Exponential Conference: Day 2

After a long day of waiting for the conference, it finally started and it started with a BANG.  Their first speaker was Mark Batterson, author (but more importantly) church planter. Batterson’s church is in Washington DC and actually exploded when the coffee shop that they start was featured in the Washington Post. It was great to see a man whose church had such humble beginnings now share the untethered success they are now seeing.  He presented in a humble fashion and I really related to him.

My favorite seminar had to be with Will Mancini. Mancini is an author and church management specialist (my title, not his). He is known for his works, The Five Dysfunctions of Team, and Church Unique. It was great to be taught the basic functions of vision.

The best part of the day was arguing with Jeff Dodge, Troy Nesbitt, and Mark Arant; three really great debaters.

Softball Widow

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Originally uploaded by WDM Barkers

So, if you don’t know my gal, Karla, she is a tough German woman who is rugged and sassy. She also is a huge softball player. She played in high school, and on various church and company teams. This season she is playing first base for Westwind’s team.

I do not play softball, however. It is not that I can’t. In fact, I love playing softball. It is that I can’t keep my mouth shut to the umpire. And, since Westwind is still trying to get off the ground, I feel it really matters if the pastor of the new church in town is bumping bellies with the umpire in the co-ed rec league. So, I sit in the stands, and speak out my dissatisfaction to the bad calls from there.

As I sit in the bleachers I am always joined by young wives or girlfriends of members of both teams. Other husbands/boyfriends seem to either 1) be on the team or 2) have something better to do. So, I am the only male in the stands. This can be awkward as conversions turn toward sales at Kohls or when a new mom decides that they should start nursing their kid between innings. For the most part I keep my eyes and mind forward to the game, cheering on my gal, or chastising the ump.

There is a sense of sacrificed masculinity as I think about what I do on those Tuesday nights. What would Marlboro Man or Don Draper think about my role as a softball widow? I even bring the drink cooler for after the game like some supportive mom. Is there a payoff to such behavior? Oh, the things a man will do to see his wife in tight baseball pants.

Hills to Die On

Cross at Wounded Knee

Originally uploaded by WDM Barkers

This summer I went to Wounded Knee in SD as part of a prayer trip for our Rosebud missions trip. It was powerful because it was so understated. Since the reservation itself must budget the site, it doesn’t have much to offer. But that said a lot me .

I have been thinking about this place because I have been thinking about hills you die on and hills you don’t. The people of Wounded Knee did not expect to die that day. They were slaughtered. Yet, their sacrifice sent a message to the world on human rights, and this spot is considered sacred to American Indians everywhere.

There are hills that are worth dying on, and others that aren’t. There are issues in our lives that we make important that are actually silly. Meanwhile there are issues that are killing us that are unsuspecting. Important issues. What issues do you think are worth dying for?

Spidey Senses

Spidey Senses

Originally uploaded by WDM Barkers

So, Seth turns 7 today. Hard to believe. He has been the source of joy and strife over the last seven years. I don’t know any little person with as much potential as Seth. He can do so much, more than even he knows. His latest endeavor is to try to complete Zelda on the Wii without really knowing how to read. He is in the second realm which seems impossible. He is on his third bike (which he got for his birthday this year) since he learned to ride without training wheels before his fourth birthday THREE YEARS AGO! Yikes.

I was thinking recently what it would be like to be the father of a super villain. I know everyone wants their sons to be super heroes, but what about the dads of Magneto, and Dr. Octopus? Deep down, I think those dads are still proud. “Hey, did you here about that big bank robbery in Metropolis,” they might say, “Yeah, it was my son. He’s the Riddler.” I think they are still proud. I know I am more proud today of my son than I have ever been. I hope that never fades. Happy Birthday Seth.

No. 15

The Number 15 is a pretty significant number in my life:

1. It is the age I was when I first learned to drive. I got my permit and my dad would take me to the cemetery to drive around. He said, “Well, if we crash, they won’t have far to take me.”
2. It is the date of our anniversary in May. We got married in a beautiful Lutheran church in MN. We had all our friends and family there. For supper we ate at Wendy’s.
3. It is the number of years we have been married. Karla and I have been together a long time.
4. It is the age I was when the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl. I realized then that I didn’t have to be a loser. I also learned all the words to the Super Bowl Shuffle.
5. It is the number of questions I usually got right on the algebra pop quizzes (out of 30).
6. Lastly, it the day that I skipped on this month’s BLOGOFF. This is my attempt to make up for it.

The Great Blogoff

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Here are a list of the current bloggers involved in BLOGOFF.

1. Jake Bouma
2. Ryan Tow
3. Brandon Barker
4. Shane Vander Hart
5. Megan Rapp
6. Erik U.

If You Mean Time Traveling Bunnies, Then Yes

Last night was the season finale of LOST, by far one of my favorite shows. I cannot believe how the writers of that show continue to keep viewers on the edge of their seat. I was literally take back by some of the twists and turns. Not only that, but they also managed to sew together 6 years worth of mystery and still bring up new things to wonder about. So, without belaboring any more, here are a few of my thoughts on last night’s LOST episode.

1. Why couldn’t the bomb be frozen and then thrown overboard? Did I miss something? I felt like they could have thrown the whole thing out the window.
2. #15: That will be the new Killer Bunnies card I make in which it represents the Darma Initiative bunny from the Orchid station that travels forward in time.
3. The Whisper: You know that whatever Sawyer whispered to Kate is going to be a story line thread through the whole next season. I feel like he said, “I miss the bear cages with you…”
4. Poor Ben: Even though I thought the winter hideaway turnabout what a little weird, I felt like Ben sincerely looked like he was making a decision to never return to a place where he had spent his whole life.
5. Gilligan’s Island. What an interesting paradox that Gilligan and the gang wanted to get off the Island and never could, and the Lost gang don’t what to leave the island but they do.
6. Back in Business: When Sawyer came out of the water with his shirt off, I knew that our beloved playboy was back in business. And did you see the look that Juliet flashed him? Oh yeah!
7. My Son! I believe this is the first episode ever that had Michael in it where he didn’t use the phrase “my son!”
8. Hurley: The dude is looking worse and worse.
9. Find a Penny, Pick it Up: When Penny and Desmond saw each other it looked more like we went out for a drink than he has been gone for years.
10. Locked Out: How did LOST turn into Weekend at Bernies.?

It is going to be a great next season!

How Presumptuous!

Who would think that a person should have their own website?  I am not Brad Pitt, PeeWee Herman, or Lou Dobbs.  I am just a simple person who has a great name.  So, I did it.  Right or wrong, I went and bought my website.  And what is great about blogs is that you can let me know what you think of it.  

This site will have all kinds of things that you can write about.  Mostly, I will be harping about stuff, letting you know what awesome people I know, and sharing an idea or two.  Nothing too dynamic.  Google is not going to be paying me for the advertising opportunity.  I just thought this would be fun, and I feel that there will be a lot to write about as I take on a new adventure.