Author: Wick

So if u’ve breathed in the past year, you’ve noticed the ridiculous amount of airtime given to the candidates of both parties for the 2008 election. I’ve accidentally tuned in to a couple of their billion debates, and have to say it’s a struggle.

It’s a struggle to try and take them seriously. Imagine the billions of dollars spent planning events, running events and campaigns, covering all of these things, promoting in every media realm possible, and tearing each other apart politically….and none of them seem to be batting an eye. But you ask them publicly what their opinion is on the poor and disenfranchised, they’ll tell you about their amazing plan to somehow make America care for them.

How about starting by using these millions of wasted dollars to kick off your amazing plan? How about America finds a new way to “do” all of this? Because this is really just ludicrous. Not that I have an incredible idea…..I just don’t think it should cost this much for us to find a few candidates to vote between. Meanwhile the society they will eventually lead is being milked of valuable resources to help serve the poor everyone seems to enjoy claiming as important to their campaign.

But you know what helps? Moments like this…much more entertaining, and FREE…:

Unfortunately, loving my daughter also makes me care just a little more about the future of this city, this state, this society, and this government… and makes me wish we had a better way to care for our future then going into debt to figure out who will lead us.

But this is where the plank in our own eye begins to twinge with pain just a bit more. Church, how much money/resources does American “christianity” spend each year on conventions, concerts, and propaganda that really is more political/religion minded than it is caring for the poor or communicating the heart of God? I know a lot of good is being accomplished through so many of them….but do we really need to spend millions on getting the right graphics/sound/lighting? Is that really worth getting a few teens to say the words “Jesus come into my heart”? Lord help us to represent right spending….and not spending…in hopes that maybe we can influence the world even today. Otherwise we’re all just spinning in circles….which might be entertaining…but we’re getting nowhere.

Sarah and I just returned from our Free Methodist’, Gateway Conference, Pastors/Spouses Retreat in Saint Louis. Whew..long title. We had a great time, stayed at the Drury Inn, had a riverboat dinner, and a great worship service saturday morning. Here are a few pictures of our adventure…first, we see me helping Lewis and Clark figure out which direction to go…

…and then, we had a great evening on the riverboat, eating and hearing classic banjo/piano music on a 1960’s riverboat. We slept in a bit, got up for a nice breakfast, and a great worship service with most of the pastors from the conference and their spouses. Several shared their stories, and it is definitely evident that God is using this conference in great ways, and we are very excited about being involved in a church (and denomination) that is so genuinely seeking God. More about that another time, I’m sure.

Once our official “duties” were done, we stayed in Saint Louis a bit to enjoy the City Museum (not very education, but an incredibly HUGE jungle-gym basically). Where I saw the world’s largest pair of underwear…

I also climbed up to ride the “MONSTER SLIDE”, which my pregnant wife didn’t want to subject Sophie to….so it was me amidst all the elementary kids…as well as climbing to the very top of the “Monstrocity”, where they’ve welded pretty much TONS of junk together with a small airplane fuselage at the pinnacle…

She let me play….and I was so thankful that I took her shopping at the Historic Union Station afterwards.

We saw some cool stuff, some fancy people, some fudge being made, bought a few pieces of extravagant chocolate, and left as the Saint Louis Blues fans were arriving en mass for that evenings’ game. It was difficult to leave, knowing I could stay and watch an NHL game for like $20. But we were missin’ Addison, and just HAD to make it home in time to watch Michigan whomp on Illinois in football. hehe.

We had a great time, and want to thank our Church Family, and our family in Decatur, who enabled us to take the couple days to remind ourselves that God demands we serve our marriage before we serve our church. 🙂 Love u all….

As a father of 2 girls…this is something that has caught my attention more than it ever has in the past.

As a young boy, girls had cooties. As an awkward pimply pre-teenage boy, girls were unattainable. As a teenage male, females were here to look good for the rest of us, using their looks to tempt or establish control. As a committed married man, this scantily clad woman of culture knocks on the door from so many different angles (movies, music, television, advertising of every nature) that men must be proactive in remaining faithful. But even as difficult as all of that gets…it’s a struggle I’m familiar with. It’s an issue that I and other men have grown up with, and found ways to honor God and our families by confronting/addressing.

But this other side of the issue, it scares me. The fact that my daughter will grow up on the opposite side of the fence. She will BE the little girl/teenage girl/woman that society will send millions of messages to. She is the little girl that we will love, and remind how incredibly beautiful and loved she is from even this age; in hopes that somehow, no matter her appearance or personality…will be free to be herself in Christ….beautifully.

I don’t know much about this Dove Campaign ….but I do know that it has something good in it. Even if it could be viewed as just another way to sell a product….I think I like that it seems to be contributing to society. If you have a little boy…please begin to teach him how to love my daughter. Even if it doesn’t end up being mine. Dang. I’m gettin’ all sentimental parent-ish. I’m done for now. 🙂