I am officially and finally going on a vacation as of tomorrow morning. Now, yes...my vacation is to Minot, but anytime I can go home and spend time with my Dad fishing is always more enjoyable than any day at work. So, I will make that trek north, stop at Cabelas, buy seeds and coffee at Petro, gas up numerous times, and make it home. I cannot wait. This by the way, is making up for the vacation I was supposed to take last September. But, the morning I was scheduled to leave for vacation to Minot, I ended up spending five days with the fine folks at St. Mary's Hospital. So, needless to say, that was a bust. Ever since then, I have seen my colleague go on vacation four times and my wife twice. 'Tis about damn time I get mine, wouldn't ya say?!!! I will update when I get back at to what happens as we fish on the ice. I also want to say Hi to Bram when I am home. Now that I think about it...I never ever thought that I would think that Minot is a vacation destination at all. But, when I am there so rarely, it seems that way I guess, as my family is there. It makes it seem fun I guess. Hey pray for me on my journey. Thank God for Sabbath...YES!!! Simonson's Gas, Budget Tapes, and Dakota Square Mall....here I come...WhoooHoooo! More later...

Let me give a rundown of some random happenings and thoughts for the past week. Yes, I know, the point of the blog is to write those things down in real time, but either 1, I have not found the adequate time to actually sit on my butt and do that or 2, I just felt lazy, and therefore bypassed the need to actually write down said happenings. Can I take a break from blog world? Maybe... Anyway here goes:

I have officially given up on "snow" being a blessing, and am now convinced that it is nothing but a curse! Did the state of Wisconsin do something wrong to endure such accumulation that just happens to break the current record? Did we forget to pay someone off? This past weekend, we once again were pelted with a storm. This was rain beginning late Saturday night, and continued all through the morning. In the middle of all this, the temperature was dropping, causing the rain to actually freeze on contact. Between the icy slush and rain, and then the sheets of ice that were already formed underneath all this, travel was terrible. My colleague called me Sunday morning, and after some chat, I mentioned to him that I was alright with having church even though 3 of us would be there. So I drove the 2.3 miles to get there, slipped all of the driveway to get into the parking lot, and then called my colleague again. I mentioned to him just how bad the road were, and when I actually was driving around the lot while talking to him to get a better idea of conditions, I could not stop on a minor little hill we have coming down the main entrance, and almost drove through the security fence for the day care center next door! Thank God I have lots of weight to push into the breaks. We along with about every other church, minus the Roman Catholics around oh Southern Wisconsin, all decided to cancel Sunday worship services for the sake of the nice old ladies who would feel guilty if they missed church, thus actually getting in their cars and attempting to drive in said awful conditions. I think that is stupid for churches to remain open when traveling to church is a matter of life and death. The Catholics on the other hand see it as a sin not to have worship, as that is one of their sacraments. So, they are obligated to not only hold worship, but attend regardless of weather. I am sure that when I meet God, God may just subtract "life-points" from getting the good seat in heaven, because I was responsible to canceling worship to worship HIM, but then again he may give me a few stick on stars to award me for not arrogantly holding worship and leaving the door open for more guilt if people miss worship and it's not their faults. Gee, you can't tell where I come down on all this can you?

I love being a pastor, because sometimes there are perks that come with the job. For example, one of my parishioners is married to a Shriner. The Zor Shrine circus was in town this past weekend, and I was planning on buying a few tickets to take my family to it. But, she gave me three tickets just because she couldn't use them and they were free for her, so she gave them to me. It just so happens that my in-laws were coming this weekend too. My father-in-law is a Shriner too, so any chance to support the cause, he jumps at it. So, we all packed into the car Saturday morning and went to the 10AM show. Now, we left early enough, but traffic waiting to get into the Alliant Energy Center was severely backed up. I could not believe this many people were actually going to the early show. We get there, and they park us in the farthest parking lot from the arena. We then have to navigate our way to the arena without falling and busting our butts. We make it, get some extra tickets, and we then go and try to find seats. That in itself was a nightmare. We ended up sitting one row from the top of the arena. Actually, it was a great circus! I have always liked the big cats. Of course, when at the circus, spending money on "plastic crap" is a must. So, we bought my son this plastic light up sword (kind of like a "light sabre") which of course every kid in the place had to have. The toys they sell now are very cool. I remember going as a kid and the toys amounted to nothing but like blow up animals, weird sippy cups, flashy visors, and sunglasses with lights on them. Now, the kids have fake laser guns that have spinny lights and sound. MAN, I just about bought one for myself, but I think not for 15 bucks! Plus, my son and I would have fought over the rights to actually own it. Oh well, it was a good trip and fun was had by all.

So, because of weather, we have had to cancel both Ash Wednesday and this past weekend. Now, as I mentioned, I am becoming annoyed. But there is another reason I am annoyed. I was scheduled to preach for both of those services. Now, I realize that this is no way means that I need attention or that I need to be heard. That's not me, and frankly pastors who have that attitude are stupid and needy. But, I am talking about the fact that on average, it takes me a good twenty hours to prep and write a sermon. That's reading, researching, maybe jotting ideas down, and then drafting. I am somewhat obsessed to craft a good sermon; a sermon that people can be inspired by, and maybe given a word of hope. I realize God works through me, and I thank Him for that. Because sometimes when I write, I simply lose track of time, and before I know it, I have a number of pages written without really even thinking about them. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times it makes no sense, and I cut all of it. So, with these past few cancellations, I have crafted sermons I guess for my own spirit. That's alright. I just wish that I didn't feel like that time was wasted doing all that work when I could have worked on other areas of ministry that I feel I am way behind in. Anyway, maybe I am writing a pity party here, but I take writing and researching sermons seriously, and when they are written and then go nowhere but the file drawer, then I guess I feel like people are somehow cheated, or that I did not do what I was supposed to do...preach the good news. I have this thing called guilt when I cannot give people what I worked so hard to give them. I wish I didn't feel that way. Maybe that's the shepherd in me.

I will vote tomorrow in our primary. I figure the majority of the vote will go for Obama. He came to Madison last week, and filled our omega dome, that holds 17k people. He filled that place with 20k plus. He along with the other candidates have been traversing the state, stopping here and there, trying to convince people that they are the right one. Here's what I know so far. If you like the country the way it is right now, you will vote for McCain. He will not appeal to younger voters, women, Latinos, or Blacks, so who does that leave? Older boomers who trust no one under 50. He will appeal to vets and middle of the road conservatives. He is the only viable choice for the Republican party as Huckleberry just does not have the backing. On the other side, we have two Democrats who are dramatically different. Billary carries too much baggage. Just because she is a woman, does not automatically make her appeal to, uh, women. In fact, most women I know think the baggage she carries can and will turn off the American people into voting for another Clinton meritocracy. That said, Clinton's worst supporter is her husband. He cannot shut his mouth, and let her take the direction she needs. He at times, forces the spotlight to shine on him, and that makes it seem like her campaign is in trouble. Billy should stay home, eat cheeseburgers and watch the campaign like the rest of us. Obama is our man. He has the energy, the policies, the charisma, and the positivity to actually make some much deserved change in DC. I am convinced that his positivity will carry him all the way to the White House. It did the same for John F. Kennedy, and it can do that again for a young, likeable, intelligent, and different candidate than we have ever had. This country has the opportunity to vote for a positive direction, to allow us to save face within the global community, and maybe even regain some respect. I think Obama can do it. I know he can. And I am not the only one who feels that way. So, anyone know who I am voting for tomorrow? Just watch the results come in tomorrow night to see if I am right about all this. I bet ya this state will predominantly vote Obama for the Democratic ticket, and arrogantly vote for McCain just because the other guy sucks! More later...

I could not resist this. It would seem as if we actually vote for Billary, this is the image we must burn into the recesses of our minds, and be prepared for the next four years of getting a "two for one" deal for the hottest seat in modern day politics. Course if the country votes for Billary, every remotely conservative radio jock will have ample material for the content of their shows. Why? Because every one of them cannot stand her/him. All she/he would have to do is open her/his mouth and say two words, and it would be fodder for a week. Neo-cons, righties, fundys, in-betweeners, and mod cons, you may not like our two choices, but boy it would be like a rash you cannot quite scratch if the country voted for the next political dynasty possible (Bush the first, Clinton the first, Bush the second, and a possible Clinton for the second time). Although labeling anything a dynasty is a mistake and expecting anything to happen really well within the confines of the label, is shooting oneself in the foot...painful yet amusing to watch. Just ask Kiss fans how successful their album titled Dynasty really was, and most would claim that was the nail in the coffin for them as their fanbase cried "Get behind me Satan!" Will we as Dems cry the same thing if Billary proves to be the frontrunner? We shall see... More later...