Tuesday, January 27, 2009

What I'm working on

Here is a graphical representation of the creative thing I'm working on during the winter months.

Wordle: Yogurt

Keep checking back. There is more about this coming.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Hibernation and X Games

It's the middle of Winter now, January 26, a week before Punxsutawney Phil annually informs us that winter will go on, and so often for 6 more week.  The holidays have passed and all the joy of those things has become irrelevant.

It seems I have two options at this time.  Succumb to the strong call to retreat into my home and hibernate.  The television seasons are all gearing up to help me with that options.  I caught Lost last week and can't wait for next Wednesday.

However, while scanning the TV channels this week, I noticed that the annual Winter Games are on.  Snow
boarders and skiers doing ridiculous tricks for points, but even when the loose by falling on their heads they get up pumped because of the adrenaline rush they produced.

I realize that this winter season gives me two options.  Hibernate and do little of anything or seek incredible weather related thrills by becoming an audacious snowboarder.

Since the snow stinks in my area and my knees don't work as they should, maybe I need to find other ways to seek my thrills so I'm going to use this Winter to start something new.  I'm going to try to do something and gather people together in a way that I've never seen before.  I'm going to be creative in doing so.  And I just might dream up the details to this new, exciting thing while watching the X Games in my PJs.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

What's better boring or WOW?

Seth Godin's blog this morning accuses me (the reader) of being boring.  Boring is doing the safe thing.  In some ways, I'm not real boring.  I challenge the status quo.  But in other ways, I am boring.  I don't want my status quo messed up.  I like my life.  I like to go home sit on my lazy boy and flip channels. 

Godin's post reminds me of a quote from Stef's current favorite TV show.  Duff, the Ace of Cakes, says, "They may say "Wow! That sucks." But at least they'll say, 'Wow.'"


Boring things/boring people are safe.  Nothing new means expected outcome.  Excitement isn't predictable.  So, here are my questions: Do you prefer boring friends or exciting friends?  Do you prefer a boring boss or and exciting boss?  Would you prefer a boring or exciting economic cycle?

I don't think you can have boring excitement.  You also can't have a safe unknown.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Honoring God's Name

I spoke at Grace Point a couple weeks ago.  It's taken me a while to get this up because my computer hasn't been handling video the way I'd like, but here is a YouTube video to demonstrate the slides that Greg Schwartz created for me.  I think they're pretty cool! How often have you seen comic books used in church?   The service was a once a year family--kids with parents--service.  I thought the kids might appreciate these images more than fill-in-the-blank PowerPoint slides.



The talk was almost three times longer than the video. If you'd like to listen to the full message you can get the mp3 at Grace Point's website.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

New Year Predictions 2009

Happy New Year to all.  I pray that you will find 2009 fulfilling.

I thought I'd make my predictions for the coming year.  Some are more obvious than others.  I don't think I get too ostentatious. 

  • The economy will go up and it will go down, especially as we measure it according to the sock market.  In the end there will be a push to find another economic barometer because the stock market will be seen as too artificial.  
  • We'll have a new president; he'll be a minority, the first ever in the White House; Conservative Christian leaders will not be happy with him, but many other Christian leaders will consider his first months in a positive light.
  • The Obamas will get a dog as they move into the White House.  It will be a mutt (sort of). 
  • The Eagles will not win the Super Bowl.  Some fans will continue to call for Reid's head.  Others will call for a change of quarterback.  Neither will happen before the 2009 season.
  • Phillies fans will boo at least one of the World Series heroes before the end of the first home game.  The Phillies will not repeat as World Series champs.
  • There will not be a civil war that fragments the US, but some tensions will rise.
  • Microsoft will not have a Y2K10 issue, but they will make news sometime in the year for a major attack on their operating system.
  • Gas prices will go back up this summer but not to the $4 mark of last summer.
  • In Iraq, the US withdraw will be behind schedule at the end of 2009.  The Military will point to an escalation of insurgents uprisings as the reason.
  • It will be cold in the winter and hot in the summer and everyone will claim climate is the cause for it seeming hotter than it used to be or colder than it used to be.  At least one hurricane will strike the US and people will again focus on how much climate change has increased the chance of the event happening.
  • Captain Phil will return the the Cornela Marie.  His sons will rip him off, he'll get angry and say bleeeeep a lot, then in the end he'll tell them he's so proud of their progress on the boat.
  • Jack will get the gang back together to search for the Island, but they won't find it this season.  Or they will find it, but they won't find their friends on the Island.
  • I'll continue to love my wife and she'll continue to be a better writer than me.  My girls will continue to amaze me.  We'll continue to wish we had more money, but, in reality, will be happy we don't have everything we want.