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LOAD "*" ,8,1

2011-06-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

For those that are unaware... I am a geek... Some even would say "Dork" (as in my wife would say) that's fine by me...

WARNING**** UberGeekSpeek Beyond This point ****

In case anyone that would care is wondering hat the title means to this post.... It is the load/run command for the first file on a disk for a commadore 64 .... ahhhhhhh good times....

I put that as the title because... well, first off I am kind of strange like that... and second, because THAT was my first entry into the world of computers WAAAAAYYYYYY Back when I was in first grade.... and YES I remember those days well.

As noted in my last post I am attempting to build my own linux distro from scratch. I won't go into the why in this post as I covered that in my last. I wanted to make some notes on this process JUST in case someone out there decides to do the same and runs into some of the issues I have faced...

Couple of notes about my UberGeekness....
I did initially learn, and had lots of fun on a commadore, after that came the tandy and the apple 2.... following that was the apple IIe and the Apple Classic and then onto the wonderfull world of windows 3.1 95,98,(skipped me because it really stunk) 2000,xp,2000 server, 2k3 server, (skipped vista cause it was just like ME),linux (all flavors) and Win7

When I jumped into the apple and windows world I pretty much avoided the command line i.e. cli

When I started working in and with linux, in order to truly acomplish what I wanted I was forced to use and learn some basic syntax...

I did not start from scratch, in fact I think my first run in the linux world was with either fedora or ubuntu...

On to today... Under MOST typical circumstances in any given day I am interacting with multiple linux systems as well as the broad majority of usable windows systems.... That said, there are plenty of things I need to learn, and am learning.... The following are some notes while following through the process of building "Linux From Scratch"

-- Learned Lessons:

1. Extracting tar/compressed files
MOST of the files needed come in a bz2 formatted compressed archive. I have never encountered this type of file before and was confused when I tried to run
"tar -xvzf filename.bz2" .... This only works for Gzipped files ".gz"
In order to extract .bz2 files you need to do ~~"tar -xvjf filename.bz2"~~ "tar -xvf filename.bz2" [NOTE: Apparently -xvf works for both and auto-checks the file type unless you specify via 'j',or 'z']

2. The Process....

The linuxfromscratch process should be viewed NOT as a tutorial, but as a collection of cut/paste scripts that need to be run with info on some key points. This is VERY important, as the process leaves a lot of questions if the process doesn't go according to plan. IF something does go wrong... google is your friend. Just sayin.

PROCESS NOTES:
Every page you go to that is working with a package whether install/edit/modify etc, expects 2 things...
a. It expects that you have extracted that package to $LFS/sources/{packagename}
b. It expects you to have "cd"'d into that new dir
so before you beging anything related to a package do this from the $LFS/sources dir (and you can get there by calling "cd $LFS/sources" (no quotes)

tar -xvf packagename.ext
...and when it is done extracting the files...
cd packagename

When you are complete with the instructions on that package then call "cd $LFS/sources" and delete that dir by calling "rm -rfv packageNameYouWereWorkingOn/"

then extract the files for the next package and cd into that dir to start the next one

Little hint here, when dealing with a "bash" shell, tab-completion is your best friend...

If you have never used it, it is quite simple... while typing the name of a file/dir just hit tab when you have typed a couple of letters of the name (no extra space) IF there are more than one file/dir with the same char's you have already typed, it won't show anything... if you immidiately hit tab again it will come up with a list of all that match... i.e. IF you are trying to open a file named "thisismyfilename.txt" with vi
you can type "vi this" and assuming your system is setup to use this feature and it is the only file that begins with "this"(if not just hit tab again to see all files/dir's that match ) it will autofill in the name.... HUGE help when dealing with compressed packages as I really don't want to type something like "tar -xvf util-linux-2.19.tar.bz2" when "tar -xvf ut" works just as well [;o)

3. the /tools dir and the glibc !!!VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Before you begin chapter 6, the actual build process... BACKUP the tools dir...
I did this simply by executing this command (no quotes) "cp -R /tools /tools.fresh "
-R means recursive so it copies everything in all subdirectories
:: The issue I ran into was, I overlooked a mount location in a previous step (proc to be exact) and when glibc ran it caused some errors... The problem is that IF you try to run the make process again, it will get stuck in a loop as some of the dependant files for make have been overwritten... for this I had to log out of chroot, delete the tools dir, and repopulate from fresh and go back through the build steps in ch. 6 up to glibc... after that NO Problem... UNFORTUNATELY this took me 4 hours to figure out!

4. Rebooting your computer

IF you ever need to reboot your computer (it will take days to complete the process so I encourage you to stop at some point and at least take a shower)... IF past chapter 6 you will need to remount your system before chrooting back in to the build...
Here are my one line mounts needed and the chroot command I use to copy/paste for convience (I also have mount points for boot/opt/usr/home... so if you don't have those... ignore)
AFTER REBOOT

export LFS=/mnt/lfs
mount -v /dev/sda8 $LFS
mount -v /dev/sda7 $LFS/boot
mount -v /dev/sda9 $LFS/home
mount -v /dev/sda10 $LFS/opt
mount -v /dev/sda11 $LFS/usr

mount -v --bind /dev $LFS/dev
mount -vt tmpfs shm $LFS/dev/shm
mount -vt proc proc $LFS/proc
mount -vt sysfs sysfs $LFS/sys

chroot "$LFS" /tools/bin/env -i HOME=/root TERM="$TERM" PS1='\u ($(date +%r)):\w\$ ' PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/tools/bin /tools/bin/bash --login +h

That's it for now... I am up to ch 6.35 AutoMake so still have a ways to go... Will update later

Building Linux

2011-06-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a LOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time since I have posted a blog, so I will attempt to give a quick recap and note as to why this post.

1. Things have been AWESOME with Media 42 building web sites and database admin systems.. so much so I have had very little time to pursue other things of life & enjoyment.

2. I am on the verge of releasing a 100% ready version of RelationCMS Church Management Software for purchase online, and will be STOKED when it is done.

3. (and this is the most important, but because I have A.D.D. doesn't always come first) ... My Wife is AWESOME >>> Check out her blog @ thatshortgirlsblog

4. Ministry.... This is a bit loaded. I am pretty sure at this point I am on what is called a sabbatical - It was never my intention in this, however as I believe God is leading me down a pretty specific path which will allow me to go back into full time ministry without having to worry about financial provision (and have the means to do more of what I feel God has gifted me for), I am ok with this at this point. I am in a place now unlike I have been in for a very long time, a place of learning, growing, and seeking... trying to get answered a TON of questions and issues in my mind & ministry I have never fully been able to resolve... Things which as the workload lightens up I will hopefully share here.

ONTO the Post

The reason for this post is, I am waiting on a build to complete a set of test scripts that is taking a REALLY long time...

I have been in the process of building a linux distro from scratch...
Purpose: I have had a few issues that have arisen lately with "Special" server scripts that clients have needed and it has taken me more time just to muddle through the setup of the server pieces that it actually takes to make the scripts the client needs... Not fun!
So... I have decided to walk through this process so I can have a better understanding of the entire linux system, and also be able to have a custom distro that is trimmed down to ONLY what I need for ONLY the purpose I need.

So far it has been a long and fairly painless process ---- till today... Got stuck on a build test that is taking FAR too long... but will hopefully have that worked out soon... so I figured now would be a good time to blog.

BTW > Not that anyone that would happen to see my blog would REALLY care... BUT if there happens to be any UberGeeks out there that want the info.... There is a tutorial and process located at Linux From Scratch

On that note......

I'm Out

What the World Needs Now... Part 1

2010-08-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach!!!

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.

Lately I have been in a very different place in life. Due to work I have been unable to go to church for the past 6months or so. In most circles I would be considered a 'backslider'. I have been told my priorities aren't in order, among other things. But despite it all, I have had a growing hunger for God and for the things of God. Having spent 15 years of my life dedicated to God and the church, being at and participating in every opportunity that would arise, I have seen something very strange being on the 'Outside' for once.

Something to ponder - http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/08/27/almost.christian/index.html

I read this article a week ago, and it really hit home to some things I have been seeing in the church for years. I have seen it in different denominations and sects, watching it dilute that which I have dedicated a major chunk of my life to. I am done! I am ready to pin the truth to every door of every "Church" that proclaims Christianity.

I know I am speaking very generally, so let me expound a bit...

For years, growing up and leading in the church, I have heard leader after leader speak on the importance of soul winning and the importance of bringing people to Christ. The Mantra of "Each one Reach one" has been ringing in my ears for as long as I can remember. I have heard countless sermons on evangelism, and on the need to reach the lost as well as countless debates on the way to reach the lost. I have seen person after person put on this air of "God put me on this earth to save you" that it has caused countless number of people to be turned off by the idea of God.

Please bear with me, as I am not saying that soul winning is a bad thing, in fact it is A biblical theology. Not only in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) spoken to the disciples in Galilee, but also referenced throughout the bible in places like Jude 1:23 where we are instructed for some to "Snatch them from the fire and save them".
What I am seeing however, is the truth, and our mission has been skewed away from truth, and showing People Christ, to one of either putting ourselves in a place where we are elevated above those "WE" are trying to save, or to that of being a bestest friend and having a church party sleepover.

This is all really a big deal to me. Why? Because I have dedicated my life to study God's word as well as to help lead people in the way I believe the Bible instructs. I see churches every day that say "It's not our responsibility to feed you every day".

Now, I can say I sort-of agree with this statement, in the cases ONLY when the church is and has been teaching them to feed themselves. I have heard this for years in Children's and Youth ministries, and now that the leaders are over churches the mentality has continued.

This is as foolish as saying to your three year old... "I will feed you breakfast today, but you are on your own the rest of the week". HOW INSANE!!! Even taking the biblical analogy of sheep and a shepherd, the shepherd's RESPONSIBILITY is to lead the sheep to a place where they can feed, and protect them along the way. Granted, it is not the shepherds responsibility to feed the sheep, or make them eat. In the same way if you put food in front of your three year old... if they are hungry, I guarantee they will eat.

Unfortunately, it seems as a LARGE number of churches think it is perfectly natural and ok to expect their flock to feed themselves, while only providing the sustenance you would provide to a newborn, with NO teaching/training in how to eat, or what to eat. NO WONDER there are so many in the church swayed by sensationalism!!! That's also why there is such a large number of church goers who base their view on church solely on how "Good" the music is, whether or not the singer is "Professional sounding" or how catchy the back drop and intro videos are.... Here's the deal... If I want entertainment, I am going to go see a movie!

The Responsibility of the Ministers (pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles) is, and I quote, Eph 4:11-16 NASB "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

WOAH!!!!! Hold On... read that again...
...to the building up of the body of christ UNTIL ... to a MATURE Man/Woman... AS A RESULT...
Result? you mean there is to be a result from the 5 fold ministry gifts? The RESULT should be to NO Longer to be children...

Ok, I have to stop here for a second... No Longer Children.... well that sounds to me like there has GOT to be some way of taking a child, and helping them to BECOME NOT a child... hmmmmmmm ..... Feeding them icecream for breakfast, gummy bears for lunch and a bit-o-oreo's for dinner?? BY NO MEANS!!!! It is by feeding them healthy food AT THE SAME TIME teaching them HOW to make right decisions. Just like a child, however, this is not a simple process, but attained over time... that means you/we need to be constantly teaching, training, and instructing them on the right way to walk/learn/etc./etc.

I understand, that there are a lot of misconceptions in the church on the responsibility of the church, but when you have people leading that only want to feel good, what you get is the same issue a lot of modern parents get... The Parent(church) wants to be a friend, so they are very leniant and easy going while the child becomes dissobediant and lawless because they have no guidance.

HEY PARENTS>>> 3 Year olds do NOT need to be "Reasoned" with... they need INSTRUCTION, and DISCIPLINE!!!!!!!!!! (Same thing goes for you 'church leaders')
Now I will also say that YES the church, in the past, has taken this too far and as a result created a lot of BAD Church experiences (think hellfire-and-brimstone, or i'm better than you because I wear crosses hanging off from every possible point of my person). This happened for the same reason as what is happening now... those in charge, were NOT operating out of love, and a sense of leading/teaching people into the fullness of God, but into their own ideals of how the outward should look/sound/etc. This is Also NOT the purpose of the 5 fold Ministry Gifts!

Now on this note, I am going to have to take a break.... I have a LOT to say, and unfortunately too much work to do to be able to say it all in one setting.... BUT check back! This is weighing heavily on me, so I will post more soon!

And, if you want to comment... Please feel free, but I ask this

1. If you are on facebook reading this... go to soylentgreenroom.blogspot.com to post a comment as I don't get onto facebook enough to see any comments
2. Remember... This is not finished. I ask you not assume I am saying/not saying something you don't agree with if my thoughts aren't full. I don't mind comments, I just think there is no purpose for "Flamebaiting" on this blog [;o) Just saying!
3. Please do not think I am talking about you! If I have a specific issue with you, I will let you know. If you do things referenced in this blog, it is purely coincidence. Think about it, and if you feel you need to change do so. Otherwise... don't! I am not trying to change anyone here, just trying to give a broader perspective I think has been missing in the church at large for a while now.
4. If you are offended... well.... as my wife says... "Put your big girl panties on" and deal with it. No offence is meant, so if you are offended, well... it's your own issue [;o) Love ya!!

I Hope you are tremendously blessed and I will post again soon!

Reminder!!!

2010-02-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

I realize it has been a bit since my last post, so I am a bit past due.

I had the opportunity to lead the devotional worship time at the church this afternoon. I always enjoy doing those types of sessions for a number of reasons...
1. Worship is, and truly should be b/w God and Me, as it is about the attitude and posture of my heart towards Him.
2. Whether or not anyone shows up, I always enjoy just playing/singing, reading the word and telling God how much I appreciate Him in my life.

Today, however was a bit different.... I was in the middle of the set reading through isaiah, where God, speaking to jacob, said... Isaiah 41:8 "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,". NASB

What a flat out smack in the face!!! ..... God Called him... MY Friend!!!

I don't know if it is as powerful of a hit to you as it was to me, but let me attempt to share what hit me so hard in that moment.

Friend....
You see God called him Friend... That is AMAZING to me in that there is such a vast difference between friend and son, or even servant...

Don't get me wrong, There is a whole lot of weight tied up in being a son or daughter of God... but this is something deeper, closer, stronger than just being in the family....
You see, a friend is someone that you not only spend time with and talk to but a friend you will share secrets with and take places others might not get to go. A friend also will be someone who is/or has walked with you through good and bad times. A true friend is not someone that will easily let you slide away, or ignore you in trouble.... You see, I have (most of my life) had a good understanding of my relationship with God as a Son... But haven't taken it to the level of friendship.

I'm sure that parents out there can tell you how great it is when the relationship with a child develops to a point where you can consider them a true friend (not talking about an unhealthy co-dependent type relationship, but a mature friendship).

You see, what I have missed all this time was the opportunity to get to know God as a friend.

What does that look like??
Well for starters, A friendship isn't one sided... It's not about your needs, or your friends needs... it's about the relationship and interaction.

It's not a cure all for troubled times, but it is a understanding that whatever you face, it will never be alone.

It's about being able to say, God... What's on your heart?? And then keeping your mouth shut long enough to listen

I have understood some of this before, but today, I really felt like God actually called me a friend.... And I don't care who you are, THAT is huge.

In the middle of the worship time, I was also reminded that Abraham was credited as "Righteous" because he considered him faithful who had made the promise!!

That is a true relationship.... NOT about the promise, but about the faithfulness of the one promising.... because after all... he has been with you the whole way, and you with him!

Anyway.... That's all I have for now... And I truthfully don't care whether anyone gets anything out of this or not... these are just my thoughts.... unedited, jumbled, A.D.D. thoughts

Now, do I want banana pudding for dessert???

Thoughts on Life, The Universe, and Everything

2009-10-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot lately..... which tends to be a good thing... and a really really bad thing.
The good side of thinking is that it is VERY beneficial when writing programs, and developing new functionality for web sites.... the bad side is that I ask myself questions to which I really don't want an answer.

Here's one of those questions....
Q. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A. Well, what an interesting question, that requires an even bigger question than this... which is...

Q. Do you want to grow up?

A. Again.... a good question but an even bigger question is....

Q. What does it mean to grow up?

A. Ahhhhhh..... now there's a conundrum....
Growing up, I remember being asked the question over and over... What do you want to be when you grow up?? It seems like every time I was asked this question, I was filled with a bit of anxiety in having to pick a direction in life and pursue it and it alone till I die. Funny thing is that in all the years I was asked this question I never asked myself the even bigger question of what that even meant to "Grow Up".

For a purly sarcastic response, I should have responded with the answer "Taller".
I want to be taller when I grow up.... Yeah, That's the ticket...
Or how about..... I want to be an adult when I grow up???

So much weight is put into this question which should be really asked as ... What JOB do you want to have by which people can define you when you get older? Now THAT IS a GOOD question! To THAT I say, None!

You see, I have never felt right being defined as one thing above another. Recently (over the past couple of years) I have stepped up to fill in on the worship team at church as a bass player... I even have had people say to me .... Hey, aren't you the Bass Player... blah blah blah.... The funny thing about that is I have also been in the role of an associate pastor/youth pastor/worship pastor/small group leader/network administrator/graphic designer/secretary over the years, and it seems like at every step I am being defined in the eyes of most as that particular role in which I am working at the time.

Here's my particular issue with this thought process, at any given time over the past 15 years, I have been known to opperate in many of those roles, not only that I have also been developing websites and doing graphic design and web programming. Here I am now, 31yrs old, with no one thing I would say that I do better than most.... and no one career path that I want to solely devote the rest of my life to more than any other. You see the thing is that I am not aimless, as much that I am overly ambitious. I want to experience many different things.
I LOVE preaching, teaching, and counseling people.... BUT I also LOVE Worshiping, Leading worship and playing music.... AND I Also LOVE building websites, and doing php programming... AND I Also LOVE video and audio postproduction editing, and recording....

Seeing all of this, I would say that there are so many things I WANT To "BE" that it is impossible that I am any one of them.... so for now on, I think my answer to the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" will be..............
.......
......
.......
......

A Politician

[;o)

Happy Halloween everybody [;o)

What Every (small group) Leader Should Know - pt. 3

2009-08-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

Politics, Politics, Politics, Politics.... (it's good to be the king)

Politics, Religion, Business, Education, You name it.... they all require a little bit of the same thing....
Planning and preparation!

In a small (or large) group meeting this is no different, and above all there should be some form of organization to the meeting.

Organizing.... My own personal nemesis. (and no I am not referring to the worst NextGen Star-Trek movie to ever meet the populous, or to the fact that it was one big metophor for dealing with your biggest enemy which is yourself (sun tsu anyone?) or the fact that by the end Piccard looked like a winey sissy girl who needed to be stripped of any remaining "Man Card" in his posession.... but I digress)
I have always struggled being organized. I used to think that I could make it without being organized and God would make up for the rest.... THEN I got Married! Being organized, planning and being prepared is now something I really wish I was better at (for many reasons) BUT One thing I had picked up along the way leading small groups was a sure fire method for having a successfull, healthy meeting wherever you are.... it is..... are you ready for this???

The 5 W's of Small Group Meetings!

The 5 w's, I believe, started out as 4, and I have learned and embellished along the way. This principle originally came from some small group leadership training I had done under the vision and teachings of Ralph Neighbor (sp?) back in the big cell church boom of the late 90's.

The 5 W's are simply this...
1. Welcome
2. Worship
3. Word
4. Walk
5. Wind

I will expound on each of these over the next few posts (which MAY happen before the end of the year.... keep your fingers crossed )

#1
Welcome

In all my time traveling doing ministry in various places across the globe, I have determined this...
The Southern Baptist Denomination wins this category HANDS Down!!!!
I have been to many churches in many places, and it seems like going to a southern baptist church would ensure 2 things... 1. we would be hugged till we suffocated, and 2. we would be fed till we popped!!! (Good times!)

Nothing, I REPEAT NOTHING says we are family, or I accept you like a home cooked meal and genuine hospitality. It communicates that WE in fact are in this together, and as such we can help each other out in the process.

Why is this so important?
When you have a group of people coming to your house to share and open up in any way they need to know they can trust you and this is a safe warm and inviting place where they can do just that. Yes I know it sounds a bit psychological, partly because it is.... but more than that it speaks to a bigger truth that a lot of leaders miss...
The PHYSICAL needs in life are just as real and sometimes just as important as the spiritual ones. Remember the story of when jesus fed the 5000??? Not just a story but a practical guide to performing ministry to the masses...... Meet the physical needs and they will be open and receptive to have the spiritual needs met as well.

It is very crucial at this point that I say, this is NOT about having to make a full meal every week. More importantly is that there is some type of food/snack/drink as a point of contact to develop a time of relationship that is spontanious and allows for the natural relationships, and trust, to be formed.

***Mechanix***
What does this look like??
Open up your house 15/20 min's before the meeting starts. have some finger type foods available for people to snack on, and when people show up, be there to engage in conversation and be available to listen....
This is why planning and preparation are so important!!! You need to have your family needs taken care of before this point. YOU the leader are their shepheard and need to give them your attention and be available.

I have been to a few meetings where I didn't even see the leader until it was time for them to share, and by that time, I wasn't listening to them.... why would I?? looks to me like they are above and better than me and have the "Answer" .... which to me says they really don't get it at all!!!

On a bit of a practical note, I know as a leader that if you are trying to feed a group of people every week (even if it is just a bag of freetos) It can get expensive..... So Share the wealth!!! Make up a "Food" rotation that everyone can sign-up for....

Remember we really are all in this together!!!!

What Every (small group) Leader Should Know - pt. 2

2009-06-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Instant Recap:
1. Ministers/Leaders MUST be & learn to be servants first!
2. Leaders MUST learn to put others FIRST!

Ok, Now you are caught up... no excuses!

The focus of this particular post will be about more of the mechanics of doing ministry, than the spiritual focus of the last post.

3. Crisis Management!

First off, and I can't stress this enough.... for a good leader, learning crisis management is a GOLDMINE for leading... NO Matter WHAT, or WHO you are leading!!!

I heard Miles Monroe say one time that when God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, he told them to develop people (be fruitful) and Manage (tend) the "Things" of the garden. This is a very key point in learning to be a good and GREAT leader!

YOU MUST understand that in any leadership situation, you MUST... I REPEAT MUST separate people from their stuff!!! People, in general are all in need of the same thing, healthy relationship with God as well as each other. This is wonderful news if you can see that and that alone... The problem seems to be that most leaders will spend 90% of their time dealing with people's stuff, and not in relationship with the people... To use a illustration I used in the last post... Zacchaeus

You see, Zacchaeus was, in his time, what was called the "Chief" tax collector..... Think about that for a second... EVEN the bible refers to Him by what he manages... NOT who he is!

Along comes Jesus...

Jesus saw him in the tree and immediately saw through his stuff to who he was and what HE needed... relationship! He did not see him as his contemporaries did.... a cheat, a swindler, a thief..... in today's world think "Chief Politician".

What does this have to do with Crisis Management?? EVERYTHING!!!!!

IF You can successfully separate people from their stuff, you will alleviate and successfully manage crisis Situations....

You see the KEY to crisis management is to manage the situation not the people... IF you can break down what is happening from what the people really need you can be very successful as a leader of anything.

How does this pertain to small groups you ask??
Well.... here's a situation of something that WILL happen to you as a leader if you give it enough time.....

Let's talk about "Little Johnny", you know the little brat that grew up through all of the cautionary life tales of how to NOT act and what to NOT do. Well.... BAD News, Little johnny, grew up and is now big Johnny, and he got invited to your small group!!!

Big Johnny isn't exactly mean, but he is what we will refer to as "Spiritually Combative"... He is now the guy that is ALWAYS trying to prove how much more he knows than you and how contradictory everything you say about God is.... THIS is a CRISIS, that needs some serious Management!!!!!!!

So what do we do??

First you have to look at the real root of what is going on. You see, Johnny always got in trouble, and his whole life was spent feeling like the world was against HIM because of his actions. YES they did come against HIM but only because they didn't understand how to separate the actions. So now that he is all grown up, he still carries with him this self image of having to prove himself to everyone around him!

How do you deal with that???
First and foremost this is dealt with by having strong and healthy boundaries for any meeting/interaction you have as a leader... They can be as simple as "We are going to talk tonight about....bla, bla..... Please hold any comments till I open the floor for discussions".
Another option (and one I have found very helpful for dealing with a bunch of kids with ADD)
-- Explain the "ground rules" that any comments that are made need to NOT be directed as a response to what someone else has said... Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it should be a safe environment to share opinions openly.

What setting these ground rules, does is give you the power to stop any arguments, or issues that can arise from people like Johnny... by simply going back to the ground rules, and not putting down the person.... "Please keep in mind johnny, that we are all entitled to our opinions and any comments should not be directed toward someone else because of their opinions".
IF Johnny continues to disrupt, it is a simple matter of taking a break and asking johnny to go to another room (out of earshot of the group) ans simply stating that IF Johnny continues to go against the rules, you will have to ask him to leave. End of discussion!!

In most situations as a leader, rarely will you find your self dealing with a "Physical" crisis, the majority will be these "Emotional" issues and situations.

It is a good thing for leaders to practice dealing with different scenario's... I will give you a few...

1. Johnny, decides he is going to use the time in the meeting to talk about 'Amway' and how it has changed HIS life

2. Someone in the group begins to talk about God and how "SHE" changed her life by leading her to a commune outside of town where she can TRULY be free

3. IN the discussion, you come to a topic of abortion... one of the people in the room has had an abortion, and is in a very emotional state, during the time, she breaks down and starts sobbing uncontrollably.

4. You find out at one meeting that someone is a homosexual.

In each of these examples, IF you can see beyond the issues to the person, you will find the same thing... someone who is in need of relationship with others... And in some cases, it is OK to refer someone to a professional counselor if they need more help than you as a leader can provide. IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO FIX ANYONE!!!! Only to Love them and walk with them the best you can!

*** Very Important ***
Remember, IF there is interaction with someone that seems to require/consume the entire focus of the group, take it elsewhere (And always gender specific... guys with guys, girls with girls)
There is always more than 1 person in a group... otherwise it wouldn't be a group (duh) and it is important as a leader to remember that there are quite a few other people with needs, and if one person monopolizes the meeting, can make the others feel less important (Very BAD!!!)

*** Practical Notes From The Dark Side ***

In meetings dealing with people you may occasionally come across a doozie that requires a bit of finesse to deal with.

like...

1. Child abuse.
YOU MUST REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE!!! but be careful, and try to keep as few others in the group from knowing/talking about it as it can cause more harm in the long run than it does good. Try to set up a meeting with a superior or another "Equal" leader to help you walk through this as the more council you can get the better.

2. Spousal Abuse.
This is a bit different, you need to strongly encourage that the person leave the situation and seek help... DO NOT Confront the spouse, as this ALWAYS leads down a bad road and you may not have another chance to help them out of their situation if you do.

3. Attempted Suicide.
IF They are threatening to do harm to themselves or other you MUST REPORT THIS to the authorities!!! If they have already attempted it... remember to deal with them not their situation, they need love not judgement!! They also need someone to walk with them. NO ONE ever attempts suicide in public, or with friends... they do it when, and usually because they are alone... they NEED relationship, and healthy LOVE!!!

4. Death/Divorce... Both can be Equally as painful
This is delicate in that everyone grieves differently, but everyone that grieves, MUST be allowed to grieve in their own way (as long as it isn't causing harm to themselves or others)
Let them grieve, be there if they need you and pray for them from a distance if they don't... that's about all you can do.

I think that about covers most of what I can think of for this post, I will post lots more soon [;o)

What Every (small group) Leader Should Know - pt. 1

2009-06-10T05:01:00.000-07:00

A question I have been pondering in my mind recently (since a recent meeting with my pastor) is ...
WHAT should Small Group leader's know??

Kind of a loaded question, but I hope in my ramblings about life and ministry experience, I can give a bit of an answer that is useful.

IF I have learned one thing in life and ministry it is this...
1. Ministers/Leaders MUST be & learn to be servants first!

You see in the new testament church, there came a point when certain widows were being overlooked. This wasn't an intentional thing, but the "12" were so busy serving and trying to keep everyone going in the right direction (and there were so many new ones daily) that they couldn't do it all anymore, at that point there arose a need for others to be "Appointed" to the role of serving! - These men weren't the holiest looking, and they didn't always say the right thing - BUT they were "known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" (acts 6:3)
This is one of these times in the theological world known as the "Law of First Reference" and VERY IMPORTANT in church leadership. This is the first place in the New Testament Church where we clearly see the appointing of church leaders other than the "Primary Leader(s)" and what are they?? Servants!! Appointed Servants!

***caution - personal commentary content here ***
I think this particular point has been missing in the church at large for
a long time. You see the world has a view of the church as anything but
a serving organization... Leaders fall into the place of being "Spiritual Money
Launderers" because they have been put into leadership based on how they look,
what they say, or what Seminary they attended, and NOT because they were FIRST
appointed as servants b/c they were "Full of the spirit and Wisdom"!

IF small group leaders (or any leader for that matter) can learn THIS first... Operating as a servant regardless if title, position, or anyone even knowing their name--- they will be on the road to becoming GREAT in the kingdom!

That's just the beginning --- Serving never stops!

2. Leaders MUST learn to put others FIRST!

This one can be affected tremendously by the personality of the individual, but I will try to talk through some of that as well.

What does it mean to put other's first? Well, let's start with Zacchaeus ....
When learning to be & become a better leader, it is important that we take our cues from the best leaders of the bible, starting with the "Mac" of all leaders -- Jesus. With this particular story we see Jesus walking down the street amongst a large crowd, when things take a bit of a turn...
The bible doesn't say much about zacchaeus other than he was THE chief tax collector and was wealthy... it also goes on to say (Luke 19:1-3) He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. --
Here is a very interesting point... He wanted to see "Who Jesus Was" -- Nothing more. He wasn't looking for a miracle, or healing... He wasn't looking for the key to life... the universe... and everything (42) ... He wasn't looking for the spiritual existentialism that most would die for... He simply wanted to see who Jesus was!
Next up is where we very clearly see "Who Jesus Is" in this light. What does Jesus do?? Sees him, and says... "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
You see as an effective leader we MUST learn to put others needs above our own, or above our expectation of their needs... I will say this at the risk of upsetting a lot of more traditional church "leaders" but sometimes what the people really need is NOT another event, NOT a bible study, NOT a great band on Sunday... what they need is a REAL, PERSONAL, and DEFINABLE connection and experience with the LIVING God!!! Can You SEE THAT!!! That is HUGE as a leader! People really need GOD more than they need YOU... but we are here to be used by God to be that connection sometimes, and more importantly to point people to God, then get out of the way!

I promise you ... 5 min experiencing the true and LIVING God can change your life more, and leave you happier than 1000 sermons I can give and weeks/months/years of counseling I could provide.

***caution - personal commentary content here ***
I have seen time and time again, leaders miss this by thinking THEY are what is going to change the people. Take for instance... worship service, someone engaged in worship, you can see that God is working on/in them... so what do I do ... Well I need to Help God Out" so I put my hands on them and begin to pray......... WOAH!!!!! Back That Up!!!!! Since WHEN does God need us to "Help Him Out" when he is clearly working without us in that situation??? .... Here's what happens... As soon as I/YOU/WE decide to put our hands on someone who 1 has not asked, or 2 is in a place where God is working and they are oblivious to their surroundings... we immediately call attention to ourselves, and take their focus off from God and put on US... I am NOT that big to be a proxy for God!!! Sorry, Won't do it!!! I am here to point people TO God, then get out of the way, not stand there and translate.

Which brings us to a close for today (gotta get some work done) But I will try to write more soon!!!

[;o)

I Tried, I Really Did!

2009-05-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

So This weekend has been a fun experience for me...

I got a new laptop... HP TouchSmart Tx2z Tablet

Straight out of the box, started it up, went through the 20 min setup and registration, inserted a special disk and wiped out the entire drive

Why???

I wanted to try to get a Hackintosh going... A PC running OS x

Now before I get into the nity gritty details ... let me say to all of the mac snobs out there... I go through hardware fast... @ 2 machines every 2-3 years... MOSTLY because I am doing so much with them I have to upgrade to get the power I need to continually do what I need to do -- so right out of the gate I will NOT spend 2k for a laptop just because it is easy and pretty [;o)

-- So Here I am on my new HP Mac typing this post right now...

Why Mac???

Well B/C it is a unix environment OS that ALSO will run Adobe Software(which I use both the unix environment and adobe stuff)

Best of both worlds and CHEAPER than any Mac off the shelf (a lot cheaper) - PLUS its a tablet

Here's what I have found out...

1. Mac is slick!

Its pretty, smooth, and will do what I need it to do with little effort

2. Mac is Boring

Once you get past the pretties and the smoothness of it all... there's not much going on... I mean yeah, it works but you can't tweak the mess out of, manipulating every little file. It is a nice system but I am already bored with it... IF I stay with mac, all I will do is work, surf, and a few measley games... which brings me to my next point

3. NOT for Games!!!

Yeah, it has some games you can get, but isn't built for it... nuff said

4. Drivers & Compatibility -

And HERE is the true kicker of the matter why as I am sitting here typing this on Mac OSx, I am also downloading Linux and Windows 7 - Mac doesn't support the hardware correctly...

MOST everything works out of the box... BUT the touchscreen ... It works but once you get out to the edge of the screen the calibration is WAY off

I tried a linux disk and even they got that right without AND modifications

So What Gives???

I know it is an issue of apple only wanting OSx to be on apple machines... What a load!!! I would Gladly purchase OSx Over Windows any day... IF it would work right and completely on my machine!

So Now I am torn... Back to my original issue

Do I install Windows, and have a Virtual System for development/unix environ??

Or do I install Linux and have a virtual system for Adobe to play in???

Such hard decisions... I guess I could always re-install Mac once they get the right drivers for my hardware... if they ever do!

Time to Blog!!

2009-03-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Like everything in life, it all boil's down to how much time you devote to any one thing

whether it be work, school, music, god, face book, or (heaven forbid) even blogging!

In my world lately I haven't had time for much except for God, family, and lots and lots of work... but I did decide to take a moment out of my busy day and post a blog entry.

Things are well, I am excited that this week I will be rolling out a demo church management system to begin some of the final tweaking and testing before I make it a live project! I am super excited about this and am really looking forward to seeing it used on a day to day basis.

My wife and I got bikes (as in 2 wheels, and pedals... but no lawn mower engine) We have been ridding a couple of times a week and I have really been enjoying the time we get to spend together.
It seems like no matter how busy I get, I can always be a little bit busier and I have to take the time out and enjoy my wife and a bit of nature.

Well now that's out of my system... back to the grind...

Cracking open a new book - OOP DeMystified (a self teaching guide) - now if I could only get a teacher that doesn't have ADD i will be set

[;o)

What do you want? No, what do you REALLY want?? (insight into web development and SEO)

2009-01-10T03:27:00.000-08:00

In my previous post I talked about a business seminar I attended earlier in the week. One of the key points that was communicated was knowing what your clients need vs. what they "want". A great illustration that was presented was this;

I go to the hardware store looking for a drill bit.... here are the possible scenerios
A Normal Sales rep says "What are you looking for" I say "A Drill Bit" he says "well let me show you all shapes and sizes that we carry, and I will try to sell you a new drill at the same time, cause hey... everyone needs a new drill!"
A GOOD sales rep's response to "I need a drill bit" would say "Ok, what size hole are you needing, what type of material are you going to be drilling through, and what kind of drill do you have" then after he found out what I NEED would show me the few options that applied to my situation.... then say "And sir, if your drill is an older model... we are having a sale and you can walk out of the store today with a brand new drill to go with the drill bit that you need!!"

You see in the first case (which is most business, the focus is on the sale and getting me to understand what you have and how I need what you have. Whereas the second instance was all about understanding MY needs as a customer....

You see, I didn't need a drill bit, I NEEDED a HOLE!! If there was an easier way to get the hole I needed without the drillbit I would have been able to find out from the second sales man... not the first.

***warning what follows is my personal insight and practical application reading this may not make you accountable to what I am learning.... but once you read it, you can't un-read it***

In My business ( Web Development and Media Design ) I see a lot of people who are sold a lot of what they DON'T need, and not given what they do need. For instance, I met with a client this week that really didn't need a entire graphicly designed site.... what they needed was one very simple page, minor graphics and a good amount of time spent doing SEO (search engine optimization) Had this gentalman gone to any number of my competitors he would have walked out with a huge bill for upwards of 2k for a site he didn't need that wouldn't accomplish a single thing for him.

This is what I'm learning --- I am not the best graphic designer out there, and you may not have the prettiest flashiest site out there (and if that is what you really need then I will gladly refer you to my competitors) BUT what you WILL have, is an effective site that reaches your target audience.... that looks good... that is accessible through the use of cross browser CSS .... and if you need, a SMOKIN Content Management System, or other database application custom tailored tyo fit your business, and your needs!

At the same time all of this comes with one of the most important human and client needs fulfilled.... a relationship with someone who understands (or wants to) what you really need in life and business (that would be me.... and in some cases my wife, but only if she likes you [;o) or if you give her candy bars (snickers)!! )

Better Business Blogging

2009-01-08T06:12:00.000-08:00

WOO HOO!!!!!
That about sums up the last few weeks of my life!

In December, Tim Blevins and I had a discussion about the state of finances of the church and how to effectively move forward in an unsteady and unsure economy. This discussion lead to the ultimate decision and solution that I would go out on my own as a full time web developer/designer, as I have plenty of experience doing it, and already had some clients.

Now this decision, i felt, really was in the church's and in my best interest at the time (and still do), so effective Jan 1, 2009, I became the owner and primary developer/designer for Media 42. I will blog about the name and a bit more about my company later, but for now I wanted to start out detailing my walk through the transition of full time ministry (which I had had for @ 10 yrs) to owning a tech startup and everything I am learning along the way.

An interesting thing has happened over the last couple of weeks, between finishing up a few church projects and developing my own "corporate image" if you will--- which, by the way, MAJOR PROPS to David Southerland!!! (a close friend that designed my logo). I realized that for years and years, I had been looking at business principles and business models, and trying to apply them to the church/ministry setting where applicable. Now I have found myself doing the exact opposite, looking at my business model, and trying to apply the ministry principles to it.

I had the privileged to go to a free small business seminar this week, and really helped put some business principles into perspective. So My goal is to (if not a couple times a week) at least weekly blog about my experiences, and ideas as they pertain to my new career!

Hang On, it's going to be a fun ride!!!

3 Degrees from 3rd World

2008-12-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

This morning, my "Facebook Status" read...
"Timothy Is going to meet a really cool guy for breakfast at a place where the average age of the patrons tops the national debt."

Well, That's just the beginning of the story!
I visit my local "Al-a-Carte" cafeteria about once a month to once every couple of months, and ONLY when I am meeting a good friend who happens to like the food selection (and prices). Well this morning, there I was, My friend (which I did not know at this moment) was at home sick with a stomach bug.... I was sitting outside waiting and watching...

You see, I really do like just watching people. Not only does it give me lots to blog about, but gives me a deeper insight into the human condition, if you will.

So I decide I am getting hungry and figured something came up... so I head on in.
What do my wandering hungry eyes feast upon first in line........

PRUNES!!!!!!!!!

Not just Prunes, as in plums that forgot to wear their sunscreen and keep cool in the pool, but STEWED PRUNES!!!!!!!

Why oh why would ANYONE want to stew something that truly should have been thrown away 10 years ago when the expiration date hit???

Ok, so getting through the line.... asked the short order cook.... "Do you have any breakfast specials"?

Her answer.... in completion... "Yeah... a couple"!
.... that's it.... no more.... so like a confused non octogenarian I asked....
"and they are??"
Following this question I received an answer.... not too sure what the exact words were but I got the gist.... it was....
"You should know... but since you don't it's basically the same breakfast special that we have had since our grand opening in 1612!"

Strike 2!!!

Make my way through the line, got my receipt, made it to the table.... sat down and began to eat. By this time I was doing pretty good. Having had a stomach bug a couple of day's ago, this is the first real meal that I have had in a while and believe it or not was actually looking forward to it!

All of a sudden... it hit me!
The wall, the offensive wall, like falling off from a roof into a pile of manure.... took my breath away.... but not like that song from top gun, but the opposite way.... I about lost by food (for the second time this week).
It was..... Dun Dun Daaaaahhhhhh!!!!! (dramatic music)
B.O.!

Horrific, painful, and quite unnerving.... a smell that unfortunately I had smelled before....
All of a sudden here I am in a restaurant having flashbacks of being stuck on a very very small elevator in Kiev, Ukraine with a couple of "Locals" one of whom hadn't ever shaved.... and believe me... she should have.....
Hit by the smell of B.O. covered with some funky, musky french perfume that you get for free on your hotel bed (like we get candy).

Then I realized
The epiphany of all epiphanies....

Deodorant, good food, and manners....
without it...
we are 3 degree's from being a 3rd world civilization

how weird is that!

Another Day!

2008-11-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

This past week, I have been spending most of my time re-setting everything from last weekend with the Carrs - which coincidentally was an AMAZING time! During this time, I have kind of been in brain-dead mode mostly due to the extensive amount of time spent last week, as well as technology isn't personally interactive.

I am realizing the need more and more to be on my guard during these times. Sometimes it is GREAT to get away from the norm, and shut the brain down to recharge for a while, and sometimes if you aren't careful, this can be detrimental.

I was going to stay home this morning and get some work done around the house, but realized that I really missed being around people... only 3-4 days of it and I miss it. I have grown accustomed to being around people every day that if I go for a long time without it, I start to feel like everything is out of order... How weird is that! Even in my relationship with God, if I isolate myself from everyone around me all the time I can really miss some great opportunities.... In fact just this morning, because I came up to PCJ (shipyard office) I was able to meet a lady, through another acquaintance that is working with a project called Outside the Walls, designed to get churches to help be a part of community volunteering events outside the walls of their own churches... AWESOME!!!

I don't think this post has much of a point other than some personal thoughts, but its what I got!

TO: Our New President

2008-11-05T05:39:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Obama!

I didn't personally vote for you because I didn't think you were best for the job. However I just wanted to let you know that regardless of my personal, religious, or political opinions, you have been elected as our new president. BECAUSE OF THIS, I salute you.

We are a part of a great system in which we can each individually voice our opinions and beliefs, and can openly disagree with each other. Now that the process has been won, I now stand behind you as an American, and a Christian in support of you our soon to be leader and in prayer. I promise that I will lift you up in prayer, and not criticize every decision you make. I promise to pray for you and your family for the sole purpose of encouragement and wisdom. I promise not to pray against you or pray anyway manipulative against you... You are our soon to be elected leader, and for that I stand behind you!

I also pray that at this time in our life that God would protect us and lead and guide us all closer to Him.

Congratulations Obama and family, I support you!

That's all I have to say about that!!

Dogs don't get DST

2008-11-02T04:24:00.000-08:00

DST - Daylight Savings Time, it's like the FDIC for the Sun!

I learned a very interesting thing this morning, it's that Dogs, really don't get DST. Why? Well probably has something to do with the fact that 1. they don't work for a living (except at being cute), 2. they don't have an alarm clock (other than my really loud one) and 3. DST is a man-made boundary used to help us (being all farmers that we are) have a more productive day-cycle.

This morning at @ 5:45 our littlest, strider, starts a whining... Whatever could be wrong??? Well He had to perform his usual early morning ritual.... you know the same one we all perform every morning-- A cup of coffee and readin the morning paper [;o)

So I went ahead and got up to let him out (to go get the paper) and started getting ready myself. On the way to MY usual ritual (Which really did involve a cup of coffee this time) I started thinking about DST, and the effect on dogs.... which is what brings us here.

In my thinking I realized that Dogs are not bound by the pressures of our lives. Sure they have their own problems to deal with... like should I stay laying here, or go bark at a bug in the window sill... or which squeaky toy will be the best for the mood i am in at this moment, was that a car??(yes i think my dogs are as add as I am)But they don't deal with the stress that we all put ourselves under every day. They are pretty easy to adapt, given a little time, and are pretty good about doing the same things over and over and over.

If I were to look for a spiritual point in all of this it would be this (to paraphrase in the Tim H style)

Matthew 6:26 (loose) Look at the Chihuahua's and terriers, they don't work for a living trading stocks, and building things with their hands, yet when their food bowls are empty, are they not shortly thereafter filled again? We take care of them, does not our heavenly father also take care of us?

Point being, I think sometimes we need to slow down a bit and jump up into air daddy's laps and wag our tails (you get what i mean) We just need to enjoy God, not spend so much time worrying about being on time to that meeting that you really don't have to be at but you really do want to impress your boss so you might get noticed and get a bigger piece of cake at the next office birthday party (and YES I have worked in a cubicle). Enjoy GOD!

I think if we can learn to do that, then when the urges come to help others, or spend time with those in need we will be ready!

that's my thoughts and I'm stickin to em!

The Power of the Servant

2008-10-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here lately I have been working on a night of appreciation for all of our volunteers at the church. One thing I have realized more and more, is that volunteers have more power than they realize, because they are a unified group.

let me explain.
Take any organization that utilizes volunteers as a part of its infrastructure.... like for instance.... a church. On any given Sunday, who do people (either guests, or regular attenders) talk with the most? Who do they spend the most time with? The pastor? Well maybe one or two people get to dominate the pastors time, but what about everyone else??
Let's say, for example, that the newly formed "Federation of planets" has upset some distant planet of cockroach like inhabitants... and let's say they have just produced a new form of biological weapon targeting the DNA of people who serve as volunteers... and let's say that they are so outraged by the comments made from the "Federation" in relation to them and a particular kind of motel that you can check into, but can't check out, that they decide to use said weapon on us. (if you are still with me, then you are either really curious as to how I could possibly end this, or totally A.D.D., in either case, I salute you )
So here we are, No volunteers... now what?? What does the church on Sunday morning look like??
Could you imagine a pastor trying to hand out bulletins, turn on the sound system, start coffee, lead worship, run overheads, preach, watch the kids, change dirty diapers, read a story to the toddlers, all in an hour and a half???
Now I know that there may be some who read this that say... Hey, When i started the church that's pretty much what I did... and to that I say... YEP... but not for long. You see in order to have a thriving ministry that is effective, it requires a lot of people. As the ministry grows, so does the number needed to make things happen at any given time. Setup, Tear-down, Counseling, Life Groups, Children, Youth, Sound / AV, Toilet Plunging.... you name it! Point is that WE (as in pastors) NEED People, without the volunteers, our job would be impossible. SO having said that, and with the power vested in me by Life Community Church, I say
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!! You all ROCK!

Flowers - God's way of "Helpin a brother out"

2008-10-22T04:18:00.000-07:00

Last night, on my way home (late) i was tasked with stopping in and grabbing dinner for Eliza and I. Eliza (my wife) has got to be the most intelligent, most beautiful, and most creative woman I have ever met, to this end, I find myself always in a difficult place when trying to get her something to bless her when she if feelin down..... or sick..... or whatever. She is a chemist, so anytime I think about getting her some super intelligent gift (like a new space shuttle) we usually can't afford it. She makes jewelry ( BTW she is now selling jewelry here.... you really need to check it out) so when I go and look to buy her jewelry, all i can think about is how much prettier her stuff is (unless it is diamonds, but I am saving that for when I become independently wealthy). Then there's the practical things, like a new pan.... nothing says lovin like ....*think Sherman Helmsly - here you go, now get in there and make me some dinner woman!
I thought about a new band saw, or drill press, but again that wouldn't be used by her often.... OH and you can't forget about chocolate.... but that too is not for just her.... here's some chocolate babe... yes I know there is a piece missing, I mean c'mon it's chocolate.

Which brings me to flowers..... God's way of "helpin a brother out"!! You see, unlike those other things, MOST guys, although having no problems appreciating the beauty of flowers, especially in this context, don't personally benefit from flowers directly. Flowers say... "This is for you - not me, I was thinking about you - Not me". That's why they are so important, it is God's way of helping us guys understand that a gift/thought should have NOTHING to do with the person giving it. YES I Know that it is a nice "Surprise" when you realize that your wife doesn't really want to use that new arc-welder you just bought her, and has no problem with you using it to your heart's content.... But... Gifts like that aren't gifts....
When I give my wife something that is from the heart, it says this is for you and I have absolutely NO benefit from it, because of this I get the benefit of blessing you and hopefully brightening your day!

One of my favorite gifts I found for Eliza that demonstrates this perfectly was a bath pillow that had written across it "Leave Me Alone".
This is for her and her alone!

Thanks God for the little reminders that true love is about others, not symbiosis!

Ignorance is WORK, Not Bliss!!!!

2008-10-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

It's interesting the things you will hear sitting at your local coffee hot spot, talk of 2 of the most prominent non "Public Discussion" topics abound like nowhere else.... I of course am referring to Religion, and politics

It seems like every discussion centers around one of these two thoughts, but why?? Is it because of the oppression of the people for so many years to refrain from speaking on these topics??? or is it because the "Man" has put a secret neurotoxin in the coffee that causes us to uncontrollably speak every thought that comes through our head (which is then recorded by the microchips implanted in the napkins), Or even because of a "Higher Power" compelling us to join together for the benefit of mankind and form these coffee laden splinter-cells of change for the good of all mankind??????

The last couple of times I have been at our "Shipyard Office" (stop by but call me first as my hours at this office are sporadic ) I have seen this one particular gentleman one would consider to be "Wise in Years". This gentleman.... let's call him BOB for ease of use..... Bob is not very soft spoken, either because e took some shrapnel to the ear in the Revolutionary War, or because his hearing aid battery is low... either way, I was able to enjoy his many colorful rantings..... here's some things I found out from his "Wisdom"

If you hear it on a commercial that follows the Today's Show.... it MUST be True!
If there has been absolutely NO proof of any particular government conspiracy in 80 years that means It's not conspiracy theory, it's conspiracy FACT!
Because it happened to me, means that I am the expert and it will happen to everyone GUARANTEED!!!

Let me expound, but I will start in reverse.... it's more fun for me that way

BOB, was sitting with 3 other people which seemed to be friends, they were all older, and you could tell they were enjoying yelling stories, and memories to each other. Well, BOB started talking about riding a motorcycle... so NATURALLY my ears perked up. Well he made the comment that

"It is a PROVEN FACT that where you look is where you are going to go, that's why you have to look into the turn not at the road, otherwise you will drive in a straight line right off the road"

Now mind you, in all of the years riding, I will agree that it is a GREAT Idea to look ahead and know where you are going, however, if - say - your main tank is out of gas and you need to switch over to the reserve tank, and you glance down to make sure that you don't grab the searing hot engine, and - say - you happen to be in the middle of a long curve.... my advice... DON"T MOVE YOUR STEERING HAND WHEN YOU MOVE YOUR HEAD!!! It is possible, may not be safe... but I wouldn't use that as grounds to say it is a "Proven Fact", It is a proven fact, however, that if you don't pay attention, watch the road, and be smart on a motorcycle, eventually you will be a part of a HUGE grease spot on the highway! - nuff said

Number 2 - BOB, at another point in my auditory interaction with him, began talking about the all seeing eye on the dollar bill. Now, mind you, I don't doubt that there are a lot of things that the government doesn't want us to know about... either for our safety, or to keep us from interfering with their plans for world domination.... either way, I'm good with it. But BOB began spouting off what sounded to me like a mix of all of the "Conspiracy Theory Type" movies out there.... his explanations didn't even make any since, he would use examples from WWII and Vietnam, to prove that the all seeing eye is a part of the Illuminati ???? WHAT THE??? Are you joking??? absolutely no proof, and to this date, I have NEVER heard anyone, even the most Conspiracy Nut talk about stuff like this.... so it must be true!!!

Last, would be point number 1.

BOB sat there and started quoting "Facts" about John McCain, and Obama...

Now, I am not one for much political discussion or debate, but lately I have been listening allot... there is so much to be said, and to be honest, I don't know what is true and what isn't..... now before you start telling me what is true, know this.... It doesn't matter!!! I like the guy I like, for the reasons I believe are important.... all that matters...

but as BOB was discussing the finer points of the flaws of McCain, I started thinking.... wow.... this sounds really familiar.... then it hit me.... He was quoting verbatim a commercial that I had heard that morning after the today show from the Obama campaign and against John McCain. Interesting thing about it is he was adding in front of the key points the words..."Its a Fact that..."

That's when it really sunk in, it really takes a lot of work to try to convince people that your personal opinion (or others) is fact

Ignorance.... it's Work, NOT Bliss!!!

[;o)

Weekend In Review! (for Tim B.)

2008-10-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend at LifeCC Was AWESOME!!!
Just to recap (For those that were not there, or out of town... say in the mountains of western NC or something like that)

Sunday Morning (this morning) was a GREAT Success. Everyone was there ready to go with smiles on! Worship was good, and the teaching this week by Dick Teed (listen online)was RIGHT On Target and Much needed for today!
Thanks to all who made it and all who served today. Such a joy to be a part of a team that works, worships, and plays together!!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!

out

Depressed??

2008-10-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

Interesting thought for the day.....
I was on my way to work today, stressed about an issue I am having with some computer problems... didn't sleep much last night (as usual) as I am working through a problem. When I got to work, I realized that my stomach was all a fizz over this stress, and it hit me....

My priorities are NOT In the right place. I remember lying in bed this morning with the news going on and on about the financial crisis etc. so on and so forth...... and all I can think about is this computer issue.

I have had quite a few conversations surrounding this financial situation, and all of them involve me saying that there is nothing to really stress about. We have been through a recession before and besides that, I KNOW that God will take care of us, because he has seen us through some pretty wicked times already.... we will snap back, but until then we just need to relax and trust God . - And Here I am .... The Pot calling the Kettle "Cast Iron". Am I stressed about the financial situation and the state of the global economy.... NO instead I am stressed about 3lbs of Metal that would make a GREAT Paperweight one day, WHAT's That about???
Instead of focusing on God, I traded one stressful situation for another!

So all that to say.... I gotta get and keep my priorities straight!! God First, Wife and Dogs Second, Ministry Third... and Computers and the Economy LAST!!!

nuff said, time to walk it!

I'm Out

Wednesday

2008-09-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

A bit dreary and cold today.... so I have been able to catch up on my blogging.
I was excited to see that things seemed to go well Sunday. I miss everyone, but am very grateful for the time away from everything.... very refreshing!

Tuesday

2008-09-24T06:54:00.001-07:00

Tuesday Morning

WHAT A DAY!!!!

Now that's experience talking!!

2008-09-24T06:33:00.001-07:00

Monday afternoon, there was a bit of drama around the ole vacation stead... My father in law desperately wanted to open a bottle of wine, but as catastrophes go, there was no corkscrew available in the condo... What to do, What to do???
We knew there was a possibility of a friend coming to visit, so I frantically sent an email telling them to bring a corkscrew.... but we continued to look. Later we found out that the friend wasn't coming till Tuesday night.... that's when things got interesting... and a bit desperate. We decided to leave the condo in search of the elusive corkscrew.

We began our search outside of the domicile, at the first store we could find, it was the something something something pier, bait shop and restaurant. I know it sounds like the kind of place you would be able to find anything you could ever dream of.... but not.

We (my father in law and I ) were looking through the shelves to no avail when we decided to ask for assistance. When we asked for a corkscrew we received (to my amazement) a response we weren't prepared for. One of the "Locals" (and this I know b/c he was sitting in the store, with his feet propped up on the counter, drinking a beer and watching that most holy of redneck sports... nascar) spouted off to our query.... "Just take a screw and screw it into the cork and yank it out with a hammer".

NOT exactly what we had in mind, ignoring his suggestion we pressed on. The owner (I presume) in his stained overalls and well worn ball-cap informed us they should have a whole bunch... he remembered seeing at least 3. I realized at this point that a corkscrew is probably not purchased often in this particular establishment if 3 is definitive as "a whole bunch" .... but a hammer and screw, maybe. As we continued looking another of these "Locals" pops off the same advice as the first.... screw, and yank it out with a hammer.....

At this point I start thinking.... what type of state would you need to be to require that type of ingenuity to open a wine bottle?? As we kept searching, the wisdom that was being presented before us once again, came to full conversational status when, what appeared to be the owner's wife, stated "All you need to do is take a screw and screw it into the cork and yank it out with a hammer....... I've done that before".
And THERE IT WAS.... wisdom had made itself clear! This was not just a half-brained crazy idea come up with by a race fan in a half-drunken stupor in need of a top-off..... this was experience talking..... I've done that before, she said. True Experience.... who am I to argue with that?

So we politely went to food lion and found a corkscrew for $4.99. But I guarantee I will NEVER forget the words of Wisdom formed from experience

I've done that before!

Monday

2008-09-24T06:30:00.001-07:00

The view on Monday morning!

Such a treat, so close to the ocean, and very few people in sight!! How relaxing!

WEDDING’s Over, the VACATION Begins

2008-09-21T06:15:00.001-07:00

The wedding was a beautiful success!!!

Of course, I feel kind of bad that the hottest girl at the wedding was my wife…. But whatcha gonna do???

And now for the vacation!

So It Begins!!!

2008-09-20T07:34:00.001-07:00

This weekend has already been such an event filled time. Last night I went through the wedding rehearsal for the wedding I will be performing this afternoon. It's amazing that in the middle of hurricane season, and the temperature being in the 80/90's last week TODAY is so beautiful, and cool…. It is going to be a PERFECT day for a wedding, or in the words of Billy Idol

It's a NICE day for a ….

White Wedding!!

[;o)

So for now I say an early congrats to Kevin and Carey!

Tomorrow…. The vacation begins.

This Month ... (not) In Pictures

2008-09-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

I want to beat my posts from last month, so I figured I would start now (cause the month is burnnin and i am a bit slow)

What this month holds.....
I am really looking forward to this month, the rest of it that is...

I get to give away some responsibility and oversight to some other people... always fun
I get to go on a honest-to-goodness vacation!!! First vacation since my homeymoon that is not going to see relatives (although they will be there)... we are actually renting a condo for a whole week!!!! WOO HOO!!!!
Growth and Next Steps - (because of the first point) I get to begin the next steps of my responsibility at the church.... planning for a new member class.
COFFEE!!!!!! At the end of this month Eliza and I will begin our HighSchool Coffee House LifeGroup!!! FREAKIN AWESOME!!! I can't Wait!

What a fun month!

Going for the Gold!

2008-08-29T13:52:00.001-07:00

Even the best runner knows that the winner always gets the Gold....
But, what happens when you already have the gold.... what then? Who are you going against then??

YOURSELF! The best competitors are not only trying to beat everyone else, but they are also trying to beat their own best scores....

The whole time you are reading this, waiting for me to get to the deep theological views in this particular blog, I have just beaten my own record!

Last Month 5 Blog posts....
This Month....
6

YEAH BABY!!!

Growing - The Conclusion part4

2008-08-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

To Wrap up this particular discussion, I want to recap a few questions asked

What does a "Healthy" church Look Like?
What does a "Growing Church" look like?
What does an "Effective" church look like?

In MY opinion, knowing that's all it ever is (an opinion)

A Healthy church is one that is always pointing people to Christ. Looks for opportunities to serve within their means and genuinely wants people to come to know Christ, their motivation for ministry is NOT the numbers, the bottom dollar, or how "Everyone Else" is doing it, but based on the call of God for that particular ministry.

A Growing Church, is typically defined by the numbers, and allot of emphasis is spent on parking, and crowd control if you will in relation to just moving the large numbers through the system. Most systems in this type of church seem to be focused on the event and not necessarily the people.... just by virtue of numbers there will always be a large crowd at any event... Although these are not all bad things, where it can be bad is when "The Event" is all there is.

An Effective church is one that has a mission, a purpose and a goal and will accomplish that weather or not anyone shows up to help. These types of churches are generally characterized by their Programs, and their focus on a few direct projects.

So what does it all mean here???

What type of church are you?? what type of church are we??

Ultimately I think it is important to constantly evaluate and find a balance between all three types of churches

I want us to be a Healthy, Growing, and Effective church!!! And that's what we are!!!!!

I'm just sayin!!!

[;o)

Still Growing....... part 3

2008-08-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

As I continue, since my last post I have had no less than 5 conversations specifically surrounding this topic. I am amazed at how much emphasis is on this topic, and how little true direction can be found in the bible regarding church growth.
Let me expound on a few things if I could.
The bible says in Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It also says in Acts 2:47
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Act 2:47 ...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not... The focus throughout the word of God was never on the number of people.... instead the focus was on the heart of the people and their actions toward others....
a few examples -

David and Goliath, the masses against the children of Israel, saved by one man with a heart toward God
Isaiah (1:13) Phophesied, the incense of the children of Israel was an abomination to God, because their HEARTS weren't there
Never once did Jesus ask peter if he had met His "Fish" quota, nor how many "Fish" he had caught

These are just a few other examples.... many many more, but I won't continue, because - even though God didn't expressly talk about numbers doesn't mean that we are foolish if we do! We are each responsible for what God has given us, to some it is a multitude, to others it's just a few loaves and a couple of fish. The important thing is that we are pointing others to the important thing----- GOD and Him Alone.

So what does that mean????

To take my clues from (yet again) the "WORD" - "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.

How many talents have you/I been given, and what are we going to do with it? Add to it, do the best we can with what we got? or do we look at the person that has more talents and strive to be like them???

Last thought for now (I will have more later) Romans 9:21 - does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

Growing Boy .... part 2

2008-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I left you with this thought;

How good, or how healthy you are has absolutely NOTHING to do with what tools you have to work with, or how much of something you have.

To continue.....

Over the last couple of years, I have been faced with numerous personal, and professional questions related to church growth. I had a friend of mine state "You cannot have an effective, relational church with more than 1000 people". This has always bothered me. I have never been one to focus on the numbers in church, but have always liked and wanted to be a part of a large thriving church.... which is where this blog comes from. As I have been searching, watching and asking.... a couple of questions have come to my mind

1. What does a "Healthy" church Look Like?
2. What does a "Growing Church" look like?
3. What does an "Effective" church look like?

I have spent a lot of time talking with friends in ministry about the differences in different churches and their individual ministry styles. Most of the discussion revolves around the juxtaposition of the "Seeker" (SE) and "Spirit-Led"(SL) church models. I have always been apart of the "Spirit-Led" model. One of the most talked about points, which I will expound on, is the issue of "The Numbers" i.e, how many people are attending the church in question.

I have heard ministers in the "SL" model talk about numbers from the perspective of ... "It's not about the numbers.... but how effective you are at ministry that counts"
At the same time ministries from the "SE" model say "We are healthy, and therefore can reach more people effectively"

Please be aware, that Our church, though leaning more toward the "SL" side of ministry, is still growing very well, and is no way the reason I am discussing this topic

Let me start by saying this..... Bigger doesn't mean better, nor does smaller mean more "Relational".

As I look at this discussion, I see that it is more or less like debating the health benefits of Pepsi vs. a piece of chocolate cake.... pointless. Ministry is and should be about one thing and one thing ONLY. Bringing people to a better understanding of Christ! How do you do that??? The options are endless, but that is not what this particular blog is about.

I think it's time the church stop looking at numbers to justify how well they are doing, and look at the heart of the ministry....
Are people coming to a better understanding of Christ?? YES?? Then you are doing well!!! The rest is just details.
But while I am on it, let's talk about the details for a moment.

1. Size - Say you aren't growing in numbers.... does that mean you have stagnated? well maybe... but I think a better question to ask would be.... why aren't people coming? your particular theology? Style? "Relational-ness" or lack thereof? If you can seriously ask these questions... and hear the answer (Weather or not you agree with it) I believe it will speak volumes as to your health as a ministry and effectiveness.

At the same time... If you are growing in leaps and bounds, are you healthy??
well... again, I think the same questions need to be asked.... Just because people are flocking to you, doesn't necessarily mean you are healthy.... you may just be more popular! Why are people flocking? Because you have a great band, great theology? or because it is easy and non-confrontational? or because it feels good??

No matter what size you are, or what state of growth, you need to ask these type of questions so you can really know if you are healthy. Growing up, I was a BIG Kid, and it wasn't till later in life I found out I was NOT Healthy... just big! Now I am trying to get healthy

That's all for today.... more to follow

Let Em have another piece of cake... he's a growing boy!

2008-08-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

I used to LOVE going to grandma and grandpa's house when I was a kid. It was phrases like "He's a Growing Boy" that would allow me to indulge and get pretty much whatever I wanted out of my grandparents. Unfortunately, it also led to the whole overweight and food allergy problem. Not that it was their (or anyone but mine) fault.... but what I was learning was that Growth was based on getting. I remember getting ready to go into the sixth grade. My sister had been playing the flute for two years, and I wanted to join the band.... My parents didn't have much money at the time, so they gave me a trumpet that had been sitting in storage for about 20 years.

Before I go too far, let me tell you about this trumpet..... When I got the trumpet, I remember the first thing I noticed was the smell. It was fairly pungent and had sort of an acrid overtone.... later I was to learn that is what happens when you mix brass and mold-- ie not pretty! The tuning slide had not been moved or oiled in at least the 20 years it had been sitting around, and had magically welded itself in place (Something else i learned WAS possible without a welder). The case was brown with a brown leather trim on the edges and the inside looked like orange velvet (that used to be red). I was NEVER Prouder in my LIFE!!! This was MY trumpet.... I had my own instrument, and was beginning to walk down the path to be my own person, with my own unique identity (and a crappy fallin apart trumpet that you couldn't tune if your life depended on it.... luckily we didn't live in jersey and weren't related to the mafia... but I digress).

I began the sixth grade ready to succeed with the words of my parents ringing in my ears.... "We give him 2 weeks and he will quit". What motivation! They weren't expecting me to fail, but up till that point in life, I hadn't showed real interest in much of anything.Let me tell you though... I was PROUD of my trumpet! I began band learning all I needed to know to succeed. Everyone else in the band was in the same place as I was... just beginning.... most of the other kids had rental horns, or hand me downs..... until...... DUN DUN Dahhhh (Dramatic music).... HERBIE!
Herbie, was a good friend, we hung out and goofed around in class. When He started in band he was playing the rented horn.... not a big deal. We were all learning the basics, technique, what it means to have "Tone" etc.etc. I was rapidly excelling and at this point in the game, I had learned how to tune my trumpet just by how I played (I had no other options unfortunately) and was doing very well. Ended up in first chair by the end of the first semester, and stayed there till I stopped taking band in the 11th grade. About halfway through the first year, Herbie came into class with an unusually large grin on his face.... something had changed..... he put his case down, and put on white gloves.....?????? What???? We were all confused, thinking he may have just joined a cult..... opened up his case and pulled out his trumpet...... WOW!!!! A Bright light hit us all and nearly blinded us in the glory that was Herbie's SILVER Trumpet!!!!!

Now This was not just any silver trumpet.... but a BACH Stradivarius.... $1500 piece or shiny trumpet! I just KNEW that at that moment... I had lost first chair... Herbie just won! He had the prettiest trumpet I had ever seen.... not only did all of his valves and slides work, and work well, but I had NEVER seen a trumpet without a dent. He even had a little leather valve guard.... man he had it all!!! I would had been jealous, but I was so confused as to how it was possible to have such a machine! Then Herbie began to play........

Herbie, if you happen across this post, please don't think ill of me.....

Herbie wasn't first chair, but at the same time Herbie wasn't last chair either. I think the guy that was last chair didn't even come to the school.... we always saw him on days there was a special event or field trip.... and I think he was 35 repeating the 6th grade.... not sure though. Herbie sat next to that guy. He was usually 3rd or 4th trumpet, and at one point when there was a lice epidemic going around I think Herbie made it all the way up to second chair next to me. As he began to play, I was amazed yet again. I didn't know that it was possible for a trumpet so beautiful that it brought a tear to your eye just looking at it, could sound so bad that it would make a goose fly north for the winter just to put itself out of its misery!!!

(This is the part of the blog where I get to the point)
I learned a very valuable lesson that day.... How good you are has absolutely NOTHING to do with what tools you have to work with, or how much of something you have. This is something that I wish I had to put to practice a bit more growing up... but a good revelation none-the-less.
This lesson has come full circle in the last few years, to be one of the most powerfull guiding line for my life and ministry... in my next post, I will go into more detail as to how and why.... but for now I leave you with this....

How good, or how healthy you are has absolutely NOTHING to do with what tools you have to work with, or how much of something you have.

The bikers guide to the secret handshake.

2008-08-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Every society, weather it be secret or not, has a certain expected ritual in which individuals identify themselves with that particular society. In the office world, it has a form of "Casual Fridays", In the Party School Fraternity, it looks more like a upside-down beer chugging contest. Whatever society you are a part of, there are rituals, regardless if you know it or not!

Bikers beware, what I am about to share has been passed down from generation to generation, unknowingly through time. It is a truth that will awaken the realization to others that bikers, although they work hard to communicate their solidarity, are actually one of "Them"... A part of the "In" crowd (please don't egg my house or throw rotten fish at my windows, you know that its true).

Just like the frat boys of old, or the Illuminati... The secrets in the handshake (or beer guzzle if you prefer).

It begins at about 100 meters out, the recognition of another biker heading your way. Any further than 100 meters makes it more difficult to distinguish if it is a "True" motorcycle, or a set of motorized wheels that an 8 year old would get for Christmas, or a last attempt mode of transportation for someone who can't keep a license if their liver depends on it (and in most cases it does).
At this point the handshake truly begins....

step 1. Recognition - I see them, do they see me?
step 2. Loyalty? - What kind of bike are they riding? Harley, Harley Wannabe, Crotch Rocket? and will they respond if I initiate?
step 3. Execute - The Most Vital of Steps!
step 4. The Return
step 5. The George Lucas!

Steps 1&2 are fairly self explanatory, yet critical to the "Brotherhood". It's not a pretty site when you let slip a brotherhood tradition, to someone who is driving a metal frame powered by a lawnmower!

Step 3 - The Most important, is the execution of the "Secret Handshake".
The execution begins from the neck. As you are riding (regardless of what type of bike you may be on) at the point of execution the bottom of your chin should be parallel to the gas tank on which you sit. The neck should be limber, but still firm in that you don't want a sudden gust of wind to ruin all that you are preparing for.

At this point, the chin should be lifted heavenward no more than 15-20 degrees at which point the chin should stop moving and begin its return to its resting place parallel to the tank. This movement should take precisely 1.5 seconds to complete from start to finish. Any faster, and you risk looking like you are having a spasm, any slower and the people driving next to you will begin looking for the piece of sky that is falling. This move should not exceed more than 15-20 degrees, any more than this and you risk whiplash, and a good sound laughing from your passing brother

This is the tricky part.... As soon as the chin has begun to move, the left arm should also move... out away from the body turning only at the shoulder, elbow locked in the same position as you were driving. The arm should move out so the left hand is facing the opposite street ready to greet the passing driver. Now not everyone sees the importance of the hand shape as I do. Let me explain.

Some bikers prefer to extend the first 2 fingers out as the "Peace" sign... This is perfectly acceptable, however discouraged by me because of its insinuation that you are a part of another crowd... the hippies.

Others see it as just sticking your hand out fully extended.... here's the problem with that;
1. it looks like you are trying to fly-- please, for the love of all that is holy... don't flap
2. If your arm is raised too high, you can be mistaken for a white supremacist, or one of the Luftwaffe.

My preferred method is sort of a mixed approach - first two fingers go lazily out the other fingers stay in roughly the same shape as while riding. This speaks volumes... it says, Hey man, what's happnin.... your cool, I'm cool --- but not too cool, ya dig??

Now at this point you have completed the execution!

Step 4. The return. If you have judged carefully, and the other driver has seen you then as soon as your arm has been extended you should see the return "Handshake" from the other driver.

If there is no return, don't worry... You may not have completely botched the execution.... It may be that the other driver has misjudged and assumed you wouldn't "Shake" because of bike breed type, or other factor. However it may still be your fault so try every time you see another biker (of course there could be other environmental factors, wind, water, sun, etc.)

Step 5. The George Lucas, Affectionately called this, by me, based on his use of sunsets as a metaphor for change... At this stage of the "handshake" there is nothing left to do but to ride off into the sunset, hoping for another opportunity to prove your mettel in the brotherhood that is the biker!

Knowing Fear

2008-07-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

I have never been much of a "Dreamer" when it comes to sleep. Growing up I can remember a handful of times where I even remember dreaming, and most of them had some sort of personal meaning. I found out a couple of years ago, this was due to having a form of sleep apnea caused by a small trachea and a condition called "momentary leg movements". All that means is that my body was waking me up once every 5min at night when I was trying to sleep.

Anyway... I have since rectified these issues and now have a breathing machine that helps me sleep... But, I still don't dream often. Now probably dream (or at least remember dreaming) 1-2x a week not much else. Last night, before bed, I was working on re-constructing a raid array so I could retrieve some files. I have a tendency at night, when I do dream, to work on puzzles of a sort. Usually my dreams involve working through logic puzzles, coding, and any "Technical" issues I may encounter during the week. I remember beginning to dream last night, in my dream I was re-constructing a raid array so I could retrieve some files (sound familiar), when all I remember is a wash of fear over me and bolting straight out of bed to the sound of our fire alarm.

10seconds doesn't seem like a very long time, unless you are in the middle of a crisis. I remember in that short, very short amount of time from becoming alert to the time I stood up a whole slew of emotions and thoughts. First, was fear. Not the kind of fear where you can see what is happening but can't do anything about it-- like the dreams where you stand in front of a class in your underwear but can't do anything about it. This was a different kind of fear... one I don't every want to experience again.

The fear of the unknown!
This fear I experienced was of the unknown.

I had NO Clue as to why I bolted straight out of bed
I had No idea what the sound was that I was hearing so quickly
I had no idea what to do or how to act in this situation

I felt completely helpless, and utterly defeated in a mater of a few seconds

The second Thing I realized was, I couldn't talk. I tried to call out to my wife, but I couldn't make words form... I could barely make any noise. Talk about freaky! Everything had happened so fast, my body hadn't had time to respond yet... but my brain was going full blast!

Mind you at this point my adrenaline had kicked into overdrive... ready to act, and to respond... but my brain didn't know what to respond to and my body was still taking a ciesta.

FINALLY after about 10-15 seconds, I was able to mouth the words to my wife... IT's OK, It's OK! Of all the things to say, why that??? How about What in the world is going on??
Thinking back on it, I realize that my brain had already determined that we were in no immediate danger. How Strange! I got out of bed and headed through the house to check on everything, by the time I stepped out into the living room, I felt like I was going to throw up! I felt like I had run for 40 miles (or in my case 1mile straight). I walked through the house and made sure everything was ok, and got the ladder out to "FIX" the Malfunctioning Alarm. I had to lay back down just to catch my breath and keep from puking it was so nerve-wracking. Once that was done and Eliza had gone back to bed I went into my office to sit and think a bit. I started thinking through what had just transpired, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.... I HAVE GOD ON MY SIDE!!! You see, I know this, and have for years... but these situations bring you closer to knowing who you trust than anything else! I spent some time praying and "re-centering" my self before I went back to bed.

I have God... what does that mean to me?? It means that in every unknown situation and circumstance, there is someone on my side that can see around the corner. Ipso-facto Nothing is unknown... just not experienced!

Does this mean I shouldn't be afraid.... well yes, I shouldn't.... however God also created me with certain innate reactions, like flinching when I touch a hot stove. Fear, Panic, and Terror, are most times reactions of the body to given stimulus, or an expectation of stimulus. Take MONK for example... even His fears, as irrational as they may seem to you and me, are caused by stimulus, or an expectation of stimulus.... germs, paper cuts, bad milk etc. (ok so I still can't figure out the crack thing unless it goes with the "Break your mothers back" thing).

Point is this...
Fear is natural, How you respond to fear.... give in and allow it to control you, or walk with wisdom and trust in God... is what matters most.

C.S.Lewis said, in "The Inner Ring"

Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain.

If you give into the fear, it will be all you are left with in the end... fear
But if you conquer fear, through Christ, you will be victorious

Would Jesus vote for Ross Perot???... An Introspective

2008-07-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

(Yes it is a LONG Post... sorry)

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity of sitting outside of the Wilmington International Airport, waiting for my parents to arrive on the obligatorily late flight into our po-dunk (smells like something died outside because we decided in all of our wisdom to put the flight entrance to our city right across the street from our solid waste disposal plant and laughingly secured prison so you will know what we really think of you as our guest) airport.

As I was sitting there (at 12:30 am... yes as in morning and not even the birds are awake) I decided to listen to christian radio... something I don't do often for reasons I may eventually blog about. As I was sitting there the "Point of View" radio Broadcast came on.

Never having been one who follows the Fundamental Evangelical Viewpoints, weather on TV or otherwise... I was curious as to their particular beliefs on the topic of the night--- Abortion

The views written here on my blog do not reflect the views of anyone but me, If you have a problem with what I am saying, please respond... but remember at the end of the day they are still MY beliefs!

I have always had pretty strong views on abortion - against
But, in my years growing up and learning about the things of God, I have had some experiences that would tell me that we(as in Christians) don't always communicate our beliefs in the best way. I think there is a tendency in the world for Christians (as well as other religions) to treat others that don't believe exactly the same, and use the same verbiage, as a blight on society, and an affront to Christ Himself.

I believe as a christian that my life and my principles should be molded from the bible. The way I live my life, the way I view situations that affect me, and the way I present myself to others. I also believe, just as the apostle Paul taught, that there are different responsibilities to the "Law" under which you were born.

I was born under the law of "freedom from death" and Jesus Fulfilled the law for me because there is NO WAY I could have.

Jews are born under the law of "Abraham" and are still responsible to uphold it to this day

Those that are neither Jew, or christian... what law are they born under? What rules must they adhere to??

I submit, that they(for the most part... unless they are a part of another religion) are under the law of self preservation and self fulfillment (see worshippers of Baal) - You see this law is a lot different... it states that I am to look out for myself first, and no one else... it states that I am responsible for my own destiny... that I am my own God and I make my own rules... say what I want because I am not responsible for anyone or anything else!
NOW comes the hard question that I have often asked myself -
What am I accountable for?
Am I responsible to make sure everyone follows the law that I am under?

My responsibility is this-- to simply live in a way that glorifies God, to love God with all of my heart mind and soul, and to love my neighbor as myself-- PERIOD

In this, I have full freedom to encourage others around me to follow a different path, but no requirement for them to do so.

As I was listening to the radio, I realized that they were using a very questionable tactic to communicate their point.

I have always heard the 2 viewpoints of abortion expressed as
Pro-Life and Pro-Choice (emphasis on the individuals right to choose)

Here they were communicating Pro-Life And Pro-Abortion(emphasis on death)

What's the big deal you ask?
This is a very backhanded way of saying that if you aren't behind one group all the way then you are a murderer-- THIS IS SO NOT TRUE!!!

I DO NOT believe that abortion is right or a good thing, but I DO believe that it is NOT MY place to determine someone else path that they have to walk. Each person has to be accountable for their own decisions.

In this same discussion they also said that (bit of a paraphrase for time)
"states that are normally liberal are becoming more conservative, and that is largely because of the liberals views on abortion--- they are aborting not re-producing"

That's when it hit me!!!
These groups are not focused on loving those around them to a knowledge of Christ... they are focused on Politics-- Plain and simple! Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) A marketing tactic used for years to get people to believe a certain thing, or to buy a certain product. It is not designed to Love, or present a view of Love, but to manipulate others so they will vote a certain way-----
Sickening!

So I must ask myself - Do I represent a view that is calloused against others with different views? or do I really LOVE my neighbor, regardless of what their views are or what actions they take in their own walk f life????

.... just thinkin ....

The Wilmington Milestone

2008-07-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

This past week, Tim Blevins and myself had the opportunity to go spend a little time at PC3.
Without going into too much detail, let me just say, I was overwhelmed when I walked into their new sanctuary.

You see, I have lived in this town for many years, and most of my ministry experience and expectations have been built around this town. At my last church, when it was younger I spent a lot of time learning about church growth, and planning, and being a part of vision-casting sessions... and durring it all, I had this sense that there must be more. There MUST be a way to have a church over 1000 people that is thriving, growing and healthy. This week, I realized that PC3 has Broken the mold!

Sure there are other churches that have more than 1000 total members, but MOST of them are based on a doctrinal draw...

PC3 started from scratch, and this weekend are having the first service in their own building!

All I have to say is

GREAT JOB PC3!!!! You guys have set a standard for wilmington, that will hopefully NEVER go back!!

I am so thrilled to be in a town that can and will support such a thriving ministry!

The Process

2008-07-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

So for the last couple of months, I have been walking out my new role as Connections Pastor here at LifeCC.

Here's the update

I am amazed every day, how much God likes to stretch me. some evenings I get home and squish into the recliner and feel like Mr. Incredible after getting hit by a boulder and re-solidifying--- I wouldn't change it for the world!
I find out every day just how much I don't know and how much I have to learn about people and what makes them tick.
People like green T-Shirts
Guests to a church all have their own language and expectations... if you can meet them at the door and say "We are trying to meet your expectations"(or communicate to your expectations) at the front door, they will be generally more at ease the rest of the time(till you bring out the bag of snakes.... just kidding... SERIOUSLY!).
You can "Lead" culture - The past couple of Sundays with the new T-shirts, I have seen more of a buzz created for relationship... last week we had quite a few "Core" people gone and you could see the buzz kept going, the relationships were still active and being formed with guests!! AWESOME!!!
I need to Blog More!

Based on #6, I will attempt to chronicle our process, and my growth as we get better at our processes and flow, and bring people closer to God, and each other!!

The TRUE cost of Deoderizer

2008-07-11T05:14:00.000-07:00

In the interest of fairness and possible legal implications, I will tell you a story that recently happened to be, but WITHOUT using the company names. I will refer to them as company A and company POO (you will see why later)

A few days ago, I was on a mission... Shopping for church supplies. As any normal shopping trip would be it was a time filled with fun, laughter, song (you get the picture... it was shopping)
When suddenly a dark cloud began to descend upon me... more specifically on my bowels (at this point I will say, YES it is more information than you need to know, so I will stop there).

As the storm began to rage, I began to look for a place of safety and refuge from the storm (Do you see where I am going with this??). I stopped by "company POO" because they were the closest, in hopes that they would provide a safe shelter from the approaching storm. As I went into the shelter, I was OVERCOME by the grossest, most foul smell I have ever smelled in a public place. I began looking for a seat in the shelter (stall for those that still don't get it) but everyone I saw had "Stuff" on it.... weather that "Stuff" be "Rain" from a previous storm, or "Other" debris (Yes I am serious... why i call it company POO). Never have I been in so nasty of a shelter... even the local parks and rec "Shelters" are better maintained. I kid you NOT, I felt like I was going to throw-up if I stayed in there another second.

The storm was getting closer, the sky's swirling with rage.... I frantically began looking for a new shelter, and I came a cross "company A". I went into the shelter, and was immediately amazed by how well maintained it was... and the smell... oh wow.... almost a sweet smell of citrus, it vaguely reminded me of those orange Flintstones push pops I used to get as a kid. Each of the seats in the shelter were maintained, and clean, it appeared as if the "Grounds keeper" had maintained after every storm... so I felt safe.

The rains came, the thunder rolled, and the storm subsided.

As I began to leave I started thinking

What is the true cost of deodorizer?

--- The true cost of deodorizer, is a potential customer!

In the case of company POO
This was a major bookseller and a store chain, had I felt safe in their "Shelter" I would have browsed around when the storm subsided, possibly seeing some book or other trinket that I absolutely could NOT live without. Instead, their lack of cleanliness and deodorizer sent a potential customer "Running"out the front door. I also know now from that experience that if I ever am in need of a shelter from another storm, I won't even check there.... I will avoid it like the plague (or like I might catch a plague if I go in there again).

In the case of company A
My hat's off to you, and because of your excellent cleanliness, and wonderful smell in your "Shelter" I will promote you---
Company A was "Chic-Fil-A"! An American Icon of cleanliness and non-interactive customer service. Their cost for their deodorizer was not only more advertising via my blog, but continued loyalty from a customer.... who knows if I EVER need shelter from a storm, they are there, safe, clean, and they smell good!!!

Did you get that .... a new phrase I think I just made up??

Non-interactive customer service
JUST as important as the interactive customer service.... but I will blog about that later

Heistand
Out!

But, I don't want to be deleted!!!

2008-06-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

Blogging is such an interesting event. Someone (in this case me) taking time out of his/her day to jot down their thoughts on any given subject for the whole world to read. I enjoy thinking, and I'm sure most who know me know I enjoy telling others what I think! Here's the problem...

Yesterday, my pastor told me he was about to delete me from his main page for lack of blogs.

What has this world come to???? Now I am motivated more than ever to make sure I take some time to process.... because... I don't know about you but...

I DON'T WANT TO BE DELETED!!!!!!

Ok, I know this is a bit extreme, but there is some interesting truth to my statement... let me explain - no - take too long let me sum up.

This past weekend we went through the "Boundaries" Seminar again with Chip Judd
POWERFUL Teaching!!!
One of the greatest things I have learned over the years is that I really don't NEED you to like me, I would like it, and I will strive to be a pleasant person in my interaction, but deep down, I don't NEED you to like me to be satisfied with who I am. The Blog world has opened up a new, and very strange symbiotic relationship that revolves around thought... not connection, not action, not coffee (I know right, how weird), but around thought. I have had many conversations with Associate Pastors, Youth pastors, Senior pastors, Friends, Families, dogs, cats, etc. etc. that all revolve around someone Else's thoughts.

hmmmmmm

Well, I will say that I too am intrigued by other's thoughts on life/love/and general well being, and will continue to blog surf, as well as post (Although I will try to post more frequently).... But, for my 2 faithful readers (you know who you are) I don't NEED you to read my thoughts.... but I sure do like it, and for the love of all that's holy...
PLEASE DON'T DELETE MY THOUGHTS..... There all I have some days [;o)

Questions I've never asked

2008-06-03T07:56:00.001-07:00

I am on a journey. I have recently begun a new process at the church of moving into a role that would oversee and facilitate the visitors and newcomers getting integrated into the church.

My vision is to create a dynamic process in the church that will facilitate loving, energetic, and fully involved ministry for the whole body. A place where people can release the dreams God has given them and get new dreams if they've never had them!

I want this ministry to be so well run and smooth that it would be a model for other churches to use to integrate people into their individual ministries.

Having said all of that here are some questions that I have never asked, but should be asked... and answered.

1. How do I (or you, or a new visitor/guest) feel valued in church/ministry... what does that look like from a healthy perspective?
2. How is Church "Worth" my Time and Energy
3. What are My expectations out of church
4. What "Should Be" my/your/others expectations out of Church?

Just a starting place, but I would LOVE to hear anyone else's oppinions on these questions...

Any Takers???

Lots of hobbies

2008-05-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here's yet another hobbyish project I enjoy... video editing

I did this for our church... it should speak for itself.

A New Day

2008-04-17T05:49:00.001-07:00

Ok, here's my thought.... I am SO Glad that God thinks enough of me to let me start over every day...
It's not like baseball where once you are out... that's it. I get to start a new game every day, and if I mess up, or miss it in the course of that day's game, well, guess what... I can start over. It's like the unlimited revolving mulligan! Now do I want to play just so I can take a mulligan.... absolutely NOT!!! I still want to win, but now there's a lot less pressure to get it perfect!!!

The Sheep says........

2008-03-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

First off, let me give a shout out to my Peeps® ...
Brandy- I hear ya, and I just appreciate that you are happy I am excited!! YOU ROCK!!! (btw your people and my people need to get together soon and hang!)

Now back to the show...

I recently had a discussion with my pastor that I thought was very note-worthy. It started with a question... What does it mean to be a good Pastor?

Across america we in the "Religious" community are unknowingly faced with this question on a daily, weekly, or in some cases seasonal basis (christmas, and easter).

If I were a dull sort of person, I may take this opportunity to prove just how much greek I know (or at least how much I can copy from other websites) and explain the root of the word, english words that are derived from it, and just how many people can say peter piper picked a ...... oh wait... scratch that last one, but I think you get my drift.

Here's a point... every day, we decide what we expect others around us to act like, think like, speak like, dress like, and how much if any cream should go in there coffee. (lots for me)
In this decision, we weigh in what we hear in the news, what we read in a book, or what color the sky is that day... all pointless!!

If I were to lister to everyone and everything around me that is bold enought o tell me an answer for a question I didn't even ask, this is what they/it would say... A PASTOR IS>>>

Someone who should be able to operate, manage, create, and turn over all control to anyone who wants it, a multi-million dollar corporation (and it's subsidiaries), while making the salary of a elementary school teacher.

They should drive a nice car, and wear nice clothes as to reach a certain "Financially stable" segment of the population... but the car can't be classified as "Luxury" b/c that would be culturally insensitive.

They should come to my house at my beckon call, watch my kids (and raise them while you are at it) do my dishes, laundry, take my kids to soccer, and come see me in the hospital when I am done with my 10th cosmetic surgery to get that beauty mole placed in "Just the right spot".

Basically, they should be everything you expect them to be... and if they miss one point, well.... I guess they are just human too!!!

(hopefully at this point in my rant, you can hear the sarcasm... if not, I will pray for you... seriously)

That is culture.... The pastor should be the "Burger King" --- My way!

*** Wiki ***
Around 400 AD, Saint Augustine, a famous North African bishop, described a pastor's job:
Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved.[1]
*** END Wiki ***

Interestingly enough is the thought that a pastor should instead of being all things... should minister to all people helping them all to grow closer to God and even when it means being bold to people who need it... or "Tellin it like it is" ... all are to be loved!

Even when I look at the true definition of a pastor (as well as the Greek root) I don't see the words "A Timeless Visionary" or even "Fortune 500's top 5 sexiest men alive" or anything but a focus on leading people to Christ... PERIOD!

Now before you get out your torch and pitchforks on me, I do understand that each pastor has strengths, and that there are many many ways to reach and push people closer to God...
BUT... In my opinion, if a pastor can't set up a time to talk with you b/c he is always busy with the Business of church... then (and again in my opinion) it is more a business than it is a church.
The business of church can be an all encompassing thing, and in some denominations, can stop true pastors from ever caring for the flock.... you know a shepherd, without sheep...
wait... wouldn't that just be someone out for a walk in a pasture? Or a superintendent of an empty building?

HIRE A MANAGER!!!!! There I fixed all of the churches in America's problems with one phrase.
Let the people who are good at business... do business, and let the people who are good at being shepherds be with the sheep...

nuff said!

(I love everyone who made it to the bottom of this post!)

WOO HOO, I Have TB!

2008-02-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

Now, before I get swarmed by the CDC... busting down my door with little white suits, putting my little dogs in little surgical masks and little plastic booties (what an image)...

Let me explain

I Have Terabyte!!!!
Ok, so it doesn't sound as exciting as I think it should, but I thought everyone who doesn't really care should know. Last weekend I created my first +terabyte storage server.

The purpose??? Does it matter??? Point is, growing up, learning computers in my teens I had always heard about this "Magical term". Now mind you, this was when a Gigabyte was still theorhetical, and "Google" was a 1 followed by 100 "0's"(googol).
Now my intention with having this "machine" was for the main purpose of file backups and storage for My wife and I as well as for some clients and projects... I got tired of lugging around 20 protable storage drives, having 30 coppies of each backup just to make sure everything was safe, only to drop a hard drive and wipe out the last 6 months of backups in one fell swoop.
Hopefully I have fixed all of those problems, and solved a few I wasn't originally intending on solving.

Here's where normal people can stop reading (i'm gonna get a bit techie)

What I did...

4 - 500GB Hard drives (480+- actual ... you know binary)
1 - Roswell SATA Raid Card (supports raid 5 - mui importante)... and Yes I bought a second as a backup
1 - HP MediaCenter PC

Pretty simple really, and somewhat painless... hardest part is going to be transferring all of my files from my other drives... not looking forward to that.

Total Storage space 1.3+ TB WOO HOO!!!!!
(for those of you that know math but not Raid)
Raid 5 is the key for me.... Parity, uses the equivilant space of 1 HD to create recovery info so in the event of a drive failure, the data can be re-written, and not lost

So that's my story,
I feel like I have reached a milestone known as the future....
Up next ...
Phasers!

We Doubt by Faith

2008-01-27T08:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I know that the title of this blog will probably make my fellow Rhema alumni grab their torch and pitch forks....
but..........
this is a very important topic that has been on my mind for a while, so please bear with me while I get my thoughts out there.

Doubt, is one of those things that has been preached on and fussed at for years and years. As I was driving down the road the other day it hit me... Doubt isn't the problem... it is walking out your fears, and working past your / my insecurities! Jesus never yelled at them for doubting.... that wasn't the issue... he chastised people for walking in fear and allowing that fear, and doubt to dominate their actions! Too many times I hear Christians getting on to each other about having doubts, instead of asking... what is causing that doubt?

example--

I have my own company.... and my own debt. I have found myself at times doubting weather or not I would be able to make a payment for the month... NOW, I know that God said that he would take care of me, and I know that HE has not led me out in the middle of nowhere to leave me alone.... but, get this, HE didn't put ME into debt! God has been so good to me over the years, but I am the one that got myself into debt, having said that.... let's examine the doubt for a moment.

I don't doubt that God is faithful to me, nor do I doubt that God could help me out of this tight situation.... what I doubt is that I will be able to be faithful to what is necessary to accomplish the goal at hand. Will I be able to have enough work in this next month to cover the cost of bills?

Here's where Faith comes in--- Doubt is an opportunity to learn, just like the man that said to Jesus; I believe.... Help my unbelief!
I have a great opportunity in this situation... I can ask for help! I can run to God because of mu doubt.... it will push me to God IF I am honest about what the doubt actually is! At that point I can turn my doubt into faith, by asking God to help, believing and relying on Him to help me through any hard times!!!! Now THAT's Good!!!

Think about that for a second... If I were to deny my doubt and say I'm trusting God, here's what would happen;
1. I would be saying I am trusting God, without ever knowing the source
2. I will be communicating that God is helping me through something that I have not even asked Him to help me through! (and yes I know in spite of ourselves God still comes through)
3. I will eliminate an opportunity to learn, and an opportunity for God to really come through in my life!

You see, sometimes God's plans are not ours (most of the time), and unless we communicate to/with God and try to listen, we will never really know what God wants out of us in this time(and yes I do know that he has given us the bible as a guide).

These are my thoughts.... Don't run from doubt, but look for the cause and grow from there!

Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?

2007-12-30T04:02:00.001-08:00

And as the quote goes... Yeah Brain, but where are we gonna find a tattoo parlor open at this time of night! NARF!
(pinky and the brain copyright some year by somebody who owns the copyright for Pinky and the Brain)

Ok, so very little response over the last month and a half of no posts. I do hope that everyone that reads this little blog has had a GREAT Christmas time (And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I still hope you have had a GREAT time).

As we look into the gullet of a brand new year, we are faced with questions...
What did last year look like, what worked, what didn't, how can I get away with never wearing that ugly sweater that my ___ gave me for my birthday/Christmas, etc, etc. A time for men and women across the nation to come up with goals that very few will keep past new year's day.

This past year for me has been one of the best and strangest rides in the history of ... we.., me. I have been learning how to take everything in stride, be consistent, and then give 1 % better. This next year fills me with such hope and excitement.... If I continue progressing in the direction I am going, by this time next year what will everything look like? What does a 1% improvement over a whole year look like? What are the goals I have in mind... well, for starters... do just a little better than I have been!!!

The Wall... Coming to a church near you.... or not. (pt 1)

2007-11-04T03:58:00.000-08:00

OK, so my pastor and I have been tossing this idea around for quite some time, and I thought that it was about time I blogged about it.

The old testament is full of passages where the Israelites (even before they were known as such) would create an altar unto the Lord. In those places we find very clear and distinct characteristics of God. These altars were a point of reference for the people of Israel to look back and remember what God HAD (past tense) done for them. Abraham created an altar at the top of the mountain and named it Jehovah Jiereh "For it is in that place that God did provide". After the children of Israel walked across the red sea (when it opened... you know the story.... Charlton Heston ... MOOOOses MOOOOses). Anyway, point being that when the children of Israel would make an altar, they would worship God at that point, thanking Him for what he had done, then.... they would move on, only returning to that place as a remembrance of what God did.

Fast forward a few thousand years........
keep going........
almost there...........

Here we are, modern day, and what do we have....
I see altars set up all over the place in the church, with people living at the altars...

Let me expound. How many denominations have been set up because of an event where there was a "God Encounter"? How many times have churches split because of the "Style" of worship, How many times have people been kicked out of leadership because "That's not the way it has been done around here the last 200 years"? I think that it is high time we, as a body, build an altar and MOVE ON!!!
Call it what you will, Azuza street, Healing revivals of the 50's, Hymns, Integrity Hosanna Worship Choruses, Toronto Blessing, Brownsville outpouring..... the list goes on and on and on...
We as a body have created many many different altars, the only problem is that we have never moved on from there. How many times a year do I hear another ministry putting on a "Azuza Street Revival 2007" or putting all of their faith in hymns that have been outdated for longer than the church has been alive. Please understand that I have no problem with hymns, but like all of the other examples I have (and will) use they were perfect when they were created because they were fresh, new and spoke to that generation. It is almost as if we are trying to create a ministry of perpetual nostalgia.

Before I finish with my thoughts on this subject, I would LOVE some feedback....
Any takers???

Unplug... and Relax

2007-11-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

I had someone from the church call me yesterday for help with computer problem. Apparently, there was a power spike and their computer shut down and wouldn't re-start. This is a fairly normal (although not common) occurrence. As I talked with them, I walked them through a very simple process of unplugging the computer, turning off any switches, waiting for a bit and then plugging everything back in, and turning the computer on.... Worked like a charm, but as we talked I could tell that this person was really weighed down with allot going on in life... and this was yet another straw. While I was explaining the fact that new computer power supplies have a built in spike suppressor, and sometimes need to be reset, I realized what I was communicating to her wasn't meant for the computer... but for me.

Unplug, relax and have a cup of tea, or coffee, then plug back in and everything should be OK!
Last year I lost my job with a church I had been with for 12 years, and on staff for 7... that hurt, and was a very interesting time in my, and my wife's lives. When we left that church, we made a decision to not go anywhere for a couple of weeks to just spend time with each other, and I am so glad we did. I have seen so many people in life, and in many churches, get hurt and pull back (Unplug). I think that this can at times be healthy, if the reason for pulling back is to re-assess, or even heal for a time.... but what then...

In this situation this week, I realized if I had left the advice at "Unplug and relax" This person would have probably felt great for a while, but somewhere down the road would realize how useless they had become, and how unproductive their computer is.
Unplug and relax...
You must then, at some point, plug back in. In the church I hear all the time people talking about be a part of the "Global" body of Christ and not a part of a local church, then when all hell breaks loose in their lives they say that the church abandoned them because no-one was there to help....

Well Boo Hoo... I'm so sorry to hear that you have unplugged yourself from the people around you who God has put there to help you in hard times only to blame them when your life goes wrong. How smart is that, that would be like me blaming the power company for my computer not working even though I never plugged it back in.

OK, a bit of a rant there, but I think you understand what I mean. If like is hard and you are hurting and stressed... Unplug for a bit, relax, spend some time fellowshipping with God one on one, but then plug back in!!!

You know what else really grinds my gears.... When I can't find those droids I've been looking for!

-I'm Just Sayin!

Daddy needs a new pair of... Pants?

2007-11-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

It absolutely amazes me how often we as humans mess around with natural things, and end up messing up more than we know...
Over the last few weeks (5 to be exact) I have been on the warpath to find and eliminate any allergens out of my diet. In doing so one of the most amazing things has begun to happen... my body is actually working the was it's "Supposed" to!!! Get this... in 5 weeks I have lost 25lbs, and last night my wife (Go check out her site) stops by old navy and brings me home a new pair of jeans... size... 36. I have worn size 38 since I was a senior in high school!!!!! How cool is that!

Not only that, but I have more energy now that I can ever remember having, and I seem to be accomplishing more than I have before, I feel, look, and act healthier, and happier... all because of eliminating allergens. Here's the kicker, it seems that the allergens that are most dramatically affecting my system are.... get this..... are you ready..... Man Made Preservatives!

I know and believe that God has given us the wisdom and knowledge to use chemicals and create substances to preserve food and help it grow stronger, and be more resistant to pests, or weather... But at some point it seems, we have stopped creating substances to preserve food for a little while, and started creating substances that taste like food.

Needless to say, I have been spending a lot of time reading labels lately.... and I have found so many things (Things that would entirely comprise my diet) that didn't have a trace of real natural food in it anywhere.... everything modified, everything enhanced, and everything killing me slowly.... what a way to go, a candy bar in one hand... a big mac in the other....

This is the best part, I have lost 25lbs... why?
Is it b/c I have a really smart doctor that said "Hey... this might be the cause of your eczema"?
Is it because I have worked really really hard to not eat anything that could potentially screw up my system?
Yes, and Yes, but I feel most importantly that the reason I am seeing so much change, is b/c God has set up a process by which my body can heal itself and take care of itself. All my doctor and I have done is to eliminate the roadblocks that have been hindering God's planned processes.... Wow, now THAT will Preach!!!

Do Rappers Rhym.... In the Grocery Checkout?

2007-09-30T04:58:00.000-07:00

Hello lady, can you take my cash
feelin like a flash as I get my
Organic vegetables, and my rice oh my
feelin fine where's my change gotta fly............

Ok so I know that would never make it past the billboard top 40 (Worse Failures Ever) and is likely something you would hear from 50cent's dimwitted cousin 2 pence. But I digress...

My thoughts for today are about who we are as individuals. Who am I at home, who am I at work, who am I when I work with clients, who am I when I am ministering to someone in pain? As I have spent the last week on this "Allergy Elimination" diet, I have noticed quite a few things......

1. Who I am is a constant
2. How I respond to my surroundings isn't

I think that in our development as individuals, something along the way gets skewed.... at some point we start to believe and act as though our response to situations is "Who" we are.

If a baseball player always strikes out at bat, sooner or later he will most likely feel like a failure... is he? Maybe at the time in baseball... but not in everything... What if he never practices, or in his practice he chooses to do the same things the same way and never addresses the problem of why he keeps striking out? Sounds sort of insane by me! What if that batter changes and for one hit, hits the ball out of the park.... Did the ball player change as a person? Did his surroundings change? I'm sure at that point everyone would treat him a bit different, including himself.

So what does this mean for me? as everything changes it is important to know who I am through it all. My personal convictions should be that ... personal convictions... those shouldn't change depending on the situation. My attitude toward others... that shouldn't change when I am at checkout or when I am at a party, or when I am at a funeral.... At least not for me... since I genuinely like people... I should like them everywhere I go (Yes I know that there are times when the situation calls for a Louisville slugger to the forehead... but you know what I mean)

In the words of the immortal "The Who" ..........

Who Are you? I really want to know!

Everything Changes

2007-09-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

This morning, I received one of the most difficult messages I have ever received... I found out that I have pretty much every food allergy possible...
As I received this information, I went through all of the normal reactions, but when it was done... it hit me

Everything Changes

I don't mean that in a way most people say it.... like .... well, what do you expect...

I mean that like... This is an adventure, always has been. This is another step in the life God has granted to me. I am kind of excited... for a long time I have battled a number of health conditions, one of them eczema... and everyone has always said... "Nothing you can do about it... just have to deal with it the best you can"

Think about that... I have spent my life hearing from everyone around my.... this is the way it is... you can't change it... nothing is going to change

How dis-heartening... I am more excited now that I have been in years because... Everything Changes!!! I have the opportunity to change allot of things that I had been frustrated about for so long. How often to we get those kind of opportunities?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a bit scared in the amount of changes that I am going to have to make in one shot, and I know that is going to be real hard work for me for quite a while...

But...

This is an opportunity of a life time--- correction... an opportunity for Life!

Defining Moments

2007-09-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

9-11 I don't know of anyone who doesn't know the significance of this date. Even if you think it was a huge conspiracy, a plot-against-the "White Folks" if you will, this date is still very significant.

I was sitting at breakfast this am, thinking about 9-11-01. I remember sitting in my parents living room, watching on the TV as the second plane crashed into the tower (live mind you) and as I was watching, I was thinking back to when I saw the Challenger Space Shuttle Explode Live on TV. - Defining Moments...

As those were both defining moments in my life, I started to contemplate other moments...
The first time I rode a bike, the moment which I "received" my call into ministry, the first crush i had, the first time I drove out of the state by myself... My years at seminary, the first time I kissed Eliza, first "Official" date, our wedding..... and the list goes on and on and on....

This is what I realized, as I was sitting at breakfast... Most of my defining moments in life are all good, and while there are so many good moments that stick out in my mind, it is the bad moments, the disasters in life that not only fight for the attention of your mind, but also bring with them other bad moments.

Here we are 6 years later after a terrorist attack on US Soil, and not only are the images still being played over and over... but the focus in the news all morning, was about bin-laden...

I MUST Ask this...

What has happened that has been positive, and good in the last 6 years? anything? I know that for me there have been some wonderful moments... what about you?

Success... Being able to give consistent results, in a changing world

2007-08-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

So Many people have their own brand of success... How much money they have, how well they do in a given situation, how many tracks they hand out at any given time... In a world that is changing as rapidly as Starbucks(tm) changes their daily brew, how can we continue to seek after success. If the Line of demarcation between success and failure is fluctuating so much, how can we say we are a success at anything?

Our staff was recently reading a book entitled Raving Fans... A MUST Read for anyone in ministry, or business! One of the points that was communicated was that to be successfull you need to "Give It 1%". No you didn't read that wrong, it said 1%. The concept is quite simple. In a world that is dissatisfied around every turn, the last thing they expect is that you would consistently give them what you have promised... Now imagine a place where you get exactly what has been promised, and exactly what you have come to expect, then one day they stepped it up by 1%... do you think you would notice?

-- A Practical Example--
The Waffle House-
If you have ever been, there is a common occurance that I think everyone will agree with.
Placemats, Sealed to the table with a substance that, atone time covered a pancake, but now can be classified as a biohazard experiment gone wrong. That is consistancy...
I have yet to go to a waffle house and not have my arm hairs ripped out by sitting them on the table...

Now what if that same reasturant decided to give 1% and clean their tables well after the patrons leave? What if... after some time of doing that consistently, they start having silverware placed at the clean table when you sat down... How many of us would 1. be surprised, and 2. actually concider it as a possible reasturant choice durring norman life hours (Not just ... that place that will always be open when you have no other options)

I think that if people would spend more time judging their success for today by what they did yesterday, instead of the "NORM" we would see a societity that would be far more advanced, and successfull than we have ever seen...

It's all about the 1%

Never Eat Cheetos while Listening to "The White Album"

2007-08-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Murphy's law states that "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong". How true is this... hence murphy's "LAW". I have been thinking a lot about relationships lately, primarily because of a situation that my wife and I have been walking through. The more I think about relationships the more I realize how much it is the little things that will make or break an evening. Picture this for me if you will...
Say you are watching tv one evening and you get thirsty, naturally your first response is to jump up and get something to drink. Say in this particular situation you decide to ask your spouse if they are thirsty as well....

This is where it gets tricky

Say they are in fact thirsty, what comes out of your mouth in the next few seconds can make or break your evening... and possibly even you.

Response #1 "What would you like dear and I will get it/make it for you"
Response #2 "While you are up, why don't you fix me a coke"
Response #3 "Well, if you had gotten off from your butt and gone to the store, you wouldn't be thirsty now... would you?

I am still young, and have not been married for very long, but I think that anything other than Response #1 will probably get you in a heap of trouble!

~~ You see, I am finding out more and more how much the little things matter in life. The delicate way we either use our situations to better our own lives, or help other people through theirs... It's like trying to proof read a report while eating cheetos... just a little but will effect the whole thing, and you may not be able to salvage what's left... but if you are really really carefull, and pay more attention to what is "White" than to your own need for cheesy poofs(cheetos) you can have enjoyment on many different levels.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Starbucks (tm)

2007-08-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

As I am sitting here at my local java depot, sippin on a daily brew, eating my pseudo healthy muffin (it has bran in it), I am amazed at how easily we have been trained to demand what we expect. One of the reason's I come to this particular depot on sunday morning, is because they offer a blueberry bran muffin. All of the health of a piece of bark, and twice the sugar! In fact, I will drive a couple of extra miles to go to this coffee shop, just because they have something that I have come to expect they will have... my "blue plate special" if you will ... Muffin deJour.
As I am eating this wonderfull creation I wonder, do I judge other coffee shops, because they don't have what I "EXPECT" them to have? Where in the coffee shop owner's handbook does it say that to be a successfull coffee shop, one must purchase and sell, at a reasonable price, a blueberry bran muffin? If I go to another coffee shop, I am usually disapointed if they don't have this particular muffin... why? It's a COFFEE shop for cryin out loud... not a EVERY MUFFIN UNDER THE SUN shop! Coffee, you know... black gold, texas T... oh wait, scratch that.

Anyway, one of my many points is this,
... How much are we lead by our expectations in life~~ I know that there is a need to expect certain things, like gravity... but what about things like relationships?

Have you ever talked with someone, poured out your heart, and walked away upset because you felt like you weren't heard? why? Usually because you didn't recieve the response you expected. What about church? Do you go to a church soly based on your expectations... what happens when those expectations aren't meant... how do you handle it?

Will you drive out of your way just to find a coffee shop that supports your muffin taste? What happens if you get there, with your mouth wattering, and they are out of your favorite muffin... or they don't play your favorite song, or the preacher doesn't preach a message that makes you feel super happy? What then? Is it time to move on, find a greener pasture, or do we stay put... knowing that hey, they may not have the exact muffin that I want, but I am willing to try something new... and I might find a new favorint muffin inthe process. I am astounded at the amount of relationships today that end in divorce, all for this simple view of... if I can't get it here, there are plenty of other places where I can get what I expect. Except for one problem.

No one, No Church, No Wife, No Coffee Shop, and No GOD, will give you what you expect, and want 100% of the time... so what needs to change?

............ I'm Just Sayin!

Welcome To: Track Seven!

2007-08-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

An Introduction?
Why not!
My name; Timothy R. Heistand. For anyone reading this blog, please let me point out one simple and undeniable fact... I have terrible grammer skills! I am married to a very beautiful and loving woman whom loves me terifficly and I irritate on a regular basis, have two very hyper and hairy children (chihuahua-strider and terrier-kalie), a big truck and a motorcycle... There, enough said.
My purpose in this blog is to take all of the random thoughts in my head and throw them at a wall so I can see what sticks (Translation... i will type my thoughts and feelings for the sole purpose of developing a line of communication with those who may be interested).
If you have read this, then I congratulate you on a job well done, and I will post again soon!