UPBEAT! by PrairiePete

Helloooooo Baaaaaaaaaby!

2009-04-17T00:12:00.005-05:00

("Let me tell you how it will be... there's one for you, 19 for me... 'cause I'm the taxman...")

OK, so I'm a little ADD!!! Just because I'm interested in a lot of things doesn't make me a bad person, just a bad blogger?

No, i haven't and do not see myself ever getting involved in... Twitter (not that there's anything wrong with that!). Actually, I think there s a lot wrong with that! I don't care if you brushed your teeth with Arm and Hammer Baking Soda toothpaste, I think most everyone would agree that we don't need or want to know when you went to the state fair.

I have discovered the online "community" of Facebook, so I've been spending a lot of time, trying it figure out...

Anyway, I hope you're well... I hope you dance! Check me out on Facebook... look for the hat!

Ever wondering...

PrairiePete

"This is why we live in Minnesota?"

2009-01-24T00:24:00.005-06:00

Well, we're well into the new year... so far, we've lived through two of the coldest weeks in recent memory... for those of you in "sunny climes," how does -40 degrees grab ya? It's so cold... ("How cold is it?"), I had to wear two pairs of long underwear!

My relatives in sunny Southern CA can't believe we live through this stuff... of course, they think we have to chop holes in the lakes to go swimming in July! Like the youth guy at Prairie said, "After it gets below 0, it really doesn't matter how much colder it gets... it's all just cold!" You can't really tell much difference between minus 10 and minus eight billion!!!

As we enter 2009, we have new president, a world economy that's reeling, a housing market that hasn't hit bottom yet according to some experts, and tension throughout the world... what does all of that mean?

It's time to "pray without ceasing, baby!" I sometimes wonder what people without faith think... how do the respond to all the doom and gloom. I know that I couldn't get through all this without a belief in something greater than little ol' moi! It just proves that when left to our own devices, we have a tendency to fail miserably.

What bothers me most is the level and amount of greed out there. When I read about executives giving themselves big bonuses for driving long-established companies into bankruptcy, it boggles my mind... how do these people sleep? I get heartburn just thinking about it, don't you?

Luckily, faith has no monetary price tag... you can't buy or sell faith (well, maybe the televangelists can)... faith is a funny thing.

I wish I could have the faith of a child more often than I do... I wonder where that childlike faith goes as we get older... and isn't it funny, how people who have lived a good long life seem to regain that "faith of a child?" Makes me think that we're trying too hard sometimes.

All that being said, the great news is that.. pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than a month... so you're telling me there's hope, huh? "People will come, Ray, they most certainly will come!"

Looking forward to spring... everybody has to believe in something... I believe I'll go to sleep!

Continue to pray for peace... see you in church!

PrairiePete

2008-12-28T22:25:00.003-06:00

Christmas 2008

Better late than never, huh?

Do you remember that Bing Crosby / David Bowie Christmas tune? Turns out Mr. Bowie didn’t want to sing the Little Drummer Boy (“he hated it”), so the music producers for Mr. Crosby quickly wrote the little counterpoint melody… (here’s a link to the article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121901260.html.)

I bring this up because the last verse is stuck in my mind.

“I pray my wish will come true; for my child, and your child, too.
He'll see the day of glory, see the day when men of good will live in peace, live in peace again.
Peace on Earth, can it be? Can it be?”

I know this is my prayer, and I think it’s everyone’s prayer… that our children, and our children’s children, will live in peace.

This Christmas, I am grateful to know and work with so many talented, gifted, and giving people. The members of the Worship Arts team are a source of much joy, and I think the group has grown and evolved to be a very important and vital ministry of the church.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas/New Year/Epiphany/Lenten season… feel free to shoot me an email or drop me a line!

This was too good not to share...

2008-11-18T23:30:00.009-06:00

Sometimes I get an email that is too good not to share... hmm... where have I heard that before?

I got this in an email from a person who attends Prairie Lutheran, the church I work for (if you knew this person, I think you would be surprised!)... anyway, as I read it, I thought I would share it with you. I don't know if it's true or not, but the message of the story still rings true!

OK, have a GREAT day... thanks for looking at this... I appreciate your visit, and I invite you to visit us! Our website is www.prairielutheran.org... check it out!

Blessings to you!
PrairiePete

= = = = = = =

DAD’S STORY

On July 22nd, I was in route to Washington, DC for a business trip. It was all so very ordinary, until we landed in Denver for a plane change. As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United Customer Service Representative immediately.

I thought nothing of it until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if he were Mr. Glenn. At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sunk.

When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said, “Mr. Glenn, there is an emergency at your home. I do not know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to the phone so you can call the hospital.” My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I followed this stranger to the distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found him he was dead. CPR had been performed by a neighbor, who is a doctor, and the paramedics had continued the treatment as Brian was transported to the hospital.

By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had been done to his brain, nor to his heart. They explained that the door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his heart. He had been severely crushed. After speaking with the medical staff, my wife sounded worried but not hysterical, and I took comfort in her calmness.

The return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the hospital six hours after the garage door had come down. When I walked into the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared me to see my little son lying so still on a great big bed with tubes and monitors everywhere. He was on a respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to give me a reassuring smile. It all seemed like a terrible dream. I was filled-in with the details and given a guarded prognosis. Brian was going to live, and the preliminary tests indicated that his heart was OK, two miracles in and of themselves. But only time would tell if his brain received any damage.

Throughout the seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She felt that Brian would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith like a lifeline. All that night and the next day Brian remained unconscious. It seemed like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before.

Finally at two o’clock that afternoon, our son regained consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have ever heard spoken. He said, “Daddy, hold me” and he reached for me with his little arms.

[TEAR BREAK...smile]

By the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread throughout the hospital. You cannot imagine, we took Brian home, we felt a unique reverence for the life and love of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who brush death so closely.

In the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home. Our two older children were much closer to their little brother. My wife and I were much closer to each other, and all of us were very close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace. Perspective seemed to be more focused, and balance much easier to gain and maintain. We felt deeply blessed. Our gratitude was truly profound.

The story is not over (smile)!

Almost a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his afternoon nap and said, “Sit down Mommy.. I have something to tell you.” At this time in his life, Brian usually spoke in small phrases, so to say a large sentence surprised my wife. She sat down with him on his bed, and he began his sacred and remarkable story.

“Do you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was so heavy and it hurt really badly. I called to you, but you couldn’t hear me.. I started to cry, but then it hurt too badly. And then the “birdies” came.”

“The birdies?” my wife asked puzzled.

“Yes,” he replied. “The birdies made a whooshing sound and flew into the garage. They took care of me.”

“They did?”

“Yes,” he said. “One of the birdies came and got you. She came to tell you “I got stuck under the door.” A sweet reverent feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter than air. My wife realized that a three-year-old had no concept of death and spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to him from beyond as “birdies” because they were up in the air like birds that fly…

“What did the birdies look like?” she asked.

Brian answered, “They were so beautiful. They were dressed in white, all white. Some of them had green and white. But some of them had on just white.”

“Did they say anything?”

“Yes,” he answered. “They told me the baby would be all right.”

“The baby?” my wife asked confused.

Brian answered. “The baby lying on the garage floor.” He went on, “You came out and opened the garage door and ran to the baby. You told the baby to stay and not leave.”

My wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone and knelt beside Brian’s body and seeing his crushed chest whispered, “Don’t leave us Brian, please stay if you can.” As she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she realized that the spirit had left His body and was looking down from above on this little lifeless form.. “Then what happened?” she asked.

“We went on a trip,” he said, “far, far away.” He grew agitated trying to say the things he didn’t seem to have the words for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was difficult.

“We flew so fast up in the air. They’re so pretty Mommy,” he added.

“And there are lots and lots of birdies.” My wife was stunned. Into her mind the sweet comforting spirit enveloped her more soundly, but with an urgency she had never before known. Brian went on to tell her that the “birdies” had told him that he had to come back and tell everyone about the “birdies.” He said they brought him back to the house and that a big fire truck, and an ambulance were there. A man was bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man that the baby would be okay. The story went on for an hour.

He taught us that “birdies” were always with us, but we don’t see them because we look with our eyes and we don’t hear them because we listen with our ears. But they are always there, you can only see them in here (he put his hand over his heart). They whisper the things to help us to do what is right because they love us so much. Brian continued, stating, “I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan.. Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan. We must all live our plan and keep our promises. The birdies help us to do that because they love us so much.”

In the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part of it, again and again. Always the story remained the same. The details were never changed or out of order. A few times he added further bits of information and clarified the message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he talked about his birdies.

Everywhere he went, he told strangers about the “birdies.” Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did this. Rather, they always got a softened look on their face and smiled. Needless to say, we have not been the same ever since that day, and I pray we never will be.

You have just been sent an Angel to watch over you. Some people come into our lives and quickly go... Some people become friends and stay a while... leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts... and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present! Live and savor every moment...this is not a dress rehearsal! THIS IS A SPECIAL GUARDIAN ANGEL...

[Ed. Note: This next part is in the email… not my deal… you can do whatever you want to.]

YOU MUST PASS THIS ON TO 5 PEOPLE WITHIN THE HOUR OF RECEIVING IT... IF YOU HAVE PASSED HER ON, SHE’LL WATCH OVER YOU FOREVER...IF NOT, HER TEARS WILL FLOW.

Now don’t delete this message, because it comes from a very special Angel.

The more things change...

2008-11-09T21:17:00.005-06:00

...aw, never mind!

The nice thing about writing a "monthly" blog is that there usually is something to rant about. Hmmm, let me think... what happened between my last post in the beginning of October 'til now? Something important, I think... I don't think it was weather-related... oh yes, now I remember!

I celebrated a birthday... that's the ticket! Whenever someone asks me how old I am, I always say, "92, but I'm in great shape!"

I'll just say that I'm older than the President-elect, but younger than his Vice-President!

Kinda like Norm from "Cheers"... "Hey, Mr. Peterson, whatcha up to?" "My ideal weight if I were 7' 2"!"

I think the best thing I've heard re: post-election America is... isn't it a great country where we can have such a heated campaign, yet at the end of the day, we are all Americans. We need to put aside our differences and pray for our new president. Like I heard one newsperson say, "I wonder if Sen. Obama is saying to himself... now what do I do?"

All the speculation, analysis, commentary... do we really need all of the rhetoric?

I'm reminded of my dad's mom, who just died last summer at the age of 103... the things she must have seen, all the political maneuverings over all the years... from riding sail-powered fishing boats to watching men walk on the moon... from the joys of motherhood to the pain of having to bury a child and a spouse...

My grandma's birthday is November 10th... my birthday is the 7th, my brother's is the 4th, as is one of my co-workers... another celebrated her birthday on the 6th (which is the same as John Phillip Sousa; don't ask me how I remember that!)... there are a lot of birthdays in November!

On another note, I've become a YouTube addict... does anyone remember when MTV and VH1 actually broadcast music videos? Back when they mattered? (Oh, sorry... that was kinda political, wasn't it?)

Anyway, I was an MTV / VH! addict big time... I was hooked on Thomas Dolby ("She Blinded Me With Science"); I wanted my MTV (Mark Knoffler and Sting); I remember staying up all night to watch Toto, Phil Collins and Philip Bailey, the Police, Foreigner, Journey and Steve Perry, Billy Joel, Elton John, Earth, Wind and Fire, Wild Cherry (hint: "Play that Funky Music...")... remember KC and the Sunshine Band, the Jackson 5 (when Michael had his real nose!)... can you tell I was addicted? What? You say I still AM addicted? No way!

Did I mention the Tubes, Todd Rundgren, The Cars, Duran Duran, Mr. Mister, The Fixx, van Halen, Chicago, Pete Cetera, Laura Brannigan, Karla Bonhoff, Nicolette Larson, Robbie Dupree, Roger Vadoris, Bobby Caldwell...

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving... we head into my personal "crazy time..." Advent and Christmas... lots of services, lots of different styles of music, lots of outside groups coming to perform, lots of inside groups performing as well... we're all givin' glory to the Lord, whatever way we can.

As you can tell, I have a fairly eclectic taste in music... some would say a schizophrenic taste in music! I've always felt that variety of the music we do at Prairie Lutheran is one of the reasons people come to worship... they know that they'll probably hear something familiar, but they'll probably hear a new song, or a new soloist or group... there's really never a dull moment!

Come and check us out if you're looking for a new church. You can check out our website at www.prairielutheran.org to hear samples of our pastors preaching, or to find out more about the congregation, staff and programming.

Ok, time to say "Good night, Gracie!" "Good night, Gracie!"

Have a GREAT day... we'll see you in church!

PrairiePete

"Render unto Caesar..."

2008-10-08T23:15:00.007-05:00

So.. is anyone else tired of the whole attack-style political scene? It's driving me crazy!!! He said this, no, he said that... she's not qualified, he's inexperienced... ENOUGH!

Is anyone old enough (like me... older than dirt!), does anyone remember a time when we, the people, voted for a candidate because they inspired us, they made us want more for our children than for ourselves, they gave us a vision we could identify with?

Now it seems like all we're left with is "the lesser of two evils," because we're so beaten down by the rhetoric that we're voting just to be done with it! People vote based on "what's in it for me?"

That's not what made this country great!

It's funny, my dad, his parents, his brothers and sisters... all were "re-located" to Manzanar, a "relocation center" in the Mojave Desert during WWII. Yet, I never heard him speak ill towards the US, never talked it down, never suggested that this wasn't the greatest country in the world... his mom, my grandmother, just died this summer at the age of 103... I never heard her say anything bad about this country...

We've become a nation of self-centered, self-absorbed "navel-gazers..." all we think about is ourselves and our attention is turned inward.

That's one of the great things about being a follower of Jesus... it seemed like he was a pretty busy guy, healing the sick and raising the dead... he did a bit of traveling, and he has a group of followers who looked to him for direction and guidance...

But in all the accounts we have, Jesus made time for people... he was always looking out for those less respected, less empowered. He sought out those disenfranchised... women... children. He was outward focused, and he challenges us to be the same.

So, how do we change? Take a look at Matthew 25:34-45,

... that's enough... I've fallen asleep a couple of time trying to finish this... it's time to go to sleep!

Have a great day!

Prairie Pete

I know this doesn't count as a posting, but...

2008-09-18T12:13:00.003-05:00

...sometimes, things are so cute you just can't pass them up!!!

Forrest Gump Goes to Heaven:

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed, & Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, 'Well Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you... I must tell you though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.'

Forrest responds, 'It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam & am I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.'

St. Peter continued, 'Yes, I know Forrest, but the test is only three questions'.
First: What two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God's first name?'

Forrest leaves to think over the questions. He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, 'Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.'

Forrest replied, 'Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'? Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow.'

The Saint's eyes open wide and he exclaimed, 'Forrest, that is not what I was thinking but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?' asked St. Peter.

'How many seconds in a year?' Now that one is harder,' replied Forrest, but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve.'

Astounded, St. Peter said, 'Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?'

Forrest replied, 'Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... '

'Hold it' interrupts St. Peter, 'I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind but I will have to give you credit for that one too. Now, let us go on with the third and final question.

Can you tell me God's first name'?

'Sure,' Forrest replied, 'it's Andy.'

'Andy?' exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter. 'Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?'

'Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,' Forrest replied. 'I learnt it from the song,
'ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN.'

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: 'Run Forrest, run.'

Y'all have a WONDER-FILLED day!

Prairie Pete

"It's the right time of the night..."

2008-09-16T00:48:00.003-05:00

I used to be a night owl... WAIT!

I'm writing this at 12:50 am, Tuesday morning... not as cool as "Tuesday afternoon... I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way..."

I think the best thing about this blogging deal is that there's no-one to tell you how to write... I know I drive linear thinkers crazy! (For all you linear thinkers out there who deal with me on an occasional basis, I'm sorry... kind of.)

My bride said I'm childish... her friends say, no... he's childlike, but, we all know my wife is right!

She once told me that I'm the most tangential person she knows... I say I'm the poster boy for ADD...

I know it's not funny... in fact, my friends remind they have medication for what I have... the only problem is... it is kinda funny, don't you think?

Did you notice the cool things I added to this page? The Miro paintings, and the space pictures... I think both of these sites are awesome, baby!

I once received a series of prayers based on the Myers-Briggs profiles... here's mine:

"Dear God,

Please help me focus on one...

OH LOOK! A BIRD!!!

...thing today.

Amen.

For those of you who know me, it kinda fits, don't you think?

OK, well it's going to be a warm fall day here in the Prairie-land... you know, I think Prairie Lutheran is confusing... the name, that is. I mean, I don't know if there has been a prairie in Eden Prairie for several years now!

Whenever I think of Prairie, I think "Little House..." don't you? Come on, you know you do! Ma and Pa Engels, Nellie, Laura, Halfpint (and NO! I DID NOT watch a lot of Little House on the Prairie... well, maybe a little!)... I don't know. don't you think Eden Prairie Lutheran is more descriptive?

Of course, that totally ruins our PLC acronym, which stands for... I forget.

Alright, that's enough rambling, man! (I know, I know... "trying to make a living and doin' the best I can..." I heard it!)

Is it Ritalin that the give to people like me? Did I tell you that when I was in Kindergarten Sunday School, they had to bring in another teacher just to sit with me? That's so difficult to believe!!!

Say goodnight, Gracie!

See you in church...

Prairie Pete

Trying Times...

2008-09-08T23:25:00.014-05:00

You know... I like to do this "blog-thing on the interlink...", I really do!

It's challenging to come up with something that you think others might find interesting... (oh, oh... I'm doing the "Larry King" column thing... adding ellipses at the end of phrases...)

I wonder if the "ellipses" thing is because it forces me to write more?

I'm watching a favorite show of mine, "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern," as I'm writing this... that guy is incredible! He'll eat anything! Anyway, if you've been following along, Chef Zimmern resides in Minnesota for large chunks of his time... his hour-long, Bizarre Foods of the MN State Fair was pretty good! He and Anthony Bourdain are two of my favorites!

Anyway, he was in China, eating all kinds of funky stuff... he actually got stuck being unable to eat stinky tofu! It's fun to watch when he can't down something, because he usually can eat anything!

I'm gonna switch computers... be back in a minute!

I think I need to start going to stop blogging at 12:30 in the morning! I need to go to sleep...

OK, I've fallen asleep three times since trying to finis this monthy's entry... I'll try to finish tomorrow!

============

8:20 a.m.

Good Morning!

Nice post last night, 'eh? (Did I tell you that my mom lives in Canada?) Let's try this again!

Oh yeah... trying times! Why, you ask? Well, my Vikings lost pretty handily to the Brett-less Packers, and my Twins are in a terrible slump! I'm not giving up hope for my Twins... we're such a young team... our pitchers are trying too hard, come to think of it, it seems like everyone on the team is trying too hard!

Come on, Gardy! Get these kids back to the point... they get paid big bucks to play a game! I know we'll be OK!

Alright, time to go... meetings to go to... whoo hoo! Don't you just love sitting in meetings? I know some people love to meet... I guess I'd rather be doing something! Oh well... you can't stop progress!

Have a GREAT day, y'all! See you in church!

PrairiePete

Life is good...

2008-07-24T00:30:00.008-05:00

You know, no matter how my day has been, it's always a good day. I think it was George Burns who said, "When I wake up, the first thing I read is the obituaries... if I don't see my name there, I get out of bed!"

I think the perspective of time is so interesting... the things I thought were important when I was younger don't seem to be such a big deal anymore. The older I get, the more precious and fleeting and whimsical life becomes...

I used to be a night owl... wait, I am a night owl! Anyway, I used to sleep in in the mornings, which I find hard to do anymore. Life is too short... now one of my favorite things is to get out of bed and go get the paper... especially when it's summertime in Minnesota. The air is usually so clean and clear, you can hear all the birds singing... my mom used to say, "Oh, I hear Mr. Cardinal!" Now, that's what I say when I hear a cardinal... must be maternal imprinting.

I know it's hard to believe, but I get discouraged just like the rest of you mortals do... thank God for the internet! My sister sent me a link about an incredible young man named Nick... here's the link:

http://www.crystalcathedral.org/hour_of_power/videos/nick.php

It's a bit long, but I'm not sure how anyone who watched it can feel sorry for themselves...

I love this line from a James Taylor song... "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time..." That's so cool!

Then the next verse goes:

"The secret of love is in opening up your heart
Its okay to feel afraid
But don't let that stand in your way
cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since were only here for a while
Might as well show some style
Give us a smile
Isn't it a lovely ride..."

Finally, a few of you may be old enough to remember Dr. Sidney Freedman from the TV show M*A*S*H... Allan Arbus (Dr. Freedman) played an Army psychiatrist... at the end of one episode, Dr. Freedman gave the stressed O.R. staff some advice: "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice."

Enjoy the journey, my friend... remember, life is a one lap race!

Pray for peace... and passion!

Prairie Pete

I know this doesn't count as a "posting"...

2008-07-14T10:40:00.004-05:00

My beautiful bride always sends me things to look at, usually when I'm in the middle of something I think is important. Today, for some reason, I decided to read this one... and I think you should, too!

=======

I hope you will enjoy it half as much as I have!! Don't start reading this one until you have got 3 or 4 minutes to just 'scan' over it. It deserves some time for reflection.

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed....’

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2); there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas, and those airplanes stay up in the sky because "angels carry them."

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our Cocker Spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watches the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never as happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an ‘educated’ person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap... I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

=======

When you read this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do... there is nothing attached. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. Prayer is powerful. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards.

"FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY."

=======

Have a GREAT day... remember to pray for peace!
Prairie Pete

You know, it's kinda sad...

2008-07-13T23:57:00.007-05:00

...it's kinda sad when you have to look up your login info because it's been so long since you last logged on!

Hi, sports fans! A lot has happened since I last reported to you! Our church had it's annual outdoor worship service... our nation celebrated a birthday, my 103 grandmother passed away... I've been on vacation to "God's country" (Northern Minnesota)... our summer attendance remains steady and strong... my appreciation for the people who volunteer at PLC to help out with music grows each week, and it's finally summer in the Twin Cities!

Speaking of the Twins, I've enjoyed watching and listening to the games for the most part. Some people thought the team would collapse after losing Torii Hunter and trading Johan Santana...

Did I tell you that I emailed the new Twins GM, Bill Smith, just before the Santana trade went down? I told him that I appreciated the difficulty of deciding which way to go, but that as a loyal fan, I still loved he way the Twins do business and the product they continue to put on the field.

Go Go Gomez is a fun but nerve-wracking watch, Livan is questionable, but I still love my Twins! I love watching "the kids" figure out what it means to be a big leaguer...

Do you remember "Angels in the Outfield?" (Yes, I cried at the end of that movie too, just like I did for "The Parent Trap!") When the little kid kept saying, "It could happen!" It could happen with my Twins! (You can't spell Twins with out WIN!")

There's this great little blog/email letter you should check out... it's from a United Methodist Church in Green Bay, WI of all places... but it's still good!

Here's the link: http:\\soundbites@fumcgb.org; Check it out... I think you'll like it.

Another cool deal is my friend Rob Barrett's "Cooking for Dads." It's a YouTube deal where he helps "dads" (and others!) who might be kitchen-aphobic, and helps them make delicious, healthy meals.

Alright, kiddies... time for bed! Thanks for reading, and I'll catch you next time!

Prairie Pete

Three Things to Ponder...

2008-06-02T23:57:00.002-05:00

[Sometimes, I get an email that's just too good to not pass it along... even though my good friend "pianomomsicle" says copying emails does not constitute a post!]

Three Things to Ponder:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

1) C O W S
Isn't it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic, our government could track a single cow, born in Canada, almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the State of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But, they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe, we should give each of them a cow.

2) T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

3) T H E T E N C O M M A N D M E N T S
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians... it creates a hostile work environment.

Just something to think about.

Hey! My Twins beat the Yankees and split a four game series with the Bronx Bombers... pretty good stuff, Maynard!

Go Twins!

Pray for peace...
Prairie Pete

Whaaat? A new post?

2008-05-31T00:14:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe, isn't it?

Well, it's been a ride lately... both of my wife's parents died within 9 months of each other... we just passed mom-in-law's first anniversary of her passing.

To top it off, our poochie, Taylor died in March... then, my 103 year old grandma just passed away in CA on May 19th. It's been a year!

I'm reminded of God's resurrection promise during difficult times like these... the verse that goes through my head is 1 Cor. 13:12-13...

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

If we don't love, what's the point?

One of my favorite rock stars is Todd Rundgren... I remember he put out an album called "Something/Anything" where he played and sang all the parts on three sides of a double album... I was blown away...

Anyway, he wrote a song called "Love is the Answer"... one of my favorites! It goes like this....

Name your price
And take it to paradise
I can't stay here any more
And I've looked high and low
I've been from shore to shore to shore
If there's a short cut I'd have found it
But there's no easy way around it

Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer

Who knows why
Someday we all must die
We're all homeless boys and girls
And we are never heard
It's such a lonely world
People turn their heads and walk on by
Tell me, is it worth just another try?

Light of the world, shine on me
Love is the answer
Shine on us all, set us free
Love is the answer

While the lyrics are dark, there is a hope in the words "Love is the answer."

Amen? Amen!

Catch you next time!

Up Late... Watching ANOTHER food program!

2008-04-08T23:35:00.007-05:00

Well, I think have everything ready for next Sunday... I just have to put music packets together for the Worship Team (the best team in the world!), get the mics out, and assemble the projection... hopefully it will go smoothly, God willing!

The Twins had the day off... that's Minnesota Twins, for those of you who stumbled across this blog by accident! I'm hopeful that the young pitchers will figure out that they belong in the big leagues, and that our bats will wake up! It's a bit difficult seeing Torii Hunter get a game-winning grand slam... not that he got one, but that he's no longer on the team... the realities of pro ball!

With both Torii and Johan Santana gone, it's a little weird watching my favorite baseball team... I was watching the other day, and 7 of the 9 position players are new to the club this year!

I sent an email to Bill Smith, the new Twins GM, just before the Santana trade went down... I was pleasantly surprised to get a response from him! But it was cool!

I had my credit card number stolen the day we put our pooch down (see the end of my previous blog)... it's under control now, but the interesting thing is... I was getting shipments of WEIGHT LOSS merchandise!!! I got a big box from NutriSystems, I got some weight loss pills... I wonder if the jerk who took my info is trying to tell me something???!!!

My Wild, the MN pro hockey franchise, start the playoffs tomorrow... or today, depending on when I finish this post! They've been playing really well, and it's been fun watching them have some success... they've got some great players!

Like I said, I'm watching a food show... Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel. He's really "New York" edgy... but I love the show! The other guy I like is a local guy named Andrew Zimmern... this guy is totally out of his mind! And I'd love to meet him!

Zimmern hosts a show called "Bizarre Foods"... I think I've mentioned it before. Let me warn you... if you've got a weak stomach, DO NOT watch this show! It's like a one man "Fear Factor!" Worms, tarantulas, cockroaches... he'll dig out the eye from a cooked sheep head and spread it on a cracker and chow it down!!! I think that fact that he now lives in MN is the big draw for me... hey, he's even eaten lutefisk on the show! Food Network may have their "Iron Chefs," but Mr. Zimmern has an "iron stomach!" Amazing stuff...

Here's a link to "No Reservations," Mr. Bourdain's show: http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain...

And here's a link to "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern": http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Bizarre_Foods.

Like they always say on "Iron Chef"... ENJOY!

See you in church!

"He is not here...

2008-03-20T17:15:00.003-05:00

...where is he?"

(That's one of my favorite religious-type jokes! OK... maybe us religious-types don't have the best sense of humor... sorry about that!)

I just found out that Larry King used to use a lot of ellipses (these things "...") in his newspaper column in USA Today... cool! I guess us great literary people really know how to fill space!

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted, but I figure I should try to post again...

On the work front, you know what time it is, don't you? "IT'S TOURNEY TIME, BABY!!!" "PRIME TIME, PRIME TIME, PRIME TIME..."

OK... actually, it's Easter... did you know that this is the earliest Easter will be in our lifetime?

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

Here's the interesting info.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the facts:
1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

WOW! That's pretty cool, huh?

On a sad note, our 14 year old West Highland White Terrier, Taylor, went to that grassy knoll in the sky this month... we got him as a puppy, so it's been a long time. He was really sick though, and couldn't move much, so we said good bye and good night.

That's a pic of the old boy at the top of the page, back in his younger days...

Touching words from the mouth of babes...

2008-02-26T12:47:00.001-06:00

What Love means to a 4-8 year old . . . Slow down for three minutes to read this; it is so worth it!

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"

The answers they received were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." – (Rebecca, age 8)

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." – (Billy, age 4)

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." – (Karl, age 5)

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." – (Chrissy, age 6)

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." – (Terri, age 4)

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." – (Danny, age 7)

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss." – (Emily, age 8)

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." – (Bobby, age 7)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," – (Nikka, age 6)

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." – (Noelle, age 7)

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." – (Tommy, age 6)

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." – (Cindy, age 8)

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." – (Clare, age 6)

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." – (Elaine, age 5)

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." – (Chris, age 7)

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." – (Mary Ann, age 4)

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." – (Lauren, age 4)

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image) – (Karen, age 7)

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." – (Mark, age 6)
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." – (Jessica, age 8)

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot. All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this.

Heavenly Father, please bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of Your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with You. Amen.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T12:48:00.003-06:00

I love my wife! She emails me the cutest things... here's a sample of what I got today!
(I should probably add the disclaimer: "She got them from her brother.")

When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
Sacha Guitry

After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other, but still they stay together.
Hemant Joshi

By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.
Socrates

Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them.
Dumas

The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want?
Sigmund Freud

I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me.
Anonymous

"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays."
Henny Youngman

"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."
Sam Kinison

"There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage."
James Holt McGavran

"I've had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me, and the second one didn't."
Patrick Murray

Two secrets to keep your marriage brimming:1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
Nash

The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once...
Anonymous

You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to.
Henny Youngman

My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
Rodney Dangerfield

A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.
Milton Berle

Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy.
Anonymous

A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."
Anonymous

First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"
Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Prairie Pete

These are cute!

2008-02-02T23:01:00.000-06:00

Every once in awhile, someone sends me something, or I happen to run across it while I'm looking for something else on "the interlink," and it just makes me chuckle...

Here are a few gems that relate to my "bidness"... have a GREAT day!

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?"
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."

HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, "We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?"
One child blurted out, "Aces!"

MOSES & THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school.
"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."
"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.
"Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible; Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little Rick was excited about the task, but, he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED PRAYER?
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head, for a moment, before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.
"Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages, "I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon."
"So, how come He doesn't do it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL
A rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? Very commendable. What does she say?"
The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

Happy New Year!

2008-01-05T00:42:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been over a month since I updated... kinda busy, with lots of stuff to do... did I mention I work in a church? Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years... the most challenging thing about this job is... you have a GREAT Sunday am experience, people's hearts are touched... great! Now, what are you going to do for us next week?

Sometimes it gets to be a bit much... but like the Japanese-Americans used to say during the internment of WWII... "shikatata ga-nai," which translated means, "It can't be helped."

I hope your New year is filled with joy, health, prosperity and happiness!

Catch you soon!

"Walkin' in my Winter Underwear..."

2007-12-03T14:51:00.000-06:00

Well... Well, it’s been a long time since I updated my blog… how are you two doing? (I think there are two people reading this, although it could be just me!)

I hope you all made it through the lovely snow this weekend here in Minnesoooota… as for me and my house, we’re looking for property in AZ!

Some of you may be old enough to remember the Quantas (Australian) Airlines ad… the little koala bear who was angry that Quantas was bringing all these people to Australia… he would end the ad by saying… “I hate Quantas!” I guess hate is not politically correct nowadays, but it mad a memorable ad… I can still hear that voice… “I hate Quantas!”

Now, imagine me, hanging up in a tree, watching the snow fall all around… “I hate snow!” (OK, so I know that was a stretch, and the picture of me hanging up in a tree is worth the price of admission, but… you get my drift! GET IT? Snow... Drift!!!)

SNOW! HUUH! GOOD GOD, Y’ALL… WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! (I know, I know… time to go take my meds!)

Christmas season... it comes up and leaves more quickly each year. I think it must be Einstein's theory of relativity or something. I know that when I’m with my family, time flies!

So, what’s new? Our family went on a trip to the East Coast for Thanksgiving, and had a great time visiting relatives.

Our home remodel is almost done.

My daughter passed her behind the wheel driver’s test… if I were you, I’d park your car in the garage and ride the bus… better for the environment, too!

We’re heading into Advent here at work… We’ve got the North Shore Brass on December 9th, Jolie Berg on violin on the 16th, and Sara Renner will join us December 23rd. I’m even thinking we’ll do the Hallelujah Chorus as a special number that day!

Have a safe and blessed Christmas season… if that doesn’t work for you, have a blessed holiday season! If that doesn't work for you... sorry, I'll be praying for you!

A New Month, a New Blog Entry

2007-10-08T23:08:00.000-05:00

So, I'm very jealous of all "youse guyz" who have the time to blog your little brains out every day... let me know when you get a job!

Speaking of jobs, have you read the "Fake Steve Jobs" blog? Pure gold... I love it when the FSJ (think about it... think about it...) tells his tales of dealing with Al Gore, or Bill Gates, or any other noted celebrities... I rarely laugh out loud, but the "Fake Steve Jobs" blog made me chuckle!

So then, I was reading the comedian Steven Wright's blog... can you say, stream of conciousness? Either that, or great mood-altering chemicals!

Hey, did you see the article where someone, and I think it's Merriam-Webster, is dumping the hyphen because nobody knows how to use it anymore? Thank you, txt msgs!

Anyway, I wanted to share a few of Mr. Wright's "observations..." Do you remember in "Cheers" where Fraser turns to Cliff and asks, "Cliff, what color is the sky in your world?"

Dude and dud-ettes, I can totally relate! That's right where I live... OK, here are some Wright-isms... enjoy!

I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.
When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.
Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
I spilled spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
I went to the museum where they had all the heads and arms from the statues that are in all the other museums.
Smoking cures weight problems... eventually...
In school, every period ends with a bell. Every sentence ends with a period. Every crime ends with a sentence.
I went to a fancy French restaurant called "Deja Vu." The headwaiter said, "Don't I know you?"
When I turned two I was really anxious, because I'd doubled my age in a year. I thought, if this keeps up, by the time I'm six I'll be ninety.
Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen.
Ever notice how irons have a setting for *permanent* press? I don't get it...
I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time.
Tinsel is really snakes' mirrors.
If God dropped acid, would he see people?
I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, "Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours." He said, "Yes, but not in a row."

That's all for now... pray for peace!

PrairiePete

P.S. - Come and join us at Prairie Lutheran Church - 11000 Blossom Road in Eden Prairie, MN 55347 (phone: 952-829-0525). Our services are at 8:30 (trad.) and 10:45 (cont.), with education in the middle.

Once a month...

2007-09-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

(Look closely at this picture... I'll tell you all about it in a minute!)

I'm not sure why I started this blogging thing... I'm usually such a quiet guy... nothing to add to a conversation... shy... OK, OK! I'm just either lazy, or busy, or I guess I don't have anything important to say!

Thanks for visiting my blog... my daughter told me about a funny website that her teacher pointed out to her.

Now, I don't know if you've seen my pic, but if you have you know that I'm not Scandinavian in background (not that there's anything wrong with that)! As a matter of fact, both my parents are Japanese... my dad's parents came from Japan, which makes me third generation Japanese (or Sansei).

(from Wikepedia)
Generations
Japanese-Americans have special names for each of its generations in the United States. The first generation born in Japan or Okinawa, is called Issei. The second generation is Nisei, third is Sansei, fourth is Yonsei and fifth is Gosei. The term Nikkei was coined by Japanese-American sociologists and encompasses the entire population across generations.

Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, my dad's family was in a relocation center during WWII, and after the war, my dad went to Japan as an interpreter for the U.S. Army, where he met my mom and convinced her to come to the U.S and get married. So, that makes me Nisei from her... no wonder why I'm so confused!

ANYWAY, back to my daughter (who is either Sansei or Yonsei!)... she showed me this website called "Engrish.com"... now, I know some of you might be offended by this, but personally, I think it's a riot! I don't feel like this site is mean spirited in any way... it just points out the peculiarities of translating English to Japanese, and vice versa. (I think we're getting much to "PC" nowadays anyway, don't you?)

I sold electronics for many years, and I remember a Mitsubishi VCR with a wireless remote. The directions on the back of the remote said something like "To Record, pless Red Button." I loved it!

As a matter of fact, my own mother, who has lived here and in Canada for over 55 years, still gets her English a little mixed up.

Back when my kids were little, my wife and I had moved into a new house... first single home dwelling... I know many of you remember that move from your last apartment to your first house... it's a BIG deal!

So my mom came to visit, and my grandma, my dad's mom, came to visit from California. Now, if you've ever been to CA, you know that they have Lucky's, a big grocery store chain. Well, my uncle had worked for Lucky’s for many years. We started talking about my uncle and my mom said, “Oh, so he still works for Rucky’s?” and my grandma (88 years old at the time… she’ll be 103 this November! Go, Grandma!) said, without skipping a beat, “It’s Lucky’s, not Rucky’s!"

During that same visit, my wife was trying to take a nap on the couch, but still awake, and my daughter was in a high chair, watching my mom make dinner.

My daughter said, “What are you doing, Grandma?”

Grandma said, “Oh… I’m just chopping cerry (celery).”

My daughter said, “What?”

Grandma: “Cerry.”

“What?”

"Cerry!”

My wife said she was almost crying, trying to keep from laughing out loud!

Finally, after one more “What?”, my mom said, “I’m cutting vegetables!”

OK, back to “Engrish.com”!

I was looking at a few pages on their website, and I came across the picture of the CD cover that just cracked me up and I had to share it with you! Oh, and by the way, when I was a younger man with much longer hair, I too, once believed that "Clapton is god!"

[Not the Almighty, Three in One, Omnipotent, Most Holy One... if you're too young to know what "Clapton is god!" means... go ask your parents! Have you heard of "The Who"? "Derek and the Dominoes?" The song, "Layla"? Not that wimpy, weak, acoustic MTV version... the kick @#$ rock and roll version! Oops! Can you say "@#$" on a blog? Sorry!]

Oh well, until next time… be safe, be healthy, say a prayer once in awhile… and maybe I’ll see you in church!

Pray for peace… and passion!
Prairie Pete

It Must Be Time for a New Post!

2007-08-30T09:20:00.000-05:00

Wow! Where did the summer go?
I think it's a good idea to change up your blog once in a while... I'm amazed at all of you who jot things down once a day, sometimes even more than that... don't you guys have anything else to do? Just curious...
Tomorrow kicks off the Labor Day weekend (if you're going any place, drive safely, please!)... school starts next week, and I can't wait... our fall schedule at PLC starts up (that's Prairie Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, MN for those of you who are not hip to all the cool and groovy acronyms we use around here: DEC, PLC, JAM, etc.; if you want to know more, you'll just have to come and check it out!)...
Here at PLC (see above), we move to our fall schedule with two worship services on Sunday... a more traditional service at 8:30 a.m. (piano, special music, Lutheran hymns and liturgies from the LBW, WOV, and ELW... confused? Again, see above)... our 10:45 a.m. service is more contemporary with a worship band, vocal team, etc. We also have "Education for All Ages" starting at 9:30 a.m.
ALL I KNOW is... I'd rather be fishing!
Have a GREAT weekend, and I'll see you in church!
Pray for Peace!
Prairie Pete

Let us pray for...

2007-08-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

people who have been directly affected by the 35W bridge collapse here in Minneapolis...

those who have loved ones or know people who were affected...

the loved ones of people who are still missing...

the people who responded to the call and offered comfort and aid to those in need...

the people who will be involved in the inspection and evaluation of what happened...

the politicians and leaders of our city, state and country, so they might make wise decisions and not turn this into a political circus...

"I have longed to know you and your tender mercies,
like a river of forgiveness ever-flowing without end.
I bow my heart before you in the goodness of your presence,
your grace forever shining like a beacon in the night.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy on me."

"Lord, Have Mercy"
- Words and Music by Steve Merkel.
Copyright © 2000 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission. CCLI License No. 280843.

...and on all of us. Amen.

Oh, my... a NEW Post! (07.25.07)

2007-07-24T23:13:00.000-05:00

Hey, do you guys ever read Dilbert? I just love that comic! I used to get the Dilbert newletter... what that has to do with church and church work, I don't know... but it makes me laugh, and laughter is a gift from God, so... here are a few gems from a few years ago... they still work!
=======
Here now, more quotes from Induhviduals... (these are actual quotes, people!)
"Call me back at your least convenience."
"It's six of one and one of the other."
"I can't do it in the spur of a hat."
"I don't want to run any flags up the telephone pole."
"I've been running around like a chicken with my legs cut off."
"This has been a red herring around our necks."
"We're treading on thin water here."
"Knock it off before I beat you with a dead horse!!!"
"I don't want to go out on a limb and shoot myself in the foot."
"Gee, we haven't been here since the last time."
"Don't bite the mouth that feeds you."
"I keep telling you these things, but you keep turning a blind cheek to it."
"Screaming like a chicken with its head cut off."
=======
Keep looking at the world through rose-colored glasses... everything will look rosy!

Sorry!

2007-06-25T23:51:00.000-05:00

Howdy! I'm sorry I can't chat right now... I'm waiting in line for my iPhone!

Thanks to my friend, Brad!

2007-06-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

Check out this link...

http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/ecclesiastes3/ecclesiastes3.html

When you think you're having a bad day, just remember...

2007-06-25T23:30:00.000-05:00

IT COULD BE WORSE!

I'm Sure You've Seen This Before...

2007-05-10T00:25:00.000-05:00

...but it's worth looking at again...

=======
The Philosophy of Charles Schultz...
=======
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Acheivements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one...

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." - Charles Schultz

Is it really May 1?

2007-05-01T00:15:00.000-05:00

Happy May day!

Like I've said before, having a blog isn't hard... it's keeping it current that's difficult for me! In my case, there's so much space, so little to say!

I hope as the spring warms the earth and your heart, you will be move to participate in a faith community that works for you... one that is suited to your personal needs. Faith is not what the other guy has... it is intensely personal, intimately different that the next person... it is a one on one with the One who created you.

There was a news article recently where scientists had found another planet that was similar to earth... when I saw the news report on TV, it was interesting... just as no two snowflakes are similar, it's the same with fingerprints, people, stars, planets, constellations, species... the list goes on and on... to me, it's amazing that the God who created you and me is the same God who set the planets spinning in space. And to those who question, ask yourself: If it's all an accident, how come there is no duplication? How come each fiery sunset is different? Why do we sit on a planet uniquely suited for life as we know it?

And why does sushi cost so much?

Have a GREAT spring... pray once in a while, and when you do... be quiet so God can get a word in edgewise, OK?

See you in church!

Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!

2007-03-27T14:54:00.000-05:00

Hi...

I'm just practicing waving my arms in the air for next Sunday!
(Hey! I have to do something church-related on this blog sometime, don't you think?)

This blog is primarily for my FANTASTIC WORSHIP TEAM!!! In the words of the Fonz, "WHOA!" (If you don't know who the Fonz is, ask your parents!!!)

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAPPEN TO BE VISITING THIS, EITHER INTENTIONALLY OR BY ACCIDENT, here's our Holy Week Schedule... hope to see you in church!

If you need more info, check out our web page (www.prairielutheran.org), or call the church office: 952.829.0525.
=====
Palm Sunday - 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Maundy Thursday - 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday - 7:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday - 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
=====
OK, here's the internal communication...

Did I ever tell you guys how much fun it is to work alongside you here at PLC? What a blessing it is for me! I enjoy just listening to you guys make music... thank you again for making my job so rewarding!

OK - THIS IS GOING TO BE A BOOK, but I want you to know what's going on the next couple of weeks.

This Sunday, we have a real treat! Wayne Luchau, one of our guitar players, is in a group called The Gloryland Gospel Band. They have agreed to lead worship this Sunday... it should be a toe-tappin', foot-stompin', ALMOST clappin' good time! Both services... So, no worship team this weekend... no piano, no band, no singers, no nothin'! I think it's going to be a huge success!

MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES ARE BOTH AT 7:00 P.M.

MAUNDY THURSDAY... Kim Leander is going to play piano Maundy Thursday and Good Friday! As you recall, the last time Kim was able to be with us was Maundy Thursday 2006... it will be good to have her back. No band... looking for singers. Here's who I have: Kim (piano), Paul M.; IF YOU CAN HELP OUT, LET ME KNOW ASAP. Here's what we're doing...
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Maundy Thursday Worship - April 5, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
* - Opening Hymn: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Individual Absolution [KIM, I'll need you to play some music during this process!!!]
(Those wishing to receive individual absolution are invited to come forward at this time. Reflective instrumental music will be played.)
Foot Washing
Song: The Wonderful Cross
Offertory Response: Give Thanks
Songs for Communion: Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound; As The Deer
======
GOOD FRIDAY is VERY basic... All we do is sing "Abide With Me," a verse at a time. If you're in town and can help out for this, that would be nice...

BTW (that's how the kids say "by the way" in text messaging... if you have to ask what that is, NEVER MIND! Go back and listen to your 8 tracks!) - BOTH THE MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES ARE "SCRIPTURE-INTENSIVE..." IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ, LET ME KNOW... I'm going to ask the lectors first, but I think we'll need more readers. We also might need some people to help remove the items from the altar on Good Friday... if you are planning on attending the Good Friday service, can you let me know if you can help? Thanks!
=====
EASTER! In the words of that famous religious theologian, Dick Vitale...

"It's EASTER, BABY!!! RISE AND SHINE... THIS IS THE BIG SHOW!!!"

I'd like as many people who are available to come up and sing... We've got brass, we've got Liz Kelley singing,

I'd like to do "The Easter Song" again (you know... "Hear the bells ringing, they're singing, 'Christ is risen from the dead!""), but I want to add a video right before it. 'IT'S GOING TO BE 'UGE, BABY!!!"

April 8, 2007: Easter - Second Sunday of the month
Vocal Team: Brad Askland, Kris Kuderer, Londa Amundson, Katie Erickson, Mike Koepke, Jodie Turner, Liz Kelley, Mary Jo Smith
Band: [DRUMS] Paul Kronlokken, [BASS] Joanna Bachmann, [EL. GUITAR] Wayne Luchau, [AC. GUITAR] Becky Lothe, [DJEMBE] Ryan Duffy, [PIANO] Rita Ward

We're also adding the PLC Boy-Girl Wind Ensemble!!! This group includes: The Lothe Family players, Paul Rosol, Becky Langdon, and Joanna Bachmann! (Andy wanted to play kazoo... I said no! Call me a party pooper, I'm sorry... I can't help it!)

AND FINALLY!!! Sunday after Easter...

April 15, 2007: Third Sunday of the month - Communion
Vocal Team: Carolyn Kronlokken, Jodie Turner, Liz Kelley, Jerry Cziok, Mike Koepke
Band: [DRUMS] Jake Englund, [BASS] Joanna Bachmann, [AC. GUITAR] Becky Lothe, [GUITAR] David Bradsher, [PIANO] Rita Ward

Have a GREAT day! Pray for peace... and passion!
Prairie Pete

You gotta love Springtime in Minnesota!

2007-03-19T09:13:00.000-05:00

Man, springtime must be my favorite time of the year!

The sun gets higher in the sky, the air smells fresh, the breezes get warmer, the birds are singing... I know many of you like the fall, and I do too, but there's something about the promise of springtime and the anticipation of summer that warms the heart!

And the MN Twins are in spring training... the boys of summer are back!

We're coming up to Easter, which is a great time for those of you who might be looking for a new church home to check out Prairie Lutheran Church here in beautiful south Eden Prairie. We have great preaching, fantastic music (of course, I'm a little biased!)... most of all, you'll find a warm, inviting, and welcoming atmosphere where people look forward to meeting you and are genuinely happy to see you.

For directions and worship times and info, head on to our webpage, prairielutheran.org... all the info you'll need is there!

I hope you and your loved ones have a safe, happy, and blessed Easter... and one more thing: when you have a cancellation in your Blackberry or Palm, do me a favor: don't book something else! Take a walk, spend time with your family, say a prayer... I think you'll get more out of that than one more thing to do!

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

See you in church! - Prairie Pete

Who said "Kids Say the Darndest Things?"

2007-02-26T12:31:00.000-06:00

If you're old enough to remember Art Linkletter, all I can say is... WOW! What was life like before dirt!!!? (WAIT A MINUTE... I REMEMBER ART LINKLETTER!!!)

Someone sent this to me... you've probably seen it before, but it's worth revisiting!
(FYI... I had to delete #4 because some parts are not church-friendly... it was funny, but not appropriate!)
And NO... it's not meant as a slam against our Catholic friends! They just have more schools than "us Lutherns!" (or is it "WE Lutherns?")

Like they always say on the Food Network... ENJOY!

======
[Speaking of the Food Network, the Travel Channel is starting a new series called "Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern" that features a local Minneapolis chef, Andrew Zimmern. I get no kickback, no monetary reward from this... Chef Zimmern goes around the world eating the wierdest food imaginable... stir fried bat, grilled grubs... the one that got me was the live mango tree worm!!! Anyway, his new show starts tonight (03/26/07), so you might want to watch it... you might want to eat earlier so you don't lose your lunch! I tell you, I couldn't turn away... it was like, "No... he's not going to eat that! YIKES!!! He did!" Great job, Chef Z... and great show!]
======

Can you imagine yourself to be the nun that is sitting at her desk grading these papers all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure!

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS!

IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN; THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED… INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.

8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.

18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

God's favorite bumper stickers

2007-02-10T16:16:00.000-06:00

This is from a magazine called "The Door..." it used to be called "The Wittenburg Door," in reference to the door upon which Martin Luther did a little carpentry work!

Anyway... "The Door" was a religious satirical magazine that "lampooned" anything that smacked of stupid religion; you know, how we as humans, seem to do more harm than good in the name of Jesus. I loved it!

So, here's a sampling of God's favorite bumper stickers:

Grape Juice?

Oh, Evolve!

Allah Allah, in come free!

Put Christ back in Xmas? How 'bout dropping all the co-opted pagan imagery and start celebrating His real Birthday — Aug. 6!

Warning: in case of rapture, I'll be just as surprised as you.

Who died and made you God?

Nietzche is dead.

I practice catch and release.

(And my favorite...)

What happens in Vegas ... still gets back to Me.

Finally!

2007-02-05T09:38:00.000-06:00

The Colts win the Super Bowl, but the important news is... PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT TO SPRING TRAINING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!

That means summer is on the way... THANK GOD!

As I write this, it is -12 degrees in Minneapolis... why do we live here again?

Speaking of cold, have you seen this?

=======
How Cold Is It?

With cold snaps hitting the country and winter upon us comes the following thermometer readings.

An annotated thermometer (degrees Fahrenheit)

+50
New York tenants turn on the heat; Minnesotans plant gardens

+40
Californians shiver uncontrollably; Minnesotans sunbathe

+30
You can see your breath; Minnesotans eat ice cream

+20
San Franciscans start thinking favorably of LA; Minnesota Vikings fans put on T-shirts... YEAH!!!

+15
You plan a vacation in CANCUN!!!!! Minnesotans go swimming

-15
Miamians cease to exist; Minnesotans lick flagpoles

-20
Politicians actually do something about the homeless; People in Duluth think about taking down screens

-25
Japanese cars don't start; Minnesota Twins head for spring training

-30
You plan a two-week hot bath; Minnesotans shovel snow off roof

-38
Mercury freezes, too cold to think; Minnesotans button top button

-40
Californians disappear; Minnesotans put on sweaters

-50
Alaskans close the bathroom window; Two Harbors Minnesota Agates practice indoors

-60
Walruses abandon Aleutians; Minnesotans put gloves away, take out mittens

-80
Polar bears abandon Baffin Island; Girl Scouts in Two Harbors, Minnesota start Klondike Derby

-90
Lawyers chase ambulances for no more than 10 miles; Wisconsinites migrate to Minnesota thinking it MUST be warmer

-100
Santa Claus abandons North Pole; Minnesotans pull down earflaps

-173
Ethyl alcohol freezes; The University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus) closes

-452
Helium becomes a liquid

-454
Hell freezes over

-460 (Absolute Zero)
All atomic motion ceases; The University of Minnesota-Duluth is closed, and Minnesotans alert us as to how it's getting a mite nippy
=======

Have a GREAT day!

More Famous Quotes...

2007-01-14T23:21:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, when I'm feeling down and troubled, and I need some love and care... (Oops! Is that copyrighted? Sorry!)

Anyway, there's this site called dumb.com, that has some really stupid thing people have said... I, of course, would like to share some of them with you... then you can wonder, "Is he looking at stupid things because he's stupid?"

Like they say on Food Network, "Enjoy!"

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QUOTES

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law." - former David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.

"We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out." - Decca Records Rejecting the Beatles, in 1962

"Chemistry is a class you take in high school or college, where you figure out two plus two is 10, or something." - Dennis Rodman, former NBA Basketball player, on Chicago Bull's team chemistry being overrated

"The world is more like it is now then it ever has before." - former President Dwight Eisenhower

"The streets are safe in Philadelphia. It's only the people who make them unsafe." - Frank Rizzo, ex-police chief and mayor of Philadelphia.

"I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them." - George Bush, former U.S. President

"If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching television by candlelight." - George Gobel

"We're going to move left and right at the same time." - Jerry Brown, former Governor of California

"I have a God-given talent. I got it from my dad." - Julian Wakefield, Missouri basketball player

"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas." - Former Australian cabinet minister Keppel Enderbery

"I don't diet. I just don't eat as much as I'd like to." - Linda Evangelista, Supermodel

"Pitching is 80% of the game. The other half is hitting and fielding." - Mickey Rivers, former baseball player

"All of the Mets' road wins against Los Angeles this year have been at Dodger Stadium." - Ralph Kiner, NY Sportscaster

"Solutions are not the answer." - Richard Nixon, former U.S. President

"If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again." - Terry Venables

This is so good, I just had to pass it along...

2007-01-09T13:28:00.000-06:00

========================================
AP Wire Story
========================================
Minneapolis, MN (AP) -

A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Minneapolis courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Minnesota Vikings, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

Are you laughing?

2007-01-08T22:36:00.000-06:00

...and can you spell "ridiculous?" Well... it's pretty obvious from my last post that I can't!!!

Anyway, one of my NY (that's New Year's) resolutions is to try to keep this page updated a bit more often. But I guess I wouldn't count on it if I were you!

I recently received an email from a friend entitled "Are you laughing?" that was attributed to Ben Stein... do you recognize that name? The TV show "Win Ben Stein's Money," the eyedrop commercials... of course, the all time classic... "Ferris Bueller's Day Off!" Ben Stein was the economics teacher! "Bueller... Bueller... Bueller... Bueller..." and "Anyone know what this is? Class? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone seen this before?"

If you want to learn more about this guy, click here: http://www.benstein.com/bio.html... facinating!

So I got this email, and I thought it was something others might like to see... now like most things on the internet, one can't be sure of it's authenticity, but if it is real, its very interesting, and if its made up, its still something to think about!

= = = = = = =
Something not to laugh about…

If they know of him at all, many folks think Ben Stein is just a quirky actor/comedian who talks in a monotone. He's also a very intelligent attorney who knows how to put ideas and words together in such a way as to sway juries and make people think clearly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no %&$%*#% clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter.

I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?

I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive?

Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.

If this is what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.

But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

From the sublime to the ridiculous...

2007-01-04T00:24:00.000-06:00

Have you heard of a group called OK GO? They're really wacky... I love them!

Check these links out: rediculous

OK GO - A Million Ways: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knmi6zm4mWE

OK GO - Treadmill Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NINJQ5LRh-0

Very interesting stuff... I think all the kids are watching these videos on YouTube... I feel so (please choose at least one of the following answers): 1] OLD; 2] kewl; 3] hip and with it; 4] lost in space!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-04T00:14:00.000-06:00

Let's go surfing now...

I found some new quotes that I thought were interesting... I can't remember if someone sent them to me or not, but hey... it's late!

* - Confession of sin is not an admission of weakness, but a sign of strength.
* - To avoid lying, do nothing that needs to be covered-up.
* - Love always seeks to help, never to hurt.
* - The smallest light still shines in the darkest night.
* - Selfishness makes Christmas a burden; love makes it a delight.

Things to think about...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

2006-12-24T00:08:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine sent this to me...

I don't know where it came from, but I thought you might enjoy the story anyway...

Merry Christmas!

- Prairie Pete

=======
Christmas Adventure with Grandma

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car."

Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's second grade class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat.

I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all us kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.

It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly. "It's... for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons. The tag fell out of the coat and Grandma tucked it in her Bible.

Then she wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on the gift -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. She drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.

That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: Ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $9.95.

He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.
=======

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all..."

2006-12-21T09:09:00.000-06:00

"...WAZZZZUP?!!!"

Ok, It's only been a month since I updated my blog... at least I'm consistent!

I want to wish all a very Merry Christmas... remember to keep praying for peace... as I get older, I begin to realize that the more things change, the more things stay the same. I'm sure our elders were concerned for present, nostalgic for the past, and hopeful for the future... of course, I don't think they had the number of toys and/or distractions that we do now (as I'm writing this, I'm listening to the radio, watching the Food Network, surfing the 'net, and eating a peppermint candy cane... it is the holiday season, you know!)

To those of you who are traveling this holiday season, have a safe trip... to all, may your holiday season be filled with good food, good friends, and good health! Do something kind for someone who doesn't expect it... give your loved ones a hug and a kiss... keep praying that the world will know peace...

For those of you who are searching for meaning in your life... visit someone who is a shut in... play a game with a child... visit a church with a friend... since I work in a church, I've heard all about "it's nothing but a bunch of hypocrites... they say one thing on Sunday, and are just as bad or worse than anyone else the rest of the week."

To that, all I can say is - yes, you're right... we can be hypocritical... but churches are really meant to be, and should be, hospitals for sinners, not havens for saints... we gather, not to revel on how great we are, but bow our knees in awe and gratefulness that we have a God who loves us without condition... undeserved, unearned, unending.

If things aren't going right with you "behind the wheel," why not let the One who created you show you the way? I know, it's difficult to give up control... but I've found that when I'm large and in charge, I screw up royally! It's funny, but when I give up being in charge, that's when I find the most freedom, the most joy, the most peace... I don't understand it, either, but that's my experience!

Like the commercial used to say, "Try it... you'll like it!"

A blessed Christmas, and a healthy, happy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year to you all!

Peace!
Prairie Pete

Gems from Steven Wright...

2006-12-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever seen Steven Wright on "the telly?" He's the comedian with the deadpan delivery... you have to listen very carefully to what he says, but his observations crack me up!!! Here are a few of his classics... thanks for your intelligence, Mr. Wright!

= = = = = = =
I've posted these before, but they bear repeating!
= = = = = = =

"What's another word for 'thesaurus?'"

"For my birthday I got a humidifier and a dehumidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out."

"I have a switch in my apartment that doesn't do anything. Every once in a while I turn it on and off. One day I got a call from a guy in France who said, 'Cut it out!'"

"I replaced the headlights on my car with strobe lights. Now it looks like I'm the only one moving."

"I wrote a song, but I can't read music. Every time I hear a new song on the radio, I think 'Hey, maybe I wrote that.'"

"I went to a general store, but they wouldn't let me buy anything specific."

= = = = = = =
Some more classics!
= = = = = = =

"I went for a walk last night and she asked me how long I was going to be gone. I said, 'The whole time.'"

"Hermits have no peer pressure."

"Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories."

"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot."

"How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't live there?"

"I just got skylights put in my place. The people who live above me are furious."

"Imagine if birds were tickled by feathers."

"It doesn't matter what temperature a room is, it's always room temperature."

"I'm a peripheral visionary."

"I make my own water - two glasses of H, one glass of O."

"Ballerinas are always on their toes. Why don't they just get taller ballerinas?"

"I spilled Spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone."

"I bought some powdered water, but I didn't know what to add."

"I have a hobby. I have the world's largest collection of sea shells. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world. Maybe you've seen some of it."

"I'm taking La Maze classes. I'm not having a baby, I'm just having trouble breathing."

= = = = = = =

Are you laughing yet? Laughing is good for your health, you know...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-22T23:42:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, 2006!

Here's a cool turkey you can print out and color, courtesy of the following site, one I visit regularly... NOT!

www.agirlsworld.com/.../thanksgiving/turkey.gif

More fantastic Emo Philips Quotes...

2006-11-22T22:54:00.000-06:00

Thanks for making me laugh, Emo!
=====
At my lemonade stand I used to give the first glass away free and charge five dollars for the second glass. The refill contained the antidote.

How many people here have telekenetic powers? Raise my hand.

I got some new underwear the other day. Well, new to me.

I was pulled over in Massachusetts for reckless driving. When brought before the judge, I was asked if I knew what the punishment for drunk driving in that state was. I said, "I don't know... reelection to the Senate?"

My computer beat me at checkers, but I sure beat it at kickboxing.

You know what I hate? Indian givers... no, I take that back.

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

I love finding cool quotes!

2006-11-09T14:43:00.000-06:00

I was searching for some interesting quotes to add to my bio on our website, www.prairielutheran.org, and I found these three...

"What is art but a way of seeing" - Thomas Berger

"You are the music while the music lasts." - T. S. Eliot

"Art distills sensations and embodies it with enhanced meaning." - Jacques Barzun

As the worship and music guy here at PLC, I kinda like those, don't you? We try to do a lot of different things in worship... dance, drama, music, videos... I guess that since it's true people learn and remember things different ways, it's always good to use multiple venues of communication...

Fall is entrenched here in the upper Midwest... we've just come through elections... survived might be a better way of putting it... do the political muckety-mucks really believe that all the negative campaigning works?

And... wouldn't it be nice to be able to vote for a person based upon their qualifications, rather than against what the other candidate represents?

Oh yeah... I had another birthday... all I know is that I'm in great shape for some who is 95!

Have a GREAT day! Until next time, pray for peace!

Prairie Pete

Do you ever have one of those moments?

2006-10-19T23:22:00.000-05:00

Well, my Twins are out of it... long gone... the Cards are playing the Tigers in the World Series.
"All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey..."
I wish I had written that... I could retire and move to California... except I can't tread water that long!
I was listening to the radio and the people were talking about Steven Wright... I had forgotten how funny he was, so I looked online for some of his jokes... you've probably figured out that weird things make me laugh!
So anyway, here are a few of his jokes that I thought were funny...

What's another word for "thesaurus"?
For my birthday I got a humidifier and a dehumidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out.
I have a switch in my apartment that doesn't do anything. Every once in a while I turn it on and off. One day I got a call from a guy in France who said, "Cut it out!"
I replaced the headlights on my car with strobe lights. Now it looks like I'm the only one moving.
I wrote a song, but I can't read music. Every time I hear a new song on the radio, I think "Hey, maybe I wrote that."
I went to a general store, but they wouldn't let me buy anything specific.

Weird, huh? Well, tonight I've got nothing... which isn't that much different than most other nights.

Thanks for reading... until next time!

Prairie Pete

We're in the playoffs!

2006-09-26T00:11:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it? MY Twins are in the playoffs! Sorry to all you Chicago White Sox fans... What a great run these kids are on! The Boys of Summer... you gotta love 'em!

Everybody... all together now....

GO TWINS!

It's free, free, free!

2006-09-22T11:25:00.000-05:00

Hey!

Here at Prairie Lutheran we have a weekly newsletter called "The Post." It contains info about the things happening around here during the week. And, like any church that's "new and hip and what's happening now," it's available electronically!!!

If you would like to receive a copy in your email, just email us at info@prairielutheran.org and we'll add you to the "Post list!" We do not sell our email list, we do not share it with anyone other than staff... it is reasonably safe, in other words!

If you do, can I ask you one more thing? Put "from Prairie Pete" in the subject line... doing a little tracking, you know!

Have a GREAT day! Pray for peace!

Prairie Pete

It's a GREAT day... for DUCKS!

2006-09-22T10:07:00.000-05:00

Well, here in beautiful downtown Eden Prairie, we've enjoyed about 2 days now of cold, wet, windy, dark, gloomy, depressing weather... I was going to start with "It was a dark and stormy night..." but that's already been done!

To top that all off, my Twins lost last night... with Johan pitching on top of that! Is it wrong to pray that Detroit loses their next five games and the Twins win all of theirs?

I always wonder about those pro athletes who say that God was on their side...

The really exciting news around here is that... I'm going to clean my office today! If you're in EP and want to check it out, give a couple of months, OK?

Thanks for reading... pray for peace!

Prairie Pete

12:35 a.m., or Insomnia is a wonderful thing!

2006-09-16T00:39:00.000-05:00

Well, things are slowly returning to normal... my mother-in-law is in assisted care, our families are slowly returning to our regular patterns... my wife and my m-in-law are dealing with the occasional swells of ups and downs that come with losing someone.

As I posted earlier, my father-in-law, Andy Sullivan, died unexpectedly on September 23rd. It really drove home the point that none of us knows the time or day God calls us home... the song "People Get Ready" is running through my mind right now...

I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers... as we travel down this new path, I'm lifted up by these words...

1 Cor. 13:12-13
[12] Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. [13] And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Give someone you love a call or a hug, OK?

I think I get it!

2006-08-21T23:41:00.000-05:00

Short and Sweet... that's the ticket!

After checking out a couple of the 80 billion blogs out there, I've come to the realization that less is more, but often-er is better-er!

So the big thing in my life is that my number one son is off to college this weekend... we've already rented his room!

As Worship ARTS Team Lead, I'm always looking for ways to connect to people... someone told me we need more dance, so please check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg&eurl. (You'll need to turn the volume up to get the full effect!)

See you in church!

Links I like!

2006-03-11T00:16:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I find stuff online that helps me do my job... and sometimes I find stuff that's just cool!

(NEWS FLASH! I accidentally "figured out" how to activate these links! Now all you have to do is click on a link and it will take you right to the site!!!)

By the way, these are not listed in any particular order...

Twin Cities Gas Prices - need I say more?: http://www.twincitiesgasprices.com/index.aspx?&area=Bloomington&area=Edina&area=Minneapolis

Crosswalk.com - looking for a verse, word, idea, in a certain translation?: http://bible1.crosswalk.com/

The Cyber Hymnal - this is where I go to find the words and listen to midis of traditional hymns: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/

KTIS (98.5 FM) - local Minneapolis/St. Paul Christian Radio: http://ktis.nwc.edu/page.php

ELCA Website: http://elca.org/

Augsburg Fortress Website - if you haven't visited in awhile, check it out!: http://www.augsburgfortress.org/index.asp

Awesome images from space (NASA) - http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/index.html

I get lost easily!: http://www.mapquest.com/

Does anybody really know what time it is?: http://nist.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Central/d/-6/java

The Ooze - I ain't tellin'... go check it out for your own self!: http://www.theooze.com/main.cfm

"I don't know if it's cloudy or bright..." now, I do!: http://www.weatherunderground.com/

Did I mention that I love to eat?: http://foodnetwork.com/

Check 'em out... and let me know what your faves are!

PrairiePete

If You're Wondering How to Get Here!!!

2006-02-05T20:30:00.000-06:00

Yahoo Map... this is where we are!

Map of
11000 Blossom Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55347-4421

Yahoo Directions (or, how to get from your place to our place!)

Directions to
11000 Blossom Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55347-4421