Finally

Finally another trip to the Final Four. Finally the first trip post-Roy. Finally.

Now all that stand in the way is this little school from North Carolina and a coach named Roy.

Daddy/Daughter Night

My ticket -- $27
Harlem Globetrotter Basketball -- $25
Nachos, Popcorn and Drink -- $10
Daddy/Daughter Time -- Priceless

Special Night

I'm looking forward to a special date with my daughter tonight. We're heading out to see the Harlem Globetrotters.

Why the Harlem Globetrotters? Well, the Globetrotters had a special promotion back in the year 2000 in which they gave free tickets to every child born that year. You had to sign up at a special website and they sent you a membership card. And since she was born in the year 2000 we were able to get her a free ticket for life to the Globetrotters. Pretty cool huh?

But the sad thing is this will be the first year we've used the special ticket. Each year we've seen them come through where we lived but never have taken advantage of the offer. So tonight they're here in town and we're going.

Just a special night out. Just the two of us. Should be a lot of fun. My son may be a little jealous.

Good Monday

I had a great day off yesterday.

First I was able to play golf for the first time this season. The temp was supposed to be around 67 which is great but the winds were around 35-40 MPH. That's crazy. I'm not telling you what I shot.

Then I took the kids to the movie store to pick out some movies for the week. It's great having a video store down the street that offers free kids movies. So they went crazy picking out what they wanted.

We finished the day having some pizza and watching "Enchanted" as a family. Pretty good movie, I would recommend it but I don't think I'll ever want to sit and watch it again. (But I bet my kids do....)

Incredible Easter Weekend and I even had a great Monday.

Now I have to get to work on a message for Sunday....

G.I. Joe

When I first heard the news that they were making a movie based on the G.I. Joe characters I grew up with I have to admit I wasn't that excited. Sure, Transformers was a huge hit and they've been successful bringing other characters to the big screen but G.I. Joe? Really? What's next....He-Man? Thundercats?

But that changed for me today with this article and first look at the movie.

It has some pictures of probably my favorite character from G.I. Joe, Snake Eyes. The black suited ninja who never said a word. While playing with our G.I. Joe action figures (they were not dolls!) as a kid my friends and I would always fight over who got to play with Snake Eyes. Wow, fun times.

So for all of you G.I. Joe fans out there, check out these cool pics of the new Snake Eyes from the movie. I have to warn you...they'll take you back.




I guess I'm ready for the movie...now if I could just find my old Snake Eyes action figure.

Bubblewrap

Just click here for fun with bubblewrap.

You need the break and you'll thank me later.

PK Retreat

Well, last weekend I spent some time out at Wheatstate Camp speaking to a group of PK's. For those of you who don't know, that's preacher's kids. And before you say anything bad about PK's remember that I am one too! Ok, now you can make your jokes.

Anyway, I thought I would post my thoughts and impressions from the trip.

First, it was out at the campgrounds that I spent many summers at as a kid. It's never been the nicest camp but it was always a place I had a lot of fun. They've improved the grounds a lot since I've been there last (like 10 years ago!) but it still has the "Wheatstate" feel.

I was able to stay in a brand new cabin just for the speakers. It was like a small hotel room, really nice. Here are some pics:


It sure beats the cabins that I stayed in as a kid. No air conditioner and we had big public bathrooms.
But one thing they forgot....to turn the hot water on. So it was a cold shower for me!

They also had a nice gift basket waiting for me in my room. And someone told them about my dots obsession:


They've even added a rock climbing wall and huge tunnel/slide/playarea in the gym. I've shown you pics of me getting ready for the wall, now here is the tunnel thing:

I have to say it was pretty impressive because it filled half of the gym. My kids would have loved it.

Outside is a covered open basketball area and two paintball fields. One was a woods course and the other more of a speed course. Pretty cool.

But there was some serious time with the students. I was the speaker at the retreat and challenged them in their relationships with others. I told them that their relationships with others reflect their relationship with God. I shared that they needed to forgive others and encourage others. And by encourage I mean, get in their business when they're drifting away.

Some guys from our church also went with me to lead worship for the weekend. So overall it was a pretty fun two days. And a pretty quick two days. Because I had the Easter Egg Hunt back here at Evangel I had to leave the retreat a little early.

So let me leave you with this final picture of our youth pastor Bryce. He's getting ready for the rock climbing wall...I think. I'd love to hear your captions to the photo.

Awareness Test

Do the test.



Thoughts?

Big Weekend

It's only Saturday and I have to say that it's been a pretty full weekend. I spoke at a retreat for pastor's kids Thursday and Friday night and we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt today. Over 25,000 eggs. We're the biggest hunt in the city. It's just crazy. I heard some initial reports and we had over 60 families that registered with no church home. It's a great outreach to the community.

Church tomorrow and then Crystal and I are heading up to KC for a quick getaway. The kids are on spring break so they get to spend the night with Grandma!

Anyway, I'll post more about the retreat later, but for now check out this image of me getting ready for a rock wall!



More later.

Shocking News

CNN is reporting today that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD. That's 25% in teen girls aged 14-19. Or 3 million teens. That's incredible.

In the study 50% of black girls had an STD compared to 20% among both whites and Mexican-American teens.

Here is a great quote from the article: "...some doctors also are reluctant to discuss STDs with teen patients or offer screening because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results."

Click the link to read more of the article.

Seems like "Safe" Sex is working pretty well. (That's sarcasm)

So my only question is, when do we get serious about God's plan for sex and start preaching abstinence again?

Cool Day

Went to the YMCA to work out
Came home and ate breakfast with my son
Took my son to the "movie" store to pick out some free kids movies
Went to Target with my son to buy a new toy with the money he's saved
Looked at (and tested out with him) some mattresses for his new bed
Watched one of the movies with him over lunch
Sat with my son on the couch looking at some websites
Watched him make up some new games to play

And it's only 3 in the afternoon. Who knows what is next?

Well he's recruiting me to play again...

I love being a dad

*UPDATE*
Played basketball with my daughter for a while
Took my kids to Burger King for dinner
Now I'm watching Hannah Montana...that's right Hannah Montana

I still love being a dad

A little 24?

For all of you 24 fans check this out:

Two-Hour 24 Prequel Coming this Fall
Source: The Hollywood Reporter March 6, 2008

The producers of Fox's "24" are developing a two-hour "prequel" to the upcoming seventh season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie, designed to bridge the two-year gap between Seasons 6 and 7, is targeted to air in the fall, leading to the January return of the real-time drama. On Wednesday, "24" producers began securing the show's core cast members for the film.

The upcoming seventh season is set in Washington and features the first female U.S. president, played by Cherry Jones.

The "24" writing team is back at work, with filming on the remaining episodes of the seventh season slated to begin in April.


There you go. When I heard that 24 wasn't coming back until January I didn't think I would make it. So at least we'll get something!
For more information check out comingsoon.net.

Little Smile

I must admit that this story made me smile a little bit.

So sorry Cheeseheads.



So long Brett.

What do these have in common?

What do these three movies/TV shows have in common?




They were all used this past weekend at Evangel.

"Sweep the leg. You have a problem with that?"
"No sensei."
"No mercy."
"Yeah Johnny! Get him a body bag!"

All For Love

We started our new series at Evangel yesterday. It's called "All for Love" and is based on John 3:16. It runs all the way through Easter.

Here is the logo for the series:


Great look and feel for the new series.