Shuttle Shot

stscI grew up with a strong affinity for the Space Shuttle program. 

My bedroom had Space Shuttle Wallpaper, and I would make every effort to see any launches or landings that were covered on television. Until I realized that I would be around 6 1/2 feet tall, I had a young man’s aspirations to be a part of that program when I grew up.

So, I am always excited when I come across some Space Shuttle Geekery.

Here is a 4MB photo of a Space Shuttle cockpit. 

If you don’t mind all the buttons and nobs getting in the way of your icons, it might make decent desktop wallpaper!

You can download it here.

My first reaction is amazement at the technology from the 1980s, and the realization that my phone likely has more computing power.

Walled up in South Dakota

Tonight I am sitting in my Hotel room in Sioux Falls, SD. I will always have fond memories of South Dakota.

Katie and I got married when we were still both in College. So the expensive Caribbean vacation was far out of the question. Instead, we loaded up my Dad’s convertible, and loaded up my Visa Card, and hit the road for Rapid City, SD!

Our lunches consisted of lunch meat and chips out of a cooler we had well stocked. To this day, the taste of Lays BBQ Baked Potato Chips always takes me back to that week. The picnic lunch allowed us to spend evenings somewhere nice.

355 miles to Wall Drug!
355 miles to Wall Drug!

If you have ever taken the drive across I-90, you have had the chance to experience the Wall Drug signs that beckon you to the eternally expanding small town drug store (I am still not sure we actually found the pharmacy).

All along the route, the signs promise cheap coffee, free donuts for Honeymooners (we took advantage of that one… Lunch… day 3), specialty shops and exhibits.

Big Stretch Time:

Not to cheapen the eternal by comparing it to a collection of trinket shops: But, I couldn’t help but think of the journey of the Christian here on earth. Those signs across I-90 kept the otherwise lonely prairie, fairly interesting. When mile 1, looked like mile 2, which looked like mile 3, these signs reminded us that there was a destination ahead that was worth driving towards.

The Bible lays out promises of eternity for us as we journey along the earth. While we may not know exactly what mile marker we are on today, we do know that Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a special place for His followers (John 14). Sickness, unemployment, perpetual sin, tough relationships: these are all a part of a journey to a promised destination.

Live out the journey with the destination in mind (Hebrews 12:2)

Press On!

Apparently I only have 293 miles left to go!

Somewhere lower than the prince, AND the pauper

My 3 year old daughter walked up to me in a Cinderella dress. She asked if I would play “Cinderella” with her.

I was honored, and was looking forward to some wonderful dances with my Cinderella.

Until she said…

“You can be the mouse!”

ouch…

(the extra ounce of cute happened when she offered the part of the prince to her Great-Grandfather)

World AIDS Day – A way YOU can help!

Today is World AIDS Day.

This past summer, Katie and I had a chance to meet some beautiful children in the Congo, who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.

(Can you guess which one is Katie)

I would love to recommend a very tangible way to make a difference!

The EFCA’s Global Fingerprints Program works with the church in the Northwest Congo to provide schooling and medical resources to orphans of AIDS.

For $25 a month, you can make a difference in one life! (What a great Family Christmas Present idea!)

You can find out more about the program, and sign up to sponsor a child here.

Here is a great video that can give you more information.

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-01

  • @dustindk Any friends that call you on Skype? I havent’ seen 9’s, but have gotten all 0’s from a Skype call to my cell. #
  • @btkennett Dude!!! Awesome! Mpls? #
  • thinking of walking down to the local watering-hole to catch the 9th inning tonight… #
  • @btkennett Thinking Woody’s… never tried the corner. #
  • alright… now I can spend the rest of October rooting for the Cubbies. #
  • Whoops. Left the Wallet at home. The name on my badge at work is now “Temporary Access Card 006”. #
  • @jojeda Yeah… that’s why I will never run a marathon either… yeah… that’s it! #

Twitter Updates for 2008-09-30

  • @btkennett I love how you added the smiley face at the end of that tweet! #
  • http://twitpic.com/dvyn – Enjoying some MNF! #
  • @youso Digsby is awesome. you can actually manage multiple Twitter accounts with it (for personal and work) #
  • Shooting some video with @brandonheath this morning! He will be on the air with us during the 8am hour. #
  • Hey everyone! @brandonheath is live in the studio right now… watch it stream online live at http://snipr.com/3ym6p #
  • http://twitpic.com/dx3m – Interviewing @brandonheath #
  • @morganwood congrats on the new Twitter App #
  • @morganwood good job #
  • waiting at Kinkos #
  • Wow… this was a busy day.. .Got to spend most of the morning doing some video shooting. #

Twitter Updates for 2008-09-29

  • Sweet! WGN is airing the Sox game today… I GET that channel! #
  • Sorry, I am not entirely sure I grasp CNN.com’s Headline on a T-Shirt concept. #
  • First inning, Sox already on the board 1-0 #
  • anyone have a Twitter feed name for the ChiSox or Tigers? #