tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206231842024-03-14T00:21:29.197-05:00A Blog by a Berge...Matt Berge<center>Who really wants to describe their own blog? It's like...a blog or something!</center>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-62729580183118727392013-10-04T16:49:00.001-05:002013-10-04T16:49:10.914-05:00Boo!Scared ya, didn't I!Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-9056859021454265342011-02-05T10:43:00.003-06:002011-02-05T10:47:01.944-06:00The Berge'sIt was a cold and snowy day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUHJVHHlMKcafqMDqhu5GLs8Mz6YYlOW21uXgEr04FLXsZI7YFjq8Zjf6UDA-LRBF2_UjWA0zKH-DnzYGflnB1Vnn0Pir-PtxwJagTgw8QMLUYRlXFiQ0QwVBbZHS2pn0YP2DaQ/s1600/Berge+Family+2010+Christmas+Photo_a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUHJVHHlMKcafqMDqhu5GLs8Mz6YYlOW21uXgEr04FLXsZI7YFjq8Zjf6UDA-LRBF2_UjWA0zKH-DnzYGflnB1Vnn0Pir-PtxwJagTgw8QMLUYRlXFiQ0QwVBbZHS2pn0YP2DaQ/s400/Berge+Family+2010+Christmas+Photo_a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570247314172867634" /></a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-28566346351264125172011-02-04T09:07:00.005-06:002011-02-04T09:17:25.660-06:00Sailor's Delight"Red sky at night, sailor's delight", was a frequent quote that my dear mother would tell us kids. Here is another one..."Red sky at night, God's artistry in sight", or "Red sky at night, His blood shed for our plight". Our God is truly an awesome God and what a creation He has given us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu0PX6fW7FrhAic8Tfg10JY0uVLy7653pNvNAEwPuUz46fsM61vK_Fu5NGzLHPP2qpY5GS8Fkcw9wh5X7QWCnBydqWi5wuDBeL-U-SES_nEfI3m9kx2IDazAf6hzDk69qY7jd-g/s1600/SAM_0072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu0PX6fW7FrhAic8Tfg10JY0uVLy7653pNvNAEwPuUz46fsM61vK_Fu5NGzLHPP2qpY5GS8Fkcw9wh5X7QWCnBydqWi5wuDBeL-U-SES_nEfI3m9kx2IDazAf6hzDk69qY7jd-g/s400/SAM_0072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569851728769892402" /></a><br /><center>photo taken from in front of my garage door the evening of Feb 3, 2011.</center>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-46940004543071105892011-02-02T14:44:00.004-06:002011-02-02T14:52:49.815-06:00Mississippi River on a Cold DayThis morning, heading to work, I was intrigued by the steam rising from the Mississippi River outlet from Lake Bemidji. Although the water is quite frigid, the surface movement keeps any ice from developing in this area. It is the temperature differential between the water and the -20 degree F air causing the steam. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkWFaDfcUFNknXl6WmWi6PlYysXSI9vjxQsnaII8Ls4IKs7MSZPMapN1sXaNzG_dKbMyzogAnqZ_8Ug5W-wS2J4bijlTVB7TearlOJ97dQF9xd4F6NzLWNBSdKKff9BrB2WRUeA/s1600/Missisippi+steam+at+20+below.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkWFaDfcUFNknXl6WmWi6PlYysXSI9vjxQsnaII8Ls4IKs7MSZPMapN1sXaNzG_dKbMyzogAnqZ_8Ug5W-wS2J4bijlTVB7TearlOJ97dQF9xd4F6NzLWNBSdKKff9BrB2WRUeA/s400/Missisippi+steam+at+20+below.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569196102649830162" /></a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-67169367414777464782011-01-30T16:27:00.002-06:002011-01-30T16:28:11.444-06:00Children of Light<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpIB9r05WnRY7P1xIXBT_E5BInUv9eqUOOS2aDfePy9Ffdom1u-_4BEOIdFVU6o4TMdtrRac-19bStnopvlkOzHNNswJkPtj_Y2ac3rDwGFojfdDXblgTCkILxJrfCBG-J5AueA/s1600/Eph+5_8+light.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpIB9r05WnRY7P1xIXBT_E5BInUv9eqUOOS2aDfePy9Ffdom1u-_4BEOIdFVU6o4TMdtrRac-19bStnopvlkOzHNNswJkPtj_Y2ac3rDwGFojfdDXblgTCkILxJrfCBG-J5AueA/s400/Eph+5_8+light.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568109323352661378" /></a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-2962908221934570122011-01-29T17:16:00.004-06:002011-01-29T17:23:09.329-06:00Sanford Date NightI had an opportunity to take my most lovely bride out on a date. We caught a hockey game at Bemidji's most recent addition, the Sanford Center. Too bad the BSU Beavers lost 5 - 1! But does that really matter when you are with the woman you love?! Absolutely NOT!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoEQklCir_N0MW-j2Xnu7PmFIu_zNdJgFLO1ua5GgN2_qbR_FbM2ALETCdYGBii5nSpN7Zre7vtW159NEb6pcp1qrmcfv2fE4pWOZ2EBpwENubzGu8ZUciRgJ7M4DF-IXT_FJ7A/s1600/0122111853b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoEQklCir_N0MW-j2Xnu7PmFIu_zNdJgFLO1ua5GgN2_qbR_FbM2ALETCdYGBii5nSpN7Zre7vtW159NEb6pcp1qrmcfv2fE4pWOZ2EBpwENubzGu8ZUciRgJ7M4DF-IXT_FJ7A/s320/0122111853b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567751705178647474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXC9I0V9uuDwryYeYcz2oViRTBKi1QuJzqjIjwRPrtk71Jw9tmtChpDJsQqOSvddZa7AQlNYN-Etup5a0yID0j7UDEvUMvUpFL7FJTKHc2vNjtCGtEh-ExpmmXb6GemnQmjkDhg/s1600/0122111853.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXC9I0V9uuDwryYeYcz2oViRTBKi1QuJzqjIjwRPrtk71Jw9tmtChpDJsQqOSvddZa7AQlNYN-Etup5a0yID0j7UDEvUMvUpFL7FJTKHc2vNjtCGtEh-ExpmmXb6GemnQmjkDhg/s320/0122111853.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567751558445674978" /></a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-60875601904449344672010-06-09T13:26:00.002-05:002010-06-09T13:31:04.984-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 7 and success!<center>Last day of the photo challenge. Playing around with the shiny cut glass again. Here is a piece I call...."Double" pronounced (doo-bla).</center> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCXYG2VI6lC5SOg-Hksw8eTFXJOxvdrS_TR-QuSHsMg0V0t2JGkN90urGgcvc2pvSbAjWQu9Hi4r4SWB5ic9aW5sZKCv0w7ugWw4sSM5xRbWkpA88O17dXDYnksQ9w6Xv9UwsxQ/s1600/two+noses.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCXYG2VI6lC5SOg-Hksw8eTFXJOxvdrS_TR-QuSHsMg0V0t2JGkN90urGgcvc2pvSbAjWQu9Hi4r4SWB5ic9aW5sZKCv0w7ugWw4sSM5xRbWkpA88O17dXDYnksQ9w6Xv9UwsxQ/s320/two+noses.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480842297574819442" /></a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-1715123832079059422010-06-08T10:43:00.004-05:002010-06-08T10:57:32.875-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 6<center>I realize I have started to run out of interesting things to take pictures about. Weekdays are pretty standardized for me. Yeah, I could take photos of interesting sample products or office equipment, but the number of people who actually think those things are cool are probably in the minority. I thought about a photo of a sharp pencil, but I realized I was grasping at straws. The weather today is cloudy and basically dreary. Not really inspiring out there for cell phone photography. So, like any desperate critter would do, I was drawn to the magical properties of cut glass (a.k.a. a prism). The only question that remains is how far can one take this style of photography? Hmmm, might have to work with this a bit! Stay tuned...</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof20Ls75oPNAKfen0grMUfyDspR6wsLvyxmi2FCA70VTJHn1pEDaU486gblaMMBaFbBmLXXZGoYW5y-y2vPAfMOWz4H4rCYJt4YVy_Ph35GiTvr5CccWJ8MBwBQy8ARhyphenhyphen0QIfYA/s1600/matt+reflection+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof20Ls75oPNAKfen0grMUfyDspR6wsLvyxmi2FCA70VTJHn1pEDaU486gblaMMBaFbBmLXXZGoYW5y-y2vPAfMOWz4H4rCYJt4YVy_Ph35GiTvr5CccWJ8MBwBQy8ARhyphenhyphen0QIfYA/s320/matt+reflection+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480429245422284498" /></a><br /><br />10:35 AMMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-90023358338197676692010-06-07T17:03:00.004-05:002010-06-07T17:05:42.525-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 5<center>Another reflection photo...can you guess what object I'm reflecting from?<br /></center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ia-pOQzrfubJV9KZBEbwi0i-iu5G6cUDxgrz5CigzCFft9MuCeMt8dLpYWsifOQIQMefTbCa6aWaIUyh0jVQISZ0GAUz6LDMlXV_foVu6O01brOIlLR1YMaHd92Hhkrr5_0i4Q/s1600/Matt+reflection.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ia-pOQzrfubJV9KZBEbwi0i-iu5G6cUDxgrz5CigzCFft9MuCeMt8dLpYWsifOQIQMefTbCa6aWaIUyh0jVQISZ0GAUz6LDMlXV_foVu6O01brOIlLR1YMaHd92Hhkrr5_0i4Q/s320/Matt+reflection.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480156094209637154" /></a><br /><br />5 PMMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-47166398952327242122010-06-06T12:43:00.002-05:002010-06-06T12:51:11.696-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 4<center>Northern Bible Church in Bemidji, Minnesota<br />10:20 AM</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx9u-HVHBSI00AYwlNRtRhNdbMxlZj-oxPzsvY422x16ERNXa1FGySSyGdCRx0J4UXbYlFyyEXNK94xALvdwSkPSoDtYpdpWQPle_WPPy4jEDMUtni7ZIap634DSpuYPiXcV1Uw/s1600/0606101019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx9u-HVHBSI00AYwlNRtRhNdbMxlZj-oxPzsvY422x16ERNXa1FGySSyGdCRx0J4UXbYlFyyEXNK94xALvdwSkPSoDtYpdpWQPle_WPPy4jEDMUtni7ZIap634DSpuYPiXcV1Uw/s320/0606101019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479717835921701746" /></a><br /><br /><center>Psalms 31:19-20<br />"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues."</center>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-50791780566914656702010-06-05T17:50:00.003-05:002010-06-05T17:53:43.803-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 3<center>Thomas strikes a silly kung-fu pose before heading down to the garden with me.</center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzhLF29OG7MXap7y2RQVbTsyvazFeXo4o1DbicJ93dPuLlk6mti8SDbl3yC5mRpeWWMvK2QsOa5DwS6ePhcVTWCTC-hQWsDm52q7ZW6JHbZVPbYQhQsbG0OEZUhWh4HE2onozxg/s1600/0605101007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzhLF29OG7MXap7y2RQVbTsyvazFeXo4o1DbicJ93dPuLlk6mti8SDbl3yC5mRpeWWMvK2QsOa5DwS6ePhcVTWCTC-hQWsDm52q7ZW6JHbZVPbYQhQsbG0OEZUhWh4HE2onozxg/s320/0605101007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479426295443234850" /></a><br />10:30 AMMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-10573428116833741552010-06-04T09:14:00.003-05:002010-06-04T09:21:24.863-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7O-AsCki50SMOXp08oWdUnlboK4kDEtSM-lHDGX72xOBzjo4VYU8zZZyCTyj9TMjp4IcaT9Nb6R9-SWcW0hATf9EDJOBLK7sV9lM0BOdFo7I9WAEBbR0hHJKZMA95Y1iqNxmDA/s1600/0604100908.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7O-AsCki50SMOXp08oWdUnlboK4kDEtSM-lHDGX72xOBzjo4VYU8zZZyCTyj9TMjp4IcaT9Nb6R9-SWcW0hATf9EDJOBLK7sV9lM0BOdFo7I9WAEBbR0hHJKZMA95Y1iqNxmDA/s320/0604100908.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478923141241247970" /></a><br /><center>Part of my daily routine!<div>Time on deck is nine and one quarter bells and all is well.</center></div><div><br /></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-4892201007646623452010-06-03T09:51:00.004-05:002010-06-03T11:14:12.656-05:00Photo Challenge: Day 1Ok...not sure how consistent I can be on this, but I'll give it a whirl. My sister <a href="http://melanieberge.blogspot.com/">Melanie</a> is doing a photo challenge that was thrown out there by the <a href="http://tims2girls.blogspot.com/">Tinglestad girls</a>. Always up to a challenge and armed with my nifty difty mobile communicator complete with image capture technology, I figured I would step up to this challenge. <div><br /></div><div>So, in my wanderings through the Ken Berge Construction Design Center, I stopped to grab a shot of my reflection in our Moen Chateau kitchen faucet display.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp4ZJyqOl8mzqQUxdAmwMaAhmWFdF2LM61fo5ZhQaHwJkD-ka4ygjj2zaxyBu6lzlSZ32X7xYs8rEd5hMTDTPrAU_LmN0NTvBB9H4XaJHWfBJ-d1URnvfUpHopRoEfTiMqR7WRg/s1600/reflection_matt_faucet.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp4ZJyqOl8mzqQUxdAmwMaAhmWFdF2LM61fo5ZhQaHwJkD-ka4ygjj2zaxyBu6lzlSZ32X7xYs8rEd5hMTDTPrAU_LmN0NTvBB9H4XaJHWfBJ-d1URnvfUpHopRoEfTiMqR7WRg/s1600/reflection_matt_faucet.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 293px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp4ZJyqOl8mzqQUxdAmwMaAhmWFdF2LM61fo5ZhQaHwJkD-ka4ygjj2zaxyBu6lzlSZ32X7xYs8rEd5hMTDTPrAU_LmN0NTvBB9H4XaJHWfBJ-d1URnvfUpHopRoEfTiMqR7WRg/s320/reflection_matt_faucet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478580109145008434" /></a><br />Wow! What a handsome devil!</div><div><br />Photo taken approximately 10:15 AM after 1 cup of coffee.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-7834073966448691152010-02-11T09:50:00.003-06:002010-02-11T10:53:17.668-06:00New Office DigsAs some are aware, I have been heavily involved in getting the new office for Ken Berge Construction, Inc. up and running. After many years working out of a back bedroom office, my father and mother took a huge leap of faith in building an office in the city of Bemidji. Many years have gone into the planning and this project is one of the reasons Beth and I relocated back to Minnesota It has been a delight to be involved in this move and to take on the responsibility of the sales and marketing for the company.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FeWIWrrrvvYgpgWkw9KaI9vS7nrePUlcKNB3BD5K6ie613jFBhQv-PuINttL6UVMG5zoNTrwhmsi2QFmnFFTUVkIUS2dLk2S1nFjemCYDfduOEg_hb_cjYqdOKgiXL5AbVSG2g/s1600-h/1005090807.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FeWIWrrrvvYgpgWkw9KaI9vS7nrePUlcKNB3BD5K6ie613jFBhQv-PuINttL6UVMG5zoNTrwhmsi2QFmnFFTUVkIUS2dLk2S1nFjemCYDfduOEg_hb_cjYqdOKgiXL5AbVSG2g/s320/1005090807.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437029023378604546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UOTzRZdIJxrKy9wQpRSya_zuAig-zm1yG2YEiddIt3VXc_csKxlAPPKyNNMiRWA3yedtOqqGwLQKjGRV6SsjuEeqdOEyaAwo9gbRqg4BhzKhwBANPjgfe-QSqj-3OYgVpBH8Qg/s1600-h/1005090831a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UOTzRZdIJxrKy9wQpRSya_zuAig-zm1yG2YEiddIt3VXc_csKxlAPPKyNNMiRWA3yedtOqqGwLQKjGRV6SsjuEeqdOEyaAwo9gbRqg4BhzKhwBANPjgfe-QSqj-3OYgVpBH8Qg/s320/1005090831a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437029028064162258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTmm_tPESz21vGqXlYGfoBS4Xe_Lb5qJ8EQ1KODatt9XoC2a7NF6A8If3BrvrC-FzLCpu4X2XhKLc2yy22dOCDyErJKvxXsGiTVwuJwTfvuuQ57XFsTaYcMZaqxVDsw5pwhL3lA/s1600-h/1023091520.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTmm_tPESz21vGqXlYGfoBS4Xe_Lb5qJ8EQ1KODatt9XoC2a7NF6A8If3BrvrC-FzLCpu4X2XhKLc2yy22dOCDyErJKvxXsGiTVwuJwTfvuuQ57XFsTaYcMZaqxVDsw5pwhL3lA/s320/1023091520.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437029039697280082" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtdhIFWw-krDnbx0es76K23muN_itmvHPECSulcYE2ay3lOTvt7vYy-W6dIhyHXo5WArZ-SJxyZuaIn-RNr8zZYm0JxHaCtfVZKQnw3PCxrGmte66kiW5eXi87u4Ngu84dAM4wA/s1600-h/0128100821a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtdhIFWw-krDnbx0es76K23muN_itmvHPECSulcYE2ay3lOTvt7vYy-W6dIhyHXo5WArZ-SJxyZuaIn-RNr8zZYm0JxHaCtfVZKQnw3PCxrGmte66kiW5eXi87u4Ngu84dAM4wA/s320/0128100821a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437029040358211394" /></a> <div><br /></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-28315841887965641162010-01-13T20:45:00.001-06:002010-01-13T20:46:57.846-06:00LatestHey faithful blog readers! Ok, that was a joke. I am most likely talking in a big tin can all by myself since I haven't posted in quite some time. Frankly, the whole idea of regular posts started to bore me. Ok...enough updates for today.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-39435607693286287192009-01-14T14:39:00.001-06:002009-01-14T14:42:49.562-06:00Tooth Bomb!<object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/nyqS0Za1gBd773cU6fJozA"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/nyqS0Za1gBd773cU6fJozA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-3209614659605431502008-12-24T10:39:00.000-06:002008-12-24T10:39:45.376-06:00Snow<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">This past fall, I spent some time using the plethora of rocks on my property to construct a flower bed in the front of the house. I did not get any plants in, so that will be a project for this coming Spring. But you can see the end result in this first photo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SUJ0ct2rJuFRnj1JOcsIShb7XIwL72zngI9aAowx66hSJzjSf9jWoOM5xtpYZSWQlqET4UViG7Xxrky5_8EThdpmrvy3MeUKb8sH9bjK75j67AzNnJeZHVCMerdnP1ylsK3mVw/s1600-h/IMG_3133.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SUJ0ct2rJuFRnj1JOcsIShb7XIwL72zngI9aAowx66hSJzjSf9jWoOM5xtpYZSWQlqET4UViG7Xxrky5_8EThdpmrvy3MeUKb8sH9bjK75j67AzNnJeZHVCMerdnP1ylsK3mVw/s320/IMG_3133.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday, we received another several inches of snow. It seems to be piling up quickly this year. You can see the mound of snow in comparison to the photo above.</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-xhra4OXpDDpn3-NR_7e40-FicsffjGD9OE19Rorn-KSMkLQYrcBdkYujfcpJbpSgdCv3EpdkfRJtM74sIMJgOedtgCYBwRRGS0O_Uhjh5SKP2jO-LWzU9KSRkPs5wiUnHWR_A/s1600-h/IMG_3215.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-xhra4OXpDDpn3-NR_7e40-FicsffjGD9OE19Rorn-KSMkLQYrcBdkYujfcpJbpSgdCv3EpdkfRJtM74sIMJgOedtgCYBwRRGS0O_Uhjh5SKP2jO-LWzU9KSRkPs5wiUnHWR_A/s320/IMG_3215.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Melanie, this next photo below is for you. I love the glistening of the newly fallen snow when it gets really cold, especially when untrampled by kids! This shot is of our front yard and I'm sure it will not last, so I decided to grab a pic last night of it. The snow was really crystallizing last night. Driving back from Bemidji, the street lights were shooting beams of visible light directly into the air like a spot light, reflecting off the snow crystals drifting down. Very spectacular.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIOsrwuJsqgdCV71yvv3IkSilJtAeKcg9wjELt70KBx82ovoxS6OYMqQ_1eHEahiCWiLMAVpTNL0_fYuVT21M3tkkXbZvxnMzsAj3V3EPCIEdN-Scgr_E9TQGRATYK4dPlDvBMA/s1600-h/IMG_3212.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIOsrwuJsqgdCV71yvv3IkSilJtAeKcg9wjELt70KBx82ovoxS6OYMqQ_1eHEahiCWiLMAVpTNL0_fYuVT21M3tkkXbZvxnMzsAj3V3EPCIEdN-Scgr_E9TQGRATYK4dPlDvBMA/s320/IMG_3212.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-59143439537297143082008-12-24T10:18:00.000-06:002008-12-24T10:18:27.668-06:00Church Christmas Program<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Beth and I attend Northern Bible Church in Bemidji and the kids were able to take part in the Christmas play this year. I was pretty impressed by the amount of coordination that went into the whole deal. Very well done with prop setup and lighting. Katey was an angel and Thomas was a sheep. They did an awesome job! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdR9d4cZ9sIgw8fOVXJML6qvMj73ZWItkVx8DyMpOI7N_g_iSErwlAC2H9J4oJNsPipQ4_DolzMf7zKxhqOTYekb6ihd6K7Hj-2CO_egPsQDst7Tq4QeZc6b-u8iHftk0fSHKCw/s1600-h/IMG_3165.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdR9d4cZ9sIgw8fOVXJML6qvMj73ZWItkVx8DyMpOI7N_g_iSErwlAC2H9J4oJNsPipQ4_DolzMf7zKxhqOTYekb6ihd6K7Hj-2CO_egPsQDst7Tq4QeZc6b-u8iHftk0fSHKCw/s320/IMG_3165.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRygZ_GaLM0FW7aIZ5my-EVK9Dsj15h0zlcE3qAXGKEva2pSgQJROb8Rf_ZtZuCOqs6_QH0tVlb-QsH4nGJdALoT3iUu8mz3Ae4nKh0DkZ70wZF0sX_peFq8yFqQF8cZMABpgxw/s1600-h/IMG_3175.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRygZ_GaLM0FW7aIZ5my-EVK9Dsj15h0zlcE3qAXGKEva2pSgQJROb8Rf_ZtZuCOqs6_QH0tVlb-QsH4nGJdALoT3iUu8mz3Ae4nKh0DkZ70wZF0sX_peFq8yFqQF8cZMABpgxw/s320/IMG_3175.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzKRtwrpw-bhbOtZLmuAYjtHI3B_enYbGOD2iXjL3r1WrXKsdDwVofy2HbYdKhwuybu_aml6rj1QwNKpVje37RrxJbupfVV1w6M-IDerSGnWCi_mW6D6-EbHfertRe8INCapmdQ/s1600-h/IMG_3188.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzKRtwrpw-bhbOtZLmuAYjtHI3B_enYbGOD2iXjL3r1WrXKsdDwVofy2HbYdKhwuybu_aml6rj1QwNKpVje37RrxJbupfVV1w6M-IDerSGnWCi_mW6D6-EbHfertRe8INCapmdQ/s320/IMG_3188.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkLEXDHXHkNr_rlnoKPz6YqEg6_1_LZwp-E9k6L_w_QPZ78GPKFGutVqgrO3V25SQ78hSK15R4YCadYi1rumEw3jw9tCFJmsuOPU7qhK8OFXC2J__onE0Go0osWxNCeYZnIX7tQ/s1600-h/IMG_3197.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkLEXDHXHkNr_rlnoKPz6YqEg6_1_LZwp-E9k6L_w_QPZ78GPKFGutVqgrO3V25SQ78hSK15R4YCadYi1rumEw3jw9tCFJmsuOPU7qhK8OFXC2J__onE0Go0osWxNCeYZnIX7tQ/s320/IMG_3197.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-2189998932252134882008-12-23T12:34:00.002-06:002008-12-23T12:41:43.404-06:00Why the 2nd Amendment Matters<embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-4069761537893819675&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-7836476460957631192008-10-09T11:59:00.003-05:002008-10-09T16:44:41.852-05:00Need to Watch!The video below is very interesting. I encourage you to take a moment and watch through to the end. <br /><br />The problem that I see with public education today is that it has the effect of relieving parents of the responsibility in the education of their child. I believe it comes down to a simply and fundamental lack of acceptance in the personal responsibility God has bestowed on the mother and father. To demonstrate that point, I'll give you an example that we recently experienced. At the beginning of the school year here in Bemidji, there is always a meet the teachers evening where you can go to see what the kids will be learning, review the curriculum, and talk with the individual teachers. Sounds important, right? Unfortunately, I had another meeting, but Beth attended on our behalf. Out of a 8th grade class of over 150 students...there were less than 5 parents who attended this event! To me, that speaks volumes. How as parents do you maintain oversight of public education if you don't engage? If parents keep a laissez-faire attitude, doesn't that create a vacuum? Of course!...and the state will step in to fill it. Parents lose control. The future of our society, our children, is now shaped by a godless state, not by Godly parents.<br /><br />So what is the answer? Pull the children out and home school? Private education? Perhaps. I believe that will not fix the problem unless the majority of children are educated in that manner. No, the state must be held accountable to recognize and teach the moral and biblical values that are the cornerstone of a strong family unit. Doing so is another issue and another topic and requires a unified body of believers. Something that we, with all our denominations and quibbling, have eliminated throughout the years. That's something to think about! <br /><br />If you are reading this through Facebook, click on 'view original post' below to see video.<br /> <br /><embed src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1155394344" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1822459319&playerId=1155394344&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-24823003192775761742008-10-01T08:55:00.001-05:002008-10-01T08:55:52.935-05:00Air Force: The Next Generation<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5XFmpo_QATA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5XFmpo_QATA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-595706734681088912008-09-23T09:01:00.001-05:002008-09-23T09:03:41.880-05:00Fixing Our Financial MessClear direction in a CNN news article? Oh yeah..Ron Paul is writing this one!<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/23/paul.bailout/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/23/paul.bailout/index.html</a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-86068184399547005042008-08-09T20:14:00.001-05:002008-08-09T20:25:52.572-05:00Lake Itasca Family Music Festival ~The Peazall Sisters<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tmsgnPn7uXY"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tmsgnPn7uXY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-42832724528444765472008-08-09T19:44:00.001-05:002008-08-09T20:04:15.479-05:00Lake Itasca Family Music Festival ~The Berge Family<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DzuUUJNt6Pk"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DzuUUJNt6Pk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20623184.post-39851188111380836192008-08-09T19:07:00.001-05:002008-08-09T19:20:21.249-05:00More Festival Video ~ Johnson Family!!<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U7Hbi8DnaSo"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U7Hbi8DnaSo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981336543703531067noreply@blogger.com2