Really?- Peeps

It's hard for me to even imagine biting into one of these. Part of me can't even believe that they exist, and if it were not for my sister, I would never believe it either. Wow. Peeps? Really?

Peeps are made from marshmallow, sugar, gelatin, and carnauba wax. I don't know exactly what carnauba wax is, but if they sell it at AutoZone, I'm thinking I don't want it in my mouth. These 32 calorie chew toys are pumped out by the millions. 700 million Peeps are cranked out during Easter for the retail outlets of America. The plant in Bethlehem, Pa., can manufacture 2 million Peeps each day. I belive this to be the great army of the North prophesied by Daniel.

What's even crazier? They have a shelf life of 2 years. How is that even possible?

My fear is that those little beady black eyes are watching me and radioing in information back to their home planet. I believe our time may be short...



(Most info gleaned from an article in the Waco Tribune- Herald)

Musings- April Fool's Day

I'm sitting at my desk and having to take a step back and reflect for a bit.  The stress of the day has gotten me down.  I'm not sure if it's the kids or all the paper I deal with.  It's probably an insidious combination of both.

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day.  I used to like April Fool's Day.  But, there is only so many times you can hear kids say "Do you know what today is, Mr. Stortz?  It's Tuesday- April fools!"  Or "Guess what I had for breakfast Mr. Stortz?  Waffles- April fools!"  Or the ubiquitously popular "Your shoe is untied Mr. Stortz.  April fools!"  You see, six and seven year olds don't exactly "get" (air quotes mine) April Fool's Day.  Of course this never stops them from trying.
 
It should be more like "I'm going to play well with others today, Mr. Stortz.  April fools!"  Or "I'm going to complete all my tasks in a timely manner today Mr. Stortz.  April fools!"

I think I'm going to hide behind my locked classroom door tomorrow morning.  I'll put a sign up that reads: Class canceled on account of irony."  The sad thing is, I will be the only one to "get" it (air quotes still mine).

Musings- Financial Crisis

Politics have never been a strong interest of mine. I've always felt it should be though. I mean, it's important, right? The problem is, I have lots of great excuses-

It's too hard to follow.
I don't know where to get my information.
I don't understand most of it.
Who do I trust?
How does this affect me?

That's why I'm so thankful when simple things come along to make it easier for me to figure out what is going on. Check out this video below. It is about how America got into this financial crisis. It is simple with LOTS of visuals- my kind of video. Give it a view, it's only 11 minutes long. (Don't worry, I'm still going to have to watch 4 or 5 times to take it all in.)


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

#C309

I was so blessed to be able to attend the annual Creative Church Conference (C3) at Fellowship Church again this year. Thanks mom!

It was jam packed with so much great teaching, I almost don't know what to do with it all. It's like getting a crate of ammunition but not having a gun. It's going to take a while to digest it all. Anyway, I thought I would share some of the memorable things from all the incredible speakers.

Ed Young
-The majority is usually wrong.
-The one thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.
-Decisions made at the start of something will have effects until the end of it.
-There is always a story behind the story.
-Leadership is measured more by your absence than your presence.
-Creativity mostly comes from humor and conflict.

Bill Cornelius
-All you need is a remnant, not a majority.
-Man made systems can eat the people that made them.
-We have to show up before the Father before people will show up before us.
-Someone out there has been dealt a worse hand than you and they are winning with it.

Tommy Barnett
-Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it.
-Allow people to feel like they belong and them teach them to believe.

Ben Young
-Science studies what is repeatable, history studies what is unrepeatable.
-Truth is knowable and truth is livable.
-Truth is a person (Jesus) before it is an idea.

Steven Furtick
-There is a difference between honor and respect. Respect is earned and has more to do with the behavior of the recipient. Honor is freely given from your heart and has more to do with the giver.

Christine Caine
-Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not everyone is entitled to give it.
-Excellence, creativity, and innovation are not the goals, they are just by-products of being a Christian.

Craig Groeschel
-God can still do "it" right even when we do it wrong.
-Do only a few things well and eliminate things that you are not called to do.
-To reach people that no one else reaches you have to do things no one else does.
-What do you need to STOP doing?
-Opportunities hide behind obstacles.
-Your greatest deficiency could be the door to your greatest opportunity.
-What is God trying to show you through your greatest limitation?
-Failure is necessary and the first step to success.

In Front and Behind

Only 1 more month until I will be the proud father of four! I remember the day Nell and I went to the doctor's office to find out the sex of our third child. We had been thinking and talking about the gender for a while. We were both ready to find out.

But it felt different for me because I was praying for a girl. I actually prayed for a girl. I had not done that with either of my other children. I could find the page for you in my prayer journal when I started praying. I really remember wanting a girl and hoping so badly that the Lord would bless us with one. I wanted to experience sons and daughters as a parent. I was so excited when the nurse told us we would be having a little girl.

Since then, I have been amazed at some of the differences I have seen in my sons, Zeke and Eli, and my daughter, Selah. First, I have noticed natural tendencies towards certain things. I feel that Nell and I are pretty neutral in what we allow our kids to play with. Even so, the boys naturally gravitate to swords, guns, noise, and anything with batteries. Selah goes for the dolls, puzzles, and books. Selah goes for anything pink; the boys will take anything as long as it is not pink. I guess I kind of expected that.

An unexpected difference, though, is that I love them in very different ways. I always thought parents were supposed to love their children the same. I thought that, as a dad, I was supposed to be fair and equal. It turns out that that is not even close to the case. Each child is different and needs their own unique love and affection.



I feel like I love my boys from behind them. I want them to step out and try things on their own. I want them to experience adventure and the unknown. I am standing right behind them. I will help them up when they fall from failures and I will cheer them on when they march from victories. I want them to experience pain, frustration, and hurt while knowing that I am right there to help. I want them to know that whatever they are fighting for or going through, that their dad is for them. They need to know that their dad believes they have what it takes. All they need to do is turn around and I'll be there. I'll always be there. Right behind them.



The love I have for Selah is in front of her. I want her to know that I will always be there to hold her hand and lead the way. She never has to step out in fear because her daddy is right in front of her making sure it's okay. I want to protect her from everyone and anything that would try to hurt her, cause her pain, or dare make her feel unlovely. I'll take the pain and the hurt for her. I want to make sure she is nurtured and comforted. She needs to know that her daddy thinks she is beautiful and wonderful. All she has to do is look up and I'll be there. I'll always be there. Right in front of her.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to love in front and behind.

(Photos taken and edited by my lovely wife, Nell)