Gifts

So we tried to do something different this year with Chris's family when it came to Christmas presents. For the most part I think it went well. We all decided that instead of going out and buying gifts for each other we should make things for each other.

So Joyce, my mother-in-law, made our three boys bathrobes, which they love and I think are pretty sweet. My sister-in-law made this amazing coffee scented bath body scrub. Chris loves it. Chris made everybody her homemade laundry soap, which I have been trying to convince her to sell and have even contacted a shop that would sell it. And I had some of my raspberries, that I had frozen from this summer, which I made into jam. All in all, I think it was a pretty cool idea and I hope we do it again.

Wii

I am very excited!!

We have not really been looking to buy a Wii, but I had kind of joked about it every now and again. And I have friends who have been frantically looking for one. Seems they are very hard to find right now. Wonder if Nintendo has anything to do with that? Hmmmm....

Anyways, yesterday Chris and I were doing a couple last minute shopping things while we were in Boise. We stopped in EB Games, simply out of curiosity, and asked the clerk if they had a Wii. He paused, and then said they only had one left. Without really even thinking or asking Chris I said I would take it. Then he tells me, well the shipping box got messed up and as a result the Wii box got wet. He said he had checked it out and nothing inside was wet and everything checked out OK. Several people prior to us said they did not want it because of the wet box.

When we got home I checked it all out and nothing inside was even damp. I wonder how long that was sitting there. And all the stores, I have heard, are not getting any more until after Christmas. So, five days before Christmas we stumbled onto this little treasure. Needless to say, I am pretty jazzed. Then Chris told me, "Well, guess this is your Christmas present." She was a little excited as well. A little.

a good day

today is a very good day in the house of dean. every year that i have been on staff there has been a couple who have graciously given us a smoked turkey. now you have to understand. this seems to be a labor of love for them. they make like 25 of them every december and it takes about 12 hours per turkey. i think they said they get up every 3 hours and do something with them. not really sure what that something is, but it must be something good because these things are awesome. no awesome does not really describe it. divine. yeah! that would do it, they are divine.

a nice thick smokey flavor that is in the skin and all the way to the bone. i really do look forward to this and always end up eating parts of it before it gets home. it is sitting in my office right now missing both legs. i only ate one. i gave the other to a friend who stopped by. i must say that i hesitated to do that. then chris and i decided that we would invite them over for dinner tonight to partake in the further consumption of this divineness. i am pretty sure they are coming from the look on my friends face.

yes, it truly is a good day in the house of dean.

Change of plans

We did it. We scraped together the remaining $318.18 that it took to pay off the house after selling my truck. It is now official, we have made our last payment on our house. Man it feels really good. Now to a couple of other small debts and debt free we will be!

NNU's 2008 Wesley Center Conference

Brian McLaren will be the keynote speaker at this years Wesley Center Conference "Furtherness: Holiness Reoriented in a Changing World." It is funny, I have already had someone tell me they won't be going because Brian is the speaker. Saddens me a little. But I know plenty of other people who will be going. So it should be fun and I am certain that I will be challenged and grow from it. Brian will also be at NNU for his "Everything Must Change" tour. The registration cost will cover both events. Sweet deal as well!! So, here is the registration info in case you are interested. Hope to see you there.

My Truck

I loved my truck. I say loved because I just sold it. I am bummed for a couple of reasons. First, I loved my truck. It was an awesome truck, low milage, great shape and I could haul stuff whenever I needed to. I even loaned it out to my friends so they could haul stuff with my truck that I loved. Second, a very good friend sold me that truck for a smoking deal.

But mostly I am happy that I sold my truck. First, we don't need three vehicles. About six months ago I bought a 1989 Nissan Sentra. Not exactly an eye grabber and does not fit in as well as my truck here in Baker City, OR. where we have lots and lots of ranchers and cowboys. But it gets an average of 32 miles per gallon and that makes up for it all. the second reason that I wanted to sell my truck, and honestly it was the major factor in this decision, is that in selling it we take another big step towards being debt free. I mean really debt free. I have written a nice check to the mortgage company and our payoff on the house is now $433.16. I know, it is very exciting isn't it!! At least we think so. We figure that by Feb. we will have all debt paid off including Chris's van, and will be 100% debt free. I am very excited about this. I think it was worth selling my truck that I loved.

Buy Nothing Day

Here are some challenging words that Eugene Cho has for me and maybe others about Buy Nothing Day.

(ht. Scot McKnight)

Thankful

I am thankful for my amazing and beautiful wife, for my three boys and the fact that I have friends.

I am thankful for that and oh so much more.....

RVL

Chris and I recently went to Twin Falls, Idaho to hear Ray Vanderlaan (RVL), "That the World May Know Ministries", speak. I can only say AMAZING!!! I was once again blown away by the insight that RVL has into scripture and the context that it was written in. Once again, I walked away challenged and inspired. I am doing everything I can to go to Israel as a result of this weekend.

free burma

Great cartoons

Daily cartoons by John Birch at ASBO Jesus.

School

School is going to start for me next Monday. Life as I know it is going to change a lot. Having to take two classes and not really excited about that. To be honest, I am not really even sure what two classes I am taking. Guess I should get in contact with the school.

Officically....

....the vacation is over. It was good times had by all. We went to Yellowstone National Park and had an awesome time. We saw bison and elk. No bears, but that is ok. The boys really loved it. I got to do my 23 mile hike which was a year in the waiting. Got some yard work done that has been waiting for some time now. The boys were all in school for part of it so Chris and I got to hang out, just the two of us. That is something rather new to us. All said, great vacation. Just the way we like 'em.

Done

Well, I got it done. 23 miles on the Elkhorn Crest Trail took us 7 1/2 hours. Better then I thought we would do.

It was awesome. My feet are a little tender and I am starting to feel a little stiff. Need to make sure I go on a hike tomorrow to work some of this out.

I was really jazzed that Loren and Sue went with me. It makes it so much more enjoyable to hike with others.

Next, traverse the Eagle Caps. Next weekend.

Man I love this stuff!

Today's adventure

It is 4:40am. I am tired because I really did not sleep well last night. I think it was because I am excited and nervous. It may be because I knew that I had to get up really early this morning.

I am getting ready to walk out the door and go meet my friends Loren and Sue. We are going to hike the entire Elkhorn Crest Trail today. 23 miles. Loren has done it before in 7 hours. He is in better shape then I am.

I have been wanting to do this for over a year now. It is going to be sweet!!!

Serve God, Save the Planet

I am currently reading several books, which I always end up doing. I can't just grab one and read it through.

One of the books is titled, "Serve God, Save the Planet". I have been very challenged and very encouraged by this book so for.

It is not just telling me what we are doing wrong, it is also opening my eyes to what I as a follower of Christ can and should be doing. Chris and I are reading this together and are moving in directions to make changes in how we live. The really cool thing is that our oldest son is picking up on this stuff as well. He is pointing out ways that we can be a part of saving the planet and be more eco-friendly.

OH! NO! The Barnes clan is becoming a tree hugger family.

candidate’s positions

Check out this helpful chart.

Motion Doggie

This is a little creepy. Move you mouse around and see the oddly creepy dog follow.

This past week

This past week has been a trying week for me. I have been excited, frustrated, sad, angry, confused, enlightened, and so much more. I have learned much about those around me and much about myself. Some good and bad in both cases.

Mostly I am being forced to ask myself some very difficult questions. What am I a part of? What is God calling me to? What is the purpose of the church? Is it fulfilling that purpose? Am I? Where is God leading our youth ministry? What steps do I need to take to fulfill that? Am I willing to take those steps? What is God doing in Baker City? Those are just a few of the questions. I wish I could say that I have come up with some answers.

I really have been feeling that something is going to explode in Baker, something good. Not just in Baker, but everywhere. I am just speaking of what I am noticing here. I really feel like we are on the brink of something. I am not exactly sure what that is, I just have the distinct impression that it is coming and that I want and need to be a part of it. I just don't know what that looks like right now. That is the frustrating and scary part.

Great! More waiting

A walk

Took a walk this afternoon after having lunch with my wife and oldest son. It was exactly what I needed. Time alone, on the local pathway, smelling the plants, trees, nature, looking at the clouds, noticing people and just everything. It was a great time to clear my head and think about my upcoming sermon, Aug 26. Was listening to Casting Crowns new album, The Altar and The Door. "What the World Needs" is an amazing song and actually quite appropriate for some of what I have been going through. What the world really needs is Jesus, not all the other stuff that we attach to Him or to the Gospel.

It was a good walk

Tony Jones in Baker City

So we hosted Tony this past Sunday. And it was an awesome day. I told Tony that he was like a birthday present to myself since this past Sunday was my birthday.

Anyway, he promised me that he would drop a couple grenades Sunday PM and he let a couple small ones go in the AM. What I found interesting was that I didn't think he dropped any. As I processed that I realized that I did not think he dropped any because I agree with him.

Not surprisingly, there were some folks that did not agree with him and in fact were hit by those grenades. What really struck me though was the fact that they are upset over the fact that we brought Tony to Baker City. Like it is a bad thing. So I try and look at it from their perspective. Still I can't get there. Because I actually think it is a good thing to listen to, read and try and understand those that I disagree with. Because I think it would force me to be a critical thinker. Guess that is a bad thing though.

We have already had a couple of people lash out, last night and this morning. I think it is going to be an interesting week.

Needless to say, Tony challenged us and made us think. I have had the opportunity to talk with several people about this as well. I was very surprised by how many people there are that are excited about what Tony brought. I just was not sure before that there were this many. I told Tony later that at least now we have a pretty good idea about who is and is not at the table.

I have to say that the best part of the weekend was getting to hang out with Tony and his brother Andrew. I almost feel bad that I took so much of their time and not many people got to hang out with them as well, almost. It was sweet getting to know these guys and form a friendship. I look forward to the continued formation of that friendship. we were even late to church Sunday night because we were hanging out at my house.

Baker County Fair

I have to say, I am so super proud of my son, Matthew. This is his first year in the fair and he has done awesome. He has been so responsible with his lamb. Making sure it gets fed twice a day and working with it each time. It paid off for him. He got reserve champ in his class, jr. novice, for confimation. Then he got champion for showmanship in his class. It has ben pretty awesome for him. Tomorrow, market auction. Not sure how well that is going to go. It is starting to sink in that his lamb is going to go to market.

Jr. High Camp

Well, it is done. We had Jr. High Camp last week and it was great. It was also very draining. This was my first year directing the camp and really taking the front spot. It was certainly a learning process as well. I became even more certain that I want to do everything I can as a camp director to keep the chapel time from being an "emotional wave". I realize that you can't stop some of that and this has probably been a part of camping for years and years. But I will do what I can to make sure that what is going on is genuine and not just a time for students to sit and cry for the sake of crying. not sure if that is all making sense. I just don't want it to be this big emotional thing.

Unique Thinking

john reuben video, word of mouth. "great visual imagery on cultural propensity to demand uniformity and to snuff out creative thought." -ysmarko

Spidy 3

fantastic list of things we learned from the disappoint-fest that was spiderman 3, from the wonderfully-odd little mind of josh treece:

10 Things We Learned From Spider-man 3

1) Emo kids are a product of alien symbiosis.

2) If you find yourself running from the law, no problem! Just hop over the gate that says “DANGER! Particle Physics Experiment in progress” and you’re in the clear.

3) If your girlfriend is hanging from the roof of a demolished skyscraper, never fear. Nonchalantly take some pictures and introduce yourself to her father, who also doesn’t seem to give a crap.

4) Flipping pancakes and listening to vintage dance songs will only lead to adultery.

5) Black is the new red. And alien goo is the new cotton.

6) If you ever find yourself battling a giant sand person and a jagged-toothed photographer alongside your best friend who just tried to kill you, be sure that you and him exchange “witty” banter at every opportunity. “I’m a little busy over here, buddy.” “I’d love to help you, but I’ve got my hands full, buddy” and so on.

7) If you want to kill someone real bad, then go to church and pray and maybe, if you’re lucky, God will provide you with an alien suit made of pure evil.

8) Sufferers of amnesia just can’t help smiling ridiculously and eating ice-cream. Life is good when you can’t remember anything.

9) Bad boys eat cookies, drink milk and mimic their college professors on the phone in a hilarious manner.

10) Is your girlfriend feeling down? No problem, make her feel better by passionately upside-down kissing some really hot chick in front of her.

Ecuador

Well, I am off to Ecuador. Our team will be leaving on March 2. Which happens to be my oldest sons birthday. We are going to celebrate it on the 1st instead.

I am excited and nervous. It is also always hard to be away from Chris and the boys for that long as well. It is difficult for Chris as well. So I will be praying for Chris and the boys the whole time. I am gonna miss them.

So, I will update about Ecuador as soon as we get back.

Kenny Wade

I got to hang out with my friend Kenny Wade today and am staying with his family tonight. It has been pretty sweet I must say. He is like wearing an old pair of well broken in shoes, comfortable. It was good to be with him.

Today

Today has been a difficult day. Our community has lost a student. It has hit very hard and has and will continue to be painful for some time. I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with students today and I must say that I am physically and emotionally drained.

I have asked and have been asked some very difficult questions by teens. My prayer is that I won't give all the trite little answers that so many give, but instead I will journey with them through their pain and be honest in the fact that I simply cannot answer all the questions.

What about you?

I am currently reading Adventures in Missing the Point. This is my extra-circular reading since I am taking classes right now, which explains why I am not making much progress.

Also, was recently given, SiMPLE CHURCH. Have read the first chapter, will update later.

What about you, reading anything good lately?

my weemee

I had a chuckle when I created myself here at WeeMee.

Emerging Chruch

Here is an article that you might like to read about the emerging church by Scot McNight.

Honeymoon

Well, it is official. The ministry honeymoon is now over. After the last month or so I am walking around feeling a bit punch drunk. Won't go into all of it, I have just come to realize that the honeymoon is over. Sometimes ministry can be hard I am learning. Sometimes people can be hard. Guess I always knew this, just never thought I would see it in the church as much.

There really is so much that I want to say, but most of it stems from hurt and I would end up saying stuff that I shouldn't. Anyway, I still love ministry, I still love people. I have just learned a little more about both.

Quote for the day

So our youth group took on a local mission project in the last couple of months. There is a family in our church that needed some help taking about a foot of dirt out of their basement and we deciced to take it on as a service project. We finished it up today. The dirt was really hard so we had to get a jack hammer to do the work.

Today one of the students was getting ready to use the jack hammer and one of the guys said that he should be careful so he does not break it because they are expensive.

His reply, "I don't have the money to buy a new one.... but my dad does."

I could not help but think, I bet your dad would not be jazzed to hear that.


The next awesome quote for the day from one of the students as she was digging dirt with a shovel.

"This is just like jumping on a tramp, only with no bounce."

Yep she is right, jumping on a shovel to dig dirt is just like jumping on a tramp.... only with no bounce."

Change the World?

Have you ever felt like you were exactly where you were supposed to be, but that you were not living up to your full potential?

May seem like an odd question, but that seems to be where I am at recently. Not sure that I can put any more meat on that right now. Just feeling like there is so much more.

Was talking to my senior high sunday school class yesterday. We were just chatting and when we closed in prayer I asked that each of us be changed by Christ and that we live as Christ desires for us. It got me to thinking and talking with the students.

What does that changed life look like? I asked myself and the students, What does being a follower of Christ look like? Sadly, I believe that more often then not it simply means to be a "good boy or girl." I mean think about it, most of us believe that following Christ means that we won't smoke, drink, cuss or chew or go with girls (or guys) that do. We try and live this moral life. We essentially try and be boy (or girl) scouts.

My thought is, there has to be so much more. I mean Christ did not live that way. He did not just try and live a moral life. He really shook things up. He effected change. Sure, we can reply to that with "but we are not Christ." But doesn't He call us to be like Him.

I wonder if we really sit down and think about this whole idea of being a follower of Christ and what that looks like if it won't start to look really scary and maybe even dangerous.

I suspect that we get stuck in this idea that we or I am just one person, and one person can't really change anything. Then I run across this picture. Did this guy effect change? Is he all alone? http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif Sure, we don't know the entire story, but I am willing to bet that this one picture gave a ton of people the courage to simply stand up.

Just the other day I watched Schindler's List. What a powerful movie. I had never seen it before. Schindler save the lives of 1,100 Jews. I found out later that there are alive today 6,000 Jews who are descendants of the Schindler Jews. 6,000!! That is 7,100 people who would not be alive or have survived had it not been for one man!

Who says that one person can't change things. Look, my thought is this. I really believe that Christ is calling us to more than being a good boy or girl. I believe that He is calling us to change our world.

So, let's do just that.