New Kids

Here are some new photos of the kids.

Cowboy Ad

Hey ya'll, I finally got a copy of the cowboy ad I've been yappin' about. See for yourself what a dope I am! It's a big file, so please be patient while it loads.

New Photos

I posted new pictures this morning. CLICK HERE

We've had so much going on these last few weeks. I appologize for not keeping all of you more updated with our going-ons. As things progress, my hope is that our busy-ness at the church will plane out and we'll be able to get some sense of balance in our lives. As a quick update, we're all well, though Stewart and I are fighting some sort of cold or allergy thing. We've both been hacking up our lungs, but the worst has past. Nothing more than post nasal drip at this time.

We took the kids to a public pool this weekend and Olivia played on nothing but the Frog slide for hours. It's all she talks about now, so we got her a little pool to curb her appetite for water a bit. Stewart too is loving it, though he's wearing less clothing than what's required at the public pool.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

It's my little buddy's birthday today. My son Stewart turned 2 today. I'm so proud of him.

I also got a call from my long lost friend, Billy. He's back in WI. Makes me miss home a bit. I Love you guys.

Mesa Pictures

I'm posting some pictures of our little adventures in Mesa. There will certainly be more to come, but this should get ya started! CLICK HERE

Oh. In case you're wondering, it's currently 104∫F outside!!!

Home Packing

I'm putting everything in boxes. A wonderful chore unless you have two little ones screaming for movies, snacks and juice!!! I'm all stocked up on tape, but could use more boxes. Also trying to decide on a house to rent.

THIS ONE looks promising. Still searching though.

New Job in Arizona

Just an FYI. I've taken a position at a church in Mesa, AZ. Much more to come, but for now, know that we are in Mesa looking for a house and we'll be heading back to Sun Valley on Monday to pack.

Fresh New Look

Emily noticed my website seems to be slacking in traffic. She thought a refresh on the design might help, so I whipped up a little photo of Olivia to liven things up around here.

As for the sitemeter I have installed, it says people are visiting (about 30 a day), but very few care to comment in the comments section. I'm guessing this is more out of ignorance, more than lack of thought. So please be aware of the "Comments" link and say some things once in a while.

So, that being said, feel free to click on the picture below to see some updated photos of the children.

Bummed

This is not new news, but I'm really dissapointed that my good friend Matt Grace is shutting down his blog. I wish he'd change his mind. CLICK HERE

My 33rd Birthday

It's that time again. Time to lament my lack of accomplishments over the last few years. Fortunately for me, there is very little, if any to regret. This morning I awoke to my daughter yelling, "Happy Birthday!" Such joys have become rather common place as of late.

As some of you already know. I'm an at-home-Dad. And I love it. My children have brought me such indescribable joy, you can only imagine. At times I appreciate just how much my precious wife meant to the daily going-ons around here. Diapers, dishes, dinner & laundry. At other times I envy her morning escapes, but for the most part, I find peace here at home.

This day may not find much for presents or cards, but it will be filled with memories, like Olivia yelling this morning, the size of the moon on Tuesday, or the walk to the river we took yesterday. The kids were awed by the flowing river and Stewart got a good set of splinters from the railroad bridge. I took pictures once again so click here to see the details.

In closing, I guess I have this thought. We miss home. We miss our families so much and wish they could be with us. This is an unfortunate dilema of moving across the country. But I have my children and my amazing wife. I am blessed.

Of course, there is one last thing. My brother sent me the most atrocious movie I have ever been painfully subjected to. Cabin Boy starring Chris Elliot. For this act of cruelty, he will never be forgiven.

A Moose

How crazy a morning is this. Stewart wakes up and wants to watch Brum. Not terribly unusual. But I strolled past the window to see a Ketchum Animal Control truck outside. Interestingly enough, but not really alarming, until what should pass my view but an enormous moose. My head was at his shoulders, HE WAS HUGE!

I just started yelling, "MOOSE! MOOSE!"

At such a time as this, that's all I could think to say? I'm such a dork.

Time at the Park and some Karaoke

Alright. I admit this may be more for the Family, but why the heck not!

I took some photos yesterday of the kids at a park on the Wood River. Rest assured, I kept a good eye on the critters to keep 'em from being swept away with the current. Also included are some picts I took at Bruce Willis's little club called The Mint. I got busted later for snapping the photos, but you'll at least see some of the Karaoke action.

PHOTOS HERE

I also put together a bunch of video snippets I've been hording. They're not edited so some are a bit candid. In any case, you might get a kick out of them.

VIDEOS HERE

My Son, Stewart.

Amazing, two posts in one day. I know. Too much to ask for, right?

Emily asked me to put this photo of Stewart on the site. Now that I'm looking at the picture, I'm not quite sure why I waited so long to post this one. He's a darn cute kid. I know some might say I'm biased, but I'd still disagree. You be your own judge, is he a cutie pa-tootie or what?

Dad gummit!

I bought a new Aluminum Powerbook from Apple. Pretty darn pleased with it. An IBM G4 with 1.25ghz of speed, DVD burner and a crisp screen with plenty of video power. What's also really cool, the keyboard has fiber optic technology that makes it light up when the sensors detect dim lighting conditions.

As you can see below, my daughter joined me in jovial celebration at it's arrival.

The bummer is, Mr. Jobs & Company decided to release their next generation of Powerbooks today. Although for the price I paid for mine, I wouldn't have gained much in performance or features. So I guess it's a wash. [/bitching]

Easter Photos

Everyone is starting to bug me for not posting. I set up a link on the left that tells people when I'm online, so now they're taking it upon themselves to "remind" me that I'm not posting. So fine. It's Easter dang it.

Here's some photos of the kids from this morning's egg hunt.

Presenting...Emily

Unemployment

I can no longer afford to buy my favorite beverage. It's been several weeks since my last consumption.

Can't even drink the product that my website celebrates and owes it's creative juices to. Freaking bummer.

Another Website

See the site HERE.


Any thoughts, advice or commentary?

YAHTZEE WARS

I recently recieved this letter in my mailbag regarding my Yahtzee photo below. I have been flushed out into the open!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The score from the photo doesn't add up! Are we being asked to assume* that this was from a prior game for which no true evidence exists as to who the real player was!!!????††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††
*chosen with great care as to derivative meaning

THIS IS A HIGHLY REFUTABLE MATTER AND IS THEREFORE DISPUTED & PROTESTED!

Based on web page image of† game display:

Top line numbers†††††††††††††††††††††††73†† photo
Bonus for score above 63†††††††††† 35†† photo
Full House†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††25† regardless of dice total
Small Straight†††††††††††††††††††††††††† 30† regardless of dice total
Large Straight††††††††††††††††††††††††††40††regardless of dice total††††††††††††††††††
Sub-Total of known amounts†††† 203

There was only†ONE Yahtzee†††† 50† regardless of dice total†

Therefore, the HIGHEST possible combination for the†3 remaining†categories†(which rely on the total value of the dice roll) being 3 of a kind, 4 of a kind & Chance would have to show as:

6-6-6-6-5 which equals 29 (*the photo shows 6's & 4's- but the benefit of the doubt will go to saying that maybe that was the completion of the 6's on the top row) That being the case 29 times the 3 remaining categories would be 87.

203 + 50 + 87 = 340 absolute maximum for the web page displayed game.

Regardless, in my (humble) opinion there was a current or prior machine malfunction. According to "Standard Gaming Practice", the player is NOT allowed to benefit from said malfunction, the RESULTS are disqualified and the machine is decommissioned until repaired. A gamer of any integrity would immediately†remove the battery to bring about a reset and so as to cause the ERASURE of the high score lest there be any future deception as to the validity†value. The is NO Room for boasting in this perpetual competition and visual intimidation of the enemy maybe deemed a violation of the†Accepted Terms of Engagement and the Terms of the†Geneva Convention.

New Website

I just finished a new website for a buddy. It's based on the same system as my site, has somewhat of an edge that mine lacks (not that I'm jealous or anything). I could really go crazy with it as the theme is right there. At any rate, go see it for yourself.


I present to you Outnumbered Outgunned.

It's a Good Day

Evening Song

Alright. I installed Garageband tonight, and I have to say, it's amazing. As if I should believe Apple could do worse!

Well, all things considered, I did my best futzing for about two hours and this is the first fruits of my labor. Let me know what you think of this, alright?

The morning Tea

Had a wonderful morning with the kids. We played some tag, hide-and-go-seek, tickle monster and watched a little Wiggles. I also whipped up some egg salad sandwiches, did the laundry and the dishes.

Lunch included bologna sandwhiches with cheese, milk and a finished off with a fudgesicle. After lunch the kids and I trotted off to the post office and got the mail.

OMG - I've become a domestic.

But the up news is this --- I got my copy of Garageband in, so I'm going to go futz with it till the kids get up from their naps!

Why I Live Here

Dog day afternoon.

Every once in awhile you come across something interesting. Perhaps, without definition. Some could call it a metaphor for life. Others might think it as something that just happens. I'll let you be the judge...

I've heard it said, "$h!t on a stick," but on a FORK?!?!

Seriously, I was just out with the kids when I came across this glorious social statement in the snow.

My Girl, Olivia.

I posted a new picture book on my .mac account. CLICK HERE to take a look at all of the photos.

My Boy, Stew.

I posted a new picture book on my .mac account. CLICK HERE to take a look at all of the photos.

CLICK ABOVE to see how my daughter handles her little cough.

My Thursday Night

I went to see The Passion of The Christ last night. I went by myself, which may not have been a good idea. Itís the kind of movie where you need to talk about it afterward. Lucky for me, I ran into some friends and we chatted over a pint. Mel Gibson did an amazing job telling this story through his use of symbolism and stellar cinematography.

As the whipping scene went on and on with gore, one older lady beside me remarked, ìThis is ridiculous.î Precisely. Scripture tells us that he was beaten beyond recognition, so Mel could have taken even more liberty in beating Jesus to a bloody pulp. I do believe the exposed rib cage was a nice touch.

What the hell was up with ìSatanísî disturbing little man-baby?! Kind of creepy if you ask me, but Iím guessing thatís the point. And the scene of Mary looking on to Jesus falling on the ground, and then flashing back to when he was little and falling down ñ the waterworks turned on for me as a Father myself, but Iíd think Mary would have become a little more hysterical at that point.

But never mind me. Iím not a particularly good critic. I tend to feel movies more than dissect them for there meaning, though this film wore itís meaning on the sleeve ñ Iím just so thankful that someone decided to tell it well, and not steer an agenda with slanted story telling. This film will certainly be known for itís accurate portrayal of Christ as well as its brutality.

I truly hope Mr. Gibson steps up and films the resurrection accounts. He stopped short of engaging the truly powerful side of Jesus by not diving head long into more of His acts of kindness and miracles, so to pick it back up with a sequel, ìThe Resurrection of The Christ,î would seem like a no brainer. Thatís where the real story of the Christian walk begins. Not left up on the cross.

Your thoughts?

Here's What's New

A) Getting a digital camera! This may change how I view my world.
B) I'm searching for a new job. May work tech for a swell Mac Support company.
C) Emily and the kids are headed for CA next week. Anyone wanna come visit me?

Changing the World

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." Mt. 28:19

Last time I suggested if we are going to fulfill the Great Commission from Matthew 28 in America we need to do everything we can to keep people out of full-time ministry and keep as many people as possible away from making the church calendar the center of their universe.

Why would I make such a statement?

Because I think believers in America are too church program and ministry centered. There are a number of reasons for this. One is our basic longing for acceptance and effectiveness - we want our lives to matter. In the Evangelical/Charismatic tradition I grew up in, we believed the surest path to acceptance and effectiveness was hanging around the church as often as possible or, even better, going into full-time ministry for the Lord.

I may not be giving a fair representation of what actually happened, but as I sat in church week after week, I got the distinct impression that everyday life didn't mean much to God.

Since Jesus was going to come back soon, things like getting an education, or getting married, or having and parenting babies, or having a successful career - though not prohibited - were certainly not celebrated.

To matter, you needed to be doing ministry stuff: intercessory prayer, participating in a small group, witnessing, doing devotions, church volunteerismÖthings God really cared about.

Though unspoken, you knew that the daily warp and woof of life (i.e. family, friendships, work, etc.) should be approached like you would approach changing the oil on your car - a necessary responsibility. But ministry is getting on the road - it's what really matters!

Most ministers I knew fostered the sense that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers were at the center of God's plan to touch the world. If you want to be at the center of God's plan, get into full-time ministry. If you want to make a difference, get into full-time ministry. Admittedly, not everyone was called, but if you were one of the un-called, you certainly felt left out. And by default, as an un-called one, you became one of those "stupid sheep" the preachers always teased about. You were one of the dense ones that needed to be "led."

Honesty (and sadly), the only time I heard ministers speaking highly of the laity was when they were making a pitch for more church attendance, volunteerism, or during offering time.

I beg to differ. I think the greatest thing a lay person has to offer in advancing the kingdom of God is his or her every day life soaked with God's grace - not just his/her church attendance, participation in church programs, volunteerism, or money.

I think if people of the pew become people who fight for great marriages and great homes; who refuse to just have a "job" because we make our work vocational (sacramental); who work to cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit described in Gal. 5 (where traits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control flood our interactions with others); who practice the Golden Rule; and who are committed to living ethically and morally (repenting openly and accepting the consequences if we are not), we will convince those around us of the reality of Jesus Christ more than if 10,000 additional preachers went on TV or entered pulpit ministry.

I think the greatest thing we can do to change the world is for the laity to live out authentically changed lives in the context of their everyday lives. Encouraging thousands to run off to Bible schools in order to get pulpit jobs is NOT the answer. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with going into full-time ministry. Since I am in full-time ministry, I am obviously not against it! That being said, I DO believe there are many following that path because the path of laity has been domesticated instead of commemorated.

So, I'm saying if you really want to fulfill the Great Commission, celebrate the life and path God gave you; become a person full of the Holy Spirit; don't go to church too much; and stay out of full-time ministry.

Ed Gungor

Any thoughts on this from the peanut gallery?

Where have all the little fat kids gone?

Why has no one commented on my blog lately?
I need to come up with something earth shaking and monumental, huh?


damn.

I am in a hotel room

Ever think about what goes on in these rooms? Has a sweaty business man's ass sat on my covers? Is that some best-left-unidentifiable fluid formally drenched on the drapes now nothing more than a darker spot on the fabric as the sun makes it's vain attempt to pierce through. When was the last time any of these pieces of fabric washed?

The conclusion is, I don't want to think what's gone on in this little room. My imagination is way too vivid. I'd be much happier at home with my wife and babies, where I know my OCD lover cares very much about washing the sheets whether they need it or not. I'm assured that the 409 with bleach does a great job in the bathroom, and the smells in every room are familiar and easy to identify.

It's time to check out and grab whatever day old bagel may be left on the continental breakfast display.

Puppies Getting Enemas

I'm watching these poor animals having cool water shoved up their bung holes in hopes of bringing down their internal temperatures on, "Animal Cops - Detroit." This is the kind of programming that justifies my extra expense to receive more than just basic cable.

What could be a better way to spend a Friday night?

"We landed on the Moon!"

Why is it that I find such joy in quiping quotes from Dumb & Dumber all the time. I find that a few of the people I call my, "Real Friends," are like this too.

And it's not just us. I know there are many of you out there who take sincere pleasure in using phrases from motion pictures within your everyday communication.

"Ummm...Yeah, right."

Seriously. What are your favorite movies to quote from? Give us a line or two and let us guess.

Here's a great place to get started.

Olivia and Stewart take on the snow!

So I thought it would be fun to take some pictures of the kids
outside today. Enjoy!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Looking for information about a band?

I just found out about this website. It helps you look up bands - you type in the name of the band and it finds a VH1 bio for them and videos if available.

I looked up a band that has more than once hit home with me, called Switchfoot. Part of me going back to my old girlfriend was an inspired thought from one of their songs. That girlfriend is now my wife and mother of our two beautiful children.

In any case, here's a quote:
"It's not a dark album, but it talks about dark things that have happened to me," says Foreman. "A lot of the songs are about the hope that's deeper than the wound and how that's something that we can really hold onto. I think that's something that kids are picking up on and taking with them." He pauses and adds, "Don't misunderstandóI have no delusions of grandeur thinking that our songs will single-handedly change the world. But change is possible and I definitely want to be a part of that.

My First Day of Vacation

Well, MacWorld turned out to be a nice presentation, but none of the real exciting new products rumored around the net as possible break-throughs. Bummer, but I will live on.

In other developments, Emily is at a job interview, I'm on vacation from the shop for a couple of days, and my Dad just sent me a few pictures of their Christmas Visit:



The Nelson Family at Starbucks




Little Man Stew




Xmas Afternoon

MacWorld Keynote is tomorrow.

So here's the deal. I'm wanting to edit the background photo here on this page, but I no longer have a copy of Photoshop. Bummer. Seriously - this glass window stuff is certainly not me. I need a background that speaks me. What might identify itself with me? Hmmm...

I know I'm asking for trouble here, but I'm willing to take suggestions. The table is open. If anybody would care to comment, I'd be happy to hear.

In the mean time, the king of all Apple Events occurs tomorrow - MacWorld. So very nice, except for the fact that I have no money to purchase one of the amazing new toys they'll probably introduce tomorrow. Damn.

The lust of the eyes & technical horsepower is never satisfied.

The new look

Well? What do you think?