Weekend update

This weekend I had a few thoughts to expand on, one happened on my trip to COSI and the other at Brice UMC on Sunday. They are totally unrelated but I thought I would combine them anyway.

Saturday we took Alora to COSI, which is our local science museum, you may be thinking she is 15months old, what would she do there, but we took her to the water room and let her splash around and they do have a toddler room where she can touch and play with different things. She had a blast with the light switches that were about 8 inches long.

But my main thought was because a church group had an overnight there the evening before; you could tell because as a rule teenagers don’t get up and head to COSI in their PJs. It brought an overwhelming sense of loss to me; I really miss being a Youth leader. I know God works all things together for the good of those who love him and I know he is sovereign thereby in control of my life but gosh I miss it. I watched the leaders playing Egyptian rat screw (If you don’t know I can’t explain) and saw all the girls chatting about which boy was the cutest. We even got caught in the elevator with a group that had pushed all of the buttons the tried to blame each other for it, it was so funny. God, I miss you all.

Sunday Heather and I attended Brice United Methodist church, a church which we have driven by thousands of times in our time in Columbus and I have voted in since we moved to our new house. We went for the 9:30 service which we were told was a more traditional service. We walked in the front door and were not greeted by any greeter team. Eventually we looked out of place enough for a man, Steve, to turn and greet us and as how we were doing “Good and lost” was my response. Steve, we eventually learned was the youth Pastor there, and we got Alora checked in to the Nursery where everyone was very helpful and friendly.

We went to the chapel which could have held 100 people but this morning only held 40 or so, mostly older women but at least one couple that could have been in our age range. It was a really a traditional service, we sang hymns that hadn’t been remixed, thank God, and it was great. We started with “Because he lives” (OK 1971 but still 20 years older than most songs I hear on Sunday Morning) which was powerful with a simple piano accompaniment and the voices of the saints. The message was delivered by Pastor of Adult education, Leah Gunnings Francis and it was about doubt but to be honest she lost me half way through, I was thinking about other things. But, it felt good to be back at church. We will probably go back for the 11:00 service which is more contemporary and much larger.

Finally Tax day is right around the corner, if you are excited about filing your taxes because you get a refund, you don’t understand how things work; being excited about a refund is like being excited about getting change from a purchase, a year later. It is your money! A lot of people, when asked, how much they pay in taxes, they say none I get a refund. That is because (Harsh Language warning) congress has been using a drug called with holdings to keep you from knowing how badly you are getting screwed. Could you imagine if people actually had to write a check for their taxes each month, or year? People might actually have a clue! If you would like to see some interesting facts about taxes that you will not hear on the news check out this article. Additionally know that if the average person paid all of their check to taxes starting January first they wouldn’t be done paying taxes until April 30th. That is right all the money you earn from January until May belongs to Uncle Sam, because we aren’t paying attention.

I am in favor of The Fair Tax, but you won’t hear Congress working on it, as people would be very aware of the amount of taxes they pay and congress would lose some of their pork power.