Drop-Off Site For Small Toys...

Dad's Place is now a DROP-OFF site for children's toys and baby items that will be delivered to the Dumas area. We are looking for items like:
small stuffed animals
coloring books
colors
side-walk chalk
cards
jump ropes
small cars
barbie dolls
colored pencils
paper
balls
baby food
baby wipes
diapers
and anything else along these lines

Any items such as these will be greatly appreciated. And THANKS to Journey Church for taking these items to the children for us.

The Wrap-Up Is Coming...

The Wrap-Up is on it's way, but there are still great posts and comments still 'flying' in! So in the meantime, here are a couple of things I'd love for you to check out:


My buddy, James Martin has started a new blog...'Life Of A TiVo Junkie'. Be sure and stop over and enjoy his reviews of TV Shows and Movies. And don't forget to comment on your thoughts on those same shows! Go ahead and link him up on your blog sites!

Angela has released her Angelina Award Nomination Catagories. Drop by and make your nominations NOW. Great Job Angela!

And what ever you do, don't miss the firestorm that currently taking place at ML...34 comments and counting!

The Saturday Wrap-Up...

OK...here we go...the week that was, in no particular order...

Mark is off...

Jeff is looking for haters...count me in. A definite MUST READ!

Brandy discusses love languages.

T.J. Files plays with automatic doors...a must read.

Kevin found his paradise by the dashboard lights.

T.J. gets sappy over Melissa. Yea, yea I know...it was Valentine's Day!

Check out the proposal for W.C. Whaley over at MonticelloLive. And also, listen to the podcast of this week's city council meeting.

And here's a first...Angela has nominated this for blog of the week. I agree! By the way, stay tuned for the First Annual Angelina Awards.

Have a great week...see ya next Friday!

The Wrap-Up...

My usual Friday Wrap-Up is running a little late. Sorry about that. I hope to have it finished by tomorrow. Until then...

The Friday Wrap-Up...

Friday is here and none too soon! Our week at DP has been insane! It was our pleasure to host the UAM Signing Party for our new football recruits this past Wednesday evening. Thanks to Coach Matthews and his staff for allowing us an opportunity to serve our University. Today brings a 'crispness' in the air and, an anticipation for R & R from the weekend. This week's blogs will be certainly entertaining. Don't miss either of them! Here it is, the week that was, in no certain order...

Jeff & Caro bring us their Disney Diaries. (Make sure you read each day's entrys.)

Dean and Prince...all I can say is, Let's Go Crazy.

Blog of the Week..."On Stupidity And The Such..." An absolute MUST READ!

As only Mark can, his encounter with...well, you'll just have to read it for yourself! Another absolute MUST READ!

Have a Great Week...see ya next Friday...

Another Perspective On Stupidity...

As only Mark could, you MUST READ his encounter from this past Monday night. Great Job Mark!

On Stupidity And The Such...

Every now and then, there is just cause for us to crawl up on our 'soapbox' and simply yell and scream about something that we believe in, or when something is blatantly wrong. Mark this down, I am officially on a soapbox!

Let me preface this post by saying this, I understand (to a certain degree) ignorance. And because of that, I can usually file away any thing or any conversation where ignorance is involved. Take for example the fact that I know absolutely nothing about Apple computers. What little I do claim to know, I don't like. That's my personal preference. However if I were to get into a deep 'theological' conversation concerning Apple computers, my input into that conversation would be pure ignorance! And the person that I was having that conversation with, would see my lack of knowledge immediately, call it ignorance, and wouldn't put any stock into my thoughts. Probably would make fun of me so-called lack of knowledge. And justifiably so. Wikipedia even agrees with me! So you see, I understand.

However, I have ZERO TOLERANCE for stupidity...on any level. Whether its in a conversation or in action, ZERO TOLERANCE! Wikipedia goes on to say that, 'The term (stupidity) can thus also refer to poor use of judgement...' Yep, I believe that also!

Last night, I encountered a massive case of stupidity that was laced with complete ignorance. Absolutely unbelievable! On Monday nights, DP is thumpin'! Take into consideration the fact that people are going back to routine after the weekend and need to get caffeinated for work and school, combined with the fact that DP has our Doubles Dart League that is played on Monday nights, and you get a VERY busy place with a lot of traffic! So in reality, I guess that jealousy and/or enviousness is the real root to this grandiose case of stupidity. Last night, our wonderful neighbors...the fine upstanding citizens they are...from the 'diner next door'...were so slow with customers, they decided to literally stand on their parking lot and refused to allow anyone that was not going into their diner, a place to park. Many of our customers...our friends, were harassed, treated rudely, and were forced to come face-to-face with a card-carrying, class A, stark-raving idiot! It's extremely obvious to me that if their diner was busy, they wouldn't have the time to stand outside and run off other businesses' traffic. There's no wonder that their parking lot stays empty, and all the customers from other businesses in the neighborhood use their empty parking spaces. With this attitude, they can probably rent their parking lot as a roller-skating rink because they're certainly not inviting others to come in. When I attempted to confront the owner (actually lessee would be the correct term), I was greeted with the same harshness as our friends from an individual who simply refused to listen to reason and hear the truth. I honestly haven't seen anything like this in a long time!


So to our friends, I greatly apologize for what you had to put up with last night. And unfortunately, we will probably see this again in the near future. Just know, that you and your families are greatly appreciated from us at DP, and I'm truly sorry for their stupidity and ignorance.

I certainly don't have the right to tell anyone where or where not to dine. But I can tell you this, if you do choose to eat at our 'diner next door', there has to be a sign on their door that warns you that you are now entering a 'stupidity containment area.'

The Friday Wrap-Up...

It's Friday again, and we have obviously dodged the 'weather bullet'! The flu is still taking it's toll in town, but I do believe we're on the mend. Several things in the blog world from the past two weeks, so here it goes...the week(s) that was, in no particular order...

Angela auditions for American Idol with a Neil Diamond classic.

You can find a couple of Super Bowl predictions here and here.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, the first flag of the biggest game of the year was thrown days before the game!

Finally, a local church is looking for the biggest loser.

T.J.'s smoking.

Brandy has a convict living at home. The charge against the perp: Painting the toilet with fingernail polish! Too Funny!!

Kevin remembers.

I went down to the creek bed.

Jeff is going to "Big Ear" World! With daily posts all next week! He also gave us a couple of great posts over the past few days. One on 'Experience vs Obedience' and an eye-opener on 'What Young Adults Want' which is my choice for blog of the week!

Lot's of things going on over at DPN.

That's it for now, see ya next week...

Stones...

It's all about a stone...

One of the greatest misconceptions in American enterprise is that "If you own your own company or business, you must be wealthy." Granted, for some, that may be true...but by and large this is a huge misnomer. Sounds good in theory...looks good on paper...but not in reality. If the truth be told, entrepreneurs who own their own businesses have struggles, daily, of epic proportions, that are rarely seen.

I know. I am one. And I am not alone.

And it's not so much about the financial aspect of the business...it's everything that comprises the total package. There are so many days that Murphy's Law is in full control. I've come to the conclusion that when you least expect it, something...usually the weirdest things...will go wrong. Small or large, problems...challenges exist...standing proud...taunting... They're just there...it's going to happen!

Just as it is in business, so it is in our everyday lives. As each day dawns anew, the problems lurk in the shadows...waiting...watching...gloating... Ever been to the point where problems seem too overwhelming? As though each step you take in any given direction guides you through a labyrinth where Pandora's Box is your great reward and it's already open and waiting on you as you cross the finish line?

Been there...am there...stay there...

And after a while, the load gets heavy...and heavier...and heavier. Almost unbearable. It seems as though the farther I sink, the larger the problems appear. But each time, I'm reminded of a young boy, who was faced with a monumental situation. His reaction altered a nation and opened the eyes of a king. That's the kind of approach I'm looking for. The young boy threw caution to the wind, and with reckless abandon ran to stand face to face with the biggest obstacle he could ever imagine. But along the way, he made a brief stop...a decision that would bewilder the strongest critic...a stop by a creek bed to pick up five simple stones. Stones that had been placed there at the dawn of creation for that specific place in time...waiting...

Were the stones magical, no. Was the number five a lucky number, for some maybe, but not for him. It was the purpose behind the stones that made the difference. A purpose, an attitude that I seek to garnish. An attitude that when applied, conquers the largest problems man will ever know.

"Father, I seek to stand in Your strength...in Your vision. And when I often stop to gather stones, help me focus on The Rock...amen."

So tomorrow morning, I'll set the alarm clock a little earlier...drink an extra pot of coffee...time to make my way back toward the creek bed...

The Sickly Friday Wrap-Up...

Friday has arrived much more quickly than I would have expected it to. I'm sure there are plenty of great posts from this past week, however, due to the wonderful flu, I haven't had that much of an opportunity to spend as much time reading as I normally do. A thousand apologies... Next Friday, my plans are to include both weeks worth of posts in the wrap-up. In the mean-time, these are a few places that I frequent on a regular basis. I'm sure you will enjoy them as much as I do. Here are a few of my blog buddies, in no particular order...

Dean

Jeff

T.J.

Mark

Angela

Amanda

Brandy

Have an incredible week...see you next Friday...

The Friday Wrap-Up On Saturday...

As you can tell, I'm running behind, sorry I didn't get this posted until Saturday! What a wild and wacky week. From the weather to the blog posts, such strange events. Hope you have a great weekend...here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...


Brandy lost her mind.

Jeff started something when he was using four-letter words.

Then Dean used the "D" word. Hands down, blog of the week...(look for a continuation this coming week)

And not to be left out, T.J. used the "F" word.

But really the craziest things started popping up on MonticelloLive. It's very evident that our new mayor-elect has no clue what Robert's Rules Of Order are. Don't believe me, just listen to the podcast of the City Council meeting...but be ready for approximately the first 20 minutes of this wonderful meeting to be pure chaos...unbelievable! Then, our new mayor-elect wants to abolish the Parks & Recreation Commission (Hmmmmm....seems like he doesn't like where baseball is played! Thanks Steve Hartness for a job well done!) And then asks for his ability to approve up to $20,000 in city expenditures without engaging in a competitive bidding process to be approved by the Council. The previous limit was $10,000. Did you get that? Freedom to spend, now, up to $20,000 in city expenditures WITHOUT getting ANY competitive bidding! The council also approved that initiative, by a vote of 6-1, with Tim Chase voting against. I'll be curious, and I know you will also, to see exactly WHO gets those contracts...hummmmm. (Do I smell a "good 'ol boy" system?) Thanks Tim...

That's it...see ya next Friday...

The Friday Wrap-Up...

Today brings a welcomed relief as the weekend approaches as we seek to get back in routine after the holidays. It's obvious many of us are glad to be back in that routine. Several good posts are out there, but these are the ones that caught my attention. Here it is, the week that was, in no particular order...

Dean has stepped in something toxic.

There's some pretty interesting stuff coming from the CDC over at MonticelloLive.

Brandy has found the diet of year. Guaranteed to work! Go Brandy!

Mark asks us to consider 'the face of the other'. Great post Mark!

I hate professional photographers! Their ability to actually create an image on paper that most of us only can dream about is unreal! And Carolyn is at the top of my hate list. Take this pic for example...outstanding job! No questions asked...pic of the week. :)

Angela has new diggs ..... be sure to take your shoes off when you visit. And don't miss her discussion over 'hot or cold'.

I took us out to the deep dark woods.

Blog of the week would have to be Jeff's golden experience at Chicken Express! A must read!

Alright, that's it for this week...see ya next Friday!

Call Of The Wild...

The call of the wild, is a haunting sound...

Growing up as a little boy, my Dad was only home on the weekends. He was Sales Manager for an aluminum company that required extensive travel throughout the week. Because of that, I never really learned the 'art' of hunting. Most young boys were always in the woods with their fathers at such an early age, that it seemed as though for them, hunting grew from a sport to a way of life.

I never did grasp the concept of killing animals for sport. I do realize that need sometimes does exist, and many enjoy the sport...but for me, the challenge was the ability to take a small lead object...calculate the wind...the distance...the circumstances...and maneuver it to a specific location that was pre-determined prior to squeezing the trigger. While other boys were aiming at rabbits, squirrels, deer and the like, I was shooting soda caps at 50 yards.

Throughout each year, as the father/son combinations made their migratory jaunt into the vastness of the deep dark woods, I was always left behind...searching...longing...listening...

As each hunting season neared, there was always an excitement in the air...an excitement that was almost undescribable...an excitement that could only be understood by those who have or would accompany them in the journey. The lessons that had been learned from previous outings were about to be put to the test once again. And each time, this calling would force them to venture to, many times, places unknown, with the only means of survival being the skills that had been learned from others...those that had gone into the wilderness, before. And just like always, each journey would require a new set of skills...skills that had yet to be learned...skills needed for survival...skills that would forevermore be forged in the forefront of the mind.

The call of the wild, is a haunting sound...

The call of God, strongly mirrors the call of the wild. Many see and feel the excitment...only few understand. Our skills are learned by the hours we spend in preparation for the 'hunt'. We read...we study...we listen...gathering as much knowledge and wisdom as possible so that when we hear that haunting sound, we grab our gear and mount up. We prepare throughout the years for the opportunity to put our 'learned' skills to the test...the test in the 'deep dark woods'. And like the seasoned hunter, we continually acquire new skills...skills needed for survival...skills that would forevermore be forged in the forefront of our mind.

The seasons are changing...my gear is packed...my weapon is sharp.

The call of the wild, is a...Shhhhhhh...I think I hear something...

The Year End Wrap-Up...

In August of last year, I entered into a new world...a world of the unknown...the world of blogging. Sometimes mysterious, sometimes hilarious, sometimes controversial, yet always exciting. Being the 'aggressive reader' and the 'writer-want-to-be' that I am, I was aways intrigued by the concept of blogging, yet would always find some excuse not to enter this 'new world'. It was by the constant 'encouragement' (borderline nagging) from many friends, that I've entered into this never-ending, always challenging blog world. A decision I'm very glad I made.


Blogs are as different as each one's personality. And I find it increasingly amazing that we can most-times always be our true selves in this land of blog.

There are several each day that I would consider a 'daily click'. And my day just doesn't seem complete if I haven't taken the time to read my blog list. I'm sure most of you feel the same way.

I've taken the past week to look through the archives of my 'daily clicks' to find the posts that really, really stood out, or spoke to me. It's those posts that poked or prodded me in new and unique ways. Some posts were educational for me. Some were gut wrenching. But each made a lasting impression on me, and it's that impression that I want to share with you.

As I've already said, I read many each day...but these...well, just read for yourself.

Here is it, the year that was (or at least since August), in no particular order...

Dean's opening post when he first began his road trip was one of those hidden nuggets. But it was his post on 'Warrenism' that still has comments coming in. And I must say, Dean's bloghead is just killer.

Angela's story of a makeover with her daughter Val was too cute. However, her video tribute to the late Steve Irwin gets her video of the year. By the way, Angela just posted one that's sure to make the weekly wrap-up.

Kevin's toothache is a distinct keeper.

DavicusPrime's inward scope on depravity cuts to the bone.

Mark consistently brings everything he's cooked up to the table. There were so many of his posts that I truly enjoyed, but there were a couple that rose above the others. One of his latest entries in December was a true look into the horrors of high school (and the pics, oh my!). His post on the problems of a private prayer language in October was great. But it was in August, when Mark posted a small entry on racism that truly spoke volumes to me. Mark consistently quenches my thirst for reading. It's always a pleasure!

Melissa's crooked post in October was priceless, not to mention that pic!

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff. The blog over at journeyguy's is without a doubt the busiest. Sometimes 3 or more posts per day. But in the midst of all that blog fodder, Jeff always serves up a dandy. Instead of giving you one or two certain posts, I would like to encourage you to check out his entire blog. You'll be glad you did.

I wait with anticipation each time I click on Brandy's blog. I never know what to expect. But one thing I do know when I go there, her posts are bathed in honesty, innocence and reality. Two of her posts I still think of often. It was the one on worship from September 4th and her post on money & offerings from October 29th. Make sure you read them both.

T.J.'s blog probably has the widest range of topics. Expect anything over there. But it was his personal explanation on Holy Spirit Baptism, Tongues, and Etc. that cleared up several mysteries to me. Get inside T.J.'s head. By the way, his take on 'Walk on the Water' wasn't half bad either.

I really chose to 'espresso myself' back in October when I gave you a three part entry on the beginnings of Dad's Place. Part 3 is still one of the most 'commented on' posts that I've seen. Here it is, in it's entirety, "Looking At The Future Through My Rear View Mirror" Part #1 ..... Part #2 ..... Part #3.

The birth of MonticelloLive was one of the most exciting events of the year for our community. And it still is providing a breeding ground for conversation and controversy concerning topics that effect us each and every day. Two of the stories on ML stirred up this town like I've never seen it before. The post on the proposed $6m Community Center and the proposed tax increase for the hospital expansion, was incredible. Great Job ML. But it was a simple story about a simple man that I must say is my blog of the year. Once you read it, I know you'll agree with me. Here it is ..... One Monticello Life: Mr. Carpenter.

2007 is now here. What does that mean for me...what does that mean for you? I guess we'll just have to wait...and read.

Special Wrap-Up...

There will be a special 'Year End' Wrap-Up coming early next week! Stay tuned! Have a safe and exciting New Year's!

Twelfth Day of Christmas...

Merry Christmas from Dad's Place!

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Twelve Java Mudslides...

Eleven Caramel Lattes...

Ten Cappuccinos...

Nine Blueberry Bagels...

Eight Dad's Place T-Shirts...

Seven Strawberry Milk Shakes...

Six Frappuccinos...

Five Shots of Swamp.

Four Chai Lattes...

Three Ham & Cheese...

Two pounds of beans...

And a large cup of Dad's Place coffee.

The Friday Christmas Un-Wrap...

Whether we want it or not, Christmas is upon us. School is out...the kids are home...food to prepare...and presents to buy. But in our hussle-bussle week, there are a couple of great reads this past week. Hope you enjoy! Here's Christmas week, in no particular order...

Angela has brown blobs.

Brandy had a case of 'pray & stray'.

Mark has a MUST READ on Cultural Stupidity - KGTDFJ. And just before I clicked publish, Mark gives us a well-expeced Part #2. Great Job Mark!

DPDL.

Hot Topic of the Week is over at MonticelloLive. And congrats to ML for being inducted into the 9rules blog community.

'Jeff and his runaway' are a runaway for Blog of the Week!

Oh, and I can't forget the story of the lost keys!

Kevin took us on a stroll down memory lane.

Wouldn't it be great if some of our church members would be as much on fire as our church vans?

Ever saw a child that didn't want his picture taken? Check out my Pic of the Week over at Carolyn's.

I pray that each of you have an incredible Christmas. May all your dreams come true! From our cup to yours...

Merry Christmas!

Jim, Denise and Tabitha

The Big Wheel Truck Stop...

In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years...their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway, they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries.

Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either.

If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town.

No luck.

The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince whomever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.

Still no luck.

The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal.

That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel.

When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.

One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana, I wondered.

I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then, hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.

On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.

When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and knelled in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.

As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning.

Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel Truck Stop....

And The Winners Are...

Here are the top scores in Dad's Place' Quiz. Thanks to ALL who joined in on the fun. A NEW CONTEST will begin on December 12th. Don't miss it!



3rd Place...Your prize is one scoop of Ice Cream.

Angela
Rick Rudolph



2nd Place...Your prize is a Small Coffee of Choice.



Melissa
Amanda K.



FIRST PLACE...Your prize is a LARGE Coffee of Choice.



Tammie S.
Sharon

Choosing A Cup...

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned to complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor came in with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups...porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite...telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice-looking expensive cups were taken, leaving the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee in most cases. It is just more expensive; in some cases it even hides what we drink."

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...and then began eyeing each others' cups."

"Consider this: Life is the coffee. The jobs, money, and position in society are the cups. they are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups...enjoy your coffee.

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

(...copied)