Sorry I haven't posted in a while. We're very close to having some very good news to announce regarding JellyTelly and Jellyfish Labs – we're just not quite there yet. Hopefully by the end of the week or early next week I'll be able to fill you in.
This week I'm in Arnold's Park, Iowa, attending the 75th Okoboji Lakes Bible and Missionary Conference. Those of you who know my story know this is the conference founded by my great grandfather, R. R. Brown. Dallas Willard is here this week, along with Phil Keaggy, Steve Green and Kim Hill. I just came from one of Dallas Willard's teaching sessions, and I have to say he is as good as I had hoped. I've never heard him speak in person before, and I think I could sit and listen to him all day.
I also got to meet Phil Keaggy for the first time, after being a fan since High School. He would love to help out with JellyTelly in some way so we're going to try to some up with something for him to contribute. ("Bible Time with Dallas Willard" could be a fun show for kids, too. Maybe if we did a puppet version of Dallas… or gave him a wise-cracking donkey as a sidekick. Or maybe not…)
Turns out Dallas was heavily influenced by my great grandfather, whom he heard speak when he was just a college kid. (One of Dallas's books mentions my great grandfather on the dedication page.)
One last thing – this Thursday we premier our newest "mini-show" on JellyTelly – "A Pirate's Guide to Church History," where Captain Pete walks kids through the major events and personalities from the history of the church. We gave him a pirate sidekick to lighten up the proceedings. Check it out. It's kinda goofy, and you might actually learn a thing or two before it's done!
Stay tuned… more news to follow…
Would love to hear some key things that you learned from Willard!
oooohhhhh, Phil KEAGGY!!! My husband had him sign his guitar once, but ended up giving it to a missionary friend in need of one–we don’t discuss that now, still a bit sore 🙂 When I told my hubby that you were doing a Captain Pete version of Church History, he raised one eyebrow and said, “I’m interested in how he’ll be able to keep THIS g-rated”….church history is…cough….colorful. Lots of material there for you to work with 🙂 We are excited about the new segment–kids really need to know their heritage, especially in today’s American climate…kids need to know that some really great people have gone before them that were willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Christ.
It’s great to hear from you again, Phil! I scan your entry in the RSS reader every day, hoping for some news – so it’s exciting to hear something may be happening with Jelly Telly. We’re still praying for you and the JT team. A program with Phil Keaggy would be awesome!
Ive got an idea…how bout you just tell me the great news now, and I promise not to tell anybody? LOL I’m sorry, that really was the first thing to come out of my mouth…golly, I’m still chuckling about it.
Ok ok, I’m done…really…
Glad to see your still alive Phil! Or is this your work zombie speaking?
Phil, I’ve been wondering for a while now. Who play’s Buck Denver? Is that you or somebody else? Also what are the Bentley Brothers full names?
May I ask an off-topic question?
I just bought “Sidney and Norman: A Tale of Two Pigs” for my goddaughters. (When I stand in B&N weeping over a book, I take that as a sign that it’s worthy of buying!) I’m a big Charles Dickens fan, as you can see from my link, and I’d love to know — did you deliberately name Sidney after Sydney Carton in “A Tale of Two Cities,” or was it a coincidence?
The good part is that Keaggy could be standing right there next to the puppets, and he’d be just about the right height; no need to shrink him electronically. 🙂 I’ve been a fan of his fo ages and have seen him live many times — truly a gifted man.
Oh wow. I read Spirit of the Disciplines for the very first time in early August (around the time you posted this message!). Truly fascinating book in the insistence that since 1) we are saved right now, and 2) worship/serve God through what we do with our bodies and habits, therefore 3) we should employ disciplines to aid our connection to God’s grace. It’s hard for me to imagine this erudite author teaching the Bible to kids…
Congratulations are in order b/c, though I do try to check my husband’s blog, this is my first time blogging myself. I just thought I’d chime in b/c I know the answers to several questions posted here, and Phil is just a wee bit busy these days. Something to do with the forthcoming Jellynews!
Jeremiah, I am not sure of the full Bentley Brothers’s names. (Billy and Bobby?) But, yes, Phil does play Buck Denver. In this new Jellyventure, Phil has monopolized all character voicing…keeps things simple. Good thing he’s so good at it!
Gina, I’m so glad people are still discovering Sydney & Norman. But, no, I do not believe the name Sidney was inspired by the Dickens character. Inspired perhaps by our daughter, Sydney? Perhaps. More likely that he just liked the combination of names together. Be sure to go to the back of the book for Phil’s in depth explanation of the story…
Reedo, “Spirit of the Disciplines” is one of my favorite books! I’ve heard his newest one is fantastic as well. I’d like to read more by him. I enjoy anything on the topic of spiritual formation that is biblically sound. “The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook” by Adele Calhoun is a fantastic resource for learning more about and easily implementing spiritual disciplines. Just FYI…
A few statements that stuck with me from hearing Willard last week:
“We talk a lot about getting people into heaven but very little about getting heaven into people. And that’s important b/c heaven isn’t just about ‘getting in’ but rather about liking it when you get there!”
“Jesus said, ‘Go and sin no more’. How about it? Would that be okay with you? Would your life be ruined if you took him seriously and did just that?”
“If you surrender all (as the song suggests), you’re not going to miss it.”
“If you think the path of purity (or holiness in general) is hard, just look at the lives of those who aren’t walking it.” (!!!)
“What is ‘life’ anyway? A cabbage has life. So does a kitten. But the kitten likes to play with a marble, whereas the cabbage couldn’t care less.” (You had to contextually be there for this one!)
Its great to hear from you Lisa….I just want to say you do a fantastic job acting as Junior. You also have a really nice singing voice (Star of Christmas, Rack Shack and Benny). I remember Phil said in MeMyself and Bob that you are a very gracious wife. That is a very admirable quality and I hope to be a gracious husband one day (I’m 21 yrs old).
Thanks for helping Phil out. He s so busy with JellyTelly now that his blog posts are few and far between.
God be with you…
JP
Wow, those Dallas quotes are pretty fabulous. Thanks!
Our family likes to talk about heaven invading our days here on earth. And every night when we’re singing our 8,000,000 bedtime songs, we pray that the Father would show us some of heaven in our dreams. The kids have told us many stories of what they’ve seen 🙂 Love it.
Love Pirate Pete’s Guide to Church History!
I’m really enjoying the new Pirate Pete “mini”. I love history (as long as it’s interesting) and these are really fun. Thanks for being so creative.
Brigitte, that is a lovely thing you are doing with your children. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
And, thanks Jonathon for your kind comments. I have my gracious days and my not so gracious days like everyone else – but I have always done my best to be supportive of what Phil has felt called to do. It’s been an adventure! I’ve thought about writing a book about our story from my perspective. Me, Myself & Phil? Just kidding About the title, not the book. Maybe someday???
Lisa, thanks for replying. Don’t worry, I wasn’t saying you were perfect… no pressure ok? {:o)
I would read your book, or even if it was just a website like Phils 11 part What Happened to Big Idea?
On Veggie Tales, did Phil write the new Minnesota Cuke or Saint Nicholas? Or has he been too busy with Jelly Telly to write for Big Idea this year? My favourite Veggie Tales episode of recent years has been The Wonderful Wizard of Ha’s, which Phil wrote. I also enjoyed Big River Rescue. That had some great vitage veggie stuff, like the Muffin Man song and of course George from Rack Shack and Benny.
See ya,
Jonathan
*vintage veggie stuff is what I meant
Hi Jonathan –
I didn’t have much to do with the new Minnesota Cuke episode (both of those episodes were written largely by Tim Hodge), but the St. Nick story is based on an idea I developed into an outline for Big Idea. It didn’t write the script, but my fingerprints are all over the story itself.
Phil