In looking through potential homes, we came across one that had been empty for about a year. One of the reasons for this was that it had a bit of a pet-urine odor. Like Tiger Woods is a bit of a golfer, or Starbucks is a bit of a coffee chain store. Like “cover my nose, fight the ammonia pee smell waves so that they don’t take over my consciousness” smell.

We spoke w/the owner’s realtor & she claimed ignorance of any smell. Feigned would be a good word. She said it sounded like a ploy on my part to bring down the price on the house. Hmmm. WWMD? (What would Macgyver do?)

Then it came to me. A black light, if its powerful enough, will illuminate bodily fluids that are normally invisible to the naked eye (can’t remember where I learned this… but it is a WWMD moment for sure…) We took it into the house & turned it on. It worked. Well.

Pee stains glowed white. Everywhere. There was an occasional spot of carpet w/o any pee spots, but it was a veritable treasure-trove of pet-urine.

And now, we have evidence that this isn’t just a ploy to drop the price. Hooray…
My next mission is to take it around my house.

LDL

Upside down. Prayers have been answered & the year long renovation & repairs from the water damage are proceeding at breakneck (ok, a snail’s) pace. My house is in construction mode. Plastic covers the rooms. My cave has been dismantled, awaiting a fresh coat of paint. And a floor replacement. The living room is full of our family room furniture. My routine is completely upside down. I miss the familiar sameness of my early morning… Hooray. I’m growing. I think.

Its been an interesting week.

Tuesday, 8/1 – I met for a prayer time w/D&G. Good stuff, came out of it – believing that some wrong attitudes about money (me having/getting it) were redirected. I also became aware of some curses that had been spoken against me & the church family – along the lines of:

“Your work here will be fruitless. You will have nothing, & do nothing of lasting value. There will never be enough resources & money.”

Got a really strong encouragement that the truth of the matter was that God wants to lavish (word chosen specifically & carefully,) His blessings & favor on me & on Hillside, using us as an example of His goodness & power. Sounds different than the “nothing” business, don’t it? So what to do?

Scoff at the curse. Reject it. 1Kings 18 Elijah-style scoffing. On Sunday, 8/6. So I/we did. & there was something broken & something made right.

What a week.

Just thinking a bit…musing. Things don’t always make sense – individual circumstances and perspectives color ‘reality’. I have this picture hanging in my office & I look at it on a regular basis. I try & imagine myself walking the stairs, & think how I would react if the stairs I’d been walking up suddenly were found to be headed in the opposite direction. I imagine myself dealing with the torqued reality very well, rolling with the punches, seamlessly navigating the curveball thrown at me, completely beyond my control. However, beings as I’m a linear-type guy, mostly grounded in reality & the business of Facing Facts, I realize that I’d freak out if confronted with such a bizarre scenario.

Its only when viewing the whole picture that a general sense of rest comes to me – its not just my stairwell that is messed up, its everybodys stairwells. Relief. Wonder.

One of the joys of being done with this round of school is that I have a little more time for the worthwhile, special things that really matter. Like Fantasy football.

To celebrate this newfound availability, i have created an ESPN league to go with the old Standby league (known as Haro Super Joe), & I’ve also joined another Yahoo league.

Now I’m wondering: what about a Fantasy Football small group? We’re launching in just about 3 weeks – & its a perfect fit with the start of the football season.

WHAT IS NEEDED:

In going through the nightly ritual of “Tucking In” of the Weez, we had one of our “deep thoughts” conversations.

Daddy: Good night Now! {the Jim Rome voice & reference}

Weez: I love you so much daddy.

Daddy: Why is that Weezer-brooks? {one variation of 50 that are commonly used as a term of endearment}

Weez: Because you are a pretty nice guy.

Daddy: do you really think so?

Weez: Well, most of the time. Pretty much. And your belly doesn’t touch your knees.

Daddy: Are you happy about that?

Weez: Yes. {talking speed increases 20x} Because at Super Walmart, there was a girl who’s hair came out wrong – I’m pretty sure it was wrong because it was red & green & blue & she was sooo skinny she looked like a toothpick, a real toothpick & her hair came out just wrong. And she was kissing on some guy that was her boyfriend probably her boyfriend because they were kissing, like really kissing each other and it was gross but he had a small shirt on & his belly went all the way down to his knees and it was gross & the girl looked like a toothpick & the guy had a belly that went to his knees & they were kissing & it was weird & gross. {deep breath} I love you so much, daddy.

Religion Taking A Left Turn?
Conservative Christians Watch Out: There’s A Big Churchgoing Group Seeking Political Power

July 10, 2006 (CBS)

At a church in Washington, hundreds of committed Christians met recently and tried to map out a strategy to get their values into the political debate.

“We are furious that the religious right has made Jesus into a Republican. That’s idolatry,” Campolo said. “To recreate Jesus in your own image rather than allowing yourself to be created in Jesus’ image is what’s wrong with politics.”

Read the full article Jesus & Politics, Part Deux

What can happen when you don’t toe the Christian church party line? Check out this article – thanks to Ope for the heads up.

Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Flock

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: July 30, 2006
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Like most pastors who lead thriving evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Gregory A. Boyd was asked frequently to give his blessing — and the church’s — to conservative political candidates and causes.

Bill Alkofer for The New York Times
The Rev. Gregory A. Boyd leads a congregation outside St. Paul.
The requests came from church members and visitors alike: Would he please announce a rally against gay marriage during services? Would he introduce a politician from the pulpit? Could members set up a table in the lobby promoting their anti-abortion work? Would the church distribute “voters’ guides” that all but endorsed Republican candidates? And with the country at war, please couldn’t the church hang an American flag in the sanctuary?

The result? 20% of the congregation (1000 people) bailed because the church was “no longer doing what it was supposed to be doing: supporting the Republican way.”

Read the whole article at:
Jesus & Politics

I’m binging – on books – its been a while since I had a break in school that allowed me to take the time necessary to read. And read. And read. Forget the brown paper bags, tied up with string – reading is one of my favorite things.

I didn’t really plan on binging, but the finishing of school, coupled with some external motivations (the revisiting of a prophetic word from Frankfurt, Rob Bell’s lecture & my desire to continue developing my reference base) led to a purchase of several books from the Bell recommended reading list – so far, I’ve gone through: