What a Week!

I’m always saying to my wife, Sara, ‘As soon as life returns to normal….,’ to which she replies, ‘this is normal.’ Whew! What a week! Busy! But lots of fun. Crazy, insane, but exciting at the same time. The thing I like best about this blog is that it helps ME to keep perspective on all the great things God is doing – so that in the midst of all the deadlines, e-mails, paperwork, and chaos I don’t overlook all the good things that have happened. I often look at this blog and marvel at the fun things here, and know it looks like all I ever do is play – the hours at the computer, late nights at the office, nearly missed deadines, and overall scatter-brained activity isn’t blogged. People often ask me, “How do you find time for all the fun stuff when you have two very full time ministries to lead.” My answer is always, “I don’t find the time, I make the time.” If you don’t schedule fun, time with people, recreation, and travel – you’ll never do it. The important things in life never ‘pop up’ – you must make them happen in the midst…

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The Music of Star Wars…

After living in Chicago since 1985, I finally have been to Ravinia, and boy am I late! I’d heard good things about it, but somehow never went there. I must be the only Moody guy who didn’t take a date there (which is part of why I didn’t), and it exceeded my expectations. (the girls all playing a game as we wait for the music to start) Well, it took the ‘Music of Star Wars’ – to get me to finally go – with a very large group of friends from church… it was a great group date with no kids. For only $12 you get to sit on the lawn with your blankets, chairs, snacks, etc. and enjoy the music coming from the Pavillion. If you squink, you can see stormtrooper in the front of the orchestra. (Boba Fett if you have great eyes!) I would have gotten a better picture, but the ushers came over and said I couldn’t take any more pictures with zoom. The actor who played the young Boba Fett narrated the story as the music wove through all six movies in order. His accent was fun – “Queen I’m a Dollar,” or “Luke went…

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Acapella Star Wars

I got home today to find a package in the mail from a Kidology member named Tim O’Neill who just decided to be super nice and send me some Star Wars stuff* – and included a CD with a Star Wars Medley by an acapella band called Moose Butter. Apparently they sing a lot of songs based on pop culture, and as Tim tells me, while they are not a Christian group, their songs are very creative and fun. This is the only one I’ve heard so far – but it had me laughing! The song was so cool (and funny) that I decided to upload it and share it: HERE IS AN ACC FILE: Moose Butter Star Wars Medley (ACC) (I don’t know the official title) HERE IS AN MP3 FILE: Moose Butter Star Wars Medley (MP3) (Hey, Steve Tanner – looks like they will be performing at the Tanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah this Saturday… maybe you can get in for free!! (Did you know there was a Tanner Amphitheater?) And as long as I am sharing Star Wars Spoof songs, here are two more you might enjoy, the first being the best I have ever heard, sung…

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In a Jiffy…

Well, we hit the road for our last church visit of the sabbatical – in Michigan. Nice to be in the PK Cruiser again. We left Chicago enjoying sunny skies. However, being home for a few days reminded us of lots of stuff we need to DO, so hitting the road one last time was nice. We will be soaking in this final trip up! (hopefully not a pun with rain in the forecast!) We were delighted to discover one of Anakin’s hang outs along the way…. Strong in the Force is this place! Soon we got to our destination – guesses? Well, here is a hint: It’s the JIFFY CAPITAL of the WORLD! That’s right! Look on your Jiffy Mix box – that’s where we went! To visit Pastor Jeff Bradley a long time friend I met through Kidology. Jeff won our first conference contest on Kidology and got to go to the Bahamas with Sara and I (and his wife Carol) for the Children’s Ministry Conference Cruise. Me and Jeff in the Bahamas in 2002. After we got to our destination (have you looked at the jiffy box yet?) we were bummed to have rain in light of…

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Sitting in Episode III

  12:01 a.m. showing and in the first ten in line! Well, this is it! I am now sitting in the theater awaiting the beginning of the movie that will conclude a story I’ve followed since I was eight years old. I got to the theater at 7pm, but there were only 2 people in line, so I watched the politically correct (meaning the Christians were the blood thirsty idiots who got what they derserved) “Kingdom of Heaven” – but enough about that. After that, there were only 5 more people in line for SW, so I set up my Celebration III chair and watched as the line steadily grew by the hundreds! My brother, Jordan, soon joined me along with Kidology board member Steve Clindaniel and his son Jonathan. Of couse, a review will come soon, but no spoilers, I promise. Well, between typing and visiting 30 minutes has passed and soon it will be dark…. in more ways than one. (if you sense my drift) Hard to believe I am about to see it, I started counting the days at over 400! Signing off now…. Meditate I must, prepare myself I must. Episode III about to see I…

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A Jedi with a Shepherds Heart…

The hills as you drive to beautiful Corvalis, Oregon are filled with sheep lazily grazing on wide open green pastures. Counting the sheep would have been a pointless effort, as there were too many and constantly moving. Just a few hours from the coast of Oregon, it is a beautiful place to live and minister, and the sight of sheep on the way in was fitting, as we were on our way to meet a young father and pastor with a true shepherd’s heart. Strong in the Force this Children’s Pastor is… Henry and his Padawan Learner… After church at Kings Circle (See Kings Circle Gallery) we headed out to lunch at my favorite restaurant that is now sadly missing in Chicago… The best former Chicago restaurant in Chicago. Allow me to rant: The busiest restaurant at our local mall in Chicago went ‘out of business’ due only to upper management mistakes. Soon all the other Baja Fresh’s in Chicagoland started to disappear, and rumor is that they are pulling out of the MidWest. Dumb. Why would a popular busy highly profitable restaurant close? I’d like to say to Baja Fresh’s Leadership: “I find your lack of vision disturbing.” A…

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