Moving to WordPress

It's about time that I did this, but I'm moving over to WordPress for my blog. It's something I've been trying to do for awhile now, and I've made the committment. Please head over there and check out the latest updates from the Coias in Okinawa.

http://coiablog.wordpress.com

See you there!

Spare the Shovel, Spoil the Child

Here's a strange story about a teach who beats kids with shovels in order to be relevant.

It's Korea.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/01/113_59146.html

A Beer that Describes Your Life

I found this in a Japanese store, and thought this brand would never work in the U.S. We are too vain to drink this.

Why I Will Not Buy a Kindle

"Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity... we cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access, reassurance." -A.E. Newton

Reading Through the Bible in a Year

As you consider ways to reading through the Bible in 2010, consider these plans. I want to encourage you to pick a specific plan to help to keep you accountable on track. Any plan will help with your goal.

I'm attaching the plan that Kristie and I did this year, and I will start again tomorrow. It's the Book at a Time. I prefer reading through one book at a time rather than reading one chapter from three different books. Kristie is reading through the NT with the 5x5x5.

Discipleship Journal by Navigators

http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138

This had both the Book at a Time and the 5x5x5 plan which reads through the NT

A blog entry with an overview of plans

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/12/30/bible-reading-plans-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

ESV Plans (including links to daily podcasts of the selections)

http://www.esv.org/biblereadingplans

Listening Through the Bible in 75 hours

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/12/30/esv-reading-plans-as-podcasts-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I hope this helps with whichever goal you set.

Our Last Dinner in Thailand

We are having dinner on the river before catching a cab for the
airport. We have an 11pm flight. I'll need all my strength in case I
have to tackle a fellow passenger.

Global Customization

When people talk about personalized tailoring in Thailand, they aren't
kidding.

Bangkok, Oriental City

Here's a view from our room at the Marrott. It's a great hotel, and
there's beautiful views from every corner.

We leave tomorrow evening to go back to Okinawa.

Breakfast in Bangkok

We arrived in Thailand yesterday with nothing to do, a refreshing
change. We went to a market, ate dinner on the river, then went
swimming.

Today, we continue in nothingness as I read The Power of One.

A Troubled Bridge over Water

This rickety-rackety bridge charges money for people to cross. It
seems like I should be paid from some thrilling reality show to cross
it.

Coke in the Jungle

On Wednesday, we went on a tour that hiked through the jungle through
a village to see a beautiful waterfall area. I can't remember the name
of it now, but it was breathtaking.

During our lunch break, there was a Laos woman selling drinks and
chips. To my surprise and contentment, she had Coke Zero. I find it
hard to beleive that the Laps and Hmong people are concerned about
their weight, but it worked out well for me.

This continues to show that there are no undiscovered places on the
planet anymore. All has been changed by tourism to some degree, no
matter what your Lonely Planet book says.

Coke Zero has beaten you there.

Please Feed the Monks

In Luang Prabang, monks begin their day accepting alms for daily food.
This feeds the monks and helps the giver earn karma credits. While
some may see this as a touching gesture, it is a works-based salvation
(like most other religions). Christianity differs in this regard. Food
is given because there are hungry people, not for any intrinsic, other-
worldly gain.

Aside from the theological issues, this event was too touristy
with scores of Europeans shoving cameras into the faces of the monks.

Don't worry, Kristie was not one of them.

A View from Above

We became quite adept at navigating across this Hanoi intersection
that we were mistaken for Vietnamese.

Did you know that on my first trip to Vietnam in 2005, I was hit by a
motorbike?

A Breakfast Loaf

My pmlette today came with a side of bread--a whole loaf. Crispy and
light, this bread was like cotton candy.

I suppose this is a perk of French colonization.

Espresso Machiatti

We found a great Italian restaurant with real live Italians here in
Hanoi. Now, off to the Army Museum to see some Communist propaganda.

Kristie at Breakfast

Drinking incredibly strong coffee at our hotel.

Fighting Vietnamese Mopeds

It is a sport trying to cross street. We had two great noodle dishes
for lunch and dinner.

Welcomed in Hanoi

We finally arrived in Vietnam, and we were greeted with delicious
mango welcome drinks.

Starting Line

We are off for our trip to Hanoi, Laos, and Bangkok. It started well
with Sky Parking, a service where you drive your car to the departure
dropoff and a guy comes to take your car. When we return, he'll return
it when we leave baggage claim. The car will be detailed as well. Not
bad.

Off course, we could be a couple of American suckers and it's in the
chop shop now.

Typhoon Sushi

As the typhoon approaches, Kristie and I are the only ones in the
restaurant.

12 Months of Wasted Money

Who wants this? It's worse than a funny kitties calendar.

Kristie's Photos in Okinawa

Here are a few pictures that Kristie took yesterday with her new camera. I think this guy could set a new fashion trend in America.

It's been nice to be back home here.

Life Lessons from Google Reader

I had a folder titled "Fun" to include light-hearted blogs. I opened
it today and found this judgmental message.

Have any good suggestions for fun blogs?

Rollin' in McMinneville

Last weekend, we went to Hotel Oregon in McMinneville, Oregon, for a weekend with Eric and Maria. Kristie and I went there years ago for our anniversary, and have wanted to return. We made reservations in March, and we were excited to spend the time with our friends.

We did a bit of wine tasting, including this place in Carlton, Oregon. Cana's Feast had a view that reminded us of Tuscany. We played a couple of games of bocce ball. I think I won all of them. It must be the Italian in me.

At night, we watched Julie & Julia, a movie that I'm a bit embarrassed that I enjoyed. I never thought that my interest in Julia Child would be piqued by a movie.

Sotomayor!

Sotomayor: Biased, partisian, and probably a little race-elitist. Is
this the best choice for a Supreme Court Justice? Bad pick, Obama.