Sorry guys. I am not the most diligent blog-keeper...
Well kettles is finally over and I am relieved. Last year we made $45,000 (10,000 over our goal of 35,000). This year we didn't want to wish too high (and other factors were involved) so we had set our goal at 37,000. Well kettles started and I started to worry very early on. Giving was down, some stores we weren't able to stand at right away, and I had problems with volunteers. I didn't even try to compare our effort to our last kettle campaign. It would have been more added stress. Well we came down to the last week and we were $11,500 away from making our goal. During this time we let the community know and we received some great publicity on tv, radio, and the newspaper. Well after Christmas meltdown I went to the Corps and picked up the deposits. With one day of deposits left we were only 3,000 away! I told Danni and sure enough when we added up the totals for the last day... it was 3,700. I couldn't believe it! Not only did we make our goal but we went over! I was so estactic! God really blessed our effort. Its funny. I remember telling people, "If God wants us to make 37,000 then we will, if not then He will work it out. He did!!
On another note: Now, most of you who know me know that I am a loyal fan of Nintendo. After Atari I kept myself graduated to the next Nintendo- the NES to the Super Nintendo, to the Nintendo 64, and the Gamecube. I don't play as much as I used to when I was a young punk, but I do enjoy saving the universe and solving puzzles in the virtual world from time to time. Well back at E3 Nintendo finally unveiled the Wii. The next Nintendo console, but this time Nintendo took a risk. Instead of following up with the same old same old- new system, prettier graphics, same games- as they had done in the past and Nintendo's competitors continue to do today, Nintendo decided to change the way you play. So now if you want to swing a sword in Zelda, then you swing the Wii-mote (the controller), or to hit a tennis ball you just swing your Wii-mote like its a real racket. Because of its simple approach, it has appeal to those who don't usually find themselves playing video games. Take Deb, Danielle's mother for instance. I took my Wii to her house and she was begging me to let her keep it! Her hook was Wii Sports-especially bowling. Its just like going to the real lanes except there's no smelly shoes and loud obnoxious people (depending on how much the players get excited).I really think Nintendo has a hit on their hands this time and I can't wait to play with all my friends.
Currently Watching The Second Chance By Michael W. Smith, Jeff Obafemi Carr, J. Don Ferguson, Lisa Arrindell Anderson, David Alford, Henry Haggard, Kenda Benward, Jonathan Thomas (III), Calvin Hobson, Bobby Daniels, Shirley Cody, Peggy Walton-Walker, Vilia Steele, Kobie Jarmon, Erin Hemphill, Yuri Cunza, Vincent Ndikumana, Rico Moody, Robert Fitzgerald (VI), J.D. Parker see related
Sorry, guys. I know I haven't updated in a while so I have a lot of exciting things to tell you about. First of all Danni and I get to incorporate something that I did for a project in Training School. In Major Larry Ashcraft's youth culture elective, I came up with a project called "Gospeldia" which is Gospel + Media. After the Soup Kitchen on Sundays, we watch a movie (a secular one, not the left behind trilogy *shudders*). Most of the people who go to the soup kitchen don't have a strong desire to attend church, but I know they would stay for a movie. Well, last Sunday we watched, "Batman Begins." After finishing it, we had a discussion on how Batman's philosophy in this movie mirrors God's. Crazy, you say? Well if you have seen the movie, the league of shadows doesn't see that Gotham is worth saving and see the need to totally destroy the city. But, Batman doesn't see it that way. He has hope for his city. I linked it to the verse in 2 Peter 3, where Peter addresses those who are getting impatient with Jesus' return. Sure we want Jesus to come back now and save us, however He chooses to withhold His judgment. The world is not too far gone. He stills see those who are worth saving. He wants as many people to come to repentance before the end comes. Didn't think Batman Begins had such a deep meaning huh?! We had a good discussion afterwards, and those who attended reallly enjoyed it. I view Gospeldia, as what Jesus did in His days on earth. He took familiar concepts like fishing and farming and applied heavenly concepts so that those who heard would have a deeper understanding. In Gospeldia, I am taking things that people are familiar with, i.e. the cinema, and applying heavenly concepts. My hope is that whenever someone sees the Batman movie again, they are reminded of the spiritual insight that was gleaned from it. Also, that they learn to recognize spiritual insights in other movies that they may watch in the future. (Wow! I think this was my first serious post!!)
on another note: Danni and I are very very very excited about some upcoming events that we will be attending.
First of all, there was a gentlement who came to the Corps that told us about a book by Gregory McGuire, 'Wicked.' This book is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. In this book, we see her side of the story and how she was misunderstood. Well, as some of you may know it was made into a Broadway musical. We picked up the soundtrack, and quite frankly we can't stop listening to it. I don't think I ever had an album that I have listened to the most, except Mousersize when I was younger. So now during our vacation in Sept. we are going to visit Armida then we are going to Broadway to see it... I can't wait. Here is a performance of "Defying Gravity" from the Tony Awards a few years ago:
Then in October as I told you in one of my earlier posts; Danni and I are going to see Third Day. We already have our tickets and we are in the Third Row!!! I'm pretty excited!! Here is the video to Cry Out To Jesus:
Then to top it off. We are going to see, for the very first time one of my ultimate favorite artists. We are going to go to Buffalo and along with Tommy and Gill are going to see Michael W. Smith. He has a new album coming out in November. If you go to his website, you can order his album as well as listen to the newest single, "Come to the Cross." Also, if you pre-order the album you can listen to five songs, as I am now doing.... Check it out: http://www.michaelwsmith.com
And to leave you on another note: Danni and I have joined a local gym. We even hired five sessions with a personal trainer. My trainer is really cool. He says "yeah" and "yeppers" a lot. I will post 'after' pictures in the future.
Ok, my mother decided to come up for vacation. She brought her car that after being passed from officer to officer, finally wound up in Ridgeway. Pretty nice car, too! It even has a spoiler. Well, I was mowing the lawn and a phantom rock must of jumped up in front of it (because I didn't see it) Then the lawn mower momentarily became a vehicle of destruction. I heard a bang and then noticed that my mother's driver's side window was totally smashed. In fact when I went to inspect the damage, the rock, about half the size of my fist, was there on the driver's seat. When I went in the house and told my mom, she thought I was joking. But as soon as she went outside that notion was thrown aside and she became pale. But, like a good son that I am, I vacuumed, swept, and made an appointment to fix it up. Sorry.. mom!!
Well, we finally arrived home from camp and we had a lot of fun. Danni and I were assigned to be the Christian Ed directors and also to do village devotions. For Christian Ed we maintained a Psalm 23 theme and had the "Psalm 23 Amazing Race." The kids had a lot of fun and learned how God is our Shepherd. For devotions I took my venus fly trap plant and told the kids how I feed it everyday. Well then I tell them it is feeding time and then I poured potato chips and soda all over the plant. It was a good object lesson that just as only sun and water help a plant grow, reading our Bible and praying is essential to christian growth. We will miss the kids but we really enjoyed the experience. It was nice to just relax also and to do some reading. We were in the lake side apartments and it was perfect (when it wasn't too hot) to just go on the deck and enjoy a good book. Ally loved the lake. She even went swimming . Well in just about 7 days we will leave again to be counselors at Star Lake Music Camp and come to think of it... we will be back at Long Point for Family Camp. Wow! A month of camps.... Well I'll talk to you all later...
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