16 Apr 08 Ode To Josh

I got to see him in action one fine Eugene afternoon.

He had a court case and in the name of ministerial visitation I paid him a visit.

I seem to recall having to translate for someone prior to the court appearance but my memory is . . .   what were we talking about? 

I do remember reading the signs at the entrance of the court room telling us we couldn’t bring in our guns, knives or other weapons.

Josh and I enjoyed many sarcastic conversations (a shared sense of humor) and we had quite a bit of fun with that sign.

Stuff like "oh, see we can’t bring this gun into court because this sign says no guns." 

Or, "man we almost got away with bringing this knife into court but this sign says we can’t". 

And so on . . .

I took my seat in the back and watched as the other attorney (no kidding, a Matlock wanna be) was patronizing and condescending in the way he pronounced the word "objection".

The stumpmeister took it in stride and exercised lawyerly flourish.

I must admit I was a bit dissapointed.

I kept waiting, in vain, for Josh to shout "I want the truth!"

15 Apr 08 Attorney Fees

When you’ve been involved in blogtigation as I have been over on Big Bad Brad’s Blog* you need someone on your side.

You need an advocate, a comforter, a counselor, a keeper (those last three put together might make a good song phrase . . .).

When the time came for me to be aptly represented without hesitation I turned to none other than Josh Stump, Esq. Attorney at blog.

The negotiated terms for his competent representation are as follows:  I will dedicate and devote a series of posts in honor of the aforementioned representative of moi.

Yes, campers, you read that last sentence correctly.

I will be paying my attorney fees with words about and in honor of Josh Stump, Esq.

I will extract a few morsels from my memory and will rely upon others to add, embellish, confuse, confound, and construct in the comments.

My earliest recollection of my esteemed attorney extends to a time when he was interning with a firm in Eugene, Oregon and he showed up to play a softball game with us on our church softball team.

Have you seen the movie Sandlot?

It’s harder than you might expect, showing up and playing on a sports team with a group of strangers.

We put him at third base (if I recall).

To say that he went 4 for 4 (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 single) and made the game ending / winning out with a full on horizontal dive to the hole, snatching the 100 MPH line drive out of the air faster than Greg can pick up a new guitar at the GC would be somewhat of an exaggeration.

But unless you have proof, to otherwise refute this claim, it’s now in the official blog record and stands as called.
 

 

*The name "Big Bad Brad’s Blog" is the established intellectual property of Randy Wray and can only be used by permission.

14 Apr 08 Explaining The Tag Line

In the midst of some fun over on Big Bad Brad’s Blog* (and I stress it was and is all for fun) a blogger known by Brad made this comment about one of my comments:

I really do fear to send this because I am not so sure if comparing Randy to the great thinkers of all time is a great idea or not???

I laughed and laughed at this comment and thought I would extract portions of it (as is done in Hollywood film reviews) just because it was so funny. 

I’d really like to leave it up there for the laughs but don’t want to those who come late to the party to misunderstand.

 

 

*The name "Big Bad Brad’s Blog" is the established intellectual property of Randy Wray and can only be used by permission.

10 Apr 08 Shout To The Lord?

For a moment I thought I was watching the wrong broadcast network and the wrong show.

I walked away from the tube to make sure the kids were in bed.

I walked back just in time to catch the American Idol cast accompanied by a gospel choir and the house band singing:  “Shout To The Lord”

I was shocked.  Amazed.  Surprised.

Had the television been switched to the CCM awards show?

Had one of the comedians not shown and they turned to an evangelist to fill in (with obvious great success).

I was shocked.  Amazed.  Oh wait, I already said I was surprised.

Was I dreaming?  Was this true?

Oddly enough, in one moment the show was “praising” and the next moment it was “cursing.”

If you watched until the end you know what I’m talking about.

By the way, I will fully explain the tag line (under my name) tomorrow.

09 Apr 08 Chapel

Chapel today was inspiring. 

The student praise team encouraged us as we sang together. 

Our worship leader talked about God’s faithfulness in her life and asked the kids to stand up and praise God for something.

After the first person stood up the floodgates opened. 

Our fourth grade teacher prayed with passion and enthusiasm

Considering the day we had yesterday, it was a nice pause to spend the time in His presence.

08 Apr 08 nuf said

Anything I would have said today I’ve already said here. (I should point out, just in case, that it’s all for good fun)

07 Apr 08 Hecka Don’t Get It

I’m hecka tired of hearing how some ute is hecka hungry, hecka bored, hecka sleepy, hecka weepy.

Though I’ve never actually heard hecka weepy.

We’ve already established many times that I’m hecka aging into a hecka geezer.

But I just don’t hecka get the hecka lingo. 

03 Apr 08 Batting Average

There are those who will read this post and understand right away.

There are others who will think "whiner."

I’m having an "old school" week.

Prep and teach for a class on Wednesday night.

Prep and planning to teach two classes on Saturday for a regional conference.

Prep and delivery of a message for Sunday.

With these four "at bats" you just hope for a single or two. 

I know there are guys who do this kind of thing every week.

I just wonder how anyone does it WELL on a consistent basis.

02 Apr 08 Who’s Who? Are You?

During my sophomore year of COLLEGE I was chosen to be included in that year’s Who’s Who of American High School students.

What can I say?  I was a late bloomer.

So of course it was with great pride that we received notification yesterday that Reese (a 6th grader) was chosen to be included in this year’s Who’s Who of American High School students. 

I know you’ll want to join me in saying "what a scam!"

Not to mention of course that as of 2007 the "official" governing body ceased operations.

I told Reese how proud I was of him that he accomplished something in his life way before I was able to accomplish the same feat.

I attribute this, of course, to great parenting. 

The belly laugh moment of the evening was during dinner when Reese asked his mother, "mom, did you ever get chosen for that yayhoo thing?" 

01 Apr 08 Fish Fires (as opposed to fish fries?)

I would tell you about fishing with the kids last night at our favorite lagocito (Spanish for really small lake).

We landed two whoppers and one whopper junior (all large mouth bass).

The weather needs to heat up a bit (and the lake water needs to rise a bit) before the bluegill feel comfortable to make an appearance.

It’s the dream I had last night that captures today’s headlines.

Mind you, it was just a dream but perhaps there is a message in the dream?

I don’t know the location or setting but there were neighbors and it had an Oregon feel to it.

There was a unfinished house (almost like an addition), several wood piles outside stacked carefully and arranged in careful rows.

The neighbor with the large porch had a fire going in a wood-burning stove.

Embers from this fire must have spread because a fire had begun in the unfinished house located specifically in some bookshelves.

Several of the wood piles had also caught fire and were burning bright and hot.

I ran into a house (that I assume was familiar to me) and asked what looked like my grandfather for a fire-extinguisher.

He said he kept one by the door for just such occassions.

It was the strangest fire-extinguisher I had ever seen.

The equivalent of taking a wood tennis racket to a modern day Wimbledon tournament.

I ran out with this tribute to antique fire-fighting equipment and began to work meticulously on the fire in the wood piles. 

My dad came out of the house looked at my valiant efforts and said:  "Forget about the wood piles focus on the fire in the house."

And now you may begin with interpretations and moral lessons (including always go to Sunday School).