Two reports that blew my mind:

- Google bought website You Tube 1.65 billion dollars!

-Trekkies (stop it, that’s not the joke) forked over 7 million dollars to buy models of the star ship Enterprise (stop laughing) used on the show(s). One reportedly sold for $584,000 because it included the smell of fresh geek.

Where are these deep pockets coming from? Why aren’t they spending it on something worthy (like me, Stuart Delony, missionary for example.) It never ceases to amaze me what we find to spend our money on.

But, I’m guilty as well. I’m not rolling in it, but I always find ways to buy useless crap. Thinking back upon my spending. I’d have to say my top ten are:

10. A rubber butt (for the comic value, but rarely used)

9. Richard Marx’s greatest hits (it seems like an oxymoron)

8. A full dress suit (never worn it and don’t think that I ever will - even though I’m Baptist)

7. A dog (it’s a long story, but I owned a dog for like 12 hours when I was in Junior High. I paid for it and when my folks discovered it, the dog made it’s way to a good home - not ours)

6. 1994 Nissan Pathfinder (engine would randomly die - lemon!)

5. Movie ticket to Titanic (3 hours of my life I want back)

4. Love offerings to Jim and Tammy Baker PTL (not actually mine, but this is one from a family member close to me who complains weekly about it)

3. Folgers Coffee (Once you know what good coffee is, you never go back!)

2. Extended Warranty (It’s just throwing money away!)

1. Four words: “As Seen on TV.” (I’m compelled to buy it, and then after I use it, I’m compelled to throw it away. I have a weakness for infomercials and anything sold by Chuck Norris)

So how about you? What’s the most useless thing you bought (besides your copy of the Purpose Driven Life) and wasted your money on?

Arggh! It’s 3:58 in the afternoon and I’ve got this coffee headache that either means I’m low on the caffeine or had too much. Not really sure which one it is. The dilemma!

It made me think of the aches I have in the road I’m currently walking. I’ve been a missionary out here in the great (unchurched) state of Washington for about a year. I’ve had highs and lows over that time, both personally and spiritually. It’s been one challenge after the next, but that’s the way I choose to live. I enjoy the challenge.

What I don’t enjoy is the challenge with a coffee headache. It slows the mind to a snails pace. But let me tell you about my ministry and what lead me here.  I’ll Pulp Fictionize it and tell it out of sync and hopefully by the end it will all make sense and John Travolta will be dead. Hopefully.

I work for a ministry called Youth Dynamics and our mission is to invite and challenge youth ot a lifelong journehy in relationship with Christ and His church. We basically find the dirty kids, share Christ with them and then plug them into churches [this being the over simplified dumbed down version].

Being in ministry for 5 years, I had never seen myself entering into a support based ministry. Support based meaning that I raise all of my funding (ie. salary and ministry supplies).  I have some amazing faithful folks that support me monthly keeping me here. Because of them I am able to work, investing myself in the lives of youth in this area.

Support raising has been for me a rollercoaster ride. I’ve had highs and lows. It’s definitely been an area for me to see God’s continual provision. It’s also been an area for the enemy to attack me with discouragement and despair. But then again, no one ever said that ministry was mean to be easy. Heck the Christian life isn’t meant to be easy.

So I find myself here, with the coffee headache, thinking about my current low support levels. Which is not a good thing. Headache + trials = me leaning on my flesh and not on my Savior. I am reminded that I have been called here to serve and that where God calls, he also provides. I also know that I have to do my part as well, hitting the phones and setting up meetings with folks to see if they would be interested in begin apart of my ministry.

Well, I cross one hurdle in this life only to find that there’s another one. I should probally get out of the high hurdle race and pick up the discus or shotput. My last hurdle? Oh, well that’s another story… (to be continued).