Billy Finch’s Weblog

This morning at Life Pointe Church Homestead campus was extremely awesome, we had a guest Speaker named Tom Sterbens who was off the hook.

I really don’t have time to write all about right now because we’re getting ready to head down to the LPCpk, so I got my Bassett Hound Trixie to put this liitle ditty together so you could get the idea.

Check it out… yeah it was just like this!!

~Billy

I like Travis mentioned have just been incredibly busy lately and hadn’t had much time to blog. Also I don’t have one of those fancoid schmancoid phone like Phil has where he can blog from the Dr.’s office. There’s a lot of things to write about though so hopefully I’ll get back into the every other day routine as before. I know it’s time to do this because the hits on your blog tank like the S&P 500 after a while if there’s no activity.

I was recently sent this by a friend of ours, and come to think of it I get something like this every year around this time so it’s not anything fresh. It is pretty amusing though and worth passing along.

Here’s a thought to ponder first; why do folks only drink egg-nog at chritmas? is it really “rare” or just not necessarilly that good? ( i guess that’s 2 thought’s)

Holiday eating tips:

1.   Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit.  In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.
 
 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly.   It’s rare..  You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it.  Have one for me. Have two.  It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!
 
 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy.  Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
 
 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
 
 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
 
 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s.  You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.
 
 8. Same for pies. Apple,Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.   When else do you get to have more than one dessert? LaborDay?
 
 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

 10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

 ~Billy

Well it’s about 8:52 p.m. and I’m just getting home from church. I left for church about 7:04 a.m. this morning. This is the way the days are going with 2 campuses for LPC / Homestead and Plantation Key. It’s pretty cool being a part of all this even if it is just a small part, and I don’t know how the staff is able to keep up the pace.

This morning started out the usual way for a Sunday, got there and things were already stirring getting set up and ready to go. Even after all this time it still is cool how we set up, have 3 services, then tear it all down for next week. Now a days though, for a time after it’s over we go home snag a bite and then head down to Tavernier in the Keys and do it all again. They are so going to need more staff.

Speaking of staff Paul Hollifield and his family are leaving fabulous Homestead and heading to Tennessee to work in the minstry he and his wife Annie created REI Ministries.

I asked, he refuses to take me with him. Guess I’ll be in fabulous Homestead forever (I digress yet again). Anyway I’m sorry to see him leave, we have a lot in common because he’s very familiar with where I grew up in Richmond Va. Plus I like him, he’s glib and funny, and will be sorely missed. There’s an old philosophy that says “a crisis always occurs on the curve of change”.

The music this morning was pretty good the first service, tightened up the 2nd service, and by the 3rd we were just roaring. We played Bob Marley’s “One Love” for the meet and great song and the folks really seemed to dig it. At Plantation Key we scrubbed that and 2 young adolescent studdly bucks joined in with the band and played Cream’s “Sunshine of your lo-ooo-uve”, it was just smoking hot. Alex already has the wheels turning I bet for a youth band.

Now it may have been because it’s a little chilly out, or maybe folks are just tired, but it seemed the tone at LPC PK was a little subdued tonight. In fact we really had to coax folks to get up and move. It’s going to take a little while for this whole thing to take root I guess, but an old friend and co-worker from Mariners Hospital Stacy came and was actually dragged by her 10 year old son who’s extatic about LPC. Stacy told me “this is just so cool” and “we’ve been waiting so long for something like this down here”. She said remember when our folks used to make us go on Sunday morning and it was… well BORING (my words, but we concur) now her kid is making her come. YEAH BABY!!! That’s what Life Pointe’s really about.

 Travis is doing a series on Jonah and has been good with a different perspective. Really good stuff.

~Billy

Piggy backing on Phillip Johnson’s dog quotables, here’s a funny about dogs and cats:

~Billy  

DOG DIARY

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM – Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am. Creeps!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

There was so much going on the past few days that this “Sunday muddle” should just be chocked full of excellent stuff:

Friday a friend of mine from Key Largo Jerry Gaddis, came up to our house and spoke with our Life Group. Jerry owns the H R Block in Key Largo and is a Financial Advisor with Crown Financial ministries. He gave some really excellent parallels on what God’s word has to say about His desire for us as stewards of what He blesses us with. It’s was really “excellent stuff”. I’m hoping to have him come back with more.

Plus my wife Gail was able to score a trip to the “Women of Faith” conference up in Ft. Lauderdale, which she of course came back all fired up and rarin’ to go. She went with a friend of hers from work that attends the Florida City Assembly of God church and a large group of women from there. That was most “excellent stuff”!

Saturday I got a text message that Jessie and Reina wouldn’t be at the Sunday service and we would need to put our best feets forward for the services. Appears Reina was having some problems and needed to go to the hospital. What was at first looking like potential tragedy turned into some MAJORLY EXCELLENT STUFF” as she is pregnant and things seem to be ok.

As a result of that excitement we had an opportunity to jam with a very talented guy named Julio Berrones, who as it turns out is a DJ for 91.7 The Call. He was a lot of fun and has a beautiful voice, Jessie is hoping to have him come play with us more often. That was just icing on the cake “excellent stuff”.

So after the AM services in Homestead the troop all headed down to Plantation Key for more stuff. Last night was the official Grand Opening, kickoff of the LPC in Plantation Key. This excites me very much and I pray that LPC PK will flourish and in turn the churches all around them will flourish as well. The Life Pointe concept will be alien to this demographic but if we just keep doing what we do and God’s hand is in it the impact will be huge.

Last night I saw many old friends I hadn’t seen in a while and so for me the experience has been a really cool one so far. One my old buddies Tommy Simpson sat in with the band and played, that was a lot of fun because Tommy and I have had the chance to play a lot together and have missed him. Also there were many friends we miss dearly, like Craig and Sue Eldridge, Shelly Fowler and family, and many others I got a chance to see last night. These are all people we miss after moving away from the Keys.

Just plain ol’ good stuff.

~Billy

I had a situation at work that been going with a client for close to 3 months now and an insurerer that was dragging their feet. Today we successfully got the policy to issue.

I feel like this guy below, totaly elated and feeling successful over something small in the scheme of things, and just had to write about it.

Happy Friday!!!

~Billy

~Billy

The results are in and was surprised when I awoke up the earth is still rotating and there was not the mushroom cloud, nuclear snow, or the devastation we had envisioned. There’s plenty of time for that later when this “young president is tested” as the new Veep Joe the Biden said.

So what’s next? I had decided a while back success is up to me and my family, the decisions we make and the people we surround ourselves with. I just hope this country has enough aspirin to handle the hangover.

~Billy

Things are what they will be with all this foolishness, mayhem, and falderaux and I’ve just had some things running through my head:

-my daughters school Christian Preparatory Academy of South Dade is having some financial trouble as well as zoning issues

-they have asked us to pray and fast at sundown Friday the 7^th till Saturday at sundown

-I believe and have witnessed the power of prayer and fasting so I will honor that request (and eat a REALLY big supper, I may have to meet The Major at Denny’s)

-the opening of the LPC² in Plantation Key is really exciting, another testament to the power of prayer

-I honestly thought I’d never set foot in the place again and it would be sold torn down and houses built

-I need to remember to tell Travis and crew about a locals place called Craig’s. Best fish samich in the Keys!

-I was just too wiped to stay up and watch the Redskins game, apparently it was a blood bath

-I have real issues to deal with at home and this election is what it is at this point… focus focus focus

-I hope folks don’t get so crazy with the results of this thing and start rioting, but I’m sure they will

-whoever wins they’ll riot because they’re mad or they’re celebrating

-don’t folks realize that IS what makes us look so stupid to the rest of the world. No of course not.

-I hate to see people in this country doing that stuff and wearing a bandana over their face

-no actually that infuriates me like those creepy muslim terrorists pictures we always see… cowards.

-Get a family and a job and some responsibility you won’t have time for that moronity.

-is “moronity’ a word?

-“moronitism” could be a religion for some I suppose

-what will all this change be like? I’m a little un-nerved by all this ‘change”.

-”change” is good if it’s the right change, 4 quarters for a dollar bill is the right change’

-5 quarters for a dollar bill just shows good fiduciary responsibility and planning (yet again I digress)

-will the market rebound tomorrow and take off, or take another dump?

-my retirement fund is in shambles, it’s now a 101k… 1 quarter for a dollar (BAD CHANGE)

-the sun is shining and I have a strange sense of excitement and anticipation that something great is about to happen (actually it’s pretty cloudy outside right now but I will be not deterred)

~Billy

The reciept is that of the now famous lobster dinner, and the quote is that of the now famous Obama-mamma…

~Billy