I always had a suspicion...

So, this past Sunday in our Young Pros Bible Class, we were closing out a study on Jesus refilling our lives, with the particular focus that week being on eschatology, which is the study of the end times. And in the course of class prep, I felt compelled to share this via Mark Atteberry, who's a superb Christian author/leader. (hey, if Donald Miller is a fan of this guy, so am I)

Some people have actually spent time identifying Barney, the purple dinosaur, as the Antichrist. What? You didn't know Barney is the Antichrist? Then you need to read Revelation 13:18, which clearly says that the beast's number is 666, and also happens to be Barney's number. If you have any doubts of this, just work your way through the following steps and be enlightened:

Given: Barney is a cute purple dinosaur

Prove: Barney is really the Antichrist in disguise

1. Start with the given: CUTE PURPLE DINOSAUR

2. Change all the U's to V's (which is proper Latin anyway): CVTE PVRPLE DINOSAVR

3. Extract all Roman numerals in the phrase: CVVLDIV

4. Convert these into Arabic values: 100 5 5 50 500 1 5

5. Add all the numbers: 666

So now let your greatest fears be realized.

The Name Game Clues Explained

So, now that our sweet girl is here, and her name is known to the world, it's only fitting that we reveal just what exactly all these silly sentences, hints, and random clues all mean. Plus, it might provide some insight into just how ridiculously strange Carly and I can be...ha! And, congrats are in order to Payton (my brother) and Melissa (his fiancee) for being the first to correctly guess our daughter's name. Many of you were right on after the final clue posted Tuesday morning.

Oh, and Phoebe means "bright, shining, brilliant light" in case you were wondering.

May 21st Clue #1

-6 in a Japanese Trend.

*The number 6 stands for the amount of letters in her name. The Japanese trend is none other than Pokemon, whose second member of the Hoenn Elite Four is named Phoebe.



May 28th Clue #2

-"One small step for a feathered friend, one giant leap for our family."


*The quote reflects what Neil Armstrong said when walking on the moon...Phoebe is the name of Saturn's outermost moon. And the feathered friend part refers to an actual insect-eating bird with the same name. So, basically, we made our own astronomical quote.



June 3rd Clue #3

-Screamin' Jay Hawkins decides to belt it out...despite the weather.


*The above-mentioned artist sang "I Put a Spell on You." This points to a profession of ladies who cast spells...witches...specifically from the TV show CHARMED. Alyssa Milano's character was named Phoebe, as was a minor character in the 1952 classic SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, which covers the last part of the clue.



June 9th Clue #4 & #5

-Steven Spielberg, Marcus Skinner, Ray Walston, and Chris Columbus meet up for some pizza. (still first name)


*Spielberg was the Executive Producer and Columbus the writer for Gremlins, which starred Phoebe Cates. Cates was also in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, where Ray Walston's class (he was Mr. Hand) was interrupted by a pizz delivery by one Jeff Spicoli. Oh, and Marcus Skinner was the professor Colin Hanks was trying to track down in Orange County. Skinner was played by Kevin Kline, who is married to Phoebe Cates in real life.




-A Royal Journal of a Red-haired orphan. (middle name)


*The Princess Diaries stars Anne Hathaway...Anne Frank had a famous diary...Anne Boleyn was royalty also...Anne of Green Gables was a red-haired orphan...and yet so was that little mischievous gal Annie from the movies...you get the idea.



June 15th (Delivery Date - final clues)

-A servant of the church in Cenchrea, who never let her Greek heritage get in the way of being a good FRIEND.



*A deaconess in the church, Phoebe is mentioned in Scripture only once...Romans 16:1-2. To the Greeks, her name represented the Titan Goddess of the Oracle of Delphi (the Moon Goddess or Bright Moon). And of course, most of us think of Lisa Kudrow and her hilarious character from Friends.

THIS IS IT!!

So, this is going out NOW because it means we're in the hospital and our precious new one is well her way to breathing her first breath. And, without further adieu, here is your final clue. And let me be the first to say Congrats to each of you that have or will guess her name correctly. Thanks so much for playing along...we had a blast with this whole name-riddle madness.

May 21st Clue #1

-6 in a Japanese Trend.


May 28th Clue #2

-"One small step for a feathered friend, one giant leap for our family."


June 3rd Clue #3

-Screamin' Jay Hawkins decides to belt it out...despite the weather.


June 9th Clue #4 & #5

-Steven Spielberg, Marcus Skinner, Ray Walston, and Chris Columbus meet up for some pizza. (still first name)

-A Royal Journal of a Red-haired orphan. (middle name)


June 13th (Due Date - final clues)

-A servant of the church in Cenchrea, who never let her Greek heritage get in the way of being a good FRIEND.

Our Clues - 2 for 1

So, I decided to add some bonus into the game...not sure of how many of you are still intrigued at this point, but today's clues certainly turn up the heat and give ya LOTS to explore. I'm a day late on the middle name clue, but a day early on the regular clue. Happy hunting, and send your guesses to me privately. Much love!

May 21st Clue #1

-6 in a Japanese Trend.


May 28th Clue #2

-"One small step for a feathered friend, one giant leap for our family."


June 3rd Clue #3

-Screamin' Jay Hawkins decides to belt it out...despite the weather.


June 9th Clue #4 & #5

-Steven Spielberg, Marcus Skinner, Ray Walston, and Chris Columbus meet up for some pizza. (still first name)

-A Royal Journal of a Red-haired orphan. (middle name)


June 13th (Due Date - final clues)

Tick, Tock

This is just too much fun...and the guesses are great! We're inchin' closer, so hang in there.
Hey, if Carly can endure the waiting...


May 21st Clue #1

-6 in a Japanese Trend.


May 28th Clue #2

-"One small step for a feathered friend, one giant leap for our family."


June 3rd Clue #3

-Screamin' Jay Hawkins decides to belt it out...despite the weather.


June 7th Clue #4
(this one might actually focus on the middle name only)

June 10th Clue #5

June 13th (Due Date - final clues)

Keepin' it going...

So, after being off and running with this fun game, I'd like to thank those of you that have already offered up some GREAT guesses. And, I'd like to say that there's probably not a good way to let you know if you're right or wrong, warm or cold, you get the idea. BUT, please don't let that discourage you from taking a shot at it, because you can have the satisfaction of guessing correctly and it being documented! So by all means, continue the conversation (privately), and remember to do it messaging Carly or me via Facebook, email, or text. We appreciate your playing along, and let the madness begin.


May 21st Clue #1

-6 in a Japanese Trend.


May 28th Clue #2

-"One small step for a feathered friend, one giant leap for our family."

June 3rd Clue #3

June 7th Clue #4

June 10th Clue #5

June 13th (Due Date - final clues)

And It Begins

I'd like to officially any and all of you to our little game of fun and mischief. I'm actually glad you stopped by, and even more nervous this time around with all the savvy, clever hunters that Carly and I know you to be. And, let me remind you that when you get a guess, send it to me or Carly privately via Facebook or email. We appreciate your playing along, and let the madness begin.


May 21st Clue #1

-6 in a Japanese Trend.


May 28th Clue #2

June 3rd Clue #3

June 7th Clue #4

June 10th Clue #5

June 13th (Due Date - final clues)