Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

If my experience is any indication of how you will be treated–I would not recommend leasing vehicles from Wells Fargo. I leased a van 8 years ago and turned it in 4 years ago with no penalty. It was in fair shape. Because of that painless lease we leased another.

Two months ago I dropped off our 2003 Honda Odyssey. It was in better condition than the one I turned in 4 years ago and it was almost 10,000 miles under the allowed miles. I put brand new tires on it and I still got hosed!

Thanks Wells Fargo!

What a day!  It is 5:12 CST and John Gammons and I are in the NOBTS student center.   Let me say first that the New Orleans Seminary is a beautiful place.  In fact it looks better today then it did when I came for a conference back in 1999.  The people here are very helpful and I am now hooked up to the internet thanks to the kind people in the computer lab.

I took 2 hours this morning to finish writing my message for Sunday on Chazown-Finances.  I feel very relieved.  Our men have been working hard ripping out sheet rock, plaster and replacing 2 x 4’s.  Some of the other men have been redoing the electrical wires in the sanctuary and putting in gas pipes.

About 11:00 AM when I finished writing my message it started raining.  It hasn’t stopped.   The bell tower at Edgewater is leaking.  Honestly, the sanctuary doesn’t need to be renovated it needs to be torn down and rebuilt.  But they don’t have the money for that.  We were scared that the bell tower was going to collapse on us because the bathroom floor looked like it was about to cave in.  I’m not exaggerating these people need a new building.  That is why I wrote the post this morning about having an “EXTREME MAKEOVER” for the city of New Orleans.  If churches came together and pooled their resources imagine what would happen.  The people at Edgewater are truly reaching their community and most of us should be ashamed at what we complain about when you see what they deal with daily.

About 4:00 I looked outside and and the water from the rain was rising.  In fact, my computer was still in the office trailer and I noticed that the lights were off.  I panicked and found Kevin Lee, the pastor and he said they were going home and were not having church tonight.  He opened the office for me and I’m not kidding the water was up to my knees and I’m 6′2″.   Then on the way back to the Seminary campus you can see how high the water is.  Kevin said today is New Orleans worst nightmare –heavy rain because the pumps aren’t working properly.  This place is still a mess and it is almost 2 years since Katrina.  Folks this is the USA and I feel like I’m in a 3rd world country.

On the lighter side we did leave Jason Sampler a nice “Wedding Present” on his deck!

In January I wrote an open letter to 7-up requesting the put Splenda back into their Diet 7-up. Unfortunately they sent me back a response saying that wasn’t going to happen. I then went on a crusade to buy up all of the remaining Diet 7-up with Splenda in Charlotte. I had just about given up hope until yesterday when I went to the Food Lion near our church to see if they had any left. Unfortunately they did not.
But then, almost like the sky opened up I saw it–

Food Lion’s own Diet Limon Up with Splenda!

Hallelujah! I heard the heavenly chorus and I was so excited! But there is even greater news than Diet Limon Up.

Right next to it was Food Lion’s Diet Mountain Lion.

It was their version of Diet Mt. Dew and guess what—It has SPLENDA! I heard the heavenly band playing and there was great rejoicing! It is only$.79 per 2 liter! I have not been able to drink Diet Mt. Dew because of Aspartame since Cassandra begged me to stop in 2003.

I am so grateful for these little blessings! Now I can mix my Diet Mountain Lion with Orange Juice before 5:00 PM everyday and Diet Limon Up with OJ at night!