2007 Recommended Reading List

Today I wish to blog about books I have read either in their entirety or in part (but enough "part" to be able to make a recommendation) this year. Some have been textbooks in classes and others have not.

The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan = I read most of this with my accountability partners this year. It is an excellent book about God's attributes written in plain language. The unique takes in this book on the parable of the Good Samaritan as well as on God's Wrath are especially good.

Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer = The former CEO of Big Idea, Inc. and the creator of VeggieTales gives an autobiographical look at the rise and fall of his company. You really must read this book in its entirety in order to get the full impact.

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. Required reading for one of my courses but an excellent study in how to resolve conflict.

Making Peace by Jim Van Yperen. Also required reading for the same course on the subject of resolving conflict.

Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson. The title pretty much describes the content (how to raise boys as a parent).

Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Laine Jones, and Reggie Joiner. A thought provoking study on seven things the authors believe a church must practice. These are more philosophical than theological in nature, but the authors make a strong argument for these practices.

God's Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren. A study on developing the fruit of the Spirit into your life. Very easy to read.

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. This 17th century monk gives a strong argument for doing what the title says. Beware of moral perfectionist theology within the work, though.

Behind the Screen: Hollywood Insiders on Faith, Film, and Culture by Spencer Lerewenz and Barbara Nicolosi. A collection of essays by practicing Christians in Hollywood on various aspects of the screen world. I found some of the essays to be very valuable while others I felt were quite lacking. Read all of them, though, for some mental candy to chew on. You will likely find some of your attitudes about Hollywood challenged by this material.

and for something different:

The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World by Julie Neal and Mike Neal. It's extremely colorful and very helpful on planning a visit to WDW.

The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World by the Imagineers. Similar in design to the previously read Field Guides for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, this one covers Animal Kingdom. Very good. Very colorful. Very informative.

Walt Disney World & Your Local Church - Part 3

1)THIS COLUMN WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU IN LIVING COLOR AND THAT'S A VERY GOOD PLACE TO START. WHY DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE USE OF APPEALING COLORS IN OUR CHURCH STRUCTURES? PLAIN WHITE WALLS GIVE THE FEELING OF BEING IN THE HOSPITAL OR AN ASYLUM OR PRISON OR SOMETHING? CONTRAST THAT WITH WDW WHERE VIBRANT COLORS ARE EVERYWHERE.
IT IS A BLESSING FOR YOUR CHURCH TO HAVE IT'S OWN BUILDING. MANY CHURCHES THROUGHOUT CHURCH HISTORY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE BUILDINGS TO USE. AMERICAN CHURCHES TAKE THIS BLESSING FOR GRANTED . PLEASE, I BEG YOU, PAINT OR WALLPAPER THE WALLS WITH VIBRANT COLORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2) EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH SHOULD KNOW WHY YOU ARE THERE. IT ISN'T TO HOLD THE SAME RITUAL WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER...... CONTRAST THAT WITH WDW WHERE ALL THE "CAST MEMBERS" (THEY ARE NOT CALLED EMPLOYEES) KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE HAPPINESS.
YOU HAVE A MISSION, A PURPOSE, A REASON TO EXIST. GOD LOVED YOU SO MUCH TO DIE FOR YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO SHARE THAT LOVE WITH OTHERS. HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW AND WORSHIP HIM AND DRAW CLOSE TO HIM. IN BROAD TERMS WE ARE "TO KNOW CHRIST (RELATIONSHIP) AND MAKE HIM KNOWN (DISCIPLESHIP)." EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH NEEDS TO KNOW THIS!

3) EXCELLENCE! TOO OFTEN OUR INVOLVEMENT IN CHURCH IS HALF-HEARTED AND SLOPPY. WE GO WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT OR WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT FOR US. WE TO DO JUST "GOOD ENOUGH" IN OUR MINISTRY ACTIVITIES. CONTRAST THAT WITH WDW WHERE EVERY DETAIL INCLUDING THE DESIGN OF TRASH CANS IS CAREFULLY PRESENTED. YOU CAN EVEN NOTICE HAIR ON THE LEG OF ONE OF THE PIRATES IN "PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN". THEY ARE RUTHLESSLY DEDICATED TO THE EXCELLENCE IN THEIR PRODUCT.
WHEN WE DO CHURCH WE SHOULD DO SO WITH EXCELLENCE. THIS IS NOT A RIGID, UNREALISTIC PERFECTIONISM, BUT A COMMITMENT TO GIVE ALL THAT WE ARE TO OUR LORD. THE LORD WORKS THROUGH US AS CHRISTIANS AND IF HE IS WORKING THEN WE WILL DO OUR BEST IN TEACHING LESSONS, DECORATING, WORSHIP, PRAYER, AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE DO IN THE NAME OF CHURCH.

4) CREATIVITY! WE OFTEN TAKE A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH TO EVERYTHING WE DO. OUR PREACHING/TEACHING STYLES DON'T CHANGE WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GENESIS FLOOD OR SEX IN THE SONG OF SOLOMON OR DOCTRINE IN THE EPISTLES. CONTRAST THIS WITH WDW - CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THE IMAGINNEERS DID "THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE-THE-POOH" AT MAGIC KINGDOM EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THEY DO THE "THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR" AT THE DISNEY STUDIOS? (A GREAT MENTAL PICTURE -SEEING PIGLET AND THEN DROPPING THIRTEEN STORIES). DIFFERENT BIBLE LESSONS CALL FOR DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS. THE STORIES OR TEACHINGS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME (THOUGH THEY ALL POINT IN SOME WAY TO THE SAME GOD). CREATIVITY ALSO EXTENDS TO THE DECOR' OF OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR WORSHIP AND ALL THE REST.

These four things are only the beginning. There are others. However, it should be obvious that theology is not something we learn from WDW. You can't "Wish Upon a Star" and get anything your heart desires. Our theology of the afterlife does not come from "The Haunted Mansion". Your fairy god-mother is not showing up anytime soon. However, there are many things churches can learn from this otherwise secular organization. It is a shame we are having to learn aspects of our faith from them rather than them learning from us. It really should not be that way.

Walt Disney World & Your Local Church - Part 2

Walk into your church on an average Sunday morning. Probably there is a wall with many scuff marks that needs to be cleaned. Probably your Sunday School (or Small Group) room has a plain white wall. There is possibly a plumbing problem in the bathroom. Your auditorium is either (depending on your tradition) a gothic type structure that looks and smells like the middle ages or it is a plain functional room with very little to commend it. Hardly anyone knows what your mission is supposed to be. Your church possibly feels like a cold coporation or an out-of-date monument to a not-so-appealing past. Your pastor may give a boring little homily that can only elicit a "that's nice" at best or he goes into a detailed doctrinal explanation that makes you wish you were in someplace more appealing like the local hospital. You feel like you have to hide who you are for danger someone might find out and then there will be consequences!!! Did I mention that a great feeling of disorganization runs through the enterprise. And what about the suits and ties and the rest of the dress code? The only stories that are told there are done very poorly to the children. And gardening is limited to an artificial tree or two in the lobby.

PERHAPS WE ARE OVERSTATING THIS CASE A LITTLE, BUT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU DID FIND YOUR CHURCH DESCRIBED IN AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE STATEMENTS.

Well, it does not have to be that way. There are some things WDW can teach us about church life without compromising the Gospel or good doctrine (After all, a church can't teach that it's OK to be a Pirate of the Carribean). We'll examine what churches can learn from WDW without compromising what a church is and supposed to be about in our next post.

Walt Disney World & Your Local Church - Part 1

This past Saturday I went to a local mall with my wife. I allow myself book money so I won't be bored at the mall when my wife is in "women's stores". This week I bought an extraordinary new guide to Walt Disney World (WDW) I had not previously seen. It is filled with colorful pictures, colorful pages, and helpful information on planning your visit. It reminded me of my emotional connection to this place.

I visited California's Disneyland on my 7th birthday in 1977. I followed that with visits to WDW in Florida in 1980, 1988, 1995, and my honeymoon in 2004. On my honeymoon, after we had visited three of the four theme parks, I commented to my wife that this place gets to me at an emotional core level. You see, I don't just enjoy my trips to WDW, it is an emotional experience for me. Almost, do I dare say it, a religious experience.

Whoah, that started to sound like heresy. A theme park as religious experience for a Christian! How can that be! Well, to say the least, I have pondered this for some time now. Why would a saved person who believes in an inerrant Bible that should be lived view a collection of theme parks with religious significance? Dont' forget these are not "Christian theme parks' owned by Christians. These parks primarily exist to make money not spread God's love. They promote at times an unrealistic view of the world. They are open on Sunday! They even teach evolution at EPCOT!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!!!!!

NOTHING!

That's right. You see what I connect to emotionally at WDW are things like Beauty, Quality, Good Story-telling, Child-like Wonder, Creativity, Smiling, Laughing, and just plain fun. I like the fact that WDW is highly organized and has a good structure. I like the fact that they will do what it takes to fulfill their mission: to provide people happiness. I like the fact that WDW is a place for families to grow closer and bond together. I like the fact that WDW is a place where the troubles of the real world can be left behind for awhile. I like the fact that even though you are busy seeing and doing things, you are essentially resting while you are there. You are taking a Sabbath, so to speak. And it is possible to encounter God there.

What does WDW have to do with the local church? Plenty. And I'll tell you to begin with that most churches provide Very Few or None of the Above things I just mentioned. AND THAT IS A PROBLEM!!!

We'll explore this further in our next post.

"The Office" and Broken Dreams

As mentioned in a previous post, my wife and I have gotten into the show "The Office" (I don't remember if I mentioned my wife was into it too, but she is). We are are now 3/4 of the way through season two. The last episode we saw was "Take Your Daughter To Work Day".

In the middle of the episode, the lead character Michael Scott shows a video of himself on a children's program many years ago. In it he states his life dream is to get married and have a hundred kids so he would have a hundred friends. In reality, he is still single, has no kids, and in truth, very few (if any) friends. In the deleted scenes of the episode, we see where the receptionist Pam realizes she has not realized her dream of being an artist. Once again the dream is not reality at the time.

So many people have found themselves in the land of broken dreams. The marriage that did not happen. The career path we can't seem to find. Sometimes we just have no clue what to do. We start jobs we wanted to do (and even trained in college for) only to find out we hate the job. Sometimes we have a good idea of what we should do but don't know how to realize it. Even the knowledge of a divine call from God to a particular path does not seem to bring the dream about.

What shall we do? Well, as one who is in the middle of trying to discern the next step in God's path to the dream, I can only offer limited advice. But here goes.

1) Is this my dream or God's dream He knows us better than we know ourselves. Perhaps we need to review and make sure that our dream is God's dream (or if you prefer, vision) for us or is it one we have made up for ourselves.

2) Trust God's character This may be harder than we realize. But we have to trust that what the Bible says about God is actually true. And if he calls us to a particular path, he knows how to lead us down that path correctly.

3) Remember the Experiences of Bible people God' divine call on Joseph took him on a path through an Egyptian prison. God's divine call on David took him to wandering as a fugitive in the wilderness. God's divine call on Saul of Tarsus took him to 3 years in Arabia and probably 10 years of living at home in his hometown (possibly in his parent's house). In other words, God' s path does not always make human sense.

4) Avoid Good Distractions It's easy to forget your call while on the journey. If you land in a good job on the path to the dream, you can forget the dream and pursue the job instead. One of the hardest steps on my path was probably leaving a secular job I had landed to refocus on God's dream for me.

5) Avoid Bad Distractions This should seem obvious, but when we get discouraged on the path to the dream, the bad distractions can take us out.

6) Enjoy the Journey This is probably the hardest part for me personally. But the journey to the dream should be enjoyed, though it is sometimes hard to do this. Sometimes the hardest part of the vacation to a desired place (such as Walt Disney World) is enjoying the drive to get there. Yet, there can be enjoyable stops enroute (such as Rock City) that while not as good as the destination, can still be great fun.

7) Insert Point Seven Here OK, I have only six points, but leaving it at six just didn't seem right.

The advantage the Christian has over the characters on "The Office" is God. That's good. That's the best!

Recommended DVD Viewing

You may be bored with the latest offerings on DVD. Or you may just want to watch something you know little about, but you don't know what is good. Here are some recommendations for you from The Thinking Servant.

Lewis & Clark This would be the Ken Burns Documentary. It is (in my opinion) the best Ken Burns documentary I have ever seen. Highly recommended. And it is much shorter (4 hours) than some of his other choices like The Civil War or Baseball.

WKRP in Cincinatti: Season One This has just been released on DVD. This season (the 1978-79 season of the show) was definitely the show's best. If your not old enough to remember the show, I recommend it. The First Episode is a classic! As is the Thanksgiving Episode! (this does not necessarily endorse every episode of the season as I don't remember all of them, but there were plenty of good ones).

Any Pixar film Even the relatively mediocre Ratatouille (I hope I spelled it right) is better than most films. My favorites include both Toy Story films, Monsters, Inc. (I just saw this one for the first time) and Cars. I have not seen The Incredibles yet.

The first four seasons of Frasier Though this show declined in it's later years, the first four seasons were mostly excellent (on average they would produce about six lesser episodes each year, leaving some eighteen that were great). If your not familar with the show start with season one and go from there. I rate the third season the highest overall (though it started off poorly with a bad plot line involving Frasier and his boss. You can skip those episodes and most of the rest were excellent).

Support Your Local Sheriff A 1969 western comedy starring James Garner. It's Great.

What About Bob? A 1991 comedy with Bill Murray as a mental patient who follows his new psychiatrist on vacation.

Empires: Martin Luther A PBS documentary about the life of Martin Luther. Features theologian Allister McGrath as one of the commentators.

These are just a few to get you started.

Theology & Philosophy Song Titles I Would Love To See

Needing something randomn to blog about I thought I would list Theology & Philosophy song titles I would love to see! There aren't enough songs writtten on this subject, you know.

Augustine of Hippo I Am, I Am

Heartbreak Monastary

Disco Dante

Saserdotal-fragilistic-expiala-docious

95 Lufttheses

Sharped Dressed Antinomian

Achy Breaky Descartes

The Age of Aquinas

Me and You and Bernard of Clairveaux

Living La Theologia

Bohemian Eschatology

Surfin Neitzche

All My Rowdy Nihilists Are Coming Over Tonight

and finally

The Calvinism Polka

Movies We'd Like to See Made

NOTE: Though these are written in a somewhat humorous vein, I really would love to see these movies made below.

10) The Godmother.

9) Ferris Bueler's Day at Work

8) The Sound of Preaching

7) Tech School Musical

6) Dances with Porcupines

5) The Bob Newhart Story

4) Monty Python and the Titanic

3) Forrest Gump and the Temple of Doom

2) Preachin' in the Rain

1) The Thinking Servant: The Movie (what else would you expect here)

Good Names for Rock Groups

After the previous column, I need to have some fun.

These are names I think would be good for rock groups.

Raging Timidity. (I like two words that don't go together)

Oat Bran. (Nasty food. Good rock group name)

Deep Dish. (I think it sounds better than "Deep Dish Pizza")

Dinosaur Droppings. (I would not want to be a member of this band)

Theological Nightmare (made up of Wayne Grudem on bass, Alister McGrath on keyboard, Millard Erickson on vocals, and John R.W. Stott on the drums)

Deleware (if you can have groups called Alabama or Kansas, then why not?)

Microwave Popcorn (this would be a good Disney Channel band)

One Hit Wonders (I like truth in advertising)

Office Politics (It started with four accountants and a dream)

Mildew (A good grunge band)

No Talent Hacks (another good example of truth in advertising)

The Electric Mowinkles (there was this German Old Testament higher critic named Sigmund Mowinkle who, while not being remotely close to the best biblical scholar, definitely had the best name of any biblical scholar)

Pipeline (I've been to Alaska recently so it's still on my mind)

Sermon Prep (Well, I preach so this is also on my mind)

and finally, the last (it may not be the best, but it's the last for now)

Democratic Meltdown (it all started with four Republicans and a dream)

Best and Worst of 80's Movies

A new list to add to my TV list below.

BEST MOVIE ABOUT SKIPPING SCHOOL: Ferris Beuller's Day Off (1986)

WORST MOVIE ABOUT SKIPPING SCHOOL: I didn't see any of them, but I'm sure the teenage sex comedies of the early and mid-eighties did much of this. Pick one. Any one. Pick all of them for this award.

BEST HARRISON FORD MOVIE: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).

WORST HARRISON FORD MOVIE: Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom (1984)

BEST MOVIE ABOUT A SUMMER CAMP: There were none.

WORST MOVIE ABOUT A SUMMER CAMP: Take your pick. the various Meatballs sequels. Ernest Goes to Camp (1987). Any Friday the 13th movie. Thats just a start.

BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE: A Christmas Story (1983). Runner-up: Scrooged (1988).

WORST CHRISTMAS MOVIE: I didn't see it, but I have a strong hunch that Silent Night, Deadly Night (198?) would fit here. Runner-up: I didn't see this one either, but I heard that the Dudley Moore move Santa Claus: The Movie (198?) was a turkey as well.

BEST MOVIE STARRING ANDRE THE GIANT IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: The Princesss Bride (1987).

WORST MOVIE STARRING ANDRE THE GIANT IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: I don't remember him in any other movie, but probably if he was in another movie, it was bad.

BEST SPORTS MOVIE OF THE 80's: This is a tie between Hoosiers (1986) and Field of Dreams (1989).

WORST SPORTS MOVIE OF THE 80's: Eight Men Out (1988) is not really that bad, but it is long and boring.

BEST SUPER HERO MOVIE OF THE 80's: Superman II (1981). Better than the first one was. One of the best superhero movies of all time.

WORST SUPER HERO MOVIE OF THE 80's: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). It's sad to see a great franchise fall so far in such a short time. I didn't see it, but I heard that Supergirl (1984) was a disaster as well.

That's all I have time to blog about right now.

The Best and Worst of 1980's Television

Yes, I'm headed to an 80's party this coming weekend and so I have to give my best of the 1980's awards for TV shows. In my opinion the 80's were the true Golden Age of Television though there were a few clunkers as noted below. My categories are somewhat unique:

BEST SHOW WITH CHARACTERS HIDING THEIR TRUE IDENTITY FROM THE AUTHORITIES: The A-Team (1983-86). Runner-up: ALF (1986-90)

WORST SHOW WITH CHARACTERS HIDING THEIR TRUE IDENTITY FROM THE AUTHORITIES: Small Wonder (1985-89, I think).

BEST SHOW FEATURING A GRUFF OLD CODGER PAIRED WITH A YOUNG PERSON WHO BRIGHTENS UP THEIR LIVES: Punky Brewster (1984-86, 87-88).

WORST SHOW FEATURING A GRUFF OLD CODGER PAIRED WITH A YOUNG PERSON WHO BRIGHTENS UP THEIR LIVES: Jake & The Fatman (1987-90)

BEST SHOW FEATURING SLIME: You Can't Do That On Television (throughout the 80's on Nickelodeon)

WORST SHOW FEATURING SLIME: You Can't Do That On Television (hey, it was a very uneven show)

BEST SITCOM ABOUT A CONVENTIONAL NUCLEAR FAMILY: Family Ties (1982-89). Runners-up: The Cosby Show (1984-92); Growing Pains (1985-92)

WORST SITCOM ABOUT A CONVENTIONAL NUCLEAR FAMILY: Married..with Children (1987-way into the 90's). Runners-up: Roseanne (1988-97); Mr. Belvedere (1985-90).

BEST SITCOM ABOUT AN UNCONVENTIONAL NUCLEAR FAMILY: The Hogan Family (1986-91). Runner-up: Diff'rent Strokes (1978-86)

WORST SITCOM ABOUT AN UNCONVENTIONAL NUCLEAR FAMILY: Who's The Boss? (1984-92). Runner-up: Mamma's Family (1983-whenever)

BEST ACTOR IN A HIT TV SHOW: Michael J. Fox in Family Ties (1982-89)

WORST ACTOR IN A HIT TV SHOW: Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985-92).

BEST ACTRESS IN A HIT TV SHOW: I hate the show, but it is honestly Betty White in The Golden Girls (1985-92)

WORST ACTRESS IN A HIT TV SHOW: Anyone on Designing Women (1986-93).

BEST SHOW SET IN ATLANTA: Matlock (1986-95).

WORST SHOW SET IN ATLANTA: Designing Women (1986-93)

BEST SHOW FEATURING TALKING MACHINERY: Knight Rider (1982-86)

WORST SHOW FEATURING TALKING MACHINERY: All other shows that had this.

BEST TV CATCH PHRASE OF THE DECADE: "Hi, I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl, this is my other brother Darryl" - as said by Larry on nearly every episode of Newhart (1982-90) that he appeared on.
Runner-ups: "Hey, Let's Be Careful Out There" - the first chief on Hill Street Blues (1981-87), said after the roll call that started each episode.;
"Of course I have, don't be ridiculous" - Balki on Perfect Strangers (1986-92), when trying to pretend he knew what you were talking about.

WORST TV CATCH PHRASE OF THE DECADE: "Who Shot J.R.?" - not really stated on the show until after it was the big phrase in America during Who Shot J.R. mania in 1980. The show was Dallas (1978-91).

and finally:

BEST DRAMA SERIES OF THE DECADE: Magnum P.I. (1980-88)

BEST SITCOM OF THE DECADE: Newhart (1982-90). Runner-up: Family Ties (1982-89).

This list will of course engender debate providing it actually gets read of course.

The Michael Scott Within

Sometimes it takes me a couple of years to discover something after it comes out. Recently I have seen the first season of the NBC series "The Office" (this season originally aired in the spring of 2005). The series is set at a regional office for a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is filmed in a way similar to a reality show (with characters talking directly to the camera at times in interviews). I've seen five of the six episodes on the disc so far and the show is the best sitcom I have seen in years.

By years I mean since 1997-98. That was the year "Everybody Loves Raymond" had a fantastic second season. Raymond was still good after that but I don't know that it ever reached the same consistent brilliance episode after episode that it did that season.

The genius of "The Office" lies in its central character Michael Scott (played by Steve Carrill - I hope I spelled his name right). This guy is a lunatic! On the one hand he wants to be a great boss and get along with his workers. On the other hand, he is constantly accidentally insulting them through offensive stereotyping and bad practical jokes. He can be firm when he wants to be, but that certainly is not when it comes to making a difficult, hard decision. He thinks everyone in the office loves him, but in reality it is obvious that no one truly respects him. At times his on screen behavior directly contradicts what he tells us about himself in the interviews.

On the one hand, most of us are not like him. Most of us know better than to insult people with the aforementioned offensive stereotyping (EXAMPLE: he is forming a basketball team in one episode and tells the Mexican-American in the office that he can't play basketball with them, but that he can join them for baseball or boxing). On the other hand, how many people have you known who didn't have a clue about how others really felt about them? How many of us would tell an interviewer one thing while living out a different story?

What makes Michael Scott so funny is that, in our fallen human condition, we all have the potential to be just like him. And that is also more than a little bit scary!

Other characters on the show demonstrate the human condition as well: Dwight, the assistant to the regional manager who is a dictatorial nerd just hoping to get to fire someone at some point or Jim, who is obviously interested in Pam the receptionist but won't tell her (she is in the middle of a three year engagement to one of the warehouse workers).

While I am sure the producers did not intend this, "The Office" is one more television example showing us people desperately in need of a savior to come in and change their lives and work on the rough edges within. Fortunately, such a savior is available for us!

George Utley, R.I.P.

I just read that one of my favorite actors, Tom Poston, has died.

Poston played my favorite character - handyman George Utley - on my all-time favorite sitcom Newhart.

If you've never seen Newhart, check it out if you can. The series is not on DVD yet, but I'm sure it will be eventually.

The saga of Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) and his wife Joanna (the late Mary Frann) as they buy the Stratford Inn in a tiny town in Vermont was a classic. George was their somewhat clueless handyman. When the show began, they had to put with wacky next door neighbor Kirk Devane (Steven Kampmann) and had a level headed maid Leslie Vanderkellen (Jennifer Holmes). After the first season, Leslie left and was replaced by self-obsessed cousin Stephanie (Julia Duffy). After the second season, Kirk left the show, and local wild men Larry, Darryl, and Darryl (who were already making periodic appearances) bought Kirk's restaurant, the Minuteman Cafe. About the same time Stephanie started dating Michael Harris (Peter Scolari), the superficial producer of Dick's local talk show "Vermont Today".

These were the main characters. I loved the townspeople who dropped by occassionally. Dimwitted Mayor Chester Wannamaker and his equally dimwitted pal Jim, the deathly serious Officer Shifflet, perpetually out-of-work local Harley Estin, and others helped strengthen the comedy.

George was my favorite character because he was a fundamentally decent guy who was very funny.

Some highlights:
* He once bought regular jeans to replace his overalls. He went back to overalls because he didn't like the designer label on the back pocket. He didn't like having to back out of a room.
* When his lodge put out a facebook, George decided he needed a nickname since all the other lodge members had one (and he needed to get it into general use by the following Tuesday).
* He bought a sing along machine and went around singing "That's the Way, U-huh, U-huh, I like it."
* When he casually announced to everyone he had no family to spend Christmas with, Joanna questioned about him being "all alone in the world". George suddenly look serious, and realizing it for the first time, got depressed and said, "I can't believe it, I'm all alone in the world."
* When discussing with Dick about putting in a new furnace, George said it would cost $80. Dick, knowing he's a handyman, said "I thought you'd take care of that." George replied "I don't have $80".

They're probably funnier when you see them acted out. Anyway, our sympathies are extended to Tom Poston's family. And this is one fan who appreciates his work on this show.