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Fly fly
Originally uploaded by Jdblundell.

I’ve posted a number of pictures from the Dallas Arboretum’s Ultimate Tree House event Laurie and I visited yesterday. Click the picture for more.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the blogosphere Richard Muske and Wes and Susan Craig.
Also, my editor has begun adding her thoughts to the blogosphere on our paper’s blog.

Our freezer and fridge have been on the blink the last day or so. It makes a buzzing sound, almost like a pair of hair clippers every ten minutes or so and we realized yesterday evening that it wasn’t cooling so well.
When I came home late last night (as in — well — it was late), I went to check to see if it had started cooling and the ice bucket for the ice maker had become a bucket full of water.
I came home tonight again and went to get ice for a big tall glass of ice water and sure enough – I think its actually getting warmer in the ice box as we speak. It may just cook the chicken and other food in there before too long.
Anyways, it just got me thinking how much I don’t really appreciate things (like water) until its gone. I’ve never really had to go without necessities for more than an hour or so at a time. I’ve been really blessed. And granted ICE COLD water is not a necessity — I still have water, just not cold water.
But think about those who are way less fortunate than you.
I’ve had discussions recently with many about immigration. I’ve even had someone tell me that when scripture says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” I wasn’t really understanding the word neighbor. And that somehow because someone comes into my country illegally they’re not a neighbor.
Did I miss the meanging behind the Good Samaritan story?
But I say all that, to say: think about how blessed you really are.
Gas prices are high, but I still have gas money to go see my friends and family. I can still go to work. I can still drive to Dallas to see my girl.
It’s flippin hot outside, but I still have a roof over my head and an A/C and fans to keep me cool.
There are constant debates over political matters in our country, but people are arguing them on TV, not by shooting rocket propelled missles at each other.
But for some reason, we’ve begun to condemn those around us who have way less than us in their home country and simply want to come to America to make a better life for themselves.
Am I missing something here? Or just rambling non-coherant thoughts.
Well, I’m going to go find some cold water and head to bed – so talk amongst yourselves. Go ahead – talk amongst yourselves and then let me know what you decide.

July 29, 2006

Dear Friends and Family,

It has been an interesting year to say the least. Maybe I should say an interesting 18 months. To think about all the changes I have seen in myself, friends and family over the last 18 months is almost overwhelming.
Earlier this year I prepared a letter to ask for support to travel to Nigeria in October with the Christian Wrestling Federation. Shortly after I sent my first batch of letters out, the trip was cancelled and then rescheduled due to logistic matters.
As I began to think about a March 2007 trip, the opportunity arose for me to join the CWF founder, Rob Vaughn, and our original group from Lakepoint Church in Rockwall, to spend two weeks in September and October to work on the logistical issues of bringing a two-ton ring and a live wrestling show to Jos, Nigeria.
Rob and I will join a group of 20 or so individuals from Sept. 26 to Oct. 11, in Nigeria working with orphanages, doing medical missions and preparing to bring our entire CWF team to the country in March.
We are thrilled to even consider the opportunity of bringing our ministry, which has witnessed over 5,000 decisions for Christ in the last six years, to the nation of Nigeria.
We plan to bring a complete CWF team in March to the African nation, for two weeks of CWF shows in soccer stadiums and villages around the country.
For those of you unfamiliar with our ministry, I have enclosed one of our latest newsletters to share our ministry and goals with you.
But for this to happen, we are each asking for prayer and financial backing from our friends and family.
There are some major costs associated with taking our ministry overseas and for myself and Rob, with two trips within six months, the costs will be even greater.
I ask that you please join us in prayer as the time ticks down on the calendar until we leave Sept. 26. I also ask that as we arrive in Nigeria we will find the solutions to the problems we face, including finding a way to ship our wrestling ring to Nigeria or finding a local wrestling promotion that we can rent a ring from.
We also pray that both teams (in September and March) will be able to do God’s work and meet the people of Nigeria where they are and show them the love and grace God extends to everyone. May the people of Nigeria see that we are ordinary men, who have spent time with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Pray that they will see the difference in our lives, which only Christ can bring about. Pray that God will begin to work now in the lives of those we will meet as well as our own individual lives. Pray that each of us will be prepared to share the hope we have whenever we are called upon.
I would also ask that you pray about giving financially to our trip. You can contribute directly to my account, or make a donation to the entire group.
If you feel led to support us financially, you may give a one-time gift or make monthly payments between now and March. If you’d like to make a secure donation online, please click the PayPal button on the left hand column. A small thank you reminder can me mailed or e-mailed to you monthly, if you so choose.
Thank you for your time and may God continue to shine His face upon you.

In Christ,

Jonathan Blundell

For more information on the Christian Wrestling Federation, see the enclosed newsletter or visit: www.christianwrestling.com.

According to Education Week, the governor of Indiana has stated that determining the number of new prisons to build is based in part on the number of second graders not reading at second-grade level. The magazine also reports that the percentage of children who never make it past the fourth-grade reading level is used to help gauge future prison needs in California.

From Democratic candidate Kerry Horn. Horn is running for State Rep. #10:

The real test of leadership is how you tell the truth to power. We have delegated power to our elected officials but there’s someone more important because ultimate power is with the people. They might not like the truth – but they’ll respect you for giving it to them.