I'm not a superhero...

I'm not a superhero, but I play one.

For the past I don't know how many years, I've endured great pain during Fire Prevention Week for the pleasure and education of Argonia Elementary's preschoolers and first graders. Donning the Fire Department's Fire Pup costume for a half hour at a time is not an easy thing. I have sweat profusely in the enclosed space of the Pup's head. The small personal fan blowing on my scalp seldom works as well as advertised. I have had kids step on my toes. The Pup's red fire boots do not have steal toes. Thankfully preschoolers aren't very heavy. I have had the hard hat supports dig into my scalp. That really hurts! I haven't bled yet, but I've had marks. My shoulders and neck have ached for hours after each episode. Try holding fifteen pounds on your head for a half hour, shrugging your shoulders up from time to time to relieve the pressure. You'll be sore too.

I know what you're thinking. Why does this whiner keep coming back? First, I have no where to hide. Fireman Stucky, the guy who heads up Fire Prevention Week activities, is lives right across the street from my office. He sees me walk in the front door of the church and quietly sneaks in and corners me. "Would you please be Fire Pup again?" Second, I have had a great time and have learned a thing or two every year. Mr. Stucky really connects with the kids. Third, I'm a sucker for little kids. They're fun...except when they tromp on your toes.

I "endured" this morning's visit. The strong northerly wind that's blowing down Main Street nearly knocked Fire Pup's head off when the truck pulled away from the station loaded with little ones. I guess it had been serving as a windblock. I kept my head, though, and waved back as 4- and 5-year-olds vigorously shouted their goodbyes. "Bye, Fire Pup!"

Ahhhhh, the reward comes to Argonia's (reluctant) fire-fighting canine superhero. 1:00 is just around the corner. First graders! Can't wait!

(More pictures later...maybe.)

Issues matter...

I'm not Catholic, but I felt that this video from CatholicVote.com said what I'd like to say to all believers. So watch and vote in November.

I'll only kiss my wife...

Kirk Cameron is the real deal - a man of integrity and a godly husband. I found this video from the TODAY show before his recent movie's release on the Fireproof movie blog. I thought I'd share it with you. If you've seen the film, this is a fun bit of additional knowledge.

Rekindling the fire...

(Spoiler warning! If you haven't seen Fireproof yet and don't want to know what happens, come back and read this after you've watched it. Go to the movie! That's my recommendation. The rest of this is my review.)

Fireproof is an incredible film. On a dinky-by-Hollywood-standards $500,000 budget, the Kendrick brothers tell a credible story of love-gone-sour restored. They draw your heart into the tale from the first 25 years ago "I want to marry Daddy" moment and keep it involved until the salt-and-pepper-shaker cake topper ending. I was exhausted at the end, emotionally drained from laughing and crying and laughing and crying some more.

Here are a few of my favorite scenes from the movie...

Early on, Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) gets angry at his wife, Christine (Erin Bethea), and storms out of the house. He spies his trash can and takes out his frustration on the defenseless container, kicking it mercilessly then grabbing trash bags and throwing them against the house. Suddenly he stops. He looks away from the house and the camera switches to his neighbor who's watching. Embarassed, Caleb greets his neighbor, "Mr. Rudolph." Totally deadpan, Mr. Rudolph nods his head and replies simply, "Caleb."

It's not too long later that Caleb is upset again. He bursts through the back door and once more attacks the dumpster, this time with a baseball bat. He pounds on the can, grunting and growling. He looks across the driveway. Mr. Rudolph is there again. The same verbal exchange takes place. (The audience is roaring with laughter at this point.)

A little while later, the same bat is aimed at Caleb's computer. He sets the monitor down, looks across at Mr. Rudolph who's staring at him, shrugs his shoulders - "Mr. Rudolph" - and smashes the screen. Everyone's laughing through tears this time. The destruction of said machine is the visual cue that Caleb is done with the pornography addiction that was damaging his relationship with Catherine. Awesome!

Mr. Rudolph's final appearance comes near the end of Fireproof. "Hey, Mr. Rudolph!" Caleb shouts and waves as he and his newly-won lover (his wife) get into their car to go to church. Mr. Rudolph turns to his wife as the Holts drive their Honda away. "You stay away from that man," he tells her. "He's strange."

Watching this film as an EMT was interesting. I was surprised at the emotions that flooded my heart as I watched emergency responders and bystanders frantically try to push a wrecked car off railroad tracks as a train rapidly approaches, airhorn blaring. I wanted to jump out of my seat and help. My heart was racing. I was lifting with them. I dove into the backseat of the car to help the injured when the ambulance arrived. It was heart-stopping, heart-rending stuff. Totally unexpected, but very welcome. I love my "second calling" and love the changes emergency response work has brought in my life. These same emotions came back a little while later when Caleb pulled a five-year-old girl from a burning house. Amazing!

There were lots of great conversations throughout the movie. Caleb talking with his oh-so-wise dad about his struggles to hang on, to keep loving through the pain. "You can't give her something you don't have," the elder Holt advises leading Caleb to a crisis of faith. Caleb chooses to follow Jesus in the movie's next moments. Michael, Albany Fire's lieutenant, shares great insights into God's plan for marriage. "Fireproof doesn't mean the fires won't come, but that when they do come, you'll be able to withstand them," is his poinant plea, urging Caleb not to give up. Catherine's over-lunch chat with Anna, an older nurse who probes just enough to get at the heart of Catherine's relationship problem. The woman meddles just a bit when, talking about the younger woman's emotional affair with the new-to-the-hospital Dr. Keller, she asks, "If he's willing to get involved with you knowing you're a married woman, what makes you think he won't do the same thing to you later?" Wow!

My favorite moment of the whole film comes near the conclusion. Catherine revisits the medical equipment supply store where her stroke-affected mother's hospital bed and wheelchair were purchased by an anonymous benefactor. Catherine has to this point assumed it was her secret love who provided the $20,000+ to cover everything. She asks the clerk about the purchase and learns, almost too late, that it was Caleb's save up "boat" money that ended the long wait for enough to cover the expenses. She turns away too stunned for words.

The next time you see Catherine, she's in her bedroom making a frenzied search for her discarded wedding band. She finds it under a mess of clothing and, sobs racking her body, slips it back on. She runs to the bathroom and tries to freshen up. Her dripping eyes keep messing up her blush and mascara, but she presses on.

Moments later the scene shifts to the firehouse. A training session is taking place, Caleb at the head of the table instructing. Michael enters. "Captain, you're needed in the bay."

"Right now?" Caleb asks.

"Yes," Michael replies. "Catherine's out there."

"My Catherine?!" Caleb responds, shocked.

He walks out and Catherine blesses him with the respect and love he's long been missing. The reunion is powerful. Even the strongest tear-stiffler will give up and let them flow.

There is so much more I could say, so much more good stuff in this just-released picture. A truly amazing Christ-honoring theatrical release. Go! That's my recommendation. Take your wife. Take your kids. Take your friends. Go!

An honest deal...

I've got a movie to add to your "must see" list.

Flywheel is the first movie produced by the Kendrick brothers and Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA, and it's a keeper. The quality of the video and acting isn't as good as Sherwood Pictures' later releases - Facing the Giants and Fireproof (I'm going to see it tonight) - but the story is great.

The film tells the tale of a not-so-honest used car salesman, Jay Austin, a who sees the light and leaves his thieving, deceiving ways behind to follow Jesus.

(Spoiler warning! Read no further if you don't want to know the rest of the story.)

In a Zacchaeus meets the 21st century twist, the new Jay Austin returns the money he cheated people out of before his conversion. The stunned folks thank him, praise God and, in one case, rebuke him. The last one is great comedy.

You'll find yourself laughing, crying and praising God with your family as you watch this story of God's grace and blessing unfold. Go get it!

The year was 1983...

Jazz Band was one of my favorite junior year activities...

Pep Band was too...

And Marching Band...Track was my favorite (ONLY!!) junior year sport... Believe it or not, I was fast once!