I am teaching a class in Chicago, and I had two instruments shipped to the hotel to use in the course. They are instruments that came directly from a trade show. I opened both boxes after lunch and neither of them had power cords with them. Luckily the TV in my hotel room uses the same type of cord, so I was able to get my class started. The day went better from that point.

Now off to dinner at Harry Carrey's steakhouse.

Steven

Tomorrow afternoon I leave for a week-long trip to Chicago. I will be adding a few items to this entry as the day goes by, but I am getting it started now.

I will get the chance to see one of my friends while in Chicago. On Wednesday night my friend Ryan will pick me up to go to mid-week services at Downers Grove. It will be nice to see Ryan again. He spent some time out here in California last summer for an internship and the members of our congregation really enjoyed getting to know him.

It looked like I was also going to get to see my friend Sherry, but she will not arrive in Chicago until Friday evening after I have already left. I am sure we will be able to meet again at some time, even if it means me visiting Alabama where I have never been before. Darrell and Sherry have been friends for a long time ever since we worshiped together at Nashua when we both lived in Missouri. Their son, Eric H, on my friends list is currently looking for a congregation to preach at. I don't know the latest progress, but he is currently working with a congregation in Wichita that I used to visit a lot when I lived in Missouri. Another of their sons writes "Housepets!" a comic strip that is in my links.

I am off to the library to return some books, but will continue this entry later this evening when I determine which books are going along with me on the trip.

OK, the entry continues. I am back home from the library and the mall. Is it my imagination, or is Christmas coming earlier this year? They already have decorations up in all the stores and there is already a 'Pictures with Santa' set up. No line, but a session was in progress. I seem to remember that decorations didn't use to go up until at least the week of Thanksgiving.

Isn't it too early for Christmas themed commercials on TV? I did see a really cool one earlier today for Kay Jewelry. It was the one with a deaf lady and her boyfriend in front of the tree. He says that he learned a new sign and signs Merry Christmas to her. He then gives her a box with a set of diamond earrings in it. He asks if she likes them and she replies "Read my lips" and gives him a big kiss. Of course, every Kiss begins with Kay.

At the mall I bought a couple items at Target. I bought a new mattress cover to help protect my new mattress and also a new bin for my neighbor to use when I am traveling. The first time my neighbor picked up newspapers and checked my mail for me, she brought over a cardboard box to keep the newspapers in. For about seven years now she has been using the same box. When it was looking really tattered, I wrapped it in contact paper. However, the contact paper is now falling off so I decided it was time to get something new. I now have a canvas bin for my newspapers. When not traveling the same box doubled as a recycle container which I would fill and then take to the garage. Maybe the old box will continue in the same function. I don't want to get the new bin dirty yet :-).

So, what books will I take on this trip? I will not have as much reading time on this trip, especially as it is only a short flight of about four hours each way. However, there will be time in the evenings and at the airport waiting for the flights. Here is the list:

The Miracle Worker - William Gibson

An Episode of Sparrows - Rumer Godden

The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene

The Bible - King James Version

The Bible - English Standard Version

The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Lost Constitution - William Martin

The Aeneid of Virgil

OK, the last three were on the list for the trip to China, so obviously I did not finish them. I am actually about 70% of the way through The Brothers, and it is the first book that I will be reading on the trip. The first three are all relatively short books and will probably be completed as well.

I must now get busy with my packing. This trip is a bit more difficult to pack for. I usually have to restrict what I pack to keep the weight of my suitcase down. In this case, I have too much to take to use my small suitcase but not really enough for my larger two week suitcase. I must pack a little extra so that it is not too empty. What a dilemma. It will be a little cooler in Chicago so I guess I will pack a few extra sweaters. Plus, I can throw my winter coat in just in case.

Steven

I picked up my mail from the mailbox when I got home tonight and saw an envelope that looked suspiciously like a Christmas Card. It was from my Insurance agent, and had all the outward signs of a card. I thought, what is this country coming to that I am already getting Christmas cards in the mail before Thanksgiving. I opened the card while walking back down the street to my house and found it to be a Thanksgiving Day card. Well it actually doesn't say Thanksgiving Day, but does say A Season of Thanks on the cover. It was specially prepared by Hallmark for my insurance company.

Now I can't say that this is my first ever Thanksgiving Day card that I have received, but it did take my by surprise. I am used to getting Birthday cards from my Realtor, Insurance agent, restaurants, etc.. as well as Christmas Cards but never one at this time of year.

So what was my first Thanksgiving Day card that I received? The first that I ever remember was my Freshman year in college. I was in Dallas and was not able to come home, and my Mother sent me a card. I still remember the caption of the card. "Miles Standish between you and me on Thanksgiving Day." Corny, so easy to remember.

Also, please pray for a co-worker of mine from Indiana who lost his 18 year daughter. She was killed in a rock climbing accident in Kentucky last week.

Steven

Another Wednesday evening service to help encourage each other and strengthen us for the rest of the week. We had a good class covering Revelations 9, and then a good invitation on Psalms 31 by one of the young men of the congregation. Taylor did a great job tying it into one of his life experiences. I had a wonderful evening of fellowship, and also got my fill of snuggles from my little buddy Jonah. He has been very tired because of the time change, but I am not complaining. It is a great feeling to hold a small child.

OK, so for the subject of my entry. We are starting a weekend meeting on Friday with Mike Wilson from Santa Clara. If you are in the area, you are invited to come share with us. I believe that this is a very appropriate series after the events of this week.

Here is the schedule:

Friday - 7:30 pm -------- Confronted with Adversity

Saturday - 10:00 am ---- God's Unrevealed Commands

Saturday - 11:00 am ---- Why Christians Suffer

Sunday - 9:30 am ------- Perseverance and Prayer

Sunday - 10:30 am ------ Where is Your Faith?

Sunday - 5:00 pm ------- Heaven - Why I Want to Go There

I am looking forward to the sermon series, not only for the content of the messages but also for the fellowship with others of like faith. I am looking forward to seeing friends from other area congregations who will be visiting.

Steven

I am just home from work. On the way home I stopped by the library to pick up some books that I had requested from another branch. After stopping at the library, I stopped to get Gas in Blue. I paid 75 cents a gallon less than the last time I filled up. I bought gas for $2.54 a gallon versus $3.29 the last time I filled the tank. Of course, that was three weeks ago but still an incredible drop in price. Of course, many of you out there are seeing gas that is less than $2, but gas has always been more expensive here.

Gas prices can be very interesting even out here. This morning gas was almost 40 cents a gallon more expensive at a Shell station by my office 26.2 miles away. I always make sure that I fill up near home as it is usually much cheaper than over the hill. However, not usually such a large difference.

It will be interesting to see how much more gas will drop. I expect it to level off here somewhere just above $2.00 per gallon.

One interesting gas price related item at work today. We are looking at smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles for our Field Personnel to drive. We have some limitations as some of them carry large amounts of equipment with them. I helped our fleet administrator go pick up a rental car today that is one of the models we are looking at. Tomorrow we have two of our field engineers coming into the office to see if they can put everything that they normally carry in a smaller vehicle. It may be a fun exercise to watch. I have been trying to visualize whether I would have been able to fit everything in the smaller vehicle when I worked in the field many years ago. Even though gas prices are dropping, we are still looking at implementing the smaller vehicles. It only makes sense even if the fuel savings will not be as much as previously thought. We will then be prepared for the next round of increases.

I gave the invitation last night at our mid-week services. I told the story about the young man who was rescued at sea. Basically the story two entries back. I have done much more reading about this young man, and the more I find out the more I shake my head at what he has done. How can someone be so ignorant of what they are getting themselves into? Well, it does make for a good story and that is his goal. He wants to write a book and make a documentary about his trip around the World. He has a good start.

I am slowly getting caught up after being gone for two weeks. I still have a list of tasks to be completed at home and at work. At least I finished my expense reports today. Something that I hate to do, but oh so important if I want my money back from a trip. Now on the other more important tasks.

Steven