And what better way to do it than linking an irrelevant video? Soccer Ownage

Hey everyone,

You may have seen something in the news about wild fires in southern CA.  The fires have grown stronger due to the strong (Santa Ana) winds throughout the night, resulting in evacuations, school/hospital closures, and work-from-home days. The air is thick with smell of the fire and a light dusting of ash has made its way all the way to the coast.  Below is a map of the fires.  The star is where I live.



Just so you all know, I'm fine.  It's highly unlikely the the fires will ever reach Pacific Beach (my neighborhood). For those of you who pray, please do so for my city.  Several friends and coworkers have been evacuated and risk losing their homes to the fires.  Pray for the safety and energy of the firefighters who have been working (unsuccessfully, so far) around the clock to keep the fires at bay, the well being of those who've been displaced, and, most of all, for God to somehow demonstrate Himself through this whole ordeal.

Tim

Our worship leader shared this poem from a friend of his this Sunday.  It hits pretty hard at the mixing of Christianity and the American Dream.  Let me know what you think.

Jesus Wants To Make You A Millionaire
by Robert Bruce

We know that he
worked as a carpenter
until
in the last years
he gave it up to
travel
tell stories
and generally
piss off people like me

We know that he
was a homeless man
without
his own bed
to sleep in
he relied on the
starry sky and the four walls
of friends and strangers
for brief moments of solitude
and rest from it all

We know that most of his
close friends ended very badly
at worst
tortured and executed
for association with the Jew
at best
exiled to a distant island
after a difficult life
plagued by terrible visions
in old age

We know that he
was not a social climber
managing
to make powerful enemies
whenever he opened his mouth
he turned to the broke
dined with IRS agents
walked openly with hookers
sat too close to the sick
talked too long to the criminal

We know that he
was sold down the river
by one of his best friends
for around 12K

That he
spent his final years
on the run from the government

That he
turned down the desperately
hoped for plans of a Coup d’etat

That he
talked more than anyone else
about unfashionable things like hell

That he
willingly rode to his execution
on a borrowed ass

And yet we still believe
that
Jesus’ main objective
through his hard living
and bloody slaughter
is to make you a
millionaire

To make sure

That your life is
as comfortable as possible

That your kid
attends the right college

That your mortgage
is paid up

That you are given due respect
for your efforts

That your portfolio
is properly diversified

That your career
moves from success to success

And finally
that your confidence
in the Dollar, the Euro and the Yen
is so complete that it
blots out
any need
you may have
once had
for
his
presence