Free food that included hot dogs, brats, grilled corn on a stick, BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, cotton candy, lemonade, mini-muffins in ice cream cones and, to top it all off, funnel cake.

Along with the food outside, there were a row of inflatables that ranged from obstacle courses, jousting, basketball long shots and a giant slide in the shape of the shoe home in the nursery rhyme.

Inside there were games all over the gym and two more inflatables, including one that was two stories, stretching toward the roof.  All of these games paid off with candy, whether you win or lose.

And all of it was free to our guests.

A few years ago, we charged money for the food (which was much smaller) and the Fall Family Fun Festival (as it had come to be known) was a big event for us.  It became the biggest single emphasis in our church when we decided to expand the food and make it all free.  After that, the inflatables, games and everything else grew as well.

Attendance blew up with all that we were offering, coupled with our relationship with the community through our partnership with Skelly Elementary nearby.

And it all happens because we determined to give and not trade.  We give to Skelly Elementary, and now to Skelly Primary.  After several years, we have begun to receive trust and dependence.  When they have a need, they call us and we have the honor of helping the families of our community at our local school.

We give to the neighborhood, free food, games and a safe place for a family.  In return, we get trust, appreciation and an open door to share the Gospel.

This year our follow up will be a packet of information about our church sent to everyone that registered followed by a phone call from one of our church members making sure they got the information and welcoming any questions.

What do you do?

See all 160 images by clicking here.

Click on a thumbnail to see full size image:

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Skelly Serves Fall Festival/Block Party
• God rocks our Block Party
• We care more about people than we care about grass…
• Small, Hidden Economic Stimulus
• This Week’s Sign

“This is our gift to our community,” I said as our neighbors looked around at all that our church was offering.  The list of possibilities was long:

Free food that included hot dogs, brats, grilled corn on a stick, BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, cotton candy, lemonade, mini-muffins in ice cream cones and, to top it all off, funnel cake.

Along with the food outside, there were a row of inflatables that ranged from obstacle courses, jousting, basketball long shots and a giant slide in the shape of the shoe home in the nursery rhyme.

Inside there were games all over the gym and two more inflatables, including one that was two stories, stretching toward the roof.  All of these games paid off with candy, whether you win or lose.

And all of it was free to our guests.

A few years ago, we charged money for the food (which was much smaller) and the Fall Family Fun Festival (as it had come to be known) was a big event for us.  It became the biggest single emphasis in our church when we decided to expand the food and make it all free.  After that, the inflatables, games and everything else grew as well.

Attendance blew up with all that we were offering, coupled with our relationship with the community through our partnership with Skelly Elementary nearby.

And it all happens because we determined to give and not trade.  We give to Skelly Elementary, and now to Skelly Primary.  After several years, we have begun to receive trust and dependence.  When they have a need, they call us and we have the honor of helping the families of our community at our local school.

We give to the neighborhood, free food, games and a safe place for a family.  In return, we get trust, appreciation and an open door to share the Gospel.

This year our follow up will be a packet of information about our church sent to everyone that registered followed by a phone call from one of our church members making sure they got the information and welcoming any questions.

What do you do?

See all 160 images by clicking here.

Click on a thumbnail to see full size image:

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Skelly Serves Fall Festival/Block Party
• God rocks our Block Party
• We care more about people than we care about grass…
• Small, Hidden Economic Stimulus
• This Week’s Sign

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

[Show as slideshow]

If you like these, you might like to browse my flickr or photoblog.  (Same pics, different layout)

Related posts:

• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 05-16-08
• Phriday foto 06-29-07
• Phriday Foto 10-29-10 :: XC
• Phriday foto 04-11-08

A few pictures I took of my family about a month ago.

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

[Show as slideshow]

If you like these, you might like to browse my flickr or photoblog.  (Same pics, different layout)

Related posts:

• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 05-16-08
• Phriday foto 06-29-07
• Phriday Foto 10-29-10 :: XC
• Phriday foto 04-11-08

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

[Show as slideshow]

If you like these, my flickr account is here and my photoblog is here.  (Same pics at both places.)

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

Little Photography for ya today.  My son’s Cross Country team.

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

[Show as slideshow]

If you like these, my flickr account is here and my photoblog is here.  (Same pics at both places.)

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

Which is a great argument for cross training, if training is your thing.

To date my thing has been just trying to drop some weight and cycling offered me an aerobic exercise option with no impact.  Which was huge.  Because I was huge.

If you want to understand this better, try running with a couple of 20 lb. sledge hammers, one in each hand.  Get the idea?  Now add another 15 lbs and you’ll understand how much weight I’ve lost.

So I biked because I couldn’t run.

Until last week.  My son was running in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  I then found that several of our church family were also running.  It’s a great cause and personal as well.  My Mom, Annette, both of her sisters (my aunts Suz and Sandy) and, as of couple of weeks ago, my Mother in Law, Lynda, have all had breast cancer.

So I guess I was feeling froggy or just stupid and, when signing Jimmy up for the race, I signed myself up, too.

Keep in mind that I haven’t run in FOREVER.  I tried to run in the Spring and couldn’t, so I bought a bike.  I tried to run a few weeks ago and was moderately more successful, but honestly I only ran about a mile.

Pride? Foolishness? Arrogance? Whatever…

I have no idea what caused me to think I could run a 5k (3.2 miles), but I showed up with one goal.  Don’t walk.  Run the whole time. Even if you have to shuffle.

And I did.  Official Race time results:  33:41.85.

And now I hurt all over.  I can’t get on my bike because my ankle hurts. I feel worse than I ever have.  Well, maybe not EVER… but bad.

I hear the swine flu is making its way through our congregation.  Maybe I can catch it and feel even worse.

But then again, I don’t know that I have ever in my life run that far consecutively. And it was for breast cancer research.  And I didn’t walk.

So maybe I feel pretty good after all.

Ok, here are some pics (Click on the thumbnail for the full size pic):

[Show as slideshow]

Comments

• September 21, 2009, Bart writes: Vicki and I lol'd watching you walk up the platform steps Sunday night. I wasn't plussitude...I don't think...do I want to know what that means? Merriams wouldn't tell me, so I'm a little worried. Great picture of you and Laddie. And Peyton let you take her picture. Now if you had Amy...
• September 21, 2009, cb scott writes: I am proud of you and for you Art. cb
• September 22, 2009, art rogers writes: Bart - Look up nonplussed. And Peyton neigh demanded that she have her picture made with me. And why wouldn't she? CB - Thanks, brother!
• September 22, 2009, tom writes: Congrats, Art! Keep going! -ta
• September 22, 2009, steveharrison writes: Art, awesome job on the 5K and I know you have worked extremely hard biking and being disciplined in dropping alot of lbs...that rocks...your discpline in this area is a strong testimony of the discipline in your life as a pastor...keep preaching strong and loving those you serve...have an awesome day!!
• September 22, 2009, art rogers writes: Thanks, guys. Appreciate the encouragement greatly. For whomever may need to know: (I was using it more along the lines of the 2nd, informal definition) nonplussed |nänˈpləst| (also nonplused) adjective 1 (of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react : he would be completely nonplussed and embarrassed at the idea. 2 informal (of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed
• September 23, 2009, Papa writes: Art, Proud of you. Lots of important things happened here. I think the most important was the time you spent with Jimmy. He is lucky to have a dad who loves him that much and who finds time to be together. Dad
• September 23, 2009, art rogers writes: Well, the time we spent together was before and after the race, because it took all of 2 seconds for him to drop me like a bad habit... ;)

Related posts:

• Race Relations and the President Elect
• More Presidency News
• Phriday foto 12-07-07
• Another 1VP Candidate
• Vietnam

The first thing that you should know about running a 5k… check that… about me running a 5k, is that cycling doesn’t translate to running.  They are based on a different set of muscle groups.  When a runner or a cyclist crosses over to the other discipline they will find a jump in their heart rate and a demand for oxygen from those muscles that haven’t been being used.

Which is a great argument for cross training, if training is your thing.

To date my thing has been just trying to drop some weight and cycling offered me an aerobic exercise option with no impact.  Which was huge.  Because I was huge.

If you want to understand this better, try running with a couple of 20 lb. sledge hammers, one in each hand.  Get the idea?  Now add another 15 lbs and you’ll understand how much weight I’ve lost.

So I biked because I couldn’t run.

Until last week.  My son was running in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  I then found that several of our church family were also running.  It’s a great cause and personal as well.  My Mom, Annette, both of her sisters (my aunts Suz and Sandy) and, as of couple of weeks ago, my Mother in Law, Lynda, have all had breast cancer.

So I guess I was feeling froggy or just stupid and, when signing Jimmy up for the race, I signed myself up, too.

Keep in mind that I haven’t run in FOREVER.  I tried to run in the Spring and couldn’t, so I bought a bike.  I tried to run a few weeks ago and was moderately more successful, but honestly I only ran about a mile.

Pride? Foolishness? Arrogance? Whatever…

I have no idea what caused me to think I could run a 5k (3.2 miles), but I showed up with one goal.  Don’t walk.  Run the whole time. Even if you have to shuffle.

And I did.  Official Race time results:  33:41.85.

And now I hurt all over.  I can’t get on my bike because my ankle hurts. I feel worse than I ever have.  Well, maybe not EVER… but bad.

I hear the swine flu is making its way through our congregation.  Maybe I can catch it and feel even worse.

But then again, I don’t know that I have ever in my life run that far consecutively. And it was for breast cancer research.  And I didn’t walk.

So maybe I feel pretty good after all.

Ok, here are some pics (Click on the thumbnail for the full size pic):

[Show as slideshow]

Comments

• September 21, 2009, Bart writes: Vicki and I lol'd watching you walk up the platform steps Sunday night. I wasn't plussitude...I don't think...do I want to know what that means? Merriams wouldn't tell me, so I'm a little worried. Great picture of you and Laddie. And Peyton let you take her picture. Now if you had Amy...
• September 21, 2009, cb scott writes: I am proud of you and for you Art. cb
• September 22, 2009, art rogers writes: Bart - Look up nonplussed. And Peyton neigh demanded that she have her picture made with me. And why wouldn't she? CB - Thanks, brother!
• September 22, 2009, tom writes: Congrats, Art! Keep going! -ta
• September 22, 2009, steveharrison writes: Art, awesome job on the 5K and I know you have worked extremely hard biking and being disciplined in dropping alot of lbs...that rocks...your discpline in this area is a strong testimony of the discipline in your life as a pastor...keep preaching strong and loving those you serve...have an awesome day!!
• September 22, 2009, art rogers writes: Thanks, guys. Appreciate the encouragement greatly. For whomever may need to know: (I was using it more along the lines of the 2nd, informal definition) nonplussed |nänˈpləst| (also nonplused) adjective 1 (of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react : he would be completely nonplussed and embarrassed at the idea. 2 informal (of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed
• September 23, 2009, Papa writes: Art, Proud of you. Lots of important things happened here. I think the most important was the time you spent with Jimmy. He is lucky to have a dad who loves him that much and who finds time to be together. Dad
• September 23, 2009, art rogers writes: Well, the time we spent together was before and after the race, because it took all of 2 seconds for him to drop me like a bad habit... ;)

Related posts:

• Race Relations and the President Elect
• More Presidency News
• Phriday foto 12-07-07
• Another 1VP Candidate
• Vietnam

Still, if you like these and want to see more, you can check out my photoblog or my flickr page.

Click a thumbnail for a larger picture.

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

Haven’t been out lately, but here are a few of Cain’s Ballroom.  I’ve posted them before, but it has been a while.

Still, if you like these and want to see more, you can check out my photoblog or my flickr page.

Click a thumbnail for a larger picture.

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

You can see these and more at my photoblog or my flickr.

All pictures taken with my camera phone, click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto 04-25-08
• Phriday foto 08-31-07

Sorry for the long wait on Phriday Fotos.  I’ve been negligent with my camera, much to my own chagrine.  Nevertheless, here are some pictures from our Ski Trip with Bonnie’s family over the Christmas break.

You can see these and more at my photoblog or my flickr.

All pictures taken with my camera phone, click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto 04-25-08
• Phriday foto 08-31-07

For an example, check out this picture, entitled “evangelicals.jpg” used in an article slanted harshly against Christians in general and evangelicals in particular:

You can find the article here:

Evangelists: Cashing in on Hard Economic Times

Most of the Evangelicals I know NEVER look like this, and those that do, only for a couple of moments per week.  Do people think we really walk around like this all day long?

Comments

• December 17, 2008, Rick Boyne writes: If they were come and take a picture of my church during the most intense worship we've experienced since I've been here, you might accidentally catch a smile or two. There is one lady that raises one hand almost as high as her shoulder. Rick Boynes last blog post..Gas Prices Going UP?
• December 17, 2008, art rogers writes: I know! We have a total of 3 hand raisers in our church, and we are fairly progressive in our worship. High energy, happy to be here, focused on God kind of stuff. It seems to me that the pictures are not intended to represent reality, but to present an ecstatic expression as the "norm" which makes us look cult-like, discrediting us.
• December 19, 2008, Eric Vardeman writes: we need more pictures of believers eating mexican food and cleaning the house and mowing the lawn and watching football games and sitting behind their desks at work. We live normal lives...we just live them in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. I think that's in the bible somewhere :-)

Related posts:

• Until I Die…
• Vietnam: Microfinance
• Idolatry?
• 10 things we don’t mention …
• Spiritual Warfare

Just curious, but why is it, especially among media writing negatively about Christians, but even among those writing more “neutral” stories, are pictures shown of a group at a point of ecstatic worship (speaking in tongues optional)?

For an example, check out this picture, entitled “evangelicals.jpg” used in an article slanted harshly against Christians in general and evangelicals in particular:

You can find the article here:

Evangelists: Cashing in on Hard Economic Times

Most of the Evangelicals I know NEVER look like this, and those that do, only for a couple of moments per week.  Do people think we really walk around like this all day long?

Comments

• December 17, 2008, Rick Boyne writes: If they were come and take a picture of my church during the most intense worship we've experienced since I've been here, you might accidentally catch a smile or two. There is one lady that raises one hand almost as high as her shoulder. Rick Boynes last blog post..Gas Prices Going UP?
• December 17, 2008, art rogers writes: I know! We have a total of 3 hand raisers in our church, and we are fairly progressive in our worship. High energy, happy to be here, focused on God kind of stuff. It seems to me that the pictures are not intended to represent reality, but to present an ecstatic expression as the "norm" which makes us look cult-like, discrediting us.
• December 19, 2008, Eric Vardeman writes: we need more pictures of believers eating mexican food and cleaning the house and mowing the lawn and watching football games and sitting behind their desks at work. We live normal lives...we just live them in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. I think that's in the bible somewhere :-)

Related posts:

• Until I Die…
• Vietnam: Microfinance
• Idolatry?
• 10 things we don’t mention …
• Spiritual Warfare

First, you need Gimp.  Gimp is a FREE graphics program like Photoshop, which is expensive.  Gimp is not quite Photoshop, but for free, it rocks.  Also, it works on either Mac or Windows.  I first learned about it from Frank Turk who has a Gimp University blog with loads of tutorials.

Simple directions are first, followed by detailed directions and screenshots.

Simple Directions

1. Create a duplicate layer:  Layer->Duplicate Layer
2. Desaturate the top layer:  Color->Desaturate (pop up window->desaturate)
3. Erase the top layer where you want color to shine through:  Tool->Eraser
4. Save As your picture in the format of your choice.

Detailed Directions

I’m going to post pictures of the progress as we go through.  Click on the pictures you see in the article for a full sized picture.

For this process, I picked a Christmas Parade picture in which a very colorful lady presented a profile, but she blended somewhat with the other spectators in the original picture.

(Click for Larger Pic)

For well done graphic work, everything is done in layers, so get used to adding multiple layers to an image.  To create a duplicate layer, you need to select the layers menu and then duplicate layer from that menu.

(Click for Larger Pic)

This is going to give you two layers in the layer menu toolbar.

(Click for Larger Pic)

Next, you want to take all the color out of the top layer, which is called desaturatization.  The easiest way to do that is to drop down the color menu and choose “desaturate.”

(Click for Larger Pic)

You’ll get a pop up with several options.  Just click the big desaturate button.

(Click for Larger Pic)

This will give you a Black and White layer over the color layer.

(Click for Larger Pic)

Then select the eraser tool from the tool tray, select the brush size you want and erase where you want the color to bleed through.  (The more precise way to do this is to create a mask that will create a selection around the place you want to erase, but this is the quick, easy and dirty way to do it.)

(Click for Larger Pic)

When you are done, from the file menu, click “Save As” and save the image.  I created this by naming it “color through BW.jpg” and it automatically took me through the process of exporting it as a jpeg image.

(Click for Larger Pic)

Related posts:

• Vietnam 2009: San Sa Ho
• Phriday Photo 09-07-07
• Protecting Families
• Wal-Mart Employee trampled to death on Black Friday
• The future of denominations

I featured some pictures last week during Phriday Foto that had everything Black and White except the only important person in the picture, my daughter.  Turns out this is pretty easy and can be done with a free program, so I thought you might be interested in learning how to do it.

First, you need Gimp.  Gimp is a FREE graphics program like Photoshop, which is expensive.  Gimp is not quite Photoshop, but for free, it rocks.  Also, it works on either Mac or Windows.  I first learned about it from Frank Turk who has a Gimp University blog with loads of tutorials.

Simple directions are first, followed by detailed directions and screenshots.

Simple Directions

1. Create a duplicate layer:  Layer->Duplicate Layer
2. Desaturate the top layer:  Color->Desaturate (pop up window->desaturate)
3. Erase the top layer where you want color to shine through:  Tool->Eraser
4. Save As your picture in the format of your choice.

Detailed Directions

I’m going to post pictures of the progress as we go through.  Click on the pictures you see in the article for a full sized picture.

For this process, I picked a Christmas Parade picture in which a very colorful lady presented a profile, but she blended somewhat with the other spectators in the original picture.

(Click for Larger Pic)

For well done graphic work, everything is done in layers, so get used to adding multiple layers to an image.  To create a duplicate layer, you need to select the layers menu and then duplicate layer from that menu.

(Click for Larger Pic)

This is going to give you two layers in the layer menu toolbar.

(Click for Larger Pic)

Next, you want to take all the color out of the top layer, which is called desaturatization.  The easiest way to do that is to drop down the color menu and choose “desaturate.”

(Click for Larger Pic)

You’ll get a pop up with several options.  Just click the big desaturate button.

(Click for Larger Pic)

This will give you a Black and White layer over the color layer.

(Click for Larger Pic)

Then select the eraser tool from the tool tray, select the brush size you want and erase where you want the color to bleed through.  (The more precise way to do this is to create a mask that will create a selection around the place you want to erase, but this is the quick, easy and dirty way to do it.)

(Click for Larger Pic)

When you are done, from the file menu, click “Save As” and save the image.  I created this by naming it “color through BW.jpg” and it automatically took me through the process of exporting it as a jpeg image.

(Click for Larger Pic)

Related posts:

• Vietnam 2009: San Sa Ho
• Phriday Photo 09-07-07
• Protecting Families
• Wal-Mart Employee trampled to death on Black Friday
• The future of denominations

These are of my daughter marching in the Christmas Parade.  Can you guess which is mine?  Next week, I’ll show you how to do this with a free program like Photoshop (not free, very expensive) called Gimp.  Feel free to download and start playing, if ya want.  Available for Mac or Windows.

Click on a thumbnail to see a bigger picture.

[Show as slideshow]

Comments

• December 12, 2008, Bob Cleveland writes: Cute as can be, brother. And, I'm betting she got her good looks from you. I mean, I checked your profile picture; Bonnie still has hers. Bob Clevelands last blog post..What's All This Baptist Identity Garbage?
• December 12, 2008, art rogers writes: Too funny.

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

If you enjoy these, then be sure to check out my other pictures at my Photoblog or at Flickr.

These are of my daughter marching in the Christmas Parade.  Can you guess which is mine?  Next week, I’ll show you how to do this with a free program like Photoshop (not free, very expensive) called Gimp.  Feel free to download and start playing, if ya want.  Available for Mac or Windows.

Click on a thumbnail to see a bigger picture.

[Show as slideshow]

Comments

• December 12, 2008, Bob Cleveland writes: Cute as can be, brother. And, I'm betting she got her good looks from you. I mean, I checked your profile picture; Bonnie still has hers. Bob Clevelands last blog post..What's All This Baptist Identity Garbage?
• December 12, 2008, art rogers writes: Too funny.

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

These are of a spider I found suspended on a bridge of his (or her?) own making above the floor of the woods whilst hiking the other day.  Though I think I disconcerted him (or her?) somewhat at first, he (or she?) seemed to get used to me pretty quickly.

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the picture.

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08

If you enjoy these pictures, you can check out more at my photoblog or flickr.

These are of a spider I found suspended on a bridge of his (or her?) own making above the floor of the woods whilst hiking the other day.  Though I think I disconcerted him (or her?) somewhat at first, he (or she?) seemed to get used to me pretty quickly.

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the picture.

[Show as slideshow]

Related posts:

• Phriday foto 04-11-08
• Phriday foto 5-11-07
• Phriday foto 06-08-07
• Phriday foto: 01-16-09
• Phriday foto 04-25-08