Homeless American Girl

For those of you interested in getting something for your daughter or niece this Christmas, here's an idea...Homeless American Girl Gwen

It is the end of the world...

Grace & Peace

PLW

Cell Phone Drama

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess" Martin Luther

That being said, God knows where my cell phone is, and I have prayed for its quick return.

I 'misplaced' (left it laying around for people to steal) my cell phone the other day and must say that I am traveling around like a lost puppy. I am reminded of these lyrics from the greatest band in the world:

'Don't know what you got til' its gone' Cinderella

I am on the prowl to get it replaced, but having difficulty with the insurance company and a certain police department to do their job and actually issue me a report.

Until then, please email me if you need to get a hold of me.

Grace & Peace

PLW

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Phillipians 3:8

Minnesota Sports

How great would it have been if the Minnesota Vikings would have done that next Monday night against the Packers? Done what, you ask? See below for those still living in a closet:



Also, on tap this week:

1) Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers: Games to watch are 2 and 4 (they offer the best pitching match-ups)
2) Minnesota Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers - Paul Bunyon's Axe is up for grabs at the new U of M stadium. I don't know why it took us SO long in Minnesota to get an outside stadium...no wait, maybe because it gets like stinking 50 below in November... for you outstate people, my car read 49 degrees this morning...
3) Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers (MNFL)- I have the Vikings winning by a touchdown. GB has a terrible run defense and I think AD is going to have a field day
4) Minnesota T-Wolves Training Camp
5) Minnesota Wild start regular season

ITS ON!

On a completely different topic, I 'lost' my cell phone...more about that tomorrow.

Grace & Peace
PLW

To Twitter or Not To Twitter

I have been bugged by various friends to add a Twitter account. I am not sure, though.

If you know ANYTHING about me, I am very slow to move on anything and take my time researching something until I have a very good understanding of the inner workings, the payback (in investment terms), and the overall soundness of the product. All of which, Twitter seems to deliver on (especially the recent announcement of being purchased for $1 billion)...

I am not a gimmick guy, I abhor tv shopping channels and have disallowed my wife to purchase anything over that medium (I am still not comfertable with the internet but I am getting better).

So, if that gives you any idea of my bias coming into the aforementioned concept, I am a bit apprehensive. However, having watched a couple of friends and their experiences, they cliam that it is a must for any breathing human.

So, I may be joining this crazy abbreviated network of communication soon, but don't be surprised if I complain about it for awhile. I welcome your input before I 'join the conversation'...

Grace & Peace

Estate Tax Repeal (Death Tax)

One issue I have been watching closely is the repeal of the estate tax laws put into place originally by Bush in 2001 set to expire in 2010 and reset back to its previous amount.

Currently, the FEDERAL estate tax exemption is $3.5 million per person. Estates that exceed this amount currently pay 45% tax (death tax indeed).

In 2010, there is something called a 'Sunset Provision' that resets the changes put in place by Bush. In 2010, there will be no estate tax, but in 2011, they revert back to their levels in place prior to the change in 2001 (i.e. $1.0 million dollar exemption and a 55% tax on estates above $1 million).

Obviously, this has far-reaching implications and Congress is currently hinting at simply extending these provisions rather than making a decision in the wake of health care reform.

Here's the WSJ article if you are interested...

Grace & Peace

PLW

Is This Surprising?

My wife and I have been talking about public/private/charter/home schools for awhile. We still haven't decided about high school, but we were both public school kids and products of the public school system (apart from some MBAs at private institutions paid by our employers :)). I think we turned up ok, but maybe that's up for some debate...



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125358513141729871.html#mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEForthNews



Grace & Peace



PLW

Moral Issues Politicized

Listening to the radio this morning, a person made the following statement:

One issue we seem to have with humanity is that we struggle to make moral issues actually moral issues. It seems as though when political figures market themselves, they discuss values (moral issues). When people talk about moral issues, they politicize them.

I have found this more often than not to be true. When people are looking to get votes, they talk about values and moral issues. But when people discuss abortion or homosexuality, they discuss them from a political standpoint (Republican/Democrat) as opposed to looking at them from the moral basis that they are and testing them off of their basis for moral behavior.

Grace & Peace

PLW

God vs. Man

Sometimes, its good to hear different perspectives because it helps solidify our own response. I am tired, quite frankly, of Christians who have the 'Christian'eze' down solid, but when asked a fundamental question of what they believe, they have no answer.

In this WSJ article link above, written by two very different people: Richard Dawkins - an aethiest; and Karen Armstrong - a self-proclaimed 'freelance monotheist', they discuss evolution, science and the role of religion in history.

It's an interesting article, much of which I disagree with, but an interesting read. Unfortunately, what is missing is a truly biblical viewpoint of who God is in relation to man.

I think the book of Genesis in the Bible is the authority on detailing the similarities and differences (Gen 1-2). Also, I would review Romans 5 to add support for my discussion...maybe later ;).

Grace & Peace

PLW

Wow - long time no post

For reasons out of my control (ok - kids started school this week), I have missed a couple of days of blogging, but now I have a new-found energy and, more importantly, decent content (cheers heard audibly around the world).

I. School started on Tuesday and here are some pics. Bottom line, Hunter & Jalen were casual about it but Olivia was pumped up. She loves her teacher and her classmates and his having a great time at it (I knew she would).

II. Early goose hunting opened up on Labor Day weekend. We shot one and had a fun time doing it. Here is a picture of me and the boys by the slough with my friend Chad and his dog, Molly.

III. Painted Grandma Clara's house all day Monday so that it is ready to sell. Needless to say, it was a lot of work but it was fun to see relatives and family. I had a chance to spend some quality time with Scott and Josh which was very cool.

So, that is where I have been these last days along with running the kids back and forth from school, daycare, football practice, and baseball practice (yes they have both).

I have not had time to pontificate about the Obama Plan to save the universe (health care reform) but I shall in my next blog or two (not that you cared).

Also, have been in a Bible study with some gentlemen (I use the term loosely) going through the book of Proverbs. I need more wisdom...

Grace & Peace.

PLW

'Little' brother B-day

My little brother Mark turned 34 yesterday. I told him that I would dedicate my blog to him so I am keeping my word.

For those who don't know my little brother Mark, he is an odd fellow with a silly walk, a keyboardist with GB Leighton and a 'Patrick Wight Wanna Be'.

Seriously, God has blessed me with an amazing family and Mark has always been a great friend to me, despite my verbal and physical abuse to him as a child...

Love you, Mark...

PLW

Working Through Some Things

Marriage, love; Divorce, evil?

I have been wrestling with a couple of concepts lately that are very close to me right now. Through them, though, I am beginning to understand the way God works.

Not that this is super insightful, but I have been reading in Isaiah a bit and Proverbs and understand God's frustration with the whole sin issue.

In Isaiah, God speaks to Israel saying, 'Why do you persist in rebellion'? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness- only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil' (Isaiah 1:5-6).

Its easy to point out the faults in other people and see their open sores, but how good are we in identifying our own issues? If its like Isaiah is saying, we must be pretty bad at noticing the dstruction that is occurring.

Its probably a lot like those 'Before and After' meth pictures you see all over the place. If these people could only see the destruction that the addiction is causing to their bodies, they probably would seek to stop. But maybe not. Maybe they can't. The only way to fix it is to have someone help them and to surrender and be 'cleansed' or 'bandgaged' up.

God, through Christ, offers the cleansing. But first, instead of pointing out peoples faults and sprinkling salt in their open sores, maybe we simply need to hold a mirror up for them, and begin to help them apply the bandages...

Grace & Peace

PLW

Weekend

State Fair on Friday with the three kids and Pastor Brad (we made Heidi work this year).

Food items consumed:

• Walleye Fingers
• Elk Burgers
• Chocolate Shake
• Pepsi
• Ice-Cream
• Strawberries and Cream (as Olivia says - 'REAL CREAM')
• Lemonade
• Sweet Martha's Cookies

Prizes Won:

• Rainbow-colored Unicorn (Olivia on the ball toss)
• Purple LadyBug (Olivia on the ball toss)

Met up with Kent & Heather and little Evie, Colin, Pastor Josh and Erin (and her Mom and Dad). Nicest State Fair weather than I have ever had - cool, not hot, and not raining. Perfect.

Grace & Peace

PLW