Today I had lunch with my good friends Robert and Steve. I learned more about early Christianity and was more edified than I have been in the last six months at church. I learned the difference between Armenian and Calvinist. I saw two men who love the Lord, and live according to his Word, because they are saturated in the Word. I want to be like these guys. We talked about our vision of what church should be. I grew in the 3 hours that I spent with them. This is what fellowship is about, sharing, debating, discussing life and how our Christianity should affect our lives. I would love to have lunches like this every day.

Ever since we went to Corvallis, neither Ruth Ann or I have been able to sleep well. Well yesterday Ruth Ann discovered that we were using the wrong pillows. I didn’t even know there was any difference in our pillows, although these were pillows Ruth Ann had made specifically for us. So last night we used the correct pillows and guess what, we actually slept well. Amazing how such a small thing can make a difference. So maybe when we think are not having much influence on someone, it may be greater than we think.

Odd Thomas

by Dean Koontz; 2003; Bantam Dell, New York; 399 pages; Fiction Koontz6/28-6/29

He sees dead people. They use him to bring their killers to justice. He also sees spirits that are around violent occurences. So he is trying to prevent some violent in his little town. The story is told well enough that you aren’t constantly thinking of The Sixth Sense. There is a nice twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Elvis has a small part in the book which fits nicely in with the rest of the story. I would like to read more of Odd Thomas. RRR

Rothstein, the Life, Times and Murder of the Criminal Genius who fixed the 1919 World Series

by David Pietrusza; 2003; Carroll & Graf, New York; 485 pages; 364.1092 R847p;6/21-6/28

Arnold Rothstein brought organization to criminal enterprise in New York in the early 20th century. He was insulated from prosecution because so many politicians, cops, judges were corrupt. He also employed people to do the dirty work so that he himself wasn’t smeared with the crime. Everyone knew he was the one behind the crimes but it was difficult to prove. The author brings lots of proof that Rothstein was the real brain behind the fix of the 1919 World Series. Rothstein purported to be a gambler, but he only bet on sure things, usually because he made sure it was a “sure thing”. An interesting account of the early years of the 20th century. RRRr

Why is that those I am the closest to are the ones that I get the most angry at. Last night the boys told me that they would have some stuff done before they went to bed. During the summer they usually go to bed after Ruth and I. I got up this morning to come to work and the stuff they had said they would do was only half done. Neither had good explanations. Really though in the greater scheme of things it doesn’t really matter, but I guess we are trying to train them that when they say they will do something that they follow through. I love them, but sometimes I am dissappointed and somethings they do upset me, when I know they shouldn’t and that I will miss them daily once they move out. Not soon I hope.