We are In Jamaica!

It was a really long day - beginning at 3:00 a.m. in Lansing and ending at 10:30 in Jamaica. Along the way we drove to Detroit, flew to Minneapolis and then flew down to Jamaica.

Everything went smoothly. A great trip. We ate a quick meal at a true Jamaican fast food place.

Yummy!

Then the real adventure began - a 1 1/2 hour trip over the mountains and across the island on narrow, winding road with 14 of us in a small Toyota van and our luggage and two others in a pick-up. I was sitting on a cooler and holding on for dear life.

We arrived, safely, well after dark. Had our meeting and are winding down.

A quick story to go with this last piciture. I was getting the computer out to update this blog and Felix came over to help. As it booted up, there was a picture of my grand-daughter Raegan on the wallpaper. He wanted to see more of her until he saw Rhys in his halloween Spiderman costume. Felix loves Spiderman and he says, that's me. Then the punchline. That's me when I was white.

You have to love kids and their creative imaginations. So he's the first of many here to win my heart. More tomorrow.

Nite!

Lance?

I did a quick ride to Waucousta yesterday. As I rounded the last corner a guy in a van yelled out - Hey Lance!

Was it the speed?

Was it the aggressive riding style?

Was it the trim, toned body?

Maybe it was the yellow jersey.

Or maybe it was the hair.

Anyway, it was nice to be outside and not freezing to death for a change!

Creepy Christians

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine brought another friend to church for the first time. It was their first experience with church in a very long time. After the service, he gave us what I consider one of the greatest compliments we could receive. He said, "They weren't creepy".

Unfortunately, to people outside the church world, a lot of Christians are creepy. I didn't have to wait long after hearing his comment to run into a couple of them.

The very next day, I was stuck in traffic on the freeway. The road crews were repairing the pot-holed surface and had taken three lanes down to one. Most of us had all gotten in line crawling forward. As I neared the place where the orange barrels squeezed the traffic into final submission a $40,000 SUV went blasting by on the left - a huge Herbalife Distributor decal in the rear window. Just as I was thinking, boy am I glad I'm not a Herbalife dealer, I saw it - less obtrusive, but just as recognizable - the fish - Creepy Christian!

Then this week I got a call on my cell phone. Our warantee has expired on our Saturn and we had received multiple voice messages trying to get us to buy another extended warrantee. I decided to take the call and tell them to not call again. I didn't get a chance to say a word before she jumped into her pitch and told me all the advantages of the warrantee and what would be covered. I finally got a word in edgewise and told her I just wanted to ask to not be bothered anylonger. Her answer, and I quote: "Well, why didn't you say so. All you had to do was tell me! So, you have a blessed day. And rememeber that Jesus loves you!" DO NOT annoy me and then try to witness to me. Creepy Christian!

Which makes me stop and wonder how often I am a creepy Christian. I hope less than I could be, but please, can we who claim to follow Jesus, be a bit more conscientious about how we interface with a world who wants nothing to do with HIM largely because of US.

What's your creepy Christian story? Or better, when you saw a believer really living Jesus in front of others.

I'd Pay To See That - The Movie

In a world with far too much hair. In a time when children are suffering. One man stands alone to offer up his best on their behalf....

O.k. - I was sitting - and there were lots of other people doing the same thing - but it probably was my best feature - I've raised $880 and glad to have done it.

I'd Pay To See That III - The Aftermath

UPDATE: Getting Close - but not as close as my haircut!

CURRENT PLEDGES & CHECKS: $880.00

Thanks to: Don & Sandy, Brandy & Judy, Greg & Jen, Marcia!, Eric & Janine, Norine, Gary & Cindy, Tom, John & Sheila, Dennis & Shirley, Dan & Sonya, Jason & Joann, Marc, Kathy & Christina, Brett, Kristen, Rhys & Raegan, Carl & MaryBeth, Bob & Sandy, Dave, Amy & Sydney Joel (whose occasional "hand on top of head" pose I now totally understand), Tracy, Kate, Seth & Riley and Cleo and Kathleen.

I came up short of the $1K goal but it is still not too late to contribute. I did my part in faith, please take part in making a difference in the lives of kids and their families.

So, the day came and I now have a very short haircut. Just little tiny bristles left. My hat fits more loosely, but doesn't come off because the little bristles act like velcro!

There were a large number of people from the church who had their heads shaved. It was a very positive experience in many ways. Team Hawk (named after the son of Doug and Kim and brother of Stephen and Kelly) collected several thousand dollars and made a huge impact on those there to observe. It was a privilege to be part of this.

Doug and Kelly on far left - Stephen in blue shirt - front on right.

My friend, Diane was the only woman to have her locks shorn in our group. What a sacrifice and what a hoot she is! Thanks to all who supported us. I should have the video up in a day or two.

I'd Pay To See That II

Well, it is going to happen. I will be going bald on March 16th. My "friends" have been adamant that the $1,000.00 bounty on my locks will be met. If you would like to be part of the fun and make a difference for the future of some of our children, here's the steps:







1: go to http://www.stbaldricks.org/



2: click on "get involved"



3: in the HELP THE CAUSE window click "Make a Donation"



4: in the search for a participant window type:



Chris



Hinterman



click "go"



5: follow the "donate now" link







You can donate on line with a credit card or download a form to make a donation by mail.







Thanks for your willingness to make me look ridiculous and to help fight childhood cancer.







For the background on this, see my previous post below.

I'd Pay To See That!

How do you like my new look? Actually it's an intentionally poor photoshop of what I might look like bald. And I could be, if you are like my friend and co-worker Judy who said, "I'd pay to see that"!

On Sunday, March 16th, there's an event here in town put on by the St. Baldrick's Foundation. They raise funds for children's cancer research by getting people to shave their heads. Last year they raised over $12 million. I am willing to do my part, but I don't come cheap.

If I can get people to donate $1,000 to St. Baldricks in my name, I will, on March 16th lay it all down - at least all my hair! Then I will post a picture of the real-deal here on my blog for all to enjoy. I may even be able to get a video of the golden moment.

My greatest fears are 1] that my hair will never grow back in or 2] it will finally come in gray. But this is a great cause I care deeply about. I'm doing this for my friends Doug, Kim and Stephen because of Hawk. I'm doing this because of Laura and her mom and dad. I'm doing this for Ashley who lost a leg, but gained our deepest admiration. I'm doing this for those other kids I don't know, but my heart still breaks for them and their families. And though they are not children I'm doing it for Marcia's dad, Mo and Shirley and Claire and Kim and Bill and for my mom who has been a cancer survior for going on 30 years now.

Check out the website at http://www.stbaldricks.org/. Then leave me a comment if you would "pay to see that"! As soon as I am registered as a participant, I'll let you know. If I can make a difference in one of these kid's lives, then bald is truly beautiful - but hopefully, not permanent.