Orlando
Dec 31, 2003 Uncategorized
Well, I jet for Orlando tomorrow. I will try to give y’all some updates provided I have time and internet access (in that order). For the time being, I thought you would like to know the weather in Orlando while I am there, courtesy of Weather.com:
Merry XMAS
Dec 24, 2003 Uncategorized
Well, with the approaching crazy holiday season (complete with travels to Grace’s and my parents houses) and Ignite* coming up, I don’t know how often I will be able to post. So consider this your Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, and Happy Hannukah message!
* - I will be in Orlando for Ignite: Orlando the first weekend in January. I will be doing the programming as well as speaking on the opening night. I will try to post some pics or thoughts from there if I get a chance. Otherwise, I will post after I get back.
CAPTION CONTEST!
Dec 23, 2003 Uncategorized
Alrighty. Here’s the newest caption contest. What caption would you give this photo:
Leadership
Dec 23, 2003 Uncategorized
I was reading an article by Ron Martoia from Westwinds and he makes some good observations about shifts in leadership in the era we are living in.
I especially liked this point…
[Currently,] leadership is about serial sequencing. Serial sequencing is about making sure everyone is thoroughly trained before they’re cut loose to invest in others. There’s a proper serial sequence that must be followed to make sure people are really “qualified” before they do anything. This is a deeply embedded mental model.
We put people through a whole bunch of training and then—and only then—do we deem them prepared to invest in someone else’s life.
A probing question, though, is how much training did the disciples have before they were sent out into the villages to preach their first messages?
[The Shift We Need]: Leadership is about parallel simultaneity. The Jesus model of training was “on the job.” The total time Jesus had with the disciples was three years. Quite obviously, they were sent to begin their public preaching ministry much earlier than the three-year mark. Jesus clearly thought the best model of training was the nexus of mountainside retreat, where there were talking-head segments (hence the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7) with praxis elements where they debriefed their observations of Jesus’ ministry and their own. They were training and being trained simultaneously.
Isn’t this the way life really is? We’re constantly learning and, hopefully, constantly pouring our lives into someone else. There’s no set of competencies that enable us to say we’ve now arrived and are ready to train someone else. Of course, there are some baseline minimums, but I secretly think our minimums are far more elaborate, complex, and detailed than the minimums Jesus held to.
Samurai Code
Dec 23, 2003 Uncategorized
Complete sincerity: You believe in being
straightforward with others, and you expect the
same from them. People would consider you a
good listener, and one who is calm and mostly
serious.
Which Characteristic From the Samurai Code Matches You Best? (You may find out your best trait)
brought to you by Quizilla
Merry Christmas
Dec 23, 2003 Uncategorized
Check this awesome article out: “Jesus really dreading his next birthday”
Jack Black & Jesus
Dec 18, 2003 Uncategorized
According to BeliefNet.com:
Jack Black tells interviewer Daniel Harder (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) that he likes Jesus. “He had superpowers and that’s the main reason I like Him,” says Black, if for theologically questionable reasons: “Anyone who can float, has power of levitation, or can shoot lasers out of his eyes…” continues Black. Lasers? “Well, how do you think he turned water into wine? With His eye-lasers.”
Black, who once played a character named Jeepers Creepers Semi-Star in a “Mr. Show” spoof, seems to regard Jesus as a kind of existential barometer, now that he’s 33. “It’s the landmark year,” he said. “I’m a Jew. Thirty-three is when Christ died. So though I’m a Jew, in the back of my mind I still think I gotta get it done before I’m thirty-four.”
Oprah in Africa
Dec 18, 2003 Uncategorized
Alright, I know I am going to get a lot of crap for this, but who cares. My wife flipped on the TV last night and tuned it to one of those news shows (I think it was 48 Hours). Anyhoo, they had Oprah on talking about her trip to Africa. I sarcastically said, “Well this will encourage me not to watch TV tonight.”
But then I got hooked. As she told the stories of the suffering orphans there it just blew my mind! She was sharing about different kids’ stories and it was mind boggling. She had a 29 year old mom on there that was dying of AIDS. It reminded me of seeing people like that in 1990 when I was in Uganda, but the epidemic is so much bigger now.
I am not sure if her statistic were right, but she said the number of orphans in South Africa was the same as the number of kids under the age of 14 in New York and California combined! Wow. This does not bode well for the future of the continent, let alone the impact that will have on the world.
I remember distinctly the feeling I had flying home from Africa. I turned to the person next to me and said “Am I supposed to be happy going home? These people need the Gospel so much and they are so receptive! Why would I go back to the spoiled US, where people are such cynics…” I don’t remember what else I said, but I am sure it was eloquent.
Anyway.
Now I’m in a mood. I’m not sure what to do with this.
The Porn Mobile
Dec 17, 2003 Uncategorized
Check out this article and ask yourself how you would react.
XMAS Bash
Dec 17, 2003 Uncategorized
Thanks to Hans for sending me this gem: XMAS Bash! Make sure you play the game (it’s more fun in two player mode, although a bit cumbersome on the keyboard. Also, watch the trailer. Yes, someone has too much time on their hands.
Panther
Dec 17, 2003 Uncategorized
Well, I finally upgraded to Panther. The jury is still out. I like some of the functions, but some of the speed issues are not as good as I thought they would be. I’ll keep ya posted. I am switching to Mail from Entourage and I am still debating whether I like it, as well.
Hmmmmm…..
Love / Worship Songs
Dec 11, 2003 Uncategorized
Dan and I were making a lists of cheesy love songs that could be worship songs for Relevant Magazine. Here’s my list:
The Cars - “You Might Think”
The Calling - “Wherever You Will Go”
Simple Minds - “Don’t You Forget About Me”
Modern English - “Melt With You”
Uncle Kracker - “Drift Away”
Marvin Gaye - “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Van Halen - “Can’t Stop Loving You”
Tom Jones - “It’s Not Unusual”
Sting - “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You”
Shania Twain - “You’re Still The One”
Michelle Branch - “Everywhere”
Hootie & The Blowfish - “Only Wanna Be With You”
Toni Braxton - “There’s No Me Without You”
From the “Get a Life” Category
Dec 10, 2003 Uncategorized
Alrighty then. Apparently someone is a lot smarter or a lot dumber than me because they figured this out.
And the scary thing is that the person who sent this to me was serious. (Sorry if you sent me this! No offense intended.)
Ben Folds ITunes List
Dec 10, 2003 Uncategorized
ITunes has this cool function where celebrities make their own playlists and you can download songs from them or entire playlists. Ben Folds just made a “Holiday Playlist.” Awesome! If you have ITunes, you should be able to click here to see his list. His description of his playlist might just be better than the list itself, including calling a song by The Carpenters and overacheiver Christmas song! Hilarious.
Caption Contest
Dec 9, 2003 Uncategorized
Thanks to Nate for taking what may be the best picture of me ever. I think it deserves to be the latest installment of the caption contest. What caption would you give this picture?
Evanescence
Dec 9, 2003 Uncategorized
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Evanescenece rocks. Here’s the latest reason. Check out the video to MY IMMORTAL (which just happens to be one of my fav songs from the album, thank you very much.
Sell Your Soul
Dec 9, 2003 Uncategorized
Yes, I got a quotation on what my soul is worth. Unfortunately, I have no idea how many dollars this is.
Interfaith Ethics Code
Dec 9, 2003 Uncategorized
PASADENA, Calif. - A leading evangelical Christian seminary is using federal funds to launch a $1 million program to ease strained relations with Muslims with an interfaith code of ethics.
Fuller Theological Seminary’s proposed code would ask members of either faith to refrain from making offensive statements about the other, affirm a mutual belief in one God and prohibit proselytizing over the two-year span of the project.
Explaining “Targetting Young”
Dec 8, 2003 Uncategorized
I got a great comment from my friend Rick on my rant about churches needing to target young. I felt he asked a great question and so I am not only posting a comment on that entry, but I am ccing it here as a post. I would love to know anyone’s comments on this. Read the rest of this entry »
