Just Clean Fun

Thanksgiving is over and I'm busy working through the leftover turkey and ham. It was a lot of fun last Thursday as friends and family gathered at the house. My best friend, Mike Williams and his family came over. You may know Mike also as a very funny comedian. We've been friends now for almost twenty years. They are in their final week here in the U.S. He and his family are moving this week to the Dominican Republic to work there with New Missions. We also had others guests, great guitar player Dave Smith and his wife, Cindy, and son came over. Pastor friends, Bill and Lynn Breidenbach also came by. I am so thankful for great friends and my family. We are really blessed. I hope you continue to give thanks throughout the year for all the blessings we have.

I'm preparing now for the Christmas tour, "Crazy For The Holidaze." I'll be performing around 20 concerts in the month of December. I've got a little work to do getting all the product shipped and the routines smooth but we should be fine. The first concert is this Tuesday on Dec. 1 in Tampa, FL.

I survived! This month we took the whole family up to Sandusky, OH to Cedar Point amusement park. It is also known as the roller coaster capital of the world! We rode one coaster that went from 0 to 144 MPH in 3.4 seconds. It sort of felt like a horizontal rapture. One second I'm here and the next moment I'm up on this rail about to descend 500 ft. It's call Top Fuel Dragster. I'm just glad I had not taken on any TOP FUEL to my stomach because I'm sure I would have left a "deposit" near the ride.

We had a great time though with my wife, Dretha, and me sort of taking it a little easier on the skyride and trains and a great ice show with Snoopy. The kids all got along great and accomplished riding nearly every roller coaster in the park. It took two days.

I just want to encourage every family to try to take some time to do something special and memorable for your family. It may not be a theme park but you can find something that everyone sort of likes to do and try to have some fun together. Kids grow up fast so do your best to create some family memories that they can share with their children and the things they used to do when they were young.

Today I went to WalMart to take back a fuel filter that I did not need in the restoration of a boat. (You know there's no such thing as a FREE boat. just having a boat in your driveway automatically says "spend money." ) I recently acquired a boat for FREE and started my repairs and restoration. Yesterday I completed most of the tasks and took it to the engine man for him to put on the new motor.

As I was going through the store looking at all the specials and products, I looked at one end cap display and the sign read: NOW $1.49 per lb. WAS 1.45 lb. Hey look! the price just went up again. I thought the prices were supposed to fall. Maybe they go with the seasons so it was natural for them to "spring" up. At least WalMart is keeping all informed.

Justin

Hey folks,

I'm going to try to do better about keeping everyone informed from this blog. I forget sometimes how many of you read this and I'm humbled to think that I have any sort of impact.

We are busy scheduling for the end of 2009 and now into 2010. I would love to come to your area and speak if you are interested also. I'm working a good bit these days on OUTREACH events that attempt to reach the unchurched with the Gospel of Jesus. Other events are appreciation dinners, youth retreats, missions events, and men's events.

I'm busy editing some video from a shoot we did last fall in New England. I'm told by those who saw the raw footage that it's pretty funny. I'll keep you posted while I'm in post.

The family is all healthy and doing well. Dretha, my wife, and I will be celebrating 22 years of marriage this summer. Our oldest son, Nathaniel is in college, and the two younger kids, Anna Marie and Zachary are in elementary school where Dretha teaches.

On a personal hobby note, I'm using some of my down time to restore a little fishing boat. It's a lot of fun making the repairs and getting it ready to run around the bay.

All for now. Keep in touch,

Justin

Hey folks,

Well I'm putting my resources toward the development of the TUESDAY CHURCH. TUESDAY CHURCH is a young adult gathering for the purpose of encouragement in spiritual formation and community networking. There are spiritual aspects as well as social concerns that affect young adults. Finally a place where one can come without pretense to hear more about going deeper into faith in Christ, finding other like-minded young adults for social networking and integrating faith to the marketplace.

Today I'm calling the first core team meeting for next week. I've been in discussion about securing a facility and it appears that we have a 4000 square foot warehouse that will serve perfectly that we should be able to get for the cost of taxes and insurance until we grow to either make an offer on the building or move to a bigger location. For now though it's sounds like it will be perfect.

I'm meeting with graphic designers for our branding, funders to help with expenses, musicians, teachers, sound and lighting and technical needs for the facility. I will keep you informed as we go.

Please pray for us that we will have the mind of Christ in our decision making so that eventually young adults will come to know Christ as a result of our efforts with the TUESDAY CHURCH.

Just recently I was in McDonald's to get some quick food. I went up to the counter and ordered a "double hamburger." Then the clerk asked me if I wanted CHEESE on the hamburger? I told her, "no." Then she said, "If you want a double hamburger you have to order a double CHEESEburger and then say, No CHEESE!" How crazy is that? So I placed my order..."Please give me a Double CHEESEburger No CHEESE, a large order of CHEESE fries, No CHEESE, and a large Diet CHEESE Coke, No CHEESE!" She said to me..."we don't sell CHEESE fries!" In frustration I said, "Look, I'm sort of in a hurry, just give me a large Diet Water. That will be all." CRAZY!

The other day my oldest son successfully passed the driver's test and received his license. It's sort of nice having someone to run my errands for me. "Hey Son, go down to WalMart and get me some peanut butter." "Hey, Nathaniel, take the car to the gas station and fill it up." "We're leaving now. You can get there on your own!" (I really like that one. No longer do I need to sit on the horn to let him know that I'm ready to leave the house." My neighbors like his new independence too. They say they're getting a whole lot more sleep on Sunday mornings!.