A Christian Comedian That's Actually Funny

It's funny, but there's a pretty interesting lesson at the end. Enjoy!

Reverse Back to me, Skip You, Wild Draw 4 Yellow and Uno!

With my recent influx of free time, I have been running out of things to do towards the days end. Tonight, Chelsea and I decided we would start playing games instead of filling our minds with more TV than any humanoid should ingest. Actually we had fun. By ten o'clock I had successfully been owned in several rounds of speed, and Chelsea and her mom and I battled it out in UNO. It was a great night all in all. This gets me to thinking, How many board games, card games and other things do I miss out on for Splinter Cell or old re-runs of Lucy? Games like Uno, Chess, Monopoly and Speed (well not so much speed) really get the juices flowing and honestly, they really make you feel better than TV.

So I challenge you to put down the remote control this week, grab some cards, a board game, a puzzle, really anything that you can do with someone else that doesn't involve the bright, human sized insect zapper, and let it rip. See how much fun you can have back in the stone-age. It might surprise you.

Clearing up some confusion

My recent post included silent footage of Dillon, Montana. There was no picture of Bob Dylan and in fact the two have no relation. But to fulfill the needs of the Bob Dylan community here's a little Dylan (not Dillon) treat...

Dillon Montana Tour

Hey Everyone,

Here's a silent tour of the town of Dillon, Montana. Sorry I couldn't get the sound to come through. Hope you enjoy it anyway.







ps. I just uploaded this so it may not be processed for a couple of hours.

One Horse Town or Gateway to God's Country? (part one)

So I have told my story in person regarding our recent trip to Dillon, Montana mostly because to write about it would be a novel at the very least. So for my next few blogs, I'm going to highlight this magical place and it's affect on me personally. I might throw in a note or two about how I think it affected Chelsea, but to get anyone's heart for something, you almost always have to hear it from them.

So with a population of just 5,000, some might call Dillon a "one horse town". Some might say that Dillon seems like one of those "middle of nowhere" "back country" "hick" towns. Well to some extent those people might be right. Dillon is small and the community is rural for sure. Some of the folks speak with a drawl much like the ones you hear in the south and there is something about it that makes it feel remote. Most people when the hear of a town like this they think of weird movies like deliverance or some old western. Well truth be told, much of Dillon is from the turn of the century, but I don't remember seeing any banjos. So if it's not creepy or a gun slinging town, then what is it?

Well I like to describe Dillon as a "Time Warp". Its a place that us "orange county folk" didn't know still existed. Sure I've been a part of a small town community before, but it was always infiltrated by "flat landers" in their big SUVs. In Running Springs, though beautiful and charming, we still felt pretty close to things like Walmart. With that, most of us still had "SoCal Mentalities". You know what I mean, it's the mentality that helps us cope with the freeways, or the smog, or the plasticity of people around us. In Dillon, things are even different than that. I noticed something while cruising the town that was foreign to me while there and I believe it is a perfect example of this "Time Warp" factor I've mentioned. Driving around town on Saturday, I noticed something coming from the other cars on the road. It was something you rarely see nowadays and it really stood out to both Chelsea and I. Once I noticed it coming from cars, I noticed it on the sides of the road, in fact, it was everywhere. It seemed as though the Pastor must have alerted the entire town to our presence, and they were excited for us to be there, because just about everyone waved to us. Before I go any further, it's not the kind of waving you guys are used to on the 405 N at 4:30 in the afternoon, but the kind of waving you seen when you drop your kids off for school, and their still at the age where they like people to know you're their parents.

What's in a wave? It's a simple gesture really. Five fingers open with the palm outward and held up so others can visibly observe. But that's not quite a wave is it. Well maybe for some, but a real wave has a little boogie to it, doesn't it? It's that small little shake of the elbow and wrist that really makes a wave clear. That's when you know someone is really waving at you. A wave can say so much, can't it? It can say "Hi", "Bye", "Go Ahead" and my favorite "Welcome". I'll be honest, though I'm kind of maximizing the wave factor a little, it really is a great representation of Dillon.

Every one is friendly, welcoming and helpful. They don't care if you're new, they just care that you feel welcome. There's something about it that's genuine, beyond what we see here in our "bustling metropolis".

Okay, I said all that to say this; most small towns may be small, they may be remote. They may have a high school with less students than your local elementary school, but they are anything but "One Horse". Dillon, well Dillon isn't just a small town. Their welcoming atmosphere enhances the beauty of small town life. Maybe like it was here in orange county when we were still small. I believe the "Time Warp" factor of Dillon, makes it more than just one horse. It's really more like the Gateway to God's Country.

Oh the Wonder of it All…

Several years ago, a band called delirious wrote a song entitled deeper. As I sit not so high above the earth in a cracker jack box CRJ200 (airplane), I am reminded of the lyrics to this song.

Right now we are passing over a snow covered mountain range with blue skies on all sides. The view truly is breathtaking. Generally you don’t get to see views like this from an airplane, but since this plane is small it doesn’t cruse at the normal seven miles high. Anyway, back to the reason for this particular post, I’m reminded of the chorus of this song which goes:

“And the wonder of it all, is that I’m living just to fall more in love with you”
(or something to that effect)

As I stare out the window at the peaks and valleys, I can’t help but be moved. You see, staring out at creation is like seeing a picture of God. Like an artist’s painting, you can see him in the brush strokes of nature. Being married to an artist, I know this phenomena first hand. When I see one of my wife’s paintings, I see her passion, her heart right there on that canvas. It’s simply amazing. Every time I see a piece of her art, I love her that much more. I remember one time in particular when I came home, and she had painted a picture specifically for me. I was touched. The painting was a picture of something we experienced together while on vacation in Hawaii, and when I saw that amazing piece and realized that it was made specifically for me, I was touched…deeply.

So, as I look out over the earth from 2,000 feet above, I get to see a picture that God has painted. Honestly, I can’t help but feel just a little like He painted it just for me. Because of that, I’m touched. Because of that, I fell as though I’m more in love with Him today than I was yesterday. My God is an artisan, and he has painted all of us pictures in our lives. I hope when you see yours, you’ll be “living just to fall more in love with” Him too.

Patriot Day

Where were you on this day 7 years ago? This might make you feel old, but I
was in 2 period math my Senior Year in high school. Two mornings prior, I
sat in a computer lab and filled out my selective service card. I was
nearly 18. I remember hearing it walking to my classroom, "Someone just
crashed a plane into the World Trade Center!" came an exclamation from my
friend George as we rounded the corner to our classroom. My response was
"No way dude, shut up, who would crash a plane into a building?".

Shortly after we turned on the TV in our classroom to CNN where they were
showing Live coverage. We tuned in just in time to see plane number two
barrel through the second tower. Suddenly there was a beep over our PA
system, and our Principle, and ex-Marine began to explain the events that
had occurred. We stayed in that classroom for most of the morning, and our
school went on lock down. The only way I can really describe it is surreal.

Now we call this day Patriot Day, and as well they should. Many Americans
lost their lives, and many New York Police and Fire rescue officers gave up
their lives to save others. Since that day, we have not experienced another
terrorist attack on American soil. For that I am grateful. I'm grateful to
the men and women who serve in our armed forces. I'm grateful for the
decision makers who knew that acting fast was our only course of action.
I'm grateful that we instantly took the war away from our homes and family.
I'm even grateful every time my bag gets searched at the airport. I spent
some time this morning praying for our men and women in the armed forces,
and thanking the Lord that we have been spared from further terrorism. If
you haven't today, I encourage you to pray for the men and women in our
armed forces who serve us in the worst of conditions. If you know someone
who has served be sure to thank them for their service. If you are someone
who has served, there is nothing that can be said that is worthy of your
sacrifice and service, so please know that you are more valuable to the
American people and me personally than could ever be said. Thank You.

If we forget September 11, 2001 or loose it's impact on our lives, then our
gratitude is empty. The best thanks that we can give is to always remember.

Have a Thankful Patriot Day.
Copyright 2008. Joe LaClare.

He Who Controls the Remote....

I don't know what it's like in your house, but in most homes "He who holds the remote control, holds the power". That's a pretty common phrase in my home, and as you may have guessed, I do not have control of the remote in my home. That's right, my loving and capable wife "holds the power" in our home. Now don't misunderstand, it's not that I can't hold the remote, it's simply that she's a lot better at controlling the TV than I am. She's got the knack for it, and she's also had years of experience using the hi-tech remotes her dad employs at home. I can admit, she really is a lot better at controlling the TV than I am and so she gets the power.

Now I'm pretty good at recognizing my wife's remote control savvy. but sometimes I wonder if I'm as good at recognizing God's skills. You see, when I start to try and figure out what I need to be doing, it's like I'm taking the remote control from Him. Now I am fully aware that He is much better at "holding the power" but still I will not let him. I have to be honest, I take the remote from God daily, and it only breeds discontentment and further confusion in my life. Luckily, my wonder woman of a wife is really good at taking back the remote when I take it. She's also very talented at making me give it back to God when I take it.

So how about you? Do you have to have the "power"? I encourage you to relinquish the remote that controls your life to the person who is most capable of using it. I guarantee it will increase your viewing pleasure.

On a practical note, the easiest way to do this is prayer. When you find yourself reaching for that little black box with the buttons that could change the channel of your life, pray. If you commit your decisions to prayer, then you're automatically asking God to pick the channel for you. It works really well.

Belinda Waited

Belinda was going into her senior year of high school when I started pastoring the small youth group at a church in Running Springs. She was a great girl with lots of life and a beautiful smile. But she wasn't all personality and a pretty face, she had something that increased her cool factor a lot. She had made a commitment not to kiss anyone but her husband, and even then not until her wedding day. It was a bold commitment and boy did she take it seriously. Shortly after graduating high school she started to date a guy named Chris. Tall and ruddy, Chris had a smile almost as bright as hers, and had a great head on his shoulders. He was diligent and a good man. He and Belinda both had a strong relationship with the Lord and their relationship seemed to magnify that.

Sadly, I had to move away from my life there shortly after they had started dating. While I was gone, they fell deeply in love. Though they were in love, they always made sure to listen to God's calling on their lives and follow him first. In fact during their relationship Belinda traveled abroad to study. I kept in touch through reports from friends and the occasional contact which I have gotten less of lately. but I do remember one summer day, when I went back to visit the area, Chris told me he was going to ask Belinda to marry her. I can't tell you how happy I was to hear that. Before I knew it, I received an invitation to their wedding and then the day came.

I remember putting on my one suite (sometimes referred to as a "marrying and burying suit") and thinking, I can't believe someone from my youth group was getting married. I mean, i had just gotten married the fall before! It was a little weird. As we ushered into the chapel, I greeted my old friends with excitement and anticipation for the moments to follow. Then as I took my seat and the room got quite the Groom and his men took the stage. The music began to play, and the doors opened. She was beautiful and radiant, just the way a girl should look on her wedding day. She marched down the isle, confident and full of joy.

Towards the end of the ceremony, my heart started to beat a little faster, for I knew what was to come. And in that moment when the Pastor said, "Chris, you may for the first time Kiss your bride", he grabbed that girl, dipped her back and planted one right on her. It was perfect in every way. More importantly, it was the first time either of them had kissed anyone. Right there on that alter, they shared their first kiss ever, with each other, as husband and wife.

As a Youth Pastor, I often times I am asked the question "How far is too far?", or "When can I start dating?". Honestly, I have never been able to answer that question. I think it's far to personal for me to just give you an answer. For some 18 is too early and for others 16 is perfect. For some, kissing is too far and for others anything above the neck is fair game. So I have two answers to these questions that I think work 100% of the time.

To the question of how far one can go, my response would be to shift your paradigm. What if you looked at it as how far away from sex can I stay until I'm married. But a good rule of thumb is this:
If mom and dad decide to have Jesus over for coffee, and they're all sitting in the room with you and your bf/gf, how far would be too far? You can derive an answer from there.

To the question of when to start dating my answer is this. One should never date without a purpose. If your purpose is to figure out the kind of mate you would like to have, then there's no reason you can't date in bigger groups or go out to public places with family and friends. If your purpose is to see if you could marry this person, you should be ready for marriage in two or maybe three years.

Whatever you decide, remember that you are always loved by God, and he's always there for you in a crunch. If your desire is truly to be close to Him, everything else should fall into line pretty nicely.

Until Next time: Don't get dead.