DonB! wins "Major Award"

It seems that at our church, Emmanuel Baptist, whenever I run the worship team computer during services, I am known for the fact that my OCD compells me to center all lines of text, align photos within slides, and have everything balanced on the screen.

Well, because of those factors, at our Worship Team meeting this evening, I was presented with this award.

Go ahead. Laugh. But I like Mary Poppins.

DonB Ministries Praise

"Very funny! I loved the way you had kids participating - you handled the kids with respect and we all had fun. Thank you so much Don for a tremendous program. We all laughed so hard and heard a great message. Very much appreciated working with you, as you are a man of integrity. Many were impressed and loved hearing about your life's story too. DonB! is a natural funny man!"
Anne-Marie Finsaas - Minister to Children
Colonial Church of Edina

DonB! turns up again. Well, almost.

Click HERE to see an excerpt from a talk that Mark Cahill gave at the Worldview Weekend Conference I performed at back in 2006. Mark's talk was powerful. And the only part I play in this clip is that my unicycle can be seen in the background throughout the 4-minute excerpt. I know what you're asking. You're saying "so what?" I just wanted to show that you never know where you may end up on the internet.

DonB! has a new Unicycle

Many of you know that I travel around the country (& out of the country 3 times), always driving to my U.S. destinations. I drive, usually because I have my tall unicycle that doesn't pack small enough to fly with.

Well, that's about to change. Just today, I purchased the Nimbus Performer's Series Convertible Giraffe from Unicycle.com. This unicycle is ideal, because it can be either a 5-footer or a 7-footer, depending on the ceiling height of the room I am in. The best feature is that it diassembles to fit into a standard suitcase for travel.

If any of you are in the market for a unicycle of any size or shape, I highly suggest you call 1-800-UNICYCLE. Talk to their knowledgeable staff, and they'll help get you onto the unicycle that suits you best. Please tell them DonB! sent you.

clipped from http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=825

Jerry Andrus and DonB!

This is the pair of photos that was taken in 2002 of Jerry Andrus and I. Jerry is very famous for the optical illusions that he has created, and is the creator of the Spiral Illusion further on down in this BLOG (He also created the Christmas Ornament Box that I perform at the beginning of my show). We tried to make these photos reflect the idea of an optical illusion. (Click on the clipping and it will enlarge so you can read the text.)

Just recently I was told Jerry was having problems with his health. Pray that Jerry has true peace in his life as he approaches what could possibly be a fatal health problem.

Jerry also has some amazing poetry online, some of which you can read here: http://jerryandrus.org/verse.html Even though Jerry describes himself as an agnostic, I had some interesting talks with him about how his poetry reflects who God is, as well as God's creation.

Pray for Jerry. What a neat guy.

The Calling - Roger Fields

DonB! says: I've been performing full-time since 1977, and doing children's ministry around the country since 1989. This last year, while changing into a costume quickly before our Wednesday drama at church, I looked up, and taped to the wall was this writing, "The Calling". I've read it every Wednesday night since then.

I think it so well states why I am in children's ministry. You know as well as I that many people have no idea the work, time, energy and dedication that goes into ministering to kids. I've committed my life to it. I hope you enjoy The Calling.




The Calling
Roger Fields


I am a minister. My mission field is the largest on earth. I minister to children.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back, or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I have no time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes, or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will push when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting, and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears, and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.


--used with permission from the author (2007)
For further information on Roger Fields, please visit www.kidzblitz.com

My Favorite Optical Illusion

For the most amazing optical illusion that I've found, click on the link below, and follow the directions. The man that really "discovered" it is named Jerry Andrus, whom I've met. I will try and find the pictures I had taken with him, and post them later. http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/mot_adaptSpiral/index.html

DonB! on the web

Today I Googled my own name, and found this link from a conference I performed at here in Minnesota. Take a look at who the opening act was before me: Dino Kartsonakis! Wow.

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/mn/