Doug Van Pelt

GOING BACK TO GENESIS

Don has a great conclusion to this book (Through Painted Deserts), where he surmises:

"It is a wonder that those exposed to such beauty forfeit the great questions in the face of this miraculous evidence. I think again about this small period of grace, and thank God for it, that if only for a season, I could feel the why of life, see it in the metaphor of light, in the endlessness of the cosmos, in the miracle of friendship. And had these mountains the ability to reason, perhaps they would contemplate the beauty of humanity, and praise God For the miracle that each of us is, pondering the majesty of God and the wonder of man in one bewildering context."

I think the angels have this kind of wonder and praise for God. 1 Peter (10-12) says something beautiful:

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

I think, maybe, angels don't have grace. When they fall, they're fallen. I think, perhaps, it amazes them. If we could see an angel, we'd be amazed at their beauty and power. When they see us, which is all the time, I'm guessing, they're amazed at the grace God gives to us.

Wow.

Now I have to return this book from the friend that let me borrow it.

My knee's never hurt so bad

While running today, my sore knee flared up to where I had to stop running. I thought maybe this ache was something I could push through by exercising and pushing the muscles. I guess the muscles didn't like it. Hmmm..

I watched World Trade Center last night. Wow. What a movie. I was surprised at how it told the story and what stories it told. Like any story, the problem arrived soon after the start. Then two cops were trapped beneath the rubble for hours and hours. How they could withstand that...wow. God seems to give us the grace to go through what we need to go through, so I can only attribute that kind of strength to Him if it were me. That'd be so hairy and an intense claustrophobic challenge.

Seeing the movie and re-living the emotion of that terrible day in US history was something else. When I hear people caution against showing that footage, something inside me disagrees. If someone told me, 'We don't want to stir up anger or coax people into knee-jerk emotional reactions. American people might start lashing out at Arabs...' I don't think that's gonna happen. I'm not for blindly striking out at people and falling into guilty-by-association or by skin color, by any means. That's just dumb. But if it's angry emotions we're trying to avoid, I don't get it. I don't quite agree. Aren't there some things we should get angry about? Isn't ignoring or censoring certain media a mind/emotion control gimmick being used/weilded by a power-hungry and fearful maniac ... or at best just people in denial? I would think there's some balance between the extreme of showing 9/11 footage on a continuous loop and this nearly blacklisting of any footage whatsoever. It's puzzling.

a Dawn moment

A DON MOMENT

On page 247 of Through Painted Deserts, Don and Paul sit down for a box of wine. They go over their trip, grateful for each other and God showing up when they needed Him. Then Don turns the subject to Paul:

"...there is something God made that is better than starlight... It's you, man. You. You know, friends, people, it's beautiful, really that we don't have to be alone. I appreciate you."

Paul told Don that he appreciated him, too. He told Don that he was "funny, but also deep, and wasn't judgmental like some people have become these days, impossible to be around without making you feel like crap about yourself."

A BIG DON MILLER SUMMARY

I think this sums up a lot of what Don was wondering about before, during, and after this trip:

"...life is not a story about me, but it is being told to me, and I can be glad of that. I think that is the why of life and, in fact, the why of this ancient faith I am caught up in: to enjoy God. The stars were created to dazzle us, likve a love letter; light itself is just a metaphor, something that exists outside of time, made up of what seems like nothing, infinite in its power, something that can be experienced but not understood, like God. Relationships between men and women indicate something of the nature of God -- that He is relational, that He feels love and loss. It's all metaphor, and the story is about us; it's about all of us who God made, and God Himself, just enjoying each other."

Don talks about not feeling like he has to own, possess, or impress any more.

"I think we are supposed to love our friends and introduce people to the story, to the peaceful, calming why of life. I think life is spirituality.

That's a big one.

Merry Christmas!

DON'S OBSERVATIONS

Dod actually finds peace with his housecleaning job, befriending a bunch of women. He often gets invitations to stay in a nice warm bed, but refuses them all. Seems he has gotten used to sleeping outside. I don't get that. He said it takes a good five days to get used to sleeping outdoors, and I've just never pressed through that threshold.

I am hungry, so I appreciate food and thank God for it whenever I find ice cream or other perishables in a condo I am cleaning.

I appreciate God, because I live in the house He has made, as opposed to a house I purchased by my own means.

And then he delivers a real zinger:

I've learned, too, that I don't really know very much about anything. I mean, I used to have all these theories about life. I thought I had everybody figured out, even God, but I don't. I think the woods, being away from all the clingy soot of commercialism, have taught me life is enormous, and I am very tiny in the middle of it.

And check out this statement:

I feel, at times, like a droplet of water in a raging river. I know for a fact that as a grain of sand compares in size to the earth itself, I compare in size to the cosmos. I am that insignificant. And yet the chemicals in my brain that make me feel beauty when I look up at the stars, when I watch the sunset, indicate I must be here for a reason.

Part of what makes Don such a lovable writer (to me) is that I wish I could record him and "play" his voice to my non-believing friends and relatives. 'This will impress them,' I think. 'This'll convince them to believe in God.' I'm impressed that Don is a guy that can say things and reveal thoughts that will make people think about something (like God) differently. I admire that quality. I get jealous of him and wish I could "use" him to "win" my friends to Christ.

I don't think God wants me to do that. I don't think He wants me to "be" Don Miller, either -- not even a close carbon copy. God made me unique. I hope that I can use my experience and my thoughts and the things I read and think about to make someone else think.

I'd like to learn from others, too. Sometimes that give and take is where I'll be able to share with others. Listening to and learning from someone else will often "open doors" for them to learn or hear from you.

Hmmm...

THE CAVE

Molly casually asked Don if he was "going to the cave tonight?" To which Paul would reply, "I haven't told him yet." Apparently, this huge cave is the annual event they all participate in. I pictured a drinking party with guys and girls laughing. Turns out the first night was just guys and they went to bed after not too long of a conversation.

Don had to get up at 6am in the cave in order to not be late for his first day of work as a janitor for this resort/ranch place. Sometimes life can be mundane and just plain hard work. Cleaning toilets can sure seem like the opposite of fun, that's for sure.

THE WOODS

Don has a clarvoyant moment in the woods -- his first night sleeping at Black Butte Ranch. He realizes that -- even though he has no money -- he is happy. He has it all. He lays down and looks at the stars. Out there in the wilderness there is no reflection of the city's lights to keep the night sky from glowing with stars. It's a great moment for him, where he realizes that God is there and that God has so much to share with him and time to just be with him. He realizes that he'd be crazy to want to run away from that (which is kinda what he wanted to do -- just sort of slip out of God's plan, His kingdom, His rules).

While reading his description of how beautiful the stars are, I begin to wonder about these "star naming kits" you can buy. For about $54 you can name a star after your wife or son or daughter or friend. You'll get some sort of "official" certificate from some astrological organization that states that such and such a star is now "Charlotta's Sun" or whatever name you choose. I wonder how this company can keep offering this to the public. I mean, won't they run out of visible named stars? I realize there's a lot and that we've barely scratched the surface of what is "out there" in the universe, but when you consider how many of the VISIBLE stars (either through the naked eye or a telescope) are already named and how many romantic people have already taken advantage of this "special" and "unique" gift ... won't they run out soon? I mean, if there was a star that I could see on a stellar map and see coordinates where I could locate it in a telescope and be told, "That's your star, Doug," that would be cool. But if it was a star that couldn't even be located with a consumer telescope or ever seen with the naked eye even on a clear night, what's the point?

MOLLY VS. DANIELLE

Now Don finds a girl to be infatuated with. A girl named Molly, whom Paul knows from the past, meets Don at a cafe where they can eat for free. Living in the woods as the outdoors-y experience has its advantages with sympathetic people. They don't order any food when they come in. Food of some sort (usually what they have too much of) finds its way to their table. During the first such meal for Don, his ex-friend Paul embarrasses him in front of Molly. He tells her how Don likes the way she rides a bike. Don kicks Paul in the shins. Later Don threatens Paul with telling Danielle (who will be visiting in a few weeks) that Paul is a latent homosexual.

If no one ever stated it out loud before: heterosexual guys like to joke around with each other, calling them homosexuals. It's the common good-natured past-time amongs young men (probably the world over, but definitely in the West).

Somewhere someone might judge this as "coarse jesting," but I wonder if this is another case of one person's rules and disciplines not being anothers. All of us -- even non-Christ-followers -- probably really want to do the right thing. We want to be known as trustworthy. We want to think that we'll be self-sacrificing heroes if we come upon a fire or terrible auto accident. If we can agree on that, then we might be able to agree that all of us knows when we're doing the wrong thing. Yes, we try to delude ourselves much of the time and (yes) we can use the help of a caring friend to clarify our situation sometimes, but everyone knows what it's like to fail, feel regret, and try to improve or correct a situation.

In other words, do we really need someone else to try us and find us guilty? As much as that sinful and judgmental side of us wants to do that to other people sometimes, it's really probably not God's will for our lives. Self-appointed judgers of other people's spirituality are just that -- self-appointed. There's a sin there waiting to happen.

Now, back to the joking around about gays, fags, lesbians, and such. While we might know that it's acceptable or something that most people can mildly tolerate, those of us that participate in such activity might pause every now and then and ask ourselves (in a moment of privacy with God) if it's appropriate.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Vicci C.

RANCH

Don and Paul end up at a ranch where they work and spend the summer. Paul is in his element, as he's worked here before. Don is suddenly the "new guy," who has to be informed and brought up to speed about everything -- including the sneaking around and pitching a tent part.

I wonder about the little things. I think it's wise to "not sweat the small stuff," but I wonder if there's a point where we take advantage of this "grace area" and become moochers and law breakers. The adage of "he who is faithful with little..." comes to mind. Being nitpicky and disciplined about even the very small, minute things can be very good and beneficial.

The problem comes, I think, when we assume that our little list of small little rules for living somehow become appropriate to share and become rules for someone else. We, of course, take on the responsibility of enforcing these rules on someone else. And that's where it all goes wrong.

It can be funny how sneaking around and bending rules can entertain. An example might be jumping on picnic tables and playing air guitar or making a lot of noise in a restaurant. There might be a time where that is no big deal. People (young or old) are just "being kids."

The rub comes when someone with a different rule meter is part of the gang. The pushing of the rules from one to another can be sad; just as the disregard for another person's convictions can be sad.

I'm not at all upset about Don and Paul camping outside of the regulations, but it just reminded me of this subject.

We Are Born Naked

I notice what are some of the details that Don's publisher must have taken out the first time this book was published. The original title was Prayer And The Art Of Volkswagon Maintenance, and it probably didn't include short references to Don's "johnson" or the moderate use of alcohol. I had heard that this version (Through Painted Deserts) was like the "unedited" version and all. While I can see how a non-descript explanation of these things could lead some to question its inclusion, too. But in the context it certainly isn't in a profane manner.

I remember Don being asked a question about alcohol in a Q&A session I attended in Austin this Fall. "It's a trick," he said, describing how the devil must laugh that we get sidetracked by an emotional issue that certainly has its share of extreme tragedies and real-life problems. But his point is that we react and avoid the subject and no one is ever taught about moderation and discipline and personal responsibility. Other cultures have done a much better job than ours. We've certainly given our own culture plenty of reasons to react, with the shinanigans during prohibition and the bawdiness of the wild, wild west, that's for sure... Don's point was that our response or answer to the problem with alcohol is more reactionary than balanced, and people needing to learn the balance lose as a result.

Bloodgood = Dancer

Michael Bloodgood's oldest son, Paul Bloodgood, is a star dancer of the Austin Ballet. Whenever they have a big production, father and mother usually fly into town to check it out. It's great to see Michael during these times. They're doing The Nutcracker right now. My kids are checking it out today.

My Dog is a Cow Dog

(sung to the tune of "Awesome God")

My dog loves cows. I think he even recognizes the word "cow," to which he perks up and looks out the window. In fact, as soon as I start slowing down for the winding country road curves on the way to work, he gets up off the floor and starts looking out the window, for he knows he'll see the magical animals in this area. On occasion, when there's a cow or two close to the fence, or even in the road or ditch, I'll stop the car and let him out. Where else is he going to get this fun experience unless I let him out?

Maybe he wants them to know who he is or that he owns this ranch, thus the urine gift.

KINDNESS

Paul and Don meet up with one of Don's friends, Danielle. Paul's imagination of how beautiful Danielle will be is over-shadowed by her beauty in person. He is smitten. Don acts like he's more attracted to the little sister. The description of Don and Danielle's "brother/sister" friendship makes me envious of the pen-pal relationship they have. With today's technology, it sometimes makes this kind of story-telling and sharing relationships too easy. It's still possible to share yourself in a digital format. But there is still a special joy in getting an envelope addressed to you in the mail. I just got a beautiful print from a friend in today's mail, which I'm going to scan and use for a future "back page" feature in HM. It's really cool. A gift like that is really special. A letter is awesome, but a handmade gift is even more special.

I wonder how Paul's infatuation with Danielle is going to work out. "I'll never see her again," he tells Don, and it sounds like he's pretty distraught about that idea.

Pleasant Things

Enjoyed watching my daughter give a report to her class on the country of Colombia. At the end she played the Colombian national anthem and passed out chocolate covered espresso beans. That's my girl!

I felt nervous for a little bit. This boy (let's call him "Cole") went right before her and must've read from 4 to 5 pages of single typed notes, because he took at least ten minutes. He shared all kinds of fun details about Venezuela. Did you know it's a custom for the bride and groom to duck out from the wedding reception without telling anybody? And people wear yellow on January 1 for good luck? And they travel through the neighborhood with suitcases in hand with their family -- to bring safe travels and better luck throughout the next year. One girl brought some interesting fruit/vegatable from the inside of a palm tree. "Heart of Palm" I think it was called. It was funny to see the squirms and sour-puss looks on the faces of most of the kids. The last kid I saw talked about Jamaica, and he played a Bob Marley song at the end, as his mom entered with some sort of chicken entree.

Don and Paul arrive in Portland and it's fun (again) to read his description of a place I'm familiar with. This is better, though, because this is a place he had never been to before, and thus he describes it with greater attention and detail. He is shocked at the number of coffee shops in that town. This shows that the book was written a while ago, because even the Houston that he refered to as hardly having any of them is now overrun with Starbucks everywhere.

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG TO INSTRUCT YOU (YES,EACHANDEVERYONEOFYOU) TO STEP INTO STARBUCKS IMMEDIATELY AND ORDER, PAY FOR, AND SHOVEL INTO YOUR MOUTH ONE GIANT ESPRESSO BROWNIE. WE NOW RETURN YOU TO THIS BLOG.

What was that?!

Anyway, I certainly know why Don fell in love with that city. It's such a beautiful part of the country. I remember a friend of mine (the guy who designed the first "hm" logo -- the one with the trendy-at-the-time oval), Dann Ledwick telling me about where he lived. Back in 1995 even the McDonald's there served espresso.

It's funny to "listen in" to the conversations Paul and Don have about life and spiritual things. They both talk about women as young single men longing for a wife. I remember having conversations like that with my best friend in high school: "All I want is a fine wife to come home to." One of Don and Paul's conversations -- the first one in a coffee shop in Portland -- starts there and travels to the conclusion that perhaps what we all want is to be loved (by God, women, our parents, etc).

That certainly is a big motivator for us. I remember when the whole concept of being completely loved and accepted by my Father in heaven kind of came into focus. It really took a lot of the pressure off. All the people-pleasing efforts and stress involved with that kind of dissapates when it doesn't matter.

I agree with Scripture in thinking that it's a wonderful thing when an unloved woman is loved. Proverbs 30 gets poetic about it:

"Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is full of food,
an unloved woman who is married,
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress."

It's funny, because now I can see this passage in a different light. I guess I still agree with it, but it doesn't mean what I thought it did. This passage always jumped out to me, because I thought of the wonder of a woman (or a person, really) finally finding the love they've been longing for. I see that as a romantic and wonderous thing of beauty. When reading the negative context of the four things listed, though, it becomes apparent that this list is not a positive thing of wonderment, but a troublesome list of bad things. The "unloved woman who is married" means a wife that isn't loved by her husband. This could easily describe the context of either David or Solomon's wives (I'm guessing, because they had multiple wives, I think). This displacing of a maidservant might be a case like Sarah and Hagar, where the maidservant gets to have a baby that the wife was longing for. It's funny to bring up a point and then shoot it down myself.

The main point is, I think, that all of us long to be loved. I imagine that it is a trait that God ingrained in us, His creation. In conclusion, it's a safe bet that He can love us and fulfill this longing like no one else can.

Pump Up The Space Suit

I forgot to mention something else cool that happened during my outing with my family last Friday. On the way home we split up into two cars, and my oldest daughter went home with me. On the way in to the dance performance we noticed an amazing tree on campus near the art building. "I don't think I ever climbed that great tree when I was a student here," I said. On the way home I did something spontaneous, I asked my daughter if she wanted to climb it with me. It overlooks a creek and it was dark, so it was kind of a careful climb, but the tree branches are really big and round, and they level out just like arms to hold several people at once for a chat or informal meeting, if need be. It was cool to let my daughter experience that spontaneous side of my personality, which sometimes they won't see in the everyday course of being a parent and all.

One the way down, for some reason, I almost threw up in my mouth. That was kinda gross.

Maylene & the sons of Ferret Music

I've had some cool experiences lately. Last weekend (a week ago) we had a "summit" with our Marketing/Advertising Director to brainstorm about 2007. During this trip John and I shared several stories, as both of us have plenty of them in our shared history of Christian rock. While running some errands and such I was able to hear an incredible project he worked on a while ago -- he scored the soundtrack for a dance musical for a friend who has a dance studio in the Chicago area. I was duly impressed to hear all the nuances and perfectly crafted highs and lows and gallops and slow movements he created with some computer software. It would be cool to create something like that, which requires so much attention to detail and creativity.

We also took him to the University of Texas campus, where I was happy to show him one of the bullet holes from the infamous Charles Whitman shooting that took place up there in 1967.

On Friday of this past week I spoke at a middle school in Austin. Because it's my day off (I work 4 ten-hour days from Mon-Thur and take a long weekend), I took my two daughters (8 & 10) with me. The leader of the Christian group wanted me to tell the group of about 20 kids about pride and humility, so I started off my talk asking them if they ever listened to Christian music and if they could ever identify with that desire to "turn the world on" to this great artist. Several years ago I was in a band and we had a chance to open for such a legendary group -- The Crucified. Instead of doing what an opening band should do, which is play for 20 minutes and leave the crowd wanting more, we play for over an hour ... and then we coaxed the emcee to ask the crowd to bring us back out for an encore (of two songs). We truly tortured our promoter that night, who we found out later was in the back asking, "How long are these clowns gonna play?" (She might not have called us clowns, but she should have). This was a lesson we learned later about humility. I talked about praise and compliments and accepting both in a proper way.

What was so cool is that we met my wife for dinner afterwards and the girls remarked to her, "It was amazing! What dad said actually made sense." It was funny, because it was intended as kind of a putdown/compliment (in that I apparently didn't make much sense when I talk at other times), but it really made me feel great, knowing I had somehow connected with my own kids. One of the kids remembered me from last year. Both he and his dad love the band Disciple and really want me to let them know the next time the band stays over at my house.

The night kept getting better, as we ate at the wonderful Kerby Lane Cafe near campus and then went to see a Dance Performance Team from the University of Texas. I knew the girls might appreciate it, since they like dance so much, but I wasn't expecting to be impressed all that much. Boy, was I surprised. The dancers were really good, but some of the pieces were written by visiting faculty and were very cool. One was like an existentialist piece, where the dancers emerged in the audience and slowly walked down the front of the darkened hall. They were handing something to various people on the front row. I thought maybe they were handing out cameras for the audience to personalize with their own shots or something. Turns out they were rolls of ribbons, which the dancers had attached to their arms -- pulling them onstage to create some cool visual accents. Later they used these ribbons to make a large square on the stage, which served as a box that the dancers tested the boundaries of. Some narration talked about a normal frog having such a different perspective than the ocean frog. The dancers moved about in some avant-garde moves that were certainly modern moves juxtaposed with classic moves. The narrator described how theologians talked so confidently about something they've never seen. It was pretty cool. Then we saw a short film that the team had made that previews a production they are doing in the Spring. It was funny and put together quite well. The last piece was called "Aria Redux," and it was downright spectacular. I was so glad I was able to see this.

If God told you to stop (fill in behavior here), would you?

My cappuccino frothed really well this morning. Brian Vincent McGovern would be so proud of me!

Earlier this week my cat Mary was in the office (Martha, too). She drank out of the fish bowls quite often. I captured her doing so. Notice some of the photos show the fish watching Mary and the "giant tongue" invading their space.

The orange-like fish is Rufus; and the raven black & blue one is Billy Joe.

A Divine Slap

In the chapter called "The Oregon Trail," Don and Paul are wondering if they are on a pilgrimage. Don makes out like he's not sure. "What if I want life to be about getting paid and getting married or just being happy in the pagan sense?" As he thinks about where God is taking the universe, he wonders what He does with those who just want out.

It's neat when someone lets the cat out of the bag or when someone asks an obvious question. Don seems to be asking for a break -- some time to not have to make the right decisions or have to be religious -- to just "be." He talks about the seeming lack of freedom we are given as humans, refering to the limitations as "gravity and all that crap."

They basically ask the question: "What if life sucks?" And also, "What if it doesn't suck, but surrendering to it makes it good? What if it's all the fighting it that makes it bad?" There's probably a lot to be said for not dwelling on your circumstances. With the right amount of dissatisfaction any of us can probably get pretty upset about the way things are. Sometimes, it seems, just getting up and doing something -- even ever so slightly -- to improve things makes all the difference.

For example, if a couple of people are complaining about church -- how it's full of hypocrites and so and so always talks about money and so and so always goes off on secular movies or this and that. What if one person decides, 'You know what? My church is going to be different -- starting right now and starting with me.' They decide to go out of their way (almost) to be genuine and to befriend those around them. They will start giving of their time to just be there for their friends or to help them with practical things. They stop complaining and start giving silent reasons to compliment their church. An improvement starts to take place, and it's all about one person making a difference, deciding to change things for the better.

I would think that person would be a lot healthier than the one who just sat there and complained.

Sneaky Don Miller

In Through Painted Deserts there is a chapter called "Night Golf." Don and Paul arrive in Visalia, California to look up an old friend of Don's. His name is Mike Tucker. HM has a columnist named Greg Tucker, whom David Allen brought to the mag when he started working here three years ago. Greg is a pastor somewhere in California. David is good friends with Don, so maybe Greg is the "Mike Tucker" in the book -- one of those "change all the names" tricks.

Mike does what a good friend does when another friend arrives: after work they go out and have fun. They jump over the fence of a golf driving range and play a made-up game called "Night Golf," where they gather a bunch of golf balls from the range, collect them in grocery bags, and then hit balls at each other from a distance. They can't see each other, but judging by noises and such one can take aim and try to nail your friend with a good shot.

It's fun to read about stuff like this. They talk about God and are making God the god of their lives as they try to figure out life and Who God is and such. Yet they aren't above having fun. That sounds good and right to me.

Cover of the Bowling Foam

Which one should we use?
Any thoughts?

Forever We Are...

Don and Paul meet a guy in a diner that gives them a "free breakfast" hand-written coupon on a business card. They enjoy a fantastic meal with lots of food and then go out to fix the gasoline leaking van. Don basically climbs in the engine compartment to look around. He finds a hole and a bolt that looks to fit the hole. "It couldn't be that easy," says Don. I don't understand how a radiator fan doesn't slice Don up when they start the van, but maybe he crawled out first. They start to wonder if God set them up with this little scenerio just so they could meet a couple people and share a meal there.

It's a mystery how God participates in our lives. Sometimes I wonder if there's a balance between a close charismatic "God is interested in all the details" kind of relationship and the deist philosophy that God created everything and then stepped back to perpetually stay out of the way. One trite answer that seems to make sense of this chasm is: "It is as according to your faith."

Some people, for sure, don't bother asking God to help them with a problem or a scenerio. They don't think of asking Him and they probably don't want His help. We think we have it all figured out and assume that 'we can do this on our own.'

There's another person that assumes God is part of everything, from the timing of a sunset to the changing of a red light. Perhaps this person assumes things that God is not directly involved in. I wonder what the true balance or answer is...

Gene Simmons Family Jewels

I just started reviewing this new reality show with Gene Simmons. "I've been unhappily married for 22 years." What an oddball guy. This'll be an interesting peek into a very unusual family.

Don and Paul have arrived at a gas station with a diner/cafe nearby. Their van is leaking gas. I presume they'll get out of this jam, but I'm not sure how they'll fix a gasoline leak. A Harley rides up at night and sparks their interest in hitting the cafe. They decide to splurge and spend a couple of bucks for some decaff coffee. They meet a nice waitress whose been working there 15 years. They lie and tell her that they're on their way out West to be in the movies. They end up getting some free pie because they are courteous and look hungry.

It's kind of fun how our lives can be such an adventure when we actually go out and interact with other people. Sitting at home fantasizing usually doesn't bring about any results like this, but going outside and mingling with people can bring about all kinds of unexpected results.

I think it's pretty obvious that God wants us to venture outside of our "comfort zones" every once in a while. If we resist, He might even force it upon us. Whenever I'm in a room or a get-together, I usually remember the encouragement of a teacher or leader that told us to talk to people and greet newcomers, trying to make those around me feel welcome. It's usually easier to remember this advice if it's some sort of event I have a part of, like a church service or event at my home church. But if I'm one of the "outsiders," it's harder due to the feelings of shyness.

When I try to treat people as being more important than me, it usually gets me out of my shell and allows me to enjoy the company of someone I didn't know before. It's always cool to see something special or valuable from another person -- whether it's a sense of humor or wisdom or listening to a great story-teller.

I like these times, even when there's nothing "spiritual" about them. I love the opportunities that come sometimes, though, where someone wants to hear a story or "The Story" from me. That's a fun privilege.