• 25 Things to Know
The following twenty-five things you might want to know about me…
1. I was born in New London, CN. I am the oldest of five children, three brothers and a sister. Both my mother and father have passed.
2. My father was a career Navy Officer who served in the World War 11 and the Korean War. He was at the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor, and he survived. He went with Admiral Byrd’s third expedition to Antactica.
3. Our family traveled and moved numerous times, all over the United States and I lived on the Island of Guam as a young boy.
For more things you might want to know about me…
• Mexico Team Photos
Here are two collage team photos from our last Mission Trip to Mexico. Forty Three of us traveled two hours south of Ensenada to San Telmos to work with the migrant workers that live there. See if you can find me in the photos. (where’s Barney?)
You can double click on these photos for an enlargement. The second photo is our ministry to the Ensenada Jail, where we ministered to over 400 inmates. Our ministry there included preaching, music, testimony, feeding the men, gifts and free medical treatment.
You can learn of the full story by seeing our December post When the Angels Came.
• Kidology Coaching Update
I start the new year with ten on-line protege’s. I am very excited about this development, as this is more than confirmation that I am finding my voice and stride with this new mentoring effort. Each of these students show great promise of being significant in their ministries to children. I now have beginners and old timers. I have beginning churches and established churches. I have small, medium and large sized churches. Some have a small group of children with a small menu of program options, other have an incredible amount of programming options. These protege’s are from all over the country: Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennesse, Washington, California and even two from Canada. My weekly phone calls are helping to progress the units of material. I plan to feature these protege’s in the months ahead, so you might follow the fun I am having with each of them.
• It Was A Barrel of Fun!
This is a caricature drawing of my early children’s ministry, known as Barney’s Barrel. Yes, I actually wore the barrel into the meeting and rather humorously and I might add, ceremoniously, took it off in front the audience (of course, I had the girls close their eyes). The barrel became a stage prop, table and suitcase that featured all the visuals and magic tricks that I needed to teach the Scripture lesson to children.
This cartoon looking piece was drawn by Artist Bruce Day…
• One “More” Year?
Maybe it is just another new year to you, but not to me! I get very reflective during this time. I find myself reviewing my year and thinking about what was missing and what could have made a difference. I then begin formulating thoughts about what my future year might look like if I set my sights and plans differently. I find myself praying about possible new ventures and goals. Sometimes God put things on my heart to trust Him for and I find myself writing things down, just to see what it looks like on paper. I tend to look for annual and quarterly and monthly goals at this time. I review all the significant areas of my life and try to assess what I can do to advance any cause that has occupied my thinking. Or I ask is there anything new that I should be concentrating on or is there anything that I need to be eliminating in the future. It might be a little early to reveal what I am currently thinking, but there are some things ahead for me to consider more carefully. There are some things I wish to accomplish in ministry and in my family.
The twists and turns of the last few months have effected us all. I know it has been for me. I am resolving to be more intentional, more frugal, more strategic, more giving, more disciplined, more loving, more creative, more healthy and more invested in my protege’s.
You might say, this year will be one “more” year.
• The Shack Book
Just finished reading The Shack. Incredible read. Although this book is fiction, the author has incredible insights into the inner workings pain and suffering combined with insights into the theology of the Trinity. Although it could be super analyized, it is a novel, after all. It did challenge me and caused me to go deeper into my awareness of God working all around me.
• When the Angels Came…
With all the trauma in Tijuana these days with drug related killings, not as many came South from the U.S. for Christmas this year. The migrant farmer workers from Oaxaca thought no one would come this year. The laborers hazard a make-shift life, while working in the fields South of Ensenada in the farm camps in San Telmos. However, the Bread of Life Church from Torrance organized another annual Mission trip anyway, just to minister to these hard working people. In cooperation with the 4 Christ Mission from San Diego, some 40 plus persons from several Southern California Churches, loaded a great white bus the weekend before Christmas.
We became the “only Christmas” for these families…
• Movie: Tale of Despereaux
I read a good review of the Tale of Despereaux on Kidology.com and decided to act upon the recommendation of Nancy Keith. I took my Grandson Benjamin who is now six. It was a good time, as we enjoyed the film over a bag of popcorn. He followed the plot pretty well, and because I read the review, I was able to orient him to the story, without giving away the ending. He laughed many times, as did many children in the theater. There were a few predictable chases scenes, but understandable stereotypes for rodents. The best part for me was just doing something special for my grandson. The movie is about “forgiveness.”
If you are interested in the review that I looked at, go to http://www.kidology.org
• Riddle #9, What Am I?
Can you riddle me this?
Look at me! Red, round and cheesy,
Not fancy, but I am just plain old “easy!”
Once a stranger for the procrastinator,
Now I am that talking congratulator.
I sit around a lot, but I am no slob.
I am the hit, of every completed job.
Once a novice for the “bottom line,”
Now I’m just the recorder of “you’re doing fine!”
I am the ultimate-praise button, hon
No one there, but I say “well done.”
What am I?
I am a __________________
Submit your answer in the comment box, winners will be notified there.
I will be sending a nice prize to the first twelve who answers this riddle correctly.
• Indonesian-Family Camp
Our Thanksgiving was really different this year. Some of my family went to Sacramento for a couple of days, while I stayed back and attended the Indonesian Retreat at Rancho Capistrano. It is a beautiful place near San Juan Capistrano, just below Orange County. The conference/retreat center is owned by Crystal Cathedral. This annual All-Church Family Retreat is sponsored by The Indonesian Evangelical Church from Azusa, California.
My assignment was to plan the fourteen hours for the children to compliment the concurrent adult program. So our task was to convert this child-care model to an exciting time of ministry for over 25 children. To accomplish this, I hired two of my favorite protege’s and …
