By Andy Farmer

I really got into the World Cup this summer. I couldn’t see a lot of games live, but caught the condensed versions of most matches on the internet. I also had the chance to be in Europe to watch some of the knock-out round of games with Germans, Spaniards, Italians, etc. That was a blast! After the US went down, I was rooting for Ghana, who lost, then Paraguay, who lost, then Germany, who lost, then Netherlands, who lost. But it was a lot of fun nonetheless.

Now that it’s over, I’m experiencing something of a void in my life. After much self-therapy I realize what I’m experiencing is vuvuzela deprivation. I just can’t make it without the drone! Maybe you’re struggling with vuvuzela deprivation as well. If so, I’ve found some great treatment options. Daily doses of the following videos will get you through withdrawal. Trust me, there are better days ahead.

Treatment One: Vuvuzela for the sophisticated taste:


Treatment Two: Vuvuzela for the adventurous spirit





There! Don’t you feel better already?

By Andy Farmer

One of the guys on the team sent me the following link. Did you ever wonder who would actually live in the rooms and houses that are created in magazines to advertise furniture and home decorating? Somebody has answered that question in some humorous ways on the following web site:  http://www.catalogliving.tumblr.com/

By Rob Flood

 

When we are the center of someone else’s fun, it can cause us to hearken back to junior high school or our freshmen year of high school.  We are trained to dislike when others laugh at us.  But what if the “mockers” genuinely love us?  What if the fun they have with us is because of how much they love us?

 

We have to face it…there are funny things about us.  We are quirky.  And we are quirky in varying ways.  One of the healthiest things we can do is develop the skill of laughing at ourselves.  To deny that we are quirky and have eccentricities that others find funny is really to deny what is plainly obvious to everyone else.

 

Just think about those people around you.  If given the opportunity, you could celebrate their quirkiness with much laughter.  If they all have quirks, then you do, too.

 

In many ways, CJ Mahaney models what a life lived for God ought to look like.  And this area is one of his finest.  When those who love him celebrate his quirkiness, no one laughs harder at CJ than CJ.  At a recent Resolved conference, Jonathan Rourke did an extended and outstanding impression of CJ.  If you know CJ at all, you know that this guy is good.

 

While you are enjoying the impression, be sure to note who is laughing the hardest in the video.  Let’s follow in his example. (Thanks for the Girl Talk blog for bringing this to our attention.)

  

By Rob Flood

 

Sometimes it is good for us to read about how marriages last for decades.  Reading helps us learn about our own souls, the souls of our spouses, and how to be intentional in our growth as couples.

 

This is why we dedicate this space each Wednesday to issues of the family: marriage and parenting.  Growing together as families is a priority here at Covenant Fellowship Church and it is a priority to your pastoral team.

 

Sometimes it is good for us to read about it.

 

And, sometimes it is good for us to just see it.

 

This dear couple, Marlow and Frances Cowan, has been married for over 60 years.  I have no idea what they’ve done to foster love and affection for one another.  However, when I am married over 60 years, I pray I will delight in fun times with my bride after all those years.

 

Here’s an example…enjoy!

By Andy Farmer

I’ve really enjoyed watching these Olympic Games.  And not just because the US has been rocking it on the medal stand.  Some of the things I’ve enjoyed most are not involving US athletes.  In contrast to other years, it seems like there is relatively little politicking and whining going on.  Also, it seems that except for the unexpected ‘agony of defeat moments’ where an athlete falls or fails to finish, it is taking truly great performances to win medals.  Competitor after competitor is doing a personal best, only to have that topped by somebody else’s personal best.  And that’s what makes for good sports, no matter who wins.

This brings me to what is still in my mind the greatest Olympic moment of all – the 1980 US Hockey Gold medal.  In the movie “Miracle” Kurt Russell does a great Herb Brooks, including one of the all time best rallying speeches in the history of sports.  You can check it out here (note there is one bit of mild coarse speech in this).

But after you watch that you’ve got to check out this version of the speech delivered by 5 year old Josh Sacco – it’s outstanding!  They interviewed him on SportsCenter and he talked about how he went and delivered the speech to the US Hockey team before they played the Canadians this past weekend. Is that cool or what?

And finally, if you haven’t had enough, here’s Herb Brooks played by Kurt Russell, with voiceover by Josh Sacco.  

I love the Olympics!

By Andy Farmer

 

I don’t tend to like to make social commentary on a blog, but I couldn’t resist.  Here it is a couple of weeks away from the Winter Olympics and I’ve been presented with an ethical dilemma.  I’m a life long Olympics fan (both summer and winter games) and over my history I have learned that controversy comes with the Games.  I have vague memories of the 1968 Games and the black power salutes on the 100 meter medal stand.  Politics has always been an issue – who can forget the absurd boycotts of the 1980 and 84 games.  And of course you’ve always had the judging problems and the performance enhancing drug scandals.  So I’m no purist when it comes to ‘the Olympic Ideal’. 

 

But the Fox Fur Predicament has me in a no – win situation.  Here’s the deal.  US figure skater Johnny Weir has decided his uniform of choice should include, among various swirls and sequins, fox fur trim.  But now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have pressured Weir to drop the fur.  Here’s the story along with a picture so you get the idea of what Mr. Weir is styling these days and why this is a big issue.  http://www.idahostatesman.com/450/story/1059905.html

 

 

So why is this my problem?  Well, like I said, I don’t mind controversy in my sports, but I like to land on one side of the issue.  And this one has me flummoxed.  Do I (assuming I ever had the chance to make my case to Weir or PETA) say,

 

“PETA, do us all a favor.  Get Johnny to dump the fir.  While you’re at it see if you can talk him into a hoodie and sweats. 

 

Or, do I say to Johnny,

 

Listen Sport; don’t let the Animal ACLU push you around.  It’s a free country – wear whatever you want – just bring home the Gold!

 

Either place I land some sensibility in me gets messed with.  I don’t really want animal rights zealots (as much as I love animals) brow-beating people on their costume choices.  But I don’t want my USA male athletes prancing around in fur trim tights.  Probably the only thing that would satisfy me is to see JW skating around in a hoodie and sweats in a routine set to Ted Nugent songs.  But that may be more than I can hope for with two weeks left to go before the Olympics. 

 

On a related note, here’s a picture of Jill and me at the International Olympic Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland a couple of years ago.

 

Bring on the Games!

By Andy Farmer

We’re in the thick of the baseball post season, with visions of another World Series coming ever closer.  Today’s an off day for the Phils.  So to change things up this week in Take Five I thought I’d pass on a short video clip that I saw on the Kowalker.com blog.  You don’t have to be a baseball geek to get this.

http://kowalker.com/2009/10/01/the-call-of-the-baseball-year/

By Jared Mellinger

The first through fourth graders in Promise Kingdom (our Sunday children’s ministry) recently made a large “thank you” display for the pastors.  It included note cards expressing their gratitude for us.  One even told us we were “cool as a cucumber”, which I’m not sure truly applies to every guy on the team – but I digress.   

I loved reading these, and I am once again convinced that I have the best job in the world.  And this team serves the best folks in the world.  Thanks to the children (and teachers!) in Promise Kingdom, for making us the happiest pastors in the world.  

Here are a few of my favorite note cards from the kids:

By Trish Donohue

“Warm, yummy, potato chips right off the conveyor belt, we’re coming!” we cried as we jumped into the van on a recent rainy Monday.  We were headed to the Herr’s Snack Factory tour (free and fat-filled—what could be better?)  We took the tour, clogged up our arteries with the free samples, and were dumped out into the gift shop where my generous husband told the kids to pick out something small.

The girls were gaga over the 25 cent plastic rings and a coloring book, one of my sons picked a plastic popcorn ball probably to aim at his brother’s noggin, and my other son got caught in the tractor beam of a stress potato.  He was enamored, charmed, captivated by it.  For the stress-free among us, an explanation may be in order.  A stress potato is a soft, but not too soft, rubbery potato that you can squeeze the daylights out of, presumably to alleviate stress.  I’m not sure who concocted the idea that you could channel stress into another object by squeezing it, but apparently it sells.  Anyway, my son was all giggles. 

I figured it was a worthy investment.  It could be by the piano for one boy during lessons, or on the other boy’s math book.  Jim could squeeze it while doing the budget and I could have it while rushing out the door and realizing that someone’s flip-flop had vanished again!  (The girls don’t have any stress, they only provide it, so they don’t get a turn.)    

The funny thing is that we all have our stress potatoes, whether it’s a bag of chips, the TV, sleep or shopping.  “This is just what I need,” we tell ourselves again, even though experience has taught us that these things don’t really relieve us, they just temporarily distract. 

Although the “Stress Spud” as we affectionately call it, still resides in our home, I’m so glad that there is real relief for stress, or more accurately, the sin of anxiety. 

“Do not be anxious about anything,” the Bible urges us, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Aaaah.  God’s truth and grace for anxious sinners.  No gimmicks, Herr’s logo, or carpal tunnel syndrome involved.  Just help from Almighty God and a promised peace.  Thank you, Lord, for providing real help in time of need.

But now what do I do with the stress potato?  Stress potato salad

By Andy Farmer

Stephen Altrogge at www.theblazingcenter.com gives us seven reasons he’s glad God created women. Funny thing is, I wouldn’t have come up with any of his seven reasons, but I can’t argue with a single one. Which only goes to show how important my wife is to me. Check out Stephen’s Seven here. And don’t miss the accompanying videos. You’ll identify!