President Obama Visits Wakarusa

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The Snowball

I'm reading a book about the making of Warren Buffet. Like all of us, Warren is a product of his genetics and the patterns formed by his environment.

The book is very entertaining and I can definitely understand the tendency to focus on something and not let go. Warren started collecting a few snowflakes of money as a child and young man and has not stopped rolling his snowball throughout his adulthood.

I've only read the first nine chapters. I hope for Warren's sake that by the end of the book he realizes just how insignificant his snowball is in the whole scheme of things. If he can see his snowball as insignificant, then surely any of us can agree that our net worth is zero without Jesus Christ.

Another interesting fact about Warren was his interest in solving mysteries with mathematics and numbers. He loved finding patterns, as do I, and tended to jump to ridiculous conclusions just for the sake of adventure. As do I.

Warren was raised by a stock broker during a depression while I was raised by a factory worker during a recession and energy crisis. Warren had examples of extreme optimists and pessimists that helped him to choose what was valuable to him and how to make decisions. I think we all have those influences modeled for us, but Warren's are very colorful and historic.

Electric Motors Corp. at the center of local green summit - The Elkhart Truth - Elkhart, IN

Electric Motors Corp. at the center of local green summit - The Elkhart Truth - Elkhart, IN

Good example of integrating existing technologies to produce something of higher value.

Speaking to the crush of media, Cashen emphasized he wants to create partnerships with different companies who will supply technology and parts to his manufacturing operation. To date, EMC is working with Gulf Stream Coach in Nappanee and Livernois Vehicle Development in Michigan. Also, Cashen said he is negotiating with General Motors to see, as he put it, what products and divisions are in their trash that he might use.

"Integration of technology is an easier step and it's closer to what this community does on a daily basis," Cashen said, explaining EMC will not be developing components and products that are already available. "We integrate technology that has been heretofore supplied to us, meaning the Elkhart community incorporate, from the Detroit area through the automotive industry."

Hot, Flat and Crowded

On a rainy fourth of July, I finally finished Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman.

I was interested in the book for a couple of reasons. The first reason was that I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The World is Flat". The second reason, and most important one, is that I am a human being that was charged with taking care of this earth by my creator.

I've been trying to be more efficient my whole life and hate the idea of consuming things. It is a vain chasing of the wind.

Thomas brings to light several examples that make you laugh because they are so ridiculous and several examples that make you cry because they are so shameful and embarrassing. As I was carrying this book around for several months, I got lots of polarized comments from people in elevators, people on the beach or wherever else I found myself reading it.

Green Revolution Hits Wakarusa

The mayors of Wakarusa and Nappanee have announced plans for EMC to build electric motors in Wakarusa. Nice Job, cousin Larry. Somehow, I bet that Richard Pletcher and Larry Andrews contributed to this.

Elkhart Truth: Hybrid vehicle venture energizes two towns

Electric Motors Corporation

Why Northern Indiana just might be the perfect place to make electric transportation a reality by re-introducing Henry Ford to Thomas Edison:

1. Labor availability (Absence of RV jobs)
2. Empty Manufacturing Facilities
3. Skills match for low volume craftmanship
   
4. Slower pace: Horseless Buggy might work!
5. Astronaut-Farmer connection
   • Purdue University Engineering
   • Small farm business sustainability tenacity
   • Local supply of Ethanol
6. History of Studebaker
7. Recent sting from Hummer
8. Indiana was willing to reduce corporate tax burden for the venture

Here is a Larry Thompson's first cousin (my father) riding a different kind of horseless buggy.

From Aunt Helen's Photo Album

Welcome to Morrow

With the economy looking like it has no tomorrow, Jackie and I decided to take the family on a "free" vacation before our travel award points expired or the company that honors them went bankrupt as that seems to be vogue.

Jackie booked a pit stop for us at a Hampton Inn along I-75 in Morrow, GA because of its location about midway to our destination of Clearwater Beach.

Kyle Polley, Adam and I were having breakfast when Kyle noticed the double meaning of the sign that we all missed the night before, "Welcome to Morrow".

We discussed the fact that Tomorrow never gets here, but we also discussed that as new creations, we also house tomorrow, yesterday and today within our jars of clay.

Less sensationalism, lasting substance

A few weekends ago, Jackie and I went on a double date to see Fireproof. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the story, the message and profit margin of the movie. Volunteers put much more passion into their product, and figure out how to do things without spending a whole bunch of money.

At the core of the movie was the word "Love" in the challenge that a parent gave to a child that had no grasp of what love was. "Love" makes us do things for other people at great cost to ourselves.

Leaving the theater, I couldn't have been happier with the people that we attended the movie with. Two people that give, give, give and lose track of what they get of out of any deal.

After a year of sacrificing a lot of time to shore up a company in distress because it chased after the wrong things for a while, it was a pleasant surprise to see someone else that my company has counted on to sacrifice a great deal of time and talent to survive. A short talk with he and his wife revealed it was rare for them to have to opportunity to get away together.

Partly because of the time that I was away from family, and partly because of the economy, and partly because some other members of my family are as busy as I am with other things, there is no movie that all five of us have seen this year at the theater. For our annual "Best Movie of the Year", we may have some older movies that we all happened to see separately on TV or video.

Jackie dusts off her resume

No one needs to get out any tiny violins for us, but 2007 was a difficult year financially. Anyone that has spent any time with me, knows that one of the five biblical financial principles that I teach and live by is "Spend less than you make".

As a Christian, I believe the proper perspective is to be grateful for the income and always address the expenditures since that is what He commands us to do well until God changes the income. That is a hard perspective to teach, learn or live. For whatever reason, I believe that God has a reason for the Eby family to live on less income these last few years and I am grateful for the opportunity for Him to continue to teach us how to do this as a family.

• The kids' college savings dropped to half the 2006 value. This is my own fault for making investment choices that I continue to hope will recover to a point that will be able to help the kids. This is by far the largest financial impact to us and it has been difficult for me to trust God to restore those investments that we have made a little bit at a time over a period of many years. ( I also am wondering if God has intended for our children to work their own way through school as we did. We benefited from that experience, why wouldn't they? )
  
• We had both of our vehicles demand some attention. ( 100K+ miles cars from the 20th century )
  
• In October, we turned around and "suddenly" our daughter was 16 and we will be paying higher premiums for car insurance next year. (50% higher if she doesn't get a car, 100% higher if she gets a car )
  
• In November, we had wind damage to our 20 year old roof that cost us $5K that we had hoped to spend in 2009 or 2010. We thought we could put that off until at least 2008 even after the visible exterior damage but water damage to Adam's bedroom ceiling forced us to action.

So... with each drip, drip, drip of financial events of 2007, Jackie threatened to go back to work, and I pulled equity out of our home to make ends meet. Although this is a violation of several principles, I think it is prudent while we consider more sustainable options that I have suggested like downsizing our home.

She worked full time from 1986 through 1991 as a medical lab technician before having Carmen and continued to work very part time through 1993 before having Adam. When she left the position in 1993, she suspected that she would never get back into medical lab business, but didn't know what new business it might be.

In the first position she has accepted in 15 years, she will be working a flexible schedule at close to minimum wage for a company that makes sure us consumers buy stuff at retail stores because evidently that is something that employees of retail stores don't do. I'm not a big fan of this new job, but I'm grateful that she has taken the initiative and hopeful that it will pay for groceries or gas or the last few years of sports while we trust God to tell us what we should do next.

A Tale of Two iPods

Last year, Adam and Carmen both asked for iPods for Christmas.

Uncle Keith came out of retirement and cancelled a tropical vacation in order to trade Steve Jobs some money for two engraved iPods for his neice and nephew. Carmen's white iPod is still in mint condition, but Adam's black iPod has finally given up the ghost. I've not recorded all the stress tests that Adam has applied, but I wanted to share just a few:

1. Left it in his pocket for Grandma to wash ( and tumble dry )
2. Drop it
3. Drop it on concrete
4. Run through crowded restaurants with cord swinging until it catches a chair which slingshots the iPod from his pocket into a neighboring chair
5. Football players punch him in the chest while he has it in his pocket
6. Football players smack it out of his hands while he is listening to it
7. Slam the Jeep door on it.

In 6 of the 7 listed trials, returning the iPod to its charging station has amazingly restored it's ability to function. In the last trial, it failed.... nothing is perfect, but this device is well engineered.

Thoughts from the Hill

This is the first Saturday morning I have had at home in a very long time. Saturday mornings are the time that I go through mail and balance the books for the church and for our personal finances for the last 10 years or so. While trudging through the bills, credit card receipts, solicitation for donations, statements and other junk mail that Jackie placed in my overflowing box, I stumbled upon a jewel of a newsletter from Bob Warren.

I have copied the letter from his online version for your convenience.

THOUGHTS FROM THE HILL

No event has issued a personal wakeup call like the event which I will “attempt” to describe. It was the ultimate litmus test, the result of which rocked me at the core as I consider how far we have strayed as a nation. If after reading the following you can conclude that we remain a nation which heralds the truth, you might need to rethink your position.

A few months ago I received a call from a local high school principal asking if I would agree to speak at his school’s graduation ceremonies. I was honored that he would call, especially sense several of the students graduating would be either children or grandchildren of many of my friends. I was also honored because of the man I knew the principal to be, a man well respected in the community and a fellow believer. I asked if there were parameters to the subject matter I might address, to which he replied, “no.” He said I had twenty minutes and a free reign to say whatever I deemed necessary.

The thing I knew going in was that I needed to be sensitive to the environment and honor the students who were graduating. They did not need a sermon (chapter and verse), but they needed to hear something that would encourage them as they faced the world of their day. In the next paragraph I will begin writing as though I were presenting the speech to you, but understand that it was addressed to a student body of over two hundred and an audience of approximately four thousand. Because I very seldom write my speeches, what follows is not an exact replica of what I stated, but a partial reproduction. Here we go!

It am honored be with you tonight. You have paid the price to be here, having completed the requirements necessary to graduate and pursue your dreams. In fact, sitting where you are confirms that you can process information and draw conclusions, validating that you are thinkers. Don’t you love to think? Isn’t thinking fun? It should be, for your generation has accessible to itself the largest information bank of any previous generation. As a result, each of you has developed a world view—a grid through which you run everything that stimulates your senses and penetrates your mind. This world view is what you use to define for yourself what you deem to be truth and what you deem to be error. In 1964, when I graduated from high school, we called this “perspective,” or “what made a person tick,” but your generation has labeled it “world view.”

However, as you “think” and continue to develop your “world view,” your world view cannot violate the following principle—“the fundamental law of thought is the law of noncontradiction.” In other words, if what you believe contains contradiction, it is non truth, it is error. Therefore, if A=B, and B=C, then A=C. We also know that 2+2=4, not 5, because 2+2=5 is a contradiction. Therefore, no matter how sincerely or passionately someone teaches that 2+2=5, he or she is sincerely and passionately wrong. There is little doubt that none of us would have darkened the doors of this building had the architect who designed it began with the presupposition that 2+2=5. For sure, he may have designed one building based upon that mindset, but I dare say that anyone would have hired him to design a second.

I say all of this to make a point. When you leave this high school there will be those who say to you, “There is no such thing as an absolute.” However, in making this statement they have stated an absolute, creating a contradiction and validating their error. Postmodernism is running rampant in our society, a mindset that deems absolutes as taboo and nonexistent. However, we have just proven that postmodernism is taboo in itself and has no foundation on which to stand.

When I graduated from high school I owned a world view (perspective) much different than I possess today. It was different because I lacked wisdom, wisdom being the correct use of knowledge. Let me explain.

There are four terms that I defined in 1964 as follows:
(1) Wealth—The ability to do anything I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it;
(2) Notoriety—Doing something well enough that everyone in the country knows who you are;
(3) Power—Putting my thumb on others for the purpose of having them accomplish my desires;
(4) Success—This was a term that I had difficulty defining because success is basically a synonym for fulfillment, and the people who were labeled as successful were in many cases grossly unfulfilled.

However, some thirty-two years ago, and ten years after high school, I began pursuing truth—“absolutes” in other words. I desired to know truth above anything else in life. The reason I possessed such a passion was because I saw the majority of the world as ill-equipped to give adequate answers to the tough questions of life. As a result of my journey, my world view has changed and I define the previous four terms as follows: (1) Wealth—Being content with what you have; (2) Notoriety—Living your life without fanfare or public acclaim, never promoting yourself or your agenda, only to have society realize after you are gone that everyone should have known what you were about; (3) Power—Serving others; (4) Success—Basically a synonym for fulfillment, is realized only after properly defining the first three terms.

In my pursuit of truth, I have discovered that it is found only in a Person, a Person who is invisible, a Person who claimed to be the way and the truth, and His name is Jesus Christ. I have studied the major religions of the world and found Him to be without equal—the only one capable of answering the tough questions of life void of contradiction. And just think, He is my best friend and confidant, in fact, my very life.

I have an old ABA basketball with me for the purpose of illustration. I was offered $1,800.00 for this ball only a year ago. Obviously, it has lost its color, is flat, and is basically worthless in most circles. However, the man who offered me such an inflated price knew something. He understood that it possessed worth because of the individuals who had touched it—people who knew more truth about the game of basketball and how to apply that truth than anyone alive. They were men like Julius Erving, George Gervin, George McGennis, and others who were the best of the best. My point is this. If we will but allow possessors of truth to speak into our lives (touch our lives), in the end we will possess worth, and at the same time, be an example of what truth can do in the heart of its possessors. I would encourage you to enter into the pursuit of truth and the corresponding adventure of faith. Again, thank you for your time and willingness to make me a part of you special celebration.

After I finished my speech, I had no idea that a local TV station had filmed it. When I returned home, I began receiving calls from individuals who stated that they had seen me on the 10:00 pm News. What I had not realized was that the same TV station had interviewed both the principal and a portion of the senior class beforehand about my coming as a “religious speaker.” I did not personally see the broadcast, but was told that the only portion of my twenty minute speech aired was as follows: “In my pursuit of truth, I have discovered that it is found only in a Person, a Person who is invisible, a Person who claimed to be the way and the truth, and His name is Jesus Christ.” I found it interesting that the only segment aired was my statement containing the name “Jesus.”

What I took away from this experience was priceless. First off, I saw a principal walk out on a limb, put his name and neck on the line in having a “religious speaker” address his senior class. He is to be commended. God is already honoring that decision and will continue to do so in the future. I also saw the local interest this generated, even resulting in a newspaper writing a very solid story about what had transpired. One of the greatest things I have learned, however, is that many who saw the broadcast viewed my speech (and the fact that I would use the name “Jesus”) as an act of bravery. Please don’t misunderstand what I say in response. I have been very encouraged by all who have given me positive input and greatly appreciate their hearts and concern. But this, more than anything else, has shown me where we now live in America. Since when does using “the name” in a public setting indicate that an act of bravery has been witnessed? Would Paul would classified it as such or would he have laughed at the thought?

2 Corinthians 11:24-33 Think about it, and as you do, walk on!

The Davinci Code

One of my favorite movies of all time is Apollo 13. It combines some truth with some drama, was produced well (Ron Howard) and had great talent (Tom Hanks) on the screen. For years and years while the kids were little it seemed that Jackie and I would choose to see a Tom Hanks film on our annual date.

1993 - Sleepless in Seattle
1994 - Forrest Gump
1995 - Apollo 13

1998 - You've got mail / Saving Private Ryan
2000 - Cast Away
2002 - Catch Me If You Can

Well, it's been a few years since Tom has done a movie with Ron Howard and this year ( next month, in fact ) , they will be together for the The Davinci Code and I'm excited about the works of art, the mystery and suspence, the quality of the film and the way that it will undoubtedly make my mind race. A friend at work recommended that I read this book a long time ago but I was going through several books by Lee Strobel at the time and chose not to take his recommendation.

Now that I see the general theme, I am extremely intrigued. When you look at the investment that Mel Gibson made to produce his life work in "The Passion" and know that many people were shocked and drawn to the life of Christ and His church, you can't help but wonder how many people will benefit from this intersection of Ron Howard and Tom Hanks.

I'm also beginning to believe that the church in America is starting to behave as Christ would in regard to this movie. Jesus Christ spent his time with sinners, poor and sick. He also rebuked the religious people of the day and abhorred the profit of men in association with His Bride and His Father's Name. In the last 30 years, there have been many Christian American organizations that would attack a film like "The Davinci Code" because of the fact that it mixes fiction with truth, but I haven't seen them attack yet.

I've been watching to see if some of those organizations would use this film as an opportunity to garner political or financial support and I haven't seen it yet. I have a friend that has been involved with an organization that is doing what I believe is the most intelligent thing to do, "Spreading truth to those with questions because of this move and therefore seeking truth"

Check it out: www.jesusanddavinci.com

Is Ron Howard a Christian? I don't know, I hope so.
Is Tom Hanks a Christian? I don't know, I hope so.

No matter what their motivation is, I expect this film to be exceptional. I nominate both of them for a "Roaring Lambs" award for converting this great book into a great movie that wets the world's appetite for Jesus.

More about "Roaring Lambs":
The Book ( by Bob Briner )
The CD ( Various Artists, who support Keith Green, Bob Briner )

48 Minute Challenge...

Since Josh and Kelley were really pushing the adults to a 48 hour challenge like the youth received at Dare2Share, I would like to begin pushing you all to do the same by sharing my experience.

Within 30 minutes of the challenge, the church received a phone call on what I thought was a non-functional phone in the kitchen. People passed the phone call around until it got to me and I took the gentleman's phone number and then called him back on my cell phone from the sanctuary where I could hear him.

His name was Charles Kelly and he had a speech impediment and a back problem from a work injury. He was wanting to drive his family to South Carolina that afternoon in order to surprise his mother-in-law for her birthday the next day and was going through the yellow pages calling churches for gas money.

The more I listened to this man, the more I knew that he had called the church at that time for a reason. He wanted $40 which I didn't have. I put him through a few tests to determine if he was telling the truth about the trip to SC. I told him that after he was all packed with his family, that I would meet him at the intersection of Richmond Road and I-75 so that he wouldn't lose any time coming from the North side of town.

Then came my opportunity to beat the 48 minute challenge, I asked him if he knew Jesus and he said "yes". I then asked him why his church wasn't interested in helping him get to SC. He told me that he used to go to church on Liberty Road but one time he inquired of his pastor about a trip to Promise Keepers and he was told he couldn't afford it. He hasn't been back to any church since.

Charles called me back at 5:15 to let me know that he was packed and ready to leave and he wanted to meet me at Walmart on Richmond Road so that I wouldn't have to drive as far. I told him that I had to take my kids to church at 5:30 so he could meet me there. ( God's plan, not mine)

I was hoping to drop off the kids and then go to the bank to get some money, but Charles and his family pulled into the church parking lot right behind me. I explained to him that I only had $20 so if he had an empty gas tank, I would pay him in gas at the gas station down the road.

While we were pumping gas, I had the chance to invite Charles, his wife Rebecca and his son Bobby to church when they return to Lexington since they know where it is and they know that we care.

Please keep Charles and his family in your prayers. I have his phone number so I will be calling him again.

Christmas Card 2005 - Jackie

In late 2004, several of Jackie’s friends from NWHS got together in Chicago to celebrate turning 40. Lori Wagner hosted the event for lots of fun and pampering.

Jackie’s life revolves around her children as any of you might know. This fall, she served as the team mom for Carmen’s Volleyball team and Adam’s Football team simultaneously. Either would be a challenge.

She has made a couple of changes this year. In the first three months of 2005, she decorated the house we moved into in 2000 with guidance from a close friend. In June, Jackie had LASIK surgery and could see without glasses just in time for our family vacation. (Becca discovered that she no longer needs glasses during an annual checkup in August)

Besides running after our children, she is hostess for the Sunday evening Biblical Financial Classes and other meetings, parties and gatherings that we hold at our home. It would be hard for me to imagine a more Proverbs 31 woman to support me.

Christmas Card 1999

Another Birth, Addition to our Family

This has been the most special birth that our family has ever experienced. It was the shortest and most painless labor and delivery. It was also very special to us because the new child was born in our own home. On 10-10-99, the Lord changed the heart of our 60 lb, 50 inch daughter Carmen Hope. She was baptized in November.

The new addition referred to in the title is a puppy. We picked up Buster from the humane shelter. We believe he is mostly a German Shepherd. You can judge for yourself.

Adam has been very entertaining this year. He is always making something out of nothing or destroying something of value. This summer a bunch of ants were making tracks to and from an ice cream sandwich Becca left in the garage the night before. All the neighborhood kids were concerned about how to remove the ants without hurting them. As soon as the kids left, he blasted the ants with RAID and posted this sign, using all the elements of his personality.

Carmen and Adam are both doing well at public school. Becca enjoys preschool for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday and this gives Jackie a chance to volunteer in Carmen and Adam’s classrooms. Here’s a collage of all the kids’ first day in school. All three kids have great Christian teachers, which is an answer to our prayers.

Our summer vacation to South Carolina was a highlight of the year. We saw lots of dolphins at the beach, lots of deer at the condo, a few alligators at a plantation, toured Charleston, visited with friends and spent a day on the USS Yorktown. It sounds like a busy week but it really was relaxing.

If you have spent any time with our family, you know that the oldest four of us are very competitive. Carmen and Adam are continuing to be aggressive athletes. However, God decided it was not good for us to always be in a contest and He made Becca. Becca loves to have fun. She loves to be pretty. She loves to encourage. She is our cheerleader. When everybody is negative, she is positive. Everyone was stunned at a basketball game when Becca shouted, “Adam, where’s your man?” Well, there are four of us against one of her. Eventually, we knew she would have to cave in, but so young. But no, she didn’t mean it. She looked at as with a Becca grin, indicating she wasn’t aware of Adam’s open opponent. She was letting us know that yelling is just part of the fun.

We have many things to be thankful for this year. In January, the Lord delivered on our prayers to become debt free. We have been committed to being good stewards of the money that has passed through our hands and God’s Word has a lot to say about that. I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach God’s basic principles of finances at our church. I am always thrilled to be a part of releasing Christians from any bondage to the world.

Jackie and I had a great time on our trip to Albuquerque, NM for Matt and Kim’s (friends from church) wedding. We had a wonderful time seeing, experiencing, and especially tasting the Southwest. Cable cars, desert, history, culture, a rodeo, concert and beautiful weather. Mountain biking will always be etched in my memory thanks to Scott (another friend from church), who demonstrated an incredible dive over the handle bars into a cactus. Ouch! We want to go back some year for the balloon festival and some more food.

We hope that all of you will enjoy your Christmas and New Year holidays! After all our family has received, it is still amazing to me that our God loved us enough to send His Son as a baby to earth to show us how personal His love is. He didn’t stop there, He allowed His Son to die on a cross to pay for my sins. Amazing. Not done yet, Christ rose victorious over death so that we might live victoriously now and forever. Amazing.

Kevin, Jackie, Carmen, Adam & Becca