Refried Romance

Pam and I took my mom out to lunch for her 74th birthday yesterday (Yeah, mumsie!). We went to our favorite Mexican restaurant. While there I noticed a sign advertising a wonderful Italian dinner for Valentine's Day. Italian food at a Mexican place? Is Mexican less romantic than Italian? I think some of our amigos south of the border would disagree.

I gave this question a lot of thought and finally came up with a possible answer. Many Mexican dishes included refried beans and beans do have their own peculiar digestive traits. It is true that the expulsion of noxious gases can taint a romantic atmosphere, not to mention the fire hazard if there are lit candles present.

I suppose on the other hand, pasta is high in carbs and should give you a lot of energy. If that is the case, how come every time I eat Italian, I feel fat, bloated and want to take a nap? And is there any toothpaste that will kill the smell of garlic on your breath?

My best suggestion for a romantic meal would be some variety of fish (unless you are allergic, of course, in which case the response can range from dangerous to down-right funny depending on how you react). I prefer baked for quiet digestion with a light bowl of soup on the side and a wafer-thin mint as a finishing touch.

Even with this meal, there is no guarantee that you won't do or say something totally stupid, thus negating any positive effect from your culinary discernment. Maybe it's better to just grab a couple of bean burritos and a coke and hope for the best!

Somebody's Praying

I was just working on a new song based on a passage in Dueteronomy. What great moment! I was all alone at the piano, but I was having church big time. When the song is finished, I'm pretty sure it will make the cut for our new CD.

I came to good stopping point and was thanking God for the inspiration when it hit me. In our last newsletter and ministry partners letter I asked for prayer for the new songs I am writing. Somebody is praying! I can feel it!

I like what I'm hearing so keep those prayers coming!!

Deep Thought Thursday

This idea comes from an Andy Stanley sermon.


On decision making:

It is wise to get good council before making a decision, because once you make it, you own it.

No excuses, no blame, no matter the outcome. Live with it or fix it. Take responsibility.

You own your decisions.

Miracles in Marinara

DISCLAIMER: The following message is not intended for individuals with no sense of humor.

Will signs and wonders never cease?

The other night Pam was rummaging through the fridge and knocked out a small tub of pizza sauce. I started to clean up the mess, when what to my wandering eyes should appear, there was a face on the floor! Yes, a true holy apparition right before my eyes. There were two small eyes, a large blob that is either an open mouth with no nose or a really big nose with no mouth, a beard, and a tuft of hair on the left side, obviously the beginning of a comb-over.

We first thought it to be Mary, but the beard gave us pause. Of course, the next logical person would be Jesus himself, but this doesn't really look like any picture of the savior I've seen. Then it hit me. This was pizza sauce, which I think is really American but more like Italian, and Rome is in Italy, and the Catholic Church is headquartered in Rome, and Peter was the founder of the church, so TADA!! The face on our floor must be Simon Peter.

We left the area untouched and cordoned it off for protection. We are now working on traffic flow charts for when the buses of the faithful start arriving. I'm checking prices on pouring concrete RV pads in the backyard and I think we can run extension cords back there from the living room. We'll get a row of porta-potties over by the back fence. (Just a side note, but I once had an idea for my own porta-potty business. I was going to call it crap-in-the-box, but it never really took off. Strange...)

All this time we have been traveling around the country to minister, and now we have a ministry right in our own kitchen. I wonder if we can get on Oprah again???

Deep Thought Thursday

Could it be coincidence that each person's nostrils are the same size as the tips of their index fingers?

I don't think so.

Simple Truth

I was writing an e-mail to a friend today when I wrote something I think merits repeating.

Some of the best theology can be found it the simplest places...

Jesus Love Me - the great truth
This I know - you can have assurance of God's love because of:
For the Bible - The documented proof of God's character and track record
Tells me so - God still speaks to us through his word-The bible.
Little ones - that'd be us!
to him belong - If we are God's, Satan cannot pluck us from His hand
They are weak - We can't do anything on our own strength
But He is Strong - With God, all things are possible.

Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me ...

New Horizons

I heard you should learn something new each day.

Today I learned how to make a balloon dog.

Does that count?


"See, he is puffed up..." - Habakkuk 2:4