The Economy

In my day to day work, which I try not to write about much here, I see lots of reminders that we are in a recession. I told Amanda last night that it seems that I have been seeing many more adults. In the last three days 10 out of 13 appointments have been adult learners. Many of those mentioned to me that they were out of work after a layoff. Today a man in his early 50's and his wife came in. We got to talking and my heart went out to them. He said, "I never thought I would be going back to school at this age." This and so many other things makes me so thankful that God has provided for me and my family. I have a good job. I don't have to worry where my next meal is coming from.

How about you? Where are you seeing evidences of the downturn in our economy? Has someone that you know or love been affected by the recent layoffs? As you sit down to dinner tonight or before you go to bed, say a prayer for all of the people that are dealing with difficult decisions and circumstances.

New Springsteen--Old Me.

Today Bruce Springsteen releases his latest album, "Working On a Dream." This album kind of sneaked up on me. At the release of Springsteen's last album, "Magic," the boys and I had been anticipating it for weeks. We went out that Tuesday night and bought the CD. This time around though, I have not been anticipating it as much. I have downloaded the pre-release freebies and done some reading about it, but it hasn't really grabbed me. I even thought about just downloading it from iTunes today. (I have hard copies of all of my other Springsteen albums, just in case.)

I think that I have lost track of new music over the last year. Music has always been a way that I have sought to stay engaged with culture, but this year, I have not really been able to do that as much. It may be my increase in reading or the fault of my overloaded iPod (the subject of a future post.) The further away from college students I get, the further away from new music I get. I will definitely go out in the next few days, maybe even tonight, to get "Working On a Dream." Rolling Stone gave it 5 stars, just like almost all of Springsteen's latest albums. I am currently listening to it on lala. You can listen to it below. Make sure you catch The Boss at half time on Sunday.

Springsteen comes to St. Paul on May 11. Tickets go on sale on February 2. I think that this may have to be Ben and maybe Caleb's first Springsteen concert. We wanted to go so bad last time, but didn't pull the trigger. Tickets are so expensive, but I really want the boys to see him before he stops touring with the band. Will you be buying the album or seeing him on tour? Gregg and Brad, I already know your answers.

Hymn of the Week--I Surender All

Per the suggestion of my mom, this weeks HOTW will be I Surrender All. This is a good old hymn that I have sung all my life. This is what many Baptist bulletins call a "Hymn of Response."

On a theological note: One thing that I have become more sensitive as of late are hymns and songs that seem to be triumphal, focused on what I have done and often about the emotion of conversion. While conversion certainly is an experience with passion and emotion and not simply cerebral, the Christian culture has become fascinated with and even focused on the emotive. I think that this hymn borders on that. When we sing it as a family, I will simply ask, "How do we surrender all? Who gives us the ability to surrender all? Do you think that we surrender all to God once and for all?" Sometimes when I ask the kids questions like this, I hope that I am not reacting to my own evangelical/fundamental upbringing and confusing them. If I'm going to err though, I certainly want to err on the side of giving God the credit for my conversion. If it were up to me, I am sure that I wouldn't surrender anything. I certainly wouldn't surrender anything meaningful. Thanks be to God through whom I am able to surrender daily, get up after falling flat on my face, surrender again, and so on.

Hymn of the WeekI Surrender All
Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter
Music by Winfield S. Weeden

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

Gregg forwarded this to me today. I am not usually one to pass along things like this, but this is a good one. See my comments at the end.

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome. Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl?

Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

I knew I liked Curt Warner for a reason. He is an outspoken Christian. And unlike other quarter backs in the league, he seems to not be an egomaniacal hot head. I'll be rooting for the Cards on Superbowl Sunday. How about you?

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Last night Amanda and I were freezing our tails off. We had all of the curtains drawn our flannels on and we were still freezing. When it's -19 outside, I guess it's going to be cold inside no matter what. Here's a look at this week's highs and lows.

Hymn of the Week--Wonderful Words of Life

It was request night last night at the Gammons house. Grandpa Dave requested this weeks Hymn of the Week, Wonderful Words of Life. It is a great selection demonstrating the sacramental nature of the Word of God.

Hymn of the WeekWonderful Words of Life
Words and Music by Phillip P. Bliss
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Refrain

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Some audio tests

We got Caleb a new tape recorder for his birthday. This has led to a lot of fun recording sessions. I thought that I would try to figure out how to get some of these online. This weekend I did just that. Here are a couple of short ones that I think everyone will get a kick out of. The quality is not very good, but come on, it's from a cassette tape.

In case I disappear, come looking for the voice on this recording.

I LOVE to hear Matthew laugh. Whenever I hear him chuckle in the back of the house, it makes me get a huge smile on my face. Give it a try.