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Archive for Blog World
December 21, 2008 at 9:42 pm · Filed under Adventures, Blog World, Family, Life, Technology
As I have mentioned before, (like here and here), I was blogging before there were blogs. Before Blogger or Type Pad or WordPress, I journaled events online to share with the other few hundred people online who knew what the Internet was. Sadly, many of those posts are long gone (with their respective hosting companies) but a few poss I had saved to floppies, which is how I restored the ones linked in the posts above. (Others I will save until an appropriate reminder.)
ANYWAY - the point of this post is less about blogging, and more about my dad and how proud I am of an accomplishment he just made this month: his first solo flight on his life long quest to become a pilot. He just sent the family the poem below to try and answer the oft asked question, “WHY FLY?” I love the poem and am proud of my dad, but I teased him that he left out the time he took me up for a flight, and he replied that he doesn’t remember it, and to send some “proof.” Which is why I mention the ancient blogging, as I blogged the adventure was back in the early ninties, pre-Y2K!
The orginal post is here: AIR DAD, but I include a few pictures here for those too lazy to open yet another window. Just ignore the contact info on that page, as it’s a tad bit outdated!
But first, the poem:
WHY DO I FLY?
By Doug Bastian
12/20/08
It’s a question you’ll ask me,
I have asked myself, too.
A clear day pulls my gaze up
And my day-dreams turn blue.
Back in grade school I wandered,
Since my bike set me free,
To the airfield on Broadway
Lots of airplanes to see.
Walked around them, peeked inside,
Wondered how each one flew;
Found some books to explain it,
“I can do this!” I knew.
Years of dreaming passed by me,
Just a ride here and there
With a pilot acquaintance
Lifting me in the air.
The first ride was with Welman
Over Lansing near by.
Then, a cross-country junket,
Mountains, desert, and sky.
Moody Church had some workers
Flying missions and such;
Stayed with David in Haiti,
Flew the island so much.
David once was on furlough
And he offered a trip
Out of Midway…took Jordan,
Overflew school he skipped.
Came the time I was lonely
And my kids took a cue,
Bought me one airplane lesson;
I was hooked for a few.
I became the Red Baron
In son Karl’s view;
We flew South Chicago,
Then he blog’d me so cool.
Later, Jeff was my blessing,
A full CFI, too.
This bush pilot could teach me,
So, real lessons I flew.
Now my logbook had hours,
But, the time was not right.
Many years would flee past me
Without one single flight.
Finally had to decide it…
“To give up, or give in?”
Dash the dream, impossible!
I would try, lose or win.
Now I’ve crossed the first threshold,
I have soloed my plane.
I can do it…I know it.
Life will not be the same.
Have I answered the question
That of, “Why do I fly?”
I can’t think of an answer.
Got to run…”Coming, Sky!”
My dad promised to add a stanza about our trip if I can send some proof of the flight, so this post is my proof along with the pictures from when I had to explain to everyone who saw it, what a “digital camera” was! (’You mean there is NO FILM?!?!) I love being on the edge of technology!
Here’s your proof, Dad. (entire original post here)
Is that proof enough that your eldest son once flew with you? I love you, Dad, and I’m proud of you!
UPDATE: Even though I was only teasing, my dad added the verse in bold above, and also sent along this picture of him as a little boy just beginning his dreams of flying, a picture I’d never seen before!
The Little Red Baron!
October 10, 2008 at 6:24 am · Filed under Blog World, Computers, FREE Stuff, Internet, Technology
Why do I Twitter? I get asked that a lot. And I seem to stumble around for an answer because there isn’t just one simple answer, so I usually just say “to keep connected with remote friends.” Which is a big part of the reason, but I thought I’d try to expound a little on why it is I have posted over 1000 “tweets” to my Twitter page. Someone recently asked me what the ministry benefits were. I’d probably have to honestly say none, or not much. It’s not about ministry. It’s more about interpersonal relationships.
Here I will try to explain what Twitter is, how you Twitter and lastly WHY Twitter.
WHAT IS TWITTER?
It would help first of all, to try and explain what Twitter is. First of all, it is found here: www.twitter.com. And if you know a Twitter-er’s username, you can simple put it after the domain, such as mine is: www.twitter.com/kidologist. Users can customize their page with a background as well as the color scheme of the page. And their Twitter profile icon of course.
But what IS Twitter? It is a micro-blog whose posts are made up not only of your own, but of those you are “following.” It is similar to a blog except that your posts are limited to 140 characters or less. So you can’t get too wordy. And like a blog, your most recent post is at the top of the page. But what makes it unique is that the post of anyone you choose to follow also appear on your Twitter page. So your Twitter page becomes not only a mini-blog of what you are doing, but a news feed on what your friends (or whoever you are following, they don’t have to be friends, as I’ll get into below) are doing or thinking or posting.
As you can see in the image above, as of this morning, I am following 65 people. 109 are following me and I’ve posted 1208 “Tweets” so far. That means that whenever any of those 65 people post, it appears in my Twitter and anything I post, 109 people are blessed or bothered with what I posted. And I’ve sent 1208 such messages to whoever was following me at the time!
HOW DO YOU READ & POST TO TWITTER?
The key to the success of Twitter’s growth, is that there are MANY ways to post and read the posts that appear on your page. You can simply use the webpage interface, but that is the least used method for me. I have a desktop application called Twifferrific. It can be on top of all windows, minimized, and set to check at intervals I choose and actually “tweet” like a bird when someone posts. A screen shot of it is to the right.
You can also post via text message to your phone.
You can also have your facebook status post to your Twitter. (I do that in reverse, anything I post to Twitter becomes my Facebook Status.)
But I do most of my Twittering directly from my iPhone using a variety of applications, each has its advantages.
If you are an iPhone user try Twinkle, it allows you to also see people who are nearby and Twittering. I tend to use Twittelator the most and love how you can include pictures taken on your iPhone so I paid $4.99 for Twittelator Pro which bosted of extra features and the ability to have multiple accounts, and it flat out doesn’t work and I can’t get my $5 back. Every time I open it is says “Server load error, unable to load Tweets, try again later.” And its been over a month. OK, rant over. Don’t waste your $5 like I did.
With the iPhone application, (showing Twittelator here) you have many more options than the website, or at least, easier and faster to access such as:
But my favorite thing about Twittelor (and Twinkle can do it too, but crashes often) is attach pictures from my iPhone picture library OR simply take and attach a picture:
Then you simply type your message and post!
(note: iPhone changes your spelling a lot,
like: Twitteding, I didn’t type that!)
To most users, the image will look like a link from Twicpic.com and they can click on it to go view it. When Twittelator Pro works, it actually displays the picture IN the Tweet, which was why I wanted the $5 version, to just show the picture and skip the clicking and waiting to view just to see a picture wasn’t worth the wait to see. (see link at the beginning of my first post)
You can see the picture of my laptop I just Twittered here. Curious if these pictures will remain hosted “forever” or if there is a time limit, no one seems to know.
BUT WHY TWITTER?
That, indeed, is the question. Yes, Twittering takes time to post and to read, and can become a bit of an addiction. So what is the value in it? Why bother? Why should YOU Twitter? Here are some of my reasons.
- It’s fun. Hey, it’s O.K. to have fun, not everything has to have a profound ministry purpose!
- It fills idle time. When you are stuck somewhere bored, communicating with friends is just a text message or iPhone away.
- It’s fast. Calling a friend takes time. It’s important, but a Tweet to a friend is a fast easy way to let them know you are thinking about them, praying for them, that they matter to you.
- Keep up with friends. I have a bunch of friends around the country that without Twitter I’d only see or talk to once or twice a year, perhaps at a conference. But because Tom Bump, Todd McKeever, Larry Shallenberger, Henry Zonio, Dave Truit and others Twitter, I get to be a small part of their daily life and know what they are dong. If I only see them once a year the conversation goes, “How’s it been?” They answer, “Great!” But with Twitter I know about the ins and outs of their daily lives and can ask more specific questions about the kids, the job, or whatever.
- Monitor your staff. Know what your employees are really doing during the work day. Ha! Just put that in as a joke to see if my staff read this. They all have flexible hours and most are part time, so I’m just razzin’ them!
- Get to know new friends. When I make new friends at a conference or somewhere, like Ken Wheeler, Twitter is a way that we can get to know each other and keep in touch. Otherwise, those infant friendships might not get the chance to grow.
- Keep a pulse on the world, politics and even people unlike you. By following people unlike me, I get glimpses into how other people see the world. I’ve had some people comment that not all my followers (which I can’t control) or those I follow are Christians. Yes, I’ve even seen bad words appear in my Twitter! (oh, no!) If someone gets too offensive, you can block them. (It’s a little tedious as there is no system to how your followers are listed, that I can tell.) But I don’t just follow people who I agree with or who see the world like me. I want to be IN the world (not OF it!) and following people unlike me when it comes to religion or politics is good exposure. I’m trying to reach these people, and it starts with listening.
- Argue Politics. As a passionate American, I am very engaged politically. Sometimes that annoys people - which baffles me - as to be a true American you ought to care and be engaged in politics. Not that our hope is in politics, but they do matter and impact our lives, freedom and economy. You can follow streams of political posts here: http://election.twitter.com and I’ve picked up some people I follow there. Warning, most Twitters are pro-Obama and the venom and nastiness can be shocking if you aren’t used to it. Sad but true. Go be a light. (regardless of your political leanings)
Save links and quotes. I use Twitter as a way to save links and quotes I like. Sometimes I come across something cool or funny or helpful or insighful on the Internet and I just Twitter it and then mark it as a favorite. Going back through your favorites later can be like an electronic scrap book- Follow / Broadcast Live Events. When friends get to be places you can’t be, they can Twitter and let you experience a taste of it, like a friend recently did at a McCain Palin rally and like I will at the Chicago Marathon this Sunday or at various CM conferences. When my wife went on a trip across the country with her parents, she Twittered their progress and pictures for me and the little back home. We got to feel a little less lonely and could picture where she was along the trip. It was great to get those glimpses into her days while she was away from us.
- Entertain and brighten people’s day. If you are like me, you enjoy telling jokes or looking at life through a humorous lense. Twitter allows you to share those funny moments. Normally, it would be pretty lame when you see someone to say, “last week the toilet bowl handle broke and I had to reach in the water to flush.” But as a live Twitter its funny, as every one can picture you doing this, as it JUST happened. Or like one I saw this morning, “Unless someone actually invented a real flux capacitor, I’m pretty sure I need a new watch battery.”
- Communicate with friends. Twitter also allows back and forth communication, either publicly or privately. If you start a post with @kidologist than I and everyone knows the comment is directed at me, though anyone can read and enjoy it. If you put a “d” before it: d @kidologist than only I will get the message. This can be fun. One time I Twittered, “Where should I go to lunch today?” and there were a bunch of @kidologist replies/suggestions. While they were all to me, others got to see the suggestions. A bunch of people separated by hundreds of miles and time zones all collaborated on my lunch destination. (Taco Bell won) That is a part of what makes Twitter unique.
- See what’s new on Kidology.org That’s right! One of the best ways to see what is new on Kidology (or other sites that publish to a Twitter account) is to follow www.Twitter.com/kidology as you will get notified when new things post to Kidology. It’s now one of the main ways I click into discussions and see new posts!
There are other reasons I’m sure I’ll think of after I publish this, and please gives yours in comments. But Twittering is a fun way to interact and stay connected with a wide variety of people from literally all over the world, instantly.
Try it, you’ll like it.
October 9, 2008 at 11:34 am · Filed under Blog World, Children's Ministry, FREE Stuff, Leadership, Online Resources, Podcast
If you follow DiscipleBlog.com, you may have caught my post What Happened To The Bible. It fueled a healthy discussion over on Kidology.org. Then, Christine Yount, editor-in-chief at Children’s Ministry Magazine featured it on her blog.
Then, I was honored when Christine asked if she could interview me for her podcast on the subject. You can listen to the podcast here.
Christine Yount is a leading voice in children’s ministry and someone you need to keep in your virtual circle of advisors. I’m excited to see her blogging and podcasting now. I’ve been listening to her for as long as I can remember and her longevity in children’s ministry leadership is a true mark of someone who is dedicated to a mission, not to a business or just trying to being heard. When Christine Yount speaks, I listen. (That doesn’t mean I always agree - but it does mean she forces me to think and constantly be evaluating. And I love that!)
August 18, 2008 at 8:16 am · Filed under Blog World, Children's Ministry, DiscipleLand, Discipleship, Spiritual Growth
Over on DiscipleBlog.com I have launched a new series called D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children. Here is the first one. To keep up with all twelve, subscribe to the DiscipleBlog.com RSS feed.
D = Develop a Relationship
“And He walks with me and He talks with me;
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there;
None other has ever known.”
Every notice that Jesus’ primary method of discipleship was based upon relationships? Jesus didn’t establish schools, write curriculum, or host seminars. While He certainly did teach the masses - he discipled in relationship with those who were close to Him, and it was THOSE disciples who turned the world upside down after He left them.
As I look back over some fifteen plus years of professional children’s ministry and many more years of just life ministry, it is those I discipled relationally who I see producing the greatest fruit. They are ones in Bible college, becoming missionaries, and going into ministry. While I am NOT assuming any credit for their godly choices, I am saying that being discipled prayed a part in their spiritual formation.
If you want to be a discipler of children, it is no secret that I recommend DiscipleLand if you are a church leader and would be delighted if you used Awesome Adventure as a tool for one on one studies, but the first thing you need is NOT curriculum - it is to build some relationships with kids that are deeper than the educational or “fun” level.
It may just be that some of your best disciples you never formally “discipled” through printed lessons - you just walked with them and became a part of their spiritual journey.
Whether you lead an entire children’s ministry with hundreds of children or teach a small class or volunteer in a club with a small group - pray through your kids and ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU A CHILD YOU CAN HAVE A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH. And become their friend, not just their leader or teacher.
Jesus is my Master, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Creator and my Guide, but best of all He is my Friend - and it is that relationship that spurs on my spiritual growth. Yoy may be many things to the kids in your ministry, but when you become their friend, you begin to truly impact their spiritual walk.
What does a friendship with a child look like?
- You know their name
- You know about their family
- You have some common interests
- You pray for them
- You look for them
- You ask them relational questions
- You get together with them
- You remember their important dates
- You love them unconditionally
Take some time and think through the kids God has brought into your life - is there one or two that you could pour your life in to? A few you could become a friend to? That you could disciple intentionally? The impact on their life is indescribable!
GO FOR IT! What are you waiting for?
July 4, 2008 at 10:17 pm · Filed under Blog World, Kidology, Leadership, Podcast
The time has finally come! I’m launching a Children’s Ministry Podcast this summer, and as usual, my blog readers get the first peek! So here is very first episode:
Episode 1: What Are Your Red Sneakers? In this very first episode of Children’s Ministry Podcast, Karl and his faithful sidekick Gus ask listeners, “What Are Your Red Sneakers?” Tune in to learn helpful insights and tips to help you and your children’s ministry become more effective.
DOWNLOAD HERE: Children’s Ministry Podcast w/ Karl and Gus - 001 (MP3 14.5mb)
Let me know what you think! And any ideas for direction/topics along the way.
UPDATE: You can now listen and subscribe at Kidology.org/podcast
June 14, 2008 at 9:06 pm · Filed under Blog World, Internet, Technology
Starting a blog? I often get asked advice on starting a blog since I’ve been blogging since before there were blogs! (I used to create stand alone webpages to record events, like this one or these) I have a detailed post titled What Makes a Good Blog? but let in short I’d say just start one (and yes, just ONE will do) and keep in mind, it is primarily for YOU not your readers. I consider my blog to be my personal digital scrap book. It is first and foremost for stuff I want to save and remember, secondly to keep in touch with family and friends and yet I know that there is a wider readership and so I keep them in mind to - but I don’t seek to please them or worry whether they ‘approve’ all the time. (I’ve had complaints from time to time which is really odd since its a personal blog and the complaints I’ve received are totally inappropriate for what a blog is, but oh well.)
Bottom line: Blog whatever you want. You’ll be your #1 reader over the years, especially the old posts! (I doubt anyone reads my archives, but I cruise them often!)
May 31, 2008 at 1:11 am · Filed under Blog World, Internet, Technology, iPhone
Thanks to the folks at iwphone.contentrobot.com, my blog is now iPhone (or iPod Touch) friendly! I love my current theme (created by PowerServe.net) but on the iPhone it was a bit much to navigate. Now you can enjoy my blog on your iPhone, those of you lucky (or smart) enough to have one. ENJOY!
April 3, 2008 at 2:53 pm · Filed under Blog World, Internet, Technology, Uncategorized, just cool
Well, the last time I blogged about Live News Cameras and got the moderator Kat to say hi to me seems that I made my director web operations Steve a little jealous. You see it was Steve who TOLD me about Live News Cameras, and he had been following it since it launched and even blogged about it so when I got his favorite moderator to say hi to ME he let me know that he had been following her longer than me and even knew more about her, where she lived, etc., but that he wasn’t stalking her or anything! (hmmmm)
Then today he tells me she is back from vacation! (not stalking, huh?) Well, to make up for it, I immediately logged on to Live News Cameras and e-mailed Kat again and this time asked how her vacation was and asked her to say hi to Steve for me, and she did! Hopefully this puts me back on good terms with Steve. It’s a good thing that me and Kat are obviously such good friends now and that she has twice responded to my e-mails live on a channel that is watched nation-wide by probably millions of online viewers.
Maybe someday Steve will get the courage to e-mail her himself and say “hi.” 
March 13, 2008 at 9:56 pm · Filed under Blog World, Internet, Technology, Uncategorized, just cool
Today I discovered the coolest website! I’ve been trying out Twitter for a few days when Kidology’s “Web Guy,” aka Tannerman posted on his Tweeter that you could watch the Shuttle in space LIVE at www.livenewscameras.com. I clicked over and discovered an amazing site. It looks like this:
(Click image for full size view)
There are several pages of live cameras you can click on and watch.There are the old familar (boring) webcams of highways, etc., but there are also live cameras of newscasts, but you get to see when they are “off the air” - even saw a news gal fixing her hair, doing the news blurb and then asking someone off camera how she did. The change from when she was “on” and then off the air was fascinating. Real people!
My favorite was watching the space shuttle as it did a full rotation as it passed over Australia so that the space station (where the camera was) could take photos of the entire exterior of the space craft for analysis. Then I watched it dock to the International Space Station! Pretty amazing stuff to watch live on your computer while working!
There is a moderator at times in the small screen in the upper right hand corner. At the time, a young lady named Kat Bockli was online. You can hear her feverishly typing away and then from time to she gives an update or a tip on something interesting on one of the many channels. A funeral for a fallen fireman, a school lock down due to a hostage situation, a multiple car crash as seen by helicopter. None of these got me to switch off of NASA2, but then she reported that there was a bomb threat at a church and the bomb squad was sending in a robot and you could watch it live! This was too much excitement when I was supposed to be working!
Periodically Kat asks her viewers to e-mail her with any questions, suggestions, feedback, or just to say hello. I figured the only way I could know FOR SURE that this was indeed live was to e-mail her and ask her to say hi. I sent this:
and within ONE MINUTE this was her response:
CLICK IMAGE TO PLAY VIDEO
Pretty cool, huh? So jump over and check out: www.livenewscameras.com. Thanks to Steve for Twittin’ me the URL. He said he’s been following the site for awhile; guess I missed the discussion on his forum about it: LIVE NEWS CAMERAS. Steve is always the first to know about everything.
December 23, 2007 at 7:57 am · Filed under Blog World
Hello my fellow bloggers. As one of the first bloggers on the net (before there even were blogs), I have posted my own advice for bloggers in the past. Well, fellow blogger Todd McKeever tipped me off to a free online course on blogging from the folks at Simple-ology, but for it to be free, you have to paste some code on your site. So here is my required posting:
I’m evaluating a
multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they’re letting you
snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.It covers:
- The best blogging techniques.
- How to get traffic to your blog.
- How to turn your blog into money.
I’ll let you know what I think once I’ve had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it’s still free.
I apologize for some of the language on the site linked above. (Here on Kidologist.com we would prefer to say “kick bumbee” for something really really good.) But I will let you know in an update what I think of the course - whether it truly kicks bumbee, or kicks the can.
UPDATE: I never could get past the payment process due to PayPal issues (don’t even get me going) And SIMPLEOLOGY support was terrible. So I never got to try it. I finally canceled all the daily emails which were getting annoying because they all referred to stuff I couldn’t get into. sigh. It looked good, but they have big issues with the front door. So I’ll never know now.
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