As you can see from this picture from our day at the Northwest Trek, our family vacation to the Washington was not all bad. We spent time together, time with family, and just relaxed for part of the time.
While on vacation in Washington, I've been exposed to culture upon culture. The first part of the culture that's been interesting is the weather. We were warned to bring jackets and wear layers because the highs would only be in the sixties. When we arrived on Thursday we encountered their highest temps to date. We've only made the children wear jackets once.
On Friday we visited Seattle's Pike Place Market. We expected a general market experience akin to the Renicks of Ukraine. We encountered the tourist trap a la Andrevsky's Spoosk located on Andrew's Descent in Kiev. The prices were high and the street was crowded. Puddin N Pie and Bubba both found places to buy expensive souvenirs with some of their "Nana/Poppi" money. Little Bit is saving hers for today's adventure.
Saturday was interesting because my blushing bride's cousin was getting married (thus the timing of the trip). I'd never been to a Celtic wedding before. No, it had nothing to do with basketball, but was rather more of a druid affair. I'm still processing the differences that were thrown at me during the ceremony. Congratulations to the happy couple.
Culture moment, next: I had the opportunity to preach in my father-by-law's pulpit. It was a great experience as he had asked me to preach on missions (including some info about our time in Ukraine). As any good Baptist I chose as my text the Great Commission found in Matthew 28. This particular experience was not nearly so earth-moving as other cultural moments because it is a SBC church. What was really exhilarating was, due to the size of the room, the house was almost packed.
Finally, Blushing Bride and I got to attend the evening service of the Grace Slavic Baptist Church not far from the in-laws' home. Worship drew us back to Ukraine for even just a moment. We understood enough to catch the gist of the sermons (there were only two this time), and sing along with the worship team. My only struggle with the music was that there was a post and a light obscuring about one-quarter of the projection. I was whisked back to worship in a cine theater in Kiev where I found some of the most heartfelt worship times in my sojourn there.
All in all, I think we've had a culturally good time. We're off to visit the Northwest Trek tourist event today.
Time for a pet peeve brought on by excessive blogging. Whenever comparing things it is most appropriate to use the word "than."
Example: "I would rather take a walk than sit around surfing the 'net."
Increasingly, I find my friends and co-bloggers using the word "then" in place of the aforementioned "than."
For those who don't understand, the word "then" is used to show sequence--"I went for a walk then sat around surfing the 'net for an hour."
Please make a note, and make appropriate corrections.
Have a nice day.
I'm visiting my mother- & father-by-law in Washington (the state, not the capitol). We traveled by train--more on that experience when I've had a chance to digest the experience. When I got the chance to check my rss reader (after two days' absence), I learned that my new AuthorTree website was chosen to be the first monthly spotlight at Author TreeHouse.
Now maybe I will get to be famous!
Father's Day was extremely special. The offspring gave me a framed collage of photos of them. Here's one that touches a daddy's heart. 
Look for Little Bit on the blogs in years to come.
This week I celebrated my second anniversary as pastor of the church here in the middle USA. I expected the day to go by in its usual uneventful way. Then yesterday, I received a package in the mail. It was addressed to the entire family, but was sent anonymously--addressed to us at the church address with the church address as the return address. No card, no explanation, just a book of poetry inside (by Jeff Foxworthy no less). Taped to the front end papers of the book were a gift card to buy gas and enough tickets to pay for entrance, parking, and snacks at St. Louis' version of Six Flags.
Thanks -- whoever
you are!
For the uninitiated, that is what you call an "eight possum Thursday"
I will admit that I haven't read this
Nor have I seen this
But the last two evenings my Blushing Bride and I have enjoyed this newer (mini series) version of Crichton's thriller. We decided to watch part 1 yesterday and were hooked. Benjamin Bratt puts in a stellar performance as Jeremy Stone (leader of the Wildfire team) that carries the 
mediocrity of the other members of the Wildfire team (Ricky Shroder still has his best work in Silver Spoons) as well as the lackluster presidential portrayal.
The writing keeps you on the edge of your seat even if the acting doesn't. Go ahead waste four hours with this one. You'll enjoy it.
Congratulations to Rhonda McKnight who commented to enter and win the last copy of Steven Hunt's debut novel Guardian of Light I had to give away. Thanks to all who participated. Keep reading and tell your friends.
I was hesitant about posting this one, but I believe in the power of prayer, so . . .
Tragedy hit the Christian Music world again. In the news this morning, I heard about this.
Please be praying for Steven Curtis Chapman, his wife Mary Beth, and their remaining children. The Chapmans have been pioneers in getting the word out about adopting children and will need all the strength of the Lord to help them as they work through the loss of Maria Sue.
To help you start with your summer reading program, I have a giveaway for you. Last year, my good friend Steven Hunt released his first book, Guardian of Light. I was privileged to get an advanced reading (e) copy to review. Then he set up a book signing in my area and left me a few copies to give away. I still have one more autographed copy, and if you're into free books, here's your chance. I will choose the winner from those who leave a message in the comment section--it's that easy. I will draw the name of the winner from the comment section on May 26 (Memorial Day), and post the winner the following day.
After you win, I request (but do not require) that you consider writing a review of the book for me to post at a later date.
Sign in, make a comment, win a book. What fun to start the summer!
Earlier today I read of the disappearance of Pastor Forrest Pollock and have been checking here periodically during the day.
I would ask my readers to keep Dawn Pollock and the rest of the family in your prayers. I did not know Forrest, but am certainly praying for his family. Pray also for the Bell Shoals Baptist Church of Brandon, FL.
I just heard the news that Gospel Music icon Dottie Rambo died in a car wreck in southern Missouri yesterday. Dottie was one of the most prolific writers in the world of Christian/Gospel Music. Read the account here.
Our prayers go out to the family and those who knew Dottie.
Here are a few lines from one of her songs (I can still hear my mom singing this one in church):
Amazing Grace, shall always be my song of praise.
For it was grace that brought me liberty,
I do not know, just why He came to love me so.
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.
I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary,
To view the cross, where Jesus died for me
How marvelous, His grace that caught my falling soul
He Looked beyond my fault and saw my need.
There's a fun little children's song that has a variety of versions floating around. The song is known as "The Little Green Frog"
When I first learned the song as a teenager it went this way:
"Barump went the little green frog one day
Barump with the little green frog
Barump with the little green frog one day
And his eyes went Bonk!Bonk!"
I later heard it on a children's program while I lived overseas and the following words won the day:
Mmm mmm went the little green frog one day
Mmm mmm went the little green frog
Mmm mmm went the little green frog one day
And we all went mmm mmm ahhh!!
But we know frogs go ladedadeda
ladedadeda ladedadeda
We know frogs go ladedadeda
ladedadeda ladedadeda
They don't go mmm mmm ahh.
(Motions--close eyes, then stick out tongue, then sing "went the little green frog"/at the end of the first part--close eyes, stick out tongue, shake face with tongue out/clap before each "ladedadeda"/last line same as last line of first part)
Here you can communicate to a child that the only time appropriate to stick out your tongue is when singing this song.
And now to the point of the story. Not long ago I was reading with Little Bit (my youngest) who is learning to talk. The book was about colors, and on green there was a big picture of a green frog. I asked how does a frog go? fully expecting 'ribbit, ribbit.' And you guessed it, she said, "ladedadeda."
After all we all know frogs go "ladedadeda."
Our friends over at Missional Press (who recently brought us the great book Journeys by Wright and Duren) have decided to expand to general Christian publishing through the imprint MorFX Press. Read their announcement here, and stay tuned for the first title under this new label.
For those of Mexican descent among us, HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!
When I first found the blogosphere, I also found Fred's World. Fred is a teacher in Tampa, FL who has lots of interesting posts--including pictures and humor and everything that makes blogging entertaining. Just as I was getting my sea legs in the blog world Fred posted this announcement that he was leaving the sphere.
Well, now he's back after a little over a year, and his hair is gone, but his wit and wisdom are still there. Give him a click for a great read, and welcome back, my friend.
Plus, with the new "Blog List" feature in the sidebar (when it's working right) you can see when he's been updated.
Last night, the Blushing Bride and I sat down to enjoy this gem birthed out of British Comedy. I've always liked Bean, his nine year old trapped in a thirty-year-old body antics are consistently endearing. In my opinion, Bean is by far Rowan Atkinson's best character (although he did put in a sleeper of a performance in The Rat Race).
Mr. Bean's Holiday is good but not spectacular. The Bean character tends to get slow after about twenty minutes, so an hour and a half can drag at times. So on to the highlights--
Mr. Bean wins the raffle of a holiday trip to Cannes. Along the way he stumbles into an expensive (but grotesque) meal, a taxi ride to the opposite end of Paris, but with the help of his trusty compass walks across the city (in a straight line--through traffic), and all in his happily oblivious state.
Bean meets and befriends a young Russian boy, whose father is in Cannes to help judge the film festival, and an aspiring actress who doesn't understand how short her career is . . . until she meets Bean. And all Mr. Bean wants to do is get to the beach (losing his money and his passport along the way).
Especially entertaining to me was getting to hear the little boy speak in slow clear Russian -- I was kind of homesick for the former Soviet Union. The plot was okay, but slow-moving. There was plenty of entertainment for about twenty minutes of Bean-esque fun. Die-hard fans of Atkinson or Mr. Bean will want to get a copy of this, others will want to take a pass.
Twitter must be the newest thing in the blogosphere. For those who don't know, it's like an on-line minute-by-minute of your day. Art Rogers has an excellent post on the twittering that has become all the rage in the world of blogging.
Along with Art, I read several blogs via an rss reader, and I'd just as soon not know how many times and when you blew your nose last. Read Art's rant, you'll get the picture.
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