Mike King

Hanging out with Jeremy Affeldt in St. Louis

Last week was pretty awesome.  My friend Jeremy Affeldt invited me to come over to St. Louis to  hang out during the Giants vs. Cardinals Series.   He put me up in the Westin where the team was staying across from the new Busch Stadium.  What a great park.  Below is a picture from my seat at the games.  Now I get the argument for a downtown stadium. 

It was cool meeting some players and watching two good teams play, which hasn’t happened much lately in Kansas City.  The best part was just hanging out with Jeremy during his two open times; 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and 10:00 pm to 1:00 am. 

On Monday night 2008 Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum pitched a nearly  perfect complete game, 2-hit shutout.  Randy Johnson left the clubhouse shortly after the game ended to avoid the crush of the fans and prepare for his 303rd win on the following night.  The Big Unit was cruising along with a 6 to 1 lead, only allowing a home run to the man who will  probably go down in history as the greatest baseball player of all time Albert Pujols.  I called Vicki and told her that Johnson was pitching so well that Jeremy probably wouldn’t get a chance to pitch tonight either.  As I was talking to her Albert Pujols hit a two run shot that is one of the longest home runs ever hit in the new stadium.  All of a sudden the score was 6 to 3.  The next batter, Ryan Ludwick hit a triple followed by Yadier Molina walking and Jeremy was brought in to pitch.  He walked Rick Ankiel, which loaded the bases with one out.  I thought this could turn out bad and ruin a good hangout time after the game.  Jeremy responded by getting Tyler Greene to hit into an inning ending double play.

Jeremy batted the next inning and almost punched one through the left side of the infield.  His batting average was 1000 and has been a statistic that has allowed him to drive everyone crazy with his zealous willingness to dispense hitting tips to the rest of the team.  His average was cut in half and he is now a mere mortal at the plate.  He pitched a superb 7th inning also.
He had a bunch more fans hounding him for autographs and pictures after this game.  On the way to dinner after the game we ran into Rick Sutcliffe who was in town to cover Wednesday nights game for ESPN.  Rick is from KC.  I had some scary experiences batting against him in my younger days and Rick’s daughter Shelby was involved in Youthfront.  Shelby just graduated from Harvard Medical School. 

On Wednesday night Jeremy came in during the ninth inning in a tied game and retired the side with two strike outs that made the hitters look like little league players and a ground out.  Jeremy got his 16th hold of the season and made his 35th appearance two stats that have him among leaders in the National League.

Yes, I am now a San Francisco Giants fan.

Crazy, Hilarious Nick

We have several staff, obviously the younger ones, who sleep all night outside of the opening of a new Chick-fil-A (in order to receive 52 free meals for being one of the first 100 customers).  They also have scored 52 free movie passes by doing the same thing for AMC Movie Theater openings.  This weekend the new  downtown Mainstreet AMC Theater opened and Nick Pickrell was doing his thang.  Nick was in my youth group growing up, on our Youthfront staff and now lives at Cherith Brook working among the homeless.  I featured him in a picture of our recent Serve Day here.  He is the guy in the blue shirt on the left in the 4th picture in this post.  I've taken Nick to the Chiefs game with me and he works the crowd in an attempt to have a little Jumbo Tron attention.  He makes me laugh a lot. 

This weekend Nick made it back from seeing the Flight of the Conchords in St. Louis to be in line for the free AMC tickets by 2:30 AM.  Pitch Magazine covered this event with the Headline "Drunk Guy With Football Torments AMC Ticket Scorers."  No the Drunk Guy was not Nick Pickrell, but it sure looked like it because he is the first picture under the headline here. 

Alan Fogleman and Jen Wilson

Two more young people who have been involved in Youthfront for years tied the knot over the weekend.  Alan Fogleman and Jen WIlson got married at Jacob's Well followed by a kickin' reception in the Youthfront Auditorium.  Alan has been involved with Youthfront for nearly a decade - and has served in several staff positions.  Alan is working on his Law Degree at Kansas University.  Jen has also served on camp staff.  She roomed with our daughter Jessica last year.  I've had the privilege to take both Alan and Jen on a Pilgrimage to Israel.  Alan went with me three years ago.  Jen was just getting back from two weeks in Israel with us at this same time last year.  Now there married.  It was an awesome night.  Youthfront staff member Ray Zuercher officiated the ceremony and Moe Didde sang.  The celebration time at the reception was like a big homecoming of Youthfront alumni.  I love these times.  Alan and Jen will make a great life together.  God Bless them. 
From left to right - Me, Jen, Alan, Jessica and Vicki

Ed Dobson lives like Jesus

Ed Dobson, who has been a friend of mine for nearly 30 years was recently featured on ABC News to talk about the unique 2008 he had experienced.  I met Ed Dobson through Liberty University and the Jerry Falwell part of my history.  Ed disengaged from Liberty University as did many others including myself because of the disillusionment with a Christianity so defined by a hyper conservative political agenda.  Ed has served as pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids for eighteen years and was recently appointed Vice President of Spiritual Formation at Cornerstone University by CU's President Joseph Stowell.  Ed has battled a degenerative disease for many years and has allowed his suffering to deepen his walk with Jesus Christ.  Ed was challenged by reading the book "A Year of Living Biblically," by A.J. Jacobs a secular Jew.  Watch the interview, it's very interesting...

Snow and Snow and more Snow

On Friday night Vick and I hosted an annual Christmas party we have with Youthfront leadership and spouses at our home.  We had 20 guests for a sit down meal.  I always look so forward to this evening together of laughter, story-telling, celebration and sharing life.  I almost missed this year. 

On Tuesday evening I left Kansas City for Spokane, Washington to hang out with Jeremy, Larisa and Walker Affeldt.  Because of mechanical problems I got stuck in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night.  I landed in Spokane the next morning just as snow started falling.  My plan was to leave Spokane on Thursday afternoon.  The snow never stopped falling.  The Affeldt’s, who just moved into their new home, built it on the top of a mountain.  We got more than 30 inches in a 24-hour period, a record snowfall.  Jeremy and Larisa were excited to show me a Prayer Chapel that they had built in their new home inspired by the Prayer Cellar at Youthfront South.  Jeremy, who signed a multi-year contract to pitch for the San Francisco Giants, and I had some wonderful theological discussions, we always do.  We shared stories, music, books, and dreamed of future ministry ideas.  It was a great retreat for me.  I felt like I was snowed in on a Rocky Mountain Ski Slope.  Like I said, it never quit snowing. 

 The day I was supposed to leave the Spokane Airport closed.  I was told that I probably wouldn’t get home for three or four days.  Staying with the Affeldt’s would have been a great place to be snowed in but there is no way I wanted to miss our Youthfront Christmas Party.  Jeremy worked for a couple hours clearing the drive with his 4 Wheeler Plow so we could get out and see if there was anyway to get out of the airport.  Larisa said, “I will be praying for you to get home because you need to be at the Christmas party with your staff.”  Sure enough, all flights except three were canceled.  My flight was one that was still  scheduled.  They gave me a boarding pass and said they were going to try and get the flight out.  The board showed canceled.  Vicki checked online and the flight showed canceled but I still went through security hoping for a miracle.  The blizzard continued and all the airplanes were buried.  They had been working to get the first flight of the day out for six hours and actually called for boarding.  I had hope. 

 As that flight finished boarding, the agent at my gate announced “no more flights out today.”  I instantly walked over to where the only plane boarding that day was putting the last passenger on.  I asked the agent if there were any empty seats.  He said, “I will be going on to see if we have any seats empty.”  I’m sure he didn’t want to cause a riot by saying yes.  He came back ten minutes later and gave me a boarding pass to get on the flight heading to Salt Lake.  YES.  Not so quick.  I didn’t realize I would be setting on the Tarmac for two more hours while they de-iced (twice) and plowed the runway.  Finally, we did take off.  While sitting on the tarmac I talked to the airline and found out that I would probably miss the last flight out of Salt Lake to KC and would have to go half way around the world to eventually get home, maybe on Saturday because the Holiday Traveling has begun. 

Thinking I still wouldn’t make it home I finally landed in Salt Lake and ran off the plane hoping the last KC flight was delayed.  The gate for KC was right next to the gate of my arrival flight.  They were closing the door as I asked the agent if there were any empty seats on the flight.  “No,” she said, “it is full.”  I asked her if she was sure?   She replied, “Do you have a boarding pass for this flight?”  I told her no but I had one for an earlier flight.  She asked me my name and went to her computer.  After 30 seconds she said, “Get on, there is an empty seat.  You don’t need a boarding pass.”  I was on.  I landed in Salt Lake and took off from Salt Lake in 18 minutes.  As we reached altitude the pilot said that we may have to divert to Omaha because of weather in KC but alas we landed in KC. 

Thank-you Larisa for praying me home.

Two Dozen Women Unleashed

Every year a group of girls, family and friends, get together and hang out for the day.  Laughing, eating, visiting seasonal stores, eating again, telling stories, celebrating the season and each other, and of course, eating some more.  This starts at 8:00 AM and goes for 14 plus hours.  All the guys with kids get to watch their kids and those of us who don't have kids get a free day of our own.  Here are 17 of the gang at their first stop - Starbucks, another group will join them somewhere along the way.

Check out Zach and Jacob's Well people on CBS National News

Last week I spent the better part of three days with Zach Exley.  I loved every second I spent talking to him.  He is truly a refreshing and interesting person.  He does not have a church background and yet he is truly curious and intrigued by Christians, their churches, traditions and views.  I was drawn to his unique way of looking at church and culture. 

Here is a description of Zack I found online, "Zach speaks on progressive strategy as well as online organizing, advocacy and fundraising. He has appeared as a commentator on Hannity & Colmes, Hardball with Chris Mathews, Scarborough Country, All Things Considered, the Diane Rehm Show, BBC News Hour and others. He has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, New York Observer, the Los Angeles Times, CNN Presents, Wired News, and other publications."

Check out his blog Revolution in JesusLand.  We spent the day together on Thursday at Youthfront Camp South.  While there CBS National News called him about interviewing Christians about the upcoming election.  He asked me if it would be good to have them check out Jacob's Well.  On Sunday morning a CBS news team stood on the sidewalk interviewing our congregants about the Presidential Elections.  They hit a couple of other churches also.  It should air sometime this week.

My traveling partner - Ian

My traveling partner on this trip to Assisi and self discovery has been Ian Cron, pastor of Trinity Church in Greenwich, Connecticut and author of Chasing Frances.  Ian and I are similar in age and life stages so he has been a good friend in this journey.  Here are a couple pictures from Assisi.
On the Balcony of our room.

At a Cafe

At the Basilica of St. Frances

Thankful...

I'm thankful for the opportunity to speak to a long time friend today, one that I haven't spoken to in nearly a year (for unfortunate reasons).  It was just good reconnecting for 15 minutes.  It was wonderful to hear her voice. 

A "Flower Carrier" Over "French Kiss"

My friend Julene Tegerstrand, who is living in South Korea, has written this post and it is worth you taking a few minutes to enter into her story.