Idaho Slideshow

I am posting a slideshow of our trip to Idaho.  You will need the free Quicktime player in order to view.  You can get the LATEST software by clicking here.  The file is about 10mb.  If you right click the file below you can download to your computer permanently by clicking "save target as" or "save as".  Enjoy. 

Download idaho.mov

Worth a post...

Just love this pic and Syd loved her new moose from Idaho!

Easing Back In...

  Idaho was absolutely amazing.  First time out West certainly did not disaapoint.  The conditions could not have been better.  The accomodations could not have been better either.  Lots of time with family.  Lots of time for Heather and I.  Lots of reading by the fire (more comments soon about the latest book).  Making a new friend in Johnny (see cigar pics in the Idaho collection).  Many moments just standing in awe of creation and the Creator... and I thought North Carolina was beautiful. 

However, entering back into reality is always tough, especially when it is rainy and muggy the first 36 hours you are home.  But this afternoon the cold front moved in (by Florida standards).  We set out for the lake with the Sweet's.  Always a good time hanging out with our good friends and letting the 4-legged children play.  Getting out was just what I needed.  Here's a little video clip of the dogs which allowed me to test out our new digital camera. 

Download lake.mov

Lastly, it has been so good to be back with our girl Sydnie!  She is exhausting and we definitely rested in Idaho, but we sure missed her!  Her very presence is life-giving.  She's just flat out fun.

Out of the hospital and now on Amazon

Thanks for your prayers...my dad is out of the hospital!  Heart should be alright with some diet changes, exercise, etc.  I'll let him give you the details if you want.  We are all very relieved.  Now on to some other news...my dad's first book is published and available online.  You can purchase on Amazon by clicking here.  You should definitley check it out, particularly if you are involved in education. 

More blogging to come about our trip to Idaho and many more pics.

The Creative Class

I have been fascinated with a book entitled THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS by Richard Florida.  In it he is charting the growth of certain cities based on their ability to draw the "creative class."  Mark Driscoll recommended this book in addressing church planters.  The rationale being that the church planters should target areas listed in Florida's book because these are the places of culture makers.  Affect the culture makers for Jesus and you change the culture.  So it's got me looking up countless cities seeing which one's rank the hightest and who might be in need of a church plant.  Orlando ranks okay, but places like Austin, Seattle and Raleigh are off the charts. 

I've digressed.  I am posting a link to a podcast featuring a lecture by Richard Florida.  Though it is dealing specifically with his thoughts about Pittsburgh (he is a professor at Carnegie-Mellon), it is interesting nonetheless.  You can pick up on his general thought it seems without wading through his writings (though I do recommend the book).  Enjoy.

Richard Florida podcast

Day One in Idaho

Hard to believe that I'm writing this from Idaho, but after 6 hours in a plane and driving through some serious snow, I now sit by a roaring fire writing this here entry.  This place is absolutely beautiful.  This is Heather and I's first time out West.  Unbelievable.  The mountains are breathtaking.  While Heather's parents and Kirsten and Brian went into town to get fitted for x-country skiis, Heather and I got to ski (yes, we Floridians have our own x-country skiis) for about 45 minutes.  I forgot how much I love skiing.  The scenerey is truly spectacular (more pics to come).  The most striking thing to me is the absolute silence you experience.  It is good for the soul.  I'll try and post more about our trip since we got some free wifi here. 

We miss our girl Sydnie, but she is in good hands.  If you are reading this, please pray for my dad as he is in the hospital for some chest pains as of last night.  Hoping to hear more details by tomorrow morning.  Appreciate it.

Peace from Idaho. These are the pics from our room.  Quite a view.

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