Video chat with the Mann's

I got to talk with Melia, Micah and Lily via iChat. It was very cool. I even got to hear and see part of Melia's concert. Here are some snapshots:

The Melia Mann Show is On The Road

After two days of packing their trust VW van, Micah, Melia and Lily took off on Melia's US Summer Tour 2006. We prayed that God would use them as they make the pilgrimage to Cornerstone. Melia has some great gigs set up and who knows where God will lead them to play and share along the way. I bought at special camera for my computer so I can video chat with them as they travel. I needed to be sure that my granddaughter doesn't forget me while she is a way.

Clicking the title of this post and will take you to Melia's web site where you can click on 'calendar" to find her itinerary.

New Jedi video coming soon -

Fishing Trip

Here are some pictures from the camping trip. We had a great time, but it was very very hot. We played cards and we all caught fish - and isn't that what camping is all about? Due to the heat we ended up at the movies everyday - which is not what camping is all about - but I was very happy that we could head off to the matinee when the temperature reached 100 plus every afternoon.

Aric and Abel will be off to Hawaii to visit their dad for the summer. They were a lot of fun this last week.


Even Peter caught a few fish. Peter had been feeling like he was under a curse because he hadn't caught any fish for the past few years - but he broke the spell this week!


We had a bit of excitement when the rangers came through and told the campers about a new rule that declared it was cruelty to trees to tie a clothesline on them. People started yelling at the rangers saying they had been camping at Clear Lake for over 15 years and never heard of such a thing. The rangers were very apologetic and said they were only carrying out orders from the new superintendent. You could tell the rangers were not happy and there were not many happy campers. We figured out that we could rig a clothesline around our cook tent and survived but it was sort of strange to ban clothes lines on trees at a lakeside campground. I don't think the trees really mind all that much

New Baby video

This a short quicktime video of Jediah - click to play
Jediah Video

Jediah Norman arrived last night

It has been a crazy couple of days around the Norman house. Sunday night Kimberly and Micah came over to visit and Kimberly was not feeling well. They were thinking of going to the hospital the next day, but ended up going in at about 10:30 PM that night. Kimberly had severe swelling and was eventual diagnosed with preeclampsia. The doctors decided to induce labor. Kimberly was very brave and wonderful and Micah was a great coach and took good care of Kimberly. By Tuesday at around 7 PM Kimberly was having strong contractions but Jediah's heart rate was slowing. The doctors felt that it was becoming to hard for Jediah, so they opted for a C-section. Micah went along and stayed with Kimberly during the operation. Sometime soon after 8 PM Jediah entered the world four weeks premature weighing 3 lbs and 10 oz. Praise God for a wonderfully beautiful baby boy. Kimberly was doing well afterwards and her family all gathered around to see her and Jediah. Micah, Melia and Lily Mann were there to welcome Jediah.

Great new podcast -The Writer's Almanac

The Writer's Almanac is a great new broadcast and podcast from Garrison Keillor. Everyday has talks about authors born on that day a reads a poem. They are outstanding and quite moving. The title of this entry will take you to the site. You can subscribe to the podcast or to an email version or just visit the site from time to time. Here is one of the poems that spoke to me and I used it in a sermon today:
Poem: that has no title by Robert Lax from Tertium Quid.

praise god, though he's no place in any
astronomic seating plan,
sing still his might for still he can
wreak havoc on the race of man.
he still can shrug the earth a bit
to make your standing towers sit
and quite destroy your joules and volts
with mediocre thunder-bolts.
he still can tear your towns apart
while his surrealistic art
grows grass where hitler's moustache grows
and ferns from hirohito's toes
fills frank sinatra's mouth with ashes
and springs a toad from garbo's lashes
and with some slight celestial mayhem
destroys the shrines of martha graham
and porter cole and coward noel
and splits the earth from pole to pole,
or with some ray you haven't found
sink dante's hell-shaft under-ground.
sing still his might for still he can
wreak havoc on the race of man.

even More Lily Pictures

Well - there is only one thing worse than a grandpa's wallet when it comes to pictures of grandchildren - It is a grandpa's blog - Here are even more Lily pictures. Before the summer is over I will have grandchild number two and I will be adding many Jedi pictures. How can you help it when your grandchild is so beautiful?

New Lily Pictures

Here are some new pictures of darling Lily - who now 17 months old.

UPDATE ON OVER 50 FUN

Well, well, well - It seems like things are just getting started with Dr. Chui. I wasn't sure how we stood after our last get together, but it seems like we hit it off better than I thought. He wants to see me again. Some of the results came back pre-cancerous - so I get to do it all over again in three years.

When it rains it pours!

This has been a crazy day. I'm up in SF watching Aric and Abel while Peter and Amber attend a really cool trade show in LA. We have been having a good time hanging out. Earlier Micah calls with news that Kimberly may have some problems with the baby and her health and the doctors are wondering if they should terminate the pregnancy or induce early labor - After we all flipped out the doctors decided things weren't as bad as they thought and Kimberly could continue the pregnancy - but she needs to come back for tests after the delivery.... Then Melia calls and they are taking Lily to the emergency ward because she is favoring her left arm and whimpering when mom and dad try to move it . . . Last I heard all was well - but they were waiting to see another doctor. They haven't called back so I'm hoping that is good news. I am keeping my kids and grandkids in nonstop prayer.

Something new

I'm experimenting with posting a video. This may / may not work

Over Fifty Fun

Well, well, well, there are so many new fun after 50 experiences! I finally gave in to my doctor's wishes a few days ago and completed my complete physical examination. Yes, COMPLETE physical examination. Last Friday Dr. Chui, a very nice man went where no man has gone before. He was great and the procedure was painless and over before I knew it - BUT no flowers, no dinner and not even a phone call the next morning. Well, actually his nurse called yesterday to see how I was doing, but I though that was a bit impersonal.

The strangest part of the procedure was waking up half way through, watching everything on a monitor and getting a guided tour of my innards by Dr. Chui as he was extracting the five foot long endoscope. Very surreal. He gave me a set of pictures to take home to commemorate the event. I decided that I would save you and not post them here.

Getting Ready for Easter

I'm really looking forward to Easter Sunday. I will be preaching on the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel as the ultimate vision of resurrection. I am working on a powerpoint background for Easter that is from a picture of one of our sanctuary's stain glass windows.
I need to go to Costco and pick out a roast or ham or some festive cut of meat. Peter and Amber, Micah and Kimberly, Melia and Micah and Lily will all be coming for Easter dinner. It should be a great time. I'm hoping to have a dart board set up.

Holy Week

Palm Sunday was very good. I really felt confident getting back to preaching. We had good attendance and I felt that Jesus was with us. Today is a busy day - pastor's prayer meeting, new tires on the car, finish taxes, mail a book I sold on eBay, counseling, support group and more - I think I need to get over the reality that I won't complete everything and just complete the most important items. Here is a new picture of my darling granddaughter -

Thanks for the prayers

Thanks for the prayers and keep praying! Church was great and God is good. This is a song by Chris Tomlin that keeps running through my mind and I want to make it my song and prayer:

Verse 1
Caught in the half-light
I'm caught alone
Waking up to the sunrise
And the radio
Feels like I'm tied up what's holding me
Just praying today will be the day I go free

And I want to live like there's no tomorrow
I want to dance like no one's around
I want to sing like nobody's listening
Before I lay my body down
I want to give like I have plenty
I want to love like I'm not afraid
I want to be the man I was meant to be
I want to be the way I was made


Verse 2
Made in Your likeness
Made with Your hands
Made to discover who You are
And who I am
All I've forgotten help me to find
All that You've promised let it be in my life

The Way I Was Made
Authors: Chris Tomlin
Ed Cash
Jesse Reeves
Copyright: 2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Back to work

After taking around a month off from ministry, I am returning this morning. I am surprised at how apprehensive and anxious I feel. I have felt great love from the church and from God, so I'm not sure why I am feeling these feelings. I am trusting that God will meet me in worship today and affirm my calling and gifting as a pastor.

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

My parents stopped by last weekend. We had a great time. Family is so precious. Here are my parents with their great grandaughter.

A Poem

This is a wonderful poem and picture that my daughter made for me as a Father's Day present about 10 years ago. The picture is from 1985 or '86 when we spent a very happy day spent at Pictured Rocks National Monument in Munising, MI. Micah can be seen as a toddler and Melia must be a first grader. I was 30 something. There is a picture of the poem as the layout seems to add to the feeling and meaning.


Inadequate words of good intent to sooth things unspoken.
I show my heart, my need, your constant gift of patience, kindness, this is love.

Take peace, know that you have given all-
Know that He knows, Know that he loves- that the eyes of a proud Father look down upon you as the eyes of a daughter look up for guidance.

Things lost, life rushes on- you’ve not been swept aside.
A constant faith, unending selfless striving to show your heart, to fill the need with your gift of patience, kindness, this is love.

A nice picture

This picture was taken at Max's Deli. Lily was about 2 months old at that time. A lot of folks have been asking about Teri. She has just been transfered to a new recovery program, It is a 90 day to 6 month program. She cannot call home for the first 2 weeks. I hope she can find some help there. If you email me, I can send her address.

More New Baby News!

In the middle of all the crazy stuff going on with our family, I was so happy to find out that MIcah and Kimberly are expecting a baby boy! This is the latest ultrasound. It is a close up of the babies face. They have chosen, Jediah, for his first name. It means "hand of God". Micah wants to call him Jedi for short. I can't wait to have another baby around. Lily has been growing up so fast. She is walking and starting to talk. A few days ago words began to have real meaning for her. It was so fun to watch. She can say and understand; up, cracker, cheese, shoes, olive, and cat. It is amazing how you can have a meaningful conversation with so few words. Well, at least Lily and I can.