-How famous are you (u2) when people are excited about your new album cover? Not the music, mind you-that won't be available until March- just the sleeve that holds the CD.
-How nerdy am I to be excited to see the said album cover?
-No School for the Kid's today, so they celebrated by waking up a full hour before they would normally in order to watch cartoons.
-Emery has started taking weekly spelling tests, and has 27 pages of math homework due this week.....in kindergarten.
-We were watching the Obama slobberfe...er...Concert last night. Bruce Springsteen sang "This Land Is Your Land". Asher somehow knew it was a Woody Guthrie song, and gave V and I a brief lesson on the life of the folk singer. How does he know about Woody Guthrie? He cliams he "picked it up in the 2nd grade".
-Asher later stated that Bruce was trying to sound like Bob Dylan. I'd love this kid even if I didn't have too.
-The...Cardinals...In...the...Super...Bowl. Right. Still can't get my head wrapped around that one.
-We are approx 85% unpacked now. 15% is still in the spare garage. Which begs the question; Why did we move that 15%?
-My new Car is a Saturn Astra. Which is a European car named The Opel Astra, repackaged for the US. The Opel was featured in a car chase scene in the movie Vantage Point, that Vanessa and I watched this weekend. I am sooooo going to drive down sidwalks and stairs...
-I didn't vote for the guy, but the history that will be made tomorrow is exciting. I'll being praying for him; anything less is a sin and rather unpatriotic. Which aren't one in the same, by the way.
Mom and Dad sent Asher a vinager and baking soda fueled Rocket for Christmas. Here is the video of the flight attempts.
How long did I work on getting the music for Space Oddity and the video to match just right? Too long.
Have a great week!
We Are....McKibben
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wherein I Shamelessly Ask For Books For My B-day
This is the post where I belatedly tell you about Christmas gifts and my New years resolutions.
The older I get, the easier I am to please. Looking for that perfect gift for me? Look no further than Barnes & Noble On-line and pick out a gift card for what ever amount seems appropriate (hint: $100). Luckily, I received a couple of gift cards for Christmas and headed to the local B&N as soon as I could.
Some men hunt. Some men fish. Some men go to strip clubs or bars. I'm not one of them. I go to Barnes and Noble. In fact, when Vanessa senses that I'm stressed or in need of a break, she'll suggest I go spend the afternoon there. Yep, the entire afternoon. It takes me a while to pick just the right ones. So, as soon as I could break away, I did. Here is what I got:
The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey
Last year I had the privilege of leading a series of Bible Studies for our Sunday School class that went through the entire Gospel of Matthew. And it changed my life. I felt a leading to make sure each lesson focused on the man Jesus - His work, his Message, His Purpose - and not give into the temptation of presenting each study as a few verses with a pithy life principle that we've heard before. I really wanted to make sure that all we focused on was Jesus. And to do that, I had to focus on Him. What was he trying to teach? How does my theology gel with the words and actions from the Man himself. What I discovered is, I had some things wrong. Phillip Yancey did too. And in this book he explores the aspects of Christ's life that can easily be missed in a typical "Three points, a poem and a prayer" sermon. I'm in the middle of it now. So far, I'm impressed; and challenged. Can I see past my own preconceptions & doctrinal statements (doctrinal statement is a baptist word meaning "like a creed, only wordier") to who Jesus really was and is? I'll keep you posted.
The Privileged Planet Guillermo Gonzalez & Jay W. Richards
A year or so ago, I watched a video produced by the Discovery Institute based upon the thesis of the book. Later, Gonzalez was featured in Ben Stein's Movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The basic thesis is this (warning: EXTREME layman's terms follow): The Earth is uniquely fit to sustain life and observe the universe. It's almost as if it was designed for both life and scientific discovery. Of course, this didn't sit well with the Whos Who of the scientific community and Gonzalez's employer, Iowa State University. ISU punished Gonzalez for his 'creationist' views by denying him tenure. God punished ISU by putting them in the Big 12 North. It might take me a while to work through this one.
Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day by Joel Osteen
Just kidding. I'd rather read Hop on Pop; it has as many Biblical references and has pictures to boot.
A Faith and Culture Devotional by Kelly Monroe Kullberg & Lael Arrington
I wouldn't neccesarily call this a devotional in the tradition of Our Daily Bread or My Utmost For His Highest. More like a daily readings that in a week take you from Bible & Theology, History, Art, Philosophy, Literature, & Contemporary Culture. Each selection ends with a section for reflection and discussion. From the Intro:
"Why a faith and Culture Devotional? To marvel at the wonders of God and his world. To learn of ancient empires. Dark Matter. String Theory. Rembrandt. Uncle Tom's Cabin. U2. Quantum physics. To Worship....We invite you to enjoy the connections between faith and culture that outstanding Christian thought leaders offer in seven key subjects..."
Sounded like fun to me. I'm a couple of weeks into it and dig it. Great gift for a college student, or soon to be college students.
Letters From a Stoic by Seneca
So, I've got a coworker named Aaron who is dating a woman who is a bibliophile of the highest order. How much so? She is moving in a couple of weeks, and Aaron stopped by after work today to pick up EVERY box we have left over from the move to pack her books. All 3000 give or take. So to her, I'm a rank amateur. Around Christmas, Aaron wanted to give everyone in our department a gift. So, she had him describe our personalities, what we like, what he thought would interest us. From that info she picked books from her collection for each of us. She thought I'd like this one. She was right. I have been wanting to diversify my reading this coming year to include books of thought or philosophy that wasn't necessarily Christian. Plus, it's nicely leather bound and looks good on the shelf. I won't go into the whole history of Stoicism, (you can do that here) but I'm looking forward to this one.
That was the gift portion, here is the Resolution portion:
This year, I'm going to read with purpose. I want to mix up what I read to help develop a more well-rounded worldview, and to make me impossible to beat in trivia games. So here is the plan. This year I will read twelve books that fall into the following categories:
Gospels - 4
I was serious when I mentioned earlier that I have a strong desire to know Jesus more. There are 2 ways to achieve that; 1). Die. 2). Read the Gospels. Me, being a soft American afraid of heavy lifting, choose #2. I will spend a month in each Gospel, the same amount of time I'm taking for any other book. A month in each Gospel and only the Gospels. No study Bibles, no commentaries, no input other than what the Holy Spirit teaches me through the Word.
Spiritual/Theology -2
I have a feeling that one can spend too much time reading about God, and not enough reading what He wrote. So after the Yancey book, I'll (try and) read just one more. I'm leaning toward Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugen Peterson. I read Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Peterson last year and loved it. However, I've been meaning to read The Scandal of The Evangelical Mind for years; now might be the time. Suggestions?
Thought and/or Contemporary Issues - 2
After the Stoic book, I want to add another book that deals with thought or some sort of contemporary issue. I'm not sure what yet. I'm open for suggestions.
Novels - 3
This doesn't count the 2 or 3 Scarpetta novels that Vanessa will bring home form the library & I'll read in a couple of days. I want to read at least one brand new novel. I also want to read a classic novel that I haven't read yet. Oddly enough, I'm thinking Russian here and contemplating Fyodor Dosteveky's The Brothers Karamazov. Any recommendations from you?
Historical/Biographical - 2
First, I'm going to read Bill Carter's autobiography Fools Rush In. Carter experienced personal tragedy when his fiance died. So he did something crazy. He moves to Bosnia in the early '90's and begins helping the citizens of the war torn Sarajevo. I first heard of Bill when he would risk his life every night to broadcast live via satellite to U2's Zooropa concerts in '92.
After that? Not certain. Perhaps a biography on William Wilberforce, or that Olsteen thing. Again, open for suggestions here.
Of course that list doesn't include any of the books I already have that I will doubtlessly re-read, or the odd book here or there that catches my eye. Please, leave your comments. Tell me what you are reading, what you wished you hadn't read, or what I absolutly must add to my list.
P.S. Shout out to Tiffany on the birth of the twins!
P.P.S. Let me know if the comments are giving you fits. ;-)
The older I get, the easier I am to please. Looking for that perfect gift for me? Look no further than Barnes & Noble On-line and pick out a gift card for what ever amount seems appropriate (hint: $100). Luckily, I received a couple of gift cards for Christmas and headed to the local B&N as soon as I could.
Some men hunt. Some men fish. Some men go to strip clubs or bars. I'm not one of them. I go to Barnes and Noble. In fact, when Vanessa senses that I'm stressed or in need of a break, she'll suggest I go spend the afternoon there. Yep, the entire afternoon. It takes me a while to pick just the right ones. So, as soon as I could break away, I did. Here is what I got:
The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey
Last year I had the privilege of leading a series of Bible Studies for our Sunday School class that went through the entire Gospel of Matthew. And it changed my life. I felt a leading to make sure each lesson focused on the man Jesus - His work, his Message, His Purpose - and not give into the temptation of presenting each study as a few verses with a pithy life principle that we've heard before. I really wanted to make sure that all we focused on was Jesus. And to do that, I had to focus on Him. What was he trying to teach? How does my theology gel with the words and actions from the Man himself. What I discovered is, I had some things wrong. Phillip Yancey did too. And in this book he explores the aspects of Christ's life that can easily be missed in a typical "Three points, a poem and a prayer" sermon. I'm in the middle of it now. So far, I'm impressed; and challenged. Can I see past my own preconceptions & doctrinal statements (doctrinal statement is a baptist word meaning "like a creed, only wordier") to who Jesus really was and is? I'll keep you posted.
The Privileged Planet Guillermo Gonzalez & Jay W. Richards
A year or so ago, I watched a video produced by the Discovery Institute based upon the thesis of the book. Later, Gonzalez was featured in Ben Stein's Movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The basic thesis is this (warning: EXTREME layman's terms follow): The Earth is uniquely fit to sustain life and observe the universe. It's almost as if it was designed for both life and scientific discovery. Of course, this didn't sit well with the Whos Who of the scientific community and Gonzalez's employer, Iowa State University. ISU punished Gonzalez for his 'creationist' views by denying him tenure. God punished ISU by putting them in the Big 12 North. It might take me a while to work through this one.
Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day by Joel Osteen
Just kidding. I'd rather read Hop on Pop; it has as many Biblical references and has pictures to boot.
A Faith and Culture Devotional by Kelly Monroe Kullberg & Lael Arrington
I wouldn't neccesarily call this a devotional in the tradition of Our Daily Bread or My Utmost For His Highest. More like a daily readings that in a week take you from Bible & Theology, History, Art, Philosophy, Literature, & Contemporary Culture. Each selection ends with a section for reflection and discussion. From the Intro:
"Why a faith and Culture Devotional? To marvel at the wonders of God and his world. To learn of ancient empires. Dark Matter. String Theory. Rembrandt. Uncle Tom's Cabin. U2. Quantum physics. To Worship....We invite you to enjoy the connections between faith and culture that outstanding Christian thought leaders offer in seven key subjects..."
Sounded like fun to me. I'm a couple of weeks into it and dig it. Great gift for a college student, or soon to be college students.
Letters From a Stoic by Seneca
So, I've got a coworker named Aaron who is dating a woman who is a bibliophile of the highest order. How much so? She is moving in a couple of weeks, and Aaron stopped by after work today to pick up EVERY box we have left over from the move to pack her books. All 3000 give or take. So to her, I'm a rank amateur. Around Christmas, Aaron wanted to give everyone in our department a gift. So, she had him describe our personalities, what we like, what he thought would interest us. From that info she picked books from her collection for each of us. She thought I'd like this one. She was right. I have been wanting to diversify my reading this coming year to include books of thought or philosophy that wasn't necessarily Christian. Plus, it's nicely leather bound and looks good on the shelf. I won't go into the whole history of Stoicism, (you can do that here) but I'm looking forward to this one.
That was the gift portion, here is the Resolution portion:
This year, I'm going to read with purpose. I want to mix up what I read to help develop a more well-rounded worldview, and to make me impossible to beat in trivia games. So here is the plan. This year I will read twelve books that fall into the following categories:
Gospels - 4
I was serious when I mentioned earlier that I have a strong desire to know Jesus more. There are 2 ways to achieve that; 1). Die. 2). Read the Gospels. Me, being a soft American afraid of heavy lifting, choose #2. I will spend a month in each Gospel, the same amount of time I'm taking for any other book. A month in each Gospel and only the Gospels. No study Bibles, no commentaries, no input other than what the Holy Spirit teaches me through the Word.
Spiritual/Theology -2
I have a feeling that one can spend too much time reading about God, and not enough reading what He wrote. So after the Yancey book, I'll (try and) read just one more. I'm leaning toward Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugen Peterson. I read Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Peterson last year and loved it. However, I've been meaning to read The Scandal of The Evangelical Mind for years; now might be the time. Suggestions?
Thought and/or Contemporary Issues - 2
After the Stoic book, I want to add another book that deals with thought or some sort of contemporary issue. I'm not sure what yet. I'm open for suggestions.
Novels - 3
This doesn't count the 2 or 3 Scarpetta novels that Vanessa will bring home form the library & I'll read in a couple of days. I want to read at least one brand new novel. I also want to read a classic novel that I haven't read yet. Oddly enough, I'm thinking Russian here and contemplating Fyodor Dosteveky's The Brothers Karamazov. Any recommendations from you?
Historical/Biographical - 2
First, I'm going to read Bill Carter's autobiography Fools Rush In. Carter experienced personal tragedy when his fiance died. So he did something crazy. He moves to Bosnia in the early '90's and begins helping the citizens of the war torn Sarajevo. I first heard of Bill when he would risk his life every night to broadcast live via satellite to U2's Zooropa concerts in '92.
After that? Not certain. Perhaps a biography on William Wilberforce, or that Olsteen thing. Again, open for suggestions here.
Of course that list doesn't include any of the books I already have that I will doubtlessly re-read, or the odd book here or there that catches my eye. Please, leave your comments. Tell me what you are reading, what you wished you hadn't read, or what I absolutly must add to my list.
P.S. Shout out to Tiffany on the birth of the twins!
P.P.S. Let me know if the comments are giving you fits. ;-)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
14 Years Ago Today...
I'm not sure how it happened now that I think about it. I had a friend who had a friend and the friend thought me and her friend would hit it off. I hated blind dates, but luckily I was able to catch a glimpse of her before I gave the go-ahead for a set up. She went in sight unseen, so my expectations of anything more than dinner and awkward conversation were pretty dim. But, as luck (read: providence) would have it, the dinner was great (mexican) and the conversation, anything but awkward, lasted past midnight.
That's how we met. She was beautiful, fun, direct, had a steady income and a good head on her shoulders. I was a 24 year old male (read: idiot). So the first date went well, as did the next several and the next thing I knew we were engaged. Six months later we were married. Fourteen years ago today.
I'm certain she didn't know what she was getting into. Six months after the wedding I announced I needed a career change. Granted I didn't know what too, but it had to be different. All the while she stood by me, unwavering. It took 2 years of delivering blue-prints, wheelchairs and selling books before I found the career. Still, she stood by me. That career has led to no less the four separate relocations, including moving half a continent away from all that we knew. And still she stands beside me.
My parents have been married forty years; hers nearly as long. We have friends and relatives that have been together over twenty as well. So by comparison, 14 doesn't seem that long. I'm sure living with me makes it seem longer. But after all this time I still can't explain what she saw in me on the first date, or the 2nd, or after the first year of marriage, and at times even today. The only way I can explain it is by God's grace. I cannot look at her, or our 2 perfect children, and not know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than I could dream to ask. I did not know back then how to fix all that was wrong with me. How to be a responsible, trustworthy man. How to hold on to a vision and not let it go. But God knew. Her name was Vanessa. All that I am, all that I've done and as far as I come in the last 14 years is a direct result of him intervening in my life with Her.
Vanessa, I am who I am because of you. Thank you. I love you. Happy anniversary.
That's how we met. She was beautiful, fun, direct, had a steady income and a good head on her shoulders. I was a 24 year old male (read: idiot). So the first date went well, as did the next several and the next thing I knew we were engaged. Six months later we were married. Fourteen years ago today.
I'm certain she didn't know what she was getting into. Six months after the wedding I announced I needed a career change. Granted I didn't know what too, but it had to be different. All the while she stood by me, unwavering. It took 2 years of delivering blue-prints, wheelchairs and selling books before I found the career. Still, she stood by me. That career has led to no less the four separate relocations, including moving half a continent away from all that we knew. And still she stands beside me.
My parents have been married forty years; hers nearly as long. We have friends and relatives that have been together over twenty as well. So by comparison, 14 doesn't seem that long. I'm sure living with me makes it seem longer. But after all this time I still can't explain what she saw in me on the first date, or the 2nd, or after the first year of marriage, and at times even today. The only way I can explain it is by God's grace. I cannot look at her, or our 2 perfect children, and not know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than I could dream to ask. I did not know back then how to fix all that was wrong with me. How to be a responsible, trustworthy man. How to hold on to a vision and not let it go. But God knew. Her name was Vanessa. All that I am, all that I've done and as far as I come in the last 14 years is a direct result of him intervening in my life with Her.
Vanessa, I am who I am because of you. Thank you. I love you. Happy anniversary.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Attack of the Miniature Jedis!
Some pretty awesome light saber duels going down on our lawn...on the stairs...and living room...
Friday, January 2, 2009
Family Interviews: Pt. 2
On a cool evening in December, This Reporter sat down with Asher, the eldest of the McKibben children to talk about life, moving, life lessons, and good jokes. Asher is quiet and introspective, but freely shares what he knows and what the thinks if prompted. He will focus for hours on tasks that involve being creative; legos, paper airplanes, models and rockets. Asher readily admits that he gets the most pleasure from building the rockets, firing them off is Dad's job.
We relax in the upstairs office where Asher spends many hours on lego.com and doing homework.
TR: Thanks for sitting down with This Reporter and answering some deeply personal questions.
AM: OK...what reporter?
TR: This one. Anyway, so how's the 3rd grade?
AM: It's pretty advanced. We have to complete a lot of work on our own and it took a while for me to get used to it.
TR: Lets see how advanced you've become, here is a math question: A train leaves L.A. at 3:30 PM, traveling east at an average speed of 65 MPH. Another train leaves Chicago at 1:34 PM traveling west at an average speed of 45 MPH. Taking into account the time zones, what size shoe does the 1st conductor wear?
AM: What the heck..?
TR: nevermind. What advice would you give a 1st or 2nd grader?
AM: Do your best, be yourself.
TR: Sounds like great advice. I'm sure that helped you out when you were moving to Temecula and starting a new school. How do you like Temecula thus far?
AM: It's pretty good. It is a pretty place with mountains and cool buildings.
TR: Was the move hard?
AM: It wasn't hard. it feels fine here. Even though 22 hours in a car wasn't fun, it wasn't hard.
TR: You've lived in 4 cities in 8 years. Do you see that as a positive or a negative?
AM: I know what you are saying, but I have no idea. I miss my friends in Waxahachie and Waco, but I like living here near the ocean and legoland. I think that if I make it a positive it will be. I am moving back to Texas after college, probably to live in Rockwall or somewhere near there. But that is after I go to UCSD. (University of California - San Diego)
TR: Wow, UCSD? What are you going to major in?
AM: Probably Astronomy, because it is facinating. I might also dabble in Engineering.
TR: Do you have a nickname?
AM: No.
TR: Want One? Let's pick a good one for you...how about, SKIPPY?
AM: Skippy? NO!
TR: OK, how about "The Black Mamba"?
AM: seriously?
TR: Sure. Think about it. You are 30, and about to give a presentation to the National Academy of Science or somthing and the guy introducing you says "And here to present his paper on The Effects of Black Matter on Everyday Household Appliances is Doctor Asher "THE BLACK MAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" MCKIBBEN!!! MCKIBBEN!!!" And you walk out
to the podium wearing a satin cape with "Back in Black" blaring.
AM: wow. just...wow.
TR: What's your favorite Bible Verse?
AM: "I Can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Because it says that I can do anything that I set my mind too, as long as it is what God wants; it reminds me to do my best with God's help. When I get really confused on an assignment or stutter badly, I remember that verse.
TR: Awesome. What is the biggest life lesson you've learned in these last eight years?
AM: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". It means that it doesn't do any good to yell at Emery.
TR: What is your favorite book?
AM: "A to Z Mysteries: The School Skeleton".
TR: Know any good jokes?
AM: What type of weapon does the Army use for Christmas? Missle-Toe!
TR: I said good jokes...
AM: You know, that doesn't exactly build up my self esteem.
Post Script:
Asher is very good at hearing a song and being able to replicate it. It started by using his sister's toy guitar. On Christmas morning, he turned on the keyboard he and Em received, and started picking out a tune. I recognized it as the begining to a Coldplay song. A couple of days after Christmas, I was watching football, when I heard someone playing the begining to Fur Elise by Beethoven over and over and over (the keyboard plays pre programed music as well). I, as a father watching football will do, suggested that who ever was playing the song either play the whole song or turn the durn piano off. Asher replied "I haven't figured out the whole song yet". So, after apologizing, I shot this video. Please to enjoy, Asher teaching himself Beethoven....
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