So, it was skate night for part of the Baker Fam, and I had been looking forward to this since I heard about it last week.
I asked my eldest son if I could borrow my skates once again…he had been using them for a few events. I was a little unsure as to if I could still fit into them, however I had not changed foot size for a while, and fortunately I could still squeeze into them. (these are skates from 8th grade…nearly 20 years ago)
We arrived at the rink and we slid to the back where they were shoveling out what I hoped to be skates which had ran through every cleaner, steamer, and sanitizer known to man before my kids feet were about to be shoved into a shoe only God knows into which how many other kids’ feet have been pushed.
I sat down with Nichlas, our youngest, and began to help him get the boots on…loosening the shoestrings, pulling the tongue, and as we are going through this process his eyes gaze over at the large rink, and the floor, and the other skaters. A bright smile begins to emerge from what once was a scared and stiff upper lip. His eyes widened with a soft glow emitting excitement and wonder and anticipation for the fun which lie directly ahead. He had only been skating a couple of times and was a real trooper, falls down, seconds later…he is right back up.
We finished double and triple knotting the strings (I’m a worry wart…sue me) And he was off like a shot. He inched his way to the rink floor, and being careful to not step into he way of any kids…slowly began to skate. As many beginners do, at first he stuck close to the wall, and then ventured to the middle, and soon he was all over the floor…still inching his way around, but with a smile that shouted “fun”! I quickly threw my skates on so that I could join him in his careful trot around the oval rink…I wanted so much to be a part of that moment.
We joined hands and strolled up and down the rink paying no mind to the speed skaters, the music, or anything else really, but rather tuned out the world and simply enjoyed. I felt the Lord asking me to remove my skates…for I was on hollowed ground.
We had some friends over a few nights ago. We had wanted to have them over months beforehand, but one thing led to another, and before you know it, we’re nearly out of Chili season. So, I got on the ball, and finally invited them over for some famous Bakerboy Chili. We had a 5qt crockpot filled with special ingredients for the tasty meal and when they left it was nearly gone. Point of order, there were just 4 adults, and no one was pregnant. Yup…it was just that good.
Anyway, near the end of the meal my friend asked, “So…where’s the studio?” You see, he is a financial supporter of The World Gone Mad, and is naturally interested in the ministry. I direct him to the studio where for the next hour we just talk about life, stuff, and of course how the podcast ministry of the World Gone Mad is going thus far. I explained that we have a lead on some new offices for the organization which already has a furnished conference/screening room, and a few extra offices for future ministers, but we were unsure as to where the money might derive when and all the sudden, his face lightened a little bit and it was like a light switch was flipped. His response was that while he had some difficulty grasping the concept of donating money to fund a podcast ministry…real estate…on the other hand was much more tangible. He went on to say that he would gladly give towards the office move.
I though to myself…wow! You ask, God answers. While it may not be in your timing…he answers.
Would you like to read the kicker part of the story? 7 days prior to that meeting, we met with another couple whom we were having over for some chicken fajitas and just some time to get to know them better…and they ask what I do for a living. We wind up sitting in the studio talking about The World Gone Mad…and three days later he presented me with a check for the organization.
Again…wow! For humor, I told Joyce we need to have more meetings in the studio! Glory be to God. For it was under HIS direction we invited them to our home.
There’s this great game we play. My youngest son will act as if he has just gotten hit, or smacked, or boomed, or shot by the aliens or mean guys, or enemies…or whatever he chooses to call them at that moment in time. He does this fantastic academy-award w
inning death scene where he bangs into the kitchen counter (laughing of course…for crying out loud the kid is only 5) t
hen he’ll nip the corner of the hallway, and then grabbing his injured arm/shoulder/stomach…he flops to the ground, laughing his head off, and awaits me to come to his rescue. I shout and yell, “Uh-oh! Gonna need the Nicky fixers”. And if I don’t yell it in time, he’ll bell out, “Dad! Where’s the Nicky Fixers!”
I reach behind me as if I am g
rabbing a couple of defibrillators, clap my fists together while making an electrical surge type of sound effect, and Nicky begins to smile…cuz’ he knows what’s comin’. I increase the volume of the sound effect as I grow nearer to his belly, and
Nicky’s laugh quickly turns into giggles as he attempts with all his energy to hide his growing smile with one eye open in grand anticipation of the tickling which is quickly creeping upon him. All the sudden the defribillators magically turn into 10 fingers furiously tickling this giggly young man, tickling him in every last crook and granny spot on his rib cage and belly as he enduringly tries to yell through all the laughing, “I’m alive! I’m alive!” I’ll place the imaginary
defr
ibillators behind my back and moments later the aliens attack once again…and there’s my son…lying on the ground with e grin the size of Brad’s mom waiting for me to come and revive him with the Nicky Fixers.
I saw this come across my desk and it reminded me a little of the story in the Bible of David and Goliath. This old gentlemen is radically surgical with slingshots which he makes himself out of dogwood, but doesn’t carve one once of dust. He started mking them in mass quantities after the price of rubber dramatically dropped after WWII.
The coolest thing I heard throughout this interview is he doesn’t take aim, and hits the target every time! Quarters, Walnuts…you name it. See for your self:
The World Gone Mad has been recently featured in the local paper, The Hearald-Republican, as well as another ministry podcast, “ER Roundtable” produced by Clinton Faupel at RemedyFM which is an online internet radio station. RemedyFM, much like The World Gone Mad has similar goals and objectives. We both wish to reach millions of teens with the Life-changing message of Jesus Christ. We both utilize the internet as a medium for getting the truth directly in front of as many teens as humanly possible.
ER Roundtable is a podcast which focuses on different and unique ministries, who they are, where they came from, what they do, how they do it, and what they plan to do in the future. We recorded a hlaf-hour show with Clinton after which we adjourned to the Chick-fil-a for some good chicken and even better discussion.
Clinton is excited to work with us and our ministry as we network to reach 21 million teenagers who are online nearly everyday. We currently have 700 madhatters who eat up the podcasts each and every time The World Gone mad produces a new show. They are hungry for the truth and we are in a priveleged position to provide that to them through the grace of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
We are equally excited to be able to work with such a talented and Christ honoring person as Clinton Faupel and are encouraged by the crew he has on staff and their vigor for the ministry at hand.
We will keep you up to date on the developments of our network and what projects may come.
Christmas for us has certainly come and gone faster than my thinning hair. We spent some time here in Indiana and a couple weeks down in Louisiana visiting my brother and sister-in-law and celebrated Christmas with them. We were together for the Holidays for the first time in four years. What an experience! Maybe you read a little bit about it if you follow The World Gone Mad on Twitter. If you are interested in the stories, I’ll allow you to take me out to dinner and I’ll tell you all about the exquisite memories of four different families together in one house for two weeks.
The New Year is here already? Would it be safe to say that some of you may have made what they call, New Year’s Resolutions? Lose weight? Eat right/better? More Black Forrest Gummy Bears? The list goes on and on…I have resolved to spend more time with my wife and kids. And when I am with them, to be with them. Far too often I think we can easily be in their presence, but our mind is on work, or in my case, ministry. That is not fair to the family. And the strange thing is that because of the guilt I have felt of not REALLY being with them when I am with them, I’ll think of them while I am trying to work. Boy, do I have that backwards.
Or at least I did, and will do my best to flip flop that in the right direction.
Now that I have shown some vulnerability with you, I ask this question to hit as close to home with you as personally possible: How do you plan to invest your time and talent this year? Every day above ground is a good day, right? Since God hasn’t called us home or to HIS throne just yet, we must still have a reason for being here…what’s yours? What are you gonna do with the short time you have left on this blessed planet called Earth? I would like to share something with you which I normally do not get into, simply because it is rather personal, but after a recent visit to our family Doctor I was given some rather discouraging news…apparently I am dying and do not have much longer to live. I know, it was rather shocking to me when I first heard it and have been dealing with it ever since. What do you do with that? What kind of news is that when you go in just expecting a wellness checkup and come to find out you have a disease which is uncurable and in other words have just been handed your death certificate…it has yet to be signed. Your just never really prepared to hear that kind of news. What do I do now? Who do I see? Where do I spend my time? I have all these projects to finish and barely a legacy and all things things I wanted to accomplish before I go home…and now this. The doctor has not given me much time…he said I have roughly 70 years before I kick the bucket. 70 years and “That’s All Folks” as my friend Porky pig would say. It sounds like a lot, and then it sounds like a few clicks in time. Joyce and I have been married for 13 years now, and our oldest son just turned 12! 13 years goes by in a flash! I am a mere 31 years of age; still just a kid, a punk; and the first 31 years went by in a blink. I am told the remaining years go by even faster.
“Tomorrow is promise to no one” so what will you do today? This week? This year?
So, it was skate night for part of the Baker Fam, and I had been looking forward to this since I heard about it last week.
