2 President’s in One Day

August 21, 2009 by jcollins.

Sam wanted to return to Focus on the Family to ride the big slide. When we got there, they we were closed for their all staff chapel service. Our guide on Wednesday told us that the public was invited to attend, so we changed clothes and walked over to join the staff. The band Rush of Fools was leading in praise and worship. They are a pop music band that performed several well know worship songs, a traditional hymn and a few of their own songs. We were impressed.

After Rush of Fools, the host introduced the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Secret Service surrounded him as he entered from the back and shook hands coming up the aisle. This was too good to be true; literally, it wasn’t really President Bush, but instead President Bush impersonator John Morgan. He spoke for about 15 minutes as President Bush, played a couple of blues songs on his guitar, and then gave the balance of his presentation as John Morgan. It was a very funny speech with a solid message about living double lives.

When “President Bush” finished the host came up and introduced the president of Focus on the Family, Jim Daly. President Daly spoke about the challenges facing the organization during the recession. He also told of visiting some Christians in China. As we was departing they told him they were praying for him. When he inquired what they are praying for they responded, “We are praying that the church in America will be persecuted, because from where we stand you appear very weak.” I guess God is listening to their prayers.

After chapel we visited the bookstore to have our photo taken with “President Bush”. The local news was covering it and if you click this link and watch the clip at the bottom of the story carefully, you will see Sam’s smiling face.

We then went downstairs to the children’s section, called Whit’s End. The entire area is designed like the incredibly popular kids radio drama Adventures in Odyssey. There are many of the props used throughout the years and they even have a Whit’s End soda fountain store.

The best part was their Kids Radio, where Sam and I were able to record an episode of Odyssey where we were two of the characters. We left with a very special CD of the session.

Just before we left, Sam was able to go down the big slide called “A Bend De Go”, it’s 70 feet of curves and fun, leaving inside the building, going outside and finally ending up back inside. He said it was a blast. They warned me that no one over 5’9” was allowed on the slide, because you WOULD get stuck and it’s not a lot of fun for them to have to go and down and push you through.

I think this was our best day in Colorado Springs.

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