Cool Flickr Tool

Check out THIS GREAT TOOL for searching for images on Flickr. I used it to find an image for an upcoming sermon series on leadership.

See more creative ways to get the images you need - FREE - on Flickr on Seth's Godin's blog.

HT: Gregor Hochmuth via Seth's Blog


tags: search | pictures | Flickr

Superhuman Strength...

The oldest blonde boy and I were watching the special on The Discovery Channel about the amazing things your body can do to survive. It's a really fascinating show.

Well, the boy wanted to see if he could throw me off of him to save his life (I outweigh him a fair bit...). So I fell on top of him and he proceeded to try to throw me off, smashing my face in the processes and bloodying my nose.

For the record, he does not have superhuman strength. And yes, that's blood on my magazine.

Happy Easter - Part 2

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

If you can answer that question in the negative honestly, if you can say, “No, he did not; the evidence does not support that conclusion,” then forget about religion. Get on with life, enjoy yourself while you have the chance. But if Jesus did rise from the dead, then the same logic applies. Stop fooling around with Christianity. Make your commitment to Christ and get on with the serious business of living for God. This life is not the end. There is a life beyond.

One day you will stand before your Maker, and you will answer for what you have done in this body. God forbid that you should say, “Well, yes, I kind of did believe in the resurrection. But I, you know, I lived in the world and for the world, and I took my pleasure where I could find it. I acted as if the future would take care of itself, and , well, here I am. I have noting to offer you. I have been a bad servant.”

James Montgomery Boice, The Christ of the Empty Tomb (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 95.

HT: Just Charlie


tags: Easter | resurrection | faith

Happy Easter!

Sorry for one more video, but this one was too good to pass up. May our faith in the Risen One be this strong and this simple when we are 92.

Happy Easter everybody!



HT: Vicky Beeching


tags: Easter | faith | video

This just struck me funny...

We had a great Easter Egg Hunt at NewCov today. I guess that's why this (plus no sleep) had me laughing this afternoon. Enjoy!




tags: Easter Egg Hunt | Dick Cheney | video | humor

Cool Trained Animal or a Dog that is Teased Mercilessly by His Buddies...

You be the judge...

RSS: embedded video


tags: video | dancing dog | trained animal

Genius Junk Food...

According to Men's Health, there are some formerly forbidden snack and food items that are actually good for you. Are you ready for this?

1. Pork Rinds
2. Alcohol
3. Beef Jerky
4. Sour Cream
5. Coconut
6. Chocolate Bars

Don't believe it? Check out the article yourself HERE.


tags: health | food | snacks

Quote of the Day...

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic

Arthur C. Clark

tags: quote | Arthur C. Clark | magic | technology

How Observant AreYou?

Take the test...

Worship Confessional: 03.16.08

This Sunday was amazing! Jeff gave one of the most powerful testimonies I have ever heard at NewCov. Add to that me looking down during Happy Day and seeing Pastor Jan with both arms in the air, fists pumping, and it made for one of the most memorable services for me in a long time!

Check out the NewCov Production blog for pix and videos from Sunday.

Here's our set list (with iTunes links)...

• Let the Praises Ring
• Happy Day
• Rescue
• Give Us Clean Hands

tags: New Covenant Community Church | NewCov | Fresno | set list | worship confessional

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Don't take it for granted...



I love the little green details in the background.

HT: Vertizontal


tags: St. Patrick's Day | video

Free DVD Ripper

Get it while you can...

Grab a free copy of the normally-$20 DVD ripper FairUse Wizard 2, which converts DVDs to video files playable by a slew of devices. Back up your DVDs to your computer or watch 'em on your iPhone/iPod touch, AppleTV, Zune, Xbox 360, PS3 or TiVo with FairUse, which automatically rips and compresses the DVD using the DiVX, XViD, or H.264 codecs. FairUse can detect multiple television episodes on a DVD, too. FairUse is a limited-time free download for Windows XP and Vista, and the FAQ says it works fine in Linux under Wine.

HT: LifeHacker via Download Squad via Fair Use Wizard


tags: DVD ripper | Fair Use Wizard | free

Unforgettable TV Moments

I remember watching the shuttle disaster on the NASA channel as it happened.

I remember watching the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

And then I remember these, albeit lighter, moments. But still as unforgettable.

The first is from the 1983 special, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, and Forever. It was the first time I ever saw him do this in public (about 3:45 into the video). And it was absolutely unforgettable!



I remember jumping off the couch when MJ moonwalked. I screamed out loud. It was the most amazing dance move I had ever seen I didn't get out much)

The next moment is not as momentous as MJ's moonwalk. But it was cool enough that when I saw it I jumped up and screamed (notice a theme?). It was loud enough to wake up the family. When LD Miller did the Frankenstein walk on his harp solo, I went nuts - and I still do (I still don't get out much). A 12 year-old kid that can BLOW!!! Amazing!




tags: Michael Jackson | moonwalk | America's Got Talent | The Millers | LD Miller

Tips for Raising Children...

1. Every child I know who overcame long odds and grew into a responsible adult can point to an adult who stepped into his or her life as a friend, mentor, and guide.
2. Don’t be too concerned that your children don’t listen to you. But be very concerned that they see everything you do.
3. Be so consistent in your discipline that you’re boring.
4. Stop arguing in front of your children.
5. You may think children have outgrown the desire to be rocked to sleep at night. They haven’t.
6. Children will never believe in the covenant of marriage unless they see you iving it with their own eyes.
7. How do you know if a child needs encouragement? If he or she is breathing.

From Truett Cathy’s 2004 book: It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men

HT: The Daniell Dozen


tags: Truett Cathy | raising children | tip

Watercooler Wednesday - Creativity Quotes

It's time for another edition of Watercooloer Wednesday!

"I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. Every day I find something creative to do with my life."

Miles Davis

"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it."

Pablo Picasso

"There are two ways of being creative. One can sing and dance. Or one can create an environment in which singers and dancers flourish."

Warren G. Bennis

"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."

Joseph Chilton Pierce

tags: creativity | quotes | watercooler Wednesday

Quote of the Day...

"Leaders have to be ready to adapt, to move, to forget yesterday."

Tom Peters

tags: quote of the day | Tom Peters | food

Worship Confessional: 03.09.08

This Sunday was really great (despite being my first Sunday with braces)!

We opened with Happy Day and then went on to do Salvation is Here and I Stand Amazed off North Point Music's new CD. We did Amazed during the prayer time and closed the service with You Are (also off the North Point CD).

I was up to preach and did a message on the lost coin from Luke 15. I thought I was able to communicate the main concept well (Rescue Success Requires Persistence... if you're going to do it, you've got to stick to it).

Rick and Laural shared the worship leading responsibilities with me and did a great job, and Sally did an outstanding job at giving the announcements.

All in all, I thought this morning was a solid 9 out of 10!

Here are the songs we did (with iTunes links where available):

• Happy Day (we did the version from North Point's new CD, Louder Than Creation)
  
• Salvation is Here
• I Stand Amazed
• Amazed (the Lincoln Brewster version)
  
• You Are

tags: New Covenant Community Church | NewCov | Fresno | set list | worship confessional

Shameless Self-Promotion

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication."

How simple? Really simple.

Hence the name.

Like Two Blonde Boys? Then subscribe! When I make a post, it will show up in your RSS reader, like Feedburner (I like Flock as my combined browser/RSS reader - check it out - I blogged about it).

So back to subscribing... see that link to the right. Go down a little bit. A little lower. There it is. See the box that tells me how many people are subscribed through Feedburner.

It really is the only way to read blogs. And I feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I see that you are a loyal TBB subscriber.

So take a minute and subscribe. You'll thank me. OK... you probably won't thank me, but you will make me feel all warm and fuzzy, and that counts for something, right?


tags: RSS | Feedburner | shameless self-promotion

If You Paint Pictures with Your BBQ...

...you might be a redneck!



HT: Ken Davis' blog


tags: video | fun | art | redneck

I Am Legend...

I loved the movie, I Am Legend. It was wonderfully creepy and scared the heck out of me both times I saw it.

Then I bought I read the book by Richard Matheson. I was amazed that the movie was nothing like the book. Same basic idea, but not as much impact.

Here's the basic plot of the book (from FirstShowing.net)...

Without spoiling too much (in case you want to read it), the entire purpose of the title I Am Legend is that in the book, Robert Neville actually is the last man on the planet. And he has switched places from our reality of what we perceive as legend, to actually being the legend. As in, vampires are "legendary" to us because they're a myth from fantasy. In the book, Robert Neville is "legendary" because he is that myth and goes out day after day hunting them.

The original ending of the book didn't really deal with that, But now, the ORIGINAL theatrical ending (which is now the alternate ending) is out in cyberspace.

If you loved I Am Legend, check out the original ending over at FirstShowing.net. It is AMAZING!


tags: movies | I Am Legend | alternate ending | original ending

Watercooler Wednesday - Nurturing Young Artisits

As a part of Watercooler Wednesday, I thought I would write about my artist-in-residence.

These are pictures on my office wall. They are from the youngest blonde boy. He is my artist. He approaches life with open-eyed wonder and sees magic everywhere.

Gordon Mackenzie, in his book Orbiting the Giant Hairball believes that every child is born an artist, but that it is taught out of them as time goes on. When he speaks at schools the younger the class, the more believe they are artists. But by the 6th grade hardly a one will raise their hand when asked, "Are there any artists here today?"

One of the ways I have decided to nurture the artist in Chase is I bought him a sketch book and colored pencils. Then we schedule artist dates where we go sketch stuff (I am terrible!). It has really been great and he continues to grow and bloom as a young artist.

Check out a few of his other pieces HERE and HERE.


tags: art | artist | how to nurture young artists | Watercooler Wednesday

Weird Hilary Quote of the Day...

"I'm like a fighter that has been counted out but refuses to be knocked out!"

Hilary Clinton

Just so we're clear, Hilary... if you're counted out, you still lose!

tags: quote | Hilary Clinton | 2008 presidential campaign

This Easter is Once in a Lifetime...

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Here's the interesting info:

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here's the facts:

1. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that).
2. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.

So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Video of the Day... The iBand

Behold... the first iPhone band:




tags: video | iPhone | iBand

Worship Confessional: 03.02.08

It was a great morning this morning after an INCREDIBLY LONG WEEK getting ready for the new series. Randy probably put in somewhere between 90 and 100 hours getting the set built and dialed in and getting lighting and sound just right.

We opened up the morning with Every Man sung by Jeremy and Natalie. During the song, we kicked on the video prayer wall with the pictures of the people we are praying that will cross the line of faith this Easter. It was so powerful! Then we did Mighty to Save and the NorthPoint /Passion version of Jesus Paid it All. During the prayer time we sang Sweetly Broken. We closed the morning with Rescue by Jared Anderson.

Here are the songs (with iTunes links where available)...

• Every Man
• Mighty to Save
• Jesus Paid it All
• Sweetly Broken
• Rescue

Keep an eye on the NewCov Production blog or Randy's blog for pictures from today...

Pictures from the service and a video of the last song are on the NewCov Production blog. Check them out! (Thanks, Randy!)

Nothing really went sideways today. I had some "wiring issues" right before I went out due to not being able to change into my "show shirt" quickly enough. Long story... Suffice it to say, everything went really well. It was a great morning, and the much needed afternoon nap felt GREAT!


tags: New Covenant Community Church | NewCov | Fresno | set list | worship confessional

A Note to the Christian Media...

Check out this article from Phil Cooke's blog:

The day after the Oscars, Los Angeles Times columnist Patrick Goldstein wrote a searing column in the Times about the need for the Oscar telecast to get a reality check. He wrote that it’s now painfully obvious that the Oscars need a face-lift. Ratings are down dramatically, and younger viewers are leaving in droves – 25% down from last year. But as I read his post, I couldn’t help think of comparing his criticism to religious media, which needs to wake up from a similar dream. The truth is, many of Goldstein’s complaints about the Oscars really parallel religious media.
For instance:

• As I said before, it’s losing young people in droves.

• It’s a holdover from the age of “appointment television.” Does anyone watch TV live anymore? I pretty much watch TV based on my TIVO. On a massive scale, the only thing people still see regularly on schedule is the Super Bowl, because it’s a live, competitive event, it showcases state of the art graphics and production values, and with the halftime show, boasts a show within a show – not to mention the commercials (which brings a pretty massive audience just for that). Yes, there are still folks without digital media recorders who watch it live, but if you want to reach younger viewers, “time shifting” is the new theme.

• Something that I’ve been preaching for years is length. The Oscar telecast is a 3 hour show. In religious media, with a sermon based program, I doubt many watch for more than 15 minutes. Remember, no one watches TV anymore. Yes, they might say they are, but in truth, they have the set turned on while they are eating dinner, getting dressed, or answering email. If the success of your program is based on them getting intensively involved, forget it.

• Goldstein makes the point that the Oscars should be streamed online. The MTV awards does a live streaming event, with multiple hosts and backstage views to give online fans a glimpse of the behind the scenes action. It opens up the program and gives online viewers something different than what’s happening on TV.

• He also says to cut the show length by doing more technical awards in the afternoon at a different ceremony. They do that now, but only on a limited basis. The major audience wants to just see the stars anyway, so shifting more awards to the afternoon will help keep the event moving.

• A more casual atmosphere is needed. I’ve noted before that when the 9/11 Committee in NYC had their anniversary event a few years ago, it was decided that there wouldn’t be a formal speaker. The thought was that today’s culture has grown so casual, the presence of a formal speech seems inauthentic and lacks feeling or emotion. Right or wrong, it’s worth noting.

• Today’s audience loves being inside the bubble. Want great examples? Watch ESPN or Fox Sports. Those guys put a mike on coaches and cameras in the locker room, and let us eavesdrop. Some of the most exciting stuff on TV these days is done by the sports guys. Check them out and see how you could adapt some of those ideas to your program concept.

Read the article by Goldstein in the Times. He’s got a great point, and it’s worth comparing to what we see on religious radio and TV. As he says about the Oscars, the camera placement and program structure hasn’t changed much since the Carol Burnett Show – except Carol Burnett was actually funny. And like Goldstein points out about the Oscars, religious media doesn’t need a little Botox, it needs serious plastic surgery.


tags: Phil Cooke | Christian media | Christian television

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow morning from 9-11 I will be at the orthodontist getting braces on.

Let the brace-face/metal-mouth jokes begin in earnest:

A blonde went to the dentist and the dentist told her she needed braces. The blonde said, ''Why? I can walk just fine.'' When the dentist explained to her that braces are for her teeth, she said, ''But my teeth don't walk...''


tags: braces | orthodontist | dentist

Tonight...

We just got back from a lovely dinner with some great friends and ministry partners at one of my favorite restaurants, Vini Vidi Vici.

• I had the Penne with Tiger Shrimp, Snap Peas, and Portobello Mushrooms
• Chad had the New York Steak.
• Liege had the Linguini with Sausage.
• Mrs. Two Blonde Boys, otherwise known as She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Photographed (also known as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) had the Pizza.

We also enjoyed a bottle of 2004 Justin Isosceles. Very tasty!

Blog problems...

If you've been reading my blog and wondered where the text went... I think I found and fixed the problem.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Paramore...

...rocks!

Quote of the Day...

"Happiness is when what we think, what we say, and what we do are in harmony."

Mahatma Gandhi