Don't let their names fool you!

They may be named after my favorite pastelitos, but they are far from sweet and flaky. Just kidding - they are BEYOND cute, especially when they try to tackle each other. They are 6 weeks old today!

Meet Queso

Meet Guava

Maybe he doesn't like bacon

I saw this headline the other day and simply laughed out loud. Try using this excuse to your pastor as a reason you missed church.

Homeless in Miami

I was in the car with my new housemates (tenants sounds so formal) as we were returning from a Bible study cook-out. We passed a man begging on the street and talked about times we've encountered other homeless beggars and offered them food, not money. Sometimes they are grateful for the food. Sometimes they want the money.

They told me two stories that were sad but still a bit funny:

1. They met a man who claimed he was hungry and hadn't eaten all day. They offered to take him to McDonald's or the local pizza joint and buy him a meal. He told them he would rather have sushi at the high-priced joint down the street.

2. There is a restaurant on that same street that gives away all their leftover food at the end of the night. It will even "make to order." There is a woman who goes there every night and is very specific about what she wants: "I'll have the pasta alfredo with chicken, but hold the garlic."

ONLY in Miami!

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts

Here's an e-mail exchange between Techno-Chick and myself from last night:

On Oct 18, 2008, at 7:59 PM, Techno-Chick wrote:

Techno-Chick:
Paula Deen just made this. It's made from coconut and covered in chocolate, so naturally I thought of you.


Bing:
BEYOND EXCITED! Just watched some youtube videos on husking coconuts. I can now do it quite easily! No tools needed.

What form do you want your coconut in at WIBC?


Techno-Chick:
Hmmm... I'm sure coconut ice cream or piña coladas won't meet the FAA's restrictions for what you can take on the plane. What are my other options?

Bing:
Ahhhh....but if I bring you fresh coconut MEAT, you can make your OWN coconut ice cream or pina coladas.


Techno-Chick
Mmmmmmm! FRESH MEAT!

Bing:
We're still talking about coconut, right?

Is there a doctor in the house?

Last night, I spoke to a parent who started the conversation with "Did he tell you what happened to his horn?" That's never a good sign.

Seems as if little Bradley was playing his French horn at home and something sounded/felt weird. Somehow it was determined that PERHAPS a marble had become lodged in the instrument.

Mom is a doctor, so she took it to work. A gastroenterologist there used a pediatric endoscope to determine that YES indeed, there was a marble in the horn. A red marble to be exact.

After some professional discussion, a tech at the office thought it might be a good idea to use compressed air sent through the mouthpiece to try and dislodge the offending orb.

No injuries were reported as the marble shot out the bell and across the room.

6th grade Fashion Sense

Punchline set up #1: Today was a dress-down at school. Kids could wear something OTHER than school uniforms if they paid $5 for a charity that we support. The teachers enjoy this as well, as we can dress down as well. It doesn't take much to make us happy. Wearing jeans to work once in a while makes me happy.

Punchline set up #2: My students are now all well-versed in my Pez addiction. I've been receiving new items for the collection on a weekly basis.

And the finish.....a conversation with a 6th grader today:
Student: You have a Pez shirt? (note the question mark at the end of that phrase)
Me: (perplexed): Why yes. I do!
(I was wearing it at the time)

I'm bleeding on the inside

This was an actual conversation in my classroom yesterday:

Student: Can I please call my mom?
Teacher: Is it an emergency?
Student: yes
Teacher: what is the emergency?
Student: I was supposed to get my average sheet for science signed and I forgot.
Teacher: Go look up "emergency" in the dictionary. If you were having trouble breathing, were bleeding profusely or losing large quantities of other types of bodily fluids uncontrollably, THAT would be an emergency. And then we call 911.
Student: I'm bleeding on the inside. My heart is hurt because I forgot.

Jesus on the Beach

My church had a 15th anniversary celebration yesterday. It's situated right in the heart of South Beach, probably one of the most "unchurched" areas of Miami, which is the 2nd most "unchurched" city in America.

We met at the Lincoln Theatre, where the New World Symphony performs. It holds about 700 people and was PACKED. It was amazing to feel the spirit at work.

I ponder what Pastor Robert said about people who have trouble being Christians in their day to day life, about having to "put their faith on" in the secular world. His response was "Don't put it on. Just don't take it off!" So true, so true.

We had a guest pastor actually teach. Robert wanted this event to be an evangelical outreach and he felt Pastor Pedro is a much more gifted speaker and would be more effective at harvesting what the church has planted. (I have to admire Robert for being able to hand over the microphone at such a time; his humility is a great model.) Pedro brought the house down while talking about the troubled times we live in and the uncertainty of our country's financial future. His response - "Jesus is my bailout plan." What an awesome statement!

Robert sent an e-mail today and there was one section that I thought summed it up:
"It was also a special night because of all the family who returned to celebrate the milestone with us! ..............But one of the real highlights for me was to see Bob. Bob was homeless when we met him 14 years ago on Lincoln Road. God moved radically in his life here at CCMB and for the past 10+ years Bob has been living in Ft. Lauderdale with his wife in the house they bought together, and attending CC Ft. Lauderdale.

Bob is a reminder that, as you've all heard me say before, Jesus would gladly spend my entire (and yours) life to rescue one man from eternal separation from God. If it cost me everything and took all my days and all my strength in order for Bob to be rescued from the wrath to come, Jesus would have considered that "wise stewardship of His resources". Thanks for coming last night Bob."

Robert used that same comment that "Jesus would spend my life to rescue you." in a sermon a few months ago, and that stuck with me. My life is not my own to spend. Jesus is spending it for me.

How awesome is that!

The Wisdom of Enzo

I just finished reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. It is definitely one of the most amazing books I've ever read, about a dog named Enzo and his car-racing owner Denny and their life together. I have sobbed heavy tears for the past 24 hours since finishing it. Why can't we all be like dogs?

Both Denny and Enzo often say that "The car goes where the eye goes." While they were specifically talking about car-racing, it struck me in church that it applies in all aspects of our lives, especially when following Jesus. Our lives go where our hearts and minds go and if they aren't on Him, we are going to fly off track.

Seriously - read this book.

Sheila says....

from Jimmy Buffet's "Don't Stop the Carnival"....

Sheila says the heart is just a muscle
Sheila says the heart is cooled by time
Hiding out for years down in these trade winds
In the land of coconuts and limes

I've played this game for too long
My life's just one same old song
Now marooned for a time on this island
I go into and out of the fog
and that's why I live with my dog

Men, oh men, oh men, I've known too many
deceivers cloaked in clumsy vanity
What men lack in love and understanding
they make up in stupidity

But now and then one comes along
and lights up my world like a song
I am tempted to unleash my interest
Yet I put it to you, man's best friend
There's just one sad old way it can end

We have our faults
but men have only two
all that they say
all that they do.

You're a joy and a friend and a guardian
Never bored with my sad monologue
You're better off with a dog

Through with rehab

I ended my self-imposed 3 year electronic detox today - I got cable/internet at home again. I have new tenants who moved into the back apartment (that's another long story that will have to wait) and they really needed Internet for work (or addiction) so I agreed. I had to get a $5/month cable package to get the $20/month Internet, but my tv is so old, I can only get two channels. There's no way to program the tv to accept the cable directly, so I either need a cable box or a new tv.

I'll just add that to the list of other things that don't work around this house lately!