The Power of Persistence

Starting on June 1st, I’ll be involved in Famous Dave’s “Quest For the Best Famous Fan” summer promotion (as I said here, I’ll let you know soon how you can help me win some really cool prizes).  I’ve been preparing and researching and ran into Famous Dave Anderson’s blog.  I wanted to post this before the campaign so that people wouldn’t think I was just trying to butter up the big guy in order to win.  These thoughts are just too important to be used in that way.  I had been told that Famous Dave was a “spiritual man”, but that could mean a lot of things.  It was a blessing to read this:

What was the turning point in my life?  During treatment for alcohol abuse, I finally came to an understanding that I couldn’t do it by myself anymore and that I needed help from a higher power. Once I was able to surrender my arrogance and being full of myself, I was able to find the humility I needed to ask for help. I found that there is great power and victory in surrender. It was there on my knees that I said, “God if there was ever a time to take over my life…the time is now. Jesus, I need your forgiveness and Holy Spirit I want you to come dwell within me.”

What you just read is the most important section of an inspiring article entitled “The Power of Persistence: You Can’t Stop Someone Who Won’t Quit”.  It is the testimony of a man who has made millions, but knows true riches.  It’s not a sermon, but there’s a whole lot in there that’ll preach!  It might be a bit lengthy for some of you, so here are some highlights:

Success is really about ordinary people giving ordinary circumstances an extraordinary effort.

No one has ever been defeated by an obstacle. Obstacles are only given their power from defeated minds.

Even the most insurmountable adversity, hardship, and challenge is necessary to forging your character of determination and persistence. Don’t abandon the opportunities that can only be created through adversity.

Fave Fives XVI: Cars

What took so long to get to this list?  I’m a dude!  What am I doing talking about fruit before cars?  This list is long overdue.  Allow me to re-connect with my ultra-manly side….

1.  Bentley Continental GT

Sweetness! The perfect combination of class and sportiness. I could really see myself going on visitation in this.

2.  Saleen S7

The coolest of all the exotic sports cars. Love seeing it pictured in handicapped parking.

3.  Rolls Royce Phantom

This car just screams "I'm better than you, lowly peasant!"

4.  Cadillac Escalade

It just has that refined gangsta look to it.

5.  Porsche Cayenne Turbo

A really simple design, I know, but, sometimes, less is more. Plus, it boasts a 500 horsepower engine! When it comes to hp, more is more.

Skeletons In My Smoker

You may keep them locked up in your closet, but they’re in the BBQthDirector’s BBQ smoker.  We sing the chorus “Remember not the sins of my youth”, but my youthful mischief continues to haunt me.  My conscience burns within me as hot as Texas mesquite.  I need to get these off of my chest and out into the open.  I must confess:

1.  I have peeked during prayer at church.  “Every head bowed, every eye closed….”  As a kid, I just couldn’t help it.  I thought of myself as the “peeking police”, catching those who would defy the preacher’s orders.  Ironic, I know, but someone’s got to do it.  And a kid’s got to know who’s getting right during the invitation!  Don’t worry, I’ve grown up.  Some.

2.  I cheated in “heads up, seven up” in elementary school.  I have lived the mantra “Losing Is Not an Option” for a long time.  This is pretty much where I honed my stealth peeking skills.

3.  I purposely picked the girl I liked while playing “heads up, seven up”.  Yeah, it was a bummer for those rainy days to take away kickball or dodgeball.  But every cloud has it’s silver lining.  And this silver lining gave me the opportunity to pick the cutest girl in the class!  **insert sheepish giggle**

4.  I once had a crush on a cartoon character.  C’mon, cut me some slack, it was Daphne from the old skewl Scooby Doo cartoon.  And I was, like, seven … or seventeen or something like that.

5.  I told my classmates that Brooke Shields was my aunt.  This was way back in the second or third grade.  And everyone believed me!  Think about that.  I’m filipino!  Morons.

6.  I used Sun-In in my hair.  Once.  Back in high school, I just wanted to see what I would look like with brown-ish hair.  I think I looked pretty good.

7.  I hit a girl.  She was a fifth grade bully and she was ugly.  Popped her right in the eye.  Oh, and I was in the second grade.  That’s a pretty important piece of information.

8.  I used foundation.  Once!  It was picture day in the eighth grade and I had a hugongous zit right smack dab on the tip of my nose.  A few people asked if I was sun-burned that day.

9. I have worn black tights.  Once.  Okay, it was actually three times, but it was for performance purposes, not a fashion statement!  I was seriously into Shakespearean Theatre back in high school and my role as Demetrius in “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” demanded them.  I actually liked wearing them.  I now wear them every Sunday.  And, of course, I’m kidding.  Seriously, it’s a joke, please don’t go spreading rumors.

10. I used to think Tony Roma’s served good ribs.  This is the most difficult one to ‘fess up to, as faithful readers of BarBeQuethMinistry! know my disdain for parboiled or oven-baked ribs that are passed off as BBQ.  I am indebted to Famous Dave’s for showing me the light: real hickory smoked BBQ!

Okay, folks, I did it and so can you.  I feel so liberated now, so at peace with myself and my fellow man.  Confession is truly good for the soul.  Those of you who don’t floss regularly, here is your time to come clean.  Have you ripped off that warning label on your mattress?  Snacked on boogers in kindergarten?  Snacked on boogers in high school??

Get those skeletons out of your closet.

The May Day When Jay Runs Away

I really do love my Jr. Highers.  Actually, I’m pretty much always fairly crazy about the “maggots” that come through our teen ministry.  There’s a certain awkward charm about that age.  “The May Day When Jay Runs Away” is a treasure hunt of sorts (with the “treasure” being truly priceless!).  My precious Jr. Highers are teamed up with a responsible adult driver and are given clues to find me.  Last year’s event (entitled “Where in the World is Jay-from-San-Diego?”) ended with a bit of controversy.  One team of boys found me by complete accident so were not given the official win.  They still claim victory.  This year, I was determined to avoid any doubts or confusion.  The first clue went like this:

To Foothill you go, yet still in La Verne

A store where on clothes your money you burn

Right next to much food and also some gas

A place where a K-Mart once stood in the past

 

The teams were to finish a Bible arithmetic assignment before opening the envelope for that first clue.  It gave me about a five minute head start to get to Ross, where I met my wife to switch vehicles, change my shirt, and take a picture with Chloe (the first clue-giver).

The clue they received from Chloe went like this:

A city just east with a liberal feel

But you’ll find great coffee down on Indian Hill

Mochas, espresso, green tea and lattes

You know it ain’t Starbucks, ’cause that would be gay

 

 Waiting at the Coffee Bean in Claremont was youth group alum, Tim.  One team was already hot on my tail and I knew it.  Parking can be tricky in the area, but I stayed true to the rules.  I took a pic with Tim right outside of the coffee shop and walked calmly back to the car.

As I headed to the next checkpoint, one team passed right by me.  Had I been in my white 3/4 ton Dodge Ram 2500, they definitely would’ve spotted me.  I even drove real slow and waved at them.  I felt like a genius.  Speaking of genius, the next clue-givers were just a couple blocks away, as made clear by Tim’s clue:

To get back in the car would be a bit of a waste

But when crossing the street don’t do it in haste

A window shopper you know, who’s not there to pillage

Just enjoying a walk in the old Claremont Village

 

Enjoying the warm late-spring sun were two cleverly disguised young ladies.  I would’ve never found them myself.  Even while I was on the phone with Sarahjane, and both her and Samantha were waving at me, I could hardly tell it was them.

I called back to Tim to tell the groups that left him to really look hard for these two.  I knew this would be the Jr. Highers’ biggest challenge so far, but when they finally found them, this clue was their reward:

Further from the ocean you now must drive

A place where electronics are very alive

You can buy a phone or big plasma screen

Some video games or a washing machine

 

I was very relaxed as I made my way to the Best Buy in Montclair.  I found my next contact, Raphael, by the video games but we had to walk back to the car to get the camera.

Raphael gave them the clue to get to the final clue-givers:

Your next little trek is not far at all

Just head a bit south to the Montclair Mall

Whether stinkin’ it up or truly succeeding

You must go to a place where you’ll find someone reading

 

S.J. and Ashleigh sat in the Psychology section of Barnes and Noble.  Very fitting, as these two can be a bit psycho.  Tim met us there and took a very blurry picture.  It wasn’t blog worthy.  I said a quick hello and headed out into the mall.  S.J. and Ashleigh were to simply tell the teams that I was somewhere in the mall.

I hid in plain sight.  I casually strolled along, never ducking into a store or behind a sign.  Wearing a hat seemed to be enough (I never wear hats).  Pretty much every team came within twenty yards of me, a couple people even looked right at me.  I also had Tim and Raphael helping me with real-time intel as they kept track of maggot positioning.  It was very Navy SEAL-ish!  We really could’ve kept it going for much longer but time was getting away from us.  At a certain point I decided I would walk right up to the next team I saw.  I think they still almost missed me.  Nonetheless, congrats to Jen’s team:

When it was all said and done, I ran away with my family … to Famous Dave’s.  But I’ll tell you about that some other time!

Fave Fives XV: Fruits

You might think that the BBQthDirector has exotic tastes with all things food.  When it comes to fruit, I have pretty “normal” preferences.  I don’t eat them as much as I should, but when they’re in season (and from a Farmers Market or stand), there’s not much better than these:

1. Strawberries:  Okay, so chocolate covered is the ultimate way to eat this summer berry, but the possibilities are almost endless for the BBQthDirector.  Smoothies, shakes, waffles, ice cream, PB&J or just by themselves!

2. Bananas:  They gotta be very ripe, with nice little brown spots all over.  A football coach gave me a new perspective of these potassium-rich fruits.  He said they would help keep muscle cramps away so I always had a couple on game days (and never had cramps).  Thanks, Coach Cain!  By the way, the BBQthDirector’s Wife makes uber-bomb chocolate chip banana bread.

3. Blueberries:  The new “super-food”, these fun-sized treats are supposedly loaded with anti-oxidants, those cellular super-heros of the nutrition world.  Oh, whatever!   I love ‘em in my yogurt and cinnamon rolls!

4. Avocados:  Mmmm, Guacamole!  Filipinos have a strange way of eating this creamy delight.  They like to mix it up with milk and sugar and turn it into dessert.  Sounds disgusting doesn’t it?  I haven’t had it that way since I was a kid and it actually does sound bad.  Don’t know if I could ever go back to that.

5. Cantaloupe:  I grew up with these melons always in my home.  I guess my mom really liked them and she passed that on to me.  I miss my mom.