Penn State Headline Predictions

The scandal at Penn State, which just became national news last weekend, is sure to be on the front pages for quite a while.  And deservedly so: this is just an unspeakably awful situation, involving not only the rampant sexual abuse of young boys, but the lack of consequences and eventual cover-up.  Nasty stuff.

Call me a cynical critic of our culture, but I'm willing to predict that media outlets will attempt all kinds of cheesy headlines about the scandal in order to grab our attention.  So be on the lookout for headlines like the following:

• Unhappy Valley
• Say It Ain't So, Joe
• Nittany Lyin'
• From Penn State to State Pen

Stuff My Son Says - #11

Last night, Cameron was bored and in need of entertainment.  Here was his request:

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phonics"

Well, a lot of people are hooked on it...

Stuff My Son Says - #10 (Griffin Edition)

Until now, I've limited this topic to cover only the hilarity of Cameron, my seven year-old.  But four year-old Griffin has really outdone his older brother in the category of humorous utterances.  Here are his top five:

5.  After a significant amount of time in the deep water at the local pool...
Griff: "Let's go back to the swallow end."

4.  While we were laying on deck chairs at the pool, Griffin started gently patting and rubbing my back...
Me: "Griff, what are you doing?"
Griff: "Giving you a patio."

3. While swimming at this same pool...
Griff: "What's that thing in the front of your shoulder by your neck?"
Me: "It's my collar bone."
Griff: "Well, what color IS it?"
(Gotta get that kid's hearing checked.)

2.  After seeing a trailer for one of this summer's superhero movies...
Griff: "Can we see Captain Antarctica?"
(That movie would suck.)

1.  Jenny was explaining how she had to take Liam to orientation day at Patrick Henry Middle School...
Griff:  "Remember the last Patrick Henry Day?  When everybody wore green stuff?"
(Although Patrick Henry was a good guy, he was no Saint.)

Stuff My Son Says - #9

While waiting for his brother's baseball game to start, Cameron was apparently bored. Here's the brief dialogue that ensued.

Cam:  Dad, can you get the iPad out of the car?

Me:  Buddy, just play with your friends.  Use your imagination for the next couple of hours.

Cam:  OK.  I imagine you getting me the iPad!

After that comeback, I surrendered and got him the iPad.

Stuff My Son Says - #8

This weekend, we stayed at our friends' acreage.  Their six-year old son, Jack, was telling us about how his dad built the house himself.  Cameron asked me if I could build a house, which I obviously don't have the skill set to accomplish.  Here is the brief interaction between Cam and my lovely wife, Jenny, that followed.

Jenny:  I married a man who can't craft a house, but he can really craft words.

Cam: Mom, you were married before you met Dad?!?

Stuff My Son Says - #7

A couple of weeks after returning to South Dakota from our Easter trip to Canada, Cameron randomly commented on his geographic preferences:

"I don't like traveling to other countries.  I'd rather stay here in America.  We have more channels."

That boy's got his priorities straight.

Stuff My Son Says - #6

On the day before Mother's Day, I asked Cameron if he was going to do anything special for his mom.  He was slightly insulted that I would question his level of thoughtfulness.  His response:

"I already got her two dandelions!"

Roadtrip!

Memorable events from this weekend's trip to my son's baseball tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

• Following the NFL draft on a patchwork of AM radio stations for the 4 1/2 hour trip.
• Talking religion and politics with my wife's Aunt and Uncle until midnight. Time flies when you're discussing taboo topics.
• Eating Uncle Ed's fantastic pancakes and eggs. That man can cook!
• Taking a line-drive foul ball in the jaw. Ouch.
• Watching Liam's team nearly complete a valiant comeback in the championship game after being down 6-0 in the 1st inning.
• Seeing cousin Elizabeth (who I've known since she was 1 month old) in her prom dress. Dang, I felt old.
• Listening to Liam sing along to a Chris Tomlin song as we had "church" on the Sunday morning drive to the diamonds. Cool moment.
• Spending the first of several baseball-filled weekends with fun families on Liam's team. Fun parents, cute kids.
• Staying awake for the first two hours of the drive home due primarily to caffeine and intense facial sunburn pain.  I forgot that it's still possible to get fried when it's only 60 degrees.
• Hearing the news that Osama Bin Ladin was dead. What a strange mix of emotions. I was driving through southern Minnesota and tuned in to various radio stations for two hours listen to the details roll out. Will this be another "Where were you when..." moment? 

The Gospel in 3D - A Brief Review

I recently preached a three-part sermon series at Central Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. The topic was evangelism (aka Extending the Gospel) and the title was "The Gospel in 3D."

The concept, borrowed from my friend Ryan Berg, was that we extend the gospel by displaying, demonstrating and declaring (hence the 3D).

Central's Worship Arts team made the series really fun, creating a movie theater environment (complete with a concessions stand, movie tickets and 3D glasses) and greatly enhancing my preaching with relevant videos, fun 3D images, and other creative elements.

Curious? Check out a sample here.

Stuff My Son Says - #5

I recently got an iPad.  Let me clarify - my work got an iPad that I'm allowed to keep for professional and personal use.  Yesterday, Cameron and Liam were playing a couple of games on it, with the understanding that they wouldn't download any new apps without my permission.  A few minutes after they had disappeared with the iPad, Cameron approached me with this gem:

"Dad, I'm not saying that we downloaded anything inappropriate...but how do you delete stuff from an iPad?"

Stuff My Son Says - #4

This week, our local grocery store had all their Quaker products on sale for 50% off, so we loaded up on cereal and granola bars.  We hadn't purchased Quaker granola bars for a long time - evidenced by a couple of facts: 1) My shock at their puny size (When did granola bars become granola sticks?) and 2) Cameron's amazement at how tasty they are.  Here's what he said while eating his first one:

"I can't believe how good this is!  Thank you Quaker!  All those wasted years without you!"

Yes, he's a little dramatic, but very effective.  He really made me want to try one!  I'm convinced he should be the next Quaker Granola Sticks Bars spokeskid.

Theology in the Blogosphere

As part of my role with CruPress, I manage our Digital Ministry Resource website (crupressgreen.com), which includes a blog.  Our blog features contributions from good communicators within the US Campus Ministry.  I've always thought it was a lofty goal of our blog to stir the theological pot - to get people thinking and talking about relevant and sometimes controversial issues.  But, after reading this article, I may have to re-think my priorities.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/marchweb-only/bloggers.html

Give it a quick read and tell me what you think.

The Gospel in 3D: Week 1 - Declare

I'm currently preaching a three-part sermon series at my church.  Yesterday was the first installment, involving a broken tooth and a pillow pet.  Check it out here.

Stuff My Son Says - #3

Last week, Cameron and I were standing on the sidewalk, waiting to cross the street. He was looking to the right to see if it was safe to cross when he spotted a white car with a black hood bra, prompting this gem:

"We can go right after this car with the mustache."

I love that kid!

Introducing...

...a book!  (Sorry if that was a bit of a letdown.)

A couple of years ago, I started writing a book.  No, it doesn't have a title yet.  And yes, I've been rejected by more publishers than I care to remember.  But I think the topic is important enough and the content is good enough that I'm not willing to give up seeing this thing in print.

The story of how this book came to be is kinda long, so here's an excerpt from the actual Introduction that helps explain things.

The Project

In August of 2008, when I learned that I would be mentoring five dudes who were student leaders of a local campus ministry, I realized a couple of things:  1) I needed to make the gospel the focal point of discipleship. 2) I wasn’t cool enough, smart enough or experienced enough to pull this off. I also knew that I wanted to do more than just read and discuss the latest books.  I wanted these guys to get real gospel input from real gospel-loving people.

So over the course of a semester, I asked a different question each month via e-mail to a group of people who have influenced my faith over the years (pastors, mentors, professors, current church friends and old college buddies).  The actual questions touched on very practical aspects of experiencing and interacting with the reality of the gospel, generating some remarkable conversations.

As you’ll see shortly, the results of our little cyber-dialogue were much more than I bargained for.  The answers I received from these godly men were so rich and insightful that I not only wanted to share them with a few college students, but with as many people as possible. 

Sizable portions of what you’re about to read are simply honest and well thought-out answers to my questions.  Because of space limitations, I have only included answers from eight of the original sixteen participants. In addition to these answers, I’ve incorporated thought-provoking quotes from theologians, challenging passages of scripture, relevant song lyrics and my own (somewhat rambling, somewhat random) extended commentary on various facets of the gospel.

I hope that by reading, reflecting on, and discussing the following chapters, you can glean a deeper understanding and appreciation of the gospel’s magnificence and relevance.  And that you’ll laugh a few times along the way.  

March is More than Merely Mediocre

So March is more than half-finished and this is my first post of the month.  Why? Because I'm too busy partaking in the glory and splendor that is March!  Here are a few reasons why March is, as the French say, magnifique!


1.  Madness, baby! (must be read in Dick Vitale voice)
I don't start paying attention to college basketball until the day the NCAA releases the tournament bracket.  But then, like many Americans, I suddenly become interested in intriguing match-ups like Old Dominion vs Butler.  March Madness involves a lot of dramatic endings, the occasional Cinderella story, and massive overeating at my buddy's annual weekend-long tournament viewing party.  (This year, I'm bringing a cheeseball sculpted into a bust of Mike Krzyzewski).


2.  It's Magically delicious.
Nothing pays homage to the man who brought Christianity to Ireland like drinking Shamrock Shakes and wearing green boxers.  Everybody claims to be at least 1/32nd Irish on St. Patrick's Day.  I, however, have the name and tattoo to prove that I am, legitimately, 1/8th Irish.  So what if my great-grandpa was a Protestant from Belfast. That still counts, right?

3.  Take me out to the ballgame.
Spring training gives everybody hope that their favorite baseball team can contend for a pennant.  Unless your favorite team is Baltimore, Toronto, Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, Pittsburgh, or Florida.  I took my son to a college baseball game this week in Lincoln, Nebraska, where we got a sunburned faces and an autographed ball. Good times! Hearing the crack of the bat for the first time means Spring is finally here.


4.  Speaking of spring...
Another sign that we are nearly out of Winter's evil death grip is Spring Break.  I've been to Florida a couple of times to hang out with thousands of crazy college students, engaging in spiritual conversations with many (that is, if they weren't too busy manning the beer bong).  This annual event is really important to me because I met my wife on a Spring Break trip - traveling from Ames, Iowa to Daytona Beach - 19 years ago this month.  It turns out you really get to know a person well by spending 26 hours with them on a bus.


5.  Happy birthday(s).
Two of my favorite guys in the world were born in March: my oldest son Liam (in 2000) and my only brother Mark (in 1976).  It appears that Liam will inherit his uncle's height (6'4") and sarcasm (vast).  Although far from perfect, I consider both of these fine young Downey men to be top notch dudes. 


6.  Fish Fridays.  
Because Lent lasts for 46 days, a portion of the season always falls in March.  I'm neither a big self-denial person, nor a huge fan of tradition, but there's something really significant about a period of time dedicated to repentance, devotion and contemplation. Anything that helps people appreciate the amazing events of Easter Weekend is a good thing.  


What about you?  What's your favorite thing about March?

VeggieTales and 90s Rock Bands

I was listening to the radio last week and noticed that a song by Blind Melon was followed by a Smashing Pumpkins tune.  Initially I wondered if the DJ was Larry the Cucumber. Then, after doing a quick mental inventory, I realized that there were a lot of 90s bands that seemed to be inspired by vegetation.  For example:

Gin Blossoms
Cranberries
Savage Garden
Fiona Apple
Guns N Roses
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Soundgarden
The Black Eyed Peas

OK, who can add to the list?  And no, Peaches and Herb is not a 90s band.

Stuff My Son Says - #2

It's wicked cold here in South Dakota (8 below zero as I write this - that's minus 22 Celsius for any Canadians in the crowd).  So last night while tucking Cameron in, I prayed that God would protect people that are outside in the cold.  Cameron felt compelled to be a little more specific.

Me: God, please protect anyone who is outside right now.

Cam: Yeah, like hobos warming their hands over a fire in a garbage can...

Stuff My Son Says - #1

My six-year old son Cameron is hilarious.  He is a one-liner machine; probably because he watches too much TV.  If he was old enough to have his own Twitter account, he'd have more followers than Ashton Kutcher.  Anyway, since he's funnier than me, I thought I'd use his material in this blog.  And yes, I know I'm blatantly ripping off the title of a popular - and somewhat inappropriate - blog ($#@% My Dad Says), but I promise the content of this new series of posts will contain fewer cusswords.  OK, here's the first ever attempt at "Stuff My Son Says."

Last night, Cam and Liam (age 10) were sitting at the kitchen counter.  Cam was kicking the cupboard and Liam asked him to stop.  He stopped for five seconds, then started kicking again.  Liam got mad.

Liam:  "Cameron!  I just told you to stop!"

Cam: "Sorry.  I have short-term memory loss."

Why I Love My Job

Technically, my title with CruPress (the publishing division of Campus Crusade for Christ) is "Senior Editor."  So I spend a lot of time writing and editing resources for ministry - videos, books, articles, website blog entries, etc.  But, as a member of the Research & Development department, I end up performing a variety of different tasks.  Here's what my morning looked like (in no particular order):

*  Finished up first draft of new evangelistic booklet.
*  Attended Skype meeting (with people from New York, Texas and Scotland) about a new instructional video.

*  Processed orders for ministry tools for upcoming Summer Missions Projects.
*  Met with R&D team in Orlando (via Skype) to discuss results of student training interviews.
*  Viewed a trailer for an Anime version of an evangelistic video, brainstorming how to use it on campus.
*  Drank a Diet Mountain Dew.

Working on projects that will have an impact on thousands of lives is a huge privilege.  And I never get bored because I'm pretty convinced that no two days look alike for me.  Except for the Mountain Dew part.

What about you?  What motivates you to go to work every day?

If you want to take a good picture, take lots of pictures

On a warm day in late October, we rounded up our rugrats and attempted to take our annual Christmas photo.  On a good day, our kids are (how can I say this nicely?) quite active, so getting them to all stand still, look at the camera and smile (without blinking) is always a chore.  Fortunately, our photographer that day was my friend Andy Dykstra, who not only has a lot of talent, but also has a great camera.  He took about 55 shots of us in a span of five minutes.  Only two of them were "normal" shots, portraying us as a nice, calm family with well-behaved children.  But, upon further inspection, our favorite photos were the ones that were "screw-ups."  These shots of kids goofing off, not following instructions and making faces actually were a more realistic view of how the Downeys operate.  Here's our Christmas card to show you what I'm talking about.

So, what about you?  Do you have any photos that you originally thought were "bad" but turned out to be among your favorites?

Zippers

Zippers are kind of like football place-kickers: you only really think about them when they don't do their job.  Don't you hate it when the zipper on your coat starts splitting apart halfway up?  Or when that pull-tab thingy breaks off? (What's that thing called anyway?)

But today was an oddity: nothing was wrong with the zipper on my new jeans (aka my "fly") but I noticed that the pull-tab was much larger than on my other jeans - like it should have been on a military-grade tent.  I looked down and noticed that it said "YKK."  This made me wonder - who is this YKK fella?

And, after hours of mind-numbing research (okay, a two-second search on Wikipedia), I discovered that YKK is a huge corporation that makes most of the world's zippers, as well as other fasteners.  And architectural products.  (I know - weird combo, huh?)  In fact, they have zipper factories all over the planet, including the largest zipper plant in the galaxy (employing 900 people in Georgia).

So, while I'm assuming they're not popular with the Amish, I gained a new appreciation for YKK.  Because let's face it: where would we be without zippers?  (I have one pair of trendy button fly pants from A & F, any they're horrible at keeping the South Dakota wind out of the old britches.)

Anyway, this discovery made me curious.  Who are other people (or entities) do incredible things without being noticed by most people?

OK, here's my question for you:  do you know any individual, company, church or other organization who does a lot of good without a lot of publicity?