Praise Jebus.... Part One

Mary and i had been anticipating the feature film debut of North America's first family of satire. We cleared our schedual and slipped into to the theatre to catch the Simpson's Movie on opening day.

Mat Groening and the gang don't disappoint. It's framed like a typical episode. The first half is random, dadaesk and absolutely side splittingly harlarious. The second half has very little to do with the first and contains the "story". Fans will not feel burned.

The Simpson's, ya love em or hate em...truthfully, i guess some of us have grown to love em...

The writers have honed the fine art of satire. Witty subtle satire is hard to pull off. Nothing is sacred.

Religion ( might add no one is excluded) gets it's fare share of roasting. Christianity is not exempt. I know a number of fine brothers and sisters who figure that the anti- christ must personaly inspire the Simpson's muse. Other's, my self included are convinced there is more going on here than simple blaspheme.

It's important tobe able to laugh at ourselves... particularly at a honest observation...especially when it's laughable.

Went to a Nephew's wedding on Saturday. He married a lovely young lady from Trinadad. The Trinnies as they warmly refer to themselves know how to throw a party. Food, drink, dance and honest humanity.

I love parties. A dear friend's remark in passing when we operated the refugee cafe has stuck with me through the years " you folks know how to work hard and then you know how to play hard as well". Play, party interchagable in my mind.

Anyway while dancing, feasting and observing ( oh yeah and drinking as well) i was at once again struck by the thought that Jesus loved a party. He was either attending one, on his way to one, hosting one, or talking about them.

Tony Compollo wrote a wonderful little book many moons ago entitled " The Kingdom of God is a party". Caused quit a flap in some circles. He tells a very moving story of a party he threw one night at a greasy spoon in Hawai for a prostitue.

The need to celibrate is hot wired into our humanity. Most cultures have it down pretty good. Here in North America our ability to celibrate seems abit stunted at times.

We need to practice throwing bigger and better parties, and inviting the folks from the hiways and the biways to come and join us.

Jaunted off to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I have only read the first book. My wife on the other had is a Potter devotee. I really enjoyed the fist three films particularly the first two. They were whimsical... the way they struck me was much like the first three Star Wars movies. Didnt take themselves to seriously.. tounge in check.. and full of wonder. great epic fairy tales.

'Order' however was very dark and brooding... but not dull and overly self important like the last three SW's Flicks.

There were a few parts that didn't seem very consitnat or clear, but Mary assures me that if i wasn't so lazy and took the time to read the book all of those questions are resolved.

On the other hand this film had a spirtual depth and very clear christilogical allegory that was not as rich in the previous episodes.

My wife often refers to God as "Last Minute Charlie".

No rental car and five hours till we were planning to leave for our trip to Illinois. I phoned some other places. Nothing. But what did i expect.

Mary packed our small vehicle. We had two other folks making the treak with us as well. That meant to make room we'd have to trim down our stuff by half.

While Mary was busying herself packing the car i had the inclination to call my elderly Aunt Wynne. She's a doll. We got talking and i happened to mention the car rental incident. After a wee chat we said our arivoirs and adious's, which in our family can often take as long as the visit.

A few minutes later she called back. "Hertz has one car available at the local office."

We had gone out of town for the original because the office in our city was closed on Sundays. I called Hertz and sure enough they had a single mid size left. We were informed if we wanted it we better get there immediatly. They closed in twenty minutes and they weren't going to stay open for anybody.

Mary and i quickly skooted our hiny's over to Hertz rent a car (mentioning Hertz always reminds me of an Abbot and Costello routine as well as a delightfull 60's comedy called "Good Nieghbour Sam". Details some other time.)

The long and short of it. We had a car. Lost a car. Packed our car. Found a car and repacked for the trip all in about five hours before we planned to leave.

Aunt wynne was thrilled beyond words to be part of "Last Minute Charlie's' miraculous provision. Often in life things go to the eleventh hour and beyond. And just when your ready to throw in the towel. God embarasses you with His kindness.

Each year now since 1992 we attend this wonderful Arts and Music festival called CORNERSTONE. It's hosted by the folk who comprise Jesus People USA. Over the years we have developed numerous rich friendships with individuals and families in the community. A number of our children have lived at "Freindly Towers" in the heart of the windy city of Chicago.

Anyway, we rent a car to go down to illinois. Save on our vehicles ware and tare. I called and booked a car five weeks before we had to leave. Four days before D day i call just to confirm. Everythings a go...

I normally book from one place this time out i don't know why but i rented from another agency.
The day comes.. actually about six hours before we plan to leave.

We go to pick up the car... everything is fine till he asks " Oh and where are you going to"
"Illinois" i reply.
'What kind of Kilometer package would you like" he counters

It turns out if you take the car out of Ontario it's 16 cents a K. Both times i called nobody mentioned a thing about that "rule". In the past when i had gone with the other Car Rental it was always unlimited Kilometers.

Well needless to say we reached an impasse... Mainly over the fact that it was going to cost me aprox. another three hundred dollars for the car. He felt it my responsabilty to maintain the up keep of his rental cars.

I left with no car and with my tail tucked firmly between my legs called the other folks whom i'd always rented from.... i prayed... God please we need a car...

They had no cars for rent...