Low Hanging Fruit and Slow, Fat Rabbits

"Man, did I get my butt chewed out!"

We had an excellent service Sunday at church. It was one of those services where God seemed to show up and tell everyone, "Things are changing and I am the Architect. New things are coming, and you need to be ready. Seek Me first and the things with which I have to do and you will see My power and impact in everything around you."

I love services like that. And, although I am biased more toward the intellectual side of life than the emotional side, I believe it. All of it.

I left church motivated, ready, hungry, excited, etc. Then I thought about how many of these services I been in before. The service last Sunday could have happened (and probably did) in 1979 at another little church less than two miles away where I attended with my Grandma and Great Grandma.

I mentioned this observation to God on my way to my car, and became just a little frustrated that we keep having services like this and nothing really changes. "God," says I, "I've been hearing this for years. What do I need to do to be more ready, more prepared? What do you wamt me to do? Where do you want me to jump in? Why wind me all up and then just go back to life as usual? Whazzup?"

About the time I closed the car door, the Universe stood still long enough for me to immediately hear the following dialogue, all at once:

"You've got to be kidding me!

"Why don't we start by doing some of the things we've been talking about for years. Get your butt back to the gym and lose 20 lbs. Take a little pride in what I have done in and around your life, and show it by being strong and healthy! And eat better and quit smoking.

"While you're at it, how about showing some respect for where you work. Quit going in at 10:30 and sleeping half of the afternoon away. If you don't have enough work to do, clean the place up and help others do their jobs better. Your job deserves more respect, attention and effort than you're putting into it presently.

"You've got less to complain about and more to rejoice about than 98% of the people on the planet. And you're frustrated about what exactly?

"There are things in life that I have to do. And I am both faithful and competent to do them whenever and however I choose. But there are things you can do too. Get off of your ass and get them done, then talk to Me about being frustrated about what I don't do fast enough to suit you."

"Um..." says me again. "You're right, of course. Can we forget about this conversation altogother?

"Sure. And we can have it all over again next week, which explains why you've been hearing it since 1979."

I was discussing all of this with a friend who had a similar experience last weekend. He said there was a lot of low hanging fruit and many slow, fat rabbits that are within reach.

We need to take advantage of those before we get frustrated about the rest.

Eight Years and 33.5 Million Dollars Ago ...

"I almost forgot Mr. Happy's Halloween!"

Yes, folks, it's that time again: The day I remember watching over thirteen years of hard work to make a medical software business successful go up in smoke.

I'm way over it now.

I'm way over my old business partner and his absolute religious committment to serving his checking account balance. I'm way over being asked to leave as if I didn't own half of the place. I'm way over what could have been.

I'm way over the first gay guy I ever fell for, whose religious committment to drugs, booze and the gay lifestyle has rendered him more like Smeagol than the guy I loved so much. (Although, to this day he is a very pretty Smeagol. I still miss my friend.)

I'm so far over it, I almost forgot to document the number that to me has always proven beyond doubt that I'm better off now than I ever would have been then. That number is the total cumulative sales number from July 28, 2004 up to and including today at the family business I work with now. Although I don't own it, I am and have been as instrumental in its success as I tried to be at the old company.

The number that makes this year's Halloween feel like Thanksgiving is:

$33,512,991

Just Make Sandwiches and Shut Up

"It's one thing to debate qualified people, but Chicken Flippers?"

First, they make a damn good chicken sandwich.

Why they (or anyone else on the planet) think that makes them qualified to say anything at all about gay marriage is beyond me.

By that logic, I can tie my shoes and therefore I should be President of the United States. (Hell, Dubya made it.) I can make toast, therefore I can make foreign policy decisions? Really?

Even a casual overview of my blog will show that I am a gay Christian, and passionate about closing the gap between the two. I can make my case for anyone who will listen. I can debate the subject with anyone. I can (I think) win any legitimate argument on the subject hands down.

I would love to sit down with some real homophobic Christians and show them my math, help them overcome their error, teach them what I have learned. There are many people I respect greatly who disagree with same sex marriage and gay rights in general. But my contention is that they haven't really had to look closely at the issues, the people and the logic involved in this paradigm. The sound byte from Leviticus is good enough.

But why would any sane person engage that debate with a bunch of people who figured out how to fry a chicken, add a pickle and call it lunch?

This makes no sense at all.

The Edge of the Universe

"What happens in Vegas shows up on YouTube in the morning. -NOT!"

Well, vacation is over. Everything except the Blackjack was wonderful.

We had a great trip, and it was just long enough.  We did the shows, the gambling, the shopping, the people watching, the over eating...basically the whole Vegas deal.

The best show was Donny and Marie. My expectations weren't very high, and it was a great show. The Titanic exhibit was awesome as well. They've built several new masterpiece hotels since I was last there, and those are impressive to the point of intimidation.

All of that I expected, and enjoyed completely. One thing that was different about this trip compared to my usual excursions is the hotel. We stayed off strip at the Tuscany Hotel. It actually had a really nice pool area in which to unwind and detox from the typical Vegas flare. It was really nice to be able to get away from all of the stuff I went there to see and do for a while each morning. I was able to relax with my typical morning coffee and hot tub time to which I have become addicted over the past few years.

Then, since it was my friend's birthday, we did the Gay Club scene. We found a place called 'Share', and went in for a drink. The bar was as dead as the Park in Oklahoma City. Nobody was there. We asked what was up and were told that the real fun was upstairs. There was a $20 cover, but we paid it and climbed the staircase.

Who knew that the very edge of the universe was that close? Sure as hell not me.

What we walked into ... well, we don't have those in Oklahoma. Some of the prettiest guys I've ever seen were totally available (for a fee, of course). And that's all you're gonna hear from me about that.

It was definitely an eye opening, horizon broadening experience. It's not my world, and it's not my destiny. But for a few hours it was a lot of fun. The sun came up long before we made it back to the hotel that particular night.

Hot As Hell Vacation Starts Now!

"Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire!"

I am officially on vacation! Leaving tomorrow for a few days of Donnie and Marie (is that gay or what?), Dancing With the Stars Las Vegas, The Beetles Cirque Du Soleil, lots of blackjack (I hope), great food, afternoon naps (like that's any different than normal), late night bars (I wonder if that really cute Cuban guy still works at Krave?), and some quality time (no, not that kind...get out of the ghetto!) with a good friend from Houston.

Now, if I could just get a freak arctic front to blow through there and drop the temperatures by, oh, 40 degrees should do it. That would be a vacation!

Las Vegas, Here we come! It's been several years, and I am looking forward to having as good a time as last time. I really need a break.

But I sure would like to ask the Godfather why they didn't start Las Vegas somewhere in Montana. It would be cooler there in July, and more scenic if by chance the blackjack makes us take the consolation drive to the Hoover Dam or the Valley of Fire.

But alas, Vegas is in Nevada, and it's hotter than hell there just now.

I am therefore going to have a great time anyway.