk headlines that fulfill themselves or if they really do have credible sources for some of this stuff. The National Enquirer broke the story on John Edwards’ affair, but they also said I would become rich if I stared at the big red dot long enough. Do happy couples see the headlines of their impending split week after week and it leads them down a dark path or were the headlines true to begin with? My hope and prayer is that Jon and Kate will work things out and that all of us watching will cherish our marriages even more. What was clear Monday night is that these 2 people do not seem to like each other very much any more. That did not happen overnight. I am facing a summer where I will be away from home for 4 weeks. I have to start preparing my family for that today. I have to invest time, energy, and passion into my marriage so that my wife’s(or my) tank isn’t on empty when I leave. You would think that after almost 10 years of marriage I would know how to do that effectively, but I don’t. I just know that it takes a lot of days and nights of not acknowledging your spouse before you can sit beside them on a couch on national TV and act like they’re not even there. So, are we all just gonna pile on Jon and Kate or are we gonna work everyday on our own marriages? Divorce is tragic whether it’s on national television or not.
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What we do on my day off
Since getting married and having kids I have been much better about taking a day off in every week. Like so many people(pastors too!) I used to be really bad about taking a Sabbath. Now, I look forward to Thursdays and the hilarity that ensues. Here you go:
Good News and Bad News
1. This story makes me leary of buying a GPS system despite my inability to navigate the Triad.
2. Karen and I have decided to run a half marathon in the fall instead of the one in June. Basically, I’ve got to lose some weight before I can really run like I need to. Running was killing my knees and back. So, Karen found a nice Eliptical machine on Craigslist and we are hitting it hard. Now, if I would only remember to stretch first. So, I’m aiming for a target weight and hitting the road again after that.
3. The NBA Playoffs have been a joy to watch. I’m not sure what they did to increase the flow of the game and the offense, but I like it. Orlando was amazing in Game 7 at Boston. KG truly is the heart of their defense and without him they couldn’t get the stops they needed. I think Cleveland wins the Finals this year and models their franchise after the Bulls: surround Lebron with role players who do what they’re asked to do.
4. I am still trying to figure out this network marketing thing. It’s frustrating because I know there are a gazillion ways to make money online. It’s putting my time and energy in the right place and learning the right things that are a struggle. I feel like I get distracted and lose time getting to my end result. Thankfully, I’ve learned alot of neat things, but still need to put many of them into practice.
5. I have no idea what’s happening on American Idol.
6. In case you didn’t hear, all World Series games will begin at 7:57 pm this year. Finally, Bud Selig makes a sane decision and I won’t have to celebrate quietly when one of my teams wins it all. Both Red Sox victories were enjoyed alone after midnight and I had to be quiet. Red Sox and Phillies have won 3 of the last 5. I hope to see that trend continue.
7. Found the site, keepvid.com, last week. It allows you to download youtube and other videos to your computer. It’s already helped with getting videos for worship as I can import the downloaded vids right into propresenter. Any other programs I need to be checking out?
8. I’m off to lunch with my friend, Jared Bell. I’m excited about what God is doing in his life and ministry. We are gonna solve the world’s political problems and plan the camp games.
Thoughts for a Monday
Here’s a link to a video about a story I heard about this weekend. Watch it here. Was this an innocent mistake? What would the cost be to redo all the yearbooks? Who should pay for that? How would the school make sure all the yearbooks were collected? Am I the only one who was waiting for the mother and daughter to accept some blame? The moral of the story is ALWAYS wear underwear and make sure they are clean.
Here’s a more uplifting video about a church putting it’s money where it’s mission is.
Lastly, are there certain songs that your church responds to more than others? Songs that really get the congregation fired up? I’m not sure if it’s the rhythm or the familiarity with the song. I do know that some songs are easier to clap to than others. Is it good or bad when we insert those songs into the worship set because we know the response it will get? Just wanting your thoughts. Have a great Monday.
My to do list:
1. Get a babysitter for Friday night.
2. PIck up tickets for Grasshopper’s game
3. Plan games for camp.
4. Make 3 business calls.
5. Set up sanctuary for praise band practice.
6. Call Tuggle about camp worship songs.
7. Return movies and books to library.
8. Finish SFD Road Trip stuff.
9. Pick up kids for the CHAMP Center.
10. Haircut and workout.
11. Get in bed before 11.
12. Scrap my to do list and enjoy a day with the Drake.
First Impressions
We went to Mi Pueblo, a Mexican restaurant in Lexington on Mother’s Day. We chose to eat on the patio waited patiently for our server. Here’s what happened in the time it took him to actually take our order.
1. Karen took the girls to the bathroom.
2. Drake was in the high chair long enough that he got tired of it so I got him out and took him to the van to get some coloring books and toys.
3. I started sweating since my back was in the sun.
4. Karen and I both needed and received drink refills from our server.
When I got back to the table with Drake I asked Karen if our order had been taken. She said no, but the server came right then. There is usually a point when I put on the “5 minute clock.” If our order hasn’t been taken in that time then we leave. We have left a few restaurants over the years who’ve failed to get the job done. Now, I don’t start the clock when we’re first seated so I’m not being unreasonable. The food was great at Mi Pueblo’s. It was the best burrito I’ve ever eaten. It did not feel like the cookie cutter menu item that many Mexican restaurant’s serve. The kids all cleaned their plates. Then it took forever to get our bill. Dude, when 3 kids get restless, you gotta get moving. The kids had been great, but they had been asked to sit and be still an awfully long time due to our service delays. Bottom line: I don’t know if we’re gonna go back. They had one shot and they blew it. The one thing they have going for them is that they’re the closest Mexican restaurant to us.
Now, this whole episode made me think about the church. How many times have first time guests left disappointed with their experience? How many times have we blown our one shot? People’s souls are far more important than chips and salsa, but are we swinging for the fences every time we open the doors or just mailing it in every now and then? Now, contrast Sunday’s experience with Monday night. I went to pick up some pizza and breadsticks at Papa’s Pizza. I paid the bill and got in the van. Right before I pulled out of the parking lot, the cashier caught my attention. He told me he realized he didn’t give me the special price and owed me money. I followed him back in and he gave me back $4. I hadn’t caught the mistake, but this guy chased me down when he did. Their pizza is not the best every time, but it’s service like that which creates customer loyalty. I wonder if churches offered an “hour back guarantee” if people would come knowing that if they didn’t like the service then they could get their hour back. We’ve got to treat every week like it’s our only opportunity to make a first and lasting impression.