This last weekend's golf tournament was televised. I watched some. I have the itch to play.
So today, I went to a golf dome and hit a bucket of balls.
Spring won't come soon enough... and because he has recently started reading my blog, I'm going to make a public declaration to Grace's wonderful Senior High Pastor: Josh, there is a possibility I will beat you three times in a row this year :)
Highly unlikely, but if you lose the fire, it's coming!
My life is lived within parenthesis. My life is not about me, though it may contain some interesting points. The main point is far outside myself and rests with my God/Savior. I seek to tell His story in a different way, a way that you'll understand, a way that will move you, and in a way that draws you into relationship with the Hero of the story.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Hoping the Pointless Brings Rest
It's 3:30 a.m.
I decided to read a little bit before falling asleep. Oddly, reading rarely makes me tired, regardless of the time of day, and as such, my mind woke up. Fascinatingly, I was reading a leadership development styled book (for my own fun) and started mentally applying some of it's teachings. I may have found a break-through to amplify my effectiveness in almost every area of my job (from my fun reading).
This is exciting to me, but making me not want to sleep. It's 3:30 a.m. and I want to go to work.
So i've resigned to finding something pointless on the internet to watch, hoping that it will cause enough boredom that my mind decides to sleep before work would be normal.
I decided to read a little bit before falling asleep. Oddly, reading rarely makes me tired, regardless of the time of day, and as such, my mind woke up. Fascinatingly, I was reading a leadership development styled book (for my own fun) and started mentally applying some of it's teachings. I may have found a break-through to amplify my effectiveness in almost every area of my job (from my fun reading).
This is exciting to me, but making me not want to sleep. It's 3:30 a.m. and I want to go to work.
So i've resigned to finding something pointless on the internet to watch, hoping that it will cause enough boredom that my mind decides to sleep before work would be normal.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Stop Succeeding
There are times when other people's positive life choices just don't come at my convenience.
This happens quite often actually as a young adults pastor.
As they get new jobs (or finally start careers), make new schooling decisions, or even just relocate to save money, it often comes with the result of them moving away.
Another Young Adult got an awesome job contract this week. He'll be back here eventually, but leaving us for at least 6 months.
Why do they need to keep succeeding?
This happens quite often actually as a young adults pastor.
As they get new jobs (or finally start careers), make new schooling decisions, or even just relocate to save money, it often comes with the result of them moving away.
Another Young Adult got an awesome job contract this week. He'll be back here eventually, but leaving us for at least 6 months.
Why do they need to keep succeeding?
Can't Stop Working
The last bunch of nights have left me unable to leave work at work. Because our home computer is better than those at the office, it is much smoother to use for video editing.
Unfortunately that has meant that on Tuesday (my one night without something at church) I spent animating a 5 second opening. And tonight, after getting home from teaching class and eating dinner, I spent more time editing captured video with and combining it with audio and music.
I need to get quicker at these things so I don't stay consumed by them.
Unfortunately that has meant that on Tuesday (my one night without something at church) I spent animating a 5 second opening. And tonight, after getting home from teaching class and eating dinner, I spent more time editing captured video with and combining it with audio and music.
I need to get quicker at these things so I don't stay consumed by them.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
It's Over There
The announcement is found buried in this post, on our adoption blog. You should read it!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Toying With Commitment
As I think about making decisions, I often wonder if it is a
decision I could go public with. The commitment to telling someone
about a decision I've made provides extreme accountability for me.
I don't like failure.
Since last Friday afternoon I've been toying with making a public proclamation of a new decision that affects my life.
If it still sits comfortably with me, I'll make that public tomorrow. As for tonight, the commitment seems weighty enough to need another days thoughts.
How's that for a teaser?
I don't like failure.
Since last Friday afternoon I've been toying with making a public proclamation of a new decision that affects my life.
If it still sits comfortably with me, I'll make that public tomorrow. As for tonight, the commitment seems weighty enough to need another days thoughts.
How's that for a teaser?
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It's A Digital World
I realized tonight that the world is getting increasingly digital. Though I suppose that information wasn't hidden or even new.
I'm in the process of swtiching how some of our bills are payed (with the new checking account we no longer need the middle man digital agency we had used for our free bill pay) and to do so needed phone numbers, zip codes, and account numbers for those bills.
This information is hard to find. The hardest part was finding zip codes and phone numbers for where bills get paid when not digital. This wasn't easy information to find, because apparently companies don't think this will ever be necessary to their consumers.
I'm in the process of swtiching how some of our bills are payed (with the new checking account we no longer need the middle man digital agency we had used for our free bill pay) and to do so needed phone numbers, zip codes, and account numbers for those bills.
This information is hard to find. The hardest part was finding zip codes and phone numbers for where bills get paid when not digital. This wasn't easy information to find, because apparently companies don't think this will ever be necessary to their consumers.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Today Was Cold
Windchills in the -20s on the day I had to leave the office three different times for meetings.
That's just poor planning by whoever is in charge of the weather, or my schedule.
That's just poor planning by whoever is in charge of the weather, or my schedule.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Not Just the Wardrobe
I don't enjoy days where I have to put thought into what I wear. Wearing whatever is on top of the pile, or at the front of the hangers is my favorite way to decide clothes.
I thought this would be the most annoying part about attempting to do video announcements for the church. Actually having to pick out appropriate clothes on days besides Sunday.
It isn't the most annoying so far though. Figuring out how to get the best audio recording to play through our sound system is. My goal is to get two quality recordings, one from the camera mic that will be autosynced with the video, and one from one of our high end mics at the church saved digitially.
So far, the digital one has been a problem. Troubleshooting this problem has been extremely annoying and still isn't finished. It has caused more frustration than many days worth of having to pick appropriate clothes.
I thought this would be the most annoying part about attempting to do video announcements for the church. Actually having to pick out appropriate clothes on days besides Sunday.
It isn't the most annoying so far though. Figuring out how to get the best audio recording to play through our sound system is. My goal is to get two quality recordings, one from the camera mic that will be autosynced with the video, and one from one of our high end mics at the church saved digitially.
So far, the digital one has been a problem. Troubleshooting this problem has been extremely annoying and still isn't finished. It has caused more frustration than many days worth of having to pick appropriate clothes.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Expectations Matter
I'm amazed at how much expectations can dictate an experience.
What stuck out as a new realization to me today was the differences when those expectations are positive or negative.
If, for instance, I go into a movie with high expectations (this happened Friday night with Sherlock Holmes 2), then they are rarely met. Sometimes that leaves me frustrated, other times that just leaves me bland (Friday was the bland kind).
On the otherhand, going to a movie without expectations would generally provide a positive response.
What fascinates me is what happens in areas of life when we expect little, or even when we expect to be disappointed. I often find, that at these times, our expectations become true. We find the faults, the frustrations, the things we wished were different and we dwell on them. Negative expectations are often realized.
I wonder if there are areas of life that it would be better for me to just stop having expectations for. To allow life just to be experienced, instead of always analyzed. To find emotions when they come, not when and where I look for them.
Maybe then I'll have a more positive experience, but then again, as a pessimist, I suppose that wouldn't be much like me!
What stuck out as a new realization to me today was the differences when those expectations are positive or negative.
If, for instance, I go into a movie with high expectations (this happened Friday night with Sherlock Holmes 2), then they are rarely met. Sometimes that leaves me frustrated, other times that just leaves me bland (Friday was the bland kind).
On the otherhand, going to a movie without expectations would generally provide a positive response.
What fascinates me is what happens in areas of life when we expect little, or even when we expect to be disappointed. I often find, that at these times, our expectations become true. We find the faults, the frustrations, the things we wished were different and we dwell on them. Negative expectations are often realized.
I wonder if there are areas of life that it would be better for me to just stop having expectations for. To allow life just to be experienced, instead of always analyzed. To find emotions when they come, not when and where I look for them.
Maybe then I'll have a more positive experience, but then again, as a pessimist, I suppose that wouldn't be much like me!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Lot To Say
Last Wednesday I started a new class at the church. It is a class designed to enter discussion on many debatable topics.
We started with gender roles and what the Bible says. Tonight's topics were scheduled to be Homosexuality followed by Politics.
We never made it to Politics. Homosexuality had enough opinions, as well as enough things I needed to clarify, to last us the entire time. Now I'll have to start with Politics next week.
Love my job!
We started with gender roles and what the Bible says. Tonight's topics were scheduled to be Homosexuality followed by Politics.
We never made it to Politics. Homosexuality had enough opinions, as well as enough things I needed to clarify, to last us the entire time. Now I'll have to start with Politics next week.
Love my job!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
More Pessimistic Than I Knew
I've always had a negative outlook. I'm more likely to analyze and critique than celebrate and encourage.
This was made abundantly clear to me when in our all day staff meeting, I got bored while we were "celebrating" and thanking God for the good things of last year. All I wanted to do was jump the analysis, changes, and improvement portions of reflection.
I wanted to leave celebration and enter tension. While I'm not excited about a desire to "leave celebration" there is something that feels comforable inside with the "entering tension" portion. It used to be something I avoided, but as my confidence in myself has grown, my aversion to tension has diminished.
I know its the pessimism talking, but I'm comfortable in the tension!
This was made abundantly clear to me when in our all day staff meeting, I got bored while we were "celebrating" and thanking God for the good things of last year. All I wanted to do was jump the analysis, changes, and improvement portions of reflection.
I wanted to leave celebration and enter tension. While I'm not excited about a desire to "leave celebration" there is something that feels comforable inside with the "entering tension" portion. It used to be something I avoided, but as my confidence in myself has grown, my aversion to tension has diminished.
I know its the pessimism talking, but I'm comfortable in the tension!
Monday, January 09, 2012
Love Breakfast Foods, Hate Breakfast
I had tater tots for a late night snack again today.
That's two days in a row, three of the last four.
I love breakfast foods, yet hate eating close to when I wake up. Unfortunately tomorrow I have a staff meeting (all day) that starts at Perkins. At least the food will be free if I have to eat it that close to getting up.
That's two days in a row, three of the last four.
I love breakfast foods, yet hate eating close to when I wake up. Unfortunately tomorrow I have a staff meeting (all day) that starts at Perkins. At least the food will be free if I have to eat it that close to getting up.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
ManVision
It is interesting how different my t.v. selection is when Jenny isn't in the house.
After a well-needed nap this afternoon, I started watchings some football playoffs. Jenny decided to leave and do other things, so after watching the game (glad the Broncos beat the Steelers) I continued with Sons of Anarchy.
Motorcycles and Gangs aren't what typically draws Jenny to a t.v. show, but I'm hooked!
After a well-needed nap this afternoon, I started watchings some football playoffs. Jenny decided to leave and do other things, so after watching the game (glad the Broncos beat the Steelers) I continued with Sons of Anarchy.
Motorcycles and Gangs aren't what typically draws Jenny to a t.v. show, but I'm hooked!
Friday, January 06, 2012
Words With Friends
Words With Friends is the new additction in our household.
It is essentially scrabble on smartphones played 1 on 1 at your convenience. Can also be played on Facebook.
Helps me kill my phone battery, but makes me use my brain throughout the day.
Feel free to play against me.
It is essentially scrabble on smartphones played 1 on 1 at your convenience. Can also be played on Facebook.
Helps me kill my phone battery, but makes me use my brain throughout the day.
Feel free to play against me.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
B.S. Skills In Use
I was brought into the senior high schooler's drama team practice to help today.
My task, B.S. my way through believable and relatable stories around subjects that students will be writing monologues for.
See mom, learning to B.S. has paid off. I needed it today for work!
My task, B.S. my way through believable and relatable stories around subjects that students will be writing monologues for.
See mom, learning to B.S. has paid off. I needed it today for work!
Monday, January 02, 2012
Don't Be Shady
I'm a pretty casual guy I think. I can't remember complaining about
service at a restaurant. I don't send things back. I hate to even
return something to a store. All i ask in return is that you try to do
your job, and you don't be shady about it.
Some places can't keep that standart though...so another local bank is on my naughty list.
Bye, bye TCF. I'll gladly take my checking accounts elsewhere as you change your side of our contract and neglect to do any kind of diligence of informing me.
USAA, you've always treated me well, I'm happy to open another account with you now.
Some places can't keep that standart though...so another local bank is on my naughty list.
Bye, bye TCF. I'll gladly take my checking accounts elsewhere as you change your side of our contract and neglect to do any kind of diligence of informing me.
USAA, you've always treated me well, I'm happy to open another account with you now.
Happy New Year
I'm excited for the New Year.
Different than most of them recently, I've actually made some goals for this year, though publicizing them will make me more accountable to actually trying to accomplish them.
So I'll just start with one.
This year, I want to memorize the book of Amos.
That is all for now.
Different than most of them recently, I've actually made some goals for this year, though publicizing them will make me more accountable to actually trying to accomplish them.
So I'll just start with one.
This year, I want to memorize the book of Amos.
That is all for now.