Month: January 2007

  • Branson

    Another great day yesterday in Branson.  I’m learning about more tools to help children.  Yesterday I went to a class on technology.  (Hi Mark) Mark is the district leader and taught the class.  Pod Casting, E-News, Web sites and assorted other things related to technology.  -Great stuff.  Mark treated us to Japanese last night.  Oh that was so good.  I’m a fan of seafood and it was happening there.  The sushi was soo good.  Squid, octopus, salmon eggs.  - wonderful.

    I loved all the answers to yesterdays question.  Here is another question along the same lines: How much does “feelings” play into your decision making?

    I miss my family.  I called home last night and my wife told me that Kalli (my 2 year old) got up early in the morning and was looking for me.  Crying, “I want Daddy.”  – My heart, my breaking heart. 

  • Paradigms

    My Paradoxical Paradigms:
    I tend to have a serious personality.  So, it’s good for me to “let loose” and set all seriousness aside. – At least that’s my intention.  We laughted so hard last night my stomach was hurting.  It was all stupid stuff that had absolutely no substance.  At the same time, a heaviness is on me for the children of this generation.  With that said I’ve been able to get a little more understanding of how to connect with today’s kids. 
    What are the opposites that come out in your personality?

    Today’s Paradigm – Kids are growing up in a Post Modern world, basically the belief that there is no absolute truth.  Belief that no One created a set of rules for us to live by.  If enough people believe it, then it must be true, in essence – Political Correctness. 
    Absolute Truth – there is a preset set of rules for all human beings.
    Political Correctness – truth is conditional on what your belief system is. – Man sets the rules.
    Do you believe in absolute truth or political correctness? 

    Today's Cartoon 

  • Branson

    The day went great.  I have a lot of new ideas from the training I’m at.  I met a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in a long time.  We caught up on old times.   

    The answer to the riddle is Wisdom. 

  • Branson

    We made it to Branson.  We got lost in Kansas City.  We were talking and Harry took a wrong turn.  The guys in the other car gave us directions via cell phone.  We stopped at Lambers in Springfield for supper.  That was great.  It’s the “roll throwing place.”  Hold your hand up & they’ll throw a dinner roll at you.  When you 1st sit down they start bringing you food.  -Fried okra, macaroni, blackeyed peas, etc.  We made it to Westgate Resorts about 9:00 pm last night.

    Gambol
    To leap and spring about joyfully, to frisk and frolic about without a care.
    It’s the way I feel right now.

    Solve This Paradox Riddle:  What openly speaks at the “top of Heights” and yet must be sought out as hidden treasure in order to obtain? 

  • I’ll be in Branson, Missiouri this week. -for training.  I don’t know how much web time I’ll have, so have a great week. 

  • Phone Call’s Destiny

    THE PHONE CALL                                                    -
    Rubbing my eyes and pulling myself from the bed , I blindly made my way to the phone. Looking at the clock and seeing it was 1230 a.m. I wondered who would be calling this late. The first sounds was a familiar distant sobbing, then silence. My heart began to go into alarm as the dreaded middle of the night phone call began to materialize in my imagination then into reality. I sat in silence as the caller began her story. “Dad – I’m hurting and so lonely. You haven’t spent time with me and you don’t care about me. You gave me things and but I didn’t want things – I wanted you.” As I listened I began to pick up on the past tense of this conversation and wondered why. As I wondered my thoughts became clear as the hopelessness verbalized. “Dad, I’m going to end my life tonight and I just wanted to tell you why.” Before I could say a word the phone went dead. I frantically looked at the caller ID and re dialed the number. One ring, two rings, three rings. Oh God please help. four rings. I was so helpless. My heart pounded in heaviness. five rings Answer. “Hello, Hello”, I said. The caller was silent but on the phone. “Honey” was all I could say when she burst into crying. Minutes pasted in the darkness of the night. I felt any words from me would end this phone call permanently, so I waited. What seemed like an eternity was interrupted by her words of such sadness. She began to tell me of the lonely nights that she cried herself to sleep, the countless conversations she wanted to have with me but couldn’t because of her fears of rejection. I listened as she recounted the many different stories from her heavy heart. The darkness gave way to the light as the morning greeted us through the windows. Hope seemed to return to her voice and by the time she said her final good byes I knew she would be OK all because I listened. I then walked into my daughters room and thanked God that they were all OK and that this phone call was a wrong number. by Randy
    DESTINY
    The chill morning air brushed across my face. I woke with fear in my heart. Something was wrong, dead wrong. The feeling was so overwhelming that I almost couldn’t get out of bed. I walked downstairs only to find people weeping hysterically in my living room. I ran to my Mom and put my arms around her asking what was wrong but she didn’t move – it was like I was not even there. Then, I went over to my best friend, Amy, and tried talking to her but all she did was mumble something over and over again. I couldn’t understand what she was saying. Then I heard my name, “Jennifer” the voice continued ” Why did you do this? We all loved you.” “Oh, Jenny, how am I going to make it through High School without my best friend?” she said between sobs. My whole family was in the living room crying over me. They actually loved me. In one single moment I had been selfish and torn a piece of their heart out. In one single moment I had taken my life. Who would of known they cared? I fell to the ground and cried out to God and said, “Please forgive me. I was alone. I was hurt. Please let me have another chance.” Then I woke up. My pillow stained with tears. I thanked God for letting me live one more day. by Kristina Tramp

    These stories are fictional. Each story was written separately on the same day. I and my daughter Kristina did not know we were writing stories with the same message until we read each others story together. We need to listen to the silent cries that are all around us before it’s too late and they pass into the night without his light.

    I’ll be in Branson, Missiouri this week. -for training.  I don’t know how much web time I’ll have, so have a great week. 

  • Funny Pet Stories                                                                                    –

    Friends of ours came over last night and we began to swap funny pet stories. Here are a few of mine:
    We use to have a dog named “Eddie” and a Cockateel.  I didn’t like either because both refused to listen to me & I really believed the Cockateel really hated me.  lol  I was getting home one night about 9:00 pm and found that Eddie got out.  Well I tried and tried to catch that dog but he thought it was all a game.  He’d run back and forth and allow me to come within inches of him and the run again.  Well after I was exhausted and mad, I finally caught him.  I grabbed him by the excess skin behind his ears and carried him into the house.  Now he was yelping like he was being killed.  Well the bird picked up on that yelp and parroted it perfectly.  Every time that bird saw me, he would yelp like that dog.

    What are some of  your funny pet stories?

    I love going around the world xanga style.  I’m curious as to where everyone lives.  Don’t give your longitude or latitude so your exact position is revealed to Jack Bauer’s but your state or country would be appreciated.   

    Here is some of the history of Yankton, South Dakota – my home town.
    According to legend, Lewis and Clark made a token gesture of peace by wrapping a newborn Indian baby in an American flag. That baby grew up to become the Sioux chief Struck-By-The-Ree, who was one of the moving forces behind the Treaty of 1858 which opened up much of what would become Dakota Territory for settlement.
    The treaty set the stage for the founding of Yankton. The first settlements were built along a stream then known as Rhine Creek (it was changed to Marne Creek during World War I, honoring America’s French ally and snubbing the Germanic heritage of the original moniker). The early settlement was often referred to as Old Strike’s Camp of Charlie’s Town, so named after early settler Charles Picotte.

    The city was a thriving river town in its early days and was designated as the first capital of Dakota Territory.

    Yankton faced its first real frontier threat with the so-called Scare of 1862. When the Santee Sioux of Minnesota instigated an uprising against the surge of white settlers, and the hostility sent shockwaves into neighboring Dakota. Although no war ever developed in the Yankton area, some violence was reported east of the village near Mission Hill. The Yankton stockade was built to house all area white settlers. Fortunately, it was never needed and the stockade was dismantled.

    America’s will to move west made Yankton an important crossroads. In 1873, Lt. Col. George Custer brought his Seventh Calvary to Yankton on its way west to the Black Hills — a mysterious and alluring bank of mountains where the discovery of gold would soon change the territory forever. Custer, his wife Libbie and his soldiers were in Yankton for three weeks in the spring of 1873, enjoying the booming city’s hospitality and surviving a ferocious April blizzard. Also, Custer battled pneumonia at this time and was gravely ill at one point. Although Custer’s stay in Yankton was brief, his impact on its history still remains.


    Struck by the Ree

    Two Lances & Charles Picotte (We have a street named Picotte)

  • Funny Kid’s Stories

    When my Danielle was young she knew if she could get us to laugh, she’d be out of trouble.  Well one day we were headed home in our van.  Danielle was acting up in the back.  My wife turned around and told her, “Danielle if you don’t stop, I’m going to paddle your but.”  To which Danielle responded, “That would be an owie and then you’d have to kiss it.”  We laughed so hard and Danielle was off the hook …. again. 

    My older daughters like to go with my wife to the grocery store.  They were in the parking lot, putting groceries in the back of the van.  The girls saw a couple guys walking, to which they started whistling at them.  By the time the boys turned and look, the girls ducked down behind the van.  My wife was the only one standing there.  The guys gave her the strangest look and walked into the store.  – My wife could of killed them. 

    What are your favorite kid’s stories? 

    My son Austin had a basketball after school.  The score was 24-24.  He made 4 points and was so happy about that.  – 6th Grade.

    Gone for the night – Have to get my dosage of Jay Leno. 

  • Superfluity

    Rare shark captured on film

    Rare shark captured on film
    A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is about 2,000 feet under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.
    Doesn’t this look like a Sea Monster?

    This creature looks like he has attitude. 
    Where does attitude come from?  The greek word  for “filthiness” is raparian.  It portrays a man whose body and clothes are so encrusted with filth that he emits a disgusting ordor to everyone nearby. When we consume filth it shows up in our attitude. 
    A few years ago I worked at a Federal Prison.  One of the inmates was nicknamed “Doomsbury”.  He never showered or took care of himself and he was on suicide watch.  One day I took this guy aside and began to talk to him.  I asked him to just try this:  “The next time a suicide thought comes, speak the name of Jesus.”  Well he did and was shocked at the power that struck him.  He showered, changed clothes and came back and told me of his experience.  Not only was he changed on the outside but he was changed on the inside.  Many other inmates wanted to know what I told him. 

    The adventures of our two year old:  While I was on xanga Kalli brought me my Reeses.  I brought a piece off and gave it to her.  Well she must of really liked it because she took the rest of it and hid under the table and ate every bit of it. 

    I send birthday cards out to every child that comes to Kid’s Church. 
    Here is one that John sent back to me. If you wanted to know what I look like – John drew me.  lol 

    HPIM0359 Today's Cartoon

  • Follow the Leader

    I love your comments – thanks

    Greek word for ”to lead” is ago; ago comes from the root word agonAgon is where we get our word agony. 
    In the Greek agon describes intense conflict. 
    Although we are made to follow; the human spirit by nature hates to submit to authority.  (Try to get a 2 year old to follow directions.)

    Who do you follow?  Are you a follower or a leader? 
    If you are interested:  I go into greater detail on my Heir Force site.

    Today's Cartoon

    Word of the day: dilli or dilly (DIL-ee) noun
    Someone or something that is remarkable or unusual 
    Here is my list of unusual or dillies.
    Jashobeam the Hacmonite, – 1st of the three greatest warriors among David’s men.
    Eleazar son of Dodai - 2nd of the three greatest warriors among David’s men.
    Shammah son of Agee from Harar 3rd…  Shammah held his ground in the middle of the battle …
    Strike the Ree – (This is history of Yankton, South Dakota - My home.)  Strike the Ree was the Yankton Tribe Indian Leader.  When the white people started to come he decided to take his tribe and move further down river. 
    Strike was quoted saying, “They’re coming like maggots, lets get out of here.”   

    Who are some remarkable or unusual people in your life? 

    How many of me?     There are 390 Tramp’s  -yes, my last name is Tramp.