Live Stream of Leadership Symposium

I am wrapping up my MBA this weekend and if you would like to watch the leadership symposium from the comfort of your own home here is the link:

http://stream.georgefox.edu/live/som.sdp

Simply cut and paste or just simply click on that link above.

For everyone else I am sure we will have some footage taped so you can review the discussion on leadership. The symposium is Saturday February 21rst and starts at 8am and will run until 4:45pm.

Until next time.

N

Advertising Wars

This is an article I found on MSNBC - The religious battle has started in the heart of London via a red bus.....

Christians, atheists battle on London buses
As anti-God ad campaign ends, religious groups prepare rebuttals
The Associated Press
updated 11:35 a.m. PT, Fri., Feb. 6, 2009
LONDON - Christians are soldiering on in the battle over God's existence by putting ads on London's famous red buses urging people to have faith.

The posters are a response to an atheist campaign that told people to stop worrying about religion because God probably doesn't exist.

The Christian Party has paid $22,000 to run ads declaring: "There definitely is a God. So join the Christian Party and enjoy your life," in red, pink and orange letters.

The ads will start appearing buses Monday, just as a monthlong campaign by atheists ends. In that campaign, atheists paid for bus ads saying there is probably no God, so "stop worrying and enjoy your life."

The atheist campaign, organized by the British Humanist Association and backed by Oxford University biologist and author Richard Dawkins, sparked a debate over religious — or anti-religious — messages in public spaces.

Ad authority wouldn't intervene
More than 300 people complained to Britain's advertising watchdog, arguing the atheist ads were misleading and denigrated people's faith. Christian groups decided to respond after the Advertising Standards Authority dismissed the complaints.

"The atheist campaign has been something of a red rag to Christians and was begging for a response," said George Hargreaves, the head of the Christian Party, a religious group that fields candidates for elections to the European Parliament. "I got tired of seeing these messages on buses driving past my window and want to give people the chance to read something with hope."

Another Christian group has also joined the campaign, with a more confrontational message from Psalm 53:1, which reads: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." That ad will run for two weeks.

And the Russian Orthodox Church has joined in with an ad reading: "There is a God, believe. Don't worry and enjoy your life."

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Society, said the society supported the right of religious groups to post their messages but said the advertisements were "dogmatic and declaratory, leaving no room for reason and debate."

"Our ads were undogmatic and funny, with the addition of the 'probably' in line with the continuing openness of humanists to new evidence," she said in a statement on the British Humanist Association Web site.


Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29056903/

William McDonough

I want my bailout money

You get your bailout money yet?

Baby Reunion 2009

(Charlotte at two month and two weeks old).


"Charlotte and her best Peruvian friend Leo"


Left to Right (Charlotte, Adilene, Leonardo, and Donald. I love the face on Adilene she does not want to be taking photos here =)



Most of you know that we had our birthing classes in Tualatin with four other families. Last weekend we all got back together now that our babies have been born to reconnect and see all the precious little ones. We had a wonderful time, shared our birthing stories, and took some fabulous photos. My favorites are when they we're all sitting on the couch together. Just adorable these little babies. Charlotte was the youngest of the bunch but being that we have a biased opinion she is also the cutest little one =)

Thank you Jesus for babies! Their a joy to all of us. I will also put some recent shots of Charlotte as now she is 2 months old she is starting to smile and make cute noises with her mouth. We love her more everyday and as her personality comes in we are always laughing and smiling with her.

With love,

N & M & C

Proud To Be An American

In all my 29 years I can't recall a time in my life when our country had as many issues that we face and yet still be optimistic because change is coming. I have to admit that Obama has captured my attention and I am excited for what he is doing. His speech today was captivating, the benediction was heart warming, and I as a citizen of this great nation am ready to roll up my sleeves and become part of the solution rather than complaining about it. We live in the greatest nation in the world, with the brightest minds, the best ideas, the environment to make our dreams a reality, and now - nothing standing in our way. Let's unite and get behind our President, for we face grave threats and it will take all of us to work together for change to truly happen.

As Dr. Lowery so eloquently put it today -

"And in the joy of a new beginning - we ask you to help us work for that day"
When black will not be asked to get back
When brown can stick around
When yella will be mella
When the red man can get ahead man
and when White would embrace what is right

Let all those who do justice and love mercy say AMEN

SAY AMEN

GOD SPEED

When it's Family....New Years 2009

Click here for Pictures of our trip

We rang in the new year in the rugged location of Birch Bay in northern Washington with the Thorne side of the family. We spent a cozy weekend together with my brother Matt, his wife Krista, and their two spirited, and beautiful daughters Avaya and Alivya. The weekend began on New Years Eve...it was the first time my brother and I had spent New Years together since we were in college. It is funny how this time around I had to take a power nap in order to make it to midnight , and both of us were calming fussy children in between sips of champagne.
There are many memories I will treasure from this weekend....our dinnertimes, frigid walks on the beach, watching the Polar Bear dive from the comfort of our cars on New Year day, and watching my nieces in their fascination and exploration of everything around them. The memory I will treasure most, we don't have pictures of... our late night game of Texas hold-em on New Years Day when the chips were down and everyone around the table stepped out of their shells. In the background of this game was a song titled "family" by Dolly Parton ....a song my mom sent to make the moment special. Even in her absence, my mom has a way of elevating an ordinary event into something extraoridinary. Thank you mom. Here are the lyrics to that song...Here's to FAMILY in 2009,

When its family, you forgive them for they know not what they do
When its family, you accept them, cause you have no choice but to
When its family, theyre a mirror of the worst and best in you
And they always put you to the test
And you always try to do your best
And just pray for God to do the rest, when its family
Some are preachers, some are gay
Some are addicts, drunks and strays
But not a one is turned away, when its family
Some are lucky, others aint
Some are fighters, others faint
Winners, losers, sinners, saints, its all family

And when its family you trust them and your hearts an open door
When its family, you tolerate what youd kill others for
When its family, you love and hate and take, then give some more
Somehow you justify mistakes, try to find some better way
To solve the problems day to day, in the family

You take the trouble as it comes and love them more than anyone
Good or bad or indifferent, its still family
You choose your lovers, you pick your friends
Not the family that you're in, nah
Theyll be with you til the end, cause its family

And when its family, you forgive them for they know not what they do
When its family, theyre a mirror of the worst and best in you
When its family, when its family
Let me be all that I should be to the family

Christmas in Griffin Creek

Our Christmas this year was spent here in Southern Oregon at our families home in Griffin Creek. We own a 6 acre parcel in a valley that backs up to a mountain called Anderson Butte. We love coming here and getting out of the city. During our trip we have spent lots of time with family and have seen a few friends. Luckily my mom has a good camera because we left Portland without ours. Jacob and his wife Jana are here, Grandma Gerry, Grandma June, Aunt Pam, and of course Mom and Dad.

My parents recently purchased a hot tub and a Finnish sauna so I helped our family friend Josh build an overhang to cover up the hot tub and sauna from the elements. It kept us busy for a few days and now is completed. The winter storm up in Portland ended up delaying the delivery of the sauna and it still has yet to show up but at least we finished the area where it will go.

Charlotte got to spend some time with her Great Grandma June before she died this week and that was a special time. We got some precious shots of Grandma June and her Great Granddaughter. June was 89 and died in her sleep on this last Tuesday. She was diabetic and lived much longer than any of expected. She was a very sweet woman and my mom always said that "June did not have a mean bone in her body" I hope our daughter Charlotte gets some of her traits. That same day we also had to have our family dog put down - "Chin Li" was 15 and would have been 16 in January. She lived a good life as did our Grandma June. While this has been a Christmas filled with loss we have our addition Charlotte who has been a complete joy for our family. Even in death there in life. God has blessed us immensely this year and we are overjoyed during this Christmas season that our hope lies in Christ. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families.

Click here for Christmas pictures