Giving Thought to Gospel 'Math': Why Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Giving Thought to Gospel 'Math': Why Jesus + Nothing = Everything: "Giving Thought to Gospel 'Math': Why Jesus + Nothing = Everything on Desiring God"


Steph and I watched this together - so freeing and rich! (Billy Graham's grandson)

So proud of Pinckney kids!

It makes me so happy to share this vid with you, especially during the recent negative pub our district has been getting over the last year. Our students are wonderful and and when "the rubber meets the road", they get things done - for others. So proud to be their teacher. This is what the founder of Invisible Children sent me last night to share with our club before today's screening of their film "The Rescue" and final day of Schools 4 Schools competition.


Just realized it didn't quite upload right plus cut off end - voiceover jaja -

Please, if you get a chance........

http://www.universityreformedchurch.org/

Last weekend's sermon on:

The Son of Man Came to Serve
Mark 10:32-45

Unbelievable. Please consider this Christmas message if you have a chance during your devotional time, car ride over the holidays, etc. Unreal. Love to talk about it too.

Blessings

Sanctus Real - Lead Me

This song ministered to me; here's to the awesome challenge for the gaines-lampi husbands and fathers. And praise God for His wonderful grace.

LOL! (Classic Debbie)

So texting is a new fad with our parents these days and who can blame them for not quite getting the lingo down as fast as our tech-savy generation has. There are many types of lingo...for example-rofl (rolling on floor laughing), cul8tr (see you later), lmao (laughing my @$$ off) and of course lol (laugh out loud). It is such a time saver to know these and to communicate in such great time efficient ways is a blessing from the creative human mind. That is if you actually know what they mean. Which leads me to my beloved mother, Debbie. She has been under the impression that "lol" is "lots of love". So she has been ending quite a few texts to people with the closing "lol", thinking she was expressing her care for people in a new way. So my mom decided to send my sister in law, who has had a child going through some physical ailments for the past month, some encouraging texts. She expressed her care by ending each text "lol". Jen thought it was a bit weird, but ignored it for a while. Finally this week my mom sent Jen a text that went something like this..."Jen we are praying for you and all the hardships you and your family are going through right now...LOL." I thought it might be a good time to fill her in as to what that actually meant before she offended too many people. So no worries, Debbie is back on track. Hope all is well. Looking forward to more times with our parents trying to adjust to this culture thing. LOL!


Steve

Crean and Crimson

There was a lot of buzz in Indiana this week because IU signed two top recruits for next year and has a load of others lining up for the coming years. The media wanted to have a press conference to talk about signing new recruits Zeller and Etherington and Crean walks in with every player on the current team behind him and lays this out...

"When these players came, especially a couple of years ago, they didn’t have anybody to look up to. They didn’t have anybody in here to teach them the way. They literally, when you look at Verdell, and you look at Tommy and you look at Matt, they didn’t have anybody to even recruit them. They were recruited by driving around in a golf cart or going to a spring football practice, or something like that. And a long the way these players have become the face of the program. That’s why it is so important to me and to all of us here, that they are successful. What they mean to the present day Indiana family and what they mean to the future family is really, really important. These guys have done a phenomenal job of building this program. They recruited some of the ones you see back there like Victor and Will, but most importantly what they just did in this recruiting class. Without a doubt, one of the greatest selling points that we have at Indiana University is our players. And these guys have (inaudible). And that’s why I want to see them be successful here and for so many years down the road because it’s so different for them. They’re the ones that are bridging the gap here and we just need to make sure that we keep working toward the fact that they leave a legacy here on the court as well as what they’re doing to make this program better. We would not be recruiting to the level that we are right now without our players. And I can’t make that any more definitive than that. Players can spearhead part of this, and certainly through prior relationships that can be very helpful, but it’s the way the team has come together. There’s a lot of different ways to form leadership but this group is forming leadership. You may not get to see a lot of Kori Barnett on the court but there’s not a much more valuable guy to this program in the sense of bonding his teammates and making them better. And I single him out because he does not get singled out on the court just yet. But that’s the kind of stuff that makes this program what it is. I’m proud of it and I hope you find places in your videos and I hope you find places in your stories to make sure that the headline reads “We would not be doing this without them, without these current players.” They did not have anybody in here to teach them the ropes. And we wouldn’t have wanted anyone (from before) to teach them the ropes. You know that and I know that that. I’ve said this privately before but now I want to say it publicly to the players. Thank you for what you do and let’s keep it rolling.”

Echoes of Norman Dale... I love that guy! Let's keep it rolling Crean!!

Guess who's LIVE AT STATE THEATRE BAY CITY, MI

Why I appreciate worship leaders like Wes and Steve: (sub heading) Who might not PLAY IT COOL OR COMFY

Red Wings

If you're a true WINGS fan you're a fan in October. I love this dramatic finish against the DUCKS the other day. I still believe Vladdy's coming back...

Gerard Butler at MSU football game

Hollywood hits EL..things are getting pretty interesting...

From MÉXICO CITY!

CD. DE MÉXICO, video documental from EARRANGOIZ on Vimeo.

This shows all the best and worst of my new home city and hopefully will entice you to visit or drop me a line. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you are enjoying where you are.

"Little Giants"

I get a text from Jake right after they did it around midnight....something along the lines of "HUEVOS GRANDES"


OCT 9 should be a good one

Reminds me of Jeff's serve on the shores of Leith Lake waters...

"LANDS END PREACHA MAN"

Alright, so now it's your turn to give the HOTTEST YOUTH PASTOR in THE MIDWEST a title or slogan. What's Steve thinking or what should be the HEADLINE of this pic? JAKE, don't let me down.

FELIZ PRIMER CUMP, SOPHIA ELAINE!

Our little frijol is 1 today! We thank Jesus for you!!! Your big brothers are so in love with you.

".....And I will send showers and showers of blessings which will come just when they're needed." Ezekiel 34:26

could be the greatest video post ever - enjoy

TINCAPS SURGE!

Tincaps are on a roll and the Loons are in trouble! Duck hunting season has begun!!

A Night to Remember in Glendora

Tonight the Kiwanis club officially outdid themselves at the Summer Nights Concert Series in Finkbiner Park. Check out who serenaded us into the night on a picture perfect SoCal evening!

A Week in Lake Tahoe

We just got back from an amazingly relaxing and fun week up in God's Country (aka Lake Tahoe). As you will remember, it is truly a place of astounding grandeur. There were so many surreal moments when we felt like we were looking at a painted backdrop, not the real thing. The girls had a blast swimming and hiking (new easier hike overlooking Emerald Bay to Eagle Falls). I had a encounter with a 400lb brown bear on my mt bike...a first. We were sad to leave and could have stayed another week, so next summer we're thinking of possibly two weeks, which leaves more space open for potential guests. Any takers? And yes Jeff and Steve, a potential cliff jumping location was discovered.

Now onto the Big Mitten in a couple of weeks. Look forward to seeing the MW Crew and introducing Adia Joy to those not acquainted. As you'll see in the pics, Joy seems to fit nicely.

Long Hot Midwest Summer

Here are some pictures from our weekend excursion to Northern Indiana Lake Country. Its the thing to do in our parts. I tubed until my arms almost fell off. Anyone else got summer pics!?!

R.I.P. Probert

1965 - 2010

GO STATE! Go NINOS de MATAMOROS! Bill - will you be the one! Let's go!

Perfect Game!

I feel bad for Armando Galarraga who got ripped off by the umpire after throwing a perfect game. What would Baseball Paul think?

Silly Sisters

Evidence that Grace is quickly becoming Adia's favorite past time!

Funny Video

We saw this on facebook- but wanted to share it here for all of you non-facebookers (Lena).
This video is for a great laugh!

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Long gone!

Rest in Peace, Ernie!

A Game for America...

Baseball is the President tossing out the first ball of the season and a scrubby schoolboy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm. A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That's baseball. And so is the big, fat guy with a bulbous nose running home one of his (Babe Ruth's) 714 home runs.

There's a man in Mobile who remembers that Honus Wagner hit a triple in Pittsburgh forty-six years ago. That's baseball. So is the scout reporting that a sixteen year old pitcher in Cheyenne is a coming Walter Johnson. Baseball is a spirited race of man against man, reflex against reflex. A game of inches. Every skill is measured. Every heroic, every failing is seen and cheered, or booed. And then becomes a statistic.

In baseball democracy shines its clearest. The only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rulebook. Color merely something to distinguish one team's uniform from another.

Baseball is a rookie. His experience no bigger than the lump in his throat as he begins fulfillment of his dream. It's a veteran too, a tired old man of thirty-five hoping that those aching muscles can pull him through another sweltering August and September. Nicknames are baseball, names like Zeke and Pie and Kiki and Home Run and Cracker and Dizzy and Dazzy.

Baseball is the cool, clear eyes of Rogers Hornsby. The flashing spikes of Ty Cobb, an over aged pixie named Rabbit Maranville.

Baseball just a came as simple as a ball and bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. A sport, a business and sometimes almost even a religion.

Why the fairy tale of Willie Mays making a brilliant World's Series catch. And then dashing off to play stick ball in the street with his teenage pals. That's baseball. So is the husky voice of a doomed Lou Gehrig saying., "I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.”

Baseball is cigar smoke, hot roasted peanuts, The Sporting News, ladies day, "Down in Front", Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and the Star Spangled Banner.

Baseball is a tongue tied kid from Georgia growing up to be an announcer and praising the Lord for showing him the way to Cooperstown. This is a game for America. Still a game for America, this baseball! Thank you.

- Ernie Harwell

Thank you, Ernie

Pictures from Mac

Taking pictures with my new Mac. Seems to not be in focus.

Easter 2010 at the Gaines

With Mr. and Mrs. Activity Director in town for the Easter holiday, the guy cousins had a blast making and decorating rice krispie treats dipped in chocolate with sprinkles and decorating their own Easter bags.

MAY DAY RACE! 5/1/2010

Hey all, you're invited (if you're around) to come run/walk a 5K in Dexter on May 1st to help raise funds for INVISIBLE CHILDREN. We'd love to have ya there - First race launched by our 4Corners Cultural Awareness Club! If anything, could you pass the word around for us? Thanks so much! Miss you

for more info check out our website: www.maydayrace.com

Go Spartans

This is the time of year where I bleed green and white. Sparty is my man.

GO PINCKNEY STUDENTS!!!!!!!

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100324/NEWS01/100324008/Pinckney+High+School+club+hosts+Invisible+Children+representatives

Join JAKE on that wagon....

Get ready St. LOUIE! How sweet it is

"Let the Games Begin!"

Yes, it's that favorite time of year when us former hoopsters dream of that "One Shining Moment" that Spencer Micunek stole from me in 1993 at a sold out gym in South Lyon. The play was supposed to go to me! Anyways, it's always fun to drum up a little friendly competition. A few notables... MSU drew the dreaded #5 seed (always beware the #12 upset)... UM drew the NIT (maybe)... the Pac-10 is down this year (I've seen)... give a look to the Richmond Spiders (best mascot)... and how about pulling for Cornell (#12) to upset Temple (#5) and make Andy Bernard (aka the Nard Dog) proud!

I sent most of you an email with directions, but in case it didn't go try clicking here

Let the Games Begin

The group is: SoCal-Midwest Madness
The password is: bandwagon (in honor of all us Maze/Blue faithful who this time of year feel an affinity to the Green/White)

Get on by Thurs morning or you're out!

One is the Loneliest Number

For the first time in 90 years researchers have found a wolverine in California in the Tahoe National Forest and, surprisingly, it is not Jake! Read about it here.

There and back again.

We just got back from a delightfully warm week in California, so I made a web album for your viewing pleasure. It was great to see the kids playing (and fighting) with each other. Sad we can't be together more often.

In other photo news, Cash has taken claim of our old camera, so we've slowly been uploading his photos and asking him to describe each one (while attempting to transcribe his jibberish). You can find those in the side bar as well (I decided to leave out the close up of my butt. No one needs to see that).

Happy Birthday Jackson!

YOU ARE THE BEST! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON!

Haiti Sings!

Hey all, so Haiti has been heavy on a lot of hearts around our little area in Bullock Creek, MI. These two cool dudes are Hansel and George. they are both adpoted students from Haiti. They live in the US with families from Messiah. We have a strong connection with that country here in this area. i was talking to Jeff last night and told him we are sending nurses and doctors down next week from the church. One is Lynda Varner. Her son has a medical outreach named after him in the Port au Prince area. Aaron, her son, passed away from cancer in 2006 at 17 yrs. old. The building was one of the few standing in the area after the earthquake hit. It is now being used for shelter and medical needs. I asked Lynda what Haiti needs prayer for and she said 1.) Thank God those that know Christ that have died aren't suffering any longer 2.) Thank God that the name of Jesus is being spread faster than relief efforts are 3.) Pray that our hearts as Christians will see the need for Christ in other countries so when life here ends for others, they have hope in an eternal God. At church on Sunday, Hansel came and prayed in his native language, creole, b/c he is more comfortable with it. He lost it a little and you could see his hurt not knowing who is alive and who isn't. we lost a dance team that Messiah sponsored called ADA. The lead dancer Jouelefet was found dead on Tuesday. But the thing about the Haitian people is they celebrate even amidst this disaster. I've heard numerous accounts and saw wyclef Jean on TV crying, saying all he hears at night are children singing "Amazing Grace". One thing you won't here in the news right now, from what Hansel told me, is that there are many people turning from Vodoo to Christianity in this tragedy. To see God's mercy in tragedy is a glimpse into His amazing love. Keep praying for that country. There's more going on than an earthquake. In our hearts and the people there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. KING!

On Friday, Caleb came home from school with this crown he had made at Kindergarten and began to teach Steph and I (and eden somewhat) about how amazing this "Dr. Martin King" was and what a "special person" he was. "Do you know that without him, blacks and whites couldn't go to the same schools...and used different bathrooms?" He continued, puzzled by how SILLY it would be (with his frame of reference being his multiracial kindergarten class and international church) if this was true today. His perplexed curiosity and heart for justice came out as Steph and I continued to use this as a teachable moment to answer more of the WHYS? "Can you believe, a guy came and shot him dead.?!"

Then, he turned to me and said, quote unquote, "Dad, you're black, right. And mommy's white. You're darker than her." And looked at Sophia (who could be whiter than snow) and said, "she's kind of black." Funny. I never corrected him, but laughed inside, now realizing how cool it is to be a inter-racial marriage.

What broke my heart with joy is realizing that through Dr. King's arduous, nonviolent, tremendous sacrifices, his "I have a dream" resounds in our childrens' generation, where "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" - and yet there is much more ground to cover and reconciliation to endure, but feel so blessed to be surrounded in such a rich, diverse community, school, church, etc that echoes Dr. King's aspirations.

After that, my grandpa called and we talked a while about it, and after hearing innocent, full-of-faith truths from the mouth of babes in my son, further heard from a wise man who lived most of this century and still doesn't understand why we go to war, argue and kill over trivial misunderstandings, and judge on the basis of mere skin color. From his words, "It's just plain stupid."

Anyways, thought I share it with ya - and join in commemorating a "special man". Happy B-Day, Dr. King!"

MICHIGAN CRUSHES indiana IN BASKETBALL

Let my title do the talking!!

QUIET DOMINATION

Probably none of you know that our boy Wesley just snatched from the hands of Ted Kluck this year's NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. He did so by sticking with his boyz, dominating most every week, and yes, researching religiously during mini-workouts at work. This feat, yes, knocking off yours truly, the FANTASY PANTHER himself (along with Slim Jim Marmion, Jarvi, Silicon Valley Charles Lee and other calvinists alike, made me think of the many times why I have been so proud of my boy Wes from south B-town.

For starters,
I am so proud of Wes for finally getting enough huevos to ask out Jenny Payne in 7th grade, dumping her, just to mess with her BFF millionaire, Lisa O. YOU R THE MAN.

I am so proud of Wes for finally confronting me in 8th grade at SITS and telling me he's STANDING n DA GAP for me at that night's MAIN SESSION, where inevitably, I would take the plunge for Christ....and again the following year.

I am so proud of my boy for saying bye to the hard court and any chance at girls in HS, and hello to MARTIN himself....

I am so proud of Wes (and myself) for standing strong amidst hot coals and a very steamy description of youth leader's honeymoon

I am so proud of my boy for sharing with me the TMZ glitz and glamour of Taylor U weekends being campus worship leader. Ah, Oh yeah.

I am so proud of Wes for introducing me to Vineyard worship and Darrel Evans

I am so proud of Wes for introducing me to this Captain Pirate guy and his friend 2 liter of Coke (jk)

I am so proud of Wes for dating a HOT flight attendant (aka Chi-town)

I am more proud of Wes for marrying INDY's own lovely and talented insane Sarah jane

I am very proud of Wes (and SJ) for their 2 spawn (Ca$h and Lou Lou)

I am very proud of Wes for introducing me to the world of FANTASY (football that is).

Which of I am an addict. Pray for me. But stay tuned for another challenge that has been brewing. Word is Wes wants to take his game into the playoffs and your are invited too. Stay tuned this week for more.

FELICIDADES WES!