Getting back into the routine of things. Set the alarm for 7 o'clock (goodness knows why, I NEVER sleep as late at 7 o'clock) to be up for Kiwanis. The speaker was from the Salvation Army talking about a new programme they have launched 'Bridges out of Poverty', and in which a lot of the local churches, Emmanuel included, are taking part. It is a serious problem affecting a third of the population of Shawnee. One of the causes he cited are all the businesses exploiting the problem, ie the loan sharks with their businesses all over town, offering 'Pay Day Loans', they're practically on every street. I thought of the Emmanuel member who owns most of these businesses and wondered how they felt about them.
I could go on, I took copious notes for next week's bulletin, but perhaps this is as much as you want to know.
I later went along to Communion at Emmanuel, and afterwards six of us went to lunch. Last Thursday they went to a restaurant on the edge of town, in a parking lot behind a gas station, which I couldn't find, although they told me today that they saw me drive past, and they were all asking each other if anyone had my cell phone number. So today they asked me to choose the restaurant and I suggested a Mexican place that has just recently opened (like we need more Mexican restaurants in Shawnee) The food was quite nice, I had rice and beans and guacamole, and a serving of roast vegetables - I didn't like the look of the meat on offer - but it was a very, and I mean very, fast food place. We had to line up, cafeteria style, and were served our selection from a buffet. We did sit and linger for quite a while afterwards though.
This evening I went to see 'American Sniper' with Pattisue. It was very tense, very exciting, I am still trying to process it all, I have never seen so much blood and gore. There were a few shots of the hero at home with his family, but most of it was from the battlefield. I certainly think Clint Eastwood deserves every Oscar going for his brilliant production and direction, and I will see it again if it comes downtown to pick up on the points I missed. I think I also need to read the book, I had forgotten what the war in Iraq was about and Pattisue was informing me out in the car park of the Democrats' take on it . She said I also need to ask a Republican.
One thing that struck me - and Pattisue mentioned it too when we came out - was that in the midst of all the battle and fighting and sniping the film's hero was making phone calls to his wife in the US. I was thinking that I can't somehow see a British Commanding Officer countenancing that, or is this modern warfare and I am behind the times.
In the news.................and I find this somewhat scary.
The Yemeni Govt has fallen, in spite of Obama confidently asserting recently that all was well. And this evening the 90 year old, pro US King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died. And most scary of all is that the Jerusalem Post reported that Iran has an intercontinental ballistic missile, never before seen in public, 27 metres or 88,5 feet in length, just outside Tehran, which it is said poses a threat to the US due to its expanded range.
I would put money on Israel taking it out, and sooner rather than later.
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