Rochester, NY!

  When I got home last week from Georgia Masami and I left the next day for Chicago.  It was a tough trip.  We had to eat sushi twice while up there.  Tough!

  We turned around the very next day and came home so we could celebrate our son's birthday.  He turned 25!  It just does't seem possible, we're not that old!  Unfortunately, we are that old!  It was a very special day with the family coming together.  Good food, good family, good fellowship.

  My son and I got to go play disc golf during the day and I smoked him!  Beat him by 9 strokes.  My buddy Neal asked me why I didn't take it easy on my son since it was his birthday.  Are you kidding!  I want the bragging rights!

  In the evening we played a game of "Risk" and had to eventually call it a 4 way draw!  I would have won if they had kept going though!  I had set them up for the big fall, and the pickings were right.  I just needed more time.

  On Friday I spoke in the museum twice.  Really good responses.  It was a full-house and folks truly seemed to appreciate the message.  After the talks many came up and spoke with me.  Including a number of fathers who told me they were challenged to be more engaged in their children's lives.  That's very encouraging.

  Saturday I left for Rochester and met with Pastor David.  They had set all of the books up and everything was ready.  We did a quick check on the equipment and were done.  Very smooth!  We went out for an early dinner and I've got to tell you.  These guys are good folks.  Koinonia Fellowship are a really good people.  They had been praying  for the seminar the entire week before my arrival.  You could tell!

  On Sunday I spoke three times in the morning and I've got to tell you the response was off the charts.  I've never seen folks go after materials they way they did after the services.  After the second service we'd already sold out of 4 books!  Most of the time people are running to get out of the service since everyone is so busy.  These folks stayed around just like last week in Georgia.

  On Sunday night I had a very special thing happen.  The church was full and the response was awesome.  There was something even cooler though.  A man walked up to me and introduced himself.  I recognized his name but couldn't place it or his face.  He took out some wrestling materials that had my father in it.  I then knew who he was.

  When my father passed away it was difficult.  If you hear my testimony you'll understand why.  He was someone who at one time was very well known.  When he passed away that just wasn't the case.  I got a wind-breaker from the Delaware toll booths that he wore when he worked.  He had nothing in the way of material possessions.

  I started searching for materials online and found a LOT of materials with his information in it.  It was a little of a healing process for me collecting all of these materials.  There were many who helped, there were some that took advantage of the situation.  Scott, when he heard what I was doing sent me numerous packages with an unbelievable amount of material with information about my father, free of charge!!!!  (I'm transferring a LOT of material to this new site.  Pray that I can get this online soon.  You can see some of it at the Tribute to my Fathers section.  More is coming!)  Turns out he is a Christian and a Creationist!  He came to hear me speak and give me some more material.  I can only tell you how touched I was by this gesture.  I had to get my picture taken with him.  (see below)  Please pray for Scott!  He's a genuine, good man!

  This morning I did an interview with a Christian newspaper, very sweet young lady.  She stayed for the meeting and told me she'll send me the interview when it's published.  I'll share it with you when I get it.

  After that I spoke to a group of Christian leaders.  I did a talk that I'm working on right now, it's not totally finished.  It's in my head, getting it out is the challenge.  It's entitled "Evangelism is a Conversation: Not a Presentation,  Are We Talking?"  It's based on my experience with my buddy Mark Cahill (Check him out at on his website, he's the best!)  When it's done I think it will be good.

  I got back to the hotel so I could update the blog!  Now I've got to go back and speak 2 more times and then I fly home EARLY in the morning.  Thank you so much for your prayers and your interest.  May the Lord continue to bless you.  Stay strong and focused.  Remember, God is good, all the time.

Blessings,

Carl K.