Stand Up For Your Legal Rights

I hope this blog doesn't turn into the bad Christian video blog, but if I keep getting stuff like this sent to me...



Thanks Julie!

He'll Zap You

Watch this video and you'll understand why I'm having such a hard time deciding which member of Sonseed is my favorite.



P.S. Thanks to Todd Wagner for forwarding me this video.

Ellie made the front page of the Newspaper!!!

This weekend we are back in my hometown of Lawrence, Kansas. Yesterday we headed over to Baldwin, Kansas and took a family trip on a 1923 train. It was very cool. Half way through the trip I had noticed a man taking Ellie's picture. Now I know why, she was on the front page of the Lawrence Journal World this morning with her grandpa!!! You can view the picture and read a blurb about my dad here. It only took 3 years, and she's already making a name for herself in Jayhawk Country.

Flip that Sac

I got a great deal yesterday on a LoveSac.  I got this HUGE LoveSac (it's actual title is "SuperSac") on Craigslist for $75.00.  Obviously it came without a sweet cover (that's why I got such a sweet deal) like the one's on the webiste.  If you ordered the one on the website with the cover that I got, it would be $649.00.  I found the same cover on Ebay brand new for $35.00.  We're going to put it back on Craigslist, and should sell it for around 300-400 dollars.  It's way too big for our room, but our kids are LOVING it in the house...

Mike is Way Excited

This is the first of 5 "video invitations" we're putting together for this Friday's re-launch of watermarkstudents.com. We're making some minor adjustments hoping to increase the effectiveness of our website as a communication tool with students and parents. Props go to Bode for the top notch production of this video...I just can't stop watching it!

Thank You Clint

Many thanks to our friend Clint Miller for making a wish of mine come true. Utilizing Clint's super-fancy Canon zoom lens, I was finally able to discreetly capture some images of our reclusive neighbor who periodically comes outside to garden (and ride his bicycle!) in his practically translucent white boxer shorts. It is one of the many joys of living on our street.

1 Year from 30, in Black and Blue

Today I turned 29. I am now a year away from 30. I really didn't think about it today, but I got tagged on facebook by one of the guys I do community with and he sent me this picture of me with his daughters eating birthday cake. It was from Sam's Club, and as you can see it had blue and black frosting on it. A friend of ours recently noticed that while their 2 year old was potty training, the day after they ate their cake, the 2 year olds poo was blue and black. I can now confirm from personal experience, that the rumor is true. Thank you, Sam's Club. I'm off to Camp Barnabas, see you back on the blogosphere in 9 days. Keep it real David, and good idea with the hats.

Bode's Wedding

Bode (pronounced Bo-Dee) got married over the weekend in Saint Joseph, MO and our team made the flight up for the wedding. The weekend was very fun for Holly and I because we got to visit my family, friends from high school, etc... To get a good taste of what Bode does on our staff click here. He does the majority of our editing, video shooting, and all of our fun elements week in and week out. He does a great job and we are way excited that he is married!

Here's a great picture of Braun (our boss), David, and me.

And here's everything I brought up for the trip minus my wife. (She's holding the camera) The two little girls are not always perfect on the plane, and so after flying Ellie about 15 times now I've devised a plan. We take the kids on the plane after everyone has boarded. Then, we take the car seat, kids, backpack, and ourselves on. The first guy that looks at my kids like "oh no I didn't sign up to hear them scream on a plane" wins a seat closest to us. It's a beautiful mess hearing our kids on a plane. If you have two little ones, you also know that all of the luggage you see is not easily transported, and I would not recommend it for the mere man. Ha.

One of the Largest Book Stores Ever

If you have a few minutes check out this story...

Estes Park Family Camp

Every other year our church does a family camp in Estes Park, Colorado at the YMCA. This was my first time to go and has been absolutely crazy and amazing. Here's how our week got started...

Our first full day my wife woke up and started puking and cramping up. It hurt to move, and when she did she was hurling in a trash can. So, I was now on dad duty and in charge of all our jr. high and high schoolers. It's about 7:45 in the morning, and I've got about an hour to get the kids ready, feed them and myself in the cafeteria, take them to childcare, and try to be a couple minutes early to teach bible study at 9:00 a.m. It didn't take long to get one of those headaches that make you think you're head is going to explode. Needless to say, the next two days were pretty tough, and at the end of day two, we took my wife to the emergency room in between student ministry scheduling. Crazy.

Well my wife got to feeling better later on in the week, and started teaching bible study with Sarah Beth, and our week has gotten ten times better! This morning was our last bible study time with our students, and they have had so much fun together, and learned a lot too. Thanks Simply Youth Ministry for the great curriculum. Here's a couple of my favorite pictures from the week...

Our student ministry crew The family in Rocky Mt. National Park


One of the few calm moments for my 2 year old this week

You Know Lyle?

I'm in the restroom at the movie theater last night washing my hands when I overhear the following conversation between two strangers on either side of me at the sink. I thought it was funny enough to share:

Guy #1: You know Lyle?

Guy #2: (No response)

Guy #1: (Louder) You know Lyle?

Guy #2: (No response. I look over and notice he's wearing a Lyle Lovett concert t-shirt)

Guy #1: (Goes over and taps Guy #2) You know Lyle?

Guy #2: What? Oh. No. (Confused pause) Do you?

Guy #1: (Proudly) I met him for the first time 13 years ago.

Guy #2: So, are you guys pretty tight?

Guy #1: (Hands on his hips, nodding) Nope. But he's a really great guy though.

Guy #2: (Nodding) Cool. (Slowly walks away)

Don't ever talk to strangers in the public bathroom. It's uncomfortable for everyone involved. Also, don't ever assume that wearing a concert t-shirt means that the wearer knows the artist.

Robotronic Mike Shelton

Another home run video by Steve V for our church wide Volunteer Appreciation celebration! Check out robotic Mike Shelton at the :38 second mark!



Overall, the appreciation event was a big success. Beyond the Box Catering was incredible, our staff "musical" number got a great response, comedian Tim Hawkins had everyone rolling (his "hedge of protection" bit was my favorite), and the Sigg water bottles we gave as gifts were a big hit.



Oh, and the evening had a South of the Border theme. I guess that explains part of the picture above.

My 2 Year Old

Here's a clip with my daughter talking before bed, she is simply the best 2 year old ever.

Relational Thought from the Week

This week Wilson (pictured above) texted me and said dude mike we need to hang out, can we get lunch sometime? So two days later we found ourselves getting him out of school and heading over to Freebirds, a great place to get burritos, quesadillas, and they have some great queso. I thought this might be a time where he might share some struggle with me, ask me for some sort of wisdom, instead we just laughed the whole time, quoting our favorite movies, etc...Here's the top 5 quotes from our time together:

1. Can't post this one, jr. highers read this blog. And my parents.

2. Mike: "So Wilson, did you have any deep personal issue you wanted to talk about since you called this meeting."
Wilson: "Safety, I just farted."

3. Mike: "So how's school been lately?"
Wilson: "Well today I saw a fight break out between two girls, one of them pulled the other's weave out which had blood on it and she ran around with it like a trophy. Gotta love Lake Highlands."

4. Wilson: "Dude Mike have you seen this movie called Wayne's World? I have it memorized."
Mike: "Hi, we're in _________."
Wilson: "DELAWARE! Dude that's cool that you've seen Wayne's World."
Mike: (i hate saying this) "Bro that came out when I was in jr. high."

5. Wilson: "Hey I forgot my money for lunch. Can you spot me?"

I hear number 5 a lot. More than you'd think with some of the coin our students have. It was a great time with Wilson and I have to say he's one of my favorites in our group!

What in the World?

David Blaine has done it. He held his breath for 17 minutes setting a world record. And he did it on Oprah this week. He said it's been a life-long goal of his. This got me thinking about what record I would break on the Oprah Show. I'm still deciding, but I would love to hear from YOU READERS! If you could set a world record on Oprah, what would it be?

Under the Radar Since 1999

Our friend Lisa has the most unique stories from her experiences working at Our Children's House. She recently opened our eyes to this reality and it just seemed too interesting not to pass on.

I never realized that you could train a horse to relieve himself on command.



P.S. The shoes are the coolest!

The Chick-Fil-A Project

Sorry to post right on top of Mike's post but I love this video and had to share it. A great illustration of how far Mike will go (and how much money he'll spend) for free stuff.

Perfect Timing...

Lisa Harrell was delivering the mail and just happen to be walking right below the 2nd floor window when a one year old baby fell on her from the window. Unbelievable. Watch this video, and if you're in ministry the news story is definitely one you'll want to file away for an illustration sometime...

Scroll Down if You Want to Read About Ministry, This is About FOOD!

David don't worry, I'll respond to your thoughts on culture pretty soon, but had to share where I ate today...

My family and I took a trip down to Deep Ellum today for lunch. Deep Ellum is where a lot of indie artists play and it's a pretty different area compared to the rest of Dallas. But on the main street in Deep Ellum is a gem of a burger joint called the Twisted Root. It's one of the best (not the best) burger's I've ever had. Everything there is home made. They have amazing shakes there that have home made ice cream in them, home made buns, sweet potato chips, all kinds of good stuff. Here's some pics from our lunch and a video from the Twisted Root guys. If you live in Dallas you don't want to miss it. A special thanks to Clint Miller for turning me on to this delicious goodness.

"He Goes With Me Everywhere I Go"