briantology

It's Official. Usain Bolt will Run in Toronto

2009-05-05T13:39:00.005-05:00

This morning the long-awaited press conference was held at the University of Toronto, announcing that the Festival of Excellence is on for June 11 at the Varsity Centre.

Members of the press and several dignitaries were on hand to hear the genesis of the event, what events will be running, and which athletes will be competing. While Bolt is clearly the headliner (assuming he stays healthy and can avoid any more car accidents), the field of athletes is impressive: Priscilla Lopes-Sliep (bronze medalist in the 400 hurdles), Perdita Felicien, Bryan Clay, Christopher Tyler, Chaunte Howard, Mark Dillon, and others.

John Carson and I were on hand, and had the privilege of interviewing both Priscilla and her coach, as well as Canadian running legend, Bruce Kidd. Those videos will be up later today.

TSN will broadcast the Festival live on the evening of June 11, but there will be events through the day for school children, and live music during the afternoon up to showtime.

Joy

2009-05-04T09:40:00.004-05:00

You won't find many poorer people anywhere in the world. But you won't find them any happier, either. Yes, this photo was staged. I asked them to jump. But truth be told, they did this almost all day completely unscripted. I watched the play in the school yard and at home, and these children were unfettered balls of energy and optimism. Only one of these five were wearing shoes, but none of them seemed to miss them.

Someone once said to "sing like no one is listening and dance like no one's around", and as good as this sounds in theory, I haven't met many who put it into practice. Maddie does it quite often, but the sad reality is that as she gets older she'll do it less and less. And that's sad, isn't it?

A spoke with a friend yesterday who had just written a big cheque to the government in payment of her taxes. Granted, paying alot means you made a lot, and for that she is grateful I am sure. But she was still a little depressed about the whole thing. We actually got back most of what we paid in taxes last year due to our relatively low income, thank you CRA, and as nice as it would be to earn more, we have learned to be pretty happy on our shoestring.

In Kenya, they live without even the shoestring most days. And I can't say they are worse off the lack of it.

Three Cups of Tea

2009-05-02T10:12:00.002-05:00

Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world .’ -Tom Brokaw

Many people talk about righting wrongs and making a difference in the world, and then there are others who actually do something. After a trip to Kenya, a friend of mine made personal sacrifices to help build a school, a medical dispensary and start a microcredit program. As I told his story, another friend recommended this book. Mortenson is commitment and resolve personified. His original objective, to repay a personal debt by building a school in Pakistan, has become a lifelong mission.

From the official website: In an early effort to raise money he wrote letters to 580 celebrities, businessmen, and other prominent Americans. His only reply was a $100 check from NBC’s Tom Brokaw. Selling everything he owned, he still only raised $2,400. But his efforts changed when a group of elementary school children in River Falls, Wisconsin, donated $623.40 in pennies, who inspired adults to begin to take action. The 283 foot Braldu Bridge was completed in 1995 and the Korphe School was completed in 1996. Since then, he’s established 78 schools. In pursuit of his goal, Mortenson has survived an armed kidnapping, fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, repeated death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. Yet his success speaks for itself.

I only partway through, but this story is inspirational.

Brown Eyes

2009-05-01T15:54:00.002-05:00

I'm Back

2009-05-01T13:51:00.002-05:00

My poor blog has suffered lately. While I lavish my time and attention on Facebook and Twitter, Briantology has languished with neglect.

So I decided it was time for a change.

I didn't want to wait until New Years Day 2010 to make a resolution to do better by my blog, so I'll start today. If you're a recent follower from my Facebook family, welcome. I'll go into more detail here than I can on my status line, and I'll try to do so at least twice a week. If I don't, I likely had a good reason ;-)

And feel free to comment. It's what we bloggers live for. Just be nice. My daughters might be reading this.

Ready or not, Kenya... here I come!

2009-03-05T22:35:00.006-05:00

Well, I'm off again. It's actually been a year and half since my last extended trip (Thailand), and this one has been talked about for a few months but is actually going to happen... tomorrow! My friend John Carson, invited me to be part of his Kenya trip this year to help tell the story that he has been a part of for several years now.

We'll be flying to London, and then into Nairobi, Kenya tomorrow. From there we drive a full day to Eldoret in the northwest, and then a bit farther to Kokwe, where we'll spend a little more than a week. We'll be hanging out with a group of Kenyan runners, Olympians in fact, filming how they train and telling their stories. A few of them will be traveling to Toronto this June to run in the Festival of Excellence featuring Usain Bolt, so this will help us tell the human interest side of the their story.

John has also been involved in a micro-enterprise program in the village, a school and a medical clinic. We'll be delivering 4 laptops, a few soccer balls and several cases of selenium, a naturally occurring mineral that has shown promise in treating HIV/AIDS, which affects 15% of adult Kenyans. I'm looking forward to shooting some video that tells a story or two and will be excited to share those when we get back on the 21st of March.

Oh yes, we're also going on a three day Safari in the Masai Mara Game Reserve at the end of our trip! Can't really go to Africa and not do that.

UPDATE: See my favourite Kenya pictures here!

Video as a Marketing Tool

2009-03-03T16:36:00.002-05:00

Was given this great link today from Mike Shanks, and it confirms what I've known and seen coming for years. In fact I've had two conversations just today with people who are wanting to use video to make their websites more interactive.

Read through the articles when you get a chance and see what others are saying about video. They are commenting primarily on video in real estate, but the applications are far broader than that.

Lynn is Leaving Me

2009-01-04T13:31:00.006-05:00

Now that I have your attention...really, she's leaving. After 17 years of marriage she has finally had enough.

OK, seriously.

Lynn's father is going to visit his brother and sister in South Africa for three weeks, and Lynn will be moving in with her mother while he's gone. She'll be able to help shovel snow (more is on the way) and help her mom deal with a few minor health issues. Plus, Lynn is convinced that our home will completely disintegrate without her, so she has challenged me to prove otherwise. Sounds like the basis for a reality TV show, doesn't it?

I've already bought 36 Happy Meals for the girl's lunches. They're in the freezer. We're using paper plates and cups, and we'll even wear these cool paper jumpsuits. No dishes OR laundry. What do you think of that?

So, you might want to check back a bit more regularly from January 7-27. Things could get interesting around here.

2008: A Musical Review

2009-01-02T11:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks Uncle Jay!

A Few of My Favourite Things

2008-12-30T11:43:00.002-05:00

Santa was good to me this year. He's actually good to me all year round, so Christmas can be a little anti-climactic some years. And even though we know it's not about the "stuff", it does give us the chance to make someone smile. I suspect even those participating in the Advent Conspiracy gave and received a gift or two.

We did some creative regifting this year. I had bought an iPod Nano a few months ago to use at the gym. Shaniah really wanted one, and she wanted the red edition, only available online. Time and money got away from me, so I got a neat red cover for mine and got her a new set of headphones to go with it. Maddy got Shaniah's Shuffle, which she was thrilled with. I just use my iPhone at the Y now. I'm so deprived.

Our family gift was the Wii. It's been funny. I think I've seen four pictures that our friends took on Christmas morning with their kids holding their Wii box. The kids all have this perma-smile on their faces and a glazed look in their eye. Maddie was so excited she almost had to change her pullups. That's a different kind of "Wii".

I had arranged for a spa treatment for Lynn at the Elmwood Spa in Toronto. They had some really good deals in conjunction with the Delta Chelsea, so the whole family got in on that one.

Lynn got me a nice sweater vest. Not sure when I took a liking to those, but I did. This is a nice brown one. Maddie likes to rub my belly and comment on how soft it is (the vest). I also got an 8-cup french press, coffee grinder, and a pound of Sumatra beans from Starbucks. Enjoying a cup right now ;-).

So it's been a very good Christmas. Enjoyed the programs offered at a few churches (ours and Lynn's parents) and had some good reconnections with family.

A Cool Website

2008-12-29T20:32:00.003-05:00

I thought this was awesome! The company I'm partnering with built a website for Ice Culture, and this is what they do. The website is great, and the company is totally chill. (Psssst. If your church needs a cool website like this, drop me a line ;-)

"I REALLY Love My Job - the Sequel"

2008-12-16T07:05:00.002-05:00

We shot this video for www.propertyguys.com. Sue shares why she loves being a Private Sale Consultant.

I Love My Job

2008-12-10T20:53:00.002-05:00

A video we made for www.propertyguys.com. Do you think she likes her job? We'd like to film more like this for people that are passionate about what they do.

What Would You Do?

2008-12-04T11:23:00.002-05:00

I find myself in a unique situation. Some might call it frightening. I find it mildly stimulating.

We are in the process of raising support to become full-time missionaries with HCJB Global Canada. As Jesus used his voice (spoken word) and hands (healing and compassion) to make a difference, HCJB seeks to do the same through media and healthcare. We are "supported" through partnership with individuals and churches that share the same vision, and it can take up to a year, sometimes two, for that support to come in.

Obviously I have to provide for Lynn and the girls during this time, which brings me to the point of this post. I've never been unemployed, having pastored for 15 years, and I have done a variety of other things, from detailing cars to serving subpoenas and divorce petitions, to shooting video and building websites. But what do I do now? I'm not looking for a new career per se, as I hope to be full-time with HCJB by this time next year.

I have a few great opportunities. One with REM Web Solutions, offering effective and easy-to-edit websites to churches, and the other with Celebrating Life as a wedding and funeral officiant. Both utilize my life-experience and skills.

If you had a year to do anything, what would you do?

New Mullins Media Blog!

2008-11-27T15:04:00.003-05:00

I've decided to specialize a little and create a blog dedicated to my media work, website and video. You can find it here, and feel free to subscribe if you have an interest in maximizing media!

The Power of an Encouraging Word

2008-11-01T10:12:00.005-05:00

"You can do it!"
"You're awesome!"
"You have made my day!"
"I couldn't have done it without you!"

None of these phrases take longer than a few seconds to say, but their power is immeasurable. And when someone affirms you with them, you never forget. Mark Twain said he could "live for two months on a good compliment. Proverbs 18:21 says that our words "have the power of life and death." We prove this every day.

Maddie is our little extrovert. Like most nine year-olds, she has her moments. But for the most part she brings sunshine into any room or circumstance. I was laying on the couch after a stressful day this week. It was around four o'clock in the afternoon. Maddie purposefully walked across the room, threw herself on me and said, "You're the best Dad ever. I love you." A hug and peck on the cheek and she was gone. Mission accomplished. No one told her to do it. She doesn't get a bonus in her allowance because of it. She just did it. And it changed my week.

When you have the opportunity to do so, are you an encourager? It really doesn't take that much time or effort. But it's power is almost beyond description.

iPhone Update

2008-09-21T13:11:00.003-05:00

I've just paid for my second month of iPhone service, and I never thought I'd say this of Rogers, but I couldn't be happier. For a third of what I was paying for my Blackberry, I have a LOAD of better functionality. Rumour has it that RIM is working on a competing product for this fall, but I'm loving my iPhone so far, and will for the next 3 years ;-)

My favourite apps? The built-in apps are all useful: Phone, GPS, camera, internet interface (Safari), and of course the iPod (music and video). Facebook has been really useful, as messages come through as text, and Twitterific works well too for "mini-blogging". Shazam allows you to identify any recorded song. Just hold it out so the mic can pick up the sound, and seconds later you know the song and artist and can download it through iTunes. Cowbell, Tiny Violin, BubbleWrap, iPint and Dice are favourites with the kids.

I use the new Kicker speaker system for making presentations (I can plug my laptop into it) and can definitely recommend it for sound quality and volume. Blows away the competition (Bose and Harman Kardon) in my opinion.

Update on Life

2008-09-19T06:51:00.002-05:00

It's been a busy end of summer! We took a 3600km road trip through Northern Ontario, with stops in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. Got to speak in two churches about our new work with HCJB Global Canada, and built a website for a third. It was a little surreal to walk through the front door of First Baptist in the Sault and realize that my Dad was the same age that I am now when our family moved there in 1981. Lot's of good memories, though, and it was good to reconnect with old friends. Had a great time with the Pipers in Thunder Bay, too. (you can see a few pics here.)

I shot some video for a film launch event during the Toronto International Film Festival last week, and this week I've been helping a company in Ohio get ready for a trade show in Vegas in a few weeks. Shooting video for their big screen displays.

We've been enjoying representing HCJB, spending a week up at Elim Lodge (Peterborough) and then the Northern Tour. I'll be heading to Quebec and New Brunswick with Brian Seeley from Oct.4-13, and then it's off to Costa Rica from the 14th to the 25th to film another mini-documentary. Hope to get to Ireland in November to film the first Christian radio station granted a license there in Cork. Pretty exciting!

Picnic!

2008-07-29T18:38:00.001-05:00

Took the girls to Riverside Park for a dinner picnic and splash. As an
added bonus I'm blogging while we're doing it!

A Camping We Will Go...

2008-07-25T11:36:00.002-05:00

Headed off for a weekend of camping (if you can call it that) with my cousin Shannon and his family up near Arthur. It's only an hour or so away, so we won't get killed fueling the beast. It is a nice beast, though, courtesy of our new best friends the Bowmans! Will post some more pics after we get back Sunday night.

Maddie

2008-07-23T17:09:00.002-05:00

Madeline decided to spell her shortened name "Maddie". Thought it looked cuter ;-) Who am I to disagree?

Billy Graham at TED

2008-07-17T14:51:00.000-05:00

An interesting address to the TED conference.

Chapters

2008-07-17T08:49:00.002-05:00

I love reading. Always have, for as long as I can remember. In fact Lynn wanted me to take a picture of both of girls sitting on the couch reading the other day. They both love to read, especially Maddy. She is voracious. And not just the fluffy stuff most kids her age read. Her favorite book right now is the Girls Book of Verse and she'll proudly tell you how far into Genesis she has read.

My Mom thinks my life should be committed to paper one of these days. I'm not so sure. I've done some interesting things, and people seem to enjoy hearing my stories, but is it worth publishing? Give me another ten years and I'll let you know. I have discovered that the earlier chapters of my life have shaped the ones yet to be written. Like a good novelist, I'm trying to envision the end so that the chapters from here on out make sense. I'm storyboarding my life. Wish I had started sooner.

Raul Midon

2008-07-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

Another great performance... love this guy.

Drinking from a Fire Hydrant!

2008-06-25T14:36:00.006-05:00

I'm not sure we've ever spent such an intense week of information download, but it's all been extremely helpful. HCJB Global is a large organization so there's a lot for us to learn. A lot of what we're learning relates to developing presentations we can use to tell others what our personal mission is within HCJB. We're also discovering the different ways the mission is accountable financially, so all donations are well taken care of and receipted.
Here's our new prayer card! Let us know if you'd like a copy and we'd be glad to mail you one. If you think you'd like to hear more about our mission, we'd be glad to speak at a dinner party or at your church.

But we're also learning that HCJB Global is more than an organization. Though it's large, it's very much a family and we're really enjoying getting to know everyone.

Off to HCJB Global HQ in Colorado Springs

2008-06-21T21:20:00.004-05:00

Lynn and I will be attending a training and development week (June 22-29) at our headquarters in Colorado Springs. We're really looking forward to meeting our leadership out there and learning more about the mission. We'll be receiving training in presenting the mission and our role within it, and how to go about raising support, a real challenge these days!

We're also looking forward to meeting three other couples who have joined the mission recently.

I hope to blog periodically and share some of what we learn.

Tags: HCJB Global

Big Love - Lindsay Buckingham

2008-06-17T07:58:00.000-05:00

Donnie and Racheal's Wedding

2008-06-08T20:12:00.001-05:00

We had a great time at this wedding last Friday. I decided to shoot some video at the last minute, and I'm glad I did. A beautiful day and a beautiful couple.

Untitled from Brian Mullins on Vimeo.

I'll Miss Harvey Korman

2008-05-30T06:12:00.002-05:00

He died yesterday at 81. I grew up watching sketches like this on the Carol Burnett show, and I think he and Tim Conway were my first comedic influences. Next to my Dad, of course ;-)

Scammed

2008-05-18T07:24:00.001-05:00

Most of you know that I'm a huge fan of www.snopes.com. Whenever you send me one of those chain e-mails about Christian TV being taken off the air or some other nonsense, I'm the one who replies to all sending you to the Snopes link showing you that it's bogus.

That's what makes this so painful.

A few weeks ago, Lynn put her name and resume into the Nanny Network, hoping to do some childcare for a local family. She got a few good leads, including one from a local businessman who traveled alot, and needed someone to collect his mail, pay his bills, etc. while he was away. He offered Lynn $400 a month to do this, and he sent a cheque for $2500 drawn on our local BMO. Lynn deposited the cheque, took her $400 as agreed, and set up a PO Box for him. A few days later he had her wire a "supplier" in France $1900 through Western Union. A few days after that we received notice that the $2500 cheque had bounced. We've been scammed. We're out $1900 (which we could not afford to lose) and we have no way to find this guy. Almost like he planned it that way.

So we went to the bank (ours and BMO), and they have their fraud people on it. Also reported it to the local police as we have some indication that he may be local. When I went to Snopes, like I should have done in the first place, I found the very similar "reshipper scam". They prey on people that want to work from home to earn a little extra money, the very people, like us, who can ill afford to lose any extra cash. That was a rent payment and a car payment for us.

I tell you this just so you can be wary. If they can scam me, they can scam you too!

Cool New Video Listings Webpage!

2008-05-14T11:22:00.001-05:00

My friend Yossi and I are aggressively marketing our unique real estate video tours with our new website www.realestatevideopro.com. Stop by and check it out, and if you're a real etsate professional, or know one, we'd be glad to meet and explain how real estate can help you sell your property!

Shaniah's 12!

2008-04-28T14:43:00.001-05:00

She would argue that she's in her 13th year, and I guess she'd be right, but we're trying not to rush her to that milestone. We're really proud of Shaniah - it's not easy to make the changes she's had to make this year with the move back to Canada, and she's done really well. We had a lot of fun a few weeks ago when we went on the ultimate Daddy Date to the Dominican Republic for ten days. Other than losing her camera, and getting an emergency haircut (long story) it was an awesome time of filming and visiting friends.

Happy Birthday Shaniah ;-) I love you!

On the Road Again

2008-04-26T11:08:00.002-05:00

Nowhere too exotic this time, depending on how you view rural Ohio. I'll be leaving this afternoon for Tallmadge to spend another week filming at www.wardjet.com. I'm really enjoying the time I spend there... a fascinating product and a great organization.

Shaniah has her 12th Birthday party today, beginning at the pool at the Y and then coming home for more festivities. Her email address is shaniah.mullins@gmail.com if you want to send her some birthday love ;-).

We just published our Spring '08 newsletter too, so if you'd like a copy let me know!

"Facebook, meet Briantology."

2008-04-16T06:21:00.001-05:00

Well this could be interesting. Since I spend so much time on Facebook, it makes sense to be able to update my blog from there, right. Will see how it goes!

As for today, I'm getting ready for the Fellowship Regional Conference in Cambridge on Thursday and Friday, where I'll have a display set up for Virtual Visitor. So that means finishing my display, creating a Keynote show, and designing a small flyer to hand out. Virtual Visitor was originally designed exclusively for churches, but other organizations are using it to bring outsiders in, and to "open a window to their world", as our slogan goes.

Maddy's fever is back up again today, not as high as it was, but high enough to warrant a trip to the doctor this morning.

I Will Go

2008-04-03T08:46:00.002-05:00

This was a song and video I presented at our church when I got back from Ecuador in February. It tells some of the story of the five missionaries who were martyred in 1956, and the wonderful new life their deaths brought to the Auca. (Sorry for the sound quality... that's "live" for you!)

Hey Darryl...

2008-03-30T23:04:00.002-05:00

Now that you've got a Roomba to do your carpets, I've found the solution for your lawn!

Make Maddy Smile!

2008-03-26T07:11:00.006-05:00

Hey folks. Shameless plug here, but won't you consider sponsoring our family for the Kiwanis Mall Krawl this Sunday? We're helping raise money for youth programs that Kiwanis sponsors here in Cambridge, so it's for a great cause. Just go to www.cambridgekiwanis.com and click on the Mall Krawl button, then click on "donate now". Mention that you're sponsoring the Mullins family in the memo box. You'll get a receipt for your '08 taxes, if that helps ;-)

WARDJet

2008-03-22T22:30:00.003-05:00

A personal, inside look at WARDJet, one of the most innovative waterjet cutting manufacturers in the world.

HCJB Global Responds to Ecuador Flooding

2008-03-13T18:17:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have responded to the pressing need in Ecuador. You can read more about what HCJB Global is doing here.

Waterjet Cutting

2008-02-27T09:51:00.003-05:00

I'm spending this week filming for Wardjet. Lynn's cousin Richard started the company in 1995 after discovering the power of water to cut stone. Essentially, water is highly pressurized (up to 87,000 psi), and garnet abrasive is fed into the stream just before impact with the material, and "advanced erosion" occurs. Think "Grand Canyon" only faster.

The machines will cut anything but tempered glass, in thicknesses up to 15", and is used to cut everything from stainless steel to carbon composites to chicken nuggets to disposable diapers. The benefits over laser or saw cutting are many: no heat issues, no need to sand after, low operating costs, and water and garnet are environmentally friendly.

This all makes for pretty interesting video, if you're into tech and engineering stuff!

What do you say?

2008-02-21T22:49:00.002-05:00

I once heard Rob Bell ask the question, "Do I speak because I have something to say, or because I have to say something?" He spoke the position of a frustrated pastor - standing before, in his case, thousands - wondering what he was doing up there. From experience, I know the struggle. Sometimes, even in the blogosphere, I feel the urge to say something before I really have something to say. And it shows. So no, I don't feel guilty for being silent since February 8, or whenever it was I last posted.

Over the last few days I've had the images of Steve Saint, Jim Elliott, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian and Pete Fleming in my mind. Not just their faces, but their words and their lives. Pages from their journals (found on Wikipedia) where in their own writing they express their passion and desire to see the Auca people transformed from savages to Christ-followers. Images of their wives, gathered around the kitchen table, as Art Johnson tells them how their husbands had died. Just a few weeks ago I stood outside the Saint's old house, dilapidated and termite infested, and looked in the window where the radio once sat, where Nate's wife waited for the radio call that never came.

I'm still looking for words, but they are coming. I'm working on a multimedia presentation to retell the story. I can't compete with Steven Curtis Chapman, or the writers and producers that created The End of the Spear. But I don't have to. The story has had it's own impact on me, and I think it has fresh application for those of us who are called to carry the Good News today.

Update from Ecuador

2008-02-08T23:40:00.001-05:00

Sorry, folks! Despite my best efforts, the "video blog" won't come together for this trip. I think I may have reached beyond my poor Powerbooks capabilities. Too bad... the footage has been pretty exciting! For now, we'll have to make due with some still pics of one of the more memorable parts of our trip so far.

Yesterday we flew with MAF into the jungle east of Shell. It was sobering to fly off the same airstrip used by Nate Saint and the four other missionaries just over 50 years ago, and then to fly over the beach where they were murdered by the Aucas. Having read the story many times, and used it as a sermon illustration for years, to actually see the places brought it to life again. As the plane banked over the Curaray River and flew low over Palm Beach, we were a little overwhelmed.

We landed on a rough grassy strip near the Waodani village of Tihuanu, and were met by a dozen or so men, women and children. And a rather excited howler monkey. Dyouie, one of the men who had participated in the killing of the the missionaries, met us at the plane, and immediately burst into prayer in Waodani. Dave, one of our team members, gave him some antibiotics, and a sleeping bag for his nights in the jungle. We were all impressed with the friendliness of the Waodani and their love for God demonstrated in their huge, infectious smiles and their love for us. If you haven't read "Through the Gates of Splendor", you really need to.

After entertaining us with a tribal dance - I would have joined in, but I was filming ;-) -we had another time of prayer in English, Spanish and Waodani. We bought some neat souvenirs, a blow gun and a spear, and then had to be on our way so we could make it home before dark. The Waodani walked us back to the airplane, and after some heartfelt hugs, we were back in the air.

It's hard to describe the impact this had on me, on so many levels. Realizing the sacrifice of Saint and the others to bring the Gospel to the Waodani. The courage of Elizabeth Elliott and Rachel Saint in returning to the jungle to complete the work. The transformation of Mincaye and Dyouie and practically the entire tribe. The willingness of MAF pilots, who fly several times a day into the jungles of Ecuador to bring hope to so many.

From Quito

2008-02-04T22:02:00.000-05:00

After a smooth flight through the air and through customs, we have arrived at the HCJB Guest House in Quito, Ecuador. This trip has been in the works for a while, and was the reason for my initial contact with HCJB last fall. Canadians have played a huge roll in HCJB in the country, so we want to tell some of that story through video. I'm here with John and Ann Rush and David Findlay, all on staff with HCJB Global Canada.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. We're having breakfast with Jesse Saint (grandson of martyred missionary Nate Saint), and Mincaye, the man who killed his grandfather, along with four other missionaries, in 1953. They are all like family now, and the entire story is one you really should get to know. You can read about it here.

After breakfast we'll tour the radio station (their primary ministry) and then the hospital, before driving south to Rio Bamba for the night. I think our flight with MAF into the jungle happens on Wednesday. It's all pretty exciting!

I hope to video blog when we get back to Quito in a few days, so be sure to check back.

Brechin Sunset

2008-01-28T18:18:00.000-05:00

The Kings graciously let us use their cottage on Lake Simcoe for a few nights last week.

Early Christmas present, perhaps?

2008-01-24T22:52:00.000-05:00

A TED2008 Main Hall Pass has just gone up for auction on ebay. It's the only remaining legal way that someone can get into the event. The auction is being done with our approval, because all the proceeds will go towards the Open Architecture Network, which was created in response to TED Prize Winner Cameron Sinclair's inspiring wish.

The single pass, which guarantees coveted access to the main theater where speakers present, includes three special extras:
- a first-day cocktail with TED super-connector Sunny Bates
- a coffee at TED with the brilliant founder of ebay Pierre Omidyar
- and a lunch with the charming, insightful and delightful Meg Ryan

TED2008 has been sold out for more than a year, so we suspect this is going to make someone very happy indeed. It won't be cheap, but the successful bidder will be making a philanthropic contribution to an organization that's empowering architects and designers to change the world.

TED2008 is Feb 27-March 1, in Monterey, California on the theme "The Big Questions".

Hey folks, it's only $27,400. If all my readers split it between them, it would only be $13,700 each.

Nice.

2008-01-23T22:40:00.000-05:00

Who Knew?

2008-01-14T14:55:00.000-05:00

> They won't be forgetting this party anytime soon. Show this to your teenagers.

> And the "It's Not My Fault Award" goes too...

>Next time your shopping in Slovenia, check the ingredients.

Amazing Discovery

2008-01-14T11:09:00.000-05:00

After having dug to a depth of 10 meters last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, California scientists dug to a depth of 20 meters, and shortly after, headlines in the LA Times newspaper read: "California archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers."

One week later, "Moose Jaw Times Herald", a local newspaper in Saskatchewan, reported the following: "After digging as deep as 30 meters in sagebrush fields near Moose Jaw, Ole Johnson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Saskatchewan had already gone
wireless."

"And we've only explored 3% of it..."

2008-01-11T16:49:00.000-05:00

Some amazing undersea footage shown at TED. Remarkable stuff. Watch for the Octopus near the end.

I Can Almost Smell It

2008-01-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

Points of Interest

2008-01-02T23:07:00.000-05:00

> A bazillion dollar cottage.

> A book that can get you out of any jam. Could even stop a bullet.

> The story I don't want my daughters to read.

> Awesome talks, now available online! You would pay thousands to see them in person.

Almost made it to New Years

2008-01-01T00:49:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-27T20:33:00.001-05:00

Bellevue Cottage, Lake Rosseau, ON

2007-12-24T23:50:00.000-05:00

Vacation Rental - Grand-Island, NY 14072 - Real Estate Video Tour

Filmed this place last Thursday. It gets my vote for our family reunion next summer (or winter for that matter). Would also make an exceptional Christmas gift ;-)

The Way it Ought to Be Done

2007-12-19T12:35:00.001-05:00

Snow Day

2007-12-16T13:14:00.001-05:00

Church was cancelled today, but Tim Hortons was open. So after some Jehovah Java we went home. The girls frolicked in the snow, the first time they've had the joy of snow in their boots in almost three years.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2007-12-15T00:34:00.000-05:00

If you can spare 15 or 20 minutes, listen to this presentation by Evelyn Glennie. You may never listen to music, or people, the same way again. (from TED)

Issa

2007-12-13T10:23:00.000-05:00

Lynn and I saw her (formerly known as Jane Siberry) last night at Hugh's Room in Toronto, and were absolutely blown away. She sang this song, and was accompanied by Tim Ray and Adrienne Pierce as well. I don't think I've ever heard anyone so completely embodied in their music and lyrics. If you ever get the chance, go see her. Just listening doesn't do her justice; Issa is an experience. Also cool: she uses predetermined pricing for her albums (you pay what you think they're worth), and she offers a dozen free tickets to all of her concerts (available online at www.sheeba.ca).

"Ho-ho-hold the Payments"

2007-12-12T09:55:00.000-05:00

Last night I listened to Carey Nieuwhof's message on the lunacy of what Christmas has become. We celebrate Jesus' birth, by any measure an event immersed in poverty, by spending crazy money (by Carey's research $750 per person) at 18% interest (on the unpaid balance, of course). It's not a new phenomenon. I'm pretty sure my parents spent more than they should have to make Christmas memorable for us back in the day.

Since our return from the DR we've tried to keep things simple, and our finances have made this easier. But once again I'm reminded how far we've drifted from the simplicity of the manger. How would Jesus celebrate his birthday? If His advent was a mission of mercy, maybe we should take that as our impetus and do likewise.

Our small group was planning a Christmas party, complete with games and eggnog. Rather than do the usual, we've opted to take our fun, food and games to the shelter here in town and "share the joy". Sounds like a party Jesus would attend, doesn't it?

Reel Estate - Brewery Loft

2007-11-27T19:56:00.001-05:00

I've been doing more of these lately, as realtors discover the effectiveness of video in showing a property.

Brewery Loft, Toronto - MullinsMedia - Grand Island, NY 14072

Goose Girl - by Madeline

2007-11-20T11:23:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time there was to adalts who got maried and got a little girl. they named her Marisa. But when she got older she started to like geese a lot. So her parants changed her name to Goose Girl.

Also for her twelfth birthday they bought Marisa a flock of pure white geese. Goose Girl loved all the geese and she named them all but one because she thought it was ugly because it had a red spot on its back. a few months later she found out that the no named goose could fly the fastest and the highest. So Goose Girl named him high flyer.

So Goose Girl and all her geese lived hapily ever after.

Unchristian

2007-11-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

I first "met" Gabe Lyons at Catalyst back in 2003. He was apparently being mentored by John Maxwell, and was being primed for leadership in InJoy. I was never a huge InJoy fan, finding them to be too marketing oriented, so I guess I never gave Lyons a fair shake either.

So when I read that he had teamed up with David Kinnaman (Barna Research Group) to produce this book I was a little skeptical. I heard them speak at Catalyst this year, and had the chance to pick up Unchristian in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago. The first few pages grabbed me, as Kinnaman recalls a phone call he received from Lyons a few years earlier, saying that he was leaving his ministry (InJoy) to do this research and write a book about it. Turns out that Lyons had a heart for this generation, specifically those between the ages of 16 and 29, and wanted to find out what they truly thought of Christianity.

Three years of study and thousands of interviews revealed that their thinking is overwhelmingly negative, due in large part to their interactions with Christians. They broke these negative perceptions into six broad themes - the most common points of skepticism and objections raised by outsiders (non-Christian, non-churched people):

1. Hypocritical. Outsiders consider us hypocritical - saying one thing and doing another - and they are skeptical of our morally superior attitudes. They say Christians pretend to be something unreal, conveying a polished image that is not accurate. Christians think the church is only a place for virtuous and morally pure people

2. Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them. They feel like targets rather than people. They question our motives when we try to help them "get saved", despite the fact that many of them have already "tried" Jesus and experienced church before.

3. Antihomosexual. Outsiders say that Christians are bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians. They say Christians are fixated on curing homosexuals and on leveraging political solutions against them.

4. Sheltered. Christians are thought of as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Outsiders say we do not respond to reality in appropriately complex ways, preferring simplistic solutions and answers. We are not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people's lives.

5. Too political. Another common perception of Christians is that we are overly motivated by a political agenda, that we promote and represent politically conservative interests and issues. Conservative Christians are often thought of as right-wingers.

6. Judgmental. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others. They say we are not honest about our attitudes and perceptions about other people. They doubt we really love people as we say we do.

Ouch.

As I read through each well-documented chapter, I found myself nodding my head in agreement and shaking it in disgust. How is it that society has come to think so poorly of Christianity because of... us? They acknowledge and address the fact that the issues are far more complex than I have just quoted, but they also give valid and hopeful ways that we can reverse this perception crisis.

There are too many good quotes to post here, but let me leave you with a couple.

"Young outsiders want to have discussions, but they perceive Christians as unwilling to engage in genuine dialogue. They think of conversations as "persuasion" sessions, in which the Christian downloads as many arguments as possible."

"Outsiders told us that the underlying concern of Christians often seems more about being right than listening."

"Jesus was called a friend of sinners, relentlessly pursuing the downtrodden. What an irony that today his followers are seen in the opposite light! How can people love God, whom they can't see, if those of us who claim to represent Him don't respond to outsiders with love?"

"The reputation of the Christian faith should never be managed or spin-doctored, but we can change how we're known by becoming more Christlike."

My interactions with "outsiders" over the past three years would bear out their research, and I suspect many of you will feel the same. I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this book, and as you read it, ask yourself if the outsiders you know get an accurate picture of Jesus from your life and lips.

Busy Times!

2007-11-17T23:37:00.000-05:00

I just realized it's been almost three weeks since my last post. Where does the time go?

I spent almost a week down at Messiah College in Grantham, PA doing some recruiting for ISV FaithWorks. Basically we take the ISV infrastructure (two weeks volunteer work and two weeks adventure tour) and create a true mission adventure, working with local churches to help them reach their community. The second two weeks is an intense leadership training and discipleship experience in the host country. We have high hopes for this new program, but response has been a little slow. I spent time at Emmanuel Bible College and University of Waterloo this week, Brock University next week, and in two different churches.

I've also had some great film opportunities open up, everything from promo videos for a school and a seminary, filming a high-end loft in Toronto, to the possibility of a $1,000,000,000 ship being built in the Netherlands. I've also been invited to film for a mission agency in Ecuador at the beginning of February, so that's kind of exciting too. I'm putting the finishing touches on "Sand Down Under", my low-budget documentary on Fraser Island, Australia, and hope to have that on sale by mid-December.

The family is all good, and they're the other reason I haven't blogged much lately. Shaniah is becoming a hand and foot addict (I've taught her all she knows), and Madeline is wrapping me even more tightly around her little finger! Lynn is busy too, working P/T at Food Basics, but hoping to expand her base of piano students.

For my readers in warmer places, we are heading into our first winter in four years. Put the snow tires on today, filled up with -40 washer fluid, and scraped the ice off the windshield this morning. The christmas tree and lights do look nicer with a dusting of snow, though.

Only $10,900,000?

2007-10-31T22:29:00.001-05:00

(CNN) -- A federal jury in Baltimore, Maryland, Wednesday awarded $10.9 million to a father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by members of a fundamentalist church carrying signs blaming soldiers' deaths on America's tolerance of homosexuals.

I wish there was a mechanism that could shut down "churches" like this permanently. Such bigotry and hatred.

It's no wonder that people have become so cynical and jaded when the term "Christian" is used. Consider this quote from the newly-released book UnChristian:

“Christianity has become bloated with blind followers who would rather repeat slogans than actually feel true compassion and care. Christianity has become marketed and streamlined into a juggernaut of fearmongering that has lost its own heart.”

The only bright side is that it should be obvious that these meglomaniacs do not represent Jesus in any way, shape or form.

To Good to Hold Until October 31

2007-10-20T23:59:00.000-05:00

This Old Website

2007-10-13T12:01:00.000-05:00

We've had a lot of calls lately from churches (and a few businesses) interested in renovating their web spaces. They do tend to get stale if you don't keep them updated, and styles do change over the years. It's amazing how many churches have websites built the old-fashioned way with Frontpage, that are still sticking with them. And Bob the volunteer (no offence, Bob) just doesn't have the time to keep the website up, let alone making it attractive and functional.

When I looked back at our own website, I realized it was time for a change. We do things differently than we did even three years ago, and we are going for a much simpler, almost minimal look, with less dependance on moving razmatazz. "Oooo.... aaaah" special effects might get people to look at your site, but only good content will compel them to stay.

So check out the new and improved www.mullinsmedia.com, and if you know of a church or business that would like to try something new, pass our name along!

Memory Lane

2007-10-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I did some filming in Washington, DC for the Fellowship of Christian Lumbermen. I didn't sell a lot of DVDs, but one of the guys who bought one lives in Waterloo, so I decided to deliver his personally tonight. I dropped off Maddy at the church and punched his address into "Judy" - my GPS unit ;-). Anyway, as "Judy" led me along the 401, and then Hwy 8 and the Conestoga Parkway, things began to look familiar. I turned onto Albert Street, and then left on Longwood and right onto Moccasin Dr. Turns out my friend lives just around the corner from one of the houses I grew up in, from '76 to '81.

I remember my Dad planting a willow tree in the front yard. It's now bigger than the house. I was telling my friend that my Dad built a bench into the fence for people to sit on while they waited for the bus. His daughter remembered what a great idea that was.

I drove along the streets I used to walk to school, and eventually found it. The school seems much smaller now.

The remarkable thing was, I really didn't need "Judy". As I slowly drove through the old neighborhood, the street names and rights and lefts all came right back to me after 30 years. What is that? How do our brains lock that kind of information away, only to bring it back when we need it.

Makes me wonder what Maddy and Shaniah will remember when they are 38 and 41.

Catalyst Wrap Up

2007-10-09T12:22:00.001-05:00

The last few years have taught us the value and importance of cultivating the inner life in solitude, but there is something inspiring about 11,000 other believers worshipping in the same place. Makes one dream about heaven, and the power of millions around the throne of God.

For me, Catalyst is about being stretched and challenged spiritually. How do we reach a culture which for the most part has written the church and Christianity off? In a recent survey, over 80% of the American public associated Christianity first with anti-homosexuality. So when I introduce myself as a Christian, 8 out of 10 immediately assume I am one of the "haters". The current belief also seems to be that Christians are anti-environmental too. Nice place to start, eh? We are known far more for what we are against then what we are for, and that is sad.

I didn't agree with everything every speaker had to say, but I've been challenged to reconsider some of my own positions and think of ways to connect with a society which believes that Christianity is at best irrelevant and at worst, dangerous.

Catalyst Report: Day One

2007-10-04T19:34:00.000-05:00

Catalyst is one of those conferences that probably couldn't happen anywhere but in America. Over 11,000 people paid on average $200 each to attend. This isn't all that bad for a two-day conference, but when you add the merchandise for sale (books, DVDs, music, t-shirts), cost of transportation, hotels and food, it becomes a pretty pricey proposition. If you've been there before, you'll know their use of technology (sounds, lights and video) is off the hook - to use the vernacular - and that's a good thing. It only enhances the overall experience. When I get home I'll post some video I shot of one of the worship sets.

As in other years, I have struggled with the materialism of the whole affair. Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace University and syndicated Radio personality) is a huge presence this year, but so are several other vendors selling thousands of dollars of resources - credit cards gladly accepted. Every one is giving away lots of free stuff, along with chances to win iPods or an iMacs. People were almost tackling each other to catch t-shirts fired by cannon into the crowd. Ramsey even had a small radio-controlled blimp flying around the arena, dropping coupons that could be turned in for the chance to win more Apple stuff. Only in America.

On the plus side, the teaching and worship have been awesome. Andy Stanley preached from John 13, asking the question, "What do you do when it dawns on you that you are the most powerful person in the room?" Most pastors and leaders tend to abuse the power, twisting it for their own aggrandisement. Jesus humbles himself and washes his disciples feet, commanding us to do the same. Francis Chan spoke simply, eloquently and honestly on his struggles with pastoring a "successful" church when he frankly didn't love Jesus or his people as he should. Rick Warren was a little less inspiring, choosing to pretty much "wing it" with sound bytes from his Purpose Driven material. I noticed a real difference from the first time I heard him speak several years ago, and it was kind of sad.

Tomorrow we're looking forward to Erwin McManus, Tim Sanders and Andy Stanley before we hit the road around 4 for the long drive back to Lewisburg, PA to see our girls and my folks.

Road Trip: Catalyst

2007-10-02T22:06:00.000-05:00

I've been to Catalyst twice before - once with my friend Darryl, and once with my brother Steve. This year, I really wanted to take my wife, as I've always said she would love it. So we're actually going this year! We left the girls with my folks near Harrisburg, PA, and took a few days for the leisurely drive to Atlanta (my and Lynn's definition of "leisurely" differs greatly, but that's another post).

I hope to blog through the two days we are there, hopefully from my seat in the arena. Will see how that goes, but keep your eye's posted.

Oh, yes. There is a third person in the car with us. Her name is Judy and she is from the UK. She is riding in a little small box stuck to our windshield, a Tom Tom Go 300. Charming, Judy is. And she never ceases to amaze us with her ability to track us (using 6-8 satellites) and guide us to where we need to be, even quickly recalculating when we deviate from her plan. She even suggested a hotel for us tonight!

When I first installed "Judy", the girls were amazed. From the time their young lips could form words, they have insisted on asking "are we there yet?" or, "when will be there?" Now they can just look at the display and see for themselves exactly where they are. Shaniah, knowing that Lynn would rather read than talk on long trips, said, "that's great Dad. Now you have someone to talk too."

Family Update

2007-09-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

This one's for you, Grandma. Next to my mother, you are my most faithful reader. Or do I have that backwards? And I know this because (1) you told me, and (2) I can print off a map showing where "hits" to my blog are coming from, and there are a LOT of hits from The Villages.

We're settling nicely into our new digs. The girls are loving school, even after a few weeks. They still run off excitedly to beat the opening bell. Both girls have had friends over after school, so they seem to be adjusting well. The only challenge will be French. They start in Gr.1 here, so Shaniah is especially behind. Someone tried to tell me that the little Spanish she learned will help her in French class. OK. We'll see.

Lynn is doing great. She started a part-time job at Food Basics as a cashier, so that's kept her busy learning all the produce codes. Funny, she came home after her first day of training and re-typed the whole produce list, 400 some items, because some were out of order, and she wanted to memorize them. She went to work the next day and discovered that they change the numbers every few weeks anyway to throw off the dishonest customers. Her main objective, though, is to teach piano. She had a good interview at a Christian School today. They are looking for a teacher for a dozen or so kids. We are bringing her piano "home" this Saturday, so she's having trouble containing herself.

I've been busy editing video and building websites, and developing ISV FaithWorks for ISV (there's a few links for you to chew on!). Lots of exciting potential there to involve Christian college kids in the most amazing mission adventure on the planet. Hey Grandma... how's about joining us foe a few weeks in Thailand next summer. We could put you to work in the kitchen and maybe even a rice field or two. You'd be a hit over there.

Well, time for bed. Just wanted to bring you up to speed, and say "thanks" for your love and prayers!

Back to School

2007-09-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

Well, the day were all looking forward to has arrived. Shaniah started her school year at 8:20 this morning, and Maddy at 8:55. They are going to different schools, but both are within walking distance from home. You can't imagine how excited they were. And we were a little excited too!

How true it is...

2007-09-03T07:44:00.001-05:00

www.johnortberg.com

"Mom's an Employeeee"

2007-08-29T16:28:00.000-05:00

We knew when we came home that Lynn would need to work, at least part-time. So last week she headed out with a stack of resumes, and came home a few hours later and announced she was starting Monday! No interview, no application, nothing. They would begin training her right away. Her new workplace is Food Basics, the bargain bin for A&P.

So we went by today to do a bit of shopping for dinner (and Shaniah's lemonade stand, but that's another post...). As we walked through the door Maddy saw Lynn behind the checkout, intensely concentrating on not messing up, and exclaimed "Mommy's an employeeee!" (Note: You have to say it out loud, with the emphasis on the last syllable to get the picture.)

As for me, video work is picking up. I'm actually filming some street ministry tonight in downtown Kitchener. I expect to get some pretty compelling footage under the bridges and in a few crackhouses too. The idea is to let people know the realities of life on the street, and that they can do something to help. Also have a few websites under way. There is one other opportunity that God may be opening up, so pray that He will either open or close the door. (I would prefer "open", but that's up to Him!)

"Holy Cheap Calls, Batman!"

2007-08-16T06:27:00.000-05:00

One of the things we've had to get used to since our return has been the higher cost of living. Everytime I open my wallet, a minimum of $20 seems to disappear. Gas, food, taxes. So we've been trying to find ways to economize on our phone bill. We've pretty much decided to try and do everything online, since internet is provided at our apartment.

We have been using Skype for quite a while, which has been cool, especially when I was in Thailand. With Skype you can talk for free between computers when you're both online. And with SkypeOut, you can call almost any number for around 3 cents a minute. There are a few new options, though, that allow you to use your cell or landline without having to talk through your computer.

I was introduced to Jajah through Guy Kawasaki. You sign up for free, and give them your phone number. Go to the login window, enter the number you want to call. A few seconds later your phone rings. Answer it, and your call is patched through for less than 4 cents a minute. If you have a Blackberry or other mobile internet device, you can do this directly without using your computer at all. And calls between Jajah users are free.

Rebtel works a little differently. You sign up (again, for free) and enter your number. You then enter the number you wish to call. They assign a new local number to that contact, so every call is like a local call. So they give me a new number for my Dad, and I can call that number for 1.7 cents a minute. That's 4 hours, 37 minutes of talk time for $5! Rebtel also has a facebook application, for those of you who have been sucked into that vortex.

There are a few provisos. Both companies require you to pay up front for your calls with a credit card or possibly Paypal, and all calls made from a cell phone obviously use whatever minutes you have in your plan. But this still could save us all a boatload of money.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

2007-08-13T08:19:00.000-05:00

We did something yesterday that we haven't done in quite a while. OK, never. We began the search for a church to call home. Every church we've attended since we were married paid us to show up on Sundays, as every pastor ought to I suppose, but now we have three or four to choose from, and we have narrowed that down to two. They are both excellent churches in their own right, but very different.

Hespeler Baptist is smaller and fairly traditional, and neither of these are negatives in our book. They have supported us while on the mission field, and Lynn's parents attend there - her Dad is on staff. I've always appreciated their stable, prayerful, godly leadership.

Forward Baptist is bigger with a great facility, probably more "us" in their approach to reaching their community. Our kids were really impressed with their chldren's ministry and have already decided that we should make it our church home. The welcome package - nice mugs, Girardelli chocolates, and chocolate covered pretzels - didn't hurt either. It's also quite a bit closer to us, and offers small groups in our neighborhood.

But we've never been ones to attend church for what it can offer us. We like to be in a place where we're needed and can be used, so our decision is tougher than it appears. The next few weekends we're traveling, so we don't need to decide right away, but it is a strange, new, position to be in.

This is also my first day in the office! I'm busy getting a few new ventures off the ground. Virtual Visitor is a way for churches to invite people to check out their church before they actually visit. I also offer easy-edit websites to churches as well. Reel Estate provides video tours of property listings, which are then streamed to real estate websites. Both are in embryo, but have lots of potential. Small World Productions is what we are calling my work for ISV and other mission teams. So three main areas, all under the MullinsMedia umbrella!

The Eagle Has Landed

2007-08-10T19:50:00.001-05:00

This time last month I was with ISV in Thailand. In the last three weeks we have given away alot of our stuff, packed our bags, said "adios" to the Dominican Republic, and said "Hey, how's it goin', eh?" to Cambridge, ON. We've moved into a second floor apartment above FEBCentral's office, where they are also letting me borrow some office space until we get things set up here. In fact, tonight is our first night in the new place, after enjoying the gracious hospitality of the inlaws for a week or so.

What's it like being home? Not as radically different as I was expecting, but then I've been off the island a fair bit this year. It is nice having constant electricity and water and internet access. And it's nice having lines on the road that mean something. We do need to readjust to the higher cost of living here. I have some work lined up for next week, and Lynn will begin circulating her resume to help make ends meet.

We are really grateful for all the ways folks have helped us with the move back, from financial gifts, to help unloading trucks, to donated furniture and watching the girls as we sorted through stuff.

Today, Lynn and I celebrated 16 years of wedded bliss. So after a day of unpacking, we went out to a Thai restaurant near our new place. We were reflecting on the milestone things that have happened on our anniversaries. In 1992 we moved to Grand Island, NY. In 2004 we made the decision to move to the DR. And here we are in 20067 beginning a new chapter here in Cambridge.

I think Lynn starts getting nervous every time August 10 rolls around.

Happy Days

2007-07-26T09:55:00.000-05:00

This picture reminded me of one we took of the girls shortly after we arrived in the DR. They were happy then, and they're happy now. We'll miss our friends the most, but we'll also miss trips to the beach, snorkeling the reef, swimming in the canyon streams, and a hundred other things. We'll go from having a big tropical yard, to a busy street! We'll have lot's of parks nearby, though.

The next few days will be spent packing, finishing up some Thailand video editing, and tying up some loose ends. In an ironic twist, our internet is working right for the first time in months, and we have three days to enjoy it!

Home, Sweet Home

2007-07-18T12:50:00.001-05:00

"Home" is one of those flexible words, at least for we in the Mullins family. Since our wedding back in '91, we have moved six times, and we will make our seventh, back to Canada on July 29. For me, home is more about family than zip code, so wherever Lynn and the girls are is home for me. That said, I got home yesterday around four. We got back from the airport and handed out the various souvenirs and gifts I had accumulated while away, and just enjoyed being together again. This sunset didn't hurt either.

The next ten days will be busy ones as we prepare for our return. We still need to complete the paperwork for selling the truck, and we have lots of stuff to sort through and give away. We also want to paint our condo and leave it ship-shape for the next tenant. And I need to edit the ten hours of footage I shpt in Thailand, and complete a few projects for friends. This Sunday will be our last with "The Gathering", so that will be a tough goodbye, but we are so grateful for the friends we've made while we've been here, and are glad they've found eachother too.

As Easy as Riding a Bike...

2007-07-16T13:40:00.001-05:00

Sign beside a bike rental place in Thailand.

Sawasdee, Thailand

2007-07-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

Our last few days in Thailand were busy ones. After a day of rock climbing and repelling, we went on a sunset and scuba island BBQ around some of the beautiful places near Railey Beach, across the bay from Phuket. Friday was spent snorkeling around Koh Phi Phi, again, awesome. Saturday we got back on a double decker boat and headed about two hours west for the start of our two-day sea kayaking trip. We traveled through some mangrove swamps and then came into this deep canyon with vegetated cliffs. At that moment the clouds opened up and dumped sheets of horizontal rain. Kind of a added a cool, life-threatening twist to the adventure as we battled our way back to the big boat. The next day, our last in Thailand, we kayaked around an island, stopping to swim through this narrow tunnel that opened into the lagoon you see above. The scenery was really spectacular, and after an hour ride and delicious lunch onboard, we arrived at Phuket Pier and then the airport, where we caught our flight to Bangkok, and then on to LA, where I'm spending the day recovering from jetlag and waiting for my 11:00pm flight to Miami. At 12:50, I fly to Puerto Plata, where Lynn and the girl will pick me up at 2:50pm. Can't wait!

On the run in Thailand

2007-07-07T09:56:00.000-05:00

The past few days have been intense to say the least. I may be able to post a few pictures to my facebook page tomorrow, but I thought I'd update you on where I've been the past few days.

Wednesday we returned to the mountains of northern Thailand and spent the night at the Lisu Lodge, one of several accommodations operated by the various hill tribes that live here. We got up on Thursday morning and began our two day trek way up into the hills, and when I say "up", I mean "up". Not sure what our altitude was, but we were definitely in cloud forest territory. The first three hours were uphill, a challenge for this body, which was built for comfort not speed, and for stability in high winds. After stopping at a few different hill tribe villages, we ended the day way up on a ridge at an outpost with an unbelievable view. It was actually populated by a tribe with Tibetan roots, so the culture was remarkable. Friday morning we trekked back down the mountain, in the rain, and stopping for a swim in a waterfall, before finishing the hike with a 10k whitewater rafting trip.

It was a pretty hardcore few days, and stretched most of us way beyond our comfort zones, physically and culturally. My biggest challenge was actually keeping my camera dry and functioning with a collection of dry bags and umbrellas. The video footage was stunning and I can't wait to get it edited. The group has made my job easier too. They are a great bunch of university students - 29 in all.

Today we visited three major temples in Chiang Mai. This used to be the capital of Thailand until hostilities with Burma necessitated a move of the capital south to Bangkok. It is still in many ways the spiritual capital, though. The temple on top of Doi Suthep, the large mountain overlooking the city, is amazing, and the view of Chiang Mai is stunning. After witnessing the intricacies of Buddhism, I am more in love than ever with the simplicity of following Jesus.

Tomorrow we have our last day here before catching the night train to Bangkok. Monday will be spent sightseeing there, before catching an afternoon flight down to Phuket and then on to Kao Sok for some river tubing, rock climbing at Railay Beach and sea kayaking before heading home on the 15th.

If we ever moved to Thailand...

2007-07-02T11:26:00.000-05:00

Don't worry, Dear. We're not moving to Thailand. But if we did, we would live here in Chiang Mai. The people are so friendly and open, and it is a truly beautiful part of the world. We drove through the mountain range you see above on our way to live with a hill tribe for a few days last week. As it turns out, the village is half Christian, which makes it quite unique in 96% Buddhist Thailand. And the church in the village is of the Baptist variety, which made my world a whole lot smaller. I had quite a conversation with the pastor, and am seriously thinking about bringing a team back here some day.

As you may have surmised, this trip has been one of the most spectacular I have taken over the past few years. But it's also been one of the most challenging, physically and mentally. We hiked through a cave for a kilometer or so, and then to the top of the mountain above it. I will need a Thai massage before I can use my legs again. We'll spend the rest of this week in Chiang Mai, before taking an overnight train ride to Bangkok for Sunday and Monday, and then flying to Phuket in the south for the rest of the trip - rock climbing, snorkeling, beach crawling.

But it's also been tough to be away from my family, especially as we prepare to move home. Lynn is doing alot of the leg work, packing stuff up, and she deserves kudos for that. I am really thankful for Skype - I talked with my girls for over a half-hour today and yesterday for free, and even chatted with my Dad for a while this evening. They are on the exact opposite side of the world, and it felt like they were right next door.

Did I mention that I have the best family in the world? If I mention going away again this year, hit me in the head with something solid, would you?

You can look at more of my pictures here!

Northern Thailand

2007-06-26T03:07:00.001-05:00

We drove about three hours north of Chaing Mai yesterday, through beautiful mountain ranges, headed for Mae Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, right on the Burmese border. We are filming another ISV partner project - DEPDC, Development Education Program for Daughters and Children. Most of the children here at considered "at risk", and have come from situations where they were either in abusive or exploitive situations, or would have been had they been left there. They have around 40 kids in residence, and the rest are brought in by bus or walk in from the surrounding community.

It's been great to film the ISV teams interacting with the kids, learning the language and culture, and generally being challenged by a way of life much different from their own.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they have wi-fi in the office, so I'm able to post today and might even be able to Skype with Lynn and the girls tonight!

Talk About History

2007-06-24T07:16:00.000-05:00

I, obviously, am not a Buddhist. I'm not even sure they'd let me be one if I wanted to be. And I know I would look suspicious in the bright orange robes they wear, assuming I could even enter the priesthood. But I am looking forward to learning more about the religion that more than a billion people call their own. The temple above is right behind our hotel and is more than 2000 years old.

From my roof top I can see "novices" shuffling around the courtyard, going about their daily routine. Every day, people have the opportunity to bring gifts of food to the monks in exchange for a blessing. Even today, I saw some monks selling flowers to buddhists who would in turn present them as offerings to the buddha statues that are on almost every corner.

No matter what I think about Buddhism and other world religions, I can't help but admire their devotion and commitment to their belief system. I'm pretty sure most people who call themselves Christian aren't this devoted to the One they call "Lord".

Chiang Mai

2007-06-23T01:02:00.000-05:00

I’ve been in Thailand for three days now, and it’s unlike an other place I’ve been. According to my Facebook travel map, I’ve visited 8% of the world’s countries, so Thailand’s uniqueness shouldn’t surprise me, I guess. The world is a big place.

I didn’t have much of chance to deal with my jet lag when I found myself up in the mountains north of Chiang Mai. ISV is working with the Elephant Nature Park this summer, an organization which rescues mistreated elephants and rehabilitates them on their private reserve of several hundred acres in a serene river valley. In the morning we awoke the sound of elephants trumpeting in the distance, walking through the tall grass in their family groups. They are incredibly intelligent and social creatures. But in Thailand, and many other asian countries, elephants are nothing more than beasts of burden. Mahouts, or elephant owner/operators, often beat them with iron hooks, using negative enforcement to train them to fulfil such tasks as pulling wagons and farm implements and carrying tourists up and down mountains. Most elephants are scarred on their heads from the regular beatings they receive. The ENP exists to provide a refuge for more than 40 elephants of all ages. They are fed daily, often with special diets to deal with their various ailments, bathed twice a day in the river, and given shelters to sleep in in their family groups. Volunteers visit from all over the world and help with the daily chores of mucking out the stalls, bathing and feeding the elephants, and assiting with building projects on the property.

After two days at the ENP, Kieran drove me back into Chiang Mai. Kieran is Thailand’s ISV country director, and has a full plate overseeing all of the projects running in the country (three at present) and the adventure tour, fourteen high impact activities, from whitewater rafting the Mae Taeng river, sea kayaking around Phang Hga Bay and climbing the limestone cliffs of Railay Beach. I’ll be blogging on all that as we do it the week after next!

I’ll be here at the Parosol Inn for two more nights, a neat little hotel just a few blocks from the Silver Gate and the old city. I went for a stroll this morning through the gate and saw a marching band going though it’s drills, and a dozen or so Buddhist “novices” – monks in training – on their way to the temple in their bright orange robes. Temples are everywhere. Right next door to my hotel is the one of the oldest “teak temples” in the city. I’ll see lots of these during my three weeks here, and they are a focal point of the tour. I bought two 300 baht phone cards this morning – that’s a little less than $10 each – and called home to talk to Lynn and the girls. I really needed to talk to Shaniah as she struggles when I’m gone. The cards only last 5 minutes each, so our conversations were a little short but sweet. Was good to hear familiar voices, even if they were a little tearful. I’ve often said, this is the only downside of what I do – being away from my wife and girls. I hope to tale Shaniah with me on my next trip, whenever that may be.

Just in case I can’t blog much this week, I’ll be here until Monday morning, at which point we’ll be driving back up into the mountains to the Mae Sai area of northern Thailand. ISV is working with an organization that has rescued children from exploitation in the huge sex trade industry. Many times parents sell their kids to work in sweatshops, and then they are moved into the sex trade. ISV’s partner organization takes these kids off the streets and moves them into secluded mountain villages where they will be safely rehabilitated and educated. On Thursday night, I’ll be joining another group of students who are doing volunteer work among a remote hillside tribe, and will be there until Sunday when we return to Chiang Mai to begin the two-week adventure tour.

You’ve seen a few pictures here, but you can see more over at my Facebook page (link on the right). I’ll post several albums there during my trip.

Touchdown

2007-06-20T23:37:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know that I am safely in Thailand, after a smooth flight across the Pacific last night. I'm now officially 12 hour ahead of most of you - the next day. So it's 11:38am on Thursday.

I'm off to film the Elephant Nature Project today and tomorrow, and will have a few stories to tell and pictures to show then.

Off to Thailand

2007-06-19T08:58:00.000-05:00

After a nice lunch with Lynn and the girls yesterday, they kissed me goodbye for the fourth time in 12 months. It's hard to believe: Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, back to Australia, and now three weeks in Thailand. This trip will be the last for this year we're hoping. We'd like to get nicely settled back in Canada before I do any more international travel.

After a bit of a delay due to severe weather in Miami, we finally got off the ground, arriving in LA around 1:00am. Fell into my bed at the hotel around 2:00am. Today I need to pick up a few filming supplies, and then head to LAX to catch a late-night flight to Bangkok, Thailand. I get in there at 6:10am tomorrow, and then fly immediately to Chiang Mai where the filming will begin.

I really enjoy filming ISV. They do really good work with community-based organizations, and the students are really challenged to make a difference. You can see where I'll be going by visiting www.isvonline.com and clicking on Thailand. My first three days will be spent filming at the Elephant Nature Park and a hill tribe that ISV works in. From June 27-30 I'll be filming the Development and Education for Daughters and Communities program - an organization that works on the prevention side of trafficking of women and children in the sex trade and exploitative labour situations. From July 1-15 I'll be filming the exciting Thailand adventure tour.

So, here I go again. Please keep Lynn and the girls in your prayers during my absence. My separation from them is by far the hardest part of what I do, and I am so grateful the strength God provides to Lynn, especially as we're looking forward to our move home on Aug.1.

Raving Fans

2007-06-16T06:28:00.000-05:00

Ken Blanchard (author of One Minute Manager and numerous other business books) tells a great story about Ritz Carlton and their commitment to customer satisfaction.

Solving a customer's problem is paramount to the Ritz's operation. Any employee can immediately spend up to $2,000 to solve a problem without getting any ones approval. A businessman checked out of the Ritz Carlton and traveled to Hawaii to make a important scheduled presentation. Upon arriving in Hawaii he discovered he had left his laptop, complete with the presentation, back at the Ritz. He called the hotel. A housekeeper had found the computer. The businessman needed the computer absolutely the next day. She took the computer to the airport, and her and the computer took off to Hawaii. She didn't turn it into a vacation, she returned on the next flight back. When her boss ask her why she flew the laptop to Hawaii rather than shipping it, she simply stated that there was less margin for error if she took it there herself.

Blanchard, in his book called Raving Fans, talks about a method of management that sets as an objective turning your customers into "raving fans" about your business. The successful company of the future will be relying on their customer base as their marketing department. The goal, says Blanchard, is to give your customers an experience that far exceeds, rather blows away, any expectations they might have had when interacting with your business. When the customers start bragging on your company, you've created "Raving Fan" customers.

Blanchard boils it down to three steps:

1. Decide what you want. Think so far out of the box that you can't even see the box anymore. How extreme can you take your vision when it comes to customer service?

2. "Discover what your customer wants." Simply, ask them. Stay in touch with your core customer. See what their needs and wants are. Blanchard explains that there may be wants from the customer than don't fit your vision. These customers need to go elsewhere. You can't be all things to all people.

3. "Deliver what you promise, plus one." Exceed your customer's expectations when you perform.

Over the past two days, I have been asked by four people to describe my Apple Computer experience. They are in the market and are looking for advice. I'm not a technical guy, but I know how to use my iMac, my PowerBook and my iPod to do what I need to get done. Do any of you have a three year old PC laptop that's been around the world twice, subjected to sand and salt air from exposure to a coastal environment, and has never crashed, caught a virus, or needed repair? I am constantly under pressure to finish projects on time, and unlike the PC I used in the beginning, neither of my Apple products have ever let me down.

I'm not exactly a Mac "evangelist" - I rarely talk about it unless asked - but I am definitely a raving fan.

And as an aside: I know the church is not a business, but how many have "raving fans"?

Not for the Faint of Heart

2007-06-11T20:46:00.000-05:00

These guys were my heros back in 1983. Stumbled on this while searching out Bryan Duncan on YouTube and well, let's just say I didn't accomplish anything else tonight. Be patient and endure the opening remarks. The music is so worth the wait!

PS Remember, this was shot in the 70's. Pretty progressive stuff then, and still is.

UPDATE: I may have been a little harsh to use the word "endure" in relation to the intro remarks to this song. What he said was actually very relevant and true. I was just really excited about the song. Sorry. Please listen to what the man has to say!

Sunrise

2007-06-09T07:34:00.000-05:00

The view from our patio at 5:55am. Thanks for waking me up, Dear.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2007-06-07T07:58:00.000-05:00

Though Maddy's tribulations were somewhat eclipsed by the more traumatic events of last Tuesday, there was some humour at the end of the tunnel.

She had decided that she was going to fire the tooth fairy because she didn't get enough money for her infected tricuspid. She figured it was worth at least $50RD instead of the usual $25RD (that's about $1CAN. I remember being thrilled to get a quarter). I then reminded her that it had cost us $800RD to have it removed, so in effect she owed us $750RD. She replied, "Yeah, but it hurt me 100%."

Couldn't argue with that logic.

Two-wheeled angels... Four-wheeled Devil

2007-06-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

An e-mail sent to my folks, describing the events of the day.

"Lynn took Maddy to the dentist in Puerto Plata, and discovered that one of her molars was badly infected, so it had to be pulled. I was filming at the dump with Shaniah, so she called me there with the update. We left the dump on the motorcycle around 4:30 and headed for home. Just past the Coastal gas station, Shaniah's hat blew off. Someone behind us had stopped to pick it up, so we did a U-turn and went back to meet him. I pulled over on the shoulder opposite, and was waiting for him to cross the road, when a pickup truck drifted onto the shoulder and hit us. Glanced off us, actually, but hit Shaniah's left foot, my lower leg and smashed the mirror off my bike. He didn't even slow down. Maybe he saw that the bike was still upright and figured we were OK. Shaniah was screaming in pain, I was lightheaded and nauseous, and the dominican guy was still holding Shaniah's hat, not sure what to do.

My head cleared enough to drive back to Dr.Bob's clinic, just a kilometer or so back. He put Shaniah's foot in icewater and gave her a tylenol, which helped. I called Lynn, who was on her way back from the dentist (a story on it's own - took three shots of novocain to pull one of her tricuspid molars!). She stopped at the clinic, we left Maddy with her friend Rosie, and headed back to the private hospital at Puerto Plata. They x-rayed her ankle and discovered she had a point fracture on her foot, so they cleaned her up and applied a cast to just below her knee, which she'll have on for at least a month.

There are a few blessings in all of this. First, we are both alive and home safely. Second (and really the first one is the only one that matters), it only cost $5700 pesos for everything - xray, cast, medicine, tetanus shot. That's less than $300.

So that's all the news I feel like sharing for now. My calf and ankle need some ice and tylenol, and my minor abrasions need some cleaning.

Have you ever wondered if those "Lord, keep them safe" prayers work? They do."

Iraq News

2007-06-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

To good not to share...

Does wanting this watch mean I have affluenza?

2007-06-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

Or am I just a survivor at heart? This baby (Breitling Professional Emergency) has a built-in microtransmitter than acts as a locater beacon in the event of an aviation or boating disaster. It broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency for 48 hours, reaching over 100km in all directions. Pretty sweet, eh? And only $4,480. Start saving up for this stocking stuffer, honey!

Nazareth Village

2007-06-01T20:00:00.001-05:00

Some footage I shot this week of the work an ISV team was doing in a Dominican village.

This ought to be an interesting summer!

2007-05-29T08:23:00.001-05:00

I have always held the opinion that if God had wanted me to see the sun rise, He would have scheduled it for later in the day, but that opinion is under review since I took this picture last week. I shudder to think of how many spectacular sunrises I've missed.

We have announced a major decision this week - we will be moving back to Canada later this summer! The reasons are laid out in our June newsletter (download a copy here), but in a nutshell the media work and ministry opportunities before us will be best accomplished there, and our girls (especially Shaniah) will be better served by a more traditional school setting. There are several challenges ahead: locating permanent housing; getting the girls into school; finding an affordable car; resettling into a new home church.

We are excited about the opportunities ahead of us. I have been asked to develop an internet presence (including video) for a leadership training ministry in Toronto, I'll be finishing the editing process on the Australia video I shot last month, and I'm filming in Thailand for three weeks next month. Also, I have been developing a new outreach tool for churches whereby they can provide a short video introduction to their church on their website. All of this requires us to be closer to the people we serve.

So, here's the plan. I'm in Thailand from June 20 to July 15. After I get back we'll spend a few weeks tying up some final loose ends here, and then we'll fly back to civilization on or about August 1.

Fasten your seatbelts... it's bound to be quite a ride!

Maddylicious!

2007-05-25T08:24:00.000-05:00

A few of my favorite Maddy Moments... enjoy!

Back to life, back to reality...

2007-05-21T17:43:00.000-05:00

Aside from skipping over time zones, international travel messes with your head. For three weeks, I was in a parallel universe. As life continued as usual with Lynn and the girls here in the DR - homeschool, piano lessons, church - I was basically on my own, reliving my days of road trips, sleeping on friends sofas, just watching out for me. Don't worry. Nothing wild 'n crazy happened. But it was just strange. It feels good to be back home with the family. Shaniah and I have been walking around the block in the mornings to feed some dogs (her first real job!), and I have joyfully reconnected with our church family at The Gathering.

I have a few videos to shoot this week. One rental villa, one for a missionary, one music video for a friend, and ISV is back for the summer and I ought to be filming them too. And I've been asked to film in Thailand for three weeks at the end of June, too, so life never stays quiet for long. But for now, it's just good to be home.

The Home Stretch

2007-05-13T04:53:00.000-05:00

I finished up filming at Fraser last Tuesday, with two nights camping on the beach. We were able to cover a lot of ground while there, and filled in most of the material I needed for the video. The only flaw was our inability to find Dingos to film. In all his years guiding on the island, this was the first time Patrick had failed to see at least one Dingo. We suspect that the Ministry of Parks is exterminating them quietly, but we are hoping that because it is mating season, they are simply back in the woods away from people doing their thing. But I owe Patrick and Louise a debt of gratitude for putting me up when we weren't on the island, and introducing me to their wonderful part of the world. (See "Sand Down Under" for a look at the project.)

Things weren't quite as rushed after that, so I took an extra day on the drive back to Sydney, spending the night at a backpacker hostel in the surfing mecca of Byron Bay. I took some time to climb to the lighthouse at Cape Byron, the most easterly point on mainland Australia, before making my way down to a little inn in Karuah, just a few hours north of Sydney. The next few days were spent making connections with my DVD production company in Adelaide, and with the media department of the Ministry of Parks, who will be shipping me some of their Dingo footage.

This morning, I discovered that Hillsong Church had a city campus just ten minutes from where I was staying, so I decided to check it out. For the most part, I was glad I went. The music and message were first class, and the atmosphere was very warm and friendly. I still had the feeling though, and my non-churched friends here confirmed it, that vast numbers of people would not be attracted despite the band and smoke and lights. It's great for Christians, I think, but people still need to be exposed to the Gospel in the context of a relationship. To their credit, they provide those opportunities too.

So tomorrow the journey home begins. A 2:00pm flight to LA, arriving the same day at 10:00am (get your head around that), followed by a flight to NYC arriving at 11:00pm, and then a flight to Miami and then Puerto Plata by Tuesday at 3:00.

The trip has been a success, but I can't wait to get home. I missed Shaniah's birthday and Mother's Day, so I've got some making up to do!