Jump David Jump

Here we go again!

Goodness gracious, I am so frickin' scared right now...

I just announced the next Bent Not Broken's event and I feel like I'm lost in a desert. I KNOW this idea came from God and I know that the people who attended the first Gathering truly enjoyed it, but everytime I try to move something important forward into the world it is always through dark cobwebs of fear and doubt. As with the first event, I'm going to need A LOT of help, prayers, and cash from those of you who support this cause!

If you want to catch up with Bent Not Broken, we just posted our newest video asking for donations:

Nevertheless, we have been blessed to have our next event at Onsite Workshops, near Nashville, Tennessee! It will be August 2-4th and AGAIN, will be FREE to cancer survivors! It's such an amazing space!

Check this out... "Located in a beautiful ranch-like setting in the breathtaking rolling hills outside of Nashville, TN, Onsite provides a safe, loving, family environment where guests can break the cycles that hold them back and rediscover themselves and their relationships. We are committed to creating the highest quality experience possible through our passion, innovation, and service. Known for many years as the worldwide leader in therapeutic and personal growth workshops, our primary goal is to help each guest reach their full potential of emotional freedom."

I LOVE IT! I couldn't have asked for a better partner to host this next gathering. Everyone I have spoken to there has been so kind and is cheering us on to throw another great event! BUT, we still need donations, and I'll be going after them in a new city with new people to ask, so the stress level is already starting to steam up. 

But if God chooses to keep me on this planet, He's going to have to deal with me continuing to shoot for the moon! He asked me to help those who have struggled as I have, so I have formed, what I believe to be, the best get-away for cancer survivors in existence. If you don't believe me, check out our survivor videos!

Survivor Lisa Bade:

 

Survivor Tina Derusha: 

 

Survivor Bari Simon:

 

In fact, here is a photo of everyone from our 2018 gathering at the Franciscan Life Process Center thanking you from the bottom of their Bent Not Broken hearts!

Alright, enough already... I ask that those of you who have been following my story would know that THIS is the next part of my story! So to start this whole thing up again is showing me that I AM STILL ALIVE! It seems like a risky life, wading through these cobwebs, but I'll take it!

If you'd like to donate, you can go to bentnotbroken.org and click on "Donate Now," you can mail your donation to the main office at 200 Holmdene Blvd. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or you can call me and I'll take your donation over the phone: six-one-six, three eight nine, four zero four zero.

Oh! And if you're new, check out my book at Thank You Kung Fu and it'll catch you up!

I Think I'm Turning Japanese (I really think so)

First off, I have no idea why people have issues with long flights. I had a chance to watch THREE movies I've been dying to watch (wihout being interrupted by my girls), all while being served moist toilettes for my face, unlimited alcohol, and (if you've read my book) tons of plane food (meh...). NEVERTHELESS, I felt like a King in Coach!

I'm staying at the Millennials. It's a pretty amazing hotel (hostel) in Shibuya and just a few blocks from the famous "Times Square" of Tokyo; Shibuya Crossing. Took this quick shot when I actually realized where I was when exiting the train station. More photos to come.

This may seem quite weird to you, but this is my room. One bed, luggage stored beneath it, lockbox for important items, hangar bar in corner above bed. I was also given a custom made bag for The Millennials with a toothbrush, towel, slippers, and tissues. This tiny little closet room has everything I need and nothing I don't need. All other amenities are shared, including a lovely lounge, bathrooms, showers, laundry, etc...

Not only that, but I was also given this iPhone which has all of the controls to my room, including the fan, lights, and the ability to turn my bed into a sofa. Not only that, but it has a specific attachment that I can swipe past the door on the front of the building to let me in late at night.

Considering I'm shopping in Japanese mecca, I stopped by a few hard-to-find stores today including Bathing Ape (which had brand new shoes on a conveyor belt rotating underneath the glass floor when you walked in). I was looking for gifts for my girls and came across this section of the store. You'd be in shock if you could have seen the prices for these toys below. Only in Japan...

 And of course, I ended the night at a local's suggestion for good pork ramen. And yes, it was indeed a wonderful suggestion...

Notes so far:

1. There is no formula for looking around and asking for directional help. I went to a person who looked like me = no help. I want to a average aged businessman = no help. However, a kind old lady heard who I never would have asked, spoke perfect english and helped me out. (Should be noted, it is possible they just didn't want to help and pretended as though they didn't speak English.)
2. Just because they are wearing a shirt, hat, pants, and shoes all with English writing, does not mean they speak English.
3. As I was walking I saw multiple examples of this strange "booze-rule." American WhiskEy is spelled with an E and Japanese Whisky does not include that E. Continually seeing this as I was wandering past WHISKY bars all night made me remember...

 

Running n' Jumping!

Goodness, I feel all I can do these days are updates! But this is a big update so I wanted to put it online (mainly to hold myself accountable) and encourage you to pray for me. 

But first off, I would love to have you participate in Hope Network's 1 In 5 Marathon Relay taking place tomorrow, May 27th. This is such a great event that Lori and I ran in last year. To be honest, I have been so impressed and encouraged with Hope Network's drive to make a difference in the lives of those who have been forgotten. If you don't live in Grand Rapids, feel free to run the race virtually! To sign up, go to: 1in5MarathonRelay.com/virtual. Here is the video I posted about this event:

It would be great to have you participate! In fact, I have two great friends from Papillion, Nebraska and Berlin, Germany who have sent me their virtual routes! Here is Brian Lodes's virtual route as he runs through my upbringing in Papillion, Nebraska. He's running past all of my schools, past my two homes I grew up in, past my church, past the fields where I grew up playing baseball, and past the field where I played trumpet solos at our schools football games. Thank you Brian!

And here is Nicolai's Czumaj-Bront's tourism route through Berlin, Germany! (of course, in kilometers...) He is a great friend who moved to Berlin for his work and I am so appreciative for his participation.

 

So regarding my future, I am going to be making a change that will greatly impact my life and the lives of those suffering major diseases around me. I can't let the cat out of the bag yet, but it will be coming soon. But like I said, I covet your prayers for this new adventure. I figure, we only have so much time on this planet, so let's make the best of it... 

Much love to all of you! Maybe I will digitally see you on race day!

 

 

 

New Life, New Hopes, & New Motivations

This year has been crazy, but at the same time, it has been so good...

The day before the new year, we learned that Lori and I were pregnant with our 3rd child! Shocked, yet in some way accepting its ridiculous inevitability, we realized how insane our life would be this year. I realized that due to our rising health insurance costs, the horrific cost of my daily seizure pills, and my lack of relevance to the business world after writing two books, I needed to make a change. With our third baby on the way, I choose to take a job (for the first time in eleven years!) at AUXILIARY Advertising & Design. I worked there for five months before it became clear I wasn't a great fit for their awesome team they have put together. I was let go the week before our third daughter, Henrietta Jane Wenzel was born on August 30th, 2016.

Since then, our life has been a wonderful, psychotic, wacky blur. The promise of a bi-weekly paycheck was lost, and RobinHood Ink. was back on the market looking for business with three screaming, laughing, and wild girls at home. The thing I can't help but laugh at though, is that God knew ALL of this would be happening, so during this past year He made it possible for a new website to be created for RobinHood Ink. by Mighty in the Midwest, a local and highly reputable web company. Click on the image for the link:

I look back at the projects RobinHood Ink. has been a part of and am shocked at how blessed I have been. I've worked to create films inside Polish prisons, at the base of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, shaping massive Mona Lisa replications in barren deserts, and worked with elaborate set ups in the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. I have been hired to write books for wonderful clients like Josh Shipp and Erik Wahl, while also writing additional articles for fish mongers and breweries in Beer City, USA. I have been sought out to co-write multiple TED Talks to help individuals truly share their messages. And now, I am pleased to say that RobinHood Ink. is available for hire again! If you have any questions about whether or not RobinHood Ink. can help you as a writer, a speaker, or even your entire company, please write me an email. I would love to chat with you to see if I can be of help. If nothing else, I would love to say hello!

On top of that, YOU have made my dream come true by helping me fund the writing of my own book, Thank You Kung-Fu! I've had tons of people asking me about when it will be released, so I am setting a date right now! I have no idea who is interested in its release, so I am inviting EVERYONE. If I have touched your life, made you laugh, or made you cry, please join me for the release of my one and only memoir where I will vomit up my entire life. We'll have readings from the book, fantastic live music, great food, drinks from the beach house's famous outdoor Airstream bar, and tons of outdoor games. This restaurant has everything but a pool, but don't worry, Lake Michigan is right down the road! It is my hope that we can fill out this whole restaurant all day with all of you, the wonderful group of people who have helped make this dream come true.

Join us for an all day party on June 7th, 2017 at Sandy Point Beach House in West Olive, MI
 

So, here's the recap!!

First, our new baby, Henrietta Jane Wenzel! (We call her Etta!)

 

Second, my new personal website and my new business website for RobinHood Ink.

And third, the new all-day book release date for Thank You Kung-Fu at Sandy Point Beach House.

I'm thrilled, I'm nervous, I'm nearly overwhelmed, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord who walks before me, also walks behind me. I am never forgotten. I am (constantly) bent, but never broken. Thanks to ALL of you who have been following my story. Let's continue to live intentionally, work extremely hard, love everyone we come across, focus on living day by day, and finish each of them with a beer in hand. I hope to catch up with you soon in this lovely ragged battlefield we call life.

Much Love to all of you!

 

"GET HIM A BODY BAG, YEAH!"

“I’m so glad I had a childhood before technology took over.” - Banksy

I just had my third baby and I hate to admit that Lori and I are letting Netflix take over Marian and Viola's brains of late. We feel miserable for doing it, but nevertheless they just sit on the couch, mouths hanging open like lifeless zombies. I literally have to get 10 inches in front of Marian's face before she realizes it's me. Etta has made us go from man-to-man defense to zone defense and we (Lori, especially) are definitely feeling that stress.

The thing that bothers me is that I want to give my children the same awesome childhood I had, but I'm afraid that iPhones, iWatches, mini-van movies, and iPads will completely ruin it. I recently read that Steve Jobs didn't even let his own children use his Apple products! It makes me think he was afraid of the same thing!

I don't know if you're familiar with Stranger Things, a new show on Netflix, but it was absolutely fantastic! I was gushing over this show to a customer at The Sparrows and had an employee ask me why I thought the show was so good. I told him that the show perfectly represented my childhood, where I rode around on bikes with no helmets and full backpacks while my parents had absolutely no idea where I was or when I was coming home. That was just the norm in those days!

Growing up, I used to go over to my neighbor's house, The Porteras. We used to watch (on VHS, of course) Rocky 4, The Karate Kid, and Dirty Dancing (my parents told me I was too young to watch Dirty Dancing, so I had to escape my house to watch Patrick Swayze do his thing). And I absolutely loved it! So after each of these movies, my best friends Rich and Gayle and I would go out to the backyard and reenact these movies. All of the dancing, all of the boxing, and of course, the final crane kick in Karate Kid. (But of course our favorite part was when the Cobra Kai yelled, "GET HIM A BODY BAG, YEAH!) It was one of my favorite childhood memories!

I recently had a moment that brought up all of these childhood feelings once again. I heard that Hope Network was showing movies called the "Overcomer Free Film Series" at Wealthy Street Theater!  And there is only one movie left, THE KARATE KID! I was considering taking my girls to it, but I still think they will most likely throw a fit when they realize they have to sit still for 90 minutes. So I told me wife I'll give up EVERY event this month to go and reminisce my childhood. 

Then I thought that as I watch it, I should turn my phone off, old school style. No rings, no beeps, no vibrations, just... nothing. I wanted to relive my childhood with no fancy phones blowing up and nothing else on my mind. Which made me think... Who wants to join me? My friends and I are all Millennials and we have ALL been taken over by the newest and shiniest technology products. But what would happen if for one night we all turned off our phones and actually "hung out", sans cell phones. Afterwards we'll head over to the Meanwhile, sans cell phones, and eventually, decide to go home, sans cell phones. Maybe I'm crazy but I feel this would be so refreshing these days.

So I've decided I am going to send an email to Hope Network and propose they take me up on this suggestion: I want them to encourage the entire audience to give their cell phones to a Hope Network representative before the movie starts and enjoy the movie as they did when they were kids!

 

 

What do you think? Are you up for this?! How about this? Let's use this miserable social media for what it was intentionally meant to do and cause a ruckus! I will tag Hope Network on this Facebook post, but will mention them on the next (shorter) FB post and would love for you to Like/Heart/Laugh/Cry these posts on Facebook and make as much noise as possible to get their attention. If they respond, I'll propose this idea to them and will even offer my services to them to help them pull it off! As they (kinda) say on Portlandia, "The dream of the 80s is alive in Grand Rapids!"

WHO'S WITH ME?!? 

Storyline A.K.A. CryFest '15

Recently, I was emailed by a local woman regarding the editing of my book, Thank You Kung Fu. She said my story had been on her mind for nearly a month, so she offered to edit my book for free. So sweet of her. I replied and told her how nice she was and she could gladly edit one the of the public chapters on my blog and send me her edits. Typically, when people volunteer to edit it never works out, but when I saw her edited pages I saw she totally got it! It was fantastic! I called her up to meet with her at The Sparrows where I learned she has a doctorate in Philosophy, teaches ethics at a university, and is working on her own book. She’s brilliant! Can we say God is good one more time?! 

Gorilla Steps Up!

Last night my phone beeped. Fully understanding my inappropriate relationship with my phone these days, I picked it up to see what had come through. I looked, my mouth dropped, and my eyes widened. I couldn't believe what I saw. 

Gorilla, the same film company who put together my trailer for KickStarter, had offered $10,000 to my campaign! Concerned it could have been a mistake, I immediately called Eric Johnson, head of Gorilla. He explained that he and his company have been behind this project from the very beginning and saw I needed an additional bump to bring this home. And was he ever right! 

I remember the first meeting I had with Eric earlier this year. I had previously sent him my book proposal and when we sat down to meet he looked me directly in the eye and said, "David, this book has to be written." At that time I was still so scared about putting this concept in front of the public, but because of Eric's support that morning and his dedication to giving me one of the best KickStarter videos in history, I decided to take the next step. And well, here we are! There are two days left and only $3,300 to raise.

So here's the crazy part. Eric and Gorilla are in production of their first major motion picture. I am well aware of how much they need the money right now! They have written a teen comedy, Camp Manna, that I've read and think is ridiculously brilliant. As I've kept a close eye on my twitter feed, I see they are actually beginning production right now. I've been in their shoes before! When you begin production, everything else disappears. There are so many different elements where Eric and his crew at Gorilla need to focus on right now.

But they didn't leave me behind. They chose not to leave me alone in the middle of my campaign. I just don't know what to say in response to that. Thank you? You gave me the video that made my project happen? You financially saved my project? You helped provide the money for me to write this book for my daughters? There are no right words for moments like this.

And I find myself overtaken, once again. The people that have surrounded me and, when facing these final days, returned to the Kickstarter site to raise their donations and continue spreading the word via their social media. I feel there are simply no words to express my gratitude to all of you. It's further evidence that God always seems to come through. Of course, not before He takes me to the edge of a cliff, shows me how ridiculous my ask was, requiring too much commitment from my friends. And as I come to grips with the fact he's probably right, then and only then, does He show up to come through and provide again and again. 

To Gorilla, I thank you! And to the rest of you supporting my campaign, I thank you!

Now, let's finish this off! Let's dig under the couch cushions, rifle through the change drawer in your car, find dollar bills in old pant pockets, and donate the final $3,300!

Failure

The Failure:Lab event held on Friday night was incredible! I wanted to share the youtube video of my talk that was posted yesterday. It's been confirmed we raised over $8,000! Thank you to any of you who made it to the event and, for the rest of you, I'm pleased to offer you this video. But before you watch my Failure:Lab video, check out my Kickstarter page that inspired this entire event.

 

 Now! Onto my failure!

 

Brian Kelly, a fantastic local photographer, took these images just as I walked off stage. The only word I can think of when I look at these is RELIEF. He didn't direct me or tell me to pose, it was just the first thing I did when I was off the stage. This image shows my feeling of relief so well...

 

And how about this?! I don't know if I've ever seen a photo of the back of my head and was shocked to see that my hair is starting to grow back! From this angle it looks nearly even. I still have the front left section which is slowly growing in, but from the back it looks great!

 

So my dear blog readers, I am approaching the end of my campaign. Only four days left with a lot of dollars to raise. I truly hope I haven't bothered you with my incessant ramblings about all of this. But I actually sent a similar message to my backers last night and I've been at complete peace ever since, so I wanted to share it with you. I think I've come to grips with what this campaign means for my life.

If this KickStarter Campaign is a failure, I think it's time I leave this story in my past.

I've felt for so long this story "exists" for a specific reason, but if it can't come about through this Kickstarter channel, I don't know when or where I'll have the time and energy to bring it about through any other. I know far too well this life is fleeting and I want to spend it with my wife and girls. And I am aware a future filled with laying in bed dreaming about what this book could have been after this Kickstarter failure will only bring me more pain.

It just felt like this was the right time, the right moment, to bring all of the colors, medical tests, countries, tastes, doctor visits, music, love, loss, joy, whiskey, peace, and frustration to light. And if it's not the right time, I don't know if another moment will come about. So I must bury them instead, a funeral for these emotions and these stories, so I can continue to live. And honestly, that's okay with me.

If I can't create with these feelings, these stories, I must leave them in the past so I can whole-heartedly pursue new creations in the future. I just know there isn't enough room for my past and my future to co-exist. I've been creatively and attentively held back by the concept of this book for the past 6 years, and if this campaign doesn't work, I feel I can no longer hold onto the idea of it. I have to let go of this burden I've been carrying next to me, solely for the sake of sharing it with you one day. No more blogs about divorce or previous mistakes or feelings from the past. Just the present. I imagine the blog will suck quite a bit more if it's not about my failures, but that's fine by me.

This campaign represents a door, an inciting incident, in my life. If my Kickstarter is funded the door will stay open, giving me proper time to tell my story and share it with you. If my Kickstarter is not funded the door will be entirely shut, burying my past and letting me move forward with a clear and weightless heart. I can barely believe I'm typing this, but I feel more and more confident this decision needs to happen next. 

To each of you reading this, it's been an amazing journey and I still hold out hope we can find a way to sneak this campaign past this closing door. I don't know what to ask for anymore. I'm all out of tricks. All I am is a man asking you to please keep this door open just a little bit longer so I don't have to bury this book forever.

Jump David Jump

Here we go. At this very moment I am as raw, naked, and open as I ever have been with you, the public. My only prayer is, should this book be completely funded, it will walk alongside you if you've ever encountered cancer, divorce or unexpected surprises. That you would know, as I have learned, that God is yet to leave you by yourself.

I've come to the edge and I'm choosing to jump. I have absolutely no idea what happens next. I'm either going to fly high or die on impact.

Either way, Jump David Jump.

View my KickStarter page.

(*A special thanks goes to Gorilla on their partnership to create my video*)

Nebraska

Film: Nebraska

Written by: Bob Nelson

Screenplay Adapted by: Alexander Payne

--- 

Scene 1:

EXT. BILLINGS, MONTANA - LAUREL ROAD - DAY 1

A MAN in his 70s walks along a narrow stretch of grass separating a busy road from a railroad yard. The man walks purposefully, despite the hesitant gait and clouded eyes of a longtime alcoholic.

EXT. NEAR INTERSTATE 90 - DAY 2

Now a bit dazed and slowed by fatigue, the man walks past a sign reading BILLINGS CITY LIMITS. A state patrol cruiser pulls up in front of him, and a TROOPER gets out.

---

At least that's what the original script said. But what happened on screen in the first scene of Nebraska said so much more. I'm haunted by it. Woody, the MAN in his 70s, trudged down the shoulder of a semi-busy highway in Billings, Montana. Woody kept walking past the typical timeframe of an opening sequence. Woody marched forward focused and intoxicated in equal measure, as the patient audience quietly begins to fidget in their seats.

The state trooper pulls up, concerned about the nature of this seemingly lost 70 year old man. The trooper, the law, the person responsible for knowing what is going on, exits the car to get Woody's attention.

Trooper asks, "Where are you coming from?" 

Woody, in a focused drunken haze, hesitates, then moves his arms back over his shoulder as if to say,"back there".  

The trooper, realizing his question wasn't very effective, tried again, "Where are you going?"

Woody, in a focused drunken haze, hesitates, then moves his arms forward as if to say, "that way".  

This is the beautiful messy scene that plays on repeat in my head every day. I'm still deciding whether to ban these images from my imagination or white-knuckle them even tighter.