Trunk or Treat

This is the second year children's ministries has sponsored a trunk or treat at Parkway. We moved it inside last night because it was cold and very windy (up on the top of the mountain!). Last year we estimated about 600 children and adults were part of trunk or treat, while this year we estimate we doubled that. Beyond the numbers there were lots more "non-Parkway" people here, which is in-line with what we are hoping to accomplish. Our goals for this event can be summed into three lines.

1. to reach out to our community and give our church members an easy event to invite people to.

2. To promote an event where families can do something fun together at church.

3. to offer an all-church event where lots of people can have fun together who do not see each other during a normal church week.

I felt like the mission was accomplished.

Why did it grow so much from last year. Here are my thoughts:

• 2nd year activities are always bigger if the first year is successful





• We have a digital sign on Orange Ave. that we advertised on





• We did not do this event on Halloween so people could do this and be in their neighborhoods.

Next year I would like to provide families with full color hand-outs to give their neighbors during trick or treat which highlights our children's ministry at Parkway.

Layman's farm

City of Ember movie review

My review for the City of Ember movie is now online at Kidology.org. You can find it here.

Top 10 list week 5

This week's top 10 is the top 10 reasons why I am not cool anymore.


I admit it I am not even aware of what people use in place of cool today. Our student ministries pastor tells me it could be the word light. So perhaps the top 10 reasons I am not light would be a better title. But then the list would be populated with things like Oreos, popcorn and fried food.
10. I have a cheap MP3 player and not an ipod
9. My hairstyle is called “wash-n-wear”

8. Been there done that

7. My primary shopping destination is Walmart
6. My shoe brand is Dr. Scholls (bet you didn’t know they made shoes!)
5. I prefer to be in bed by 10:00 p.m.
4. I like music from the 1980s and 90s and can’t really tell you who is in the top 10 right now
3. While I may look better in contacts glasses are so much easier for me so comfort over style
2. I don’t own a Mac
1. I really don't want to be cool anymore. Maybe I am cool though becasue I dont' care!

No one won the $5 Starbucks card for getting this one right. Nice guesses though!

City of Ember book review

The City of Ember movie is coming out and we recently read the book and I thought it would be good to review it here. I will be reviewing the movie for Kidology this weekend.

Blake - 3 Stars "It was interesting, engaging, mystifying and made you wonder what was going to happen next.
Tanner - 5 stars "I was on the edge of my seat to find out what was going to happen.
Marty - 3.5 stars "A good book, but there were times I was concerned if the author was making a statement about faith in chiding the 'believers' or does she have a greater purpose for them in the second book?
Patsy - 3.5 stars "The development of the characters was a little disappointing, but it still kept me interested."

Our Cubbies

I have officially decided what I would do if I could travel back in time. I would go to the year 1945 and ring that sinking goat's neck before his owner tried to sneak him into Wrigley Field. Who brings a goat into a major league baseball stadium anyhow? I first became a fan of the Cubs in 1984, the first year they broke my heart. I can remember very starting player that year: Jody Davis, Leon Durham, Ryne Sandberg, Larry Bowa, Ron Cey, Keith Moreland, Bobby Dernier, Gary Matthews, Rick Sutcliffe, Dennis Eckersley, Steve Trout, Scott Sanderson and Lee Smith!

They broke my heart again in 1989, 1998, 2003 (5 more outs!) and 2007. But this year could be the worst. Six players with 20 or more home runs, solid pitching from the top five starters, middle relief and the closer and a wonderful bench. UUUGH.

Go BEARS!!!

Our Cubbie

David has graduated up to the Cubbies in Awana and he gets his own uniform and book. I have never seen a little boy so proud of this. He loves being a Cubbie if you can't tell.

Top ten list week 4

Wow it has been a busy week. So much I have wanted to put on the blog but no time. I wanted to put another top 10 list on. No winner last week so let's see if we can make an easy one. My top top 10 favorite national parks (those I have visited).



10. Assateague National Seashore - camping on the beach was so fun

9. Shenandoah National Park - so close to Roanoke and no here has ever been. Beautiful views and where I spotted my first bear.

8. Mt. Rainer National Park - my wife though it was a little too high up

7. Sequoia National Park - Really big trees

6. Smoky Mountains National Park - Nature and really old churches and graveyards

5. Glacier National Park - huge snow walls in June and crystal clear lakes

4. Badlands National Park - very unusual formations

3. Yosemite National Park - if you ever been no need to ask

2. Yellowstone National Park - the grandaddy with huge amounts of wildlife


1. Yes it is Grand Canyon National Park!

Rachel will have to wait a couple of years to claim her prize!

Sorry Becky but all prizes are non-transferrable. Read the fine print!

Top 10 list week 3

OK I am so confidant about this list that I am offering a $5 gift card to Starbucks! I am going to list my top 10 favorite professional athletes of all time. Keep in mind that I usually look for character, heart and teamwork to compliment ability when I cheer a particular athlete. Of course playing for a favorite team also helps.

10. Tom Waddle - never a big numbers guy, but this Bears receiver had heart and guts

9. Michael Jordan - Greatest NBA star but weak on the character side

8. Brian Urlacher - I love his intensity and sense of humor, but his choice of Paris slides him down this list

7. Scottie Pippen - Handled the term side kick so well and played great defense

6. Derrek Lee - just a class act who can hit and play first base as well as anyone

5. Mike Singletary - Samurai Mike is a strong believer

4. Mike Ditka - I know Da Coach is a caricature of himself but he is Da Coach and he was a great tight end. He played and coached with everything in him.

3. Andre Dawson - why the Hawk is not in the hall of fame is a mystery, but he was so talented and is such a great guy.

2. Ryne Sandberg - Ryno played the game with dignity and is my generation's Mr. Cub

1. Walter Payton - Sweetness was no bigger than me yet he retired the number one rusher of all time and he never dodged a tackle by runnign out of bounds. I cried when he died - ask my wife.

Honorable mention - Gale Sayers, Dan Hapmton, David Robinson, Reggie White, Tom Laandry, Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Robin Ventura, Mark Beuhrle and Rick Sutlcliffe.

No winners this week -sorry

Williamsburg with the Moberlys

My sister Becky and her family came in for a week and we all took advantage of home school days at Colonial Williamsburg - cheap tickets!

Also they got to spend some one on one time with Brendan. For those of you who are not aware please be in prayer over Brendan's possible future in my sister's family. You can read some of what my sister wrote about it on her blog (link to the right). Anyway we all had a good time seeing the "city" and camping.