"The more things change the more they remain insane." - Michael Fry

He's got to call his boss and tell him about this.

 And how geeky does this guy have to be that with buddies like that he's the one who can't 

get a date for the prom?

Poor Newt. Today most of his finance staff bailed on him.
Jon Huntsman announced his candidacy for the Presidency. The former governor of Utah is a Republican, a Mormon and the father of seven. He supports civil unions and the carbon tax. Not exactly the formulaic candidate.

Today is the first day of summer, the longest (daylight) day of the year. In honor of that event we're going to hit 114 tomorrow and 112 Thursday. We're now to that time of year when even the overnight lows don't get below 80, which means the windows never open and the AC stays on 24/7. Not my favorite, but I remind myself I could be living back where I shoveled snow in the winter and lived through a dew point in the 70's like they did in Grand Rapids today. Without AC.

Last night NBC News did a story about wounded soldiers from the war in Afghanistan. Tonight CBS News did a story about PTSD and the effect it has on soldiers and their families.
I hate war. I hate that our young men go off to get killed or maimed, and their families will never be the same.
And I don't understand why we're in a country where their President is nothing but critical about our efforts there. Never mind the staggering cost in dollars, the lives are what matter.
I vote we get out. Now.

I did some reading for Sunday's sermon this morning and came across a phrase that I really liked, that made me pause and think about it.
"Real repentance, as contrasted with a merely self-regarding remorse...."
That's good! A great description of what we too often feel when caught in the trap of our own sin.

We must have 120 butter knives in the silverware tray in the drawer. Why? We don't even use butter. Maybe I should try the same tactic I used at the church in Riverside.

When I got to the church as their new pastor I realized there was no way I could preach from behind the mammoth oak pulpit they had. It was part of a set that included a matching communion table on the floor in front of the platform. The good news: they also had a matching "lectern" with 2.5" square legs with a cross brace and fairly large top set at a slight angle. It was still "heavy" both literally and aesthetically but it was better than the massive pulpit.
The problem with the lectern was its height. As I stood behind it the thing came higher than my navel. That meant it was still imposing and served as a visual barrier, an obstruction to my communication with them.
I caught enough flack for switching from the pulpit to the lectern that I knew better than to ask about now modifying it. (Isn't it interesting how people in a church sometimes elevate wood and stone to an almost sacred level?)
So one day a week for the next four or five weeks I took my saw to church and, while no one was around, cut an inch or so off each of the legs. Nobody said a thing; I don't think they noticed. If I had cut 4" or 5" off all at once I'd have been in trouble for sure. Not because they had any principled basis for wanting it at its original height but because they didn't want the new preacher messing with their stuff and the status quo. I don't think they cared a bit what height the lectern stood at.
In the end we were both happy. I got my shorter, less imposing and interfering lectern and they could say, "Well, he's not using the pulpit but at least he's using our other piece that matches the communion table."

So if I toss out one butter knife a day for the next three months...