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!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
We Doubt by Faith
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!
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!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?
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!!!
(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!!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
The Wall... Coming to a church near you.... or not. (pt 1)
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???
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???
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Unplug... and Relax
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!
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?
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!!!
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!!!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Do Rappers Rhym.... In the Grocery Checkout?
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)