When do I get my tattoo?

I had my first 911 call at the church. A fellow we have seen before came in and was really insistent about wanting help. But it was one of those cases where help would just enable him. He has to hit bottom, and the quicker he gets there the better for him. So I told him there wasn't anything we could do. He started getting agitated and blamed a fellow with me for getting in his business, telling bad stories about him, etc. I escorted him out and he was really torn up that a pastor was going to let him spend the night on the street. I tried to calm him down, but he was pretty upset, said he was going to kill the guy who had been with me. He lunged at the door and I held him back and told him he better go. He was a wiry fellow, and I would have had to pack a lunch to handle him. But since we can't have someone acting like that (even tho he is harmless), we called the police. Meanwhile, he started begging pretty hard in the parking lot from some folks who had left the service. I sent my muscle, two bodybuilders, Rosario and Walt, to keep an eye on things.

When things calmed down everyone was laughing and saying I finally got my first 911 call. I asked, when do I get my tattoo? We could each get a notch or something, and when we get 5 we could be “aces...”

A few nights ago, we were in the pool. I saw an Apache helicopter about ½ mile away, over HWY 60. We have those foam noodles that help you float and I got to waving one and so did John or Joe. I didn't think they'd see us or do anything, but after a minute or so of waving, the Apache turned to us and then did a steep dive. The boys loved it! God bless the troops.

Melissa is doing pretty good. After stomach flu and seizure, she's back to where she was, I think. Her platelets were 32 yesterday, and while we're not jumping up and down yet, it's good news. She is done with the radiation, has more energy. Let's keep praying that the transplant's anti-leukemic effect will take care of everything and we can be pronounced cancer-free and be done. It's a lot to ask, but when I think of the God of Israel that we know through and in Jesus Christ, it's not much, really.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.