The Wetting of the Feet

Hello everybody,

Thought that I would give you all a quick update. Julie and I closed on our house on September 1st (the same day I started here at the church)...we moved in on the 2nd...I preached my first sermon here on the 3rd. Things have been great so far. The church's goal seems to be fattening us up for slaughter, though. We have received 3 boxes of candy, 3 jars of jam, and a homemade peach pie over the past three days. We have enjoyed them on dishes that have been taken out slowly (one by one as we need them), as the majority of our stuff is still in boxes. Our progress in moving has been impaired by the fact that both Julie and I have pretty nasty head colds. Julie was hit hardest first and is getting better, I'm getting the worst of it now. We have managed to unpack the bedroom and one bathroom, though...and Julie's making good progress on the kitchen. All in all, things are going well.

I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I have the words "Pastor's Study" on my door. There are several things that I am still trying to get used to (slightly intimidated by). I knew that several of them would be "factors" in seminary...but now, in reality, I'm still trying to wrap my hands around them in my first week. You know, stuff like:
1) Preaching every Sunday from now until the end of time.
2) Interviewing secretarial candidates who mention their children my age.
3) Everybody calling me "Reverend."
and the biggest...
4) Working in a church for the first time without "partners in crime," or other pastors to bounce ideas off of and talk to.
That one is probably the biggest so far. My hyper-social itch is in need of a scratching, and we are still strangers in a welcoming, but strange, land. I feel the need for a walk with Bill Warhover, a game of catch, or a good 'ol fashioned session of bizzarro tables. The need for a community of ministry companions is what I miss the most so far.

On the whole, though, I couldn't ask for more. Julie and I have been so warmly welcomed and Berthoud feels very much like home. We miss you all, but are very happy with where we are...simply trying to adjust to being the "new kids."

Now...enough serious talk. On my first few days here, I was forced to commute to Berthoud from the Denver Metro area to work. On this drive, I noticed that all of the Chinese food establishments shared something in common with the ones in Dubuque. I pointed this out to Julie, and the more we thought about it, the more we think that there is a unwritten law somewhere that controls the names of Chinese buffets. I have noticed that most (if not ALL) Chinese buffets have one of three nouns (the Holy Trinity if you will) in their title:
1) Panda
2) Dragon
3) China
These nouns are often modified by two adjectives, not required, but still very common. These are the John-the-Baptist and Isaiah if you will:
1) Golden
2) Express
We have yet to find a buffet that does not incorporate at least one of the nouns...and only one that doesn't have one of the adjectives. Using this formula, I have decided that the perfect name for a Chinese buffet would be: "The Golden Panda-Dragon Express (from China!)" I mean, who wouldn't eat there? Simply the image of a giant mutant panda-dragon (much less a GOLDEN one) would get me in the door. Anyway...with these criteria in mind, I give you:

Top 10 suggested Chinese buffet names:

10) When Panda Met Dragon

9) Pan-Dang That's Tasty!

8) China O'Dragon's

7) Panda Barrel

6) Pobloki Panda

5) Ever Expressed With a Dragon in the Golden Moonlight?

4) T.G.I.Dragon's (The G stands for golden)

3) Long John Panda's

2) Sergeant Danza's Golden Heart's Club Panda

1) Goin' Pandas!

That is all from here...take care.