Motivational Quote

Poland Missions Trip Update - Allyson give a tour

Allyson is in Poland right now with our senior high missions team. Today's vid features Allyson giving us a guided tour of the facility. Great job Ally!

Mackenzie's new orange room

Welp, since Morgan moved out Mackenzie now has her own bedroom. It was an exciting day as she reorganized her room HER way. She also received the her new bedding that has been waiting for this day. Click on the pic for a slide show.

Congrats Mackenzie on finally having your own room! Dad out.

Painting Pink for Morgan

Last week I painted Andrew's old room prior to moving Morgan into her new room. Click on the pic to see a slide show. Pink was the selected color. I got off to a rough start but eventually got into my painting groove all the while enjoying some great jazz music - that's how I paint.

Saturday morning Morgan moved out of her shared bedroom with Mackenzie and became the proud owner of her own bedroom. Congrats Morgan! Dad out.

iPopcorn

Yet one more reason I wish I could have an iPhone:

Got iMilk

Here is one of the many reasons I wish I had an iPhone:

Poland Trip Update

If a picture is worth a thousand words.... Allyson is the one playing the keyboard. Check out two other vids here: Arriving in Czchow, sleeping rooms.

Allyson is in Poland with our missions team

Allyson left this past Friday with a team of students from New Covenant Bible Church to go to Poland to teach hold an English camp for Polish students. This is her first time to be on foreign soil apart from going to Mexico last year with the team.

Our youth pastor Mark Forstrom is leading the trip and is going to be doing video updates which is way cool! I love it that we are using technology to connect people and to help folks stay informed.

Here is one of the videos and links to the others! Supper in Czchow (pronounced Choove), Dinner in Krakow, Poland.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

This past Sunday was "Sanctity of Human Life" Sunday. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is held on the closest Sunday to the anniversary of the Jan. 22, 1973 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to legalize abortion in the Roe v. Wade case.

Our Senior Pastor, Bob Westfall, gave one of the best talks I have ever heard on the subject. Click here to listen online. He spoke on the biblical and medical reasons for being pro-life as well as offering alternatives to abortion for women who are dealing with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. Bob referenced a Abortion Facts dot com that has a lot of good information.

You see, as followers of Christ we believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the taking of human life, which begins at conception, is wrong. But we also want to love those who have had an abortion and give them a safe place to find the healing they need.

There are two victims in an abortion: the baby and the mother. As believers we must demonstrate the love of Christ by providing non-judgmental love and care for women who have had an abortion.

If you are contemplating an abortion I encourage you to contact a Crisis Pregnancy center to discuss potential alternatives to having an abortion. Tye out.

Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb. I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. Psalm 139:13-16 NET Bible

Update on the basement project: We moved Andrew in yesterday!!!

Back in October 2006 we started remodeling the basement to add an extra bedroom and bath to our then new home and yesterday Andrew moved into his new domain! It was a great day as we put finishing touches on everything and moved his furniture.

I have put together slide shows of each area so you can see what the process looked like. Here they are:

Friends who helped (not everyone is pictured)
Stairs
Hall
Bathroom
Bedroom
Family/Rec Room (I'll have more pics when this area is cleaned up)

It sure feels good to be able to take a breather for a bit. I am planning to watch the football games today - guilt free!

A special thanks goes to everyone who helped us with this huge project. I don't have any pictures of several people. Roger Ouverson who helped me with the framing. Tom Jedlicka helped with the electrical work and some of the mechanical as well. DJ Wacker did all the plumbing and also cut the heat vents in to the plenum. Rob Borkgren consulted on some of the framing issues. Jerry Jordan installed the carpet.

I want to give a shout out to Larry Smith. He spent countless hours helping me and without him I doubt I would have ever been able to finish it. Thank you so much Larry! Tye out.

Where in the world is Tye?

One whole week and no posts from yours truly! Wow, I have been so busy that I have not had time to do one of the things I love the most - blogging. I'm going to try to catch you up in several posts.

This was a huge week. Last weekend I spent a lot of time in the basement getting ready for the carpet to go down on Monday morning.

Sunday morning I was the campus pastor at the launch of our second location here in Cedar Rapids meeting at Washington High School. We had an awesome morning and I really felt like I was in my element. Sunday nights I am leading one of our ABFs through a restructuring and that is taking some time. We are also launching small groups again and it has been interesting trying to do this at two campuses. It is also a little tricky since I am helping an ABF and serving as campus pastor every other week at Wash.

It has also been budget time so I have had some time put in trying to get ready for that.

So, as you can tell it has been an extremely busy time right now. Tye out.

Yogi Berra quote of the week

"No, but I saw him." (Yogi when asked if he had had an audience with the Pope.)

Beatboxing how to's

You too can beatbox. I know that after the last two posts you're dying to try it, so click here to get started. Let me know when you have posted on YouTube. There's even a website or two committed to this art form.

Tell me what you think readers! I'd love some feedback on this one! Tye out.

French beatboxer - incredible!

Now that I know what beatboxing is I am totally amazed at what I have found out there. Check out this incredible beatboxer from France.

Wish I could play flute like this!

Well, now you know what I spent my free time on today. In all honesty I have to confess that I didn't know what beatboxing was. I had assumed it had something to do with fighting. I was wrong.

I enjoy playing flute - a little. But check out this guy. Beatboxing and fluting at the same time. This is hard. I've tried it. Tye out.

Techno Talent

Alright, maybe the last blog post made you shed a tear, this one might make you laugh a bit. This young man was featured today on Yahoo! News - where I get most of my news. Anyhow, enjoy. Tye out.

Pure talent

I got off early today from Panera and so I decided to indulge myself with some time on the internet. I had just finished watching the Paul Potts video from Britain's Got Talent when I saw this little girl who was a finalist on the first season with Paul. Watch this and I'll be right back.



Why do I break down and cry when I see this? There is something about pure talent that hasn't been polluted with bad attitude. Little Connie Talbot just does what she does...and quite well I might add.

You know, something within us cries out for purity, raw talent, and such innocence. This is who Jesus is. Jesus came as a perfect man, lived an innocent, humble, servant life, and died on the cross for me and you. whoah. Tye out.

P.S. I feel like crying when I think of Britney Spears, but for a way different reason.

Yogi Berra quote of the week

Here's a lengthy quote from a speech Yogi gave in 1996:

"I am ... happy to speak my words at the university graduation. A lot of people have been quoting me ever since I came to play for the Yankees in 1946. But, as I once said, I really didn't say everything I said. So now it's my turn. I want to give some of my famous advice to the graduates. First, never give up, because it ain't over 'til it's over. Second, during the years ahead, when you come to the fork in the road, take it. Third, don't always follow the crowd, because nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded. Fourth, stay alert. You can observe a lot by watching. Fifth, and last, remember that whatever you do in life, 90 percent of it is half mental. In closing, I want to quote myself again: Thank you, Montclair State University, for making this day necessary." (Excerpts from Yogi Berra's commencement speech as delivered to the Class of 1996, Montclair State University.)

(Note: I get all my Yogi quotes from a website. Click here to see it.) Tye out.

Unsolicited advice about the Britney Spears debacle

Britney as a young mousekateer.
A happier day I'm sure!

A while ago I posted a piece about how I am tired of hearing about Britney Spears. This young lady has lead a sad, disappointing, and even pathetic life for the past few years. And we get to hear about it every step of the way. Click here to read the most recent debacle.

This 20 something year old is living in a 4.5 million dollar house and seemingly cannot control one aspect of her personal life. What a tragedy. So much talent, wasted.

I would like to recommend that EVERYONE (and I mean everyone) totally ignore Brit. The paparazzi should ignore her. The news people should ignore her. No Google searches...nothing. Leave her alone!!!

Just maybe she has a couple of friends who could speak some truth into her life and maybe she might get her life back on the right track.

But you know what, this will prob never happen because the almighty dollar will keep the camera's rolling and the pictures snapping.

Why is it a news flash that.... I'm going to quit while I am ahead. I think I'll say a prayer for her, her kids, and her ex-husband. Tye out.

Yogi Berra quote of the week

"I'm not in shape yet." (Yogi's reply when, as a young player, he was asked what size hat he wore.)

America has an unbelievably biased media

Iowa caucus results are in: Huckabee and Obama are the clear winners.

So, who is CBS trying to put on the news? HILLARY! This is pathetic.

Two winners: Huckabee and Obama.

So the media outlet says, "Hey!!! Let's interview Hillary and get her on the screen." And that is exactly what they did.

The media is SO biased. They just love Hillary and the democrats and it is so obvious.

When they speak about the republicans it is with a lower tone of voice, emphasizing the negative aspects: "preacher turned politician" when referring to Huckabee. The Clinton's go to church on a regular basis. Why not mention that?

What is the moral of this story? Don't listen to the liberal media. Use your brain and think for yourself. Check out their stories and their track records. Then, make an educated choice. Tye out.

Iowa Caucuses

(Warning: This is a political blog post. If you will be irked by this, stop reading now. Consider yourself warned.)

I have heard about the caucuses since probably government class in middle school but now that we live in Iowa that's about all you hear this time of the year! Caucus for Hillary, Caucus for Obama, Caucus for Mitt Romney. It gets old after a while.

It is during the caucuses that the next presidential nominee will be selected for both parties.

I had every intention of going tonight, but I have brass line rehearsal at the church. hmmm.

OK, you're probably wondering who I would "caucus for," aren't you. If I could go tonight I would be caucusing for Mike Huckabee. I believe he has character, integrity, and a plan to help keep America free. I also like his idea of getting rid of the IRS. (there is no need for a link to the IRS - they will come looking for you!) I'm not sure how you do that, but I would be ALL FOR IT!

BTW, be careful about voting for people who are offering "hope" and "helping a fractured nation." No human can do that. Also, be careful about voting for the person who is offering everyone free stuff and at the same time "pulling for the middle, working class." They are wrong. You and I (the middle class) will have to pay for all their free stuff in higher taxes.

I'm caucusing for Mike Huckabee...if I could go tonight. Tye out.

Read through the Bible in 2008

Well, I have never ever read through the Bible three times in a year, but I did this year. Actually, it was a little over 13 months. I finished The NET Bible (New English Translation) yesterday and started reading The Message this morning. I hope to finish it in around 4-5 months and then I'll probably read the NET Bible again but at a slower pace.

I use www.biblereadthrough.com to keep track of how I am doing. It allows you to customize a reading plan and even select a choice of Bible to link to when you are reading. I do not particularly care to read the Bible on my computer screen so I only use the website for tracking purposes.

There are many other sites out there. Just Google "bible read through."

The most important thing is that you develop the habit of reading God's word on a daily basis. "A verse a day beats a blank!"

Let me know how it goes. Tye out.

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what. Hebrews 4:12-13 The Message

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all my faithful blog readers! Last night I rang in the new year at a dinner/dance our band played at last night in West Branch, Iowa. There was a good crowd and the dancers looked like they were enjoying themselves as they tangoed, waltzed, and cha-cha'd. The band played well, but after four hours we were ready to quit.

I have a full day in the basement planned working on getting everything finished up. Have a great day and a very Happy New Year!!! Tye out.