Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald Leader published a story online this morning about the possibility of Manchester, Kentucky becoming the home for a waste-conversion plant:¹

Manchester, in Clay County, is under consideration for a large manufacturing plant that would turn household garbage into building materials, according to the mayor and the state Economic Development Cabinet.

WNT LLC, which stands for Waste Not Technologies, estimated in an application for tax incentives that the project would create 1,411 jobs, according to a summary provided to the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority …

Considering the fact that Clay County has a projected 14.1% unemployment rate, according to the KY.gov Workforce Kentucky website, we sure could use the jobs.  Clay County alone will not be able to fill all of the 1,411 positions, but even those commuting from other counties will help the local economy by paying Clay County occupational tax in addition to purchasing food, gas, and other goods and services in the county.  This stimulation of the economy could prove to be monumental, considering Clay County is the fourth poorest county by median income in the United States.²  Also, if families relocate to Clay County, the tax base will increase, along with the number of students enrolled in the school system.  More residents means more consumer demand.  In order to meet the demand, businesses will open, thus adding more jobs.  As you can see, a cycle begins.  This plant could be the snowball that gets things rolling down the hill.

1. Kentucky.com

2. U.S. Census Bureau

On Sunday, I was blessed to perform the special music during the morning service.  I played “Glorious Day,” which is an updated version of the hymn “One Day.”  Michael Bleecker arranged it while searching for a song for his congregation to sing on Easter morning.  Boy, did he do well.

I bought some new books!  Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller, Atheism Remix by Al Mohler, A Guide to Historic Coal Towns of the Big Sandy River Valley by George D. Torok, and Tobacco Culture by John van Willigen & Susan C. Eastwood.  I’ve started Tobacco Culture, so my love for oral history has found another object of affection.

Saturday night, after BreAnne and I ate dinner at a Japanese steakhouse, we went to Horse Creek Baptist Church and heard a praise and worship band which represents Southeastern University.  Incredible.  If anyone gets a chance to hear them, don’t pass it up.

On Monday, my pastor and I met Jaron and Diego from New Jersey.  This summer, they are cycling through the country to raise awareness and funds for a charity which sponsors those with brain injuries and it’s research.  We were able to pray with them and give them some pointers for navigating the area.

There was quite a stir over storms moving through our area Tuesday night.  Several severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings were issued, but at the time, the skies looked relatively calm.  Then, within minutes, my wife and I saw this front moving in:

At a local convenient store, my total came up to $6.66.  The cashier promptly charged me another penny.  I quipped that if paying an extra penny made her feel better, I would gladly pay it.  She didn’t get the joke as she was very serious about the superstition.  She gave me $3.35 in change, so I actually paid $6.65.

On Saturday afternoon, my wife and I had a fantastic Father’s Day meal at her parent’s home.  That evening, we prepared dinner for my father and mother.  Spending time with family is a treat.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Finally, I received my Behringer Truth monitors.  Both of them.

The Rain City Hymnal is incredible.  I downloaded it Friday.  Excellent modernization of some great hymns.  More info can be found here.

I started walking this week.  I walked somewhere around 12 miles in one particular two-day period.  I enjoyed being outdoors and taking in the scenes at the park, on the nature trail, and in downtown.  I felt great after doing so, too.  I hope to have the time to make this a habit.  Or a hobby.  How about a hobbit?  Wait … that won’t work.

I suggest that everyone grab Jason Lovins Band’s new record as soon as possible.  From what I’ve heard, its going to be chock-full of some great songs.

Speaking of songs, I’ve had some issues with recording software that has set me back a bit in my endeavor to record some of what I’ve written.  Oh, well.  All in God’s time.

Aside from the monitors, the print I ordered from Kodak arrived this week.  It looks really good.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Now all I have to do is get it framed and convince my wife to put it up right in the living room where everyone can see it.

The Facebook URL rush was forgotten.  I lost.  I wound up having to settle for http://facebook.com/rcornett.

I’m starting to get used to Safari 4.  I miss the progress indicator in the address bar.

Sunday was senior Sunday, so the LIFE service praise team had the evening off.  I went to Liberty Worship Center that evening.  I thought the service started at 7 pm.  It started at 6 pm.  That was awkward, but hey, those folks are like family, especially my parents.

I started a book entitled “Tales from Kentucky Doctors” by oral historian William Lynwood Montell. It’s a phenomenal collection containing some memoirs of bluegrass physicians.  Whether about house calls made or medical school recollections, the stories are extremely interesting.  Judging from my enjoyment of this book, “Taking Up Serpents,” and other oral histories I’ve read, I hold an undeniable appeal for the works of folklorists.

BreAnne and I finally bought a Wii.  Why did we not buy one of these sooner?  We’ve had a blast!

I still haven’t received my items from Musician’s Friend.

My wife and I tried to watch “Slumdog Millionaire” Saturday night.  It was too non-linear for me. Just when I got interested, the timeline of the story would shift.

I ordered a print from Kodak.com.  I’ll let you know how it looks.

When I came home yesterday afternoon, there were two young ladies in a small, blue Honda Accord attempting to turn their car around.  I just parked my car and gathered my things.  I figured they were either lost or friends with my neighbor.  When I stepped out of my car, the girl in the driver’s seat poked her head out of the window and informed me that they were there simply to pass out invitations.  ”Great.  Thank you,” I stated cordially (in my experience with going door to door cold-calling potential customers during previous jobs I gained a respectful and sympathetic attitude toward solicitors).  So, I walked to my door and was greeted by a flyer inviting me to an event in Johnson City, Tennessee, a Q&A-type brochure, and the Watchtower magazine.  I folded them in half and threw them away.

Those young ladies were unafraid.  They were smiling.  They wanted to be doing what they were doing.  Their eagerness to get out and spread their message reminded of a conversation I had many years ago with a dear friend of mine:

“Why don’t Christians get out and proselytize like Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

“Because Satan doesn’t mind them doing so.  He does mind Christians getting out and sharing their faith.  So, he’ll do what it takes to stop them, which isn’t much.  Those spreading false religions don’t have that obstacle.”

If half of the time I spent volunteering for the youth ministry at my church was spent taking our youth and witnessing to the lost instead of policing our youth while they ate meals; sang silly songs; were taken to the movies, to a concert, to an amusement park, to a water park, or to a festival; played basketball; or were taken on a scavenger hunt, then perhaps our church would be filled with even more young people.  Or, if those youth would have been out sharing the Gospel maybe they would have remained in church once they graduated high school.

Regardless, Christians rarely get out and testify of the redemption they have through Jesus Christ.  Many religions which follow false gods are kicking Christians in the butt when it comes to spreading their message.  Yesterday was an excellent reminder of that sad fact.

I fixed baby-back ribs in the oven for the first time.  My wife really enjoyed them, but hasn’t been very hungry since.  They must have tasted good that night, but once the taste stayed in her mouth into the second day, she got tired of it.

I ordered an item that is a pair from Musician’s Friend.  I received one half of the pair.  After contacting customer service, I was informed that I would have to send the one I received back in order to get the two I ordered.  That - doing things the hard way, things that are unnecessary - sounds like the federal government to me.

A pair of my best friends became engaged this week.  Congratulations Chris & Tiffany!

My good friend Kenneth and I watched “Bedtime Stories” Saturday night.  No “Happy Gilmore,” but very entertaining.