things that make you say "hmm..." or "what the #$@!"

driving home from annual conference we drove by this sign, then turned around and came back to see if our eyes had decieved us. i had to take a picture. joel suggested that i go inside and ask what kind of gun but i thought that would take the fun out of it. i didn't want to know. i do wonder how many folks stop in just to see what this is about. great marketing ploy or simply more crazy Missourians?

A.C. was good. i had the chance to get to know the lay leader at the church where we'll be going in 2 weeks and 1 day (that's the countdown according to Val). i am excited and terrified and not terrified all at once.

since this is my first time i'm wondering how to nicely ask for a few things or at least find out if i can do them. the first thing they said when they showed me the office was that we could change the wall colors, take down the corkboard, do other stuff. the only thing i'd like to do is change the color. is this something i do or they do?

at the "right start" training i heard that it doesn't look good/make a good statement to come in and demand things and it doesn't send a good message if your office looks great as soon as you arrive but you haven't met with anyone.

isn't there a happy medium? i have been invited to come up and work in the office already (the previous pastor hasn't used it for several months--long story, but one i can't get into). i'd like to go up and go ahead and set up my office so it will be ready even before we move into the parsonage. but if i do this is that overstepping? is that bad if i have re-done the office prior to actually "working"? i'm totally good with meeting and visiting the sick and home bound my first week, my first day i move into the parsonage even but i guess i feel like if i get my office set up prior to then that may send out a bad message, especially if i haven't visited anyone yet. this place is 90 miles from our home, so it isn't like i can afford the gas mileage to go ahead and make several trips to visit folks before i start.

that said, it would be great to have the office set up so that i could make a good start and have less worries that first week. it'd be like having a little sanctuary i could go during the chaos.

thoughts? advice?