A good friend...

A couple of years ago I was invited by a member of our church to go to a Jazz game. This was a surprising invite as the phone call literally went like this:
Sean: Hello
Lynn: Hello Sean, this is Lynn Luttrell
Sean: Hi Lynn, what can I do for you?
Lynn: I've got a problem that I think you can help me with.
Sean: ....okay...
Lynn: You see, I've secured some tickets to tomorrow nights Jazz game and I need someone to take one of those tickets off my hands
Sean: (surprised) Well I'm sure that I can help you with that problem!

Lynn showed up and took three of us to the game the next night. The coolest part was that the tickets were second row seats under the basket. I learned so much about professional basketball that night, but I also learned a lot about my friend Lynn.

My friend Lynn passed away last night after an extended battle with cancer. He has meant a lot to the members of our church as he and his wife have poured their lives into making our church a reality in the Salt Lake Valley. In fact, our church actually started meeting in their basement and he stuck with it from that moment forward.

Lynn always went out of his way to greet me with a smile and shake my hand every Sunday. He stood in my corner when times got tough, and always had something encouraging to say. He loved his wife dearly and took care of her. It was very clear to see that Lynn loved Jesus and he wanted to see him glorified in his life. While it is sad to see him go, I am glad that I got to know him, and I know that he is now free from pain and standing in amazement of his Creator.

So goodbye for now my friend, thank you for your example and everything you have done for the kingdom. Rest in the loving arms of your Creator and welcome home.

Chili cook off and a fun holiday game...

For the past two years, Rachael's parents have hosted the annual York, Patrick, Robbins chili cook off. This is a combines several birthdays of extended family and allows everyone to get involved. Each family is supposed to submit a chili which will then be voted as to which is the best for the year.
As the reigning champion of several chili cook off contests I was very confident in this year's submission: Tres Carnes (three meat) Chili. The meats were steak, chicken, and bacon, it was awesome. I'd like to say that my chili won the competition and retained the crown but sadly I lost out to another chili named Captian Brown's. I did however take second place and with it came a box of strange jelly beans.
Take a look at the list. Jelly Belly has lost its jelly bean creating mind. How do you come up with a rotten egg flavor, and what if you get them mixed up with the buttered popcorn and ship them to the wrong customer...sick.
So here is a fun holiday game for you and yours:
1.) Buy a box of Jelly Belly Bean Boozled jelly beans
2.) Open the box and commit to eat whatever jelly bean falls into your hand.
3.) Eat the bean
a. supress your gag reflex if the bean is bad
b. sigh in relief if the bean is good
4.) laugh at your family members or friends as they eat nasty jelly beans.
I personally had the joy of eating skunk spray, booger, vomit, and moldy cheese. Moldy cheese is by far the worst.
We had a lot of fun playing this one. I dare you to play. I'd be interested to see comments of which beans you end up with should you have the guts.