Full disclosure: I grew up in Metro Detroit, so I’m connected to the automotive industry via uncles, second cousins, great uncles, parent, friends, friends parents and our neighbor cool Joe, all of whom have worked for the big 3 or one of their suppliers at one point. Upon hearing that I was getting a Volkswagen, one family member said “Well, I won’t disown you, Adam, but… I may not help you fix it… ha ha.” I don’t think he was kidding. By the way, the VW was given to me and, luckily, didn’t need that much work (as long as I always parked it at the top of a hill).

It was an unspoken rule and eventually became part of my DNA — buy American, especially when it comes to vehicles.
This clashed with what I read as I grew up, that manufacturers like Toyota and Honda were second to none when it came to overall quality. Toyota was especially known for its TQM (Total Quality Management) and even led other car manufacturers to learn from (copy) their design and manufacturing techniques.

Oh, what a feeling.

Now what?

I’m not ready to draw any conclusions yet. It’s too early. I will say that it’s not fun to watch something go bad, even though my Big-3 DNA says to do otherwise. My Big-3 DNA also remembers Firestone Tires, Misplaced Fuel Tanks and, oh boy, the Edsel.

I find it fascinating that the US Government, whose job it is to protect and administer, are now in the awkward position of also being a stakeholder in the automotive business as you and I are all tax-paying owners of GM.

I also think it shows how geared toward faithfulness we are when we see something we trusted — Toyota, or even Tiger Woods (or even Ted Haggard) — become untrustworthy. It really does shake some people up. The world is full of things that disappoint. “Everything under the sun is meaningless!” writes Solomon.

I wonder if a bunch of Toyota Dealerships will be putting up barricades to stop Corollas from running through the walls of the service center? Maybe that will be part of the recall: new pedals and cement walls.

I wonder if this will all be forgotten in 6 weeks?

I wonder why that guy isn’t stopping for that red light…

A review of our two Sunday AM Worship Celebrations at Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, from the perspective of the Worship Arts Pastor (that’s me):

– First service always seems a bit empty when the Choir & Orchestra are off, but having the handbells up there made a delightful difference. I am continually amazed that handbells actually work. I mean, if someone said to you “ding here, and here, but NOT here”, that would be tough. At least for me.

– It’s good to have the Senior Pastor back after his brief missions trip. He seems taller. Strange.

– Intern David did a fine job leading Worship in 2nd service. He saw it as his “final exam” for his Worship Arts internship. I saw it as him leading our church into the presence of the Lord. But if I had to give a grade, it would be an A. It was cool to be able to play keys in the background.

– I’m glad to be on Pastor/Spouse retreat with Emily (even though I have the flu), but I will miss the fact that we won’t have Worship Design today. Which reminds me: I should probably get some songs for next week in. Stat. Thanks to Suzanna for keeping packets full and rosters rosting.

The children are in good hands. The Jeep is in the parking lot. Emily is asleep. It’s the perfect retreat at a certain motor lodge in Michigan’s Little Bavaria — Frankenmuth, MI.
Problem: I woke up on the bathroom floor in our room at the Bavarian Inn.
Cause: Flu. Actually, I think I passed out for a little bit.
Bummer: We’re kid-free and taking it easy, yet I’d rather be at home where the bathroom floor seems softer.

It should be OK. Every Davidson in DavidsonHaus has experienced this 24-hour bug. Little baby Zach and I were the last ones to get it — everyone else has recovered, thankfully.

By this time tomorrow, everything should be back to normal, giving us still 2 days of retreating whist hanging out with various other pastors and their spouses in the Southern Michigan Conference of the Free Methodist Church. Keep sleeping, Emily. I’m just blogging and feeling very light headed. I probably shouldn’t drive. I also probably shouldn’t blog.

Of all the clues, thick plot developments and the “hey — wha’ happened?” moments on LOST, I do enjoy a good Ann Arbor, MI mention. Ann Arbor is only 45 minutes away from my house, so I’m cool by proxy. It’s been mentioned a few times, since the DHARMA gang finds their genesis — and scores their funding — through the University of Michigan (fictionally) (we think). If memory recalls, one scene looked something like this:

actor: Hey, are you going back to Ann Arbor? Also, there’s a smoke monster on the island.
different actor: There’s smoke in Ann Arbor, too, but it’s not from a monster. They have this “bash”, if you will, that…
locke: I can move my legs.
different actor: Then you should go to Ann Arbor.

I’m not sure if I’m getting this right. I don’t have the gift of transcript. But I do have the gift of internet (thanks, Comcast) (for nothing). So here’s a link to an article that showed up in the Detroit Free Press on this very day. It focuses on the Ann Arbor ties within LOST. And according to the ads on the sidebar, your dentist has been lying to you about teeth whitening. Shame on him or her.

The final season of LOST premiers Tuesday night on ABC. Check local listings.

I just got word that author JD Salinger passed away today. He was 91 years old. Salinger was best known (at least to me) for his work Catcher In the Rye, which was released by 1951 and was read by me in 1996. I was a high school junior that found great resonance with the main character in the book, Holden Caulfield. It could be his success as an author or just the fact that he held more in common with his characters than we’ll ever know, but Salinger spent his last years living in isolation. We haven’t heard much from him lately, though I would guess that Catcher will carry a cultural significance for at least a few more generations.

I’m writing this post to appreciate two people, actually. I would have no idea — none whatsoever — if it wasn’t for my “Modern Novel” teacher at John Glenn High School in Westland, MI, Lynn LeBlanc. The man knew a lot about literature but knew even more about how to crack open a young mind and make it stick. Between Mr. LeBlanc and Gordon Parrington, biology teacher extraordinaire who taught me that getting a “C” is OK as long as you learned something, I had some pretty outstanding teachers. I appreciate this from time to time and especially at times like these, where a major player in the modern writing world has passed, and I “get it” because someone decided to teach.

Thanks.

This commercial made / makes me laugh. A lot. This is Superbowl material, hands down.
But the clown is already out of the bag. So funny.

That settles it. I’m buying 2 things from WalMart today. 1) Clown outfit. 2) Unicorn statuette.
Oh — if you want to get them from Amazon, then here and here.

Steve Jobs made the big announcement over at Apple that has taken literally 17 people by surprise, namely, that we now have a tablet Mac computer. I mean, a tablet web-browsing device that runs a sort of Mac OS. I mean, an exciting new product that runs an exciting new program called iBooks, code name KindleKiller. I mean, it’s like a… well, it’s very very revolutionary because it, well… you know, it will change…

Ok.

Ok, ok, ok.

It’s a giant iPhone.

(It’s nice to have that out of the way).

Here’s an excerpt from a Detroit Free Press article called “First look at iPad: Wow, it’s slick!”

I quickly noticed some limitations, though. The iPad’s operating software is based on that of the iPhone, so it, too, does not support Flash animation. This means you can’t watch videos on some Web sites like Hulu — a big negative for something with such a pretty screen.

At PC World, Jason Cross asks “Will the iPad connect to anything?“

And speaking of connections, this connection has already been made.

We have been waiting (most Apple fans, that is) for an iPad, anticipating this day with great suspense. I even woke up thinking to myself “oh yes — this is THE DAY that Steve Jobs will make the big announcement about the iTablet! Or whatever!” So far, though, it appears to be a giant iPhone that cannot make phone calls.

You realize, of course, what this means? It means that those of us with an iPhone or iTouch have a micro iPad. It’s cooler. It’s more portable. It’s pocket sized. And I’ve got one already.

The only pocket that an iPad will fit into are those of a clown, and let’s face it — the iPad isn’t impervious to seltzer water. Plus, you cannot trust a clown.

Oh, I’ve been to the circus, friend.

I had a dream last night that I was on the island and that John Locke lied to me about a CD. Strange, I know, that I’m dreaming about this. Very strange. But I told Emily about it and she seems to think it’s fine.

The final season of LOST premieres in less than a week, and, although we will be on a pastor’s retreat, we will most certainly skip whatever event we’re supposed to be at to go back to the room and find the local ABC affiliate.

I was watching a video on USA Today (now with less syllables) and was reminded of the LOST numbers — 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and, of course, 42 (hike).
So I looked up the numbers in google and found the answer.
Yes.
I have located the Island.
It’s right here.

According to a report I came across in the Detroit News, it turns out that children who attend preschool save the state of Michigan big bucks.

The savings are realized because children who attend preschool are less likely to repeat grades and require extra academic services, and they are less likely to end up in the juvenile justice system or adult prisons, according to the report.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100125/SCHOOLS/1250396/Report–State-preschool-programs-save-millions-in-the-long-run#ixzz0de6m6xHM

It’s a good thing our kids are (or will be) preschooified. Lexi went, Malachi is going, Zach will go. In fact, I don’t remember even once having Malachi in juvy, except for that time we did that whole “scared straight” thing in his 3 year old class. And that was for only one afternoon.

I went to preschool’s to, and I turned out grate.

article

Notes from the Worship Pastor’s perspective on our Sunday Morning Worship Times @ Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church:

- Kent did a grand job leading Worship in the 9am. Choir & Orch sounded great & set the tone for Worship.
- Aaron did a grand job leading Worship at the 11:15am. Rhythm Core, WC and Vox sounded great; ushered us into the presence.
- Being the pulpit filler is a lot of work, especially for the “other stuff” — announcements about this and that, details regarding missions, money and ministry, and all the other stuff that MVV takes care of with one arm tied behind his back.
- I only used one slide — just one — for the entire message. I don’t know if that was good or bad, but it sure was easier.
- I can’t tell you how great it was to stand in worship with my family in 2nd service. Up front, no less.
- Seeing the lighting effects from the floor makes me appreciate how far we’ve come in our technology and thankful for volunteers who run audio/lights and video.
- Everything looked and sounded so great, but even better was the sense that God was with us as we worshiped. This excites me greatly.
- Sweet rolls and coffee grease the wheels of fellowship. I saw it firsthand during a time I would normally be rehearsing with other musicians.
- Looking forward to next week & grateful for all that God is doing @ SAFMC!