Meet Creswell Business Owners

To help people in Creswell get to know each other and hold that closeness the community has right now, we’re putting interviews with community members and business owners on the city’s website. Creswell is expected to grow from 4700 people to over 12,000 in the next 20 years and the city wants to do that without losing it’s small town feel. We hope a vibrant, user friendly website can be part of that process

Jim Pliska is no stranger to Creswell, Oregon. This Portland area businessman purchased the Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell a few years ago. His latest development is the new Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel right off I-5. 
But listen to this interview with Jim Pliska and you will learn more about the man and his plans for development in this rural Oregon town that is ready to grow.

Clients: Jim Pliska/Creswell Comfort Inn and Suites

City of Creswell.

Creswell, Oregon is ready to grow. (Click here for video)

I’ve never heard of a city paying cash for things. I’m sure it happens. Actually I’m not sure it happens all that often unless the city you are talking about is Creswell, Oregon. Creswell paid cash for a new city hall building and a public works facility. Creswell has a new sewer and water system and it’s streets are under repair. A Portland Businessman noticed all the changes and upgrades and just built a brand new Comfort Inn and Suites right off the Interstate.

Creswell is expecting a lot growth over the next 20 years but unlike many place in Oregon, Creswell will be ready.

Clients: Jim Pliska: Creswell Comfort Inn and Suites

City of Creswell

I Failed the test but Passed the Make Up Exam.

There I was, faced with a decision of whether to help or not help and I chose “not”. I was eating lunch in Albany and needed to get to Salem by 1:15. I looked at my watch as I headed out the door and it read 1:00. I’m probably 20 miles from my next meeting. As I get to my car a guy sitting in his beat-up red Toyota Pickup gets out and says, “Hey can you help me by giving my car a jump?”

At that moment my mind starts to whirl. I know I should, I know if I were him I’d want someone parked right next to me, our car batteries only inches from each other, to simply take the time to help me out. I looked at the guy and said, in a really nice voice, I’m sorry I can’t I have a meeting to get to in Salem.”

I jumped in my car and took off. I drove for about a mile. The whole time I’m thinking that was a really bad thing to do. I kept digging around in my excuse file that’s actually quite well developed in my brain for reasons to back up my decision. There were plenty to choose from. I had to be at this meeting on time. I couldn’t be late. Hey, I was meeting a very important person about a very important project and could not be late.

As I started to pass Home Depot (no significance just a land mark) I slammed on the break, turned my car around, and went back to the guy in the red truck. He was still sitting there as If he knew I’d be back. I said to him I just couldn’t do it. I need to help you. He smiled, helped me find the latch to open my hood (not something I do all that often) and within five minutes I was on my way.

I was about 10 minutes late to my meeting. I explained to the guy I was meeting with what happened to which he replied, “you did the right thing.”  I wish I did the right thing more often. I wish I could hear God more clearly when those really difficult moments arise and those voices lie to me and say it’s okay when I know it’s not.

I failed the test but passed the make up exam, this time.

A special Halloween Report (Click here for video)

Rick Dancer went on a walk tonight with his dogs and discovered something that shocked and surprised him. Be warned, the pictures are graphic and you may feel very guilty when finished watching. Remember to smile as you watch this and never take things to seriously.

Are we Foolish Enough?

I find the more I trust God the less value I place on many of the things I used to truly believe in. A long time ago, I thought persuasive words and intellect could bring people to a better understanding of God. I believed if you could get people to participate and teach them the importance of involvement life could change.

I remember thinking the greatest wisdom comes from those who were the most educated in spiritual matters and theology. So imagine my world unraveling this morning when I read these words from Oswald Chambers and they made so much sense. Imagine what happens next, now that I’ve experienced, on the written page, a moment with God that says; Rick, you are onto something.

Oswald Chambers;

“We forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary enterprise is not first the elevation of the people, nor the education of the people, no their needs; but first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ “ God ye therefore, and teach all nations.”

When looking back on the lives of men and women of God the tendency is to say “What wonderfully astute wisdom they had! How perfectly they understood all God wanted! The astute mind behind is the Mind Of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God. “

Does this mean we don’t educate people or take care of their needs? No, of course not. To me, what it means is we don’t let those things become our motivation. To me, that’s what’s happening to the church today. Look at our culture, we think education, information and more programs will save the world.

So my question is; God, am I childlike and foolish enough to trust your wisdom not the wisdom of the world, the church or the guy sitting next to me?

Cycling Oregon; Drain to Oakland (Click here for video)

There is nothing like it in the world. Cycling the state to see the sites and hear the sounds in a way you can’t experience them from a car. Even when the window is rolled down it is not the same thing. Yesterday Kathy and some friends and I went on a bike ride from Drain, Oregon to Oakland, Oregon. The Fall Leaves were turning, the air was cool and fresh and these are a few of the pictures we shot on our trip.