HAEFTLING



Haeftling clothing is handcrafted by.....are you ready for this? Convicts. Yes, it's true. According to their website:

Haeftling means “detainee”, “inmate” or “prisoner” in German – if the fascinating, unmistakably distinctive brandname under which the hand-crafted products of federal penal institution workshops and trainee programmes are marketed. The cleanly designed, highly robust and supremely practical products are all produced by the prisoners themselves. It’s simply clothing and household products that can take a few more knocks and stand a little more wear-and-tear than comparable products produced in the outside world.

Since 1898, Berlin convicts have been busy at work creating and handcrafting these straightforward products. In fact, their work has become so popular that recently, they've added wine, preserves and even bed linens to their product line.

Tell me the folks in Berlin aren't innovative! Their products have become so popular that people will wait months to get their hands on Haeftling clothing.

Link

BORING 3D



Hmmmmmmm..........

Link

(thanks to pomomusings)

CRAZY, CRAZY WEEKEND...

Sorry - my blogosphere has been pretty absent of action the past couple days.

Getting ready to head out to this guy's wedding in a few minutes.

WILLOW CREEK CAPTIAL CAMPAIGN

Spent the morning and early afternoon yesterday at Willow Creek Community Church. In the morning, Greg Hawkins, Willow Creek’s Capital Campaign (CC) director gave a brief summary of Willow Creek’s 4 year CC. (A Capital Campaign is an effort to raise finances, involvement, etc… to pursue the goals/vision of a church.)

At the end of this year, WCC will be on track with raising $80 million dollars to cover the costs of massive ministry expansion and focus on additional unchurched groups here in the Chicago area and beyond.

Here are a few thoughts/ideas that I walked away with in his session:

The purpose of a CC is not just to “raise money” – it is all about funding a vision.

When launching a new initiative, give people plenty of opportunity to digest & ask questions.

The process that WCC used in their CC was:

1. Info – cast vision, answer questions, give people an opportunity to digest.
2. Spiritual Process – pray, ask God, “What do you want me to do?”
3. Commit – Ask people to commit whatever it is that they feel God wants them to do.

Our job is not to “convince” anyone to be involved – just cast vision and let God do His thing.

The role of the Senior Pastor is vital – this cannot be delegated.

Interesting observation: 71% of those who committed to their CC were involved in volunteerism at WCC (Willow Creek). Only 17% of those not involved in volunteering made commitments.

6800 famlies committed to the CC
8800 contributed

Don’t have a CC just to have one – have a purpose! (In response to the question, “When this is finished, will WCC have another CC? The answer was “no” – not for a while.)

To raise $80 million, it cost WCC roughly $1 million to cast vision, fund their CC. (Not a bad ratio!)

During a CC, all staff must make it #1 priority – even if that means accepting less than best during the CC (in their ministry areas).

(Next post: Bill Hybels leadership talk)

SUMMARY OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW...

1. I'm really into Mexican food right now. Not Taco Bell type crap - but good stuff - simple, real Mexican taco's & carne asada. (Aurora people - try Jalisco's Tacos!!!)

2. I am waking up in a few hours to head over to Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. In the morning is a stewardship seminar followed by a lunch to connect with a bunch of church leaders. In the afternoon, Bill Hybels is going to be talking about leadership (surprising?).

3. Preparing for my message this weekend. It's not coming together too quickly. Memorial Day theme - lots of directions I could go.

4. Elise has the flu. This sucks.

5. I am faced with some real leadership challenges right now - need to identify some strong volunteer leaders for several projects. I'm on the hunt...

6. Excited about working w/ a church in Minneapolis on some leadership/transition stuff.

Ok - so there you go. I'm off to bed now. I hope to get a blog in @ Willow Creek tomorrow (they are WiFi enabled...)

Stay tuned...

CHERNOBYL MOTORCYCLE GIRL FAKE STORY

A couple of months ago, I posted an article about a woman who rode her motocycle through the abandoned city of Cherynobyl on her motorcycle. It turns out that this is not how it happened. Apparently, motorcycles are banned from the zone and there is no way that she would have obtained permission to ride alone through the city. BoingBoing has all the details.

CHICAGO PREMIUM OUTLETS



We did it. We finally got in the car and drove to the new Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora.

Every day for the last several months, my commute would take me past this mammoth structure where a hundred plus brand names would soon scream out to me in passion as I drove by.

The mall opened just last week and has already been swarmed by people from all over the Chicago area and beyond. I-88 has been littered with cars all seemingly making their way to this gargantuan mall.

Amanda, Elise and I met our friends, Ted & Kathryn there on Monday and walked until we decided that our legs had endured enough for one afternoon.

The highlights of my afternoon were hanging out in the Sony store coveting all the fun electronic gadgets and then of course the stops at Asian Chao (Chinese fast food - orange chicken and bourbon chicken), Aunt Anne's Pretzels, and the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory where we dove into a giant (green) apple covered in caramel and chocolate chips.

The mall is a typical outlet mall - like all the ones all across America. In fact, the owners of the mall, Chelsea Premium Outlets, own and operate over 60 outlet malls all across the country and even into Japan and Mexico.

After it was all said and done we didn’t end up buying much. Still trying to figure out what is so good about outlet malls too. If anyone figures it out, let me know.

Click here for a list of stores.

STARBUCKS PLOY?

I walked into my local Starbucks this morning and ordered my usual morning coffee - a venti coffee of the day w/ room and a vanilla biscotti.

The girl behind the counter (who is a very nice person by the way...) replied to my order by saying, "You know, there's just something not right about the coffee today - how about I make you a 3 shot Americano?" Well I, of course, was not interested in a bad tasting cup of coffee so I accepted her offer.

The Americano is pretty good - tastes like a latte but with water added instead of milk (my stomach sings praises this morning...).

So I'm trying to figure out if this is some new marketing ploy by Starbucks to get people to try new drinks or was the coffee really not tasting right? If it is the latter, then why would Starbucks even waste time letting it sit? I'm pretty sure that Starbucks has enough sense not to serve bad tasting coffee...

Ok, enough questions. Now I need to focus on my day - which will be much easier now that I have this off of my chest.

Good day.

TIME TO VOTE

I'm trying to decide if I should go back to the "old" website design (click here to see the old...) or keep the new one.

What do you think? Vote "old" or "new". And thanks...

CAPTION?



Anyone got a good caption for this picture?

Here's mine:

"I love Krispy Kreme Jelly Donuts!"

THE MICE HAVE LANDED



Mickey Mouse has invaded Chicago.

In celebration of Mickey's 75th birthday (talk about looking good for your age...!) 15 giant Mickey Mouse statues will be on display on State Street through July 20th.

Chicagoist has the skinny on the details. Interestingly enough, Walt Disney himself was born in Chicago in 1901.

Each Mickey was designed by different celebrities and reflect their personalities and style. You can view the gallery here.

Long live Mickey!

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Can anyone figure out what this is all about?

MORON AWARD OF THE DAY GOES TO…

It’s official - I’m an idiot.

Today, it was raining on and off here in Chicagoland. In fact, at times it was a pretty heavy rain. This evening I was in my office doing some work and it started pouring pretty bad. During the down pour, I remember thinking to myself, “I hope no pour souls left their car windows down…”

An hour later I went outside to get something from my car and found my moon roof open…….…all the way! My first thought was, “Who in God’s name went into my car and opened up my moon roof?” And then it dawned on me – it was me. When I got to the office today, the sun was shining and it was at least 80 degrees. So, I left my moon roof open.

There was at least 2 ½ inches of water on each seat. Water everywhere. So, I grabbed a bunch of towels to soak it up and covered my seat with 2 large plastic garbage bags. (You better believe I’m lookin’ cool in my car…) On my drive home as I was sliding around on my plastic covered seats I felt like I was sitting on my Aunt Margie’s couch in her living room.

So, that’s how my Saturday ended.

How was yours?