Random Thursday

I don't have any great story to tell today about cute little girls taking off their shoes at church, so instead I'll just fill you in on some random thoughts in my head and things in my life.

I've been praying a lot about money lately.
Everywhere I am I hear about folks losing jobs, businesses closing down, and churches and ministries that are behind on donations. I was in a meeting yesterday where the financial needs of a ministry here in town were being shared. Then I came back to the office and checked some financials for Freedom for January, and I was made aware again that the tough economy is affecting us. I have a tendency to worry when it comes to money, so I have made an effort to pray instead of worry. It's no surprise to God that times are tough financially. It's His desire to reach everyone with His message of good news, therefor I know He will provide the resources to make that happen.

I bought the new Springsteen CD on Tuesday.
As some of you know, Springsteen is one of my favorite musicians. I'm looking forward to his halftime performance at the Super Bowl this Sunday even more than the game itself. That being said, I was a little disappointed with this latest CD. There are some good tracks, "Outlaw Pete" is an instant classic, but overall it sounds as if the Boss was in a rush to put this one out. Maybe he wanted it to coincide with the Super Bowl promo. Some songs actually sound unfinished, as if there was a good idea for a song that was recorded without taking the time to re-work it into a really great song. Despite those things, I'm sure I will listen to it until I know all the songs by heart. One last thing about the CD that disappointed me was the use of an R-rated word on one track. Now, it's not like I haven't heard that word before, it's just that I've never heard that word on one of his recordings. It wasn't needed to make the song better. I'm glad I was listening to it in my truck when I discovered this. Usually when a new Boss CD comes out I just play it in the house, because I want my girls to be exposed to awesome music. That song won't be getting any air time in the Marshall house.

For those of you completely uninterested in music reviews or E Street Band talk I apologize for the boring content of this blog. For those of you who are Bruce lovers (there aren't many of you out there) let me know what you think of the new disc.

Pink toenails and pure joy

I got to see one of my favorite people at church this past Sunday. Her name is Lauren, and she is two or three (not exactly sure) years old. There are a couple of reasons why Lauren is one of my favorite people to hang out with at Freedom. First, she normally is very excited to see me. She spots me and then begins to run full speed ahead to give me a hug. I try to be sure and bend down in time for the hug, but if I can't get down fast enough she just latches onto my leg. Second, she calls me "Clip". That makes me smile every week. Finally, she is always wanting to show me something. Sometimes it's a bracelet she's wearing, a boo-boo on her finger or something she made in Freedom Kids. This week she was excited to show me her freshly painted toenails. There was one problem. Since it's January she was wearing socks and shoes. That didn't stop Lauren. She proceeded to take off her shoes and socks so I could admire her bright pink toenails. It didn't matter to her that people normally don't take their shoes and socks off and on throughout the day, it didn't matter to her that her Mom had just put them back on her. What mattered was showing off her nails.

It made me wonder. Is there anything I'm so excited about that I couldn't keep my mouth shut about even if I tried? What could be so important to me that I would tell it to people even if my telling it meant that I was breaking some unwritten social rules (like taking your shoes and socks off in public).

Of course there is an obvious answer...

I should be blabbing all the time about how Jesus loves me and has forgiven me for all the stupid stuff I've done. I should be so thrilled with who He is that I would show Him off to anyone I could, even if it made me seem weird. I'll ask God this week to help me be at least as thrilled with who He is as Lauren was about pink nail polish!

Sha-Zam!

Here's some video of an exciting end to the USC vs. Florida basketball game on Wednesday. I think Mike Holmes should try out for quarterback of the football team. He's much more accurate than any of the guys currently on the roster! Enjoy the over the top audio call from Mike Morgan as well.

President for a day

Well I asked yesterday for your comments regarding what you would do on day one as Obama or Bush. I still think there are those of you out there with some interesting things to write, but you're just being shy. I posted all the comments that have come in so far (all three of them) and now here's my list. Notice this list is not that serious. It's 4:00 in the afternoon, and I'm tired of being serious today!

If I were Obama:
- send messages to old girlfriends who broke up with me that reads, "To quote the great Steve Perry, 'Who's crying now?'. P.S. - Michelle sends her love"

- appoint a special counsel to investigate Oprah Winfrey. You know she's got to be up to something shady.

- send past due notices to the banks that received the billions of bailout dollars.

- hire the chef from Mulate's in New Orleans as one of the White House chefs, just to make bread pudding once a week.

If I were Bush:

- begin nasty crank call and e-mail campaign to Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow.

- make out a to-do list that would read as follows: Things to do today - 1. nothing in particular, 2. nothing of significance, 3. nothing that will affect world peace

- take Laura on a date. The first private date without cameras around in eight years.

- call my brother Jeb and warn him that being President is not all it's cracked up to be.

What would you do on day one?

Well in case you hadn't heard, our country swore in a new President yesterday. As I was lying in bed last night I wondered what Barack Obama would do today, his first day on his new job. I also wondered what George Bush would do today, his first day in early retirement.

Here's where I want many of you who read, but never leave comments to participate: I want to know what you would do on day one if you were the recently sworn in pres or the now former pres. I'll write tomorrow what I would do if it were me. I'm looking forward to some creative responses!

Don't hate me becasue I can't stop laughing

Last week I wrote on here that there are a lot of embarrassing things I find hilarious, but people who think they can sing being rejected on American Idol isn't one of them. As I thought about that later, I decided I would share with you some embarrassing things I do find funny.

Falling down / Falling off of something
I would like to say that I wait and see if the person is hurt before I laugh, but I usually laugh first. I know that is not good, but it just comes out so quickly. Therefore I often have to apologize later for laughing at the pain of someone else. Then when they recover we all laugh together.

Pants coming off
Whether it's a loose belt or a pair that gets torn off on a nail, the quick and unexpected removal of a pair of pants is worth a chuckle. Let me clarify one thing, the act of "pantsing" or "shanking" someone (where one person sneaks up behind another person and pulls down their pants) is not funny. In fact that is one thing that gives you an iron clad reason to punch someone, in love of course.

Accidental release of methane
This doesn't need a lot of explanation. For anyone who thinks it is inappropriate that I listed it here, you know you thinks it's funny as well. Be honest. It's hilarious.

Diving board mishaps
These are almost always funny. Due to the fact that the person is landing in the water the chances of very serious injury are minimal, therefore I don't feel as guilty for laughing immediately.

I would love to know what embarrassing things you find funny, or even better I would love to hear stories of some of these things that have happened to you. All of these types of things can be seen almost nightly on America's Funniest Videos. Anytime I need a guaranteed laugh, that's what I watch.

Some things to pray about

I'm looking forward to praying with many of y'all tonight. We will spend about an hour together praying specifically for Freedom. Here's a list of what we'll lift up to God tonight. The list is in no particular order, except that number one on the list is the most important. After that, there's no rhyme or reason to the order.

1. More people would give their lives to Christ.

2. All our regular attenders would be fully committed to the mission of "helping people discover the true freedom only Christ can give."

3. A place to meet
explanation: Before anyone freaks out, we can still meet at GHS and we would love to meet there for a long time, but we know that the Greenville County School District won't allow us to stay there forever. It's time we spent some serious time asking God to show us where He would have us meet next.

4. Financial and people resources to do all God wants us to do.

5. That Freedom attenders would live within their means and become generous givers.
(this one goes along with number four)

6. Wisdom

7. Future staff

8. That God would expand our influence.

9. Leadership

Pray for these things regularly, and I believe we'll be amazed at what God will do.