delaney update

i've received several emails and numerous hits to my blog on people wanting an update on delaney, the little girl who was badly burned.

i've asked the person in my office who shared the original request, and she's done some legwork. the response we've received at this point was (sic) "she's doing well, and i look forward to telling you more soon!"

so....

thanks for your prayers...keep on praying. and as soon as i know more, you'll know more.

once again, will farrell = funny

after elf, he'll be in anchorman.

just looking at the photo makes me laugh.

a killer ap

can you tell the difference between a coder and a mass murderer?

i tried and only got six outta ten.

i recognized one killer and no coders. i guessed a lot.

link by boing boing

aaaauuggh!!!!

i feel like charlie brown. and the university of colorado is lucy, holding my emotional football as i run up to attempt a field goal.

four interceptions of the Texas Tech QB, and they still lose.

that's just not right.

got a hang-up?

this guy was trying to break the world record for most misplaced clothespins.

he failed.

but at least he lost out to himself.

i don't know what causes people to pursue this type of obscure notoriety. maybe because it is the very fact of oxymoronic irony that compels them. if they succeed, there'll be few to challenge the odd accomplishment.

there's three schools of thought when it comes to world records. this one, which attracts this guy and others of his ilk. the second is the most honorable -- those who pursue feats of excellence, be they physical or intellectual. then there's the third camp, where i've pitched my tent, which is the camp where if a record comes along in the normal course of life, it will be welcomed and accepted. unfortunately, when you're in this camp, you don't see too many world records come along, because all the others who are either chasing after them, or are eagerly applying clothespins to their mugs to earn one.

and truth be known, i'm okay with that.

maybe there's a record for most apathetic attitude toward world records.

but blogging about it would likely disqualify me.

he's my huckleberry

tony has once again come through, providing me with technological goodness to add to my blog.

thanks to him, inspired by jen, who has since abandoned the concept, i have rotating tag lines.

muy cool.

now i just need the skinny on how to put an icon in my i.d. tag like they do, then i'll just be one more step closer to where i hope to be.

will you watch it?

aliens vs. predator arrives in theaters next august.

i love the 80s

i coulda done better. but even with a quick once-through, i did okay.



take the test yourself.

this was one of the most entertaining i've done lately. i'm looking forward to hearing how some of you, my contemporaries, fare.

UPDATE: I took it again, paying closer attention this time. and my score of 110.5 garnered this rating:



and I still should have done better, actually looking at the answers this time!

happy halloween

Point:
This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. -- Psalm 118:24

Counterpoint:
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. -- Eph. 5:15-16

Summary:
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. -- Col. 3:17


Resources:
history
missler's take
mohler's 2 cents
my post from last year (totally unrelated, but its my blog)

ohmygoodness

direct from the email:

The Funnies are silent today--and a few days next week--in honor of an amazing man, Mike Yaconelli:

THE TRAGIC LOSS OF MIKE YACONELLI

Early on the morning of Thursday, October 30, we lost a friend, a father, an inspiration. Co-founder and owner of Youth Specialties (YS), Mike Yaconelli, was in a fatal car accident in northern California late Wednesday evening.

The number of lives touched by Mike is beyond what we could even estimate. He is the father of modern youth ministry in many minds. Through his books, speaking engagements, and YS events, he has ministered to untold thousands all over the world.

Mike dedicated his life to what God had called him to do. He believed in youth ministry, and did all he could to equip youth workers to change the lives of students. He lived with a passion that was unmatched. He was the incarnation of his book titles, Dangerous Wonder and Messy Spirituality; he lived a life of wonder and amazement at God's grace. He never claimed to be perfect; he just lived as he was--a man after God's own heart.

In this time of grief and confusion, as we all deal with our loss, it is the hope of the YS family that you will reflect on how God used Mike to touch your life. Please keep Mike's wife, Karla, his father, Ernie, his children and grandchildren, and the YS staff in your prayers, as we deal with this painful loss.

There is more information on the YS site. As more information is available regarding services, we will update you on the site.

here is the link to the news story of his death.

sung to the tune of you say its your birthday

"paul mccartney" and his wife just had a baby girl.

yeah...he's 61.

when, in 30 years, i'm 61, i'll be pleased to welcome newborn grandchildren into my family, but not siblings to my three now.

my name is bryan

and i'm addicted to mary jane.



hello bryan.

details at 11

its been a busy day....in a meeting all afternoon regurgitating and digesting the details of the meeting with Pat Morley.

maybe i'll be able to write tonight.


oh, and you're welcome for the visual.

new fire photo

i'm just going to link to it because of its size. but it's amazing.

steve wills provided the link.

urgent prayer need

Please pray:

Shane's wife (shane is a minister in Colorado) has been diagnosed with "HELLP" syndrome (affects the blood pressure and liver) and will undergo an emergency C-section on Friday. The baby will be 4 months early. This is potentially life threatening both to Casey and the baby. Please be in prayer for them.


thank you.

halloween c&p "humor"

A man was walking home alone late one night when he hears a.......
BUMP...


BUMP...


BUMP ... behind him.

Walking faster he looks back, and makes out the image of an upright coffin banging its way down the middle of the street towards him

BUMP...


BUMP...


BUMP...

Terrified, the man begins to run towards his home, the coffin bouncing quickly behind him ....

faster...


faster...


BUMP...


BUMP....


BUMP.


He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door behind him.

However, the coffin crashes through his door, with the lid of the coffin clapping ...


clappity-BUMP...


clappity-BUMP...


clappity-BUMP... on the heels of the terrified man....


Rushing upstairs to the bathroom, the man locks himself in. His heart is pounding; his head is reeling; his breath is coming in sobbing gasps...


With a loud CRASH the coffin breaks down the door.

Bumping and clapping towards him.

The man screams and reaches for something, anything ....


but all he can find, is a bottle of cough syrup!

Desperately, he throws the cough syrup at the coffin ....


and ......


the coffin stops.

sung to the tune of i love a rainy night

we arrived in Orlando around 7 p.m. ate at a place called Straub's seafood. I had an incredible citrus grilled salmon and mesquite grilled shrimp. we realized at the end of our meal that our server thought sean and i were "together."

we're not.

whoever said florida is the sunshine state didn't know what they were talking about. we pulled a raincloud behind us like the dog on vacation, for the entire time we travelled. but a look outside today looks pretty nice.

we meet patrick in an hour, so this is all for the day. maybe more tonight after i'm home.

monday night football

kelli and i tuned in last night to watch a bit of the MNF game because of it being relocated to Arizona due to the fires. i wanted to see if there was any noticeable drop off in performance of the telecast because of the last minute change of plans.

and i also wanted to see the arizona stadium full, a rare occasion indeed.

during the opening song, i asked kelli the identity of the woman singing.

she guessed mary j blige. i wondered if it was toni braxton.
or
as the official most un hip-hoppenest person on the planet, i had no clue then, and i have no clue now.

but kelli won the award when the man who's been asking us for a decade if we're ready for some football came on and shouted the same question he asks week after week, and she asked, "who was that...Eddie Rabbitt?"


although the answer is a very definite "no," i'm still laughing today.

the world according to david stonehouse

this aussie writer lists his opinion of the world's best blogs.

unfortunately, there is no opportunity for shameless self-promotion.

a pretty high estimation of one's self

who do you think you are, anyway?

i don't know if this guy has any following other than the groupies in his head, but Daddy said there'd be days like this.

woman asks nyc for $200 million to buy back her 'serenity'

a woman who went relatively unscathed in the horrible NY ferry accident is suing the city for one-fifth of a billion dollars. for comparison, a woman who lost both legs when the boat crashed into the pier, is asking for only a $120 million-slice of the big apple.

how can you file a suit like this with a straight face? I'm not at all making light of the terrible plight of those who were maimed or died in the accident. this woman cheapens their true loss by doing this. she obviously thinks you can put a price tag on emotional distress, after all. if it goes to court, the judge should award her a Hallmark card that reads:

you lived. you have all your limbs. be thankful. get over it. now go away.

little consolation from 'at least its a dry heat'

an eye-in-the-sky view of the socal conflagrations.

from rednova.



and this one from the san diego union-tribune

the amazing history of an overpriced superhyped translucent rock

i've no regrets for buying my bride a decent-sized rock for her engagement ring almost a decade ago. seeing her face when she found her ring taped to our life verse (Ps. 48:14) when i proposed marriage atop the mountains of the Rampart Range in Colorado is easily worth the price i paid.

that said, i don't disagree that the diamond cartel is one of the most successful scams ever perpetrated on the world. reading about its history is fascinating -- how they completely changed the cultures of its two biggest markets.

recently wired.com reported on the proliferation of the highly intriguing synthetic diamond market. i'm all for de-valuing the real deal, despite the prospect of "losing value" of the ring on my lovely's left hand, especially if it means significant advances in technology. but that's just me being practical. i've felt this way ever since i watch john stossel fool a bunch of people when asking them to pick between a flawless diamond and a flawless piece of cubic zirconia (who would be the true losers in a devalued diamond market). but that's just me being easily influenced by the media.

the true value has nothing at all to do with what was paid, but instead of the love represented in its continual presence on her person. but that's just me being a guy who has no appreciation for the bling bling and who's entire jewelry collection consists of two watches and a simple gold wedding band.

the price is right meets six feet under

Rod Roddy has come on down.

is this a typo? he had breast cancer?

how frequent is this in men?

please hang up and try your call again

The national “do not call registry” has been in place for a short time now, and for millions of Americans, nights have been wonderfully filled with uninterrupted family conversations. Now, 50 million citizens aren’t grumbling when the phone rings, because they no longer dread a boisterous sales pitch or an automated recording. People are sharing stories of the day’s events without the uninvited intrusion of a telemarketer offering discounted magazines, cut-rate mortgages or some miracle service.

At the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board where I work, we serve tirelessly under the banner “Answer His Call, Tell His Story, Change Your World.” Right now, more than 5,200 dedicated missionaries have given their lives to full-time service for the cause of Christ in North America. They heard God’s call, and they answered.

Today’s population in North America exceeds 313 million. To share the gospel with every person in North America would require each NAMB missionary to be responsible for approximately 60,730 people. Even in my denomination’s largest churches, membership is less than half that number.

Clearly, for God’s mission to be met, His missionary force must be much larger.

Right now God is calling men, women, and even children to join Him on His mission. He is inviting people across this land to join in the adventure of telling His story to millions of people – lost, hurting and dying in vain without a relationship with God through Jesus.

To accomplish God’s mission, God’s people must answer His call.

The question is simple: Have you placed God on your spiritual “do not call registry?”

Few people ever intentionally put God on such a list. Most people want to hear from God, respond to His call and live the adventure He specifically designs. Sometimes though, life gets busy. Priorities get confused. Temptations lead to compromise. Before you know it, God’s original purpose is lost. All the little details of “life” get in the way, and God’s call goes unanswered.

A long time ago, a single man heard the voice of the Lord calling, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

Isaiah a man who was busy with life could no longer keep from answering the call of God. “Here am I. Send me!”

And the world has never been the same.

More than 3,000 years later, God’s call is ringing in the ears of millions of Christians across North America. Answering the call of God may be as simple as setting aside one of the things taking away your time from serving in His name or by sharing your faith with a neighbor or a coworker. It may be something so small as volunteering in a church’s ministry, Maybe the answer is so easy as daily praying for your pastor, or investing your love and attention in the next generation, educating them about God’s call.

NAMB provides multiple extensions to answer God’s call. Disaster relief. World changers. Construction projects. Strategic Focus Cities. Mission trips. Church planting. Prison ministry. Cross-cultural evangelism. When a person answers God’s call, it always leads to an exciting adventure of faith to change the world, one person at a time.

God is no telemarketer. He has nothing to sell you. If you belong to Him through faith in Jesus, you already own all He has. Yet, He calls you to join Him in the ministry of reconciliation. Answer His call. Tell His story. Change your world.

a tale of three whiskers

i'm not a hircute hirsute man.

i've never attempted to grow a moustache, for if i did, people would ask if i'd like a hanky to wipe the chocolate milk off my upper lip. often, i've remarked that any attempts to grow a beard would leave me looking somewhat like this:



so, i've shaved pretty much every day since i was fifteen. not out of necessity, but more out of a mixture of hopeful ambition, and sad resignation. prior to that, shaving was a non-issue. now, i will miss a day if i'm homebound and it brings little consequence. but if i go three days, even my daughter will ask me to go take care of the annoying, erratic, mange-like growth on my face.

now, not being hairy has its advantages. Should i ever become musclebound and need to enter a competetion requiring bare-chested muscle-flexing, i can be sans follicles in moments. i can take care of my daily facial hair removal in about one minute. and my five o clock shadow doesn't arrive until five a.m. the next morning, which is pretty close to when i'm taking care of that sort of thing, so it all works out pretty well.

i'm pretty comfortable in my own proverbial lightly-haired skin, such as it is. so you can imagine my dismay when i noticed the recent emergence of three troublesome whiskers. yes, i do confess that it is sad and pathetic that i would notice the emergence of three new whiskers, but some of us aren't grizzly adams, thank you very much. the reason why i noticed these three whiskers is because of the unusual location of each of these whiskers. the first (which is actually the second to be discovered, but the first for dramatic purposes, if the revelation of three whiskers can accurately be described as 'dramatic') is a cheekbound hair that poked through high on my right profile, just below the cheekbone, approximately at the gumline. heretofore, pretty much all of my facial hair had neatly and cooperatively emerged along an organized area of my lower jawbone, where it traced back to the hinge of my claptrap and converged nicely with what would be muttonchops if i ever had the time and total lack of couthe to grow out such behemoths.

So this one "lone wolf" whisker creates a myriad of problems for me. Now, I'll need to have an entirely new shaving pattern. I'll have to "go high" for one stinking whisker. And the reality is, I'll often forget about it because it's the only one there and i've never been there before. so, the result will be I will have a neatly shaved face, except for this one six inch whisker sprouting out of the side of my face like poor Jack's bean stalk. If you climb up my follicular stalk, you'll eventually get to the castle of a giant victor kiam who has been lulled to sleep by the dulcitones of a softly humming solid gold remington electric razor. because of my certain negligence to this one whisker, i'll be the guy in the office (or neighborhood, or church, or wherever i happen to be) with that one facial feature that draws the awkward attention of anyone who comes into its presence. it will derail thoughts. it will overtake agendas. i will be known as "the whisker" and i will be feared and loathed by all who encounter its hideous freakish growth (this reminds me -- i better go check and see if this thing is sprouting out of a mole, the only thing that could make it worse than it already is).

the second whisker is no less bothersome, although it is much less noticeable. you see this one is sprouting from the very corner of my mouth, right next to where my lips converge to a common point of closure on the left. not on my lips, mind you, for that would be so nasty as to require that i actually go get a laser follicle removal procedure done for the sake of one hair. but it is just next to that point.



so, as you can tell from this photo,* that a whisker in such a locale is not a favorable situation. i am repeatedly confusing it for a morsel or crumb of food left over from a previous meal. repeated attempts to scoop it into my mouth with my tongue fail, for obvious reasons. subconsciously trying to "deal with it," without really thinking about it, i then rub, scratch, and pick at it -- not making the connection that it's my lipwhisker, but instead trying to wrack my brain thinking when i last ate plaster of paris that had adhered to my face. then i go to the restroom to scrub it off with sand paper if necessary, when upon seeing it in the mirror, i remember. so i make a mental note to shave it the next morning, which i promptly forget and do not remember the next morning, and repeat the process again the following day. this has been known to go on for an entire week, before i am so agitated by the thing (and because its nearly long enough to be able to floss with it) that i come home from work, fire up the weed whacker, and give it the rough and tumble.

the final follicle in this bermuda triangle of facial hair encompassing my face, is a rebellious James Dean of whisker that has burst forth mid neck. it's not far enough forward to be a true whisker and accordingly in the path of my daily razor swath, nor is it far enough back to be in my daily combing pattern as a hair on my head. The unfortunate result looks like the inner stick figure in me has decided to poke his left arm out of my neck and give a steady wave to all passers-by. The only saving grace for this bad boy is that kelli tends to notice it, and is quick to pluck it between two fingers and painfully extract it with a quick yank. when this occurs, i become profoundly aware that this particular hair is rooted in my spinal column and is threaded through every neuron between its points of origin and emergence.

there will be a day when i no longer care about my crazy facial hair. i'll be old, senile, and the triplets will likely have entire descendants of offspring, offshooting in every direction from my ears, the bulb of my nose, from odd angles from my eybrows, and who knows where else. that day has not yet arrived. so for now, i'll simply contemplate buying an additional disposable razor, and packing it in my briefcase, prepared for an emergency lip whisker razing.

*note: this is not my face. i have only slightly more hair than this man, who oddly goes by the name "rachel."

sung to the tune of born to be wild

blogging will be light tomorrow & wednesday. Boss ¹ and I are travelling to Orlando to meet with Patrick Morley for half a day. He's serving as a "point man" for advisement and consultation on our redesign. I'm looking forward to meeting him. I'm just not looking forward to the fifteen hours of travel for 4 hours of meetings. If I'm going to Orlando, I want to be with my family, and i want universal studios to be part of the plan.

sung to the tune of boy named sue

shouldn't this read former celebrity and editor? how long does it take for the license to celebrity expire? she hasn't accomplished anything entertaining for at least as long as its been since she's "edited" anything.

i understand that this is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. but just like the magazine itself, the whole thing just makes me want to yawn.

now serving a double slice of humble pie

a photo from the recent space storm.

*gulp*

doesn't 2 Peter say something about this?

broncos lose

they weren't able to best a top defense with their third-string QB.

i'm just hoping that can win next week before their bye, so they may regroup for the rest of the string once Plummer comes back. i never thought i'd find myself hoping for his quick return.

at least i'm not a redskins fan.

no need to cry over spilt milk

because Brawny will still sop it up.

however, the 70s-era lumberjack you have welcomed to your home for so many years is being replaced.

here's a dated pic from his last makeover:



needing to make him suitable for the 80s and 90s, they trimmed his locks and de-bushied his 'stache, which made him look a little less like he was the president of the Village People Fan Club, but he was still our "Clean-Up-In-Aisle-Five" Timberman.

unfortunately, like Julie McCoy, the first blonde daughter on Rosanne, and so many others, "Jack" has been stripped of his plain flannel and been replaced by "Jax" from central casting.

your new Super Sopper Lumber Chopper:



actually, this guy looks eerily similar to my best friend from high school, Troy. Yes, back then, I was "the friend of the hot guy."

its not about the beer, really

here's a link to many of the "real american heroes" commercials from budlight, played during sports games on the radio. (This site has the whole list, with promises that you can download them soon).

i'm not sure which causes me to laugh harder...the patriotic announcer, or the backup singer who belts out the inane supporting lyrics.

quit playing with your food

processed meat sculptures.

a new variation

of tetris

how quick is that mouse of yours?

test your reflex.

i did it .281

.25 by cheating

four score and seven holes ago

play putt putt with a bandicoot.

i was one over.

jinxed

halle berry will have to settle for a catsuit, because she's not going to be the first Bond girl spun-off after all.

the brotherhood of the unemployed

the latest david kelley series about three brothers in New Hampshire has been written out of the CBS will.

i wasn't one of the 6.9 million who watched it. my guess is that randy quaid wasn't "cousin eddy" enough to make it popular.

i'm amazed at little of this i understand

special characteristics of particular numbers.

what do i know about numbers?

i know:
1 is the loneliest number.
2 is the loneliest number since the number one.


beyond that, it's pretty much hit-and-miss.