So, This Week I'm Thinking...

...that Feyenoord plays Ajax this weekend in the Dutch Eredevisie. For those who know nothing about the world soccer scene, that would be Holland's equivalent to last weekend's Patriots/Colts game. It's kind a big deal.

...this was an interesting quote from an article Pastor Bill left me in my box at work. It's in regard to leaders of Willow Creek Church looking back on their years of ministry thus far (that movement has been referred to as "seeker sensitive"):

"Some of the stuff we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn't helping people that much. Other things that we didn't put that much money into and didn't put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for...We made a mistake...We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own."--Bill Hybels, as quoted by Bob Burney on Townhall.com

...that the book writing isn't moving at all. 10 days in and I've gotten one page of passable material, and only one sentence that I like. It might be one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. I feel like I'm playing a round of golf that never ends, and, you know that feeling where you hit a shot that felt kind of good but then sliced into the lake? That feeling of disappointment and "what-went-wrong-there?" That's pretty much near me all day every day lately regarding this project.

...that only 2,900 people turned out to vote in the election on Tuesday really stinks. That's about 15% of registered voters in our town. Nice. Real nice, folks. No excuses. You should always vote.

...that I'm having a Proud Dad Alert: Kelsey has her latest school project posted on her blog in the November 4 entry.

...that the television show "Daria" has made a reappearance in our household. It was big about 8 or 9 years ago and they're having legal issues prevent it's release on DVD (apparently some of the music they used in early shows hasn't been licensed so the artists can't get their shares...and it may take a while) but there are web sites that have all the shows available for viewing. It was one of the best shows about teen life (another was "My So-Called Life") and the satirical cartoon was brilliant. I'm glad Kid1 has jumped all over the antics of Daria Morgendorfer, Jane Lane (and her hysterical brother Trent), Quinn and the fashion club kids and Kevin the quarterback.

...speaking of television shows, The Office has re-runs on Tuesday nights on TBS, and they showed a very funny episode last week: Where Michael burns his foot on the George Foreman grill and Dwight gets a concussion. That has my vote as the best episode over the three full seasons. Yours?

...that you can look forward to having a lunch with a former student--who is now attending the same seminary you did--for an entire week, enjoy that very lunch in very enjoyable weather, come away encouraged by what God is doing in and through her, and then have the enjoyment spoiled when you find out that someone stole her computer from her car. In broad daylight. When it was underneath her seat. And, when you lose your computer and you're in your 20's--that's your entire photo collection and music storage. Reminder: Graduate students can't always afford external drives to back all that stuff up, either. Ugh. And, yes, it's stuff. But still, imagine what you'd go through if you lost all your photos, music and writings in a fire.