Giving Up On Knowing God

Note: Click on any image to view much larger These are images and journal entries from my Solo Sabbatical to Yosemite in January 2010. (Pictures are all from Day One, two more days yet to come.) Day 1 – February 1, 2010 Knowing God. Started thinking about this topic this morning – so been mulling it around all morning as I snow shoed around the base of El Capitan and Merced River taking pictures today. (Love snow shoeing by the way.) Really thought it would be a lot more laborious than it is, it’s easy and enjoyable. But anyway, “knowing God” – isn’t that the promise of the Christian life? We can know God! I gave away my Badger Pass ski lift passes each morning (also included tour bus passes and other perks) at breakfast that came with my Lodge “all inclusive deal” because I didn’t need them, the meal vouchers were all I needed. I’m here just to hike and take pictures. I was offered money each time and just said nope, “they’re as free as God’s salvation.” I almost added, “I hope you’ll get to know Him like I do.” That’s what got me thinking about this. How…

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Thank you Pastor Jeff Griffin

In the fall of 2006 I reached a breaking point. I was last person to admit I could no longer handle being a full time pastor, a full time “kidologist” (whatever that is!) – run a non-profit ministry while writing, speaking, training, etc. and be a husband and then over-night I became a father. Six months later I snapped. That is over-simplifying the breakage that took place – but this is a public blog. But the Sunday after I resigned my pastorate and canceled all my speaking engagements and headed into what would be two years of healing and rebuilding my life from the inside out – I went to a board member and friends church ready to soak in instead of put out. As though a conspiracy against my heart, the sermon series was tited “Out of Control.” Go figure. Who told them I was coming? I talk in detail about this and its impact on me in the first Kidology Online Training video First Things First which many have told me has in turn impacted them. (Some have shared their feedback in the forum discussion for that video) On the stage was a giant TV Remote control. Each…

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Luke Turns Four

Luke is now four years old! It’s hard to believe, but my little boy that entered my life rather suddenly four years ago, is now a little man. It was a very special birthday – as we had both sets of grand parents in town. My dad and his wife live in Colorado, and Sara’s parents flew in from California for this special event and to visit for a few weeks. We took advantage of this unique opportunity and went to a photo studio to get nice photos taken of each of the grandparents with Luke, as well as some shots of mommy and daddy with our little boy. Lukey was an absolutely sweet heart the entire time and we got some wonderful pictures. Here is Luke with my dad and his wife Patty… Luke with Sara’s parents, PJ and Dave… Here is Luke with all his Grandparents! I can’t believe Luke is four! Here is the post when we first got luke, looking at those pictures brings back so many memories. When I ask Luke what happened to my “baby Luke” he answers, “He grew up!” Four is an amazing age! It is the age I asked Jesus in…

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I finally solved it, but can you?

UPDATE: I posted this in 2010, about a poster I got before Y2K and it is now 2022 and I am STILL getting e-mails for the solution. This may be one of my most popular blog posts! I think I need to update the photo with a better image! LOL If you need the solution, comment and I will email you the answer. I have had this framed poster hanging in my home or office for over TEN YEARS (I think much longer!) and have offered a cash reward for years to whoever was the first to “find the identical pen men” if only to solve it for me! I have starred at it and wasted much of my life wondering if it wasn’t a cruel joke. And then tonight, I SOLVED IT! I have used all kinds of systems. I have had post-it notes on it, going row by row. I have made photo copies and cut it up and tried sorting it. But I never finished any system. Then here, in my new house in Colorado, I hung it up in the restroom in the new Kidology office thinking there I might have more time to devote to…

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The Last $1000 Needed for Leukemia Research!

TONIGHT AT 7pm Eastern you can watch (Live via U-Stream) the LAST $1000 BEING RAISED FOR  LEUKEMIA RESEARCH! Cam is the son of a woman I met at CPC last week: I first ‘met’ Heather when she e-mailed me via Kidology.org and told me about the amazing and moving testimony on YouTube by her pastor’s 19 year old son just ten days before he died of lymphoblastic leukemia last August. He died on Wednesday and her team needed to lead VBS in the midst of their grief knowing that Ben, who had once been a prominent leader at such events, was now with Jesus. His story is both sad and yet moving and wonderful at the same time. I was moved to tears hearing of how it has impacted their church and was delighted to meet Heather after one of my workshops. I then got to hear about the “Ben Ripple” – how Ben’s life and testimony has been impacting the children since he died, including Heather’s son, who announced to her recently that he would be hosting a concert to help others survive what took Ben’s life. Please take a moment to read this article in the Beacon Heard:…

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