BabuLife

Hannah Montana Upsets KC Moms

If you don't have little girls you may not be aware of the current phenomenon known as Hannah Montana.  The daughter of the Achy Breaky Hearted Billy Ray Cyrus has a daughter who portrays the teenage rock star on the Disney Channel.  Captivating preteens and elementary students across the country...including my house.  I haven't mentioned to my kids that Hannah is coming to Kansas City, but if I would have, it'd be too late to purchase tickets.  Because when the tickets went on sale and BAM!  they were sold out.  But that's not the big story here in Kansas City.

Recently, some upset parents had to tell their kids "sorry...you don't get to see Hannah Montana because she is sold out". They went so far as to convince the city council to demand that something be done about the fact that their children weren't able to get tickets because of scalpers and other corporations purchasing large quantities.  Out of 11,000 tickets, 4,000 were made available to the general public causing a furor among mom's across the KC metro. 

Since this is a blog...I'm going to add here my personal take on this..."GET OVER IT".  Seriously...I understand that it can be hard to tell your kids that they will have to miss an opportunity to see something/someone really special.  But please, take this opportunity to teach your kids that placing something/someone so high on a pedestal is dangerous.  As a matter of fact, I'm reminded of a little teaching about avoiding the worship of creation more than the creator.  What are we teaching our kids when we spend so much energy trying to get our kids what they want? Do you think the government has anything better to do than call a special meeting with Ticketmaster and Sprint Center folks to defend why Hannah Montana was sold out so fast?  I guess you could also ask the city council why they even bothered?   Looks like maybe a little caving to political pressure?   

So...to the parents who are out to somehow change the business practices of concert promoters...it's not going to happen.  From time to time an act comes along that just produces an unbelievable amount of hysteria and demand.  Think Beatles...Monkeys...Engelbert Humperdink...

Here's a snippet:

Disgruntled Kansas City Council members demanded Thursday that Ticketmaster and Sprint Center officials fix problems leading to quick sellouts and heartbroken would-be concert goers.

Ticketmaster and arena officials said little could be done other than crack down on scalpers and “cheaters” who exploit the system. That didn’t satisfy council members who said they’ve faced constituents’ wrath this week while at the grocery store and restaurants.

“We are getting beat up everywhere,” Councilman Terry Riley said.

Read the full article...

Have You Forgotten?

Six years ago today life changed for the world.  America woke up to learn a war was declared on us and we had no choice but to fight.  We could no longer deny the fact after 10 years of various terrorist attacks throughout the 1990's, we were at war, our leaders refused to accept it.  It was time to engage.

I'm watching this morning on MSNBC the actual footage of their coverage that day and even now find myself amazed at what transpired before our eyes.  After hearing one moment how many Americans are war-weary and don't want to fight in places like Iraq any longer, I then see the footage from 9-11 and am quickly reminded of the necessity to engage in the battle. 

Thank you all who serve to protect my family and the freedoms we have to worship the living God.   To the families who have to relive the nightmare every year...many hurt for you and many are lifting your hearts in prayer today.

Enjoy your 9-11.  Don't forget why the war is being waged.

Sprint Cuts Customers Off

I believe this is a first.  I've never heard of a company actually eliminating customers because of their high maintenence phone calls.  Do you think Sprint will gain any new customers once word of this new "cost saving" tactic gets out?   Is this an example of a company feeling it's a "privelege" to be a part of their network?  By the way...to all my Sprint buddies who work there...can you get the network to work in my house please?  I mean, the world headquarters is located in the same county. 

Here's the story:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Hundreds of cell phone customers are being given the boot, accused of being too high maintenance.Sprint-Nextel is disconnecting more than 1,000 subscribers on grounds the clients call customer service too often and make "unreasonable requests."The 1,200 people getting dropped will have to find a new carrier by the end of the month. Continue reading...

Update: A Sprint employee has turned in a work order on my behalf to look at the network around my home.  I thought that was pretty good customer service.

Update 2: Check out Seth Godin's post regarding this issue here.

30 Years of Star Wars

Today Star Wars turns 30. May 25,1977 the world of movie making and pop culture changed.  My memory of Star Wars was seeing it at the old Glenwood theater in Overland Park with my folks.  I don't remember much except going home and suddenly all of the Hot Wheels became secondary and Star Wars toys became my primary means of play.  The opening scene of the Star Destroyer chasing the Rebel ship, the stormtroopers busting through the door and the Luke and Leia swinging across the chasm being shot at by Stormtroopers were the things I remember most.  I was hooked.

Is Star Wars done?  Nope.  With a new animated Clone Wars series coming, there will be plenty of opportunities to get future children addicted to the Star Wars galaxy.

Check out the "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed" on the History Channel this coming Monday.

A Helping Hand to Greensburg, KS

If you've been anywhere near a radio or T.V., you've heard about the tornado that destroyed 95% of a small Kansas town last week.  Greensburg, KS was flattened in a twister that was estimated to have been over a mile wide.  Check out photos here.

On Monday this week, I received a phone call from a long time church member who has some family history in Greensburg.  She was devastated.  We also have an attender who lost a great aunt and last I heard there was still a search for two other relatives. It's times like these where the body of Christ has the opportunity to shine best.

Grace Church has become a collection point for immediate needs. Our local outreach director contacted a local church down in the Greensburg area to find out what the needs are.  As you can imagine the initial needs are simple.  Diapers, detergent and new kids pajamas.  You can check out the Grace website to keep up with any additional needs that may be added as the situation changes.

Grace is also collecting financial contributions for the Red Cross.  Just designate on the offering envelope "Greensburg, KS" and Grace will send it to the Red Cross.

Drop off items anytime during the week at the info center located in the lobby.  Thanks!

Free Music

Passion is offering a few free songs this week as a source of encouragement for folks at VA Tech or around the world through the greiving process from what happened last week.  You can download these great tunes here.

Huge ol' HT to fellow worship bloggers: Pete and Matt

The Wrath of Pan

It's true.  The news story is a fact.  The wrath of Pan has hit our house.  The wife, the second born and the baby all have been hit by the salmonella poisoning of Peter Pan Peanut Butter.  The diarrhea, the puke, the nausea...curse you Pan!

Stay away from Peter Pan Peanut Butter.  Read the story here.

Saddam is Gone

One of Saddam's mass graves.  Praying for the middle east tonight. The story.

Is the Church Ready for Iraq War Vets?

Man...I ran across a post from Anthony Bradley asking if the church is ready to relate to the Iraq War vet.  More than just a simple "Thanks for your service" but offering some support that the U.S. government cannot alone provide.  Here's an excerpt:

Evangelicals totally dropped the ball with Vietnam veterans a generation ago but we don't have to make the same mistake. It's asinine that Americans expect the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA), alone, to meet the re-entry needs of Iraq veterans. The government is ill-equipped to address the core needs of veterans and the church needs to man-up and lead the nation in restoring the emotional, marital, familial health, and dignity of Iraq war veterans (Matt 5-7). Missional Christians fighting against the passivity of outsourcing help and restoration to government shout, "Abdication, no more!" Veterans need what the church has to offer.

Ninety-eight percent of the nearly 3,000 US troop casualties are men. When men die so that other men can sit at home and blog, play video games, watch Sports Center, argue about N.T. Wright, and obsess over what "emerging" means, the least we can do is commit ourselves to their families and to surviving veterans.

Read more...

HT: Anthony Bradley

Thank You Veterans

Thanking a vet can never be done enough.  I have friends and acquaintences who have served this nation to keep us free.  On this Veterans Day I want to thank you all.  And to those who are currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the world...you and your families are in my prayers tonight.  Thank you.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - Ronald Reagan