To-Do Lists

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

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

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

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?

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.
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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.' "
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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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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...

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.