InterVarsity
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is one of my all-time favorite resources for information about my faith in Christ. The resources available are not only highly relevant but practical.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Thursday, December 21, 2006
William and Mary - Here we are.
Here we are! The opportunity to complete another academic program at a local school, the College of William & Mary was enjoyable. My wife Josephine stands beside me. Of course we can all see who the beautiful one is. It ain't me.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Berlin 1978
Here I am, such a long time ago. I was an American living in the fascinating city of Berlin, West Berlin, working on top of a hill made of rubble in a forest named Grunnie. I had a fascinating adventure as a very young adult in my late teens.
This was one view of Berlin I experienced, perhaps one that should never be forgotten. I learned to love the city and its wonderfully diverse people, despite the ever present reminder that humans are able to perform great evil upon each other. My fear if one can call it that, is that the people of this great city will quickly forget the cost paid to bring freedom, indeed, to scorn the price paid by others for their freedom.
This was one view of Berlin I experienced, perhaps one that should never be forgotten. I learned to love the city and its wonderfully diverse people, despite the ever present reminder that humans are able to perform great evil upon each other. My fear if one can call it that, is that the people of this great city will quickly forget the cost paid to bring freedom, indeed, to scorn the price paid by others for their freedom.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Leadership - Secrets of Jumping Toads
Tips for Jumping Your Toad!
One of the earliest memories I have of life in California is of the time honored Calaveras County Frog Jumping Contest.
The Nineteenth Century American author, Mark Twain, told a fictional tale about the competition occurring in the 1840s. The contest has become an actual tradition and continues to this today as a tourist attraction.
As a young boy, my family attended this yearly event when we lived near Sutter Creek, California. Mike, my little brother entered a toad into the race. Needless to say, his toad didn't qualify when examined and jumped by the contest official, who said, "Son, this is not a frog."
Unfortunately, there was no toad competition at the frog jumping contest either. So, we simply watched from the sidelines, with no frog of our own to "jump" and our toad resting quietly in the tin bucket. For years this incident was a comical "hoot" in our home, and I imagine my brother never forgot the experience. I haven't and I never let him. Yet, it holds beautiful lessons about life.
Jumping that toad was not a wasted affair. Indeed, it demonstrated initiative, faith, and character.
I believe applying this story to other situations in life is useful. A toad offered in ignorance as a jumper in life's frog jumping contest is better than a toad or even a frog passing the day in a tin bucket.
If you have tried to do a good thing and someone tells you, "Friend, Your toad is not a frog." Don't be bothered too much by the put down, for you have accomplished something. You have gained the useful knowledge that your toad is not a frog. You have also learned that leadership initiative learns from mistakes. You have taken a worthy risk. And next year, you will return to the jumping contest, enlightened by the earlier encounter, but with a frog in hand, ready to jump. On that day, you will confidently pull the frog out of that tin bucket and present it to the contest officials.
This was true for my brother Mike. We returned to enter his frog the following year. Friend, trying to jump a toad is better than doing nothing at all. Jump that toad! If things don't work out, you were still a leader of initiative. Good leaders are wise risk takers and all of them jump toads at some point in life. If every leader kept his or her toad in the tin bucket, nothing would get done. Jump them toads!
This story also shows us that life is never a perfect journey. We will all face obstacles, perhaps a difficult individual or a discouraging environment, pointing our hearts toward cynicism and dejection. Yet, it is possible to find one's way even in such conditions. It takes faith, the willingness to be vulnerable, and the decisiveness of a leader.
You may have brought a toad to that frog jumping contest. Your toad may have been denied entrance. But you did the right thing. For now, watch the race and learn; then get your frog in shape for the next event.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Educational Opportunities and Resources
Select Places of Learning Changing Lives
http://www.regent-college.edu/ Regent College in Vancouver, Canada - A great place to ask questions and meet thinking and reflective believers
http://www.gcts.edu/ Gordon Conwell in Mass. - A great place to learn about practical ministry as well as learn
http://www.vanguard.edu/ Vanguard Univ. in Southern California - Small Christian Liberal Arts School with supurb faaculty
http://www.globaluniversity.edu/Great Internet Resource for learning online
Let's Go Out to the Movies
News
Drudge - Shocking and Fascinating News on an Hourly Basis from the Iconoclast Matt Drudge
Fox News - Fair and ballanced, so it is claimed, but I have my doubts
Washington Times - Right Leaning
Washington Post - Left Leaning
Singapore Straits Times - Very Fine Paper
SARS Season: Friends in Hong Kong
We Are All Wearing Masks in Hong Kong. (I'm the giant; my wife is the short one; and my son is the leaning one with a colorful shirt. We were able to get very cheap rooms in the Conrad Hotel during the SARS outbreak of 2003. The Conrad.... Many people walked the streets with masks like this, and of course we joined in. Such an adventure....
