Invested

Spent a fair bit of time recently thinking about what am I invested in? Not talking stocks, but rather reflecting on the parable of the talents. I have come to the conclusion that where I am investing my life will ultimately define who I am. Confronted with work 60+ hours per week and then thinking about work when I am not at work, I have come to the conclusion that work is defining who I am.

We invest to get a return. What kind of return am I getting on this type of investment? Sure the pay is nice (it pays the bills after all), but is the financial aspect of being a provider for my family the complete definition of provider. I don't think so. In terms of life balance I feel very challenged about my investment as a husband, father, friend, human being, boss, employee, etc.

What is being invested in each of those areas? Am I happy with the investment? Is it giving me the return I am looking for?

Holidays

As an other Holiday seaon winds down, I wonder if the country has completely and utterly lost it's mind over the issue of being politically correct. God forbid that anyone would dare to use the word Christmas. Last week, I was composing an email to send out to those who work for me and I thought, is it 'appropriate' to use the word Christmas any more. Are we permitted to wish people 'every blessing at this Christmas time'?

It strikes me that in our efforts to keep everyone happy we are giving up a lot. For me, it is a Christmas Tree, Christmas Day, Christmas Cards, Christmas Gifts, etc. Everyone knows he wasn't born on December 25th, but this was the day that was set aside to acknowledge and remember His birth.

You never know, given what Christmas has become maybe He would support the action of His name being removed from the season.

Unemployment

We came out of November with unemployment at 6.7%. Some economists believe we will be at 8% by the end of January and over 11% by the summer. 

This is heartbreaking for anyone who experiences it. The line is usually that we are eliminating your job due to economic conditions and this action is not a reflection of your performance. Most people know that the economic realities are driving the loss of their job, but it is hard not to take it personally. One night you sit at the family dinner table as the bread winner, then the next night you are trying explain that you lost your job today. 

In this economy losing your job is something many will experience. Companies are fighting for survival, which means tough decisions need to be made in the interests of the majority who are still employed.

The church has an opportunity to step into the middle of this economic disaster. It has the opportunity to be a transformational community that reaches the downcast, the poor, those whose confidence is shot. 

The church can bring a true message of hope that restores confidence and faith, not simply a message of words, but action. Hope is not a message spoken by those of great oratory, but a transformational lifestyle that manifests something of the divine nature. A lifestyle that displays the majestic nature of a God who loves; extends grace; liberates and creates new opportunities when none seem to exist. 

Many families are looking for help, for hope, for opportunity. The church has an unique opportunity to reach a nation. 

Give Thatcher US Citizenship

Some thoughts as the year draws to a close:

+ Times are tough for a lot of folks and the retailers are now calling foul. They have joined the bailout line with hands outstretched. The bailouts really concern me. Why are we giving money to management teams that have provided poor leadership through bad decisions? Why give money to business leaders, who for years have pillaged their businesses?

+ I wish Thatcher was 20 years younger and a US Citizen. I think she would tell the government that the spending party is over. The waste needs to be eliminated. The lack of accountability within the government needs to be fixed.

+ Stop the bailouts. The big 3 will burn through the money fast and then will be back asking for more. Natural selection will take care of the problem. Companies that cannot manage themselves well should fail.

+ Get incentives out there to stimulate the economy, not through hand outs, but through rewarding job creation and those who start new businesses.

+ How about giving tax breaks to the people rather throwing money at failing businesses?

+ Time to get serious about real change and trust me, socialism is not the solution. Ask anyone who lived in the UK during the 70's.

Merry Christmas

Just grabbing a quick couple of minutes of space before the rest of the day unfolds. We have a 11 staying in the house this week. Al & Sarah, my sister, her husband & three kids, Graham and Joanne. The holiday season is definitely a time for family and catching up. it's great to have the whole crew here.

We started with breakfast at 10 am (this was a challenge for some of the older ones). We opened the presents. Definitely spent less this year as Fiona and I concluded that we simply did not need a whole lot. Struggling to even think of something I wanted never mind needed.

We are now in play mode as the food for the Christmas meal is organized. You know Fiona. 

This was just a quick note to say, have a great Christmas and take a moment in the midst of all of the commercial madness to remember the real reason for this season.

Colts Win Again

This is the ugliest run in football. After last week's big win, the Colts played the 0 and 13 Lions. This is a game that the Colts did ever in their power to lose. The interesting thing is no one in the NFL is playing that great. It is almost impossible to pick a Superbowl favorite with any degree of certainty. 

In these times, it is a privilege to be able to go to the games, even though the performance is not great to watch. Stadium was still packed, so there is still money out there.

Economy hits close to home

Seriously busy week this week which meant  I didn't make the time to update my blog. 

On Thursday, the company I work for announced that we would be cutting 2,000 jobs and closing three plants. Very concerning for the 1,500 employees I am responsible for. My phone rang off the hook on Thursday. So, the economic problems come a little closer to home this week. 

This coming week will be a tough week for everyone at work. Laying off people at any time is difficult, but the week before Christmas will be particularly difficult.

In  order to protect the jobs of the majority to preserve the company's ability to be viable it is inevitable that actions like these need to take place.

A lot of families across a lot of business are going face a similar fate this week. Tough times.

Football

The Colts won and won in style for a change. However, before declaring they are back completely, they were playing the hapless Bengals. Hey, six wins in a row. Maybe the Superbowl in not beyond the realms of possibility.

Hope is born

 Mary was confronted with an awful situation. Pregnant, but her husband knew the baby was not his. As he contemplated his options, in particular a quiet divorce, he had a revelation that even in the midst of a grave situation God is with us.

Immanuel, God is with us, not only came down 2,000 years ago, but He is still in the business of stepping into the middle of grave situations. He may not be the cause of the economic problems that are touching so many, but He is definitely the Hope that can lead us forward. 

In tough times, know this is true: God is with us.

The day God became man hope was born.

Christmas is fast approaching

The stores near us are very quiet in comparison with prior years. I get the sense that folks are being real careful this year not to over spend. Cash is king this year. 

It is going to be a tough Christmas in many households across the country. The big surprise for many last month was losing their jobs. Over half a million Americans lost their jobs in November. I think the number this month and next will be even higher. Unemployment is now worse than it was in 1974.

I suspect people are thinking about bigger and deeper issues than simply how much do we spend on presents this year. Maybe the real reason for the season will penetrate the minds and hearts of many who are uncertain about their future and are looking for a more solid foundation on which to base their lives.

It is hard to run the table

In a very unexpected way, Ball State lost last night in the MAC conference final and with that loss their unbeaten run this season came to an end. It is amazing how difficult it is in sports to maintain an unbeaten run. This season we followed three teams to 10 and 0. Now all three have a loss.

Maybe perfection, in this life, is over rated. 

St. Andrews Day

This always seems like the best day of the year to watch Braveheart and celebrate all things Scottish. For all those. like my father, who are longing for full independence once again, I post the Declaration of Arbroath. You can read the whole thing or scroll down to the line in bold.

A bold declaration that many in the US can identify with. 

The Declaration of Arbroath 1320 — English Translation

To the most Holy Father and Lord in Christ, the Lord John, by divine providence Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Roman and Universal Church, his humble and devout sons Duncan, Earl of Fife, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, Lord of Man and of Annandale, Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March, Malise, Earl of Strathearn, Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, William, Earl of Ross, Magnus, Earl of Caithness and Orkney, and William, Earl of Sutherland; Walter, Steward of Scotland, William Soules, Butler of Scotland, James, Lord of Douglas, Roger Mowbray, David, Lord of Brechin, David Graham, Ingram Umfraville, John Menteith, guardian of the earldom of Menteith, Alexander Fraser, Gilbert Hay, Constable of Scotland, Robert Keith, Marischal of Scotland, Henry St Clair, John Graham, David Lindsay, William Oliphant, Patrick Graham, John Fenton, William Abernethy, David Wemyss, William Mushet, Fergus of Ardrossan, Eustace Maxwell, William Ramsay, William Mowat, Alan Murray, Donald Campbell, John Cameron, Reginald Cheyne, Alexander Seton, Andrew Leslie, and Alexander Straiton, and the other barons and freeholders and the whole community of the realm of Scotland send all manner of filial reverence, with devout kisses of his blessed feet.

Most Holy Father and Lord, we know and from the chronicles and books of the ancients we find that among other famous nations our own, the Scots, has been graced with widespread renown. They journeyed from Greater Scythia by way of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pillars of Hercules, and dwelt for a long course of time in Spain among the most savage tribes, but nowhere could they be subdued by any race, however barbarous. Thence they came, twelve hundred years after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, to their home in the west where they still live today. The Britons they first drove out, the Picts they utterly destroyed, and, even though very often assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, they took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the historians of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all bondage ever since. In their kingdom there have reigned one hundred and thirteen kings of their own royal stock, the line unbroken a single foreigner. The high qualities and deserts of these people, were they not otherwise manifest, gain glory enough from this: that the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Lord Jesus Christ, after His Passion and Resurrection, called them, even though settled in the uttermost parts of the earth, almost the first to His most holy faith. Nor would He have them confirmed in that faith by merely anyone but by the first of His Apostles — by calling, though second or third in rank — the most gentle Saint Andrew, the Blessed Peter's brother, and desired him to keep them under his protection as their patron forever.

The Most Holy Fathers your predecessors gave careful heed to these things and bestowed many favours and numerous privileges on this same kingdom and people, as being the special charge of the Blessed Peter's brother. Thus our nation under their protection did indeed live in freedom and peace up to the time when that mighty prince the King of the English, Edward, the father of the one who reigns today, when our kingdom had no head and our people harboured no malice or treachery and were then unused to wars or invasions, came in the guise of a friend and ally to harass them as an enemy. The deeds of cruelty, massacre, violence, pillage, arson, imprisoning prelates, burning down monasteries, robbing and killing monks and nuns, and yet other outrages without number which he committed against our people, sparing neither age nor sex, religion nor rank, no one could describe nor fully imagine unless he had seen them with his own eyes.

But from these countless evils we have been set free, by the help of Him Who though He afflicts yet heals and restores, by our most tireless Prince, King and Lord, the Lord Robert. He, that his people and his heritage might be delivered out of the hands of our enemies, met toil and fatigue, hunger and peril, like another Macabaeus or Joshua and bore them cheerfully. Him, too, divine providence, his right of succession according to or laws and customs which we shall maintain to the death, and the due consent and assent of us all have made our Prince and King. To him, as to the man by whom salvation has been wrought unto our people, we are bound both by law and by his merits that our freedom may be still maintained, and by him, come what may, we mean to stand. Yet if he should give up what he has begun, and agree to make us or our kingdom subject to the King of England or the English, we should exert ourselves at once to drive him out as our enemy and a subverter of his own rights and ours, and make some other man who was well able to defend us our King; for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

Therefore it is, Reverend Father and Lord, that we beseech your Holiness with our most earnest prayers and suppliant hearts, inasmuch as you will in your sincerity and goodness consider all this, that, since with Him Whose vice-gerent on earth you are there is neither weighing nor distinction of Jew and Greek, Scotsman or Englishman, you will look with the eyes of a father on the troubles and privation brought by the English upon us and upon the Church of God. May it please you to admonish and exhort the King of the English, who ought to be satisfied with what belongs to him since England used once to be enough for seven kings or more, to leave us Scots in peace, who live in this poor little Scotland, beyond which there is no dwelling-place at all, and covet nothing but our own. We are sincerely willing to do anything for him, having regard to our condition, that we can, to win peace for ourselves. This truly concerns you, Holy Father, since you see the savagery of the heathen raging against the Christians, as the sins of Christians have indeed deserved, and the frontiers of Christendom being pressed inward every day; and how much it will tarnish your Holiness's memory if (which God forbid) the Church suffers eclipse or scandal in any branch of it during your time, you must perceive. Then rouse the Christian princes who for false reasons pretend that they cannot go to help of the Holy Land because of wars they have on hand with their neighbours. The real reason that prevents them is that in making war on their smaller neighbours they find quicker profit and weaker resistance. But how cheerfully our Lord the King and we too would go there if the King of the English would leave us in peace, He from Whom nothing is hidden well knows; and we profess and declare it to you as the Vicar of Christ and to all Christendom. But if your Holiness puts too much faith in the tales the English tell and will not give sincere belief to all this, nor refrain from favouring them to our prejudice, then the slaughter of bodies, the perdition of souls, and all the other misfortunes that will follow, inflicted by them on us and by us on them, will, we believe, be surely laid by the Most High to your charge.

To conclude, we are and shall ever be, as far as duty calls us, ready to do your will in all things, as obedient sons to you as His Vicar; and to Him as the Supreme King and Judge we commit the maintenance of our cause, casting our cares upon Him and firmly trusting that He will inspire us with courage and bring our enemies to nought. May the Most High preserve you to his Holy Church in holiness and health and grant you length of days.

Given at the monastery of Arbroath in Scotland on the sixth day of the month of April in the year of grace thirteen hundred and twenty and the fifteenth year of the reign of our King aforesaid.

Football

The Colts are terrible. I cannot believe the best they can do is a 10-6 victory over Cleveland. Anyway, they say that champions know how to win ugly. The Colts are officially the champions of winning ugly. 

The Big 12 south ended in a 3 way tie and the BCS standings have determined that OU are going to the Big 12 Championship game next weekend against Missouri. 

Big disappointment for Al & Graham as Texas and Tech lose out. Texas will still make it to one of the Big BCS bowls and it looks like Tech will be playing in the Cotton Bowl.

Ball State appear to be headed for the Motor City Bowl. 

3 Dead

While the horror of Mumbai was unfolding over Thanksgiving reports were emerging that 3 people died on black Friday and others were injured. What is wrong with us that a man is trampled to death at a Walmart by hundreds of shoppers stampeding through the doors. Two people were killed at a Toys R Us store. 

It is hard to fathom that a civilized nation lives like this. Trampled to death so people can get the present they want for Christmas. I hope they review the tapes; identify the offenders and prosecute them. 

For one family this is going to be a miserable Christmas. Pray for the Walmart employee's family.

More on Football

There are two games today that will bring an exciting season in the Big 12 South to a conclusion. Texas won on Thursday night, so they have done everything they can to secure their place in the national championship game.

Oklahoma play Oklahoma State in Stillwater. A convincing win to night could cause them to jump past Texas in the BCS standings. A loss for OU would leave the way open for Tech to potentially climb back up the rankings.

Tech must beat Baylor today in very convincing fashion to extend their run and take them into the Big 12 championship game against Missouri, but they need OU to lose.

We still have an unbeaten team represented in our household from an unusual source: Ball State. They should beat Buffalo quite easily in the MAC conference final. A big bowl game awaits them.

For the Colts, it is straightforward - keep winning. They have clawed their way back into contention for a wild card spot. 

Another weekend of Football in the McIntyre household. 

+

Thanksgiving Day

This year we have Graham and Joanne with us. Alistair and Sarah are in Houston and will be missed from the table. However, at the table this year are our great friends from New York (Long Island actually) Roger and Gill Blackmore.

I first met Roger in 1984 because he had invited Reinhart Bonnke to Aberdeen. One thing I admired about Roger immediately was his ability to delegate in order to get something done. Things like, "Douglas I will lead the public meetings, but could you organize everything else."

We have been through a lot with Roger and Gill over the years. We have shared in moments of great joy and also of pain. The constants have been their love for us; their unconditional acceptance; their generosity of spirit; their great friendship.

It is a great thing to have friends that are there for you in spite of everything. We are blessed in that Roger and Gill are representative of a greater number of friends that are truly family.

Sitting around the same table tomorrow is more than simply sharing in a meal together it represents a shared life with those closest to you.

Thankful? You bet.
Blessed? You bet.
Hey, I am rich in ways that money can never buy.

Being Thankful

Growing up in Scotland we did not celebrate Thanksgiving (pretty obvious I suppose), but this has become my favorite holiday. The opportunity to break from the busyness of life and to take a moment to reflect on the many blessings and good things that make up my life is a very positive and beneficial exercise. Here are some of the things I am thankful for:

1. My best friend is still with me after 27 years of marriage. Hard to imagine life without her.
2. Three kids that are doing well and have made us very proud as parents. Not that we contributed everything they needed, but hopefully we gave them enough to help them along the way.
3. Our extended family comprised of friends and family.
4. That we are in good health
5. That I am still employed, especially in this economy.
6. That we are part of a good church.
7. The list goes on.....

Two additional things that are connected:

1. A dynamic faith in Christ that was given to me, because I could not more forward without Him.
2. A great byproduct of this life in Him is being able to share your life with a new family. Fiona and I have been blessed beyond anything we could imagine with great friends. These are people that even when we have not seen them for a while, when we do we pick up immediately where we left off.

Life is tough for a lot of folks right now. Take a moment to give thanks for the blessings in your life.

U.S.S.A

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.""A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury."

"From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result thatevery democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, whichis always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years"

"During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
3. from courage to liberty;
4. from liberty to abundance;
5. from abundance to complacency;
6. from complacency to apathy;
7. from apathy to dependence;
8. from dependence back into bondage"having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

Here is the bottom line: the author of these words is hotly disputed and there has been no way to successfully verify that Tyler is the author. However, regardless of this, it is still an intersting commentary on where the US is heading. Feel very confident that this is the road that our President elect is leading us down. Remember when we get there, the majority voted for this.

By the way, USSA is United Socialist States of America

Big 12 South

Wow. Oklahoma completely blew out the 'Cinderella' team. To lose 65-21 was embarrassing.  It is amazing how much can turn on one game. Unbeaten up until last night, Tech lost not only a game, but the their chance at the Big 12 Championship and the National Championship against Alabama. 

What happened? They looked liked they were over hyped. Completely unsettled before the first play had even happened. They played like a team completely out of sync. The defense, that had been one of the top ranked, capitulated. It appeared that an open field tackle was beyond them. 

Graham Harrell threw more than his opponent; racked up more yards through the air; threw for three touch downs; but the nature of the loss will take him out of Heisman consideration, which is a shame.

In life, there are games to be played where we risk a lot and losing can cost us big. Being earthed in a foundation that keeps us balanced when the pressure is on is invaluable. Without the calming influence of a principle based foundation bad decisions will be made and life will be simply out of sync.

Economic Update

I am still pessimistic about the economy, because a lot of employers are only now getting around to laying off their workforce. I heard today that Citi Group will be letting 50,000 workers go. I suspect that my initial estimate of 2 million jobs lost is understated. This is going to be a rough year end and holiday season for a lot of folks. 

Now that Obama is pushing the country towards socialism it will be interesting to see what happens next. Again the government with borrow to spend more. The biggest bubble is yet to burst. Rising unemployment with unleash a credit card crisis that will make the one we have just faced seem like nothing.

As we approach year end more and more businesses will simply run out of money as short term credit lines are simply not available. This is the problem that the big 3 auto makers are facing. Not a lack of orders, but really a lack of cash to run the business.

I would let the big three fail. They won't completely. They will file for chapter protection and re-emerge in the future hopefully minus the unions. Don't forget the unions. Paying factory workers $30 to $40 per hour to build cars is unsustainable. Bring back Maggie Thatcher and let her run the US for a year. 

This is going to be a miserable next two years for a lot of folks. It is time to for the church to start thinking through how it is going to cut it's own infrastructure costs to be better positioned to help the people who have been supporting it financially all of these years. Now this will be interesting to watch. What will be the church's equivalent to the CEOs private jet fiasco this week? Will the church step up and do the radical thing? Acts 2:42 comes to mind.

College football

I have come to the conclusion that college football is more exciting than the NFL. Maybe the inconsistency of the Colts is influencing me. On the other hand Ball State remains unbeaten in the MAC and Texas Tech and Texas still have everything up for grabs in the Big 12 South.

Tech play OU tonight in a game that they must win if they want to win the Big 12 and have a shot at the national championship game. Texas hoping for a OU win to put them back in the picture. Three kids aligned with three different schools who have all had great seasons.

My bias says that Harrell, Crabtree and company will be too good for OU.

Watch out for Crabtree - definite future NFL Hall of Famer if he can stay healthy.

Big 12 South

This weekend we will learn a little bit more of the fate of the teams in the Big 12 South (the number 1 conference in college football). Oklahoma plays Texas Tech in Norman. Stoops has only lost twice at home in 62 games. While one son is desperate for Tech to win, the other is hoping they lose.

Texas (Longhorns) stand to win big if Tech loses to OU.

Tech are in the enviable position of controlling their own destiny. If they win out the next three games they will play in the national championship and Graham Harrell will win the Heisman. A three way tie at the top of the Big 12 south is possible if OU win and of course that becomes a BCS nightmare.

3 teams in the Top 5 of the BCS rankings.

I should also give a shout out to the other unranked team that we follow: Ball State. When was the last time a MAC team was nationally ranked. the only problem is that they will go to a big bowl game and probably lose big. But hey, going unbeaten is no small feat.

Winning Ugly

Back on one of my favorite topics: the Colts. Fiona and I dressed up and headed off to see the Colts play. While the team continues to struggle, the new stadium is terrific. They simple look completely out of sync on offense.

One of the things they say about champions is that they know how to win ugly. The Colts are making this into an art form this season. The first half was boring and the second half, though more lively, still wasn't very exciting. Hey, the won. It could be worse I suppose: I could be a Detroit Lions fan.

The life lesson is: a win is a win even if you win ugly.

Economy

The biggest problems are yet to come. Consider the following:

+ The economy will get much worse as many companies have not pulled the trigger yet on their layoffs.
+ Unemployment came in at 6.5% through the end of October. i think it will rise to somewhere between 9% and 11%.
+ Higher unemployment means lower tax revenue at the federal and state levels.
+ A lot of states are going to run out of money in the next 6 months. Large deficits are on the way.
+ Can't see how Obama can lower taxes or give tax credits with less money coming into the government's coffers.
+ The next big problem is going to be the collapse of the credit card house of cards.
+ Another two banks failed this week.
+ It will be interesting to see how it is before the DOW tests 7,500. Those jumping back into the market - BEWARE.

Bottom line: there is a lot going on out there and the worst is yet to come.

HJust as well we know you is in charge. Things that we had confidence in have been shaken and have been found wanting.

The winner is.......

Barack Obama. Not sure if my friend, Roger, will return from his trip to India. He threatened if Obama was elected he might move permanently.

It will be interesting to see if he drives any significant change. The country is looking for change and there will be a lot of disappointment if doesn't step up. We will see.

Music

Tonorrow, it is football again with the Colts playing the Steelers. However, we will miss the end of the game due to the Celine Dion concert tomorrow evening at Conseco Fieldhouse. We have been very fortunate this year to see Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift, Eric Clapton and the Idol Tour.

The Idol Tour was interesting. Only three of the ten could sing and even then there is such a huge gap between these hopefuls and the real pros.

Will post after the concert and will see what recommendation is given.

College Football

Getting ready to see if Texas Tech can win again this evening. Last week's game was insane. The finish had both Fiona and I up out of chairs. To score a winning touchdown with one second to go was amazing. It was a tough game for us to watch with one son a Longhorn and the other a Red Raider. Both teams were unbeaten going into this game.

Texas won today against Baylor which will keep them in the top 4 BCS rankings. Tech go into tonight's game against Oklahoma State unbeaten and number 2 in the BCS. The Big 12 South is the nation's toughest conference this year.

Economic conditions

At work we have been building our operating plans for next year, which is proving very difficult. the current economic climate makes it very difficult to forecast what is going to happen next year. a recession seems inevitable at this point. The two additional pressures that are out there are the credit card problem and rising unemployment. It is hard to imagine for a lot of folks, but as unemployment rises the level of credit card default will rise and the next financial crisis will unfold.

A lot of people are struggling and the problem will get much worse before it gets better. Where is the church in all of this? Where is the message of hope?

I think it is time for the church to take a hard look at how it is spending money and q begin to discuss how it can become the welfare state for the US. There was a time when church was far more involved in social programs that made a difference.

Does anyone really believe that a politician can solve this problem? I think less money spent on staff / buildings and more money spent on the welfare of people could create a huge opportunity for the church to life out the message rather than talk about it.

Come on, church leaders. Stimulate some creative thinking among your folks. don't just think outside of the box, live outside of the box. It is time for change, but not the type the country will be voting for. It is time to review and redirect church finances. Matthew 25 makes a compelling argument as does Acts 2:42ff.

Colts Winless at Home in 2008

Who would have believed that the Colts would lose their first two games at home. Add the preseason and they are still waiting to record their first win at Lucas Oilfield.

Fiona, Graham and I sat through the game live at the stadium. This is a team that is hurting with a number of key injuries, but the biggest area of pain is that they are simply out of sync. Peyton had two drives today where he looked like the guy we love, but the rest of the game was painful to watch. Marvin and Reggie dropping passes they should have caught is just too much.

the next home game is against Baltimore and they need to take a hard look at themselves before then.

To make a bad day worse, the Europeans lost the Ryder cup. Kudos to the US who needed the win after losing five of the last six. Faldo will get crucified and deservedly so. He was a bad pick as captain and made some bad decisions. Leaving Monty out was a mistake. Monty has not had the killer touch in the majors, but he owns the Ryder Cup and the match play format in particular.

Election

My friend, Roger is clearly supporting McCain. Of course, this is simply age association.

You have to give kudos to McCain choosing someone with a personality given that he is devoid of one. I think McCain would be terrible as President, but to be honest Obama is not much better.

Obama needs to get back on point with his message. Falling into the gutter with McCain has hurt him. The key is the economy. How can you lose to a guy that doesn't even think there is a problem.

IKE

Al and Sarah are safe and have power after a couple of days without it. The city is a mess and a lot of people are really struggling with significant losses. It has been hard to watch. Houston was home for 8 years and we definitely feel for the folks down there especially those on the coast. I suspect the death toll will go higher.

All kinds of things

The month has flown by and I have a number of things to update on:

COLTS: Went to the home opener at Lucas Oil to watch the Colts lose to the Bears. I kept thinking to myself this is the Bears for goodness sakes. They looked completely out of sync as if it was the first preseason game. I suppose the good news is that the beat the Vikings in week two, but again an ugly win. This team just doesn't look ready for the regular season. They have a lot of injured players, so that probably doesn't help. Harrison simply doesn't look like he has the speed any more for the deep ball.

RANGERS: Got to watch the Old Firm game. 8 bookings; 2 players sent off and a Rangers 4-2 win at Parkhead. Enough said.

KENNY CHESNEY CONCERT: Spent 8 hours on Saturday at this concert. Fiona really enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching College Football in the suite. 8 hours at a concert. It was loud and good fun.

27th ANNIVERSARY: Friday marks the 27th year that Fiona has put up with me. We are going out for dinner to celebrate on Friday.

Gustav

It looks like the levees in New Orleans are holding up better than the did during Katrina. However, the high water mark still has not been reached. So we will see.

New Orleans is testament to the folly, stupidity and pride of mankind. Who in their right mind would choose to build a city below sea level in a hurricane zone? How many times will we continue to rebuild a city in an area that was never intended for a city to be? How much money has been spent to dat and how much more will be spent?

At what point would it be simply cheaper to return the land to swamp and build the city in another part of the country completely?

When I think about New Orleans, I think about King Canute. He was the guy who drowned as he commanded the incoming tide of the sea to go back.

I get the fact that a lot of people are suffering down there and even if the levees hold, there will still be a great sense of loss for many people. Just seems a lot of resource is tied up on an event that will be repeated again the future.

Obama in Denver

I need to preface my comments by stating that I am not allowed to vote in the US, because I am still a permanent resident.

It will be interesting tonight to see if there is any substance to the message of hope. I am going to watch, because I still think it is amazing that 75,000 people will show up to here a politician speak.

The Clinton's seem to have done their part and Biden told everyone why they should not vote for McCain. Tonight we will find out if there is a reason to vote for Obama. I am still interested to see if he makes it all the way whether or not Washington will allow him to drive real change. Also interested to know how he is going pay for all of the change. Higher taxes?

Mexico

Spent the last week in Mexico visiting a plant we own and one we might buy. Though there are parts of Mexico that are beautiful and make for great vacation spots, there is still an insane poverty issue. Fully loaded labor costs are only $3.50 to perhaps $5 for factory workers. Some only get just over $2. As long as that continues families will risk everything, including their lives as they head north in search of a better life.

I am not sure what the answer is, but it is easy to understand why so many want to live in the States. If you were responsible for a family in Mexico, as a father what would you do?

Difficult People

Need to define difficult people after receiving an email on the last post.

Our lives are a journey and along the way all different kinds of people intersect our journey. At those points of convergence some simply pass through, while others join us on the journey. Some walk for a short period of time and others will walk with us to the end. This aspect of the journey makes it interesting.

What types of people are allowed to join your journey? It is easy to let those that we like join us, but occasionally we are confronted with people that we find difficult. Life never seems easy around them. It is easy to hold this type of person at arms length or even reject them as too difficult and not worth the effort.

A few years ago I had an epiphany: I am someone else's difficult person.

I now realize that when I perceive someone as difficult there is something in me that needs to change or be adjusted. People who make it their mission to be difficult don't hang around and quickly move on. There are those where they move from being difficult to being agents of change. Those people are to be valued as they drive necessary change in our lives.

Organizational Constraint

An organization is constrained by the by it's leader and the passion of that leader. I have been learning this at work. The key is to build great teams. To surround yourself with great people. People who will challenge you. People who have a different perspective. People of passion and great thinking.

The team you build will define the quality of our output.

The failure of many organizations is to become dependent on a single leader who is surrounded by people who are easily lead and influenced. Build a great team. Hire some difficult people.

Art... Really?

GENEVA (AFP) - A giant inflatable dog turd by American artist Paul McCarthy blew away from an exhibition in the garden of a Swiss museum, bringing down a power line and breaking a greenhouse window before it landed again, the museum said Monday.
The art work, titled "Complex S(expletive..)", is the size of a house. The wind carried it 200 metres (yards) from the Paul Klee Centre in Berne before it fell back to Earth in the grounds of a children's home, said museum director Juri Steiner.

The inflatable turd broke the window at the children's home when it blew away on the night of July 31, Steiner said. The art work has a safety system which normally makes it deflate when there is a storm, but this did not work when it blew away.

This story made me smile on two accounts. Firstly, is this really art? A large inflatable dog turd? The size of house? What kind of dog does this artist own that inspired him to create this. Secondly, can you imagine the laughter at the children's home? Not hard to work out the topic of conversation at the dinner table that night.

Obama & Hope

When was the last time a politician filled stadiums with people desperate to hear their message? The Obama phenomena is quite remarkable. The upcoming Democrat convention is testament to that. All of the other speakers address the convention attendees at the Denver Conference Center, but Obama makes his speech in the local pro sports stadium to make sure they can get everyone in. A crowd of 200,000 plus showed up in Germany. He filled the Compaq Arena in Houston. The list goes on.

What is this message of hope that has transfixed a nation and a watching world? Great question that is really hard to answer. The message of hope does not appear to have a lot of substance. Even if it had substance, are we really to believe the Washington insiders would allow him to drive change?

What is remarkable to me is that his message of hope is touching something within the folks of this nation and beyond. People are fed up with same old. They are looking for change. Against the background of economic uncertainty people need the assurance of something hoped for. That a better day is coming or is around the corner.

My question is: where is the church in all of this? If the rhetoric and words of a politician can inspire hope, where are the true dealers of hope? Where are those who have received an eternal message of hope that drives real change?

Calling all dealers of hope: time to step up.

Disobedience

Two postings in the same day. Wow. I will end up like my great friend Roger Blackmore if I am not careful.

The John Edwards situation brought home to me that it is also true that people are waiting on the other side of our disobedience. His wife, family and friends are devastated and feel betrayed. His admission of guilt was very lame. Was I the only one to wonder where his contrite spirit was? He played the whole thing in my opinion as if it was not that big a deal. Ask those on the other side of our disobedience if it is not a big deal.

Don't want to sit in judgement on this, because we are all capable of this, but maybe a focus on the folks waiting on the other side of our disobedience might be enough to sober us up. Understanding the pain that will be caused is enough to override the selfish drive for immediate pleasure. Is it really that good? Really worth putting everything on the line for.

Any way, people are waiting on the other side of our disobedience.

Obedience

People are waiting on the other side of our obedience. I have been thinking about this a lot over the last two weeks. If I can only commit to my life being made up of a large number of small actions, I think I would have an easier time serving. Too often I get caught up with the notion of waiting for that significant opportunity. While I am doing that many opportunities are passing me by. People have points of convergence with my journey every day. There are many small opportunities for me to act on. It is quite a sobering thought to think about people waiting on the other side of my obedience. Maybe I need to think less and act more.