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?"