Father's Day

Fathers come in many shapes, sizes and in relationships. We have the physical father, the Heavenly Father, step-father, foster father and the person in your life who you feel that bond with just because of who they are.

This Father's Day is no different for me. I take a moment and think of my father who passed when I was 12, and then the other men in my life who have had a profound impact on the man I have become. This is my wish as well. Not so much to have a child of my own, the world is too complicated a place right now for that, but to provide guidance, hope and encouragement to others as they go through this life.

It is the small things that can touch us on a day like today, and nothing so much as an unexpected thank-you and warm wish. Our Heavenly Father always has a way of those messages coming through at just the right moment. Today was one of those for us. We got a message from a young man we met only once, and for a brief time while in Haiti. He has no reason to try to keep in touch with us, but just did out of the blue to say hello and how much our offer of friendship meant to him and continues to mean to him.

So take a moment today not only to remember our fathers, but those others who have had a impact on our lives. Happy Father's Day.

Liberty and Justice for All

Enough said. This is from the Newseum in DC

Bing, what is in a name.

I was very saddened to see the retirement of Search and Give from Microsoft this month. It was a useful way to raise money for your charity and reached across all age groups. A group of us had been able to raise money for Hearts with Haiti by just doing simple web searches. It can all add up. I spoke with my Microsoft rep and plans are in the wings for a similar program, but not target date as of yet. I did find another way to raise money through the web and it is through Club Bing. Bing is Microsoft's new name for the Live Search engine. Big plans, commercials, etc. and it is going to change the way we all do online searches. We have all heard that before and then go back to Google. If you want to see it, go to www.bing.com and you can move your mouse over the image, and see popups, etc. Nice, but not a replacement for Search and Give.

Club Bing is a little bit different. It is Live Club re-branded. Club Bing is an extention of Bing in so much as it is a game portal versus just a search engine. All you need is a free Live ID and sign up for free to Club Bing. Then you can play free games from their list. Sounds pretty good so far huh, free and play games. The beauty lies in what you do with the tickets you earn. You can choose to donate them to a charity or public school. I was very excited and immediately went to sending tickets to Hearts with Haiti. I was disappointed to not find Hearts with Haiti in the list powered by GuideStar. So I went to GuideStars' website, typed in Hearts with Haiti and they showed up. Went back to Bing, still no luck. The long and short of this is Microsoft is working out the kinks as they go live and launch commercials, etc. I would still sign up as it is free and playing a game of Chicktionary helps lighten up the day. When you are done, donate the tickets to your charity or school. I will continue to look for Hearts with Haiti and also have my Microsoft rep on the case and when they appear in the list I will let everyone know.

Star Light, Star Bright

Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight.... I have fond childhood memories of sitting outside in the NH night air with my father saying this childhood rhyme. Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight. I wish I may I wish I might have this wish I wish tonight.

It has been a bit since I did any posts, so I am continuing to get back into the swing of things. The last few weeks have been spent doing behind the scenes stuff, including being picked up by the Fat Cat, Ltd in Oak Ridge, NC.

I needed to get back behind the lens after such a long drought, so I grabbed my camera and went out into our backyard. I had some real fun just shooting random shots while slowing down and absorbing the sights and sounds around me. Once I got done roaming, I took a moment to do some staged still life. Traditionally I don't do these type of shots as they are posed and not as organic, but to my surprise I found out something I had not realized. When you get REALLY up close to a sand dollar, they have a little star in the center. My macro lens picked it up as seen in the image in nice detail.

So for me these sand dollars mean a number of different things, the beach, warm salty air, ice cream, (mmm everything reminds me of ice cream) and the amazing beauty to be captured in the smallest of items.

Pride

We just went to a Sunday School class offered at our church using Andy Griffith shows as Biblical teaching tools. At first I was a bit skeptical, but after this first class I am not so sure anymore. Today's lesson was on pride. As I now digest what was talked about, I am taking a long hard look at my own life and the perceptions I put out to others. I think the biggest thing striking me is what others may take away from my attempts to help the St. Joseph's Family in Haiti.

I am doing everything I can to drum up attention to these amazing people, but am I doing it in a way that is appropriate? I looked at my headings on the very first page when you come to our website. I examined what my first impression was when putting myself out to the world. It was quite humbling. I am saying look at me, I give 40% of the sales price to charity. While this is my goal, it may not be shared by everyone. To someone who doesn't know me, I could be coming across as quite arrogant or aggressive. The thought which kept resurfacing was I was saying to visitors, I am doing this why aren't you? And honestly, this approach hasn't helped me accomplish my goal.

So, as I reexamine my message, I am going to change it to one more inviting. One asking for assistance in my passion and not one thrusting my own perceived piety in the face of others. I now will ask,"Help us make a difference in the lives of children in Haiti." a message I so deeply want to do.

A message from Michael Geilenfeld during Easter

Below is an email I got from Michael. It talks about a very moving service they perform each year. I had an opportunity to chat with Renee before the service and could sense how much she was looking forward to it. From looking at the picture she took, I can understand why.

Subject: Inspired - Humbled - Moved with Deep Emotion - This is servanthood

Jesus shows us how to love and serve…………

In this photo Dad is washing his caregivers feet with the help of KC. What more do we need to see in order to be moved and moving in Jesus?

Dr. Chad Johnson

Pastor for Discipleship

Abiding Hope Lutheran Church

Littleton, CO 80127

303-972-1283

Easter

As we reach the culmination of Holy Week on Sunday, let us all take a moment and really reflect on what it all means. Sacrifice by one for all.

I have been following a number of stories over the week on various blogs and news sites I read. The one commonality I find disturbing is everyone has to be exclusively right with no room for compromise. God did not send Jesus, and Jesus did not accept his role for any particular group to call themselves right, or the only ones in the know. They performed these miraculous acts for all of us. The dogma of the human race to only seek a winner instead of acceptance of all points of view is a philosophy we need to outgrow. If we don't I fear we are doomed to face the fate of so many of our ancestors over history. A continuing struggle to fight, kill, stigmatize and persecute others all in the name of God.

I feel at this time more than any other in the past few years we can almost start to feel hope again. Hope is a powerful thing and one which enables us to try to see beyond our own front door and venture into the door of another.

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