Author: Wick

So yeah, I got my new phone finally….pretty stoked about being able to pretend I’m hip as half my teens at least. I got texting AND the ability to send/receive pictures.

But the process of purchasing the phone, and the act of “not purchasing” any of the extras (chargers, memory cards, phone protectors, etc) at the store, but opting to search online brought up a random question.

We all know cell phone stores, and most stores these days make a TON of their money off of generations that either don’t know how to look online, or don’t think it’s worth the effort. But as more of the younger generations grow up to become the main consumer base….what happens to our economy?

Assuming these younger generations are educated consumers, knowing a good deal not because the sales-person as labeled it as such, but because they’ve done their research….will our economy thrive or dive?

Example: The cell phone store offered to sell me a 1GB memory card for my phone. It was originally $70, but was recently marked down to the CRAZY low price of $40!! I just finished ordering a 2GB memory card online for $25.

So what happens to these stores when they’re unable to sell anything at CRAZY prices? Or what would happen to us, if the internet disappeared for some reason? I guess the stores keep praying for uneducated customers, and we keep praying for tools to be easily educated.

..so I don’t think my “blog” will enjoy the readership that my “myspace” did, or my “facebook” currently does. But I think I’m becoming okay with that. The one or two people who may actually read this for now probably pay more cumulative attention than either previous locations anyways. 🙂

It feels good to be alive. Last week was one of THE busiest weeks ever. With my phenomenal wife helping lead VBS, and my parents visiting all week long, and taking 40 teenagers bowling on wednesday….again, it feels good to be alive.

God blessed us enough to be able to escape for a night in Bloomington, where some friends of ours who rock the house were able to watch Addie for us. We spent the night eating Filet Mignon and drinking virgin strawberry daquiri’s…and waking up to the smell of Bath and Bodyworks Shampoo and a full breakfast buffet at the Chateau. (the castle of Bloomington)

I was able to spend a couple hours total enjoying a new book I’d purchased by Steven James called “Sailing between the Stars“. Took me a while to get into it, but I’m definitely enjoying his word-pictures of faith. It’s not as ballsy as Donald Miller (sorry if that offended)….but along similar lines…and soothing for the soul. He uses stories from being a parent a lot, and things I’ve never been able to connect to are beginning to really hit my being in cool ways. I’m thinking maybe I would enjoy writing more….but wonder what kind of book I would write.

At one point, a couple years ago…I thought about writing a book based on the life of dirt. Not just any dirt…but the first dirt ever to become man. Breathing dirt. The life of the only dirt to ever be personally shaped and “breathed” into by God. It still sounds like a really good idea…and could help make some good connections about finding our identity in God alone…..etc. Maybe for teens…or young adults. Or a childrens’ book, perhaps. I’ll keep chewing on it. For now…no stealing my idea. At least…for money. 🙂

What a weekend. I can’t even tell you the incredible things that are going on…but here’s a peak:

So, a while back we heard the “Wheel-Mobile” was coming to town. They were doing auditions for “Wheel of Fortune” right here in Decatur, IL!! People drove from all over the state, we stood in line for an hour or so…filled out an application, and waited. They called names from the crowd at random to play the game on stage with a few others, and the rest of us cheered obnoxiously to be noticed. I was never called up. I figured my chance was gone.
A few weeks later, I received an e-mail telling me I was chosen for a final audition in Springfield; which I can only guess was based on my paper application. (I tried to sound as interesting as possible.) So a little over a week ago I attended an audition with about 60 others where we played a “mini-round” (I won a hat by solving a puzzle), took a 5-minute written test solving as many puzzles as possible, and had our pictures taken. They narrowed the crowd to 12, and we played one more round. Then they told us we were free to leave, and if we were chosen, we would receive a letter in the mail within 2 weeks.
2 Days ago, I got my letter!!!! I’M GOING ON WHEEL OF FORTUNE!!! (applause) So of course, now I’ve got to brush up on my hangman skillz, and raise money for a trip to Los Angeles (nothing is paid for, unfortunately). The letter told me that I’ll get a phone call in the next 18 months telling me when they need me. I may have as little as 14 days notice before I’m needed out there. But we definitely think it’s worth rearranging our schedule for this opportunity to pay off a credit card or two. 🙂 So yeah…mad SHOUT OUT to my boy CHAD, who’s also a youth pastor from Decatur…who was chosen as well! Maybe we’ll even get to travel together!

A few more random thoughts. Yesterday was Fathers’ Day. My incredible wife bought me the Detroit Redwings’ DVD I’ve been wanting, and my daughter made a small fatherly collage for me. 🙂 I’m learning so much daily about life/love/parenthood/ministry/etc…from all of this. Thanks God.
Realizing lately how “amusing” our culture is. “Muse” meaning “to think”…and the prefix “a-” giving it a negative connotation. Seriously, so much of what surrounds us is devoted to helping us NOT think. We laugh, we smile, we waste precious minutes of the time/lives we’ve been given. Granted – life should be enjoyed. Life is meant to be an incredible and “full” experience. But how many of our smiles on a daily basis come because of something that would make God smile?
Sorry for the random depth. But we walked around the “Steamboat Festival” in Peoria on Friday night, and I observed SOOOO many smiles. Some were great, and easy to take joy in….others I was a little offended by….and others were obviously fake. So many people smiling for so many reasons. Are we simply being “a-mused”? May we all be aware of the things we’re smiling about…and aim for the Joy of the Kingdom. 🙂 (at the same time, realizing how excited I am about going on a show where I could make a chunk of money from spinning a wheel and shouting some letters….and TONS of people will watch and be a-mused)…:) Praying that God smiles on my life…