Not all Santas are equal

Vintage Santa in Poland. And the child is actually smiling.

Flickr Photo by Filmarik

PE Connections with Dr. Del Tarr

Dr. Del Tarr, Assemblies of God missionary, author and educator, visits with me at Assemblies of God General Council in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ditka on Aaron Rodgers

"I'm totally amazed at the professionalism in this young man. He's a great example to young people."

— Mike Ditka commenting on Aaron Rodgers on ESPN radio this morning (11/1/11). Rodgers will be on the cover of january's Pentecostal Evangel Super Bowl Outreach Edition.

Greg Mundis, New AGWM Executive Director

Greg Mundis, new AG World Missions Executive Director, was installed yesterday at this chapel service in Springfield, MO. In the video, he shares his inspiring testimony.

Treasures in Heaven

After yesterday, Matthew 6:19-20 means more to me. It reads: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (NKJV).

I ministered in Joplin, MO, yesterday where the huge F5 tornado destroyed a major part of the community a while back. At the close of the first service I prayed with a man with a smile on his face and a testimony of God's goodness on his lips. He told me he had lost both his home and his business. He had nothing left. Then he said, with a glimmer in his eye, "That's why it's so important to 'lay up treasures in heaven.'"

After that, how can I ever complain again?

Japan/Philippines 10-Peso Note With 1945 Provenance

This 10 Japan Pesos note was currency issued by Japan when they occupied the Philippines. A relative (I believe an uncle) gave this to my parents after returning home from the war. Note the handwritten description at the top of the back of the bill.

The 43rd Infantry Division was known as Winged Victory, from the name of its World War II commander, Leonard F. Wing of Vermont. It helped liberate the Philippines and it was also part of the U.S. occupation force in Japan starting in September 1945 and continuing into October before they returned home to the States.

"Ain't Got Nothing"

Do football players get good college educations?

The Chicago Bears' Devin Hester was approached by press at practice regarding a brewing scandal at his alma mater. Displaying the impact of his education on his command of the English language, Hester said, "If this is about the Miami thing, I ain't got nothing."

Voices of Glory

The terrific Voices of Glory sang in AG chapel this morning. They were a top 5 finalist on America's Got Talent. They are pictured here with their mother who was in a head-on accident and miraculously came out of a coma after 8 months. She sat behind me and kept saying, "These kids are too much." I agree. Wonderful Christian singers, 11, 15, and 19 years old.

Rick Warren gives a shout out to the Pentecostal Evangel

At General Council in Phoenix, Arizona on 8/5/11. It's the first thing he talks about on the video. (Though he was mistaken in what he said about the title.)

Timothy Geithner Has a Deal for You

I was looking for the best rate on CDs yesterday, when I came across this on U.S. Savings Bonds, series i:

"The Secretary of the Treasury ... determines the fixed rate of return. The fixed rate is established for the life of the bond. The fixed rate will always be greater than or equal to 0.00%. However, the fixed rate is not a guaranteed minimum rate."

Wow. Thanks so much Timothy Geithner! Having you on the job is so reassuring.

Singer Amy Winehouse Is Dead

‎"If you can't sort something out for yourself, no one can help you," singer Amy Winehouse wrongly said ... and believed. And it cost her her life, perhaps her soul. Chronically troubled by drugs & alcohol, Winehouse was found dead today. She was 27.

Teen Challenge could have helped; Jesus would have helped!

A Special Birthday Card

Now this is a birthday gift. My sister Ellene sent me this wonderful homemade card with a terrific memory from our youth. A picture I did not remember. Ellene and I on right, my sister Pat in the foreground, at the foot of Burney Falls in California, our family's traditional vacation spot. Below is a poetic sentiment she wrote inside the card:

In Memory of a Barn ...

My favorite barn, like my college, is history. I passed it hundreds of times on walks and runs since I moved to Springfield. Last fall it was damaged by a storm, then, suddenly, it was gone. I took this a few years ago.

Gov. Nixon Vetoes Bill at Peggy's Center

Nixon vetoed the bill that would have delayed life-saving protections for the elderly and those with disabilities at residential care and assisted living facilities in Missouri.

Fire that killed 11 at Anderson Guest House five years ago led to law requiring sprinkler systems by end of 2012; SB 118 would have pushed that deadline back two years; Governor says requirement is too important to delay.

Governor's news release below. I was among a group of press to receive advance copies of the release. The veto was signed at South Side Senior Center, where my wife, Peggy, is administrator. She hosted the governor, his entourage, legislators, and fire officials. Photos by Ken Horn.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today vetoed a bill that would have delayed by two years a requirement for residential care and assisted living facilities in Missouri to install sprinkler systems. The Governor said that the protection of the elderly and individuals with disabilities who reside in those facilities was too important to push back, particularly since the original law requiring the sprinkler systems by the end of 2012 has been in place for four years already.

In November 2006, a fire killed 10 residents and a staff member at the Anderson Guest House, a group home for individuals with mental disabilities in Anderson. The home had no sprinkler system. The deadly fire led to the passage of a bill in 2007 requiring long-term care facilities to install such systems by Dec. 31, 2012. In 2011, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 118, which would have delayed that requirement until Dec. 31, 2014.

The Governor vetoed SB 118 at the Southside Senior Center in Springfield, where he was joined by State Fire Marshal Randy Cole and the chiefs of several southwest Missouri fire departments.

"The loss of life from the Anderson Guest House fire led to important changes to protect the most vulnerable in our society," Gov. Nixon said. "The law provided these facilities with more than five years to install the basic measures that would save lives. Yet here we are, several years later, with only incremental progress made toward having sprinkler systems in every group home. Any further delay puts lives unnecessarily at risk, and that is unacceptable."

"Four years ago, the General Assembly acted quickly and correctly in a bi-partisan effort to ensure that the tragic events at the Anderson Guest House would not happen again at another long-term care facility," said state Sen. Jack Goodman, of Mount Vernon, who was instrumental in passing the original legislation in 2007. "Pushing back those important protections would endanger residents who already are vulnerable in emergency situations. Gov. Nixon made the right decision in vetoing this bill."

State Representative Sara Lampe, Missouri District 138

"Anderson Guest House was in my district, but this is an issue of statewide importance because there are group homes and other long-term care facilities throughout Missouri that have no sprinkler systems," said former state Rep. Kevin Wilson, sponsor of the original 2007 legislation. "Legislation passed in 2007 by an almost unanimous vote of the General Assembly protected the elderly and the disabled, and gave sufficient time for facilities to implement these measures. Gov. Nixon did the right thing in staying with our original deadline."

Under federal law, the vast majority of intermediate-care facilities and skilled nursing facilities will be required to have sprinkler systems by August 2013, and would have been unaffected by the extension provided by Senate Bill 118. Most skilled nursing facilities (475 out of 499) and intermediate-care facilities (27 out of 31) already have compliant systems.

Governor signs the veto. He gave one copy to Peggy.

Residential care facilities and assisted living facilities, however, are not under that federal deadline. To date, 78 residential care facilities (out of 426 total) and 18 assisted living facilities (out of 180 total) in Missouri would not have the type of sprinkler systems required by the Anderson Guest House legislation passed in 2007.

Peggy (center) introduces her assistant administrator, Mary Lee, to Governor Nixon.




Kate Stacy, KSFX TV, interviews the governor.

On This Date: Sunday School Tragedy

On this date in 1904 more than 1,000 people on a Sunday School outing died in New York City's East River, one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history.

A riverboat-style steamer called the General Slocum was carrying a group of 1,360 children and teachers from St. Mark's German Lutheran Church for their annual Sunday School picnic.

When fire broke out, the captain and crew made a series of poor decisions that resulted in the deaths of 1,031 by drowning, fire, or being trampled to death.

The tragedy led to reforms that would prevent such tragedies recurring.

Today Is Flag Day

This is one of many flags I photographed in Joplin shortly after the tornado that killed 151 people last month.

Joplin Tornado 2011 Part 1

Survey of the destruction left behind by the F5 tornado that leveled a broad swath of Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011. Death toll stood at 151 on June 8.



Photography by Ken Horn

Joplin, MO, Post-Tornado

I traveled to Joplin, Missouri, yesterday with Frank Vice of AGWM. He brought his pick-up and did some work for Convoy of Hope's efforts there.


St. John's Hospital, Joplin, Post-Tornado


This fire broke out among the ruins nearly two weeks after the tornado hit.


Fire engines and other emergency vehicles were quickly on the scene.

Relief Efforts Continue in Joplin

Dr. George O. Wood on Tornado Relief Efforts in Joplin

Tribute to David Wilkerson

Dr. Wood Tosses Fruit

Dr. George Wood's 5/10/11 chapel message on the fruit of the Spirit at AG HQ. Go to 19:00 mark to see him tossing fruit into the audience. Then keep it running; at about 20:30 he tells you why he doesn't like bananas.

EPA Day 2

Some of Jim Whitmer's photography from day 2 of Evangelical Press Association's 2011 conference in Lisle, Illinois. Watch for 2 shots of workshops I taught and one of Richard Schoonover accepting an award for Enrichment Journal. They won a number of them; Pentecostal Evangel won 5.

David Wilkerson, Faithful Servant of God

Tap image for larger version.

Once Familiar Sights I Miss Today

The Golden Gate Bridge

By Rich Niewiroski Jr. (http://www.projectrich.com/gallery) [CC-BY-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5) or Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Christ is risen! What a glorious day of commemoration for this most important of all events.

Read our special Easter issue here.

Encounter With a Black Rat Snake

Encountered this gorgeous 3 1/2-foot black rat snake today crossing the wood-chip trail I was on. Unfortunately, since I have started running some again, I did not have my camera so had to make do with my iPhone. A few days earlier I shot the lower photo of a captive specimen at the Springfield Nature Center.

What About the Cross?

Dr. Jim Bradford, General Secretary of the Assemblies of God

Living and Dying for Jesus

"I have always envied those Christians who were martyred for Christ Jesus our Lord. What a privilege to live for our Lord and to die for Him as well. I am filled to overflowing with joy; I am not only satisfied to be in prison ... but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus Christ."

— Mehdi Dibaj, Iranian Assemblies of God martyr

Chased by the Fire

105 years ago today, my maternal grandmother, Mary Mylon, was running for her life with her family from the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

She never stopped running. It seemed that fire chased her all her life. In the chaos and confusion of escape, the Mylons were separated from one of their children, Mary's younger brother. For two days they didn't know if he was alive or dead. They feared the worst. But then he was discovered in a shelter and joyously reunited with the clan.

But everything the family had was gone.

Mary married young. Both she and Earl Corey were in their teens when they wed. He was an ambitious young man who built his own business in El Cerrito, California. They lived in the same building the business was housed in. And then the fire came again. For the second time in her life, Mary Mylon Corey lost everything she had to the flames.

Later, it seemed, the fire took her marriage too. The strain eventually took its toll and the Corey marriage ended in divorce, after three sons and a daughter, my mother, were born.

It was a day when divorce carried a stigma. Mary was crushed and never fully recovered from the blow. She never remarried, and carried bitterness throughout much of her life. She lived in our home the majority of the time after the divorce, until her death.

Her life was tragic in many ways, and I heard her recount the story of the Great Earthquake and Fire hundreds of times. She kept coming back to it. It seems it never let her go. But I saw her commit her life to Jesus and I knew she loved the Lord.

When she slipped into the Lord's presence those many years ago, finally the fire was gone ... forever. And she had a home that would never be taken from her.

Postscript:

After I posted this, a Twitter friend informed me that, ironically, a 3.8 earthquake rattled the City today. The epicenter was near Pacifica, where Peggy and I used to live. The San Jose Mercury News reported:

On the 105th anniversary of the giant 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the San Andreas fault woke up with a small shrug.

A 3.41 [later changed to 3.8] magnitude quake was reported at 2:57 p.m. on Monday afternoon, with an epicenter 8.5 miles deep located halfway between Millbrae and Pacifica, near the north end of Crystal Springs Reservoir, according to U.S. Geological Survey spokesman Paul Laustsen. The tremor was felt from San Jose to Oakland.

At 5:12 a.m. April 18, 1906, San Franciscans were jarred awake by a massive magnitude 7.9 earthquake, which caused buildings to crumble and killed an estimated 3,000 people, according to recent updated calculations by USGS.

150 Years Since the Civil War Began

We reached that milestone on April 12 with the anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter. Since then many have focused on states' rights or other complex issues as reasons for the war. But it was about slavery. The states' rights issue rested on the slavery issue.

In his Inaugural Address in 1861, Abraham Lincoln could not have stated it more clearly: "One section of our country believes slavery is right and ought to be extended, while the other believes it is wrong and ought not to be extended. This is the only substantial dispute."

Barred Owl With an Affinity for the Camera

Peggy and I saw this beautiful barred owl two consecutive evening just before the sun set, on the trail we walk near our home. Here are 2 shots in 2 different locations.

Wood Duck

Peggy and I walked our near trail after work and were stunned to see one gorgeous wood duck drake in a pond we walk by. I didn't have my camera—a lesson I learn every time I leave my camera home. But this is what we saw, one of the most beautiful of all ducks.

By BS Thurner Hof (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Recap of the Historic World AG Congress in Chennai, India

My follow-up visit with Dr. George O. Wood and David Grant.

Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr.

I had the privilege yesterday of meeting Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth commander for the United States Army. He was previously Commander, Multinational Division North-Iraq.


























Photos Courtesy of U.S. Army: By John Helms (upper) & Sgt. Angelica Golindano

AG Faith & Science Conference

A Warning to All My Friends Who Are Hooked on Coffee

This could be you.

Banana Slug, Santa Cruz, Calif.

I saw plenty of these when I went to Bethany in Scotts Valley. This one was on the campus of the University of California at Santa Cruz, which is appropriate. Their teams are called the UCSC Banana Slugs—one of the best team names anywhere. When I played on the Bethany basketball team, we played the Banana Slugs twice each year, home and home. So I saw these critters right there on the campus of UCSC. They're quite impressive actually.

Photo by Jim Whitehead

Pakistan Cricket

"The first semifinal cricket showdown in World Cup history between India and Pakistan has struck millions from both cricket-crazed countries like a bolt of electricity, sparking strong currents of rivalry and goodwill. Wednesday's game, which will take place in the Indian city of Mohali near the border with Pakistan, coincides with the start of peace talks in New Delhi." (AolNews)

When I was recently in India, there was excitement about the World Cup. A few years ago I took these photos of young aspiring cricket players in Pakistan.

My interview with James Hudson Taylor IV, great-great grandson of missionary Hudson Taylor

My co-host was Dr. James O. Davis, co-founder of the Billion Soul Network. What a privilege it was to meet James Hudson Taylor IV. His ancestor is one of the most important names in missions, and he is carrying on the work today.

How Rich You Really Are!

Pentecostal Evangel for Mar. 20, 2011. Click here.

PE Connections with Marc Turnage, Center for Holy Lands Studies Director

Brad Walz - Forward In Mission

From AG World Congress in Chennai, India.

Dr. Prince Guneratnam - Forward In Obedience

From AG World Congress in Chennai, India.

Lazarus Chakwera - Forward In Pentecostal Power

From AG World Congress in Chennai, India.

Japan Earthquake Statement From General Superintendent Dr. George O. Wood