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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Thanks Uncle Jay!

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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.

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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 ;-)

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

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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.

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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?

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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!

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"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.

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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.

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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!

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

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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.

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