Sky Crane

Yup, that's called a "sky crane" helicopter in the picture bellow. We
spent the day with my parents who are visiting us from Wisconsin. We
has a day of planes, trains, and automobiles. We ended up going to
the National Guard museum (airplanes), stopped by the railroad tracks
on the way there, then caught some timing sessions at the Heartland
Park Speedway. The beat part - it was all free. Eat your heart out
Dave Ramsey. Topped off the day with homemade ice cream. Can life
get any better?!

Nelson's Big Announcement!

We are expecting our 3rd child in March 2009!

FUNNY STORY FOLLOWS

Joshua (3) and Kayla (1) still don't comprehend it. The best comment we've heard to date was from Joshua. Lisa explained to Joshua that he would have a new brother or sister next year. Joshua pointed to his 1 year old sister and said, "But what are we gonna do with that one?" Lisa just fell over laughing.

Warning: Pit Bulls in Worship

That's right. If you attend Pilgrim Congregational Church, you don't have to worry. Their insurance covers you if that feisty pit bull attacks while you sing, "It Is Well with My Soul" - that is while you still have it.

What do you think?

clipped from blogs.usatoday.com Church invites congregants to weekly 'Woof 'n' Worship' services Pilgrim Congregational Church is encouraging congregants to bring their canine companions to weekly "Woof 'n' Worship" services in Weymouth, Mass., The Patriot Ledger says. She says they had "to pay a little extra" to get the insurance company to cover pit bulls. "We're going to have doggy clean-up stations, but I'm not worried," she tells the Boston Globe. "Dog owners are very responsible folks. I fully expect it will be wonderful and that there will be a lot of giggles and all sorts of fun."

Transparency: living an open source life

Apple has been cloaked in secrecy for years - holding close held secrets until unveiling them at the right time.

It got me thinking about my spiritual life. How secretive do I keep my spiritual life? How secret 'should' it be, if at all? Do people

know what I believe? Do I want them to know?

I wonder - if people I'm around don't know I follow Jesus, then it's probably not a life Christ would be proud of Sure, Christ wanted some around him to keep mum about who he was - but that's because it was all in the timing?

When of comes to leading a life that follows Jesus - instead of a life in secret, I need to live an open source life.

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/10/apple-openness.html

What do you think - is there room in the Christian life for closely held 'spiritual secrets' until it's time to make them known? If so, what are some examples?

Ride the Elevator to the Heavens

I admit, I'm a little bit of a tech/space junkie. If it sounds a little far fetched -then I'm into it.

I've read about this potential before, but I'm hearing more and more about this space elevator. The concept is an elevator that is built on counterweights to hoist and elevator to an orbiting docking station.

Read more about it here: article.

The accomplishments of man have grown throughout the years. Atom smashing, moon landing, tornado chasing, and the like must seem close to immortality playing fields. I know in the Bible, people got in deep doo doo with God then they attempted to build a tower to the heavens (Tower of Babel in Genesis 11).

Still doesn't come close to the Creator of matter, planets, weather, and Savior of the world. God, help me to be more in awe of You than the incredible stuff You are allowing us to discover. I admit, many times it the reserve. Forgive me.

Dear Fire Marshall, Full House at TBC

Curious About Spiritual Matters

Don't automatically think your friends aren't interested in spiritual things. In many cases, people are very interested in spiritual matters. It simply takes one party to initiate a discussion by asking a simple question - "Are you a spiritual-type person?"

Who do I need to ask this question of? How about you?

Check out this article on cellist Yo-Yo Ma's new album. The author of this article has their mind on spiritual things. I wonder if Yo-Yo does to.

clipped from ap.google.com Yo-Yo Ma's new album takes spiritual journey NEW YORK (AP) — After musical trips to Appalachia, Brazil, Argentina, the Silk Road and baroque and modern Italy, Yo-Yo Ma has embarked on a spiritual journey. He felt the urge to record something that he hopes will bring people together during these dangerous times. "I wanted to do something that focuses on an idea rather than a place," Ma said in an interview. "Like Appalachian music or Brazilian or tango or the Silk Road, we were going to faraway regions. But then there are other things that join us together. And one of them is this seeking of the experience of joy in different places. And so in a way it's like creating a party that brings all my friends together from the different parts of life." The audience gets its chance to participate by submitting its own creations of "Dona Nobis Pacem" on the Indaba Music social network site. Entries will be judged and the winner will get an opportunity to record with Ma.

Worship Leader Tip: Free Giveaway, Designing Effective Worship Gatherings

I enjoy giving something away if it might really help someone. No I'm not going to give you my iPhone, but I have something that might be of value.

It's all my secrets - 20 outline pages to a conference workshop based off of my experience designing worship gatherings/environments. Keep in mind, it's only one person's experience - mine. But it will give you insight into how God has shaped me to create times of worship.

You can download the PDF of "Designing Effective Worship Gatherings" here.

Here's a snapshot of what's included.

Description:
This workshop will take an in-depth look at how to design (create, organize, execute, and evaluate) a corporate worship gathering that has a potential to cause authentic worship in all generations. We will also visit how to manage musicians, technicians, and artists lead others in worship through the local church.

Those who will benefit:
1) Those desiring to create worship gatherings that produce authentic worship.
2) Instrumental and vocal musicians in the local church.
3) Technicians (sound, lights, video, camera, staging) in the local church.
4) Ministry leaders of music and media ministry.

To shave or not to shave...

This one's for my wife. Make the case for/against it. Should I lose
the soul patch? Let the comments begin.

Cap and Pie Club

Yes sir! Ash Aeschliman takes the young guys to lunch. Pie and caps
for everyone.