..."Those who love sausage and obey the law should not watch either being made."

I think part of my problem, and I think it is my problem, that I have been a part of the planning and execution (maybe a poor choice of words) of worship services for the past 30 years and heard a lot of complaints and opinions from people who aren't involved in the planning less alone the execution. (Although they have killed more times of worship than I would care to remember.)

When I was in college I use to make doughnuts. I wouldn't call myself a baker, but more of a maker. There was this great machine that would punch out the dough into a ring onto a conveyor which would send it through a process of rising and frying and cooling before it was dipped into the chocolate or maple or sugar by Loretta my partner in late night doughnutry. I would make sure that the machine was kept stocked with dough for the right amount of doughnuts to be made for the general public and more importantly for the Fort Ord Military base on the Monterey Peninsula. I felt my job contributed to the protection of our great country and some other countries who really didn't want us there but loved the commerce the armed forces brought to the economy. (Kind of like the Yosemite tourons (tourists) in Oakhurst - we can't stand their driving but they keep my kids employed at the espresso drive-thru.)

Sometimes the doughnuts would fall off the conveyor and get trapped on the bottom where I would have to clean it out at the end of the shift. The amount of grease in a cold doughnut was sickening. I would squeeze a one periodically and be repulsed by the grease. I started questioning whether it was right to feed these to the public and definitely was it the best thing for our military? A moral dilemma. Was this the best nutritional meal for people? Was I somehow contributing to the heart disease of our people?

Well, don't worry about it, it is only a doughnut, for Christ's sake. It is only a good tasting quick snack. I wouldn't call it a meal. It does bring a good feeling when you eat it, especially with coffee. There are plenty of other problems that are causing worst karma, and people need to eat, don't they? Don't worry about it and add some coconut or sprinkles on it, its fun and the kids love it!!

I don't know why this made me think of worship...

Thoughts...

As I was preparing for this weekend's conversation at Open Door in Walnut Creek, it is causing me to think about some stuff of worship and ministry. I like gathering with people who are serving God by serving people. Our worship is different than gathering with people who haven't thought much about God since last time we gathered.

I am not judging these people (maybe I am), but I like hearing stories of faith rather than complaints about music or the sermon. A good sermon or a moving song are bonuses to worshipping The Quiet Voice...

The Open Door...

I am speaking next Sunday to Jer Swigart's Open Door at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church.

I like what they are doing there...

Taylor Update...

I spent the day today with Taylor. Her spirit is amazingly mature. She sees the doctor weekly and needs to spend a lot of time resting. We wait and pray...

I ask for your prayers...

Today, my daughter Taylor felt like she had the flu and called the doctor and was told to come to the hospital immediately because of the risk to the triplets. There they found one of the babies had died. There may be complications with the others.

We are very sad and pray for the health, both physically and emotionally, for Taylor and the babies as well as for her husband, David.

UPDATE:
Thank you for your prayers and emails
Taylor goes back in on Friday for blood tests and ultrasound. Will keep you informed...

Future...

I was in a board meeting the other night and we were talking about a visioning plan for the future of Calvin Crest. It was an introduction to the discussion that will take a lot longer in the near future but it was a good beginning. Looking at what immediate needs in the facilities, 5 years, 10 years, and then it jumped to 50 years.

Fifty years from now what will camping be like. I am sure it had many of us thinking. I was thinking at first, what will we need to be doing, then I thought what will the people of the valley and surrounding areas be doing that we will need to be reacting to?

What will the moral issues be? What will the communication devices, if any, be like? What struggles will people be facing. What will technology, economics, etc do to the family and what will that do to the thinking of children and then what will that cause culture to reflect.

Will we have individual rocket suits? Computers be faster than they are now? Will people be wearing a lot of aluminum foil? Will there be a George Z. Bush in the White House? Will people still blog? Will they show up for any church services?

Will the Emergensia be the traditional service and the college students will rebell?

Will anyone remember me?

Grandfather cubed...

As many of you know, my daughter Taylor and her husband David are expecting their first child in late November - early December. They will also be expecting their second one in late November - early December. They will also be expecting their third child in late November - early December.

That is correct campers, triplets!

Mazel tov!

Band of Brothers...

Christel and I are watching the HBO series, Band of Brothers, again. I am always impressed by these men who braved it for about two years... two years! Such leadership, bravery, intense loyalty, etc. I always weep in the eighth story when they discover the concentration camp. What a scene, what a time.

Thanks Ryan McKenzie for telling me about it, I always stay around to see your name on the credits...

Control...

During this "down time" I try to debrief the summer, debrief my life, cook, clean up after I cook, draw a little, dream, stare a lot, drink a little wine, read detective novels, catch up with my family, eat hard cheeses, throw away some clothes, make coney island hot dogs, BBQ fish, and other things that I didn't get to do much during the summer.

Thursday, I spent a few hours with Nellie debriefing the summer, which was a great beginning. I haven't looked at the summer with anyone else before so it was good to speak out loud and listen to her perspective.

I have been spending some time debriefing myself and I am caught in a quandary. I think I have control issues. I lead 80+ people, responsible for about 2400 campers, get about 50 or more phone calls, letters, or emails from parents, pastors and others complaining or are concerned about something or other, I have to send campers and staff home, stop people who shouldn't be on campus, encourage, pray, counsel with the staff, etc. For ten weeks I am earlobe deep in decisions and putting out fires, that I had nothing or little to do with in the first place and then in a matter of hours I am home and don't have any of the issues that I just had. My poor wife, Christel, then becomes the "target" of my leadership. But then it is not considered leadership qualities but control issues.

She is very gracious as I plan, critique, and basically tell her my opinion on everything. Then she gives me The Smile. It is usually the first Tuesday when I get it. She is a music teacher, an opera singer, a mother of 3, soon to be a grandmother, an elder at the Local Corporation, graduated Cum Laude from CSU,Fresno, a beautiful woman, can cook the best lasagna in the world, even better than my mom's which is a huge accomplishment by the way, and my best friend. She knows her stuff. Why would I try to lead her? She is the one who has been faithful, compassionate, long suffering, bill paying, put up with this bozo for 30+ years, etc.

I don't know how to turn it off. I don't think I have to lead her just because of my plumbing - know what I mean? It comes down to control. I tend to control people I care about. These are good people, smart people, accomplished people. I go out on a boat with friends and I start controlling where we go, what we eat, what music comes out of my iPod, etc. Control.

It is easier when I have job title and people that gives me license to control but when I am a friend, a husband, a son, a dad, etc I need to mellow out. So a huge "I am truly sorry" to all of those that I tend to control and have been quietly patient with me. I will try to sit back more and let you drive the boat.

Something to work on...

The end of a summer...

We finished our season of summer camp last night. This was a great summer with a great staff who did a great work. I feel like Santa Claus the day after Christmas...