Hello, My Name Is Kimberley!

If you've know me for long, you know that I sometimes have to explain my first name to people who have never met me before.

I know there is a tele-marketer on the other end of the line when they ask for Kim Pagel and I answer, "Speaking," and then there is a long pause while the caller tries to collect their thoughts.

I try to bank at the same branch so that I don't get ID'd. But occasionally there is a new teller. I walk up to the window, give him or her my deposit slip and checks, and then watch them begin to get nervous. They might then say something like, "Mr. Pagel, you will need to sign these checks also." Or sometimes I try to bail them out by telling them that Kimberley really is my name. And then one of the veteran tellers will holler out, "He's OK. We know him!"

I've long known that Kimberley is an unusual name for a guy. But little did I know how unusual! I recently stumbled upon the Popular Baby Names website that is hosted by the Social Security Administration.

If you go to the site you will learn that for babies born in 2007 Jacob was the most popular boys name and Emily was the most popular girls name. Jacob and Emily are nice names, I like them.

But what really caught my attention is that the site allows you to search popular names by previous birth years. Cool!

So I went to 1951 and looked at popular boys and girls names. Right at the top of the list you see the usual suspects - names like James, Robert, John, Michael and David. I knew a ton a guys with those names growing up.

So I eagerly went down the list. I came to names like Melvin, Cecil, Claude, Oscar, Elmer, Ira, Homer, Rufus, Dewey, Bert, Amos, Murray, Orville, Harley, Norbert, Dudley, Gus, Ollie, Laverne, Carol, Wilmer.

Good grief, where is Kimberley? Finally, I found my name listed proudly at #709! It was just ahead of Burl and Cleo! And for girls, Kimberly was listed at #366. Just ahead of names like Fannie and Violet!

All things considered, it could have been worse. My mom could have named me Edsel! And just in case you're interested, in 1951 Edsel was the 1000th most popular baby name, narrowly beating out Donal!

Whew! I guess Kimberly isn't so bad after all.

Growing Up

Linn-Mar Prom was yesterday. Josh is home from UNI and went will Allyson Male. Allyson looked lovely and Josh handsome. They paused in-between the rain to pose for pictures. You can click on the photo above to see a slide show of the evening.

Our youngest sons are growing up! Josh and Jon just finished their freshman years at UNI. We're proud of the young men our boys are becoming.

I'll Always Be Your Little Boy!

We had a great time honoring Sharon today on Mother's Day. We enjoyed lunch at Chili's and Sharon reminisced regarding the early years of our marriage along with her thoughts and expectations about being a mother. Fun stuff!

But then the real fun began. Over the years our boys have taken to purchasing humorous cards for special occasions. And today did not disappoint. The picture above is Sharon holding her card from Jon.

In our quest for full disclosure, I will share the contents of the cards with my faithful blog readers - all ten of you!

The Wonderful Mom
See her stand like a glorious flower of kindness in the wide and windswept meadow that we call life. See her also pick up clothes, wash dishes, fill the fridge, tidy the house, drive the kids around, etc. etc. etc. - Ryan and Natalie

Mom
The more I've tried to live life on my own, the more I realize what a Great Mom you've been. (The card has a picture of a pot with burning food and a scorched iron mark on a shirt) - Jason

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from you, Mom! (Open card) ...except how to fart - THAT I learned from Dad! - Josh

Mom, no matter how old I get, I'll always be your little boy. (Open card) ...meaning, of course, that it's still perfectly acceptable for you to do my laundry. (I know it makes you happy.) - Jon

There is nothing Sharon would rather do than spend time with her boys. She's a great mom. We all agree! Happy Mother's Day Sharon!

Perfect

Have you heard about Dale Davis and his perfect game? Probably not. But it's a story worth telling and hearing. You can watch the video and then read the story as told by the DesMoines Register. It's an amazing story about an ordinary man from Alta, Iowa who decided to not let his disability stop him from achieving his dreams.

Dale Davis is 78 years old, weighs 115 pounds and walks in the bowling alley leaning on a cane. He can't believe the folks coming to his small northwest Iowa town of Alta, into the 90-year-old bar where they used to bowl in the basement. Sioux City television reporters are hanging around. ESPN called. And CBS reporters arrived early Friday for today's morning show.They all want to know how he bowled a perfect game, a 300, last Saturday.

"I look straight ahead and I'm totally blind," said Davis, who his fellow bowlers call "the Hammer." "If I turn my head I have a little peripheral vision, a fuzzy ball in my right eye. "Davis started going blind in 1996, the result of macular degeneration, he says, and a lifestyle of sun-blinding, over-the-road trucking, welding, poor diet and smoking.

So here's how it went last Saturday night. It was the last night of the U.S. Bowling Association-sanctioned league. The bowlers were all crowded into the small space with four lanes, built adjacent to the Century Bar in the 1980s when old folks had trouble walking down the winding stairs to the basement to bowl.

Davis was clicking - five, then six strikes in a row. No one was too surprised just yet. He'd been a bowler since he was 11 and set pins down in the basement. He'd crouch behind the pins, picking them up to put in a feeder in the days before automation.Through the years, he bowled in leagues in California after World War II. He had served in the Pacific, lying about his age to enlist at 16, eager to fight.He was helping to build aircraft, then bowling lanes out in California. He bowled for leisure, a father of four boys who found out he wasn't bad, averaging 193 in his prime. One day he bowled a 299.

He can't see the pins at all. But if he turns his head he can see the spot on the approach and place his left foot on it. By muscle memory, he takes a four-step approach, smooth as the pros he watches on TV, sitting to the side of the screen about a foot away.

His sister, Thelma Sherwood, talked him into bowling again one day in 2004. He'd called her when it was too hard to live in California on his own. He moved in with her in Alta. After he got back, Davis went to a Veterans Affairs school for the blind in Illinois, learning how to get around and take care of himself. Now he has his own apartment, although he said he burns his food 50 percent of the time. But that first time bowling again, it felt right. A few good balls and he was hooked. He joined a league in nearby Sioux Rapids, averaging 160. His average steadily climbed the last three years in the Alta leagues to 188 this year.

The fellas pick him up on league nights. They tell him which is his ball and what pins are left after each roll so he can adjust his feet.

They didn't have to tell him anything last Saturday. On frame nine, he noticed a loud cheer after he heard the crack of his 16-pound Storm Agent bowling ball hit the pins. He knows by the crack if it's a strike. By the 10th frame, another dozen from the bar gathered around the back of the lanes and everyone fell silent.

"Lord," he said to himself, "let me have three more good balls." Oddly, he didn't feel nervous. Everything felt right. Backswing. Follow through. "No one has ever bowled a 300 here," said bar owner Clem Ledoux. "One young guy bowled a 298 in February. And quite a few got 11 out of 12, but they missed in the middle frames. So by now everybody stopped and watched.

"The 10th ball was perfect. The crowd erupted. The 11th ball was also true, his ball arching wide right and spinning and curving into the pocket.

By now, Davis' hands were sweating a bit. His boys would like to see this. Two live in California, two in Illinois. Not to mention his late father, who nicknamed him "Hammer" because he'd gently knock on his head with his knuckles and the boy didn't even wince.

Others would like to see it, too. James Benton, president of the American Blind Bowlers Association, said he has never heard that any of his membership had ever rolled a perfect game. Typically the ABBA's members - Davis is not a member - use a handrail to spot themselves and average between 80 and 100.

Davis heard nothing but silence as he prepared his final roll, stepped forward and let fly. "I tugged it just a bit. Tugged it with too much finger," he said. Then he heard a yell. "Brooklyn!" Brooklyn is when a right-hander's ball pulls toward the left pocket of the front pin - and often ends up leaving one standing unless it's solid. "As soon as they said it, the ball hit," Davis said. "I heard everybody yelling and clapping. Everybody started hugging me. Some of those guys can hug pretty hard.

"I never thought I'd do it." Women kissed him. And that night his telephone started to ring in his apartment - and hasn't stopped. He doesn't call back because he doesn't have long-distance service.

But he wants to tell them something. "Perfect only comes once in a lifetime," he said." I'm glad I could do it for bowling. And for handicapped people. Shows them we can."

Touching Them All

You've got to watch this video by ESPN's Tom Rinaldi regarding Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky. In a day when sports headlines have more to do with the off-field misbehavior of superstars, this story reminds us about what is good and right with athletic competition. That there is something more important than winning and loosing. And that the kind of person we are becoming will last long after our playing days are over.

My favorite line from the video segment: "It's a great moment when someone has character to step up and do the right thing at the right time."

Enjoy the video. Might we all be inspired to do the right thing at the right time!

Going In Style

Today was Administrative Professionals Day so we treated our support staff to a special lunch. They gathered in the lobby at 11:30 to receive their first clue. Their capable chauffeur, Mark Eades, drove our special guests from location to location, where they received additional clues before arriving at their final destination, the Marriott.

They enjoyed a great buffet lunch and time together. I think we accomplished our goal of making the day memorable and meaningful. You can click on the photo above to see a short slideshow.

We appreciate our support staff! They make our jobs and ministries so much easier. A special thanks to Peggy Eichenberger, Brenda Gadd, Judy Greeb, Gina Green, Lisa Harrington, Sara Howard, Terri Hungerford, Gina Kaufman, Jane Kelley, JoDee Martin, Mary Nelson, Jen Olsen, Sharon Pagel, Kris Paulson, Debbie Riffner, Donna Smejkal, and Angie Wacker.

30-Day Challenge

Our 30-Day Challenge begins today. I'm so excited about the journey that God has for us over the next five weeks. We are encouraging each person in our church family to spend daily time along with God through the disciplines of Bible reading, prayer and journaling. The Reading Journal section of your Journey Guide has one page a day for you to use for this purpose.

I invite you to pick up a Journey Guide if you have not already done so, and join me on the 30-Day Challenge. You can also go to the 30-Day Challenge blog to read the daily devotional and/or comment on what you are learning. You can also subscribe to the daily e-mail devotional by going to this page and following the instructions.

Ask God to speak to you as you spend time with Him. I invite you to accept the 30-Day Challenge. Share what you are learning with your small group or leave a comment on the blog. These are exciting days in the life of our church. Ask God to show you want He wants to do through you to accomplish His will for our church.

See you on the journey!

Let the Journey Begin

Sunday was an incredible day! Information Sunday, journey guides, and Impact Groups created a buzz in the lobbies at both our 46th Street and Wash campuses. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the day.

Pastor Bob along with Mark Johnson, Ed Luebe, and John Maurice presented how we arrived at the decision to relocate. In 2003 our Building Committee recommended that we not further grow on our current site, but seek out other alternatives. We brought in church consultant Bob Gilliam a month later to do a comprehensive facility analysis. At the end of the consultation, all of our elders, deacons and equipping staff unanimously selected the relocation option.

In 2004 our Elders voted to relocate. A Property Acquisition Team began to look at potential properties. Then in May 2005 our church family voted 204-2 to purchase 55 acres on North Center Point Road in Robins.

It has been an exciting journey that brings us right up to this point. And now we are embarking on our Embracing Faith capital stewardship campaign in order to raise $10 million dollars! This is a God-sized vision and will require God-sized resources.

Yesterday, Pastor Bob asked everyone member and attender to begin a spiritual journey, asking: "God, what do you want to do through me to accomplish your will for New Covenant Bible Church?" The answers to that prayer will begin to unfold over the next two months.

We handed out Journey Guides at the end of the services to assist each person on their spiritual journey. And this Sunday was the last day to sign up to participate in an Impact Group during the Embracing Faith series.

Let me encourage you to ask God what part He wants you to play. Inform yourself and then begin to pray. Grapple with what sacrifice means to you. Ask God to lead and guide you as you seek to make not just a financial decision, but a spiritual decision. Let the journey begin!

Enough

We had a great Membership Weekend with 39 people attending. It's so much fun sharing New Covenant's history, mission, vision and values with this group of people. You can click on the picture above to see photos of all who attended.

What an incredible experience to read through all their testimonies. Journeys through broken marriages, profound loneliness, addiction, purposelessness, loss of a spouse, despair, fear, and shattered dreams. And in the middle of their brokenness, finding Jesus Christ to be enough.

Over the course of the weekend, we ask each prospective member to make three commitments - commitment to Christ, to community and to contribute. When I asked for a show of hands regarding how many people are already part of an Adult Bible Fellowship or small group, almost every hand in the room went up! And many are already serving in some capacity. Many others filled out a ministry brochure as a first step in finding a place to serve.

It's a joy to be able to serve here at New Covenant. God is doing a work in the lives of people. He is transforming broken lives and making them whole. He is building His church. We have the privilege of getting to co-labor with Him. He is enough!

Our Joy

Our Washington High School Campus launched last Sunday. The morning was full of excitement, exceeding my expectations! There were 198 in attendance in the auditorium with about 35 additional children in the nursery or children's church. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the morning.

It was amazing to see how crowed the hallway felt after the service as people spend time talking and interacting with one another. The entire morning had a distinctive "New Covenant" feel. It was especially exciting to see how many visitors attended. When Pastor Tye asked how many came as a result of receiving our mailing, 20-25 people raised their hands!

The service was God-honoring, the hospitality team members were warm and friendly, the environment and decor was attractive, the children's ministry team members were enthusiastic and the set-up/custodial team members were serving behind the scenes. A special "thank you" to everyone who prayed, planned, assisted or served in any way.

This whole journey of launching a second campus has been a large step of faith. The process has been similar to giving birth to a child. And just like the prospective parent, we too have experienced a whole range of emotions - fear, wonder, excitement and anxiety. But on Sunday, we experienced the joy of seeing a God-thing being birthed. The idea of a Wash Campus moved from a vision to a vivid reality.

It's our prayer that God will use this campus to help many become passionate followers of Jesus Christ. This is our prayer. This is our joy!

Time to Celebrate!

We had our Celebrate gathering this evening. The purpose was to praise God for changed lives. I would say the evening lived up to it's name! It was awesome spending time worship God together with over 700 others. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the evening.

Galyn Peterson, one of our charter members, shared what New Covenant has meant to him and his family. Bob asked those who have been impacted in some way by Galyn and Ruth to stand. It was awesome seeing all the lives these two faithful servants have touched over the years.

Jordan Koskamp and Brandon Zeadow shared how Brandon came to Christ this winter. What an awesome story of God's grace and timing. Jordan had prayed and shared with Brandon for years. And then one evening, Brandon attended our Impact Group during the Why series. Three days later he attended The Navs meeting at UNI. That night, Brandon and Jon talked for several hours and Brandon prayed to cross the line of faith! Brandon has been coming back to Cedar Rapids almost every weekend to attend our Impact Group and to worship at New Covenant! It's been so fun watching Brandon grow in his faith.

And I loved hearing Andy and Terri Schifflet share about what New Covenant has meant in their spiritual life. Melissa Spicer shared how God used Starting Point, Watershed, the WOW Adult Bible Fellowship and her relationship wirh Terri to change her life.

Bob commissioned all those who are planning to attend or volunteer at our Washington Campus. It was very moving seeing people standing all over the room, expressing their intent to serve God's purposes at our second campus. God is certainly doing a new thing at New Covenant.

It was quite an evening. It was good being together as family. It was good to take time to celebrate!

From Vision To Reality

Yesterday was the Open House for our Washington High School campus. Wow, what an exciting morning! I was helping greet at one of the doors and people just kept coming.

After months of prayer and planing, our Wash Campus has become a reality! I have to admit, it felt a little strange greeting people with, "Welcome to New Covenant!"

But New Covenant it was. Thanks to our tremendous volunteers, Wash was transformed into a warm, inviting place of worship. Over 160 people came to check out our new campus. It was a pretty exciting morning! You can click on the photo above to see a slideshow.

Today, over 7300 postcards were mailed out to homes around Washington High School. This Sunday is our official public Grand Opening. Pray for those who receive the mailing and that hearts would be prepared to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.

A special "thank you" to our Launch Team and all those who are involved in making this dream become a reality. May God be glorified as we work together to bring New Covenant to the Wash neighborhood.

You Won't Be Disappointed

I know I don't use my blog much to promote books or to give book reports. Which is strange, because I read so much. Favorites from 2007 include:

• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
• Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition
• Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples
• The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
• A Leader's Legacy

I just finished a book this morning that I want to talk about. It was the best book I have ever read! It has everything - romance, intrigue, mystery and instruction. I just love movies and books that speak to my heart, yet also make me think. This book pulls off both! Some days I found myself not being able to put it down. As a matter of fact, it's so good, I've read it through over 10-15 times. And the amazing thing, it just keeps getting better and better!

By now, most of you probably know I'm referring to the Bible. For reading, I like to use the One Year Bible NIV.It's laid out with daily Old Testament, New Testament and Psalms or Proverbs readings. I love setting down with my Bible and a cup of coffee, spending time with God, allowing Him to speak to me through His Word.

And this morning, while enjoying my cup of Starbucks Christmas Blend, I finished reading through the Bible. What a thrill reading about the wall being finished around Jerusalem in the book of Nehemiah, the new heaven and new earth (the new Jerusalem) being prepared for us in the book of Revelation and an awesome song of praise in the book of Psalms.

Here are the last verses in the last chapters from the books of Nehemiah, Revelation and Psalms.

Remember me with favor, O my God. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Let me encourage you to begin a consistent Bible reading program if you don't have one. Start with reading through the Gospels or the New Testament. Reading through the entire Bible takes about 10-15 minutes a day. Most people spend more time than that reading the newspaper or watching TV. Start small, experience some success and then keep going!

Allow God to speak to you through His Word. This is a book I recommend to you without reservation. The characters are real, the plot is awesome, and the ending is unbelievable! You won't be disappointed!

Top Ten List

So, here we are, the end of the year. It hardly seems possible that 2007 is coming to a close. But for you, my faithful blog readers, the end of the year means it's time for me to announce my Top Ten 2007 blog posts!

I had more difficulty this year narrowing the list down to ten, so I developed two Top Ten lists. A bit unusual, I know. Just look at it this way, you are getting twice your moneys worth!

In reviewing the past year, I realize how many of my posts were inspired by people who acted out of courage and faith. People of character and conviction who overcame great obstacles in order to achieve heroic results. In honor of these men and women of courage, I dedicate the first list to my Top Ten Inspirational People (in no particular order).
10. Claim to Fame
9. Amazing Grace
8. Character Not Color
7. Oh Happy Day and No. 42
6. Time to Take A Stand
5. Don't Pass Him By
4. Just A Midwest Boy From Iowa
3. Living and Dying For Jesus
2. Pura Vida
1. 26.2

My next Top Ten list is a more traditional mixture of posts about a variety of subjects. Many times when I start to write a blog post, I don't know exactly what I want to say. Sometimes in the process of writing, I discover a story that needs to come out ... a deeply held belief that needs to be expressed ... or a fleeting thought that needs to be further developed. These posts often become my favorite.

Without further ado, I present to you my Top Ten Favorite blog posts for the year (in no particular order).
10. Your Are Only As Old As You Think You Are
9. Step Up To The Plate
8. Generation Me
7. What Can I Do To Make It Right For You?
6. The Joy of Life
5. It's A Small World After All
4. Willing To Risk Death Daily
3. Servant and Leader
2. Proclaim Liberty Throughout The Land
1. The Smart Thing To Do

And because it's my blog and I can do anything I want to, I'm going to give you four bonus posts.
4. Looking Backwards, Moving Forward
3. A Rich Legacy
2. Less Is More
1. For The Love of The Game

So there you have it, my top 24. What were your favorite posts from 2007? Leave a comment to let me know.

If you've read this far, you have way too much time on your hands! Begin your own blog, tell your own stories, and write about the things that stir your soul. Make 2008 a year to remember!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

Christmas Lights

Now, it's time for some Christmas lights. Click on the picture above to see a very interesting Flickr slide show of some creative Christmas light displays! Enjoy.

The 12 Days of Christmas

It's time for some Christmas music. Sit back, relax and enjoy this version of The 12 Days of Christmas. Last year, Josh and a group of Linn-Mar guys performed a similar arrangement at the Get In The Spirit concert. These guys are good!

Winner Announced

And the winner of the Name That Book contest is ........ Tye Male! Tye was the first person to identify the quote as coming from the book of Zechariah by posting the correct answer on my blog. Retha Gordon emailed me the correct book and Chris Leonard answered correctly by posting on my Facebook page. You are all winners!

This evening, I presented Tye with his grand prize - a hand decorated, Christmas cookie. Thank you to all who played the game!

Christmas Cookie Art

We had our annual Christmas cookie decorating party this afternoon. I must say, Erin's creativity has raised the bar regarding the quality of our decorating efforts! In my humble opinion, everyone did their best work this year, turning out some remarkable pieces of art. The cookies almost look too good to eat!

You can click on the picture above to see more Christmas cookie art. Jon is holding "Work Out Brenda!" You would need to have been here to understand! Our cookie decorating provided several hours of fun and laughter. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Name That Book

I was reading in my Bible this morning and came across several familiar passages, but I'm not sure I would have remembered which book of the Bible they were from. Here they are:

Rejoice greatly O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king come to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter" - the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter.

So, how about you? Do you know what book of the Bible these two quotes are from? You can't use a concordance, online or PDA Bible or other helps. You can use one lifeline by asking a friend. No other help.

The first person who gets the correct answer gets a special gift! You're on the clock - name that book!

Honesty

Lance Greco sent me a link to a ESPN article today titled, Santangelo admits HGH use, says he'll 'face the music'. In my blog yesterday, Let the Games Begin, I mentioned that I'm waiting for just one baseball player to step forward to take personal responsibility for his HGH use.

Well, the wait is over. F.P. Santangelo, a seven year veteran who last played with the Oakland A's, was one of the players named in the Mitchell Report. Santangelo now works for Sacramento's KHTK Radio as a member of, "The Rise Guys" morning show. This morning he came on the air and admitted that he had used HGH. Here are some of the quotes from the MLB article.

In an emotional two-hour radio appearance, the seven-year major league veteran, who last played with the Oakland A's in 2001, confessed to using human growth hormone, explained how and why he did it and publicly apologized to his two kids, his ex-wife, his parents and listeners. He talked about the difficulty he had in explaining it all to his children.

Santangelo's honesty, his candor and his willingness to accept responsibility for what he had done touched some listeners and infuriated others. Opinions ranged from, "You're a liar," "You should resign," and "What should I tell my kid?" to "You don't owe anyone an apology," "I commend you for telling the truth," and "Keep your head up." Santangelo absorbed it all, telling listeners, "I made this bed and now I have to lie in it."

Friday, Santangelo described the release of the Mitchell report as a "relief," telling ESPN.com it was something he had wanted to "scream from the top of a mountain" for some time now, but fear of litigation kept him from doing so.

"This is just me," he said. "I hit things head-on. I'm honest to a fault. I never run away from anything. Once I knew this was coming out, I wasn't going to hide from it."

As difficult as it was to listen to critical phone calls, Santangelo said the hardest part was sitting down with his kids a month ago to explain to them about the decision he'd made. When a caller asked what he should tell his 10-year-old son about Santangelo's inclusion in the report, the former major leaguer instructed him to tell him the exact same thing he told F.P. Jr. "I told him, 'You make mistakes. If you make the right decision in the first place, you won't have to go through what I have. But if you do make a wrong decision, you handle it head-on, with humility and you move on.' "My kids are learning a very good life lesson right now. Their Dad screwed up but he faced the music and is dealing with it head-on."

At the end of his two-hour radio stint, Santangelo again apologized to his friends, his family and his listeners. He again took accountability for his actions and admitted he made a horrible mistake and that everyone's criticism was warranted.

Kudos to Santangelo for being a stand up guy. He's admitted his error and is taking responsibility for his decisions. Admission of guilt is always the first step toward recovery and healing. Santangelo has discovered the peace of mind that comes with honesty.

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but however confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Let The Games Begin

The Mitchell Report was released today. In case you haven't been following the HGH scandal in baseball, former Senator George Mitchell was selected in March 2006 to head an independent probe into the drug scandal in baseball.

Many of the names released today were not new. BALCO had already linked Bonds, Giambi and Sheffield. But other names like Clemens and Pettit were surprises. The new report linked more than 50 players to performance-enhancing drugs who had not been previously associated with doping.

"Every American, not just baseball fans, ought to be shocked by that disturbing truth," Mitchell said. Baseball started testing for steroids in 2002 leading to the "growth" (no pun intended) in Human Growth Hormone use. Unlike steroids, HGH is not detectable through urine testing.

Mitchell said former baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent told him the problem was possibly "the most serious challenge that baseball has faced since the 1919 Black Sox scandal" - when Chicago White Sox players conspired with gamblers to affect the outcome of the World Series championship.

"By and large, the conduct of the players' association was a disgrace and an outrage," Dick Pound, chief of the World Anti-Doping Agency told Reuters. The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Travis Tygart, said: "It is a sad, sad day for the national pastime and all who love America. All involved should be ashamed."

Disgrace, outrage, shame, crisis of integrity - all serious challenges to the game of baseball. And how will the players and their association respond to these serious charges? Just watch. There will be blame shifting, finger pointing, excuses and explanations galore. Here are just a few we might hear:

• My agent made me do it.
• I didn't know it was illegal.
• I thougth it was clear cream.
• My mom recommended it to me.
• All my teammates were doing it.
• I've never heard of HGH.
• I used it but didn't inhale.

I'm eagerly waiting for one player, just one player, to step forward and take responsibility for his own actions. I'm waiting for just one person to say, "I used HGH and it was wrong. I made a mistake and I'm sorry. I've been a poor role model. I appeal to young people who look up to me to not make the same mistake that I made. HGH and steroids are very dangerous. I'm sincerely sorry for what I have done. I will use the rest of my career to repair the damage I have helped to cause and hope to regain your trust."

I'm waiting, but I'm not too hopeful. Baseball has ceased to be a sport and has become just another form of entertainment. The bottom line is the dollar. Decisions are made by whatever it takes to put people in the stands. Baseball has become just another game. The word "integrity" and baseball no longer belong in the same sentence. Baseball more closely resembles WWF (it's now officially called the World Wrestling Entertainment) or Roller Derby.

Here is how Wikipedia describes professional wrestling - a simulated sport and performing art which combines wrestling with theater. Baseball might want to take notice. That's not a bad definition. Professional Baseball - a simulated sport and performing art which combines baseball with theater.

Maybe there's a reason that major league baseball is referred to as The Show. Maybe baseball never was a sport. Maybe it was always about entertainment. Who really cares if their favorite actor or artist is using HGH or steroids? It's all about the latest song or movie.

So, if you're looking for some good entertainment this week, watch as baseball players run for cover, dodge accusations and parse verbs. It's all part of the script. It's good theater. Let the games begin!

Heart Cry of the Broken Hearted

New Covenant once again hosted the Children's Candle Light Memorial Service. You can read about last years service here. The service is a very sacred time as the families come forward to light a candle in remembrance of their loved ones.

A special thanks to Dennis Sharp who organizes this special service. A Gazette reporter attended this years event. You can read the Gazette article online here.

I'm thankful that we have a God who entered into our pain and suffering. He knows what it's like to loose a beloved son. He knows the heart cry of the broken hearted.

Prepare For Launch

The days of prayer, planning and anticipation are just about over! Tomorrow morning we do our first "soft launch" at our Washington High School site. We are doing soft launches on December 2, 9 and 16. Then on Sunday, January 6 we are having an "open house" for our New Covenant church family in preparation for our Grand Opening service on January 13. On Sunday, January 13 we will officially become "one church at two locations!"

This morning the Launch Team met to discuss details, go over the schedule for tomorrow morning, to pray and then pack the trailer. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the morning. Launching in the winter presents some special challenges and we had to deal with the sleet and ice this morning. Hopefully this nasty weather mix will move through tonight so we can unload and load in better conditions tomorrow.

There will be a lot of details to work out over the next three weeks. The purpose of our "soft launch" Sundays is to give us practice and experience with the equipment and set up/tear down process so that we are ready for guests on January 13. Our goal is to create space for those who are not yet here, who need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

We are still looking for people who would like to serve at our Wash Campus. Stop by the table in the lobby on Sundays to sign up. Or you can email Lisa Harrington to let her know you would like to help.

Tomorrow is a big day! We are stepping out in faith and launching a second campus. We are trusting God for big things. Prepare for launch!

Christmas Variety Show

We traveled to the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls last evening to attend the UNI Men's Glee Club Christmas Variety Show. The performance was 2 1/2 hours of inspiration, entertainment and laughter. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the evening.

Believe, In The Sanctuary, Lux Aurumque, and Gloria were vocal favorites. And A Glee Club Christmas Carol and Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairies were show stoppers! Sharon and I especially enjoyed the show as Josh, David Hoobler and Ben Wohlers all sing in the Glee Club.

It was a great evening of entertainment. It was a great way to begin the Christmas season. Kudos to Dr. Barrett and all those who performed!

Animator vs Animation

You gotta see this! Click on the stick figure above and it will take you to the flash site of the animation. Click play, sit back and enjoy! This is raw creativity at its best!

An Attitude of Gratitude

I'm finishing up The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. Schwartz makes the point that as the number of choices keeps growing, negative consequences begin to appear, leading to overload, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. I've already commented on this in the blog article titled Less Is More.

The solution to this crisis of having too many choices? Schwartz suggest that we "practice an attitude of gratitude." Listen to what he has to say.

"Our evaluation of our choices is profoundly affected by what we compare them with, including comparisons with alternatives that exist only in our imaginations. The same experience can have both delightful and disappointing aspects. Which of these we focus on may determine whether we judge the experience to be satisfactory or not. We can vastly improve our subjective experience by consciously striving to be grateful more often for what is good about a choice or an experience, and to be disappointed less by what is bad about it."

And how do we do this in a practical way? Schwartz suggests the following discipline:

• Keep a notepad at your bedside.
• Every morning, when you wake up, or every night, when you go to bed, use the notepad to list five things that happened the day before that you're grateful for.
• Keep the discipline up. You will find that it gets easier and easier, more and more natural. You may find yourself feeling better and better about your life as it is, and less and less driven to find the "new and improved" products and activities that will enhance it.

Not a bad practice. Pretty good advice coming out of a business book! Which reminds me of the timelessness and relevance of God's Word. God knows that having a grateful and thankful heart is the key to happiness. Not much has changed through the years. This Thanksgiving, may you and your family discover the secret of an attitude of gratitude.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Imagine That

OK all you engineers, you're going to love this! The above video is from TED which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. TED is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration. They then put their presentations online for the general public to watch. Most of the video presentations are 20 minutes or shorter in length. It's good stuff!

The TED video that I have selected is by Dutch artist Theo Jansen. Jansen has been working for 16 years to create sculptures, called Strandbeests, that move on their own in lifelike ways. His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures' many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine’s direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck.

Enjoy the short video! I find this kind of thing inspirational. The inquisitiveness, curiosity and power of the human mind to create. Now, I know some of you more sensible types are saying, "But why!" "What's the point?" "What can these Strandbeests do?"

Maybe nothing yet. Maybe nothing ever! Innovation comes as we push the limits of possibility and what has been done before. Just because something has no obvious immediate use, doesn't mean it's not worth exploring.

And why do I say that? Because I believe that being creative is part of what it means to be made in the image of God. To imagine, to dream, to explore, to think, to create - this is part of what it means to be human. This is part of what it means to be created in the image of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Good Old Days

So you're not quite sure of what to make of the Kindle and the whole idea of digital books? I thought you might enjoy reading what Michael Hyatt, President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers has to say. I encourage you to read his blog article titled, Why Traditional Books Will Eventually Die. It's a good read and will give you an idea of where digital book content is going.

Michael Hyatt's analysis - "The book, as we know it today, will eventually die. It won’t happen all at once. And it won’t happen immediately. But, in my opinion, it is inevitable. Why? One word: efficiency."

We may or may not like it, but the world is going digital. Think of the candle. It once was the means of lighting a room. Not any more. Candles are still around as decorative accessories, but they are no longer used as a source of light. Unless your electricity goes out, like last winter!

Books will always be around, they will just be religated to the category of collectibles or relics. Sort of like the vinyl record album. You remember those don't you! So hold on to those books of yours. One day you will tell your grandchildren about the "good old days" when you used to curl up in a chair and read a book! My oh my, the times, they are a chang'n!

Book 2.0

The world is going digital and fast. First it was video, then music, then photography, then short-form reading material. Until now, books have been one of the last bastions of analog. And now, Jeff Bezos of Amazon is taking on books, seeking to bring them into the digital world.

This week Bezos is releasing the Amazon Kindle, an electronic device that he hopes will become the turning point in a transformation toward Book 2.0. There have been previous attempts at introducing digital readers but none of them have been successful. The Kindle hopes to change that.

The Newsweek cover story this week features Bezos and the Amazon Kindle. The Kindle will be able to store up to 200 books and will connect to the web. It will be able to receive automatic downloads from major newspapers, magazines and other publications, and will offer owners more than 88,000 digital titles at launch time.

I don't know about this whole thing. I love reading, but there's something about holding and marking up an analog book. But how about being able to purchase books for $5 each, or to be able to do instantaneous content searches. You can't remember where you read that great quote? No problem? A quick search brings it up in an instant. And you would be able to move seamlessly between your favorite books, newspapers and magazines. It just may work. Maybe not this year or next year. But within the next ten years the way we receive and interact with our reading materials is about to be transformed. Mark my word.

This is a subject that I'm passionate about. During the past eleven months I've read 22 books and countless blogs and online articles. The opportunities to learn and grow are endless. We're only limited by our imagination and time. And of course, being an empty-nester now affords me more time in the evenings to read. In this day and age of information explosion, there's no excuse for not being a reader and a learner.

Yet, increasingly, people are reading less. A 2004 National Endowment for the Arts study reported that only 57 percent of adults read a book—any book—in a year. That was down from 61 percent a decade ago. The study also documented an overall decline of 10 percentage points in literary readers from 1982 to 2002. The rate of decline is increasing and, according to the survey, has nearly tripled in the last decade. And of greatest concern, the rate of decline for those aged 18 to 24, was 55 percent greater than that of the total adult population.

Jeff Bezos believes the Kindle "is the most important thing we've ever done. It's so ambitious to take something as highly evolved as the book and improve on it. And maybe even change the way people read."

The Kindle may in fact change the way we read, but will it increase the number of people who read? I doubt it. That will only happen if we turn off the TV, power-down the computer, unplug the video games and pick up a book. Or should I say, turn on your Kindle!

Lets Say Thanks

During this time of year, when you sit around the dinner table with family, don't forget to say "thank you" to our troops. Men and women are serving around the world to ensure that we can continue to enjoy freedom.

Xerox has teamed together with other sponsors to help people express our thanks in a practical way. You can go to http://www.letssaythanks.com/, select a postcard design, write a message and they will deliver it to one of our military personnel stationed overseas.

So, what are you waiting for! Go to the web site, compose a message and send a postcard. It's time to let our troops know that we appreciate their sacrifice and service. Let's say thanks!

Not In Vain

With yesterday being Veterans Day, I thought you might enjoy reading about this "human Statue of Liberty" photograph.

According to the Iowa National Guard web site, the photo was taken in July 1918 at Camp Dodge. 18,000 officers and soldiers posed for this photo which was to help promote the sale of war bonds, but was never used. The photo was taken by Arthur Mole and John Thomas, who planned and photographed other large patriotic symbols using American soldiers.

Some interesting facts about this photograph:

• The distance from the top of the torch to the man closest to the camera is 1235 feet or almost a quarter of a mile!
• There are twice the number of men in the flame of the torch as in the whole remaining design, while there are eight times as many men in the arm, torch and flame as in all the rest of the figure.
• The base to shoulder is only 150 feet while the right arm is 340 feet long.
• The widest part of arm holding torch is 12 1/2 feet.
• The right thumb is 35 feet long while the thickest part of body is only 29 feet.
• The flame on the torch is 600 feet long.
• There are 12,000 men in the flame of torch and only 2,000 men in the body, head and balance of figure combined.

What an incredible feat. And to think that after all that work, the photograph was never used!

A special "thank you" to all the service men and women who have or are proudly serving our country. Your sacrifice was not, is not, and will not be in vain!

Free Rice

Do you want to feed the hungry and improve your vocabulary at the same time? Then FreeRice is for you! This food-linked word game put on the Internet a month ago has proved a runaway success and has already generated enough rice to feed 50,000 people.

Give it a try and see how you do? I just donated 500 grains of rice and my vocab level was in the 37-40 range. It's a lot of fun!

The FreeRice site is a viral marketing success story with more than one billion grains of rice donated in just one month to help tackle hunger worldwide. The day it was launched on October 7 just 830 grains of rice were donated. But the Internet community quickly caught on, and on November 8 alone 77 million grains were donated, equivalent to more than seven million correct clicks.

So go ahead and click away. Together we can raise our vocabulary while raising awareness of world hunger.

Facebook - A Marketing Network

Its official, Facebook announced today that it is now an advertising network. You can read all about the advertising changes that Facebook is now implementing here and here.

You can run but you can't hide. Sooner or later marketers and ad writers will track you down with spam, intrusive banner ads and unwanted advertisements.

Here is what Facebook rolled out today. Social Ads (ads targeted based on member profile data and spread virally), Beacon (a way for Facebook members to declare themselves fans of a brand on other sites and send those endorsements to their feeds), and Insight (marketing data that goes deep into social demographics and pyschographics which Facebook will provide to advertisers in an aggregated, anonymous way). These three things together make up Facebook Ads.

So, be careful what you post in your profile. You are giving Facebook marketing demographics.

Here is what Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO had to say about this marketing effort.

“We look at the people your ads are reaching and break it down by age, gender, interests, and a whole lot more we are adding soon.” Says none of this will be personally identifiable. “We will be able to track how much people are talking about your brand in public forums across Facebook. As you run ads on Facebook you will be able to see the exact mind share you are getting.”

“Social Actions + Content = Social Ads.” They spread your message virally through the social graph. These ads will appear both in people’s feeds and as a personalized banner ad.
“Let’s talk about targeting. With Facebook you will be able to select exactly the audience you want to reach, and we will only show your ads to them. We know exactly what gender someone is, what activities they are interested in. their location, country, city or town, interests, gender, work history, political views."

“Social distribution, now here is where it gets interesting. When somebody engages with your page, that is spread virally through the network. When someone says they are a fan of your brand, that becomes a trusted referral. It goes right to their Mini Feed. A strong trusted referral for your brand. You will be able to craft the types of social actions you want to spread across the social graph.”

“The next hundred years will be different for advertising, and it starts today. As marketers pushing our information out is no longer enough. We are announcing a new advertising system, not about broadcasting messages, about getting into the conversations between people."

"Messages spread virally. All you need to do is get your friends to engage with it and add it to their profiles. Gives example of how causes are spread across Facebook. Support Breast Cancer, more than 2 million members."

“Once every hundred years media changes. the last hundred years have been defined by the mass media. The way to advertise was to get into the mass media and push out your content. That was the last hundred years. In the next hundred years information won’t be just pushed out to people, it will be shared among the millions of connections people have. Advertising will change. You will need to get into these connections. "

“People influence people. Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend. A trusted referral influences people more than the best broadcast message. A trusted referral is the Holy Grail of advertising."

“We have already passed 50 million users, doubling once every 6 months. More than 25 million people are using Facebook every single day. Each person is viewing more than 40 pages a day, more than 65 billion page views a month.”

Facebook may seem like a great tool for social networking. And it is! But beware. You're every move is being tracked, analyzed and targeted. Today Facebook decided that they wanted to become an advertising network.

Give An Account

Maybe you've already heard the news. Senator Charles Grassley has said enough is enough. Senator Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he's investigating the finances of six well-known TV evangelists. Thank you, thank you, thank you Senator Grassley!

In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations. "The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls Royces," Grassley said. "I don't want to conclude that there's a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code."

Senator Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen TV evangelists earlier this week requesting answers by December 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets. This culminates a two year investigation into the financial impropriety of independent ministries who lack accountability and adequate oversight.

None of the ministries being investigated by Senator Grassley belongs to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. If they did, ECFA President Ken Behr says they'd be asked some of the same questions — about the independence of their governing boards and whether tax-exempt donations are properly spent on evangelists' lavish lifestyles.

I will wait until all the evidence is in before forming a final opinion. But I applaud Senator Grassley for asking these high-profile ministries to comply with existing tax law. No one is above the law. And in this case, the reputation of the cause of Christ is on the line.

In a culture that is progressively becoming more secular and unchurched, followers of Jesus Christ need to walk the talk. We are the body of Christ. We need to model Christ to a world that is skeptical and calloused to spiritual things. And it starts with leaders who understand how to serve.

Take the time to write Senator Grassley to thank him for taking a stand. It's time for accountability and integrity. It's time to give an account.

Less Is More

I'm finishing up the book, The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. It's an incredible book that talks about the negative consequences of choice-overload in modern society. You can hear a presentation by Barry Schwartz at a Google TechTalk on this topic.

Barry Schwartz argues that choice and freedom are good. But he warns that even choice and freedom have dark-sides that are rarely acknowledged. Excess choice causes paralysis, causes people to make worse decisions, and causes people to feel worse about their decisions.

We have been led to believe that more freedom means more welfare, and that more choice means more freedom. But in fact, more choice and more freedom leads to increased difficulty in making decisions and less satisfaction.

The strategy that Barry Schwartz recommends as a way to deal with choice-overload and regret, may surprise you.

But individuals who regularly experience and express gratitude are physically healthier, more optimistic about the future, and feel better about their lives than those who do not. Individuals who experience gratitude are more alert, enthusiastic, and energetic than those who do not, and they are more likely to achieve personal goals.

The Paradox of Choice reminds us again that life does not consist merely in what we possess or what we consume. God is the only thing worthy of our affections and passions. No "thing" can take His place. Even the secular world is beginning to understand, that when it comes to happiness, less is more.

We're Into Life

Yesterday was an incredible day! No two Sundays are ever alike. God is a God of infinite variety and creativity. And I love it that New Covenant is always seeking how to creatively communicate the timeless truth of God's Word.

Here are some of hi-lights from the day.

• There were over 220 people at the 8:00 AM service! This is the largest non-holiday attendance we've ever had at 8:00. Of course, I met several people who thought they were coming to the 9:20 service! You gotta remember to set those clocks back one hour!
• Erin had the honor of doing baby dedications for the Chesmore, Rediger, Tennyson, Fentress, Ovel, Aldoph, and Lear families.
• The brass line and choir were incredible.
• Pastor Bob gave a clear explanation of the gospel and the need for Christ.
• We had two first-time guests in Starting Point. One woman wants to bring her 7th grade daughter to Impact next time she comes.
• We had a pizza lunch and gathering with our Impact small group hosts and their families. It was fun connecting with other small group leaders, hearing about what God is doing in peoples lives!
• I met a first-time guest in the lobby after the 5:00 service. He was taking a walk in the neighborhood, saw all the cars and thought he would stop in to see what's going on. He enjoyed the message. He took early retirement from Rockwell and is trying to figure out what to do next. I invited him to Men's Fraternity. He said he would come! As we concluded our conversation, he commented, "The people in this church are really into life." Wow! Great observation.
• I got to talk to a young adult after the 5:00 service. He has been coming to New Covenant for the past five weeks. He indicated that during the Why series he "crossed the line of faith!" I also got to talk to the young man's mom. We have known the family for about 10 years. She has noticed her son reading the Bible and some changes taking place in his life. She came to New Covenant for the first time to check things out. We had a great conversation and I invited her to come to our small group!

Wow! What a great day. At New Covenant we're not into religion or ritual. We're into Jesus and the mission He calls us to join Him on. We're into life!

The Verdict Is In

New Covenant is in the news. You can click here to read the story.

Rene Pinkston worked with the Horizons Survivor Program in Cedar Rapids to provide meals for the Marin, Edmondson and Hill families during the Kyle Marin murder trial. A jury found Marin guilty Thursday of killing 18 year old cousins Molly Edmondson and Katrina Hill of Cedar Rapids in 2006.

The Horizons Survivor Program helps families affected by homicide get through the court system.

A special "thank you" to each person from our New Covenant church family who assisted with meals during this trial. The verdict is in - you demonstrated the love of Christ in a very tangible way. Please pray for these families as they seek to put their lives back together.

For The Love of the Game

There's just something about kids and baseball. I love watching kids play the game. I love their innocence, their enthusiasm, and their passion. Watching children hit the ball and run the bases reminds me all over again why I love the game of baseball.

I love the game of baseball, it's just those who turn it into a business that I don't like. The "professionalism" of baseball has created an ugly caricature that only dimly approximates the game I love. Professional baseball has exchanged teams for markets, players for agents, fans for media outlets, and hand shakes for contracts.

Professional baseball has created stars like Alex Rodriguez who recently opted out of his $252 million contract, demanding that the Yankees put $350 million on the table before he would even talk to them. Professional baseball has created managers like Joe Torre, who turned down $5 million a year from the Yankees with incentives that would guarantee $8 million if he took the team to the World Series. Torre turned down the offer that would have made him the best paid manager in baseball because he didn't feel respected.

Events like these remind me that the game I see played on television is entertainment. It's a business that's dominated by stars, controlled by money and managed to maximize profit. It's entertainment that resembles the game of baseball. It's an imitation of the real game that I played as a child.

The real game of baseball that I have come to love is played by people who compete for the love of the game. It's played by children, teens and adults who gather in neighborhood parks to play catch. The spirit of the game of baseball is alive and well. It's untarnished by large egos, spiraling salaries, steroid and human growth hormone scandals, escalating ticket prices and labor disputes.

The game of baseball that I've come to love is played by children who know nothing of contracts, agents or naming rights. It's played by people whose only negotiation is what time they have to come home for dinner. It's played by those who compete for the love of the game.