Kidologist.com

NEW Kidologist.com is LIVE!

2007-06-18T18:04:00.000-05:00

VISIT www.kidologist.com and see my new site!

Same web address, new enhanced site that will be more than just a blog.

Not sure if I will continue e-mail notification of blog posts. Hasn't worked for months on the old one, and the new one doesn't offer it. It uses RSS feeds instead. If you use RSS feeds the old one no longer works and should be replaced with the new one:

OLD:
http://www.kidologist.com/pkblog/atom.xml

to NEW:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/kidologist/

If you have no idea what I am talking about, don't worry about it. :-D

If you'd like to know more, this link will explain more:
http://www.kidology.org/rss/index.asp

My preferred RSS Reader is www.bloglines.com

If you would really like me to continue/resume e-mails of posts, let me know.

Be the first to comment on the new site!

Thanks! See ya on the new site!

Meditate On My Header

2007-06-15T13:44:00.000-05:00

Take a close look and meditate on my flash header. Enjoy everything that flashes by... you may never see it again... ;)

It Pays to Be Patient?

2007-06-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

I just bought a few books on Amazon and when looking at my 1-Click account settings, I noticed a link to Wish List. I click on it and found that on September 21, 2004 (my brother's birthday!) I had put a really nice digital camera on my wish list.... for $899.95!

I wondered, of course, if the camera is still available to purchase, so I clicked on the link, and discovered that INDEED it still is:

But for only $195.00!

See, by being patient and waiting three years, I can get this amazing 2.1 MEGA pixel digital camera with a 10x optical zoom lens that uses outdated SmartMedia and is ten times bigger than today's cameras with less features and save hundreds of dollars!

Actually, I did buy this camera, just not from Amazon, and got tons of use out of it for several years, and still use it for still photograhy because it takes amazing pictures and with the optical large lens you get more light and faster shutter speeds, which makes it ideal for large indoor pictures (such as Kid U events) and fast moving images.

The Point: Yes, technology is expensive when it is new, and costs more than it will later... but you do get more for paying more. You get the use of the tool while others are waiting for the price to drop.

Which brings me to the final point: Why I would buy an iPhone as soon as they come out when over time the price may drop and features and hard drive space will improve.

If you have not watched the iPhone commercials, the flash promo, or the iPhone keynote address, you really should. This small sleek machine is beyond incredible... it is going to change the cellular world the same way the iPod and iTunes changed the way we buy, listen and use music, and the way the Mac changed computing. (can you even count the ways Windows copies the Mac, but just can't pull it off?)

My treo650, once the most powerful phone on the market is now a toy for my little boy to play with.

And when he gets bored, it will make a nice paper weight. Sure, I could sell it or give it away, but that would be like giving someone an 8-track tape of Dallas Holm. But if you want it, let me know. (either the phone or the 8-track tape, I have both!)

Good things come to those who wait, but when it comes to technology, the best things come to those who buy right away! :)

Freedom is not Popular

2007-06-06T01:39:00.001-05:00

Having been to fourteen other countries in Europe, Asia and Central America, I have the right to say that not only am I glad to be an American - PROUD TO BE AMERICAN - but I have the perspective to say that we are lucky to be Americans! Unless you are an immigrant - you are an American because you were born here and THANK GOD for that blessing! There truly is no better place on earth and may I say I am sick and tired of people, especially politicians and news reporters who talk like WE are the scourge of the earth and deserve every bad thing that happens to us. If we are hated, it is because we are better, and we ought to be proud of what makes us better, not make excuses for those who seek to destroy us. I'm not saying we are perfect, but we are not only #1 in the world in freedom and opportunity, we are #2 and #3 and #4 as well. Their is hardly a runner up in what America offers its people. It is no mystery why we have enemies - but it is because we are good, but because we have done anything to deserve the hatred of those who seek to end our way of life.

But before I get ranting any more on that, (!), I wanted to post some pictures from a trip our family took to Springfield, IL in the fall of 2006. Because there are some very important similarities between our current President and the beloved Abraham Lincoln.

Baby Luke hanging with the First Family

Me, discussing the current war with some civil war commanders.

Baby Luke playing outside Lincoln's childhood home.

Baby Luke trying to sneak up on and stop Booth!

Nice that the pubic restrooms at the museum were authentic!

Did you know that President Abraham Lincoln was a Christian? Do you know who lead him to Christ? Here is a photo that tells the story:

Sara's Dad, a relative of Lincoln (seriously),
sharing the Peace Track with a young Lincoln.

Baby Luke marked with the Official Presidential Seal!

Baby Luke at Lincoln's Tomb

That's grandma, grandpa and mommy
in the background in front of the Tomb.

If you have never been to Springfield and to the new Lincoln Museum, it is well worth the trip. And DON'T MISS the Ghost of the Civil War show. It is amazing, and leaves you stunned and amazed at some special effects that are truly hard to figure out "how did they do that?" It's better than any show I've seen at a Disney park. Simply incredible.

Back to the Rant...

There is something amazing about visiting the tomb of Lincoln. It brings this amazing historical figure into reality - he really lived, and the events you've read and heard about really happened. And the thing that I admire the most about Abraham Lincoln is that he did what was right - what was best for American - despite whether it was popular or not. We have the America we have today because this man cared more about his country than he did for himself or his future. The fact that he is so universally loved today often blurs how incredibly HATED he was by so many who blamed him personally for the many deaths and broken families caused by the Civil War that he started. He was vastly unpopular and it was only after his death that many came to understand just how critical his role had been to very preservation of our United States of America.

(click for a larger image)

Now there is a national monument in Washington D.C., museums, and an memorial tomb and countless other tributes to this man that he never saw, and most likely, never expected or would have sought. (Unlike a more recent President who pathetically talks about his "legacy" - if you have to talk about it, you don't have one!)

When Ronald Reagan died n 2004 and I listened to the speeches given at his national funeral, it was like living Lincoln all over again. (not that I lived then!) Reagan was also a man ridiculed and severely hated during his presidency. While being mocked and belittled, he also put our great nation above his own reputation or career and nearly single handedly brought down the Soviet Empire and ended the Cold War and brought peace to many other nations while preserving our own. (Doubt many kids are taught this in school!)

(click for a larger image)

The freedom we enjoy every day, even the freedom to mock and belittle and ridicule our President is a costly freedom. It cost blood. Blood of fathers and brothers and sons, and even mothers and sisters and daughters. The cost is still high and precious. And when Americans forget why we are at war and what our enemy's goal is and fail to support our troops - they are insulting the men and woman who are in harms way TODAY that we might live free.

(click for a larger image)

Our current President sees the future with a clarity that few Presidents have in recent years. He understands not only the cost of war, but the cost of not agressively defending freedom; a cost that is much higher. He understands that we must be on the offense, not merely on the defense, and that only by taking the battle to the enemy and fighting our their soil will ours remain safe. Safe even for the critics and the ignorant to whine and complain and wring their hands attributing the painful costs of freedom to our leader instead of to the enemy who takes the lives we mourn and miss.

Is our President perfect? No. Do I agree with everything he says or does? No. Do his idiosyncrasies humor me and his mannerisms sometimes make me smile or even cringe? Yes, but his integrity and courage and steadfastness in the face of a real national threat from outside and power hungry critics on the inside make me proud to be an American and proud to have voted for him and to call myself a Republican.

When I visited Washington, D.C. last year and went around with a George Bush mask on taking pictures of our Capital, it was fascinating to experience people treating me, when the mask was on, with the same attitude and words as they would if they met our President. I had people asking to shake my hand and pose for pictures. I had people literally walk up and thank me and give me short speeches of gratitude, what they'd like to say to our President, were he walking the streets of the city. But, to my sadness and surprise, I also had people hurl insults, make obscene gestures and one man even threatened me suggesting wearing the mask could endanger my life! Most surprising was how many young people hated their president. One group that I got to talk to after they insulted our President, I asked what they were doing and they answered they were touring all the memories. I asked them when they visit to actually take the time to read the memories and to keep in mind that each of the men who now have memorials were not popular in their day but they did what would save our nation over what would save their popularity, and now thousands of people visit annually to see their monuments and memorials, to read their words, and in some cases to stand near where the body of the man was laid to rest. I tried to help them see what what is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right. (Something my political science teacher in high school taught me) Indeed, freedom is not popular, at least not what it takes to be free!

A boy asked me, "What? Do you George Bush will have a memorial someday?" My answer was that I don't know, and that's not the point. The point is that if he does, it will be because he doesn't care whether he gets monument or not - he will do what is best for our nation either way. That is the only way to get a monument - to do what is right in the face of severe opposition. There are no monuments to popular men. Only to brave men who boldly do what is right no matter what the masses around them say.

Monuments are only built for unpopular men who do what is right.

As the presidential election season gets into motion - please, I beg you - as one who enjoys freedom and has seen much of the rest of the world - don't be fooled by empty promises and words that tickle the ears. Listen for the ones who love our country. Get behind the ones who see hope, and a better tomorrow, but those who are willing to be unpopular to do what is right and what is needed. I know it's tricky to win a popular election without seeking popularity, but it has happened many times in history, and can happen again. Americans need to stay the course we are currently on - improve, adjust, adapt, learn, yes - but stay the course of fighting the war on terror and preserving our great nation for the next generation.

I'm a dad now - I will vote first and foremost for the president who will protect us. Social issues are not as important - without freedom - there will be no social issues. National security is the #1 issue in our country and world and please don't hand it over to anyone who thinks we should cut and run or surrender when the reality is we are winning and advancing freedom in the part of the world that needs it most and keeping our homeland safe.

Freedom of the press is wonderful, but I wish the press was for freedom. Americans, don't be fooled by the agenda's of much of today's media - many past generations have stepped up to save our way of life, and it's our turn now.

My Stupid Coke Reward

2007-05-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

I usually consider myself immune from the power of advertising - enjoy the ad - but don't buy because of an ad. However, I have found the My Coke Rewards commercials fun and entertaining, so when I found a coke cap on the kitchen counter (most likely from Sara or a guest since I'm a Dew Man), I thought I'd give it a shot and see if that cap could indeed bring me a vacation or car or some fancy technological gadget I don't already have...

So I went to the website MyCokeRewards.com and set up an account. I even made a bogus alias email so I can prevent spam and delete if they abuse the email address. (most likely!) I sign up, and guess what - it says I won the SOUNDTRACK TO PIRATES: AT WORLD'S END! I'm thinking WOW, I won with my first soda cap - maybe I will actually buy a Coke sometime. (not sure I ever have, other than at McD's where you have no choice, I even tend to not eat where Coke is the only choice, I know, hard to do!)

On my way to World's End

Now, if you read my review of Pirates on Kidology.org then you know I was not happy with the film and wish they had just quit with one movie, or made the second one have a point - but I DO like the Pirates soundtrack almost more than Star Wars - (I know, amazing!), and probably do listen to it the most of all my playlists on my iPod.

Up is Down, Right is Left, Whatever!

All that to say - I like the Pirates music alot and was happy to be a first time winner of a Coke Reward. So I opted to turn in my lousy three points for the Soundtrack to Pirates, At World's End.

NOW COMES THE RANT
(isn't that how blogs were born? a place to complain?)

1) It was NOT the soundtrack to Pirates that I won, it was a "medley" of music from the movie.
2) The site says it only works with IE which it doesn't tell you until after you arrive at the page to use your "one time use" code.
3) Fortunately, the code still worked and I downloaded the tiny file, but then it says, not compatible on Mac or iPod. That is, AFTER, I chose to give up all my points for the soundtrack to a movie and after I download it, only then does it tell me the file is useless to me and I'll never get to hear it anyway.

So basically, they tell you that you are getting the soundtrack to a movie, you agree to spend all your points on it, and then they tell you, oh, its only a medley and you have to be on a PC to listen to it.

So I have my prize (oooooooooh!) but it is useless to me. So here it is to download for all my Coke Drinking, PC Usin' friends out there.

ENJOY MY REWARD
(since I can't) 3.5mb

UPDATE! Someone, who wishes to remain simply anonymous,
ripped the file and converted to an MP3 to share. I don't mind
sharing it because Coke LIED about what I was getting.
I'll take it off my site when they stop lying on their site about
what they are giving you as your "PRIZE." :-)
Here is the MP3 to Enjoy!

Enjoy, and post a comment and tell me if it worked and how you liked my prize. And you didn't even have to drink a dark syrupy tasteless drink to win!

Pirate Dad and Luke! Arrrrrrrrrg!

Shiver Me Diapers, Ahoy!

UPDATE! Someone, who wishes to remain simply anonymous,
ripped the file and converted to an MP3 to share. I don't mind
sharing it because Coke LIED about what I was getting.
I'll take it off my site when they stop lying on their site about
what they are giving you as your "PRIZE." :-)
Here is the MP3 to Enjoy!

Water Proof Phone?!

2007-05-30T02:51:00.001-05:00

TIP: Never tell your brother your phone is water proof!

Because when I was out to lunch with my sisters this week, that's exactly what my older sister did... so of course I answered, "Really? Can I see it?" And dropped it into my water at Red Robin.

Here is my sister's phone half submerged!

Now completely submerged!

View from the top!

Comes out dripping, but working!

Even works open and with an incoming call!

A toast to a water-proof phone!

OK, for those of you who have to know more, check it out:

GzOne Phone

and, no, I am not buying one. The next phone I buy will be an iPhone!

Time Flies When You Are Serving God

2007-05-19T23:05:00.001-05:00

Saturday, May 12th, was one of those days that makes you feel old... but so happy too. It was a day of seeing another of my K.C. Krew kids getting married!

The last time you'll see "Cheek" after Krista's name!

Krista and Karl Today....

Karl and Krista in 1998!

Cool Krista!
(wearing a costume for Kids Church)

Krista getting married, and that's Sara's dad doing the ceremony!

This was a very encouraging day for me. You minister and invest in so many kids in your life, and you don't always get to see what God does with their lives. Some you never even get to say good bye to, let alone, get to see them again years later. It was so nice to get caught up on what they are doing and how much they have grown up!

Krista's little sister Erin, Gwen, (me), Laura and Amy Joy.

And YES, I have old pictures of all of them: (hope they still love me after this!)

Erin back then!

And Amy Joy too!

I've got special stories with each of these girls, and it was fun to tell them over again at the wedding. Laura, second from the right, graduated from Moody Bible Institute on the same day as the wedding, (along with anothe former K.C. Krew kid, Noah, not at the wedding), and is also very special because she is the first kid I ever baptized. She may not realize it, but she is quoted in an article on Kidology.org, but since it is the membership section, here is the poem she wrote:

Here are some pictures of Laura:

Laura in 5th or 6th Grade

Who is that skinny runt Laura is sitting with?

Sorry these pictures are grainy, but I was pioneering the era of digital photography back then! But lest you think it is only the girls I fondly remember, there were some grown up guys at the wedding too!

Bruce (Krista's "little" brother), me, and Billy.

Also, David, Amy Joy's Big Brother,
now a piano major at DePaul Univeristy!

David and Karl then!
(when he played a keyboard in Kids Church)

And here was the "shocker" for me... you know those cute little pip-squeeks in Kid's Church? They may end up dating some day! Here is Gwen, one of the first kids I met when I was interviewing at the church, and Bruce, who was my official "Taco Bell Buddy."

Awana Clubber Gwen, back then!

But, last, but not least, here is the girl who almost made a grown man cry: My little sweet Beth, who I used to put in my guitar case to try and steal her home! (and btw, whose mom made nearly all of Gus' costumes)

Sweet Little Beth, as I remember her!

Beth and Karl not so long ago!

Beth and Karl today!

Here is Beth of today, sweet as ever, but a bit taller. (And not blond?!) One of the first things she said to me was, "Pastor Karl, I don't think I'll fit in your guitar case any more!"

But what made me happiest was to see my little Beth, who was never old enough to be on K.C. Krew when I was there, proudly wearing a Kid's Krew shirt nearly ten years later.

WARNING!
Emotional Emoting Coming:

No matter what happens in life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, there is only one thing that will remain - the fruit that GOD grows as we serve Him with all our heart. That God would use me in the lives of so many children over the years is truly amazing and humbling to me. Why me? There is no reason other than His amazing grace and mercy... as I often like to say, the biggest miracle God ever does is to use imperfect people to share His perfect love.

Seeing these nearly grown kids and reliving the happy memories of days as their pastor, was a sobering reminder that the most important thing we can invest our lives in is people.

Perhaps you have seen the little plaque that reads, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last?" Well, that's not what all that the poet wrote.

The poet wrote this:

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee."

Life is filled with trials. Some are our own fault, others God sovereignly brings our way as part of His purposes, but either way, they are part of His Refining process. When you get stressed, or depressed, or compressed, or repressed, or deressed, or.... (you get the idea!)... focus on the good, on what God has done in spite of you... and be encouraged. Fruit that is of you, will fade away, but Fruit that is of God will continue to grow with or without you, because it God causing the growing all along.

As AT & T used to sing, "reach out, reach out and touch someone," for that's all that matters and all that lasts. I hope God will allow me to see even more kids in the years ahead who He let me have a little part in leading them to Him and teaching them about Him.

Top Row: David, Krista and Noah
Middle: Krista (different one), Melody, & Laura in the pink
(Beth's mom, Kim, on right)
Front Row: Karl and Sara

And save those pictures, you never know who you might be able to embarrass on your blog someday!

Happy Mother's Day MOMMY!

2007-05-19T22:51:00.001-05:00

By popular demand (seriously!), here are some pictures from Mother's Day 2007:

Mother's Day began with a photo-op of Luke outside on the way to church....

Luke with Daddy's Car... too cool. (the boy, not the car!)

Trying to Look BIG and Tough (but too cute to pull it off)

"What's with the flowers, Dad, I'm a BOY!"

Waiting for the women to be ready to leave for church.
(get used to it, boy)

And here is MOM with her happy boy on Mother's Day!

Luke gets his hands on daddy's deck of cards...

A magician in the making!

Luke loves water, so the splinkers was the hightlight of his day!

Luke helps daddy drive.... again.

"Turn this way, daddy, according to the satelites!"

We enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day relaxing at Sara's parents, not far from the latest Chicago fire. It's amazing how much Luke has grown since last Mother's Day.

Luke's First Light Saber

2007-05-12T10:40:00.000-05:00

Luke got to hold his first light saber this week. It wasn't his, it belongs to his kissing friend, but she let him hold it. It was a light up one from a circus...

Without any instruction or prompting, he knew exactly what to do with it:

Strong in the Force Luke is

Attacking his father!

Good thing it was only a toy!

Being a dad is so much fun!

Uh oh, gotta change a diaper now. Light sabers are fun, but there is the practical side to fathering too... peew, gotta go!

Luke Takes to Water like a Fish

2007-05-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

I always heard dads talking about how being a father gave them new insights into being a child of God, and the same is happening to me; a lot. Be glad I don't blog all of them. :) But I'll save my latest lesson as a new dad for the end of this post.

One of Luke's very favorite things has been bathtime - he would sit in a tub and splash until he became a prune if we let him. He never tires of water. So as we headed off to vacation two weeks ago I was sooooo looking forward to the pool in Palm Springs where we would be for the second week of our trip.

Luke's first time in a swimming pool.

As soon as we checked in, we went for an evening swim. I wasn't sure if the vast size of a giant pool would intimidate him, but far from it... he took to it like a fish!

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Well, a fish being held by his father that is. The pool was giant and included a baby section with water only a foot and a half deep and a water slide where you could slide at speeds of up to 80iph. (inches per hour)

This way to the pool, Dad!

Luke was hooked! We went swimming several times a day from before breakfast to just before bedtime. (with breaks for meals and naps, of course) First thing in the morning, Luke would point toward the pool and grunt. I would stop every ten feet on the way and say, "Where do you want to go?" And he would point again, remembering every turn on the way to the pool, and later in the week, even choosing where he would like to swim.

How to get yourself into the family shot while in a pool.

We started out in the kiddie area of the pool, but much to Dad's delight, he actually preferred the deep end, which was nice since it is easier to hold the baby standing in deep water than it is laying in less than two feet!

Luke demonstrating how to splash.

Luke never tired of splashing. I finally learned to wear shades so I wasn't squinting the entire time. Of course, his smiles were delightful, but when he was in "splash mode" he actually got such an intent look on his face; he takes his splashing very seriously.

Dad demonstrates how to make a giant splash!

Luke getting smothered in love.

Our favorite picture of our little splasher.

One exhausted swimmer!

But all good things, it seems, must come to an end, as did our vacation is sunny warm California. Of course, we had one last trip out to the pool before we left for the airport.

Luke gets through airport security,
even filled with fluid and a stink bomb!

This morning, back in Chicago, when I got him up he immediately pointed to the back yard, and when I took him out there and tried to explain that we don't have a pool, he was not happy. :(

So I went to Wal-Mart to try and make up for it:

Not quite the same, but it'll do!

Here is the daddy lesson I learned on this trip, written on the plane ride home:

As I type this I’m on the plane flying home from vacation in Palm Springs where Sara and Luke and I enjoyed a very relaxing week doing, well, basically nothing, unless going to the pool many times a day counts. :) Luke took to the water like a fish! Already a huge fan of bath time we weren’t sure if the vast expanse of a swimming pool would intimidate him. Far from it. It didn’t matter to him whether we were in the foot and a half deep section, or in the deep end where Dad was up to his neck standing… as long as he was in dad’s arms, nothing else mattered. He just splashed away delighted to be in the pool with his dad.

It struck me how much we are like my little Luke-fish. There are deep and shallow areas of life – but as long as we stay close to the Father, He will hold us and we can splash about and enjoy life regardless of how deep the water beneath us may be. And of course, there were times Luke tried to push away from me, and wanted to be alone in the water, but I had to hold on, at times against his will – for his own good. When we get away from God we can find ourselves feeling like King David did in Psalm 69 – up to our neck and sinking – but fortunately, our Father never lets go, and even if we go under or swallow some water, He will always pull us back close and love on us, even as we sputter to recover from the water that at times can be overwhelming. Our Heavenly Father wants to see us splashing and enjoying life. We can’t always avoid the deep end in life, but if we cling to the Father he will hold our head above the water and his strong arms will never let go. So stay close to the Father, and lets see some splashes for Him! Just as we delight to see our children happy, God delights to see our joy in Him.

But don't take your splashing too seriously! Despite all of our serious efforts, to our Heavenly Father, all we are doing is splashing in His pool. He's more interested in just enjoying time with us, not any splash we think we can make. After all, if we really want to see a giant splash, look at Jesus, THAT GUY knows how to make waves! After all, He is the Living Water!

So cling to your Father, and soak in the Son!

Boy Meets Girl

2007-04-21T10:43:00.000-05:00

Luke has taken his first step into a larger world... no, not of the Force... of Girls. :) Recently we had a family over from our church whose daughter is one of Luke's favoriate friends. Though we may have to keep a closer eye on them now....

BOY MEETS GIRL

Sitting together on the couch. How cute.

Luke's got an idea...

She is so lovely, and she adores the attention!

Whoa! He wasn't expecting THAT!

But he doesn't seem to mind either!

Ooooo, what was that? a kiss?

And no, these pictures were not posed, we were just taking pictures and letting them play, though someone may have said "give a kiss." I cant' wait to show these at Luke's wedding someday! I think Luke is already fulfilling Romans 16:16, I Cor. 16:20, II Cor. 13:12, I Thess. 5:26, and I Peter 5:14!

JUST FULFILLNG SCRIPTURE
Reminds me of the young Bible College boy who was taking a girl he fancied on her first date, and the girl's father, who happened to be a preacher, asked him as they were about to go out the door, "What are your intentions with my daughter, young man?" To which the boy replied, "Just to fulfill scripture, Sir." The preacher asked, "And which scripture exactly would you be planning to fulfill?" To which the young boy replied, "Romans 12:9, Sir." The preacher then asked, "Refresh my memory, Son, what verse is that?" The boy quoted from memory, "Sir, it says, 'Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.' and I think your daughter is very good."

If April Showers, Bring May Flowers

2007-04-12T09:45:00.000-05:00

If April Showers,
Bring May Flowers
What does April Snow Bring?

the view out my window!

the Easter Bunny is confused! THIS is Spring?

Mysterious Patterns Appear in the Drive Way

So much for Global Warming!
(or a relaxing swing in the back yard)

WARNING: POLITICAL SOAP BOX
By the way, if you don't know what Global Warming is, it is simply a paranoid scare tactic to raise money and increase political power by those who will do anything to get power. You probably don't know why they only use climate data from 1975 to present? Because from 1940 to 1974 the world was cooling and the political kooks at that time where using a Global Cooling scare ("The Next Ice Age is Here!) to raise money and try to gain political power. Bet you didn't know that Congress was having special sessions on Global Cooling in the 70's. Nope. Because that would be an Inconvenient Truth! :) (Want the truth, watch this documentary from the UK that debunks this American obsession) An even more "Inconvenient Truth", (or stinky truth) reported by our own government agriculture agency, is that US cattle flatulence (big word so kids don't know) accounts for over 70% of all "green house gases;" far more than anything man made ever could. So before you avoid that aerosol can, or exhale (also a green house gas!) kill a cow instead and save the world!

VIDEO UPDATE: The link above is updated, but if it changes, you can find it by searching for The Global Warming Swindle.

Easter Bunny Secret Identity Revealed!

2007-04-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

Sara, Luke, and Karl - Easter 2007

Easter 2006 was a day that was very significant in our little family. While we took Luke into our home on April 1st last year, it was on Easter Sunday one year ago that we met with the birth mother and she made her final decision to give him to us. And then the legal adoption process began. Since that process ended in December, we've been enjoying our life as a little family at the beginning of this Adventure called Parenting!

See how he has grown! Here is last Easter:

Karl, Luke, and Sara - Easter 2006

Now he is a cool little dude who can crawl, climb stairs, and stuff Cherioes down the heating vents!

Ready for Church on Easter Sunday!

A man comfortable in front of a camera!

And then the Easter Bunny arrived! Oh, how embarrassing, er, I mean, exciting!

Yes, that is me, dressed as the Easter Bunny. (blush) But in my defense, it was not my idea! My older sister handed me the costume just minutes before the family Easter Egg Hunt and says, "put it on" and what's a dad to do? Let pride get in the way? So I put it on for the children.

Luke finds his first Easter Egg!

Somebunny Gets Bunny Ears from a Bunny!

This is my older sister, the one responsible for the rabbit costume, so of course, when we posed for family pictures, I just had to give her bunny ears!

Last photo of Luke with a clean white shirt on!

As usual, Luke's favorite part of the day was eating. Second only to smearing his food all over the tray!

Grandma not too old for video conferencing!

Luke's Grandma and Grampa joined the gathering via Skype for a bit and got to visit with all their grandkids, and Luke's great grandmother!

Luke kissing an older woman!

Luke has learned to kiss lately and Grandma was happy to recieve many! It was a very nice day of family, and food and relaxed fellowship. Too many black jelly beans later, I need to head to bed!

Easter Bunny Bunch Before Lunch

EASTER THOUGHTS
(since it's not about the bunny!)

I love Easter for many reasons. First of all, it is the holy day that brought hope of new life! It is now also the day our family went from two to three. Both are reasons for joy and optimism.

For Easter my wife gave me a new book by Max Lucado titled, "Every Day Deserves a Chance" and it is so encouraging, I'm only a few chapters into it, but I highly recommend it already. It is a book about chosing hope over despair every day, no matter what you might be facing in life. He starts by pointing out that the familar verse, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it*" is not just about the good days, like today, it is about EVERY DAY. "This is the day" is TODAY. It is a day the Lord has made, no matter what "Today" might be like or what challenges or trials it may contain, and we are to rejoice "in" it. Not after it, not even through it, or if it goes our way, but in the midst of it, we are to find joy. He ends chapter one with these words:

"The next time you are mired in a bad day, check your outlook with these three questions:

1) What do I feel guilty about?
2) What am I worried about?
3) What am I about?

Reflect on your answer with these reminders:

YESTERDAY.... FORGIVEN.
TOMORROW... SURRENDERED.
TODAY... CLARIFIED.

Jesus' design for a good day makes such sense. His grace erases guilt. His oversight removes fear. His direction removes confusion."

So, go have a good day, on God!

*Psalm 118:24

My Adventure with Flat Stanley

2007-04-04T07:53:00.000-05:00

It's been a fun two days, I got to hang out with my MLB beat reporter bro, have full access to roam behind the scenes and on the field at a major league ball park, hang with Frank Thomas in person, but BAH... the highlight, was spending a day with Flat Stanley! What?!? You've never heard of Flat Stanley? Well, I'll get back to him...

Major League Grass!

These are my feet on the grass at Comerica Park, home of the almost-world-series-champs Detroit Tigers, the day after their opening day against the Blue Jays, who my little brother covers for MLB.com. (look for his name right on bluejays.com) I drove to Detroit to hang with my bro for a few days and watch him "in action."

Karl and Jordan in the Dug Out

My one day media pass gave me access to the whole park. I entered the stadium via the "tunnel" on the visitor side after passing through the clubhouse. Sorry, but no pictures were allowed in the clubhouse. This was a day off, between opening day and a game today, so the park was empty but there were players there to practice, work out, etc. Among several Blue Jay players I didn't recognize I saw Jim Leyland (tigers manager) getting into an elevator, Justin Verlander (rookie of year last year for the American league) walk by and get into his SUV, Gregg Zaun (blue jays cather) walking around, and got to visit a little with John Gibbons, the Blue Jays manager. Then guess who walked by?

The Big Hurt

One of my little brother's friends

Yup, Frank Thomas! It was very cool to be in the clubhouse and have my little brother say, "Hey, Frank, can I introduce you to my brother?" The Hurt says, "Sure, Jordan." and turns and talks with me. I'll never wash the hand he shook... or wait, I already did at dinner last night! ahhhhhhh. Oh well. I said "hanging out" above as a lead in teaser... that's probably stretchin' the encounter which was less than a minute, but hey, I met Frank Thomas, and the hightlight for me wasn't meeting him, so much, as being introduced to him by my little brother who I at one time taught about baseball! This little kid I used to play catch with now works the MLB.com and introduces me to 18 million dollar players and professional coaches. Makes a big brother proud! The picture above Jordan took and is part of his MLB.com blog Spring Training photo gallery. He is really a good photographer! If the reporting gets old in time, he could switch to being a sports photographer. I'm serious, check out his pics. (for additional online fun, check out this very funny new tv commercial about Frank Thomas on the Blue Jays: download. mp4)

But like I said, Frank wasn't the highlight... it was Flat Stanley.

Flat Stanley in the Press Box

Many Aunts and Uncles have probably heard of Flat Stanley. I've had many adventures with Flat Stanley from all the various kids and nephews and neices who have mailed him to me. Perhaps you'v been so lucky? Kids mail out his story and him and ask you to take him somewhere, take pictures, and mail back for them to share in class. My latest relative to send me Flat was my nephew Michael in California, so I took Mr. Stanley on this trip with me. (No, I did not ask Frank to pose with Flat Stanley, though the thought did cross my mind, but no pics in the clubhouse anyway.)

As you can see, Flat Stanley was a member of the 1968 World series team...

And has been immortalized in the statues of hall of famers around the park... (That's Flat Stanley with Ty Cobb)

But even still, he is ready and eager to play on the field...

Or just go and pose on the infield grass...

But I'm sorry to say, he came to a sad end, when my brother, getting tired of all my Flat Stanley pictures (many not posted, but being sent to Michael) fed him to the giant Tiger outside the stadium!

It was a great bro hang out time. Truly, the highlight for me wasn't Flat Stanley, or even Frank Thomas, it was getting time with my little brother who I am so proud of. We don't get much hang time these days, but if family is first, sometimes you just have to go to where they are to invest in the relationship, even if you must hang out with them at work. It was a great trip, but I have to get home! Today is Sara's birthday!

You can send her a birthday greeting at sara @ kidology.org (no spaces, those are to prevent email snagging online spam bots!)

One Year Ago Today

2007-04-01T23:09:00.000-05:00

It was one year ago today... a day that came "out of the blue" and changed my life forever, in more ways than I could ever have anticipated... I became a Dad.

My fist Father's Day at Lake Geneva

Being a Dad has been my dream since I was a boy. Why? Well, I had a wonderful Dad, and he was my favorite person in the whole world, and I couldn't wait to get to BE a Dad and be on the other end of the fun... inventing the adventures... creating the laughter... teaching the lessons of life. And while my dad was not perfect, he was real, and that was good enough for me. I hope that I too can be a real follower of Christ for my son, if not a perfect one.

Me with Luke, the day he was Given to me.

If I had been asked a year ago today what changes this little life would bring into my life, I would have never guessed how dramatically my life would change. I thought I could simply add "being a Dad" to an already critically over-loaded life. I was wrong. But I have learned my lesson, and am enjoying a balance in life like never before in nearly two decades of ministry.

Sara with Luke, the day I brought him home and said,
"CAN WE KEEP HIM?!?!?"

Sara has blossomed as a mom. I don't know where she learned all the mom-stuff she suddenly knows! I know she surfs the web and we've got our stacks of parenting periodicals, but those can't explain the instinctive answers she can give me every time this Dad says, "What should I feed him?" or "What's he want now?" or "Why is he doing this?" I'm definitely the "fun" parent, and while I have a nack for getting him to sleep... on just about everything else Sara is the expert. (Not that I don't help! But she is the expert on what he needs throughout the day)

Here we are, as a family, just momments after the adoption was final in court.

It's been an adventurous year! God used this little baby to realign my entire life around my family. And oh the fun we have had along the way. Here are some of the links to the adventures I have posted throughout this past year:

The Bastian Family, ready for another year together.

To celebrate this special day we had some friends over for dinner, and part of their punishment for being our friends was they had to watch a 15 minutes video of pictures of Luke over the past year. A download link of the video (110mb!) is available to any friend or family member who e-mails and asks for the link, rather than post it here for any web surfer who may come along.

Yes, it has been a year of blessing, and a year of profound change, but we follow a God of Tomorrows and a God of Second Chances, and we eagerly look forward to what He has in store for this next year as we follow Him...

I am the man who
has seen affliction...
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great
love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The
LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those
whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:1,21-26

CLEAN THAT ROOM OR ELSE!

2007-03-30T20:51:00.000-05:00

OK, enough serious poems for now. You may not know that I was once known as the "White Boy Rapper" and could hold my own in rap fights with the 'brothers' in high school. I was the new kid, having just moved to Chicago in time to start 11th grade. I was surprised when I arrived to see how separate the whites and blacks were in my Chicago south suburban high school, when in my previous high school in California there did not seem to be the obvious racial separation. I made a bold move to sit in the "black section" at lunch and it began an adventure that turned out to be a highlight for me in high school. Persecution? Some, but I made some great friends, and after telling these 'brothers' for weeks about a "white boy rapper" I knew who could whoop 'em all in a rap fight... I finally set a day for them to meet him on a lunch break (we had open campus at lunch) and after waiting and waiting, when there was only 15 minutes left to lunch, I pulled out a pair of black 80's style shades (well, it was the 80's!) and had my first rap fight... to hear those white boy raps you have to hear them in person, as I won't post them! (most are still memorized, but will die with me!) But I have done them a few times when I speaking in a black church. But I loved the challenge of making up raps on the spot and going back and forth trying to outdo the other guy and myself. In raps fights, winning isn't the goal, it is simply surviving; not messing up really bad! Which happened a lot, but even in losing, I earned their respect. The doors to witnessing that were opened were fun and amazing.

ANYWAY - I decided I WILL post one of my "raps." This was not from those playground fights, but was written for a Parent Appreciation Dinner in high school when the teens served their parents a meal and put on a program. I was asked to do a white boy rap with some friends doing the sound effects behind me. I don't have this written anywhere, it is still in my head, and usually my puppet Gus does it now... but here it is, perserved now for posterity!

THE CLEAN ROOM RAP
by white boy karl bastian

The other day while I was kickin’ back in my room,
Little did I know my Mom was coming home soon.

My radio was on up to the Richter scale,
And my whole entire room – it smelled kinda stale.

I was kicking back on stuff, ten feet above my bed,
And then I remembered what my mamma said,

She said, “When I get home if this room’s not clean…
When your father gets home he’s gonna see a bloody scene!”

So I snapped alert, I jumped off the bed,
And by the time I hit the ground I nearly broke my head!

I started to clean up the awful mess,
But where to start? I just couldn’t guess!

So I opened up my drawers, shoved my stuff inside,
And put my clothes in the machine with the whole box of Tide.

Next I filled a garbage pale, then two and three and four…
Then I made a discovery…. my room it had a floor!

I worked really hard, I mean it was a BIG mess!
I even found my Bible, now doesn’t God bless?

Well, I worked all day, man, it was a big job,
And when I just got done, I heard the door knob.

Well I went downstairs, I said “How was your day?”
My mamma looked at me and said “You’d better start to pray!”

She walked right by me headin’ for my room,
And I could see she was thinkin’ and planning my doom!

But then she opened up the door, and she looked inside…
It took five buckets of water before she’s revive!

When she finally came to, she was in a state of shock!
She was so dumbfounded, she couldn’t even talk!

She said, “Karl, it’d be nice if you always would,
Keep your room like this, like you know you should.”

I said, “Hey, Mom, I’m a kid, I got things to do,
Places to go, friends to see, and lots of problems too.

But if it really is as bad as you say….
Let’s go check out your room, it’s right this way!”

Karl Bastian, 1988

Hope you enjoyed it... now GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM!

Through a Mother's Eyes

2007-03-28T23:59:00.000-05:00

Tonight a father and son came over to watch the The Passion of the Christ at my house as part of their Easter preparation. (I have a pretty sweet home theater in my basement that they wanted to 'borrow') It is a movie that I can handle watching about once a year. It is a powerful experience. If you have not seen it, you really should. (Read my review on Kidology.org) It is a very fitting film for Easter time as you can no longer be flipant or casual about Jesus' death after seeing this film. Anyway, as I continue to post my long-lost poetry, (torture to some I'm sure!), I was moved by the film to post a poem I wrote about the Crucifiction titled "Through a Mother's Eyes." It also is a song written in B minor, bu you'll have to use your imagination for that.

Through a Mother's Eyes

She stood there looking at her son,
She said, "I thought you were the one,
The Scriptures promised so long ago,
Who'd come to make us finally whole."
But now He hung there on a tree,
Bleeding, dying, in misery,
She saw the wounds, she heard his cries,
Through a Mother's Eyes

As she gazed up through eyes of tears,
Her thoughts traveled back through the years,
To when she'd first learned she'd have a son,
And those quiet years when He was young.
But all along she knew the day would come,
When he would cease to be her son,
And so she'd watched, as time went by,
Through a Mother's Eyes

But now He'd grown to be a man,
Sent by God to complete His plan,
He came to earth to bring us life,
To lift man's burden of sin and strife.
But still she could not understand,
Could this be what God had planned?
She heard him groan, she heard his sighs,
Through a Mother's Eyes

She looked up to His eyes above,
But instead of hate they burned with love.
Peace was flowing out of them,
Forgiveness to those He could condemn,
For in this shame and great disgrace,
He hung so He might take their place,
Now she started to see why...
Through a Mother's Eyes

Though He'd paid the greatest cost,
The victory had not been lost.
Her eyes were opened, now she could see,
Salvation now to man was free!
Jesus' redemptive work was done!
Satan trembled because Christ has won!
For he knew that now his greatest loss,
Was the soul of every soul who would
GAZE UPON THE CROSS!
Through a Mother's Eyes

Karl Bastian, ~1984

I'm not sure how theologically sound it is - but hey, I was still in junior high and hadn't gone to Bible college yet. But I think the point is made even if we don't truly know what was going through Mary's heart and mind as she watched her son die. No one seemed to understand what was truly happening... but we DO, and so we have a greater responsibility to respond!

That Jesus volunteered to go through all of that on my account... well, there just aren't words to describe it. I found another poem about the crucifixion, but I want to save it until Good Friday. Hope this encouraged you to focus on the cross. It is the great equalizer.

All I Need

2007-03-26T19:17:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons I highly encourage journaling is that you may find that years from now you can be your own best encourager! When you read words you wrote yourself long ago, you are more open to them because, well, you wrote them. The words of others can be hard to accept at times, but when your own words are exactly what you need, it's kinda hard to argue. Such was the case with the discovery of this poem, written eighteen years ago. (am I that old?) At a time in my life when so much is new, and when letting go and saying good bye to many people and things that I loved and took for granted as a part of my daily and weekly life are gone - it was nice to read the words of a much younger version of me saying through this poem, "be content, all you need is God. But He's given you so much more." Enjoy!

ALL I NEED

Make yourself, Lord, all I need,
In all I say and do,
May my dependance be on nothing else,
Let me only lean on you.

I want to need nothing else,
Than to know I'm on your side,
So when problems come, or I get down,
I will run to You and hide.

Make yourself, Lord, all I need,
Even over the things I love,
Because even those I'm finding out,
Are just extras from above.

I want those extra blessings,
The things you've given me,
To be things I am fine without,
When they're gone or hard to see.

I do want to enjoy them,
For that is why they are sent,
But when it is just me and You,
I want to be content.

So make yourself, Lord, all I need,
As I live each day through,
Make me happy, peaceful, and content,
As long as I have you.

Karl Bastian, 1989

If you make a list of the things you truly need, the list becomes amazingly short. Then when you list your blessings, yes, name them one by one, you find that your blessings far out weigh your real needs, even if your list of fulfilled "wants" does feel shorter than you'd like. Like Adam and Eve, who fixated on the one tree they were forbidden to eat from, we too often focus on the thing we can't have, instead of on all the many things we can. God is saying to us as well, "Look at all the other trees."

The blessings and gifts of God truly do out weigh the losses and hurts of this short life. Take a deep breath and breath God in deeply.... ahhhh, He is all you need.

Constantly Becoming

2007-03-24T23:35:00.000-05:00

Another poem from youthful days. This one I actually put to music, (key of G my hand written notes say) but, NO, I'm not going to record it and upload an MP3, good friends have advised me against a singing career. :)

Chicago, taken 1989, no digital editing, I used a filter for the coloring.

CONSTANTLY BECOMING

I'm not who I used to be,
I'm not who I will be,
'Cause more like my Savior,
I'm everyday becoming.

I'm constantly changing,
Constantly rearranging,
And I won't reach perfection,
Until His second coming.

But until I see Him in the sky,
On His love I will rely,
I must let Him live through me,
So with His glory I can shine.

Oh, I tried to live life on my own,
But I've learned my life is just a loan,
God entrusted it to me,
My life's no longer mine.

I've given it back to Him,
The good, the bad and all the sin,
So He can mold it and shape it,
He's the potter, I'm the clay.

Sometimes I find it hard to trust,
But I know that it is a must,
If I'm to be all I'm meant to be,
On that final day.

(So I'm)
Constantly changing,
Constantly rearranging,
And I won't reach perfection,
Until His second coming.

(Praise God!)
I'm not who I used to be,
But I'm still not who I will be,
'Cause in the image of God's Son,
I'm constantly becoming.

Karl Bastian, 1989

This is my little brother, 1989, visiting me at MBI. That's the George Sweeting Center for World Evangelization being built in the background. (Taken from the top of the parking garage - yes, I did sit my little bother on the brink of a six story ledge! Funny the things you notice years later!)

It's amazing to read words I wrote my freshman year of Bible Collge (MBI) that are as true today as they were back then. I hope I'm closer to God now than I was then, and yet, I've made some big mistakes since that youthful idealism, but the encouraging truth is that God isn't finished with me yet! The changing and rearranging is still going on today!

He Who Dies with the Most Acorns

2007-03-22T21:55:00.000-05:00

OK, another poem from the past. This one was inspired by a bumper sticker that was popular at the time that said, "He who dies with the most toys wins."

ACORNS

There once was a squirrel,
Who got in his mind,
To get every acorn,
Of every last kind.

A huge hollow oak tree,
Weighing more than a ton,
Is where he settled down,
To build his kingdom.

Day in and day out,
He went off to look,
And if he saw an acorn,
That acorn he took.

He cared not if he,
Robbed another squirrel's home,
For he wanted all acorns,
To be just his own.

This went on through spring,
And through mid-summer too,
"Winter is coming,
Oh, what will we do?!"

Cried the other fine squirrels,
As they gazed on his tree,
Standing firmly there,
Oblivous to the breeze.

He say up on top,
Way up high like a king,
When along came a breeze,
Into air did he swing.

He fell to his death,
The poor little guy,
The others moaned for a moment,
Thought they didn't know why.

He had done all that work,
And had done it in vain,
As the others bounded up,
All staking their claim.

The moral to this tale,
That I hope I have taught,
When you're old and look back,
Will you like all you sought?

After all:

He who dies with the most acorns wins.... nothing!

Luke 9:25 "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his very self?"

(still copying from the hand written notebook)

Wouldn't it be better to have nothing, and yet be right with God and man?
Let's put the Lord and Others above the "acorns" in our life.

Karl Bastian, 1985

OK, back to 2007. I've always thought it would be fun to make this poem into a children's picture book... but the dying squirrel might be too tramatic for kids, and the lesson is more for adults, so this is probably good enough. But I'll end with this thought... What are the acorns in your life and distract you from what really matters?

Read, and I May Have to Kill You

2007-03-22T03:24:00.000-05:00

The following poem I share hesitantly.

One of my favorite meal-time stories revolves around this poem. For after I wrote it, and read it to my 9th grade English Class, I wound up being asked to stay after school. In trouble? That's what my fellow students thought. Instead, I was offered a career in an government agency that found interest in my love of codes and disciphering, my dabbling in speaking several foreign languages, and thought my plans at the time to be a foreign missionary would be a perfect cover to my "real" job. I'd tell you the rest of that true story, but then I'd have to kill you. :) Don't want to risk my cover! In the end, after consulting with (duh) my parents, and even an "agent" of a foreign missions organization, I turned the offer down, including a scholarship to a college of my choice. But I have always been flattered that an agent on leave from the field, teaching high school English for one year as an undercover recruiter, would select me as a candidate. There's more to the story, that must be saved for telling in person someday. :)

But the assignment was to write a sonnet - 10 syllable lines, and 14 total lines, of course. I wrote mine in mere minutes, and when I raised my hand and told the teacher I was done - he said I could turn it in in two weeks, or read it to the class now and he would "rip it to threads." I found that option much too tempting, and in my youthful boldness, I chose the public shredding. I walked to the front of the class, and read my sonnet, which I still have memorized to this day:

A poem thought I'd write for thee from I,
In English old to help the time pass by.
For in this class whist I am now enrolled,
Learn I of poems that for years been told.
I find them boring and of little use,
Except on students boredom to induce.
Although I try they come across quite dull,
I'd rather blast a tape of rock n' roll.
They call this form of lit'ature an art,
And then waste time to tear it all apart.
If it can not express in just one try,
Then leave it in the books and let it die.
But need I end this now say not I'm mean,
But of lines sonnets have but just fourteen.

Karl Bastian - 1987

Of course, the class liked the "rock n roll" line, even though I was not much of a rock n' roller, unless early Mike Smith and Petra count! (good thing we had one sylable "tapes" and not two sylable "CDs" back then!) But the poem had a point I was trying to make. That we were often studying poems that even when they were originally written years ago no one knew what the author meant, and I believed that if the author wasn't understood in his own time, it was silly to be studying him now. I'd rather be studying the prose, vocabulary, culture and purposes of a poet that was understand and appreciated in his own time, but that had lost that understanding only because of changing language and culture. Anyway, the teacher said only, "I'd like to see you after school" and the rest, well, I've already told you too much.

Gotta go, the phone in my shoe is ringing....

There Are Absolutely No Absolutes!

2007-03-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

Cleaning / Organizing in my office today, and came across a spiral binder of poetry written when I was a young man... they are all hand written, so I am going to post some of them here to preserve them and to provide for feedback...

There Are Absolutely No Absolutes!

"There are no absolutes," you say,
But are you absolutely sure?
For once you say that there are none,
There's one, where none there were!

And when you press to convince,
That there really should be none,
The very fact that you say "should"
Brings out another one.

Then you're quick to point out,
That my logic is not right,
But if logic's based on nothing, then
On what do you stand to fight?

And what about the times I hear
You say you were not treated fair,
On what grounds do you call them wrong,
With no standard to compare?

If you say I'm wrong, I'm right!
And you lose, once you say you win!
For once you set up one as right,
Your argument caves in.

So if there are no absolutes,
And always a counter view,
Then I must add of your argument,
That also must be true.

Karl Bastian, 1988

This was written for a high school philsophy class. I got an "F" because I was supposed to defend the teaching that there are no absolutes. My teacher was absolutely sure there weren't any. My fellow students started to ask me what I believed was absolutely true, and I got to share the Truth. I am absolutely sure there are absolutes! Aren't you?

My Canadian Buddy, Tyler

2007-03-16T23:52:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of my canadian buddy, Tyler, doing what he loves best:

READING!

I have never met Tyler in person (yet!) but I hope to some day! His parents are missionaries in a remote part of northern Canada, where kids church looks like this:

(Tyler in the yellow shirt)

I got to know Tyler via his mom when I learned that he is a big fan of Toyboxtales.com, my novel (Order of the Ancient), and my blog. In fact, I am blogging about him today in order to encourage him with his new blog, since I just discovered tonight that he credited me as his "inspiration" to begin his blogging career:

Maybe some of the zillions who come here can visit his blog and leave a comment to encourage him!

Here is Tyler, at a local landmark--the moose head at the gas station, with the autographed copy of my novel I sent him after I learned that he only had the downloads and needed to clear up some harddrive space and was sad to lose it. (The book was released originally online a chapter a week, which is when Tyler read it)

Here is Tyler in trouble with the UFP, er, I mean, the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police). Not really, this was at a police station open house.

According to his mom, Lori, in explaining her son's fascination with my websites and ministry, said Tyler "was happy to find an adult with an unnatural fascination with Legos, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc."

I think he is just a Children's Pastor in the making! But whatever God's plan is for this young man, I'm excited to watch it unfold.

From Master to Pastor!

2007-03-16T22:56:00.000-05:00

Master Ron (who I have blogged about in the past) is now Pastor Ron! Ron is the husband of Kidology's bookkeeper, Patti, and an awesome kids performer who now gets to think about "scope and sequence" and "rotation model vs. traditional educational models" and best of all: Recruiting! Ron is an amazing teacher and performer for kids, using juggling, balloons, magic and unicycles and more, and has trained at Kidology and Awana conferences... and now gets to have the second best job on earth: a kid's pastor. (he already had the best job: Dad!)

Here is a blurb from the church's website: www.alpinechapel.org

ENCOURAGE RON!
Visit THIS POST on Kidology.org and leave him a welcome and give him some advice on how to start out as a CP!

Luke Learns to Drive

2007-03-15T23:10:00.000-05:00

One of the joys of fatherhood is teaching your son to drive. Well, the time has come for Luke to take this next important step in his human (manly) development...

It started out as a quick trip to the dollar store to pick up my sister who's car had broken down. Since it was a RARE warm afternoon, and a very short ride, I thought I'd let Luke have his first ride with the top down! (note the shades for wind, and the blanket for warmth!) Plus, mommy was out with a friend, so no need to worry about whether mom approved. (!)

BUSTED!

Just as I got to the end of the street, mom and her friend turned onto the street, and I was caught red-car-ed, er, I mean, red-handed! So mom jumped out of one car, and into mine to join us for the short ride!

Best view in the world...
(note Darth on the dash pointing which way to go!)

Once we got to our destination, we had to wait for the toe truck, er, tow truck to arrive, so we had some time to kill. After too long in the dollar store asking, "How much is this?" Luke and I were booted out.

So I took the opportunity to give him some behind the wheel time in the parking lot just as my father before me did when I was a youngster! (a brick on the gas pedal did the trick)

He showed a natural talent for driving! (received from his dad, of course)

And soon he was racing around the parking lot, but I was able to get this picture as he sped by! Next thing, he's gonna want to take some cute little baby girl out on a date!

That's ONE COOL Baby!