Christopher's Snapshots

God Bats Last

2011-04-08T12:41:00.002-04:00

I appreciated this blog post by Paul McKaughan of The Mission Exchange.

Isn't it wonderful to know that our God bats last? (That's a baseball analogy for those not familiar...)

Sparky Anderson

2010-11-04T16:58:00.006-04:00

Those of you from Michigan--or if you follow sports at all--are probably aware that Sparky Anderson passed away on Thursday. A sad day as another legend passes on. He won two World Series titles as a manager with the Cincinnati Reds and another with the Detroit Tigers (in 1984). While I was only four years old at the time, I've read and heard so much about that '84 team I feel like I was at every game of what was an incredible season.

But my favorite memory of Sparky is a personal one. And it's not the opportunity that I had to shake his hand at Tiger Stadium. It's of correspondence we exchanged back when I was nine years old.

The Tigers were in the midst of another losing season. The All Star break was approaching and the Tigers were in last place (this was most definitely not the 1984 season, when they led the AL East wire-to-wire). I wanted to encourage Sparky and the team so I wrote him a letter, talking about the 1914 Boston "Miracle" Braves. That was a team that got off to a miserable start and appeared to be entrenched in last place for the season until they turned a corner and went on to win the World Series in dominating fashion.

A few weeks after writing the letter (and receiving a signed photograph in response), I was watching the post-game show following a Tigers win. The broadcaster was interviewing Sparky, who had whispered something to an umpire immediately following the end of the game, about what he had said to the ump. Sparky's response about knocked me over: "Remember the 1914 Miracle Braves." Those weren't his exact words, I'm sure, but as best I can remember 21 years later. Of course, what was a nine year old to do when he hears a legendary sports figure reference a letter he wrote on national television? Well write another one, of course.

Sparky wrote back--on yet another photograph--telling me that indeed my letter had prompted him to mention that to the umpire after that game. As you can imagine, most of my childhood was spent with two signed photos of Sparky Anderson hanging from my wall.

Sparky was a one-of-a-kind manager and will go down as one of my all-time favorite sports figures. Tigers baseball has now lost two greats this year: Ernie and Sparky.

Click here for Mitch Albom's take on the passing of George Lee Anderson.

The Love-Hate Relationship with Facebook

2010-07-04T02:52:00.002-04:00

It seems as though a lot of people lately are talking about deactivating their Facebook accounts or simply deciding that they spend too much time on FB and cutting back on the minutes (or hours/days??) that they spend on the site.

I've considered this. While I have been serious about this, I always come back to one thing: relationships.

My time on Facebook is spent primarily doing two things--sharing updates and thoughts with friends and family, and receiving updates and thoughts from friends and family. I am now really only on Facebook twice per day--once in the morning, and once in the late afternoon/early evening. I read the posts from my friends, making comments, offering advice, reading some of the recommended stories and articles, and sometimes looking through a photo album that looks like it might contain photos in which I'd be interested.

What does this accomplish? Just recently I discovered that...
Chris and Alissa had a beautiful baby girl.
Ruth is having an incredible visit to Siberia.
Bob and Cynthia are progressing well through the Wycliffe application process.
Scott got married. (And the friends who went to the wedding ate a lot of good food in Arkansas.)

Could this have been accomplished through e-mail and other forms of communication? Some, but not all. And it wouldn't have been done in a public way where I can interact with hundreds of other colleagues, friends and family members. It allows me to learn from what others are learning, grieve when others are grieving, and praise God when others are praising God.

Does Facebook take up some of my time? Yes. But does it also greatly enhance my interaction with friends and family? Absolutely. And that is worth a few minutes of my day!

Languages of Africa

2009-11-16T08:58:00.002-05:00

Click here for a cool blog post by my friends Jeff and Heather. It has a great map and brief summary of languages and Bible translation in Africa. For those interested in learning more about why we're serving in Nigeria, this is a great link to check out.

FAQ--What will Technology Be Like?

2009-07-06T18:54:00.002-04:00

One of the questions that we are frequently asked is what our technology situation will be like. No, we are not living in a hut and be relying on a satellite phone for communications once a month or so (although some of our colleagues may be in similar situations).

We will be living in a large city (Jos) of about one million people. There is power, albeit intermittent, and Internet access, albeit often slow and unreliable. We are anticipating that much of this will be improving over the next year or two.

One of the most remarkable things about Nigeria--and Africa in general--is the widespread use of cell phones as a primary mode of communication. Many (most?) people don't even have a landline. SMS (AKA texting) is very popular. My colleague Erik Hersman (click here to see one of his blogs that I follow) is something of an expert on this topic and recently posted the picture above. Basically, residents of Lagos (a major city in Nigeria but not near where we will be) can text in traffic updates and it will then be combined to allow subscribers to get real-time traffic updates.

I don't really know how it all works, but I thought it was pretty cool and wanted to share it with you. Credit goes to whiteafrican.com for this photo and sharing the idea. If you click on the photo it will bring you directly to the post about this program.

Unexpected Blessing--Diapers!

2009-06-12T15:23:00.005-04:00

An unexpected blessing hit us last week.

We were notified by the Cotton Babies company that we have received their "Diaper Grant for Missionaries." A friend turned us on to this program a few months ago and we applied. For a variety of reasons, we will be using cloth diapers in Nigeria and they can be very expensive (but much nicer than what cloth diapers were a generation ago), so this program seemed like it could be a huge relief for us. That has definitely proven true! The grant has provided us with almost all of the cloth diapering supplies we'll need for our time in Nigeria, and we are so grateful.

If you click here, you can learn more about their program--pretty cool stuff! We're now encouraging any of our friends who are considering cloth diapering to go for it--and use Bum Genius if you can.

What a cool company to want to use their product to advance God's Kingdom in this way. Thank you Cotton Babies!

Overheard when planning to move overseas...

2009-06-12T10:55:00.002-04:00

I think I came in at the wrong point in the phone conversation when all I heard was Christie asking,

"Do you have rabies?"

She was in the midst of making phone calls to arrange for doctor appointments, including the vaccinations we'll need. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one!

Find a Bible

2009-06-06T16:50:00.002-04:00

When we meet with people about our ministry with Wycliffe, plenty of people ask us, "What languages do you speak?" That prompts us to explain about how we're supporting the work in other ways (Finance, IT, etc.) so that the people who are gifted with languages can handle the translation and linguistics issues.

Now, we have a new way to have people hear what the Bible sounds like in other languages. Click here to check out the Find a Bible feature of the International Forum of Bible Agencies. You can select from several languages in Nigeria, as well as thousands of other languages around the world--all in audio form. Pretty cool!

Language Survey in Nigeria

2009-06-02T17:16:00.002-04:00

I've always thought that language surveyors have one of the most interesting jobs in Wycliffe. They get to go out into the field and assess a variety of languages in a variety of places. There are plenty of adventures to be had with this role and never a dull moment. (That's my interpretation and impression of their job, anyway. Reality might be a bit different.)

Nigeria, the country to which we are moving, is in great need of survey. Following is a prayer request that recently went out to Wycliffe staff, and I wanted to share it with all of you. Thanks for your prayers!

"Select three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to explore the land and map it out..." (Joshua 18:4a, NLT)

Nigeria is a big country with hundreds of languages possibly needing Bible translation. Exactly how many of these languages will need translations is not known – and that’s where language surveyors come in. Language survey, or language assessment, is carried out to help identify which languages have the most urgent needs as well as which dialect(s) of those languages would be the most strategic basis for developing literature. The data they gather about languages and dialects informs strategic planning efforts and resource allocation. Surveyors are always in short supply.

• Pray for people working to recruit and train more surveyors. Praise God that more Nigerians are called to serve others within their own nation, including through Bible translation and language survey efforts. Ask God to give qualified young linguists an increasing vision of the need for language survey.

• As challenging as it is to do the actual survey, it can be even harder to patiently sit down and write up the results. Pray for surveyor Mike as he finishes four survey reports. Pray that his write-ups will be clear and insightful and lead to good decisions regarding future Bible translation.

Overwhelmed

2009-05-13T12:00:00.003-04:00

Packing. Throwing out. Selling. Visas. Vaccinations. Goodbyes.

Wow...our next two months before we move to Nigeria will be full and intense. We could use about 30 hours in each day instead of 24! It really is a bit overwhelming. The picture above is of the desk in our spare bedroom...it gives you an idea of what our life feels like right now. Thankfully, we know that the Lord has it all in his hands and he'll be guiding us through this transition.

Good news...we're now at 88% of the minimum regular financial commitments we need in order to make the move! Just two months ago we were at 60% so we are quite pleased with what the Lord has done thus far. We'll be sharing more updates as we get closer to departure.

Oh, and if you're in Orlando...feel free to stop by our house and make an offer on anything you see inside. :-)

Transformation

2009-05-05T09:05:00.002-04:00

Christ transforms lives...including yours, if you choose to let Him! Check out this video:

Thanks to Tom Lin for sharing this with us.

Giving for Eternity

2009-04-20T16:15:00.002-04:00

USA Today just published this article based on recent research. It involves charitable donations in the face of the current economy, and the fact that most donors who are "actively religious" intend to either increase or maintain their giving in 2009.

What the article doesn't discuss is motivation--why religious donors won't be decreasing their giving. One theory that I've heard is that Christians want to invest their money somewhere that will have a high return on investment...and they know that if the stock market can't/won't provide that, then investing in Christian ministries should provide the eternal impact for which they are looking.

Many people have asked us how the economy is impacting our financial partnership development. So far, we haven't seen a tangible impact. (We've gone from 60% of our monthly need to 82% over the past month.) I believe that our friends and family believe that making a Kingdom investment in Bible translation in Nigeria through Wycliffe is a solid one with a high return.

Thanks to all of you who are a part of our team and for making this strategic investment! (If you would like to join us, please let us know and we can discuss further.)

Inner City Art Studio

2009-03-28T08:17:00.002-04:00

Our friends Nathan and Amy have a great ministry and art studio in our inner-city neighborhood...so cool is their story, in fact, that a local media outlet recently wrote about them. Check out this article for the story.

More of Nathan's art is available at www.nathanselikoff.com.

Gateway--Never Again

2009-03-11T21:01:00.002-04:00

Christie and I spent a total of about two hours on the phone with Gateway tech support and customer service today. What we discovered is that once the computer is purchased, you are no longer a customer but rather a prisoner that is to be denied all requests. (Not to mention the fact that they detain you on the phone for obscene periods of time, put you on hold with no music (umm...maybe that's a good thing), and conveniently disconnect you when things are not looking good.)

By the way, Gateway has a policy that says (roughly translated), "If we sell you a lemon computer that fails to work out of the box, we will refuse to replace it and insist on wasting hours of your time in dealing with its issues."

Ugh.

The Positive and Negative of Africa

2009-03-05T07:34:00.002-05:00

I just read this article from the BBC. It's about two Nigerian sisters on a trek across Africa to raise awareness of the good things happenings on this great continent--instead of all the negative attention that is usually focused there.

They focus on good things--beautiful geography, hospitable people, sustainable sources of income, etc.--but in my mind, they miss the biggest positive of all: what Christ is doing in Africa. Not only are many people coming to Christ for the first time, but they are hearing the Great Commission's call on their lives and they are leaving their home cultures to serve as missionaries. This is certainly not to be overlooked when discussing the good things happening in Africa.

Just last week I had the privilege to participate in a conference call with three PhD students. They are studying in Nairobi, Kenya, but their homes are in Burkina Faso, Cameroon and another east African country. All three plan to return home following completion of their degree to serve in the Bible translation movement there. God called them, and they listened--now that is something to really rejoice over.

Building Resources to Reach the World

2009-02-25T19:38:00.003-05:00

This front-page article was just posted online (the print version came out a few weeks ago). It features my boss and friend Bob Creson and discusses some of the ins and outs of resourcing the strategic worldwide ministry of Bible translation.

I have had the privilege of working with Bob--and even being with him at the meeting mentioned in the opening paragraph--for the past three years and will miss the opportunities afforded me during this time. However, the Lord has something new in store for us, and we could not be more excited about it!

Persecution and Bible Translation

2009-02-11T10:30:00.002-05:00

Click here to see Open Doors' list of countries where Christians are most persecuted. You'll notice our future home, Nigeria, is on the list but they specify that it is on the list because of the northern part of the country. We'll be living pretty central in the country, but a great number of the Bible translation needs are in the North. (This map shows this in visual form.)

In fact, if you look at the list of the top 20 countries that are in need of Bible translation, nearly half of them show up on Open Doors' list. A challenge, indeed.

Sad Day--The Citizen Has Closed

2009-01-30T17:55:00.005-05:00

During the summer of 1994, I walked into the office of The Charlevoix County Press, Boyne City's local newspaper. (Boyne City is my hometown in northern Michigan.) I was responding to a help wanted ad for a sports writer--but I was only a high school freshman. I liked sports and liked to write...plus I needed a job. Why not go for it?

Hugh Conklin, editor at that time, took a risk and hired me. I started by covering golf and tennis, and some of the freshman and JV teams. By my sophomore year, I landed my first front page article while covering varsity boys basketball, the second biggest sports team in town (after football).

By the end of my senior year I had worked for the paper (by then called the Citizen-Journal) for four years and the following summer, Hugh gave me a huge responsibility in a smaller weekly paper owned by the Citizen-Journal, the Walloon Lake Villager. I took pictures, reported and wrote the stories, handled much of the physical layout, and even helped with bulk mailing. The newspaper business became a part of my identity, and I still think back fondly on those days.

My parents informed me today that the Citizen-Journal has closed after 128 years of publishing in Boyne City. (Click here for an article about the closing.) The Internet has taken its toll on the newspaper business in general, but this situation hits especially close to home. It is a sad day, indeed.

(As something of a side note, I am really proud of my brother Bradley, whose picture was featured on the front page of the last issue. He is part of band called The Vermeers and there was a story about their new album release.)

Judah Macrae Winkler

2009-01-30T17:46:00.003-05:00

Here is a recent picture of Judah Macrae Winkler, born December 15. We're not sure if he's scared of the bear or just hungry. Probably just hungry.

There...now I can blog all these things that I've been wanting to blog since the birth but it just didn't feel right because I hadn't posted a birth announcement yet. (Even though I think everyone that reads this blog knew about the birth within 48 hours.)

Greg Maddux

2008-12-08T17:14:00.002-05:00

I'm a big baseball fan, and I'm also very much a fan of people who humbly excel at their craft. That's why I've always liked Greg Maddux, even though he's never played on a team which I was following.

I think this article captures the essence of Maddux and even non-sports fans might appreciate this well-written piece about what he was all about. He will be missed, as he just announced his retirement.

Together

2008-12-04T19:27:00.001-05:00

Watch "Together" The Forum of Bible Agencies - North America in Faith Videos | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Looking Ahead to Our Future Home

2008-11-29T15:32:00.002-05:00

Many of you know that in June 2009, Christie and I are hoping to make the move to Jos, Nigeria, to continue our work in support of worldwide Bible translation. Unless you're paying close attention to the world news, you might have missed this news story out of Jos. (Although it has been creeping up the headlines in the last 12 hours or so.)

Please pray for all residents of Jos, Muslim and Christian alike, and for the violence to cease immediately. From the limited news I've heard, all of our colleagues are okay and we continue to pray for their safety amidst this crisis.

Bob on the Radio

2008-11-12T20:36:00.002-05:00

I had the privilege this morning to help arrange (it was a team effort) an interview for my boss and Wycliffe President, Bob Creson, with Christian Broadcasting Network. Click here to listen to the interview, which will air on various CBN outlets over the coming days.

2008-11-10T18:19:00.002-05:00

For all of you Orlando people, we hope to see you at Wycliffe on Saturday, November 22!

Please let me know if you have questions. This invite is available via PDF by clicking here. More information can be found at the Last Languages Campaign website.

Finally, a Chance

2008-10-08T07:54:00.002-04:00

I'm a baseball fan.

When I first moved to San Francisco in 2002, the Giants were on a roll and wound up in the World Series. Thinking this might be something of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity--to see a World Series game and being able to almost walk to the stadium--my friend Scott and I tried to get tickets. The morning tickets went on sale, one of us would work the phone while the other would try online. Then we'd switch.

After a couple hours, as my memory recalls, we gave up.

Now, however, the Tampa Bay Rays are just a few wins away from the making it to the World Series--and bringing the Series to a stadium just a short drive down I-4 from where we live. Just yesterday the realization set in that I might have the opportunity to see a game.

Chances are probably better this time around, being that Tropicana Field is a fairly large stadium with few fans. Looks like sometime soon I might be hitting "Redial" to Ticketmaster again and again and again...

To-Do Lists

2008-09-23T06:30:00.002-04:00

As I was reflecting on all that needs to happen between now and when the baby comes--and now and when we potentially move overseas--I made a (not very profound) realization last night.

Unless we continually take steps forward, nearly every day, stuff won't happen and our To-Do lists won't get checked off--the end result being that we're not prepared. Yesterday was getting some finances in order and making some calls about insurance for the baby. Not sure what baby steps (no pun intended) will take place today, but I have realized that I need to keep looking for them. All that needs to get done won't get done if we don't take action, piece by piece. It's way too easy to be overwhelmed by the list and just shut it down.

And if anyone was wondering, 82 days until Baby Winkler is slated to arrive. :-)

The Latest Priceline Fans

2008-09-05T12:44:00.002-04:00

Christie and I had a friend who was telling us that he likes using Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" feature, so we decided to try it out a few times for our recent California trip. We are now some of Priceline's biggest fans!

In San Francisco, we wound up paying $88/night for a nice hotel very close to the heart of downtown--almost half of what the room was going for elsewhere. We're still not sure why they gave it to us for that price, because surely they were losing money on us--but we certainly didn't ask why!

Then we used it for an airport hotel flying out of SFO. If I had booked the cheapest possible online, we would have paid $65 for a dump. Instead, we wound up in a three-star for $60.

Somewhere, somebody is regretting they ever let people like the Winklers use Priceline.

First Fay...then Gustav...now Hanna...soon Ike

2008-09-05T12:32:00.002-04:00

A brief hurricane update for those of you not in Central Florida:

We made it out of Tropical Storm (or TS, as the locals like to say) Fay with minimal wind and rain damage. (The worst part of Fay for us was all of the ants that decided to take refuge in our kitchen.) I think Hurricane Gustav pretty much missed us completely, but I don't know for sure since we were in California when it came through. We're getting overcast skies and a little rain right now from TS Hanna, and I don't think that it will get any worse than that for us here in Central Florida.

Hurricane Ike is now looming on the horizon, and appears to have South Florida in its sights. This would probably mean Orlando might get hit hard, although I'm still a relative novice at this hurricane-prediction thing.

Tropical Storm Fay

2008-08-18T18:40:00.002-04:00

For the first time since living in Florida, it looks like I might actually experience a tropical storm--Fay. Most schools are closed tomorrow (and some for Wednesday already), Wycliffe's office is closed, store marquees are saying "Stay Away Fay," and all the talk is either about Fay or reminiscing about previous storms.

The damage shouldn't be too bad, but we might be holed up at our house for a while. Thankfully if we get bored playing games with each other, we can always go next door and hang out with the eight kids there.

Thanks to all those for praying for us--we'll try to keep you posted through this blog.

Does a Degree Matter?

2008-08-13T21:32:00.002-04:00

I was talking with a colleague today about college degrees. Do the degrees do anything for us? Most of the people I graduated with are working in something completely outside of their major(s). I'm sure much of the same is true for others as well. For the role in which I'm currently serving, I probably "should" have majored in business administration. Instead I was a social studies major--with an elementary teaching certificate to boot. Yet I would say that my college education prepared me extremely well for this role.

Of course, the value is not as much in the degree itself and even less so what your major was (with a few exceptions), but more so in the college experience as a whole (the degree is only a representation of that experience). When I got home tonight, I read an interesting article from Crown Ministries on this very topic. A couple pull-out quotes, if you don't have time to read the whole article:

On average, every dollar that is put toward education translates into $34.85 earned income over the individual's lifetime, an investment yield any broker would envy.
____________________________________________________________________________________

According to Michael Hampton at Western Oregon University, "Unless you are going to be an engineer, architect, teacher, or lawyer, the label on your degree does not matter. The degree is a check-mark (as opposed to the focus) in most job requirements. Many job ads will state: 'Business, Communications or other degree required.' Most folks have the 'other.' "
____________________________________________________________________________________
Earning your degree goes well past the finances. According to Katherine Hansen, with Quintessential Careers, your degree pays dividends in other areas, including:
* longer life-spans,
* greater economic stability and security,
* greater job satisfaction,
* less dependence on government assistance,
* greater participation in leisure and artistic activities,
* greater community service and leadership, and
* more self-confidence.

More Baby Pictures

2008-07-30T19:14:00.003-04:00

Here are the latest ultrasound pictures--taken this morning--of our soon-to-be-born child. Obviously much more defined than our last set of photos, and still very exciting. The miracle of life is pretty amazing...and so is the technology that enables us to see so much! We were able to see the femur, kidneys, and spine, amidst other random anatomical parts. In these pictures, you can even see the fingers and toes!

To answer many people's questions, we are due December 14 and are not going to find out the gender until, well, about December 14.

Which One Is Pregnant?

2008-07-27T16:11:00.003-04:00

One of these two people is pregnant. The other has sympathy pregnancy. Both have gained a fair amount of weight in the last few months. Can you tell who is who? (Hint: One is Chris and the other is Christie.)

Trauma Healing In Congo

2008-07-18T18:17:00.001-04:00

This video speaks for itself. Thanks to all of you who are praying, giving and going in support of worldwide Bible translation.

Shirts to NOT Run Behind

2008-07-04T17:28:00.002-04:00

I ran a 5K in Winter Park this morning.

I learned today that someone like me should not run behind people wearing the following shirt slogans:

"I am a Triathlete"
"500 Mile Club"
"70 Years Old, 7 Minute Miles"

90 Degrees and Hail

2008-06-29T19:08:00.002-04:00

One of the things I haven't been able to figure out is how it can be 90 degrees outside, yet grape-sized hail is falling from the sky.

This is the view from our porch today--the yard literally looked like a driving range.

Solomon Islands

2008-06-22T18:58:00.002-04:00

We heard a report this week from some of what God is doing in the Pacific area, particularly in Bible translation. I was drawn to some remarkable breakthroughs the Lord has provided in the Solomon Islands. This is evidenced by the praises and prayer requests in the following prayer notice from Wycliffe International:

Praise God for the publication of the whole Bible in the Solomons Pijin language. The Pijin Bible will be dedicated on July 6 as part of the nation's 30th independence celebration. The Bibles are scheduled to arrive by ship just days before the celebration. Pray that the ship will arrive on time; that there will be no difficulty getting the Bibles cleared through customs and off the wharf; that God would be glorified during the dedication service and that many people will purchase Bibles and read them. Pray also for God's spiritual protection and covering over this event.

Diaper Debate

2008-06-16T20:10:00.002-04:00

We're now taking comments, suggestions and recommendations (and alternative ideas) on the age-old debate: cloth vs. disposable diapers. (Okay, so maybe the debate isn't that old.)

Click here for a controversial study done on this topic.

Dogs as Food?

2008-06-11T13:26:00.001-04:00

I heard a talk today by a man who owns three dogs. He has named them Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. I wonder if the dogs understand the meaning of this...

Some Things Just Don't Work

2008-06-10T11:44:00.001-04:00

Check out this video from a Wycliffe subsidiary organization, The Seed Company. I think it's a pretty cool illustration (in a format and media that makes a lot of sense) of why we do what we do.

In the News

2008-06-06T21:46:00.002-04:00

Some of you may have read the recent story about an "untouched" community of people that was photographed in Brazil, supposedly for the first time.

On Tuesday, we received a call requesting an interview with my boss, Bob Creson, regarding Wycliffe's work around the world and how it relates to groups like this one. I thought the video turned out really well, focusing on the impact that Bible translation has and why we feel that language communities should have the opportunity to hear the good news of the Gospel in the language that speaks to their heart. If you haven't already seen it on CBN or TBN, click here to view it on the web.

Life is Awesome

2008-05-24T07:56:00.003-04:00

I don't use the word awesome very much. I once heard the Hope College worship leader, Dwight Beal, say that the word in its original meaning and usage is to be reserved for the things that truly show the awe-inspiring nature of God (or something like that). Ever since that time, I use it sparingly.

But, as you can see from this photo, I am using the word to describe this incredible thing called life--new life. Christie and I are expecting December 14. She is 11 weeks along and is actually feeling pretty good. We appreciate your prayers at this time!

Allegiant Air

2008-05-22T21:41:00.003-04:00

Christie and I were looking at flights today to head up to a friend's wedding in Cleveland in August. After checking the standard airlines, Travelocity, etc., I opted to check out Allegiant Air.

For those of you that have never heard of it, it's a sketchy airline that flies out of Sanford, a city about 30 minutes north of where we live in Orlando. I've heard bad stories of people that have flown it before...but they are definitely cheap. I went in to look at the price, and it's about $200 less total (for both of us) than the seats I have on hold with American Airlines (my airline of choice).

But, then the incidentals started to add up...
--The ability to reserve our seats in advance: $50
--The ability to check one bag: $20
--The ability to go to the bathroom: $5 per trip

Okay, so maybe I made that last one up...but it won't be long, will it?

(At least with American, because of my elite status from flying so much with them, I have first dibs at premium seats and don't have to pay the fee for the first checked bag.)

Maybe we'll just drive. :-)

Sermon Anecodotes?

2008-05-21T20:47:00.003-04:00

I'm preaching the sermon this coming Sunday on the Eighth Commandment: "You must not steal." (Christie shared a dynamite message last week on the Seventh Commandment ("You must not commit adultery."). It will soon be available online for all to hear. Click here to check out this and previous messages.)

Does anyone have any good anecdotes on stealing and/or restitution after a theft? I've got a good Scripture base and now am seeking to fill it out with a few more real-life examples. It could be anything from shoplifting to horse thieves to the old "finders keepers, losers weepers" phrase.

Feel free to drop me an e-mail or post in the comments section on the blog.

Pastors' Wives

2008-05-19T21:20:00.001-04:00

I thought this video was pretty funny...especially if any of you reading this happen to be a pastor or a pastor's spouse.

'Possum...

2008-05-16T21:27:00.003-04:00

I know that most people don't post about random animals on their blog as often as I do, but it must be the nature of where we live--rats and owls tend to live on the outside of the home, 'possums and 'coons tend to stay on the outside (or the roof, where we frequently hear them).

This little guy was saying hi to me from our garbage can as I went to take some trash out this afternoon. I think he might have been stuck, since he didn't really know how to get out until I dumped the can over on its side and he scurried out. I'm glad he was so photogenic (and unafraid of the camera); some people might think we make these stories up about rodents and whatnot.

Lack of Hurricanes

2008-05-15T21:18:00.002-04:00

Check out this article from the Orlando Sentinel. I've lived here over two years and I have yet to experience a hurricane.

This is not a bad thing, mind you, but I do have a bit of curiosity of this destructive thing of nature. Everyone has stories ("Oh, do you remember Charlie...or Andrew...or Rita...that's the one where..."). Thankfully, I have not gone through the ordeal of boarding up homes, evacuating, picking up the pieces, etc. But this article was a good reminder that even so, I need to be making preparations.

Back on My Feet

2008-05-12T21:57:00.002-04:00

I ran today, for the first time in a couple months. I sprained my ankle pretty badly back in March, and needed to stay off it for a while. (Thankfully, x-rays came back showing no fractures.)

Our exercising took the form of a spontaneous soccer game in our yard. With eight kids next door, another two on the other side, and three across the street (who spend more time in our yard than they do in theirs), there's always the potential for a game to break out.

We call our property the "compound." Three houses, 16 people, lots of community. Zoom in on the map below to the green arrow, and you'll find the compound. (And no, the lake next door is NOT okay to swim in!)

View Larger Map

A Texas Lunch

2008-04-26T14:54:00.003-04:00

I had some free time in Dallas today, so I went out for what I would consider a classic Dallas meal:

**BBQ Smoked Turkey Sandwich
**Mac & Cheese
**Green Beans
**Sweet Tea

One of the things I love doing when on the road is eating some authentic local food. While I acknowledge that Colter's is a chain, I think it's awfully good and indicative of local culture.

Christie is in DC this weekend, and I regret that I forgot to tell her she needed to eat at Ben's Chili Bowl while in the city. I've only been there once or twice, but would love to get back on our next trip there.

Florida is for "Old Folks"

2008-04-24T19:25:00.002-04:00

The Florida state senate just voted for "Old Folks at Home" to be the official state song of Florida.

What does that say about us? As certain sectors of Florida are trying to look younger and appeal to a younger audience, the state senate...well, they go and do this...

(I'm not really upset about this, just thought it was kind of humorous.)

Mofu-Gudar NT

2008-03-27T02:14:00.001-04:00

Loves...

2008-03-21T11:23:00.004-04:00

Christie surprised me with date night last night...

First with the pizza I love (Giordano's Chicago style)...

Then with the game I love (baseball, Tigers vs. Braves spring training)...

And all with the woman I love...

Cameroon Dedication

2008-03-14T18:01:00.000-04:00

(Sorry all, I'm reposting this with a new video link--it's better quality and now has the appropriate copyright info. I deleted the earlier version.)

In 2004, I visited West Africa to spend time with some friends who had joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and moved to the country of Cameroon. During my trip, I met a translator couple who were working with a language community, and were coming close to the time when they would be able to celebrate the completion of the New Testament. It was because of this trip that I decide to join and am now serving with Wycliffe in Orlando.

This video is of the dedication event, held last month, for this New Testament. What a tremendous experience, for a community to receive God's Word in their language for the first time! Though I would have loved to have been there, this is the next best thing.

Wal-Mart

2008-03-06T20:14:00.003-05:00

First I post pictures of me petting a cat, now I'm posting pictures of Wal-Mart? Actually, I'm stranded in NW Arkansas right now (have you seen the weather in this part of the country tonight?) and didn't have anything to do.

So, since Bentonville (home of Wal-Mart) is right here, I thought I should drop in on the Wal-Mart visitor center, which is in the building of the Waltons' very first store in Bentonville. Wow...who would have thought a museum devoted to a store?

And of course, there was a gift shop. Wal-Mart hats, Sam Walton pencils, postcards of his truck, etc. I couldn't leave without a little souvenir for Christie, either. She loves Wal-Mart, almost as much as I don't like it.

Small Town College Basketball

2008-02-13T16:29:00.002-05:00

Check out this article from the Detroit Free Press. It details one of the things that I enjoyed most during my four years at Hope College.

Top Cities to Live

2008-02-13T13:02:00.002-05:00

I heard something on the radio this morning (although I unfortunately was not able to verify it online) about the recently-released Top 10 Cities in America in which to live. Three of the top four were: San Francisco, Chicago and Orlando.

Sound familiar? It happens to be every major city I've lived in for the last seven years. (One year in Chicago, three in San Francisco, now two in Orlando)

Hired Gun

2008-02-09T20:52:00.000-05:00

Parmesan here is our hired gun. We've had a rodent problem in our house the last few days, so we brought our neighbor's cat, Parmesan, in to help with the problem. We'll see how it works.

(For those of you shocked to see me being nice to a cat, I thought that I should at least be cordial with him if we expected him to perform. It's the first time I've pet a dog or cat in a couple of years!)

Training

2008-01-26T17:36:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, two of our friends from church completed the Disney Marathon (congrats Alissa and Lydia!).

Their completion of this monumental task inspired me--at the encouragement of Christie--to start training for my own. I decided to start off smaller, setting a goal of running a half-marathon in 2008, and then maybe a marathon in 2009.

I started training this week and ran 10 miles. This was the most since high school, when I was at the peak of my fitness (working out and/or running almost every day). Hopefully this keeps up, and I'll be sure to update you all through the blog. And for those of you in San Francisco, I'm considering running in the SF Marathon (first half) this summer, so stay tuned for a possible visit out West.

MLK Jr. Day Prayers

2008-01-17T21:49:00.000-05:00

Every day, many Wycliffe staff receive a prayer request, pertinent to something happening at the time. The most recent one considers Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and I wanted to share it with you all.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies!...” (Matthew 5:43-44)

On Monday, January 21, we will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday honoring the life of the slain civil rights leader, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." His words continue to offer guidance for us today as we experience and confront acts of injustice within our borders and beyond.

As we think about people who are marginalized within the larger society, those still waiting for Scripture in many parts of the world, ask God for favor and that they may soon have the Scriptures.

Pray for the peoples of Kenya (and others in similar situations, particularly those in the Church who need reconciliation). Ask God for healing of deep cultural divisions, for wisdom and understanding as well as strengthen their faith, allowing them to persevere in love, despite great trials.

Pray for those in this country who are suffering due to unjust circumstances and lack of reconciliation. Ask God to intervene and reign with truth and righteousness.

Praise God for Jacqueline Huggins, the first African-American female who, working as part of team in the Philippines, completed a New Testament translation. Ask God to use her example to inspire others to become involved in Bible translation.

Pray for the diversity efforts of Wycliffe USA. Ask God for wisdom and resources to enable us to honor God with our priorities and actions in these efforts.

4 Shizzle Church

2007-12-24T15:53:00.001-05:00

4 Shizzle Church
Originally uploaded by Chris Winkler

When we were in Chicago a few months ago, we passed this interesting sign outside of a building. The hanging sign says, "I Got 99 Problems 4 Shizzle." On the side of the building it says, "Don't Hate Church. Oh Yeah. 4 Shizzle." Hmm.

First Anniversary

2007-12-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

Christie and I celebrated our first anniversary on Sunday. Hard to believe, isn't it? Two years ago at this time, I was single and preparing to move to Orlando! We celebrated by going with Plan C (Plans A and B were rained out). Christie found a cheap room at a fancy hotel--the Gaylord Palms--here in Orlando. When we arrived and the staff found out we were there for our first anniversary, we were upgraded--to an executive suite that normally would have cost $640/night! Following are some of the pictures from our weekend.

Part of our gigantic room. This was just in the living room. There was also a huge bathroom, bedroom and some corridors connecting them all.

The Gaylord Palms is a pretty cool place to be around Christmas time. There were various fun activities going on, including a music and light show, model train exhibit and wreaths representing each of the counties in Florida. We also played a lot of bocce ball!

The hotel is huge, and there are all sorts of water, plants and animals (including gators) throughout the center of the hotel.

One year down, and we're looking forward to plenty more!

2007-11-25T07:40:00.000-05:00

Another cool Wycliffe video, this one created by my friend and former roommate Jon.

Praying for the Bibleless

2007-11-21T20:17:00.000-05:00

I highly recommend checking out this video. It's one of the coolest prayer stories I've heard in a while.

For links to more of these videos, click here.

Panama Canal

2007-11-15T07:33:00.000-05:00

What would a trip to Panama be without a visit to the Panama Canal? The planning and execution of this amazing landmark made this a remarkable feat! And as a history buff, the elaborate exhibition documenting its history is fascinating.

Our timing was good, as well, because we were able to see the entirety of a ship enter one set of locks and then depart out the other side...quite a process!

View from Panama

2007-11-13T16:29:00.000-05:00

So I'm in Panama for a conference for a few days this week (arrived Tuesday afternoon, leaving Friday morning), and I wind up with a huge room with a nice view. This picture doesn't really do it justice, but just imagine a hotel overlooking the rain forest.

What I Do

2007-11-06T18:41:00.000-05:00

A lot of people ask what I do for my job. One of my roles is helping to prepare my supervisor, Bob Creson, for events like radio interviews.

Click here for a link (you'll have to scroll down slightly and then click "Bob Creson Interview") to listen to a radio interview. In addition to briefing Bob prior to the interview, I also took pictures (that's mine on the link) and was in the studios to assist in whatever way necessary.

On this trip to Chicago, Bob did three radio interviews in addition to speaking on the campuses of both Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College.

Those Hard-To-Find Customer Service Numbers

2007-10-27T09:29:00.000-04:00

Has anyone else noticed that with the advent of the web, some companies do whatever they can to have you NOT call them on the phone? They hide their phone numbers and then when you can find a number, you get put through a million voice mail systems (during which they encourage you to hang up and check the website). I tried calling United Airlines a few weeks ago and after finding their number could not get through to a real live person (which I needed) even after trying all the tricks I knew.

I ran across this website today, courtesy the Orlando Sentinel. I haven't tried it yet, but hopefully it will cut down on some of the hassles with trying to reach customer service at several different companies.

Wycliffe on the Air

2007-10-22T23:03:00.000-04:00

If you're interested in hearing a little of what Wycliffe is all about--and hear the results of a project I've been working on--you might want to check out the following. For several weeks I've been working with my boss, Wycliffe USA president Bob Creson, to help him prepare for two live radio interviews which will be streaming online.

Here's the info:

Wednesday, October 24, 9:35 a.m. EDT, WMBI. Click here to listen online to WMBI.

Friday, October 26, 8:30 a.m. EDT, WETN. Click here to listen online to WETN.

Stuck Semi

2007-10-21T20:35:00.001-04:00

Stuck Semi
Originally uploaded by Chris Winkler

Christie and I were in Chicago this weekend when we ran across this strange sight. A semi truck was stuck between the road below and the elevated train tracks above! Guess someone missed the height restrictions memo before going into downtown.

Student Heroes

2007-10-13T07:48:00.000-04:00

Check out this article about some heroic high school students from a city just south of Orlando.

I always ask myself when I see something like this: "Would I have done something similar when I was their age?" I would like to think so, but I sometimes chicken out at stuff like this. But maybe the adrenaline would kick in and then who knows what any of us could do!

Chicago-bound

2007-10-05T17:11:00.000-04:00

Christie and I will be spending a few days in Chicago later this month. Even though I lived there for the better part of a year, I'm always open to checking out new places. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Vote for My Buddy Chris

2007-10-01T18:01:00.000-04:00

My good friend Chris Plaisance is a mover and shaker here in Orlando. He runs a couple companies with his wife Alissa and God gifted him with an incredible mind. And to boot, he is committed to Jesus Christ.

Now he has been nominated as one of Orlando's most powerful young entrepreneurs and could land some great publicity if he falls in the top 10 of this category. Please click here to vote for him.

If you would like to learn more about his companies, please see:

Plaisance Vehicle Brokers

Gym Soap

Vehicle Spa

SpiderWeb ShadeTop for Jeeps

Evangelicals and the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict

2007-09-23T07:49:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading a book about the 1967 Six Days War, which was a continuation of the Arab/Israeli conflict. Very enlightening, as I felt the book provided a balanced perspective. This is such a complicated topic that I was somewhat clueless prior to reading the book.

However, now I have a renewed interest in this issue and it seems to be good timing. Check out this video from a CNN piece. It really presents a view has not been discussed much at all but that I've felt strongly about for some time. I've learned a lot from friends--both Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jews--and I think my perspective from these experiences is similar as that being presented by the group.

Many of you reading this will be familiar with three of those interviewed (Ron Sider, Chris Seiple and Joel Hunter).

Importance of Bible Translation

2007-09-22T09:11:00.000-04:00

I recently read some quotes from Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi of Uganda. They were published in First Things, Aug/Sept issue, in an article titled "What is Anglicanism." I thought for everyone with an interest in Bible translation, or at least why I do what I do for a living, this would be interesting:

"Traditional African Society was solely an oral culture, which limited its ability to share ideas beyond the family level. We couldn't write our language, and there was nothing to read in our language. . .Because of the Bible, our languages have been enriched and recorded. For the first time, we heard God in our own languages. To this day our people bring their Bibles to church and follow along with the readings."

"The Bible has given us a moral and spiritual basis for transforming culture."

Pretty cool, huh?

How Does GMail Go From One Place to Another?

2007-09-21T08:20:00.001-04:00

For all of you GMail fans out there, check out the final version of this video--some of you may have seen earlier portions of it.

Photos on Flickr

2007-09-09T19:06:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know (probably most of you), I started posting more of my pictures on my Flickr site. Feel free to bookmark and check it periodically, or I've also added a link to the right on this page.

Grandpa's 80th Birthday Party

2007-09-04T22:04:00.001-04:00

Grandpa's 80th Birthday Party
Originally uploaded by Chris Winkler

We had a big shin-dig in Michigan on Saturday for my Grandpa's 80th birthday party (and my Grandma's 78th). It was the first time in nine years that all of their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids have been together in one place. Christie and I flew up for an elongated Labor Day weekend and it was well worth it. Lots of time with my parents and plenty of other relatives.

The best part was when we first arrived at their house for the party--because they had no clue we were in town! My grandpa told us to never do that again or else he might have a heart attack. My grandma thought that I was my brother at first until she did a double-take and it finally sunk in.

It certainly gave them something to talk about at the Dairy Barn, the coffee shop in town where all the locals hang out! (In all actuality, I'm sure they'll be talking about it for months to come.)

Cry, Laugh, Whatever

2007-08-25T23:13:00.001-04:00

Christie sent me this video that her friend Tammy sent, and I had to share it. You can cry or laugh or whatever at it. Just know that it's a little disturbing if you care at all about the future of our country.

Relevant article on CSM

2007-08-19T21:49:00.001-04:00

Many of you know that I used to work for a great ministry called the Center for Student Missions (see link at the right). There was just a really good article written in Relevant magazine about the disparity in Washington, DC, and CSM's own Mark Harmon is quoted extensively in it.

Thought it might be worth a read for you!

Vacationing Down South

2007-08-19T16:33:00.000-04:00

Even though we live in Florida, Christie and I don't really live in "the" South. However, Georgia definitely qualifies as the South and that is where we found ourselves last week for a vacation. Some highlights:

--A visit to Christie's alma mater, LaGrange College.
--Seeing Callaway Gardens, a beautiful park at which Christie used to work. We did it by bike--which amounted to about 11 miles or so. We had a blast!
--My first visit to Turner Field in Atlanta to catch a Braves game. Besides being a great baseball game and watching Bobby Cox earn his record-setting 132nd ejection, I was able to notch up the 14th major league baseball park in which I've seen a game--I'm almost halfway to seeing all of them. (The game ended on a walk-off double by Chipper Jones...like I said, it was a great game!)
--A trip to Trader Joe's, everyone's favorite grocery store. This time, with no airline weight restrictions limiting us, we stocked up--including a cooler we snagged from Christie's parents. Nothing beats TJ's hummus, and Christie really likes some of their healthy snack food. I think this was the best part of the trip for her!
--Relaxing for the last half of the week a B&B for missionaries near Athens.
--The food was incredible, and classic for the South: Waffle House, soul food (including an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $8.50), BBQ, and sweet tea by the gallon for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Though it was a long drive, the trip was well worth it. We hadn't seen much of each other in the previous month because of the day camp which Christie was running, so we spent a lot of quality time together. I'll try to post pictures as soon as I can.

I Can Swim!

2007-08-19T10:14:00.000-04:00

Several of you have written to me wondering how swim lessons went. In short, the class was fun and successful. It was supposed to be a two-week class, but the the three students and our teacher got along so well--and were making such good progress--that we decided to keep going for another two weeks!

By the end, we were all much more comfortable in the water, able to tread water (still not as efficiently as I would like, but good enough for the time being), swim using several different strokes, and float three different ways. Most importantly, the three of us now have the skills necessary to save ourselves if anything unfortunate should happen in the water.

Thanks for the prayers. And if there's ever a pool around the next time we're together, ask me to show off my new skills!

SF Mayoral Election

2007-08-11T16:53:00.000-04:00

I love San Francisco. In what other city--okay there might be one or two others in the world--would the list of candidates running for mayor look like this? Note the occupations of each:

Harold Brown, retired teacher and blogger

George Davis, nudist activist

Tony Hall, former supervisor

Lonnie Holmes, San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department manager

Harold Hoogasian, flower shop owner

Grasshopper Kaplan, taxi driver

Quintin Mecke, program director for the nonprofit Safety Network Partnership

Gavin Newsom, incumbent

Wilma Pang, music teacher

Michael Powers, owner of Power Exchange sex club

Chicken John Rinaldi, showman

Billy Bob Whitmer, educator

Josh Wolf, blogger

Swim Lessons

2007-07-21T16:38:00.000-04:00

For the first time in something like 15 years, I'll be taking swim lessons.

There have been valiant attempts before to teach me to swim: my friend George offering me a swim lesson if I taught him tennis (high school); lessons through the county (middle school); random people offering me the miracle 15-minute lesson. Nothing stuck.

But I'm tired of being afraid to go out in water over my head, I know that learning to swim will be necessary when we move overseas, and if that wasn't enough to push me to take lessons, there was the little canoe accident out in northern California a few years ago.

Pray for me that I would be a good student and that the methods taught would stick with me. Classes are 40 minutes long and run Monday-Thursday for the next two weeks.

Buy One Get One Free to the MAX

2007-07-16T19:49:00.000-04:00

Several months ago, when we were just married, Christie was still figuring out how to shop and cook for a guy who loved to eat...but also loved (and needed) to eat healthy. She knew that I liked Kashi cereal--one of the least-processed cereals that they sell in regular grocery stores.

So when Kashi went on sale one week at Winn-Dixie, Christie stocked up! This picture was taken to document the rationale for Winn-Dixie never again failing to put a limit on its Buy One Get One Free deals.

And yes, there really are 30 boxes of cereal there. It only took us (me) about three months to go through them...with the exception of a few boxes that people decided to ask if they could take. We must have looked like a store or food pantry or something.

Adventure on Half-Dome

2007-07-11T10:10:00.000-04:00

Check out this blog posting by my friend Ryan. The trip he references was the one the best experiences of my life--and a highlight of all the hiking trips we took in California. Read the article he links to first, as it gives good background of the harrowing experience the hike can be.

Rental Cars and Airport Parking

2007-07-10T18:57:00.000-04:00

On my way to work every day, depending on the route I take, I pass several car lots that offer two services: airport parking and rental cars.

Every time I pass one of these places, I have to laugh--does anyone ever get suspicious parking their car and leaving it at a place that also specializes in loaning out cars to other people?

Makes me think twice!

Midwestern Fun

2007-05-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

Brief recap of our Michigan and Minnesota trip last month: GREAT! In typical Chris Winkler fashion, pretty much every moment of every day was full of some sort of activity--introducing Christie to various people at Hope College, meeting friends at random parks in the Twin Cities area, having dinner with some friends from Chicago (now living in Minneapolis), and several speaking engagements at four different churches.

We came away exhausted but full of new friends, renewed relationships with old friends, and a fun time all-around. And yeah, we took care of some work stuff, too: Christie attended a Children Desiring God conference and we shared about Wycliffe on multiple occasions.

This picture is from an amazing open house that my parents threw for us. The purpose was to give all of our friends and family from Michigan a chance to celebrate our wedding with us, as Florida was a bit far to come for most of them. Mom and Dad did a wonderful job with the food, decorations, invitations, etc. We also owe thanks to Doug and Katrina Jones and many others who helped my parents in tremendous ways.

Proof of the Owl

2007-05-19T22:36:00.000-04:00

So if anyone actually doubted my owl story, here is a picture. More appealing pictures to come soon. (And those pictures are NOT of the owl, in case you were concerned.)

Friendly Neighborhood Owl

2007-05-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

Christie and I just got back from a 10-day trip through the Midwest. About half of our time was spent in Michigan visiting the towns where I grew up and went to college: Boyne City and Holland, respectively. The other portion of the trip was in Minneapolis, where Christie attended a Children Desiring God conference and we visited with some of my friends who live in the area.

The trip was great, but it exhausted us. We were looking forward to coming home and spending the late afternoon and evening on Monday just relaxing and getting ready for the work week. Little did we know what was waiting for us at home.

A friendly neighborhood owl had somehow found its way into our house. But finding an owl in your home is one thing--I don't think that sole issue would have been too disturbing. However, finding a dead owl being eaten by maggots, and that appeared to have enjoyed defecating on almost every surface possible in our house--now that was quite upsetting.

Upon finding the owl, Christie ran out of the house screaming. I went next door and got the nine-year old twin boys who I thought might like to help me dispose of the animal. (They did at first, until it came time to actually move it.)

Since then, we've spent our week cleaning up owl feces and washing everything in sight. (In addition to working with our landlord to close the hole which we think the bird found its way in.) Ugh.

Two-Issue Christianity

2007-04-06T13:21:00.000-04:00

Isn't it cool when you read something that is almost exactly how you feel, but you have never been able to eloquently put it in writing? That's what I thought when I read this great article that Christie passed along. May it provoke your thinking as much as this notion has provoked mine over the past several years.

Tolerance

2007-03-10T15:26:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about my time in San Francisco lately, for a variety of reasons. As I was listening to my favorite SF radio station this afternoon on the Internet, I heard something interesting.

There is a big evangelical teen conference going on there right now, a program of Teen Mania called BattleCry. It has received some publicity in SF. Really, anything in SF is cause for a protest. (I seriously felt like there was one every day somewhere in the City.)

But as I was listening to KFOG today, the DJ said something which really caught my attention. To paraphrase: "Remember, in thinking about tolerance, we need to be accepting of those with views other than our own. And to all of you out there at AT&T Park for Battlecry, I hope you meet many of our stellar San Franciscans." The implication here is that in the city known for its tolerance of every belief EXCEPT Christianity, maybe a few people are actually beginning to see the hypocrisy in that system.

A Great Place to be Christian

2007-02-24T09:20:00.000-05:00

This article was in the San Francisco Chronicle this past week. It's about protests surrounding a seminar hosted by my old church (Promised Land Fellowship) and quotes the pastor as well as a friend of mine (Michael Laird).

Some of you know the hostile climate Christians face in SF, and for others, this article is just a small taste of some of the issues going on in the City. I miss it, though, and think that San Francisco is a great place to be Christian.

Why? The Christian community is so small that it is a pretty tight-knit community. Also, the City really forces you to take a stand: either you're a Christian or you're not. Bible-belt Christianity ("I'm a Christian and go to church because my parents did.") just doesn't cut it there.

Updated Website

2007-02-23T18:06:00.000-05:00

If you get a chance, check out my new and improved Wycliffe website. I just put up a bunch of wedding photos and updated the prayer requests.

Enjoy!

Rocket in the Rear View Mirror

2007-02-21T19:35:00.000-05:00

There's only a few places on earth where you can look in the rear view mirror and see a rocket heading out to space. Central Florida is one of those areas, and this experience happened to me on Saturday.

I was heading west on the Beachline Expressway, on my way back to Orlando after an ultimate tournament in Palm Bay, when I looked in my rear view mirror to see a thick smoke trail with a ball of flame at the end of it. Cars were pulled off on the side of the expressway to take pictures. I was clueless, thinking that there was a shuttle launch that I had not heard about.

So when I got home, I found this article about a rocket launch that took place at that time.

Last summer's shuttle launch was one of the coolest things that I've seen in my life--and that was from my front yard! It's one of the few redeeming factors that I've found about living in Central Florida.

Why only 24 hours?

2007-02-06T12:29:00.000-05:00

I often am disappointed at the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day.

To maintain an all-around healthy life, we're supposed to: exercise, eat healthy (which means taking time to menu plan and cook meals), spend time in God's Word, journal, pray, mentor someone, be mentored, engage with a church community, keep up on the latest world news, spend time with family and friends, read books, and relax.

And we're supposed to do all that, plus go to work, with only 24 hours in a day? Yeah, right. I like to get eight hours of sleep every night in order to be at my best, but I doubt I could do all of the above even if I only got four hours.

And there's also that neglected blog...

Photos Available!

2006-12-28T08:59:00.000-05:00

A few photos from our wedding and honeymoon are available online at my Flickr site. I'll hopefully post more as we get more back from the photographer and other friends.

Bride and Groom

2006-12-24T18:59:00.001-05:00

Chris and Christie's Disney Wedding
Originally uploaded by Chris Winkler.

No, we didn't really have a Disney wedding...and we didn't even buy these hats. :-) We found them in the store and thought they were pretty cool, and couldn't pass up the photo op. More wedding and honeymoon photos to follow soon, hopefully.

No Longer a Secret

2006-12-24T18:43:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I was keeping our honeymoon destination a secret from my beautiful bride...and nearly everyone else. I thought that for those of you wondering who might be checking this blog, I'd fill you in here.

We went to a secluded cabin in northeastern Alabama (about an hour from Chatanooga, TN) for about a week. It is owned by some friends of our pastor and his wife, and they rent it out to couples in ministry needing a retreat (Christie and I certainly fit the bill!). It was absolutely perfect for us--wilderness, mountains, no people around unless we wanted to visit town, good food nearby.

A Disturbing Revelation About My Fingers

2006-12-02T23:46:00.000-05:00

My fingers are small.

This was made painfully aware to me by a man at the jewelery counter at JC Penney today. Christie and I were looking at wedding bands for me, and most of the styles come in sizes of 10 or higher. I, as it turns out, wear a 7.5. So we went on-line, thinking that there would be a better selection there. WRONG. The lowest size was 8.5.

Do I really have such small fingers that no major jeweler or department store carries a ring within one full size of my own? The answer, sadly, is yes.

(A disclaimer: plain white gold bands are available in my size, but this is the ONLY style available. We're looking into other options...)

Black Friday

2006-11-24T13:09:00.000-05:00

For the first time in the 26 Thanksgiving Day weekends that I've celebrated during the course of my life, I went shopping on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). I absolutely needed a dark suit for some meetings in New York next week, and they were (of course) deeply discounted at JC Penney--the only store I ever shop for clothes.

I had a game plan: one store, only looking at certain items, in and out in one hour. Did I reach my goal? I got everything I needed at good prices and was walking out of the store about an hour and 10 minutes after entering. Not too shabby.

A Near (Venison) Miss

2006-11-15T20:54:00.000-05:00

How is it that I live in rural Michigan for most of my life and the closest I ever come to hitting a deer was just a few days ago in the Wycliffe parking lot in Orlando? And not only did I nearly hit the thing with my car--I almost hit him twice.

Late Saturday night (I was working late to finish things up before a week-long trip to Dallas) I was driving through the parking lot at Wycliffe when a deer darted out in front of me. After slamming on the brakes (as much slamming as can be done at 10 mph), the deer passed and I made it out to the road and turned right. Well...the deer had turned left decided to cross the road: immediately in front of me. That thing almost got squashed twice in a span of about 15 seconds.

And oh what I wouldn't have done for a little venison stew... :-)