Kanye West interrupts CNN:    http://kanyelicio.us/http://www.cnn.com/
Kanye West interrupts Kanye West:  http://kanyelicio.us/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn23L0bCoXQ
Kanye West interrupts ME!:  http://kanyelicio.us/http://www.durkniblick.wordpress.com/

Here’s how:  http://kanyelicio.us/

Y’know, if you watch the link to Leno (him “interupting” himself above) Kanye sounds very remorseful!  A grown, famous, rich, powerful, man almost brought to tears out of shame and remorse…THAT is something you don’t see everyday!  HATS off to Mr West!!

I am staring a new journey, so I created a new blog, it just sounded like the right thing to do!

My Boss is asking me to study and pass the CISSP exam.  He is paying for me to take the exam too.  The CISSP certification is a pretty big deal.  It will mean more pay in the long run.  It is every bit as valuable as a 4-year degree.  Three team members in my network security group studied and passed the CISSP exam already.  One was my boss.  I have 10 weeks to prepare.  One week is already over.  To show my commitment, I quit my second job.  Yeah, I know right?

Read more about it here:  http://inchdeepmilewide.wordpress.com/

-Durk-

The wedding…

And the divorce…

The first makes me all misty-eyed every time I watch it.  How fun!  The second just makes me laugh!  HA!

-Derin-

This is a shout out to all my Christian brothers and sisters…please contact http://www.doveworld.org/contact and lovingly ask them to take their hateful, anti-Islam signs down.  Spread the word (I posted to Facebook too).  The full news story is below.

What I sent:

 

I am a New Testament, Charismatic, Nazarene.  Please take your sign down.  The message that you send is that God hates Muslims.  If you really wish to reach out to the world then please also reach out to Muslims.  Love and accept Muslims into your church to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ so that they can be transformed.  Please don’t alienate them.  Please be a seeker of peace and reconciliation.

Story:http://www.wftv.com/news/20001118/detail.html

clipped from www.wftv.com

Gainesville Church Displays Anti-Islam Sign

Posted: 7:22 am EDT July 9,
2009Updated: 7:28 am EDT July 9,
2009

GAINSEVILLE, Fla. — A Gainesville, Florida church has a shocking anti-Islam sign on its front lawn and says it is going to put up more.

The sign at the Dove World Outreach Center reads “Islam is of the devil.”

City code enforcement says the case is still under investigation and the sign does not violate any ordinances. However, residents say they want the sign to come down.

“I think it’s all stereotypical about the whole Iraq war. People think all Muslims are like that and we’re not,” said Gaby Alim, Muslim resident.

Someone tried to spray paint over the sign, but the church quickly fixed it. The church is already making plans to put up even more signs.

Copyright 2009 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I love listening to NPR’s This American Life.  Here is an expert from an episode I recently listened to entitled Plan B:

There’s the thing you plan to do, and then there’s the thing you end up doing. Most of us start off our lives with some Plan A which we abandon…switching to a Plan B, which becomes our life.

I had a Plan A a very long time ago.  I am not only on Plan B, but C, D and maybe even E, F & G.

My Plan A did NOT include:

• Working for a local telephone company
• Having to work a second job
• Constant and persistent collection calls from the student loan folks
• Renting instead of buying
• Having my check garnished

Derin

Chad Miller and his brother Chris were kayaking last week on a swollen Brandywine Creek in PA when they went over a 4-ft dam and drowned.  They found Chris’ body the same day, and found Chad’s body a few days later.  It is a great loss.  Chad was a dear friend from my teenage years.  We were in the same youth group at Oakland Church of the Nazarene in Cedar Rapids, IA.  I haven’t talked to him face-to-face in over 15 years and still the loss is great.  It is also a milestone of sorts.  Besides my grandparents and my dad, Chad is the closest loss that I have yet to experience.  It is a milestone I wish I would have never reached.

There are quite a few links to news stories about the accident and links to memorials, but here is a short list:

• An in-depth story:  http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090611/NEWS/906110327&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
• Chad’s body found:  http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090616/NEWS/906160341/Pastor+s+body+found+after+kayak+accident
• Letter from Chad’s Pastor
• About Pastor Chad Miller: http://www.wpc.org/about-us/our-staff/chad-miller/
• Facebook Memorial:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=89310669827&ref=mf
• Online Memorial-Chad:  http://www.funeralplan.com/powersfh/obits?id=171218
• Online Memorial-Chris:  http://www.funeralplan.com/powersfh/obits?id=171220

Oakland Church had a huge youth group.  Karen Phillips was the youth pastor.  Her dad, Gene Phillips, was the Sr. Pastor.  Tom Darland was my Sunday School teacher and is the current youth pastor.  We must have had 75-125 kids go through the youth group during my jr. high and sr. high years.  At any one time the group was about 30-40 teens.  We were a very close-knit family of friends.  We took the church and youth group extremely serious.  We met Sunday mornings, evenings and Wednesday nights-basically whenever the church doors were open.  There were about a half dozen high schools in the area that had kids that met in our youth group.  The youth group was everything to me.  I had a few close friends at school, but for the most part I was a nobody, a social outcast, a bit of a religious geek.  And I didn’t care much about the social scene there.  But at youth group, well that was different!  I had friends, many, many friends.  I was popular.  I was a leader.  I made life-long friends.  We went on youth and mission trips, choir tours and service projects.  Youth group was my life.  Life was good.  And Chad was a big part of that.

I first became friends with Chad very shortly after he joined the youth group.  We found out that we shared a love for Bill Cosby’s old stand up records!  We recited entire sketches together, laughing our butts off!  That was the beginning our our friendship.

Everyone in the youth group loved Chad.  He was smart, funny and crazy!  Even though Chad was a year behind me, we all looked up to him and wanted to be just like Chad.  He skateboarded, we skateboarded.  He did crazy things with his hair, we did crazy things to our hair!  He rebelled, we rebelled!  Chad had blue hair for a bit, and I think Kool-aid red too!  As in he used kool-aid!  I remember one mission trip to a native-American Indian reservation near Wounded Knee.  We were really roughing it, no air-conditioned houses, no running water except for a hose, no hot water.  We stayed in a couple of shacks and tents.  Chad’s sister, Amy, braided Chad’s long hair.  They were long thick braids.  One less thing for Chad to worry about.  On this trip we were able to get away to a community pool to cool off and to clean off.  So we’re standing there, Chad with his crazy hair, and we’re talking and there’s these little kids gathering around Chad and just staring at Chad’s hair.  It was like the world stopped and they were completely enamored with Chad’s head!  So Chad carried on the conversation trying to ignore the kids.  But they just stood there.  So finally Chad changed his attention to the kids-he looked at them, acknowledging them all around.  But they just stood there.  Finally Chad is making eye contact, staring back, but the kids aren’t looking at his eyes, it is that crazy hair!  Finally Chad had to say something to break their gaze and they finally scampered away!  FUNNY, FUNNY STUFF!  We laughed and laughed and laughed.

There was a graveside service and a memorial service yesterday.  I was fortunate to be able to travel up to Iowa and attend.  There were so many people there.  Mostly family-Chad came from a HUGE family.  But there were so many friends there too.  And I got to spend time with a few of them swapping stories and remembering the good ol’ days of youth.  Many laughs and many tears.

The last time I saw Chad face-to-face he seemed like he was still finding himself, still figuring out God and the church and his life.  He didn’t seem to be that close to God at the time.  I can’t tell you how thrilled and blessed I was a few years ago when I first discovered that Chad was a minister!

I miss Chad’s blue hair! I miss his huge smile! I miss his laugh. Many old friends are mourning this great loss. All the stories I read, all the articles, comments and memories, first it’s interesting because they are either from Chad’s point of view or Chris’. Chris was just the younger brother to me, but I do remember that Chad loved Chris very much.  There are many from Chad’s church that offered very kind words and fond memories.

There is a Facebook page that is dedicated to the memory of Chris and Chad.  It has been up for about a week now.  There are over 190  embers.  Most of the members have funny names with funny symbols.  Chris was a teacher at English First International teaching English and International Affairs.  All of these foreign students offering their condolences and memories.  Chris was exciting and fun.  He tried to teach them baseball!  He introduced them to marshmallows.  So there is a pic of him with a marshmallow, he looks like he is in a classroom with his students.  The marshmallow is on fire!  I don’t know if there was a Sterno there or what.  Roasting marshmallows in class with his students.  That is a love for your job right there!  I also read that he made a mean “better than sex Chocolate cake”.  One of the stories that a student tells is of one of the last classes that Chris taught, he was making a case about true love, he was explaining that he had found it.  Chris leaves a wife behind, Nicole.  Nicole and Chris made a 6-week journey down the Mississippi in a home-made boat that he and his dad, Paul, made!  That is a lust for life!

These stories are amazing and they focus on Chad or Chris.  All of the kind words, all of the remembered stories, all of the impacted lives! Chad and Chris made a real impact on their world. A positive impact. An impact for the kingdom of God. They touched lives and were loved by many. Know this: They were blessed. They blessed others. God used Chad & Chris. They lived life. With a purpose! And many, many people miss them both very much. And we are thinking and praying for all of the family.

It is faith that keeps me from falling into depression or dwelling on the sadness of the loss.  I know that one day I will see Chad again.  We’ll catch up.  We’ll recite Bill Cosby!  We’ll ponder theology.

Dear Heavenly Father, please accept Chris and Chad with open arms.  Please keep them until we arrive. Be with Amy and her family, Paul and Ellie, Nicole, extended family, close friends, students and parishioners and all who were touched by Chad and Chris’ life. Let them know that you love them. Give them your peace and your comfort that only you can give those that mourn and weep. Amen.

I am a better person for knowing Chad and the Miller Family.

Two side notes.  One regarding communication.  I was told about the tragedy from my good buddy David who pastors in Iowa-he too grew up in the youth group with Chad.  He had tried to call me but I was unavailable.  He finally broke the news to me through Facebook’s IM (instant message).  I informed our old youth pastor through Facebook email.  There is an “In loving memory…” page for Chad and Chris on Facebook.  I was able to chat with friends and let them know about the tragedy and also let them know how much I appreciated them-all through Facebook.  Also regarding the Internet I was able to track and read most of the articles from a Google search on “Chad Miller” and focusing on the Google search news tab.  There were many, many articles.  I was also able to directly email one of the reporters and share my thoughts and memories of Chad-and he even published a few thoughts.  Instant communication is amazing.  The funeral home posted a video and had a place to offer condolences.

Second is a lesson learned.  Tell your friends you love and appreciate them.  Thanks Dyanna for pointing this out and then practicing it.  Life is too short.  Don’t wait or take your friends for granted.  Yeah, it is a little sappy, but where would we be without our friends?  I’m gonna do this.  I am doing this.  I have looked up a few more friends (mostly by using Facebook-I may be a little addicted) and told them how much I love them and appreciate them and miss them and will always fondly remember the wonderful times I have had with them.

I love you guys and gals!

-Derin-

A few years ago, when Kaleb & Keegan were only 9 or 10 they decided to form their own partnership business!  Minnie and I had settled into a Sunday afternoon nap with our little ones.  We had moved into our duplex out of our apt.  But we did not own a lawnmower-we would borrow the neighbor’s and buy gas.  So while we were sleeping Kaleb & Keegan borrowed the mower and started their own afternoon business! 

When we awoke they had made some money, the lawns were trimmed and there was even weed whacking going on!  We do not own a weed whacker either-they had borrowed that too-it took both of them to use the heavy gas-powered trimmer-but they got the jobs done! They were inspired, motivated and self-sufficient.

I have been trying to get them to do the same every summer since-to start their own lawn care business.  A few weeks ago Keegan confided that he did not know what to charge.  So I asked him how much he wanted to make an hour and how many lawns could he and his brother finish in an hour?  I explained that I make about $10/hour at my part-time job-that if he wanted the same and mowed 2 lawns in an hour that he should charge $5.00/yard.  If he and his brother both wanted $10/hour then they should charge $10/yard.

Motivation is key with teens!  Last weekend they wanted a video game, they rolled out our 2 lawnmowers (one was free off of freecycle.org) and canvassed the neighborhood. They came home asking for a ride to Wal-Mart to buy their game!  They not only met their goal and purchased their game, but they also made a couple of regular customers!

I have to say that makes me very proud!  I want them to be creative.  To think outside the box.  To be self-sufficient.  To think of ways to make money on their own.  I don’t want them to have to rely on anyone-not me, not mom, not the government, etc.!  I also want them to learn how to do business!  How to run a business, to count costs, to interact with people, to be fair, to be responsible, to help others, to be independent, etc.  Heck they have even biked up to Wal-Mart on their own.  They are really growing up!  Much too fast.

Later in the evening I asked them if they wanted to step it up a bit and order free business cards from VistaPrint.com.  They did!  And they even ordered cheap t-shirts that had a matching logo and info.

The Twins
Twins for the Price of One
Lawn Care Enthusiasts

Vistaprint.com is a pretty cool site.  They are known for their free (just pay for shipping) business cards; color, on card stock and with their logo on the back.  A few bucks more to remove the logo on the back.  They had lots of other matching stuff such as hats, stationary, post-it notes, return labels and even a cheap but simple matching website for $5/month!  Next time I think we plan to spend just a few more bucks and get a frequent customer print on the back of the card-buy 10 mowings and get a free snow removal free!  Thank goodness we have a snow blower!  250 business cards and 2 t-shirts shipped for under $20!  Not bad!  So they will feel legit, look professional and be more inspired! 

Way to go guys.  I love you guys and am proud of you.  Now go make daddy some money!

-Dad-

The topic for the Friday KMBZ Shanin & Parks Show focused on Memorial Day.  They were asking if Americans just thought of it as a holiday away from work and a time to relax and have fun, grill out and camp or if Americans really took time out to remember.  I called in and was the first caller on the subject.

I explained that I was just another person who took a holiday off and didn’t think too much about the meaning.  But that changed on Memorial Day 2005.  I was camping with my family in the back yard of a friend’s house when my father called.  He told me he was on his way to my house and that he should be in town later in the week.  We were all looking very forward to spending time together.  Later that evening I received a phone call from my aunt-she was traveling with my father, they were both recent retirees.  My father was feeling ill and laid down and never awoke.  He had a heart attack.  My father’s passing changed my personal outlook of Memorial Day.  I also went on to explain how blogging has been a great emotional outlet for me; I have blogged about my father’s passing and also about losing a set of fraternal twins to a miscarriage.

They (Shanin & Parks) were very kind to let me go first and let me speak without interruption.  It was a good call.

So on Memorial Day I take time out to remember.  To remember my father most of all.  But to remember those that have passed away-not just military veterans, but friend, family, etc.

I hope your Memorial Day was relaxing, but I also hope you spent time reflecting.

-Derin-

My friend wants to name her child: Gage Iley-Joseph. Or, get ready, G.I. Joe. And she is completely serious.

Y’know when you watch a movie and then you watch it again later and it takes on a new meaning?  I re-watched Fun with Dick and Jane: