A meeting.

Day before yesterday, Dad, Mom, David Moore, and myself, all traveled to a Basic Seminar introduction in Dallas.

For the first time, I got to meet the man Bill Gothard. While we don't necessarily agree with everything he teaches, to throw away the dramatic impact he has had on this country for a few errors in theology would be a foolish mistake indeed. As Doug Phillips pointed out though, Bill Gothard has had such an impact, and so many homeschooling children are alive today because of what Bill has taught regarding having children, that we ought not point fingers at him. Really, I don't know how anybody could discredit what Mr. Gothard teaches. It is life changing information, and extremely pertinent to everyday living. Sure, there may be a little thing here or there that he's not clear on, but even then it's because he is only covering one subject per lecture. His material is invaluable to my life, and to the life of my Father.

So, with that in mind, it was an honor to meet Bill Gothard, a man who has been instrumental in my Father's life for 22 years now.

I'm looking forward to FED, the film Academy, and the Film Festival yes, but meeting Bill Gothard is just as exciting as any of those, for me.

~ John.

Thoughts. Of a filmmaker. At 6:00 AM.

Dreary eyed and somber faced,
yet bound not to be disgraced,
by a film incomplete or undone,
John works until the rising of the sun.

He grabs his root beer, then takes a small sip,
and drinks it until the very last drip,
Never worried or scared of total defeat,
that is, until his PC overheats.

The bluescreen of death rears it's head,
And John considers just going to bed.
But he knows the truth, that he can't give up,
so with root beer XS he refills his cup.

Going on and on through mounds of renders,
Noise removals, color correction, frame blenders,
he continues his task of film improvement,
And quickens his constant finger movement.

It isn't easy, a life like this,
though some have thought it to be bliss,
editing film is often painful,
to body and soul as often drainful.

The sun is risen now, o'er all the land,
But still there's movement, from John's pale hand.
He clicks and he drags all over the screen,
So from all of it's errors, the film will be clean.

Meanwhile in bed, John's pillow doth call,
Saying 'John come along! Come join us all!'
But John resists, stands strong and stedfast,
until he has has clicked and dragged his last.

With weary and anguish, remorse yet relief,
he clicks on 'render', but to his unbelief,
the blue screen comes back, in all of it's furry,
as if to say, 'Hey man, what's your big hurry?'

So John hollared and yelled with all of his might,
but nothing could help, he'd lost this fight.
So once again he restarts the slow process,
hoping for once to make some slight progress.

Then out of frustration or boredom perhaps,
he goes outside and he runs a few laps.
The day was refreshing, cool, and unique,
but inside he came, to take a quick peek,

And to find his computer still happily running,
and the results of the render, well, simply stunning.

~ John