one more for the band

my new profile  http://www.myspace.com/ledheppler
come check out my blog at http://blog.myspace.com/ledheppler

If the link does not work just cut and paste. If all goes well I will soon be accepted to seminary and this will be the best way to reach me.

Fare thee well

My long time Xanga pals the time has come for me, like it has for many of you to sign off of xanga. I have chosen to move my blog to Myspace. That my tic some of you off but it is a chance I have to take. I am entering a new phase of life and I will be moving into a new phase of blogging. Please dont be a stranger, and any of you that are using Myspace lets hook up on each others page.

I will still every once in a while check up on yall who are loyal xangamiesters. But for now hasta la vista baby!

http://www.myspace.com/90592333

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of my extended family out there. I hope that you are doing well and that Santa brought you everything that you asked for.

Over the Christmas break my computer picked up a bug and is not doing well. I am not sure if it is going to make it as a matter of fact. So If you dont hear from me for a while it is because either I am in mourning or because I am still doing what ever I can to bring the computer back to life.

Have a happy new year.

Leo Heppler

The Burr

Ever since my trip last month, I have been waiting patiently for something to happen. Yesterday it finally did.

While in Lee's Summit, Brian and Kelly Fantasma gave me a pound of Kona coffee beans. I am especially fond of Kona beans. They are probably my second favorite, after Jamaica Blue Mountain Beans which, by the way, are crazy expensive.

Anyway, I have been looking at that bag of beans for a month now and I have not broken the seal on them because I have a grinder situation. A grinder situation you ask? Yes, a bean slicing situation to be more exact.

You see there are many ways to grind coffee bean and for those who care to get technical, some ways are much better than others. One way is slice the bean using a blade grinder. These are the really cheep grinders that have what looks like a lawnmower blade in the bottom of the grinder that spins incredibly fast. But slicing is not the best way to get the most flavor out of your coffee bean. Alas, my grinder is a slicer, not fit to touch a Kona, much less a Jamaica Blue Mountain bean.

What I some day aspire to is a set of conical grinders, one for flavored and one for non flavored beans. Conical grinders are really the preferred method for grinding beans but are usually seriously expensive and the good ones are usually only used in coffee shops. These grinders crush the bean and create a better brew, but are inaccessible for the hobby coffee coinsure.

That leaves us with burr grinders. Burr grinders also crush the bean as opposed to slicing, and can also be very expensive. However about a two months ago I saw a fairly nice burr grinder at Sam's club for only 30 ducats. Yeah, that's what I thought! But Grace was like, "Maybe Santa will bring it to you." That was her way of saying that I couldn't get it.

While we were on our trip we were doing a little window shopping and what do you know there was my grinder for $60, ON SALE! I was incredulous. I wanted to drive straight back to OKC and buy that grinder.

Fast forward to yesterday, we are headed to OKC to do our Christmas shopping and you guessed it, buy the Cuisinart Burr Grinder. It was almost like when Ralphie finally got his Red Rider, Carbine, lever action, bb gun with compass in the stalk and thing that tells time. We got home and I unboxed it and it shone like star on our christmas tree. I gave it a prominent place in our kitchen, right beside the bag of Kona coffee that has been taunting me for over a month. I cleaned out the coffee maker just to make sure that everything was set for the morning and skipped off to bed, only to dream of overcoming giants, rescuing my sweetheart from quicksand made of sliced, not crushed coffee grounds, and riding off into the sunset on my new BMW touring motorcycle. All in all, not a bad night. 

Trip to visit friends in KC.  Around $300

1lb. bag of Kona Coffee beans. Gift $0

Cuisinart Burr coffee grinder $30

Two trips to Sam's Club in OKC $80

Sipping Kona brew on my front poarch with my sweety.  Priceless

Washington

I recently watched part of a documentary about George Washington. What an impact this man has had on the World. One of his most endearing qualities, Leadership. Washington in his day was not loved by all and the other military leaders of his time did not agree with his leadership style. The most prominent aspect of his leadership was that he always lead from the front. When the men were digging trenches you would not find Washington planning his next move from the safety of his tent. He would be with them digging in the trenches.

The thing that most intrigued me about Washington was that after he had defeated the British, his popularity had come into full bloom. He was the commander and chief of the army that had overcome the most powerful, and sophisticated military in the world. He had more power in the colonies than any other man in the world. He was set to walk in and take the presidency of the United States of America. But he did not. He walked into the Senate and relinquished his sword and his authority. He placed his power in the trust of those who he fought for and did not seek the presidency. He had accomplished the most difficult and daring task to secure the liberty of America, and then did not demand or expect that he should be consulted about the leadership and direction of the Country. The presidency was thrust upon him. He reluctantly accepted it.

What happened to this kind of leader? Do they still exist? Where are the men whose only agenda is to serve? Where can we find men who do not seek glory but earn glory? Why do all the popular leadership books today say that we should delegate everything that is beneath us, and only do the things that we are gifted to do? Do we live in a world that we disparage work and worship status? When was the last time you voted for someone because you believed that they were gifted and humble, rather than because they were the lesser of two evils?

I may be crazy, or I may just be under conviction, but when Jesus said that the greatest among you will be the servant of all, I cant help but think that we have some how missed that point. I don't need to fight for status, and I won't model myself after those who believe that they deserve anything. God help me. God save our leaders from themselves.