Two Blonde Boys

Site Going Dark...

2011-08-18T11:03:00.001-07:00

If you subscribe to this blog, it will be going dark soon. Please subscribe to my new blog here.

Thanks for the memories!

It's Been a Great Ride...

2011-07-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

...but it's time to head in a different direction.

When I started this blog 6 years ago, it blog was a collection of my thoughts and experiences with life. At first, I was diligent to blog regularly. Then less so.

For a while now I have thought of re-imagining this blog, as well as moving it to its own domain.

If you are a faithful reader, thanks for hanging there. Please continue the journey with me on my new site.

If this is your first stop here - continue the ride here.

See you at TwoBlondeBoys.com!

Leadership Lessons from Al Davis

2011-05-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

When Al Davis fired Tom Cable as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders at the end of the last season, I thought, "This guy has finally lost it."

The Raiders had looked incredible during the second half of the season. They were playing like a team again. Things were looking great for this upcoming season.

Then Davis fired Cable.

Al Davis had a list of reasons. First, Cable allegedly assaulted former assistant coach Randy Hanson. Davis was also troubled by the allegations of Marie Lutz, a former girlfriend of Cable's. Davis also talked about how he wasn't happy with Oakland's offensive output under Cable, and philosophical differences he had with Cable on run-blocking schemes.

But still... they were winning. Multiple games in a row, even!

Then then other day on the drive in to the office it hit me. There were some key leadership lessons to be learned from Al Davis' decision everyone in leadership can benefit from:

1. You're not going to agree with every decision a leader makes.

That's good to remember, whether you're a leader or a follower. The fact is that a follower, I won't agree with every decision my leaders makes - even when they are a close friend. And as a leader, you can be sure that not every decision you make will be celebrated. In fact, it is likely that someone will disagree with every decision you make. That's the burden of leadership (and it's not for everyone).

2. A leader often makes decisions based on information you don't have.

A leader is often privy to information that they cannot share with others, either legally, morally or because of good manners. I need to remember that I don't have all the facts that went into the leaders decisions. Even if I did, I might disagree with the decision (see point #1). But that's why they get to lead - to make the tough calls. If you are a leader, you will face times when you make a decision based in confidential information. Your decision will be right, but unpopular. In those times, remember that leaders are called to lead - to make decisions that can be unpopular (even when right). That's the burden of leadership (and it's not for everyone).

3. At the end of the day, it's the leader's duty to lead (and live with the results of their leadership).

I may not agree with Al Davis firing Tom Cable. I wish he hadn't done it. But you know what? It's not my decision to make. At the end of the day, the Oakland Raiders are Al Davis' team, not mine. He paid or the privilege to make decision about his team (and he has to live with the results of whatever decision he makes). It is good for followers to remember that they get to go home at night and sleep easy. Leaders will spend many sleepless nights thinking about a decision that is before them or second-guessing a decision that they just made. Leaders are the heroes when they're right and the goats when they're wrong. In some arenas, making the right decision ensures you have a job and making the wrong one gets you sent packing. That's the burden of leadership (and it's not for everyone).

The Osama bin Laden Verses (A Long Post)

2011-05-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

In the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden, there have been a lot of verses flying around the Internet lately. It's been a virtual sword drill... the Proverbs People vs. the Ezekiel Army.

Here are the basic verses and views of each side:

The Proverbs People

"When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.' (Proverbs 21:15)

"When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy." (Proverbs 11:10)

The key argument that the Proverbs People make is that it is good and right and natural to rejoice when justice is done.

The Ezekiel Army

Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11)

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)

The key argument that the Ezekiel Army makes is that we should not rejoice in bin Laden's death because God doesn't. Rather, we should mourn a life that was unrepentant and wasted.

So who's right? It seems like the Bible is contradicting itself. How are we to reconcile these two passages?

First, we need to understand how to interpret the Proverbs. The Proverbs, unlike other books in the BIble, are less about "God's promises" and more about "this-is-the-way-life-is-so-you'd-better-understand-it-so-you-can-live-successfully." Wow. That was a lot of hyphens.

In other words, when the writer of Proverbs says...

"Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell." (Prov. 23:13-14)

...it doesn't mean that if you beat the living daylights out of your kids with a stick they will be saved. It also doesn't mean that you should "beat the hell out of them". When Proverbs says...

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.' (Prov. 22:7)

...it doesn't mean that you are literally the slave to the bank.

Proverbs tells us "the way that life is" or "the way that life works." God has woven a natural order of things into the fabric of nature. There are causes and effects. The are actions and reactions. Proverbs helps us understand what those are and how they work.

In the case of children, if we leave them undisciplined, they will literally become "hellish" little people (and hellish big people, if left unchecked). And to the parents who are squeamish about spanking, we are assured that, though they may cry, our children will not die if we spank them. Having raised two boys through the Spanking-Years, I can assure you this is the case. I was even thanked by my oldest recently for being a tough disciplinarian - he said he was glad he was disciplined because he sees the negative impact a lack of discipline has had on some of his friends.

In the case of the bank, Proverbs isn't teaching about or condoning slavery, it is merely revealing a condition that exists whether we realize it or not: if you say you own your home, yet you have a mortgage, you don't own diddly. Your house is owned by the bank. Don't believe me? Stop paying those mortgage payments and see how long you'll be living in "your" house that you "own." Proverbs is just telling us the way that it it. If you have debt, the bank owns you. You don't have to like it. You just have to understand that it's true (and, by way of inference, not put yourself in that position).

So how does all this relate to the death of Osama bin Laden? The verses from Proverbs indicate a reality. When bad people are brought to justice, when guilty people are punished, when evil people and oppressors are wiped from the face of the earth, people celebrate. They rejoice. They are joyful. That's just the way it is. Have you ever worked at an organization with a person who didn't pull their weight or where you had a boss who was cruel. Were you there when they were fired? Did you do a happy dance? Of course you did!

We are wired to celebrate justice. We are wired to rejoice when evil is punished. We sing along with the Munchkins: "Ding, dong, the Witch is dead! Which old witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding, dong, the Wicked Witch is Dead!"

So how, then do we reconcile the verses in Proverbs with the verses in Ezekiel?

Easy.

While Proverbs tells us the way that it is, Ezekiel helps us understand the heart of God. On the one hand, God is the God of justice. He judges the wicked and repays the evildoer. But at the same time, God is a God of mercy. Perhaps this passage from 2 Peter will help shed some more light on this...

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." (2 Peter 3:8-10)

Peter tell us that the Day of the Lord is coming - that great and terrible Day when God will come and judge the wicked and pour out His wrath. Why hadn't he come yet (why hasn't he come yet - 2,000 years later)? Because God doesn't want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

God desires that people turn to Him. Now, the reality is that many won't. But that doesn't change the fact that some will. So it is very true that God takes "no pleasure in the death of the wicked," but rather hopes that "that they turn from their ways and live." This doesn't mean that God is squeamish about having to mete out punishment for the wicked and the guilty. Rather, God wants them to repent so that they can save themselves from His awful wrath.

If you are a parent, you understand this. We have always punished our boys for defiance. My youngest was being especially defiant one day. I gave him a final warning. Did he repent? Nope. He waded in to defiance again. Did I want to punish this beautiful child? Nope. Did he beg for mercy? Absolutely. In fact, as I was about to spank him, he pointed out the window and shouted, "Look, Dad! A rainbow!!! PLEASE LET ME LOOK AT THE RAINBOW!!!" I had to work really hard at not laughing out loud as his attempt to avoid the consequences for his actions.

We enjoyed the rainbow for a minute or tow, then it was back to the bedroom to do the deed. I too no pleasure in spanking my son that day, just as God took no pleasure in the death of Osama bin Laden. However, I did not shirk my responsibilities as a father because I understand that the Proverb is true that says, "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away" (Prov. 22:15). And God did not shirk his responsibilities as judge in allowing justice to be done on an evil-doer.

So let us rejoice in the justice. And let us be sober-minded in remembering that while we serve a God of mercy who desires all to come to repentance, but that He is a holy God who will not be mocked - "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).

For further reading: This article by Gary Molander and this article by John Piper.

Good Medicine

2011-04-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Proverbs says that laughter is "like medicine for the soul."

Get ready to take your medicine...

An Open Letter to Worship Leaders

2011-04-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Worship Leader,

Here’s something to remember this week: It’s not about you.

That’s what I thought as I walked onto the stage last week at my church.

I was thinking that because of what happened two weeks prior: After I had finished performing a certain song in the first service there was thunderous applause. The band was great. I was in full voice. The music and the visuals we used came together to create and amazing moment in the service.

We performed the same song in our second service. The band was even better. I was as strong or stronger vocally. It was another amazing moment.

And when the music was done… crickets. Nothing.

When I walked off stage I was reminded of a conference I attended a few years ago. A young band was invited to lead worship. The conference was comprised primarily of worship leaders and artist. The worship times at this conference were amazing. Everyone could sing – and they did: loud, strong, and in multiple parts. It’s pretty cool.

This band-that-shall-remain-nameless had it made.

The worship time was cooking right along until the young front man for the band made the mistake that I was in danger of making last Sunday. As we started to sing a song, he stopped the music and said something to the effect of:

“Wait a minute. The song says, ‘Raise your hands.’ If we’re going to be authentic this morning then we need to do what the song says. Let’s start again and this time let’s really raise our hands.”

I remember thinking a couple of things. The first was, “If this is all about being authentic, how are you going to raise your hands while you’re playing the guitar – or does that not apply to you?” But that was just me being a grumpy old man.

The second thing I remember thinking was, “What right do you have to judge what is going on in our hearts by what we do with our hands?”

And that, my friends is the rub.

As a worship leader, the thing I want most of all if for people to respond to God. I want their hearts to experience the heart of God.

And I can’t see that. I can’t judge in a few minutes on stage whether that’s happening or not.

I love it when people clap and raise their hands. I love it when they sing loud and proud. But that doesn’t mean they are connecting with God.

In some of your churches this Sunday people may raise their hands. In others they may not. In some they may sing really loudly. In others… not so much. In some churches they may clap like crazy after a great song. In others they may hear the same song performed in the same way by the same people and sit quietly. And all of these things might even happen in the same church in different services.

The point is this: you can’t use any of that to measure if a person is connecting with God.

So stop getting worked up about it.

Be faithful.

Be prepared.

Do what God has called you to do with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Leave the rest to God.

When God Orchestrates a Moment...

2011-03-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

I recently attended my 11th Re:Create Conference in Franklin, TN. This year, my friend, fellow Fresnan and worship leader, Jon Shebaglian, was there. Jon is a wonderful Christian man who has a passion for Christ that literally oozes out of him.

During one afternoon at the conference the 1211 Band from Austin, TX led worship. It was truly an amazing time of worship. As they started, I observed Jon helping the band's violist, Orhan, communicate his monitor mix issue to the FOH guys. Later, I watched as Jon and Orhan connected as Christian brothers and musicians. It turns out Orhan is a world-class viola player, having played with some of the finest symphonies in the world.

At dinner that night, I happened to hook up with Jon and Orhan has they were talking. They are both close-talkers - plus it was loud - so our heads were really close together. After a few minutes of talking, Jon asked Orhan, "So Orhan, I noticed you accent. Where are you from, originally?"

"I'm Turkish," he replied.

And then time stopped. I remember looking from Orhan to Jon to see how Jon would respond. I remember looking into Jon's eyes. I could see his brain working. An hour passed in the 2 seconds of time it took for Jon to speak.

"Wow," Jon said. "I don't know if I've ever met a Turkish Christian before. I'm Armenian."

You see, Jon's grandfather fled the Armenian genocide in Turkey. He great-grandfather was taken on a death march and shot. Jon is Armenian. Orhan is Turkish.

Then Jon brought his citizenship into the game. "You know, bro," he said, "We can put that all behind us because we are brothers in Jesus."

See, Jon and Orhan had connected on a spiritual level before they had ever connected ethnically. They had realized their brotherhood in Christ before they recognized that they were supposed to not like each other.

It was a beautiful thing to watch, 8 inches away from these two close-talkers. It was a God orchestrated moment.

A Great Tool for Your iPhone

2011-03-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I'd tell you about a great tool called Dragon Dictation. Dragon Dictation allows you to speak into your iPhone and it turns your speech into text.

Yep... and it does it REALLY well.

You can then take that text and e-mail it, SMS it, tweet it or post it to Facebook. I would encourage you to check it out. If you have an iPhone, you can download it for free from the AppStore.

I love it. I use it all the time. In fact I used it to create this blog post.

And here's something fun: If you speak jibberish to the app, it comes up with some really hilarious translations like this:

Yes and whatever. Not on the games. One of them you can keep Norman is in the dunk. I were teaching in doing so good. To price kitchen... whatever. But for soon to get you I need sometime today to gain whatsoever.

Talk crazy, do a little editing and text it to your friends. They will then think you have lost your mind. Or better yet, they will actually try to make sense of it. Either way, it's great for a laugh!

Why I Back Up My DVD Collection to a Hard Drive

2011-03-03T10:39:00.002-08:00

I back up all of my DVDs to a 2 GB hard drive using HandBrake. In future posts, I'll give you the basics of HandBrake usage as well as how I used a MacMini and an AppleTV to create a great media server for my upstairs and downstairs TVs.

Note: It is important to remember that the MPAA and most media companies argue that you can’t legally copy or convert commercial DVDs for any reason. I (and others) think that, if you own a DVD, you should be able to override its copy protection to make a backup copy or to convert its content for viewing on other devices. Currently, the law isn’t entirely clear one way or the other. So our advice is: If you don’t own it, don’t do it. If you do own it, think before you rip.

Why would you "need" to create a backup of your DVD? Consider this:

In early 2000, a group of Stanford researchers leased one of Intel's clean rooms and, with the approval of their parents, scrubbed down several 5 year olds, placed them in clean suits, handed each a DVD copy of Toy Story, and placed each one inside the clean room for 20 minutes. When the researchers opened the door, each and every child was covered in jam, as were the DVDs.

Oddly enough, there was no jam within 20 miles of the facility. This demonstrated that children, when in possession of a favorite DVD, are capable of conjuring jam from the ether.

That is why I backup my DVDs or rely on digital copies supplied with those discs.

The New Bike

2010-07-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

I headed down to Ventura, CA to Ray's Bike Shop today to pick up my new road bike. I've got nothing but great things to say about owner, Ray. He really went above and beyond to help me get exactly what I wanted.

The bike I got was the Felt F95 Team Edition. Thanks to Dan Perkins (@danp) for his advice (check out Dan's blog here). Here are the specs:

Sizes: 700c x 63cm
Weight: 19.78 pounds
Frame: Felt custom butted F-Lite 7005 aluminum with butted seat tube, CNC hdead tube & BB shell; forged dropouts
Fork: Felt Carbon design, carbon fiber blades with 1-1/8" aluminum steerer & aluminum crown
Headset: FSA Threadless 1 1/8 w/ 20mm Cone & 2 X 7.5mm Spacer Stack
Stem: Felt 1.3 6061 Aluminum Forged Ø31.8mm w/ +/-10° Rise, 110mm
Handlebar: Felt 1.5 6061 Aluminum w/ Ergonomic Drop, Ø31.8mm, 440mm
Grips: Felt Gel Ribbon Cork Tape w/ Felt 3D Logo
Bar Ends: Bubble-Tech FE LT Logo End Plugs
Shifters: Micro.Shift Integrated Shifter/Brake Lever 18 speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora 31.8mm clamp-on, double
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra SS Short Cage
Crankset: FSA TEMPO Compact, 3-PC, Aluminum, 50/34T; 175mm
Chainwheel 50/34T
Bottom Bracket: FSA 68mm w/ Forged Chromoly Square Taper 110.5mm Spindle
Chain: KMC X9 9-speed
Freewheel: Sunrace R90-series 9-Speed Cassette, 11-25T
Brake Levers: Micro.Shift Integrated
Brakes: Dual Pivot w/ Cartridge Brake Shoes, Stainless Hardware & Teflon Bushings
Cables: Felt Slick Brake & Derailleur
Saddle: Felt 1.3 Road Saddle w/ Carbon Injected Base, Embossed Cover & Steel Rails
Seat Post: Felt 1.4 6061 Aluminum Ø27.2mm, 300mm
Seat Post Clamp: Ø31.8 6061-AL Forged Aluminum, Cr-Mo 5mm x 0.8mm Bolt, Stainless Steel Nut-Bar. 16 Grams
Rims: Alex R500 Aluminum Rim, Machined CSW Braking Surface & Wear Indicator laced 3-Cross Rear, Radial 0-Cross Front
Front Hub: Felt Sealed Forged Aluminum w/ Quick Release, 28H
Rear Hub: Felt Forged Aluminum Sealed Shimano 10, 9, or 8 speed Compatible Cassette w/ Quick Release, 32H
Spokes: Stainless 2.0mm
Tires: Vittoria Zaffiro 700c x 23c

For the pedals I went with Speedplay X/5 Chome-Moly clip-in pedals.

Now that I have chosen clip-in pedals, I am reminded of this story from Ken Davis.

I'll let you know how my maiden voyage went tomorrow.

I'm Back!

2010-07-27T15:56:00.001-07:00

Don't know why this has been such a long hiatus... but it has.

I'm coming back with this: a video I did with Animoto of the youngest blonde boy and my day-trip to Yosemite.

Enjoy!

Amazing!

2009-07-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the many videos. This is pretty cool!

Stand By Me...

2009-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

This video is from the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the first of many "songs around the world" being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe. See more at playingforchange.com.

New Sermon Series Bumper...

2009-07-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here it is...

He's Baaaack...

2009-07-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

Yep...

He's moving back.

More videos to come!

Read all about my BFF's return to Cali HERE.

Great advice for artists in the church...

2009-06-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

I just read this great article by my buddy, Gary Molander. If you are a "paid artist" in a church then this article is for you!

HT: It's Complicated

Maximizing Your Message Seminar

2009-06-21T21:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Maximizing Your Message seminar this year. We are already talking about what we can do to make it even better. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail me.

As promised, here are the resources from the seminar:

Truth and Beauty: PDF | Keynote
The Power of Story: PDF | Keynote
Harnessing the Power of EPIC: PDF | Keynote

Nuts, Bolts, and the Kitchen Sink: PDF

Randy's blog: Randy Parker

Gary's Blog: It's Complicated
Gary's company: Floodgate Productions

Thanks again for coming. We hope to see you next year.

Please Do This 60-Second Favor....

2009-06-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

One of my dear friends is auditioning for a shot at his dream job. Michael Hyatt wrote about it elegantly on his blog (text below). Will you please do me this small favor to help my friend: please go - right now - and watch his short video and vote his video your favorite (make sure you check your e-mail to confirm your vote).

Take it away, Michael...

My good friend and neighbor, Randy Elrod, is trying to land his dream job. I want to help him, and I want to ask for your help as well. Why would you do this? Because it is an opportunity for you to experience first-hand how you might be able to use social media in yet another aspect of your business.

First, let me give you some background. Murphy-Goode is a family-owned winery located within Sonoma Country’s Alexander Valley. They are looking for someone who really knows how to use Web 2.0, including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube , so that they can help the company get the word out about their wines. As the co-creator of LifeWork 2.0, Randy is the perfect candidate.

To find just the right person, Murphy-Goode created a contest. They have asked each applicant to create a 60-second video and upload it to the contest site. They are then asking each applicant to demonstrate their social media influence by having their friends and followers vote for their video. Getting the most votes doesn’t guarantee a job, but it does help get an interview.

This is where you come in. Please take 70 seconds to complete these four simple steps:

Watch Randy’s very cool video on the Murphy-Goode web site.
Enter your email address to vote for Randy.
Wait for the verification email and click on the link inside the message body. Note: Your vote will not count until you do this!
Tweet this post (or mention it on your Facebook page).

That’s it. Pretty neat little experiment huh? Not only is Murphy-Goode using the “wisdom of crowds” to find the right person for this job, but they are using this program to get huge publicity for their brand and products.

HT: Michael Hyatt

New Video from Mute Math...

2009-06-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

The videos these guys make are genius!

Remember THIS ONE?

HT: Inside the Unusual Mind of Brock Gill

New Sermon Bumper...

2009-06-06T12:49:00.001-07:00

I just finished making this bumper for our new sermon series ("Courage") at my church.

The Youngest Blonde Boy...

2009-06-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

I often jokingly refer to the youngest blonde boy as my "hope." This is in reference to the fact that he is the only other person in the family with musical inclinations. In fairness, the oldest blonde boy is very much like the "other" me - incredibly good at production stuff, a great lighting guy, and becoming a very proficient video switcher/director.

But I digress...

On Sunday, the youngest blonde boy had his annual recital. I was/am a very proud parent. He has shown real improvement over last year.

Check it out:

PS - Yes, for those of you with eagle-eyes, he is wearing the same cloths as last year. Mrs. Two Blonde Boys let the pants all the way out and then glued a hem on with Elmer's glue for a single-use solution. And the shoes were 2 sizes too small, but the boy was game.

Amazing Pool Player...

2009-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

...and he's not quite 2 years old!

How Smart a Driver are You?

2009-05-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

Californians may be among the nation's dumbest drivers. At least that's what a new survey has found.

The survey by GMAC ranked California 47th on knowledge of rules of the road. Only drivers in Hawai'i, New Jersey and New York knew less about driving laws.

Want to test yourself? Take the test HERE, then let me know how you did.

(BTW: I scored 100%)

HT: KMJ580

Quote of the day...

2009-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

"When people see a guy with a beard on their toast or in the form of a Cheeto, why do they assume it's Jesus and not some random dude?"

From @scottmcclellan
Editor of Collide Magazine

Cool video...

2009-05-20T09:20:00.001-07:00

I've seen a few iterations on this concept. This one is pretty cool.

This video was created for the AARP U@50 video contest and placed second. It is based on the Argentinian Political Advertisement "The Truth" by RECREAR.

A Tasty Summer Treat... Grilled Corn

2009-05-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

There is grilled corn on the cob and then there is grilled corn on the cob. This recipe makes the BEST grilled corn I have ever eaten, bar none. I found this recipe a few years ago in CookingLight and have been a huge fan after trying it the first time.

Go get some corn on the cob. Right now. Make this for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

GRILLED MEXICAN CORN WITH CREMA

On the streets of Mexico, people line up at vendor carts to buy giant ears of roasted corn dunked in rich crema Mexicana and sprinkled with chili powder and lime juice. Crema Mexicana is similar to sour cream and can be found in many large supermarkets in the Mexican food section (it's canned). If you can't find it, use low-fat sour cream.

1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (or any chili powder)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 ears corn
Cooking spray
1/4 cup crema Mexicana
6 lime wedges

Prepare grill.

Combine first 3 ingredients.

Place corn on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; cook 12 minutes or until corn is lightly browned, turning frequently. Place corn on a platter; drizzle with crema. Sprinkle with chipotle mixture. Garnish with lime wedges (make sure you squeeze the lime on the corn. It makes the dish).

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 ear)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 160(29% from fat); FAT 5.2g (sat 2.5g,mono 1.5g,poly 1g); PROTEIN 5g; CHOLESTEROL 8mg; CALCIUM 24mg; SODIUM 228mg; FIBER 4g; IRON 0.8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 28.2g

This post is a part of Fitness Fridays hosted by Pursuing Yahweh.

Perfect Scrambled Eggs...

2009-05-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to try them...

Quotes of the day...

2009-05-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

"The harder you work, the luckier you get."

"You learn more with your mouth shut and your ears open than you do the other way around."

"Most people who are older than you are also a hell of a lot smarter."

Dennis Leary

The Bride Was Beautiful...

2009-04-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Don't forget the Kleenex before you click through HERE.

HT: NPPA: The Best of Photojournalsim 2006 via @stevemccoy

The Mighty Mini...

2009-04-05T16:04:00.001-07:00

Today was a first at my church. As of today, we are 100% Mac in our production environment. In fact, today, we introduced 2 new members to our little family: two of the new Mac Mini's.

Here's our setup:

Mac Pro for Pro-Presenter and video editing.
Mac-Mini for Keynote.
Mac Mini for Pro-Presenter on the center screen.

We could run ProPresenter and Keynote on the same machine, but splitting up the tasks opens up another slot for volunteers to get plugged in (this was Randy Parker's idea... and it's a great one).

I got the Mac Pro last summer for $2,000 from the Apple Refurb shop. We added a HD that we had laying around, plus 8 GB of RAM from Crucial (total RAM is now 9 GB)

We just purchased the Mac Mini's from the Apple Store through our Willow Creek membership. Adding iWork plus expedited shipping (with my discount) ran me about $600 per machine, then I bumped up the RAM to 4GB for about $60 per machine (I got the RAM from Crucial). FYI... you need the NEW Mini's to run ProPresenter. Only the new Mini's support dual screens.

Following the instructions from Method Shop (HERE) made the opening the Mini and swapping out the RAM a breeze

In the past we have used PowerPoint, MediaShout, and EasyWorship for lyric projection. Of them, I liked EasyWorship the best. It was very flexible and rarely crashed (unlike my experience with MediaShout). If we were still in a PC environment, this is what I would use for lyric projection.

However, ProPresenter is exceptional. It is easy to use, has not crashed once, imports native Photoshop files, and looks great. Additionally, Keynote is amazing in terms of its easy of use and sheer beauty. It has PowerPoint beat in that area hands down.

Basically, if you're looking for a system to use for lyrics and sermon slides, you can get into a Mac Mini, plus Keynote and ProPresenter for a little over $1,000. Add to that the monitors you have laying around and a USB keyboard and mouse (we are using - for now - a Microsoft keyboard and mouse... I like the irony) - and you've got yourself a great little system!

Your Money and the Government...

2009-03-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Along with my wife, I teach a money class ay my church. We (hopefully) help people grasp some basic principles:

Spend less than you make.
Have cash on hand for emergencies.
Save and invest for the future.

Simple principles. Really simple. But not always easy to do.

My frustration with our government (both the federal government and the government of the great state of California) is that somehow they do not understand these simple principles.

If you have a "budget crisis" in your home or in the government you have two options: spend less or make more. Why do our legislators always choose the option to make more (by taxing us) but not spending less?

Government prints more money to bail out companies who have proven that they are not worth saving based on their gross mismanagement on their business, thus weakening the value of the dollar and further weakening our economy. They ask AIG to give back their bonuses (which they should) but do not offer to give back the raises they received.

Something is rotten in Denmark, people. And the men and women who have been elected to office are doing nothing about it. My friend JVo once said, "You can't polish a turd... but you can paint it silver." Our elected officials have their spray cans out and are painting like crazy.

The answer for our government in this economy is the same for us:

Spend less than we make (ideally: live beneath or well beneath your means)
Pay off our credit debt.
Have liquidity in the form of an emergency fund.
Save an invest for the future.

That is the best way for individuals to "recession-proof" themselves. It works for governments, too.

Get out the Kleenex!

2009-03-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

What an amazing and inspiring story.

HT: Jim Drake's Blog

Global Baloney?

2009-03-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

This morning I read THIS POST on Randy's blog and it put me in a mind to make the following observations about our "global warming crisis":

I have often wondered at the sky-is-falling mentality of the "go-greeners" who warn of impending doom due to global worming: a warming of our planet's climate that leads to an eventual ice age. Heck, they even make movies about it ("The Day After Tomorrow" - one of the most blatant propaganda films disguised as a movie in recent memory).

However, I seem to remember learning of the age of dinosaurs as a young boy. A time when there were no carbon emissions and yet, magically, the world was much warmer - globally - than it is today.

I also remember learning as a young man about the ice ages our planet experienced in the not-so-distant past. Amazingly, there were no cars and factories around then, either.

How are we to explain these mystical inconsistencies with today's global-doom-and-gloom weather predictions. As you pointed out, we have only kept track of temperatures for the last 100 years or so. But there is evidence - lots of evidence - of major climactic differences in the fossil record.

Could it be that our weather tends to be cyclical? Could it be that the climate has a lot more to do with forces other than what man brings to bear (especially considering that there were vastly fewer people on earth a the time of the last global warming and ice age and they didn't drive SUV's).

Might it not be a little arrogant of us - given the known fossil record of the distant and not-so-distant past - to think that we have that much to do with climactic changes?

Do I think we need to be wise with our environment? Yep. Do we need to do due diligence in protecting our natural resources? Absolutely.

Do I think we should hamstring ourselves by worrying about going green (which has a far more political and social agenda rather than a scientific one) in everything we do to the detriment of our economy and way of life?

No way.

tags: global warming | baloney | bologna

This is genius...

2009-03-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Enjoy.

Rock On!

2009-03-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

My youngest son had the quote of the day today.

He asked me, "Dad, how many girlfriends did you have before Mom?"

As I was thinking, he said, "Probably a lot because you were in a band."

I love that he still thinks I'm cool and that being in marching band in high school in his mind is equivalent with "being in a band" and being a chick magnet.

Rock on!

Please pray for Mark...

2009-02-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

Mark is a bass player and drummer here at NewCov. He is a great part of the team and a wonderful Christian man. My friend, Mark, went into surgery a few minutes ago. He is undergoing extensive surgery to remove cancer. Here is what his wife, Kathy, wrote on their CaringBridge site about Mark's condition:

Mark is a Radiation Therapist who has been treating cancer patients for the past 15 years. He loves his job and feels it's a wonderful ministry to give hope to others.

Mark and I met 5 years ago on October 31, 2003. We were set up by Kelly Fitzpatrick to go to dinner with a bunch of friends. Yet, the only people there were Mark, Kelly, and Scot. Later I found out it was a planned date without my knowledge. After dating for several months, Josh and Lacey (Kathie's children) started begging me to marry Mark. This begging went on for 6 months. Finally, we married in July 2004.

About 3-4 months ago, Mark's left side started hurting. He told me two months later because he didn't want to frighten me. For the past 4-6 weeks he has been getting tests done to see if there was a problem.

Mark has been diagnosed with Retroperitoneum Sarcoma in his left upper abdomen. His doctor diagnosed this partially to get him in surgery asap. Mark is going into surgery on Thursday, February 19th at 12:00 noon at Fresno Heart Hospital. After meeting the doctor this morning he stated that Mark will undergo major surgery. He feels the cancer is malignant. The mass is extremely large (approx. 9 cm) and involves the left kidney, spleen, pancreas, stomach, large intestine, rib muscles, and is obstructing his bowels. During the surgery the doctor plans to remove the kidney, spleen, approx. 1/3 of the stomach, up to 1/2 of his pancreas, colon (large intestines). He will do a possible transverse/descending colon removal/resection. Because of the extent of the damage, the surgery will be quite long. The doctor said Mark will be in ICU, then transferred to his own room. The hospital stay will be 7-10 days.

4-6 weeks after the surgery he will begin Chemotherapy for approximately 5-6 weeks. The doctor is requesting the maximum dose for Mark because he wants to kill any other cancer cells in his body. At the same time he will also undergo Radiation treatment for 5-6 weeks.

You can keep updated on Mark's progress HERE. You can also post notes of encouragement to Mark, Kathie, and Josh and Lacey.

Thanks for praying.

Overcoming Creative Blocks...

2009-02-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

I just came across THIS great article by Dr. Robert Schwarz on overcoming creative blocks:

The normal creative process includes fits and starts. If you are attempting to create or innovate anything, you need to expect that there will be times of great apparent productivity and times when it appears that not much is happening. You need to accept that this is the nature of things, not unlike the seasons of the year. But there are some things you can do to work with this natural process so that you maximize your own creativity.

1. Recognize that creativity cannot be commanded to appear.

Any attempt to do so is likely to have an opposite effect... Negative states of mind such as anger or fear also block the creative flow. So the first thing to do is to take an inventory of your state of mind... do whatever you know how to do to stop engaging in those thought patterns. At the very least, leave wherever you are and go to another chair or another room...

2. Get up and do movement of any kind.

I am not necessarily talking about exercise, although that is good, too. I am talking about walking around, swinging your arms, kicking your feet, bending, and twisting. In fact, the more unusual the movement, the better. After all, you are trying to activate your creativity, so the more you move in novel ways, the more likely you will activate your own muse of novelty.

3. Another thinking block to creativity is the need to avoid being wrong or the need to do things perfectly.

Creativity is a process that includes many “wrong” turns... Some things take a while to percolate.. No one has a thirty-minute delivery guarantee on creative thought.

4. You cannot command creativity, but you can activate it.

If you are stuck in one area, access creativity from a different area. Take a break from the project you are working on and do something else that is creative... Do that activity for at least an hour or until ideas start to flow. Allow yourself to get involved in it. Then go back to your project.

5. Ask your unconscious mind for help.

There are a number of variations to activate the creativity of the unconscious mind. The most basic is to a three–step process:

Review the situation as you understand it.
Literally ask your unconscious mind for help to solve the problem by revealing something new or putting something together that you had not thought of or by giving you a new perspective or by letting go of your assumptions.
Let it all go and do something else for a while (i.e., step 3 or 4) or for even longer periods such as a day or two... The trick is to completely distract your conscious mind from your usual way of thinking that may be blocking you. Then allow yourself to be open to whatever shows up... After a period of time, go back to your original problem and start back in on it. Most of the time, something new actually does show up.

HT: WomenCo

22 Valentines Days...

2009-02-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

February 14, 1987 was the day of my first date with the beauty sitting on the front of the hippo. We had dinner at the Chart House in Portland, OR (at the top of Terwilliger with a great view). Then we drove down to the Columbia River to watch the submarine races (see note below).

It was the best first date ever.

And within a month's time, I was off the market forever... hopelessly in love with the woman who would become my wife in a little over a year's time.

In the course of these 22 Valentines Days we have experienced our highest highs and lowest lows... together. We have lived in Portland and LaPine, OR, in Bellevue and Maple Valley, WA, and in San Jose and Fresno, CA (in 13 different places). We have served together in 5 churches (and apart in 2 others). We have been totally broke and absolutely debt free. And we have been blessed with two incredible, wonderful, handsome young men.

How could have I known then, on that first date 22 years ago, that we would experience a lifetime of love together?

Happy Valentines, my love!

*Update: JVO thought "watching the submarine races" might be a metaphor for "hiding the pickle" which is, of course, a metaphor for something that didn't happen until we got married. For the record, "watching the submarine races" is a metaphor for "picking a little neck" which us a metaphor for, well, you know...

Always check your child's homework...

2009-02-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

The names have been changed to protect the innocent...

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer.

I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.

From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smith

HT: Beehive

What a week...

2009-02-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Chad and I are packing up and heading home after an incredible week at the re:create conference. This was my 9th year at re:create and, let me tell you, it was the best!

From the first night with the Adam Nitti Band to Ian Morgan Cron to Ken Davis to the celebration of the Eucharist to the face-melting sounds of Fee, it was truly an amazing week.

I'll be blogging about it after I get home and am able to process the information and upload some pictures and video. Until then, I'll say "thanks" to Randy and Chris for another amazing week of refreshment, renewal, and diffusion of ideas.

Do You Need More Sleep?

2009-02-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

I am at the re:create conference in Franklin, TN this week. It is the BEST conference I have ever been to. However, I often get too little sleep during the week. I'm not complaining... I love meeting new people and interacting with them. It is amazing.

Do you need more sleep? Sleep is as vital for survival as food, according to Dr. Mary Susan Esther, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Chronic lack of sleep can lead to a host of health problems—such as high blood pressure, obesity, depression, irregular hormone production, a weakened immune system, memory lapses, constant irritability, and decreased concentration and reaction times.

So are you spending enough quality time between the sheets—asleep? See how many of the signs below describe you. Then decide if a sleep deficit is holding you back.

1. You're not hungry for lunch. A lack of sleep can make you constantly want to eat more, or persistently feel like you're not hungry. It throws off your internal clock resulting in abnormal feelings—which is why so many people lose or gain weight during periods of sleeplessness.

2. You've looked at three other Web sites in the last 5 minutes—and checked your email twice. Whether you're writing a quick email or solving chemical equations; a lack of sleep can make focusing seem impossible.

3. You can't remember where you put the car keys. Your brain needs sleep to refresh and regenerate. Without it, your short-term memory may be impaired—which is why pulling an all-nighter rarely yields better results than getting quality shut-eye, according to Dr. Neil Kline, a sleep physician and representative of the American Sleep Association.

4. You can't carry on a conversation. Come Saturday night you may work a party like a pro, but as long as you're sleep-deficient, coming up with witty—or even coherent—one-liners is out of the question.

5. You're drowsy at the wheel. Your eyes may glaze over now and then when you're staring at the computer screen or stuck in an endless meeting, but if you struggle to stay awake behind the wheel—or doing any task that puts your life at risk—you're not just bored. You need more sleep.

6. You feel sick—and you never get sick. Your immune system repairs and strengthens while you sleep. So in addition to eating flu-fighting foods, log at least seven hours a night to stay healthy all season.

HT: Men's Health

Awesome Customer Service Experience...

2009-02-01T05:39:00.000-08:00

I recently "broke" my guitar... my main guitar: a Taylor 814ce (Brazilian Rosewood).

I was leading worship recently at a conference when I stepped on the cable and tweaked the end pin where the cable plugs in.

So I called Taylor to order a replacement part. I told the tech (Michael?) what had happened and he took my information. When I asked if he wanted my credit card info, he said, "We're just gonna take care of it. There's no charge to you."

Let me be clear: my guitar was a year out of warranty. And they just "took care of it."

Customer service, the way it was meant to be. Thanks Taylor!

PS: I am thinking about switching to Snap Jack cables to try to prevent this from happening. Anybody have experience with this?

The Internet Means Everyone...

2009-01-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

I had a conversation with a member of my family tonight who works for a nationwide wireless internet provider. This person's boss recently asked them if "all pastors are thieves."

Where did this notion come from? He got that idea as he watched ministry people asked each other for the usernames and passwords for his company's service on Twitter.

And then there's THIS STORY by David Henderson (and the follow-ups HERE and HERE).

All I can say is... wow!

As I tell my interns: the Internet is everyone. You say it on the Internet and you're saying it to everyone... in the world. Is what you say representative of who you are? If you are a Christian, is it representative of Christ?

I'm no angel. I have made my share of stupid Twitter comments that should have been direct rather than for public consumption. I've written stupid things on my blog that I later took down or just wish I hadn't written.

Before you put it on Twitter... think.

HT: David Henderson

Comfort Food...

2009-01-23T10:05:00.001-08:00

Everyone has their favorite comfort foods. Many of mine involve a mixture of potato and cheese (add gravy , and you've got the trinity).

Last night SheWhoDoesNotBlogorTwitter (aka Mrs. TwoBlondeBoys) and I went to Chad & Liege's for dinner. We were treated to filet mignon, lobster tails, salad, and chocolate cheeseckae for dessert. They were all absolutely delicious.

But the potatoes took the proverbial cake. Homemade potatoes au gratin, smothered in saucy goodness and topped with melted crispy cheese.

I have found a new love. Cheesy potatoes is thy name.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Best Blog Find of the Day...

2009-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Check out The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotations Marks! They think like I do.

Which is a little "scary."

Josh Eats a Fish Taco...

2009-01-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

My intern had never eaten a fish taco before.

He has now...

That's some funny stuff...

2009-01-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

Hilarious! Someone went to a lot of work.

Enjoy!

Buy this book...

2009-01-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

I want to recommend a great book to you. The book is Beauty is Calling by Randy Elrod. Some of you know Randy through his blog, Ethos.

Here's what I wrote a review about Beauty is Calling on Amazon:

I recently received my copy of Randy Elrod's book, "Beauty is Calling." Being familiar with Elrod's watercolors, I was looking forward to a feast for the eyes. "Beauty is Calling" did not disappoint. "Beauty" is a fantastic collection of beautiful art combined with a selection of quotations from everyone from Cicero to Lady Bird Johnson. As I spent time with each new work as I turned the page I was transported. Elrod's art does that to you. My two personal favorites in the book are "Beauty" and "Dreamin'."

Another great thing about Elrod's book is that proceeds from the sale of the book go to support Kalein, an artist development center. Kalein "offers artists and leaders a creative and passionate environment of encouragement and mentorship to better discover, develop and discipline heir dreams" (from the Forward).

I would highly recommend this wonderful book. It will take you to another world - a world of beauty. Not only that, but when you buy the book you can feel good knowing that you are supporting the arts and developing the next generation of artists.

So take a look at Beauty is Calling. I really believe you will enjoy it - and you're money will be going toward a great cause!

Oh yeah... if you're in the Nashville area, join Randy for a book signing - he's calling it a "Book Tasting" - this Friday evening, Jan.23 from 5-7 p.m. at Landmark Booksellers in historic downtown Franklin, TN. Complimentary wine & cheese and a free wine glass and signed print if you buy a book(s).

#1 Song on the Day You Were Born...

2009-01-18T17:12:00.001-08:00

Ever wonder what the #1 song was on the day you were born? Wonder no longer! Check out THIS SITE.

The #1 song for May 22, 1966: When a Man Loves a Woman, by Percy Sledge.

Saturday Morning Whimsey...

2009-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Beautiful!

Where' Waldo?

2009-01-14T10:26:00.000-08:00

I just realized two things:

One, it's been two weeks since I've posted. And two, almost all of my recent posts have been video related.

So... here's another video: Uncle Jay Explains the News.

New Sermon Series Bumper...

2009-01-02T22:27:00.000-08:00

Here's the new bumper I just finished for the sermon series (Backstory) we start this Sunday at New Covenant Community Church in Fresno, CA.

Check out the high quality version HERE.

Quote of the Day...

2008-12-31T11:40:00.001-08:00

This one is from Steve Jobs:

"The problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have no taste and I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way. They don't think of original ideas and they don't bring much culture into their product... I am saddened, not by Microsoft's success. I have no problem with their success. They've earned their success (for the most part). I have a problem with they fact that they just really make third-rate products."

Little Drummer Boy...

2008-12-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

Wow!

Heart-Warming News...

2008-12-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

The following is from The Life of Reilly by Rick Reilly of ESPN:

They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.

It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.

Did you hear that? The other team's fans?

They even made a banner for players to crash through at the end. It said, "Go Tornadoes!" Which is also weird, because Faith is the Lions.

It was rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.

"I never in my life thought I'd hear people cheering for us to hit their kids," recalls Gainesville's QB and middle linebacker, Isaiah. "I wouldn't expect another parent to tell somebody to hit their kids. But they wanted us to!"
And even though Faith walloped them 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave head coach Mark Williams a sideline squirt-bottle shower like he'd just won state. Gotta be the first Gatorade bath in history for an 0-9 coach.

But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field and two and two started to make four. They lined the players up in groups of five—handcuffs ready in their back pockets—and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas. Every game it plays is on the road.

This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville, but he already knew the score. After all, Faith was 7-2 going into the game, Gainesville 0-8 with 2 TDs all year. Faith has 70 kids, 11 coaches, the latest equipment and involved parents. Gainesville has a lot of kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery—many of whose families had disowned them—wearing seven-year-old shoulder pads and ancient helmets.

So Hogan had this idea. What if half of our fans—for one night only—cheered for the other team? He sent out an email asking the Faithful to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send:" Hogan wrote. "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth."

Some people were naturally confused. One Faith player walked into Hogan's office and asked, "Coach, why are we doing this?"
And Hogan said, "Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."

Next thing you know, the Gainesville Tornadoes were turning around on their bench to see something they never had before. Hundreds of fans. And actual cheerleaders!

"I thought maybe they were confused," said Alex, a Gainesville lineman (only first names are released by the prison). "They started yelling 'DEE-fense!' when their team had the ball. I said, 'What? Why they cheerin' for us?'"

It was a strange experience for boys who most people cross the street to avoid. "We can tell people are a little afraid of us when we come to the games," says Gerald, a lineman who will wind up doing more than three years. "You can see it in their eyes. They're lookin' at us like we're criminals. But these people, they were yellin' for us! By our names!"

Maybe it figures that Gainesville played better than it had all season, scoring the game's last two touchdowns. Of course, this might be because Hogan put his third-string nose guard at safety and his third-string cornerback at defensive end. Still.

After the game, both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray and that's when Isaiah surprised everybody by asking to lead. "We had no idea what the kid was going to say," remembers Coach Hogan. But Isaiah said this: "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank You, but I never would've known there was so many people in the world that cared about us."

And it was a good thing everybody's heads were bowed because they might've seen Hogan wiping away tears.

As the Tornadoes walked back to their bus under guard, they each were handed a bag for the ride home—a burger, some fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player.

The Gainesville coach saw Hogan, grabbed him hard by the shoulders and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know."

And as the bus pulled away, all the Gainesville players crammed to one side and pressed their hands to the window, staring at these people they'd never met before, watching their waves and smiles disappearing into the night.

Anyway, with the economy six feet under and Christmas running on about three and a half reindeer, it's nice to know that one of the best presents you can give is still absolutely free.

Hope.

You can read more from Rick Reilly HERE.

HT: Rick Reilly

Fun for Everyone...

2008-12-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

Another funny one from Anjelah Johnson...

Fun for the Ladies...

2008-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

The girls in the office find this hilarious!

The Nuns...

2008-12-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

At the risk of becoming completely video driven on my blog lately... here is another hilarious offering!

Clint Eastwood is Back...

2008-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

...and he's mad as hell!

Clint Eastwood in The Growler - watch more funny videos

Christmas Lights Extravaganza...

2008-12-18T19:11:00.001-08:00

Not quite as amazing as that other video, but still pretty cool (and would be fun to do).

Amazing Art...

2008-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

That was made (except for the paper) entirely of tape. Amazing.

See more of his artwork HERE.

Photographing Children...

2008-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago I shared some pictures I has taken. I mentioned that my basic approach to photography was to shoot lots of pictures and hope for 1 or 2 good ones.

Always on the lookout for tips, I came across this site. DPS (Digital Photography School) has tons of great tips, but the one that really caught my eye was How to Photograph Children.

My favorite tip was to focus on the eyes. I can't wait to give it a try with my 50mm lens (thanks for that tip, Tyler).

HT: Weight Upon the Lord

Twittering Shakespeare...

2008-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief:

Polonius, Hamlet, Act II Scene II

Twitter. Social networking. Blogging on crack. Call it what you will... it is addicting.

And interesting. Because you've got to make it FIT in 140 characters or less. Including the characters for who you are sending the post to. Which means if you have a LONG Twitter name, you're cutting into what I can say (you know who you are @shameonyoko and @randyparker).

JP Rangaswami asked the question in his post on Brevity, "What would Hamlet look like in 140 characters?"

Here's his answer:

What's yours?

Dinner Sunday Night...

2008-12-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

"I got some steaks at a gift exchange."

It's safe to say that most of you won't here that phrase anywhere this Christmas. But then you aren't at the gift exchanges I'm at. I was at out annual Christmas party with our close friends and got 4 filet mignons as a part of the "guy" gift exchange. Meat is always a winner.

So last night I decided to cook dinner. Here was the menu:

Filet mignon topped with herbed butter and crumbled bleu cheese
Elk bratwurst (recently harvested and processed)
Bacon-wrapped green beans
Mashed potatoes
Hand-dipped garlic bread

The table was set in red and green at lit with Christmas candles. It was awesome. After dinner we walked around the neighborhood and looked at Christmas lights. What a night!

Filets

Marinate filets in a homemade vinaigrette for at least one hour. For extra flavor, add lots of fresh pressed garlic and brown sugar to the vinaigrette.
After marinating, wrap filets in bacon. Secure bacon with kitchen twine.
Season with fresh cracked pepper and kosher salt.
Sear steaks over wood grill. Sear for 1-2 minutes, then rotate 90 degrees and sear for another 1-2 minutes. Flip steaks and repeat on the other side.
Move steaks to cooler area of grill. Cover grill and cook until medium rare (10-12 minutes).
Top with herbed butter (see below) and crumbled bleu cheese.

Herbed butter

Soften 1 stick of butter
Add 4-8 tsp. fresh minced chives.
Add 2-4 cloves crushed garlic.
Add fresh cracked pepper to taste.
Mix and spoon onto plastic wrap.
Roll into tube and freeze.

Beans

Blanch fresh green beans for 2-3 minutes.
Plunge beans in ice bath to cool.
Toss beans in olive oil, fresh pressed garlic, fresh cracked pepper, and kosher salt.
Make bundles of 5-7 beans. Wrap bundles in bacon.
But bean bundles on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until bacon is cooked.

Bread

Melt 1-2 sticks of butter. Add 6-8 fresh garlic, crushed.
Halve a sourdough baguette horizontally.
Place on grill to brown.
Remove bread from grill and slice.
Dip slices of bread into garlic butter.

More FREE Christmas Music...

2008-12-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

Get your copy HERE.

Quote of the Day...

2008-12-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

“If there were no rocks in the river, the river couldn’t sing.”

HT: Normal Rockstar via his grandad

Free Christmas music...

2008-12-10T13:56:00.001-08:00

Our house was decorated (inside) for Christmas before Thanksgiving. We started listening to Christmas music right after Halloween.

Suffice it to say, we like Christmas at our place.

You too? Then download some FREE Christmas music from Joel Rakes (and check out his other stuff, too).

HT: The Bloggable Music Network

Men: Beware of the Dog House...

2008-12-03T13:00:00.001-08:00

Don't go there!

I've Got A Man Cold...

2008-12-03T10:41:00.001-08:00

This is my second day sick in bed. Want to know how I feel?

Women have no idea...

Stuff I've Been Working On...

2008-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

I enjoy taking pictures. I don't know that I'm all that good at it. I believe in taking LOTS of pictures and hoping for one or two good ones in the batch.

Here are some recent shots:

Life Pix...

2008-12-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

America's largest magazine publisher, Time Inc. has announced that access to LIFE's Photo Archive -- over 10 million images in total -- will soon be available on a new hosted image service from Google. Ninety-seven percent of the LIFE photographs have never been seen by the public. Among the largest professional photography collections on the Web, the collection contains some of the most iconic images of the 20th century, including works from great photojournalists Alfred Eisenstaedt, Margaret Bourke-White, Gordon Parks, and W. Eugene Smith, and will be one of the largest scanning projects ever undertaken. Millions of images have been scanned and made available on Google Image Search, with all 10 million images to be available in the coming months. "For 70 years, LIFE has been about one thing, and that's the power of photography to tell a story," says Andy Blau, LIFE's President. "LIFE will now reach a broader audience and engage them online with the incredible depth and breadth of the LIFE Photo Archive from serious world events, to Hollywood celebrities to whimsical photographs." Images can be found when conducting a search on Google.com or on Google Image Search. Users can also search through the LIFE Collection directly by visiting http://images.google.com/hosted/life. LIFE's Photo Archive is free for personal and research purposes. Copyright and ownership of all images remain with Time Inc

The (Church) Office...

2008-12-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

HT: Collide Magazine Blog

Mobile Me?

2008-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Use it or not?

Love it or hate it?

Should I or shouldn't I?

What do you think?

Thanksgiving in LA...

2008-11-27T09:09:00.000-08:00

When I was in college (in Portland), I spent my first Thanksgiving away from my family and had dinner with the family of one of my professors, David Needham.

It was a rainy night - it was Portland... what did I expect? My Thanksgiving were usually warm in SoCal.

And so it is today - 68 and nice. We are here in West LA in The Orlando, just a couple of blocks from the Beverly Center. This year will be the first time in over 20 years that my side of the family will be all together: Mom, Dad & Nana from Oxnard, Alison from Texas, Dawn, Maria, Mercer & Hudson from LA.

On tap: easy some tasty food today. Take a walk. Have some pie.

Tomorrow: Shopping at the Beverly Center as well as a walk to Mood (which is just around the corner from my sister's). If you watch Project Runway, you know Mood. This season's Project Runway is being filmed in LA and the Mood they use is the Mood on the corner of La Cienega and Pico. So this is a pilgrimage of sorts for us.

So Happy Thanksgiving one and all. Enjoy your pie!

Thinking Outside the Box...

2008-11-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York two days before Thanksgiving and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough".

"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.

We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this,"

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way."

HT: What if...

Quotes of the Day...

2008-11-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

These came across Twitter today from Catalyst One Day at Granger Community Church.

"A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” John Maxwell

"If you have momentum and you don’t know why, you are one stupid decision away from killing it." Andy Stanley

"Complexity works against momentum. Complexity works against momentum. Complexity works against momentum. Complexity works against momentum. The process of tearing down complexity is painful, but must be done." Andy Stanley

"Are you about your mission? Or... are you about guarding people’s feelings?" Craig Groeschel

"Great leaders see OPPORTUNITIES where others see LIMITATIONS." Craig Groeschel

Typical way of thinking: "We have to DO MORE to reach more." New mindset: "We can REACH MORE by doing LESS." Craig Groeschel

"A leadership engine must be simple and doable. Can you write it on a napkin?" Dave Fergusen

"If you don't take time off, it's because you are full of pride and you are a poor leader." Craig Groeschel

"You can have high control and low growth or lower control and high growth. But you can't have both." Craig Groschel

Three assignments from Craig Groeschel...

Find someone one or two steps ahead of you and learn how they think.
Identify one wrong mindset and ask God to renew your mind with truth.
Identify one painful decision that you’ve been avoiding and commit to making the decision no matter what the short-term pain.

Things that make you go hmmm...

2008-11-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

HT: JVO

Twitter...

2008-11-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

I love Twitter. I love that I can keep in touch - albeit at arms length - with my friends all over the world (shout out to Cairo, Egypt).

Carlos described it as blogging on crack when I asked him what it was.

Say whatever is on your mind in 140 characters or less. It is addicting!

And right now it is down and I am going through withdrawals.

I admit it. I have issues!

Unbelievable Sunday...

2008-11-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

Every Sunday I get to work with and serve side by side some amazing people. I absolutely love my job.

But every once in a while, I get to do something that is unforgettable. Yesterday was one of those days. Get the hanky.

Heather is my shortest friend...

2008-11-16T22:05:00.000-08:00

Heather is my shortest friend. I am 6' 7". Heather is 4' 11". That's a 20" difference.

So how tall are you?

New Message Bumper

2008-11-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

This week I am using a piece from Floodgate Productions as our bumper with a cheesy little tag I added to the end.

Down and dirty! Enjoy...

I'm Baaaack!!!

2008-10-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

I'm finally back in the blogosphere after 2 weeks of silence due to a computer crash. Not having a"regular" computer to use when most of what you do involves a computer makes life REALLY difficult.

Not only do I have a new computer, but I have left the world of Microsoft operating systems and bought a Mac. Part of the move to Mac was I admit, the sexy nature of the Apple line of products. But the biggest factor in my decision was Windows Vista.

Put simply, Vista stinks! And all new PC's are running it (and are often a major PAIN to move backwards to Windows XP).

So I am have become one of those statistics referred to at the October 14th Apple Keynote. I moved to Apple largely because of Vista.

And I ain't ever going back...

Oprah and Christianity...

2008-10-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

My friend, Troy, wrote post today on his blog about the Oprah-ization of Christians. It is right on the mark, in my opinion. Here's an excerpt:

Don't get me wrong. I like Oprah. I like her show. There are lots of cool and informative, entertaining guests on it. Oprah is not a spiritual authority, however. The Jesus she proclaims alongside all of these other philosophies, is not the Jesus of the Bible. I don't care how many times she hosts Rick Warren or Denzel Washington or how many times she tears up at some kid singing Amazing Grace. She is not the authority Christ followers should be taking their cues from.

Take a minute to read his entire post, HERE.

HT: newworship blog

tags: Oprah | Jesus | Christianity | Christians

Bumper for this Sunday...

2008-10-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day...

2008-10-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

"Boys, everyone of you is going to have a chance to have an affair…and it’s not because you are good looking but rather because the enemy is crafty and knows he can use a woman to take you down."

from Perry Noble's blog

Read the entire post HERE.

This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesday hosted by Ethos.

Worship Confessional: 10.12.08

2008-10-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

The choir was back this Sunday under a new director, Alan Ours. I thought they sounded great on the closer, Tomlin's How Can I Keep from Singing.

Hilary did a great job leading I Stand Amazed and Hosanna has been a great addition to our set list the past 2 weeks. Here I Am to Worship really made the prayer time amazing (thanks, Nat, for that suggestion).

Here is the set (with iTunes links). Sorry, but this week we didn't use Mogulus as our network crashed before the first service (bummer).

Hosanna (Starfield version)
I Stand Amazed (North Point version)
Here I Am to Worship (Tim Hughes)
How Can I Keep from Singing (Chris Tomlin)

BOOM SHAKA-LAKA!

2008-10-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

Randy (King of all Lighting) tore it up today at his church! Check out the video of their opener over on his blog.

You Gotta Love Boys...

2008-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Dad! Take a picture!"

You just gotta love boys!

The Dark Toy...

2008-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

For maximum viewing pleasure, click through and watch it in high quality.

HT: Cries of the Heart

tags: video | humor | funny | Toy Story | Dark Knight

Important Bulletin...

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

I grew up with two wonderful sets of grandparents. I am extremely fortunate to have known all four of them, plus two great-grandparents. My Nana (mom's mom) is still alive and well and is as wonderful and feisty as ever.

Dad's parents were from Arkansas. They grew up picking cotton. My grandpa used to tell us about his haunted barn back on the homestead and how he found grandma naked in the mud and felt sorry for her and married her. We enjoyed biscuits and gravy and country ham and fried chicken and all sorts of delicious down-home, home-cooked food at their house. Grandpa chewed plug tobacco which he spit out of the window of his truck (which left streaks down the window and door) and he used Eagle's Brand instead of milk in his coffee, which he spooned into his saucer to cool.

Grandma & Grandpa spoke with a wonderful southern drawl which some people tell me I have. When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, I would often get asked if I was from the south, to which I replied "southern California."

But I digress.

The reason for this important bulletin is a post I recently read over on Rocks in My Dryer:. Shannon describes herself as a 30-something stay-at-home mom to four kids who loves "semi-colons with a deep, deep passion."

An Open Letter To Yankees Regarding Use of the Word "Y'all" nearly caused me to nearly pee my pants, so I thought I would share it with you today:

Dear Northern People (and yes, we really do call you "Yankees" behind your back, but we mean it in the nicest way possible),

It would appear that many of you are beginning to desire to add the word "y'all" to your vocabulary. I do not blame you. It is an excellent word, rich in culture, and full of practical application. And we Southerners are gracious (MY STARS, we are gracious). We will share this word with you happily, because we feel should not be discriminated against just because you did not have the good sense to be born in God's Country.

Read the rest of the post HERE.

HT: Rocks in My Dryer

tags: southern | y'all | humor | hilarious southern girl | Rocks in My Dryer

New Sunday Bumper...

2008-10-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I just finished the bumper for this Sunday. we are in a series called Tough Stuff. The message for this Sunday is God's Wrath.

Last week the bumper was 15 seconds long, but Randy gave me the idea of making it longer so that our backstage crew could set up for the message during the bumper rather than the announcements.

I found the song God of Wrath by David Crowder and used it as the base. I added some sonic texture with Designer Sound FX from Video Copilot. By the way, if you aren't familiar with Video Copilot, check them out... TONS of free tutorials for Adobe After Effects.

Anyway, I liked the groove of the Crowder song and used some stills along with the Twitch effect (also from Video Copilot). I added some vignetting to the stills and video and also colorized them with a slight blue wash to give an old "film-y" look. Then I finished the sequence with the same video bumper from last week with the updated info.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

This post is a part of Creative Chaos hosted by Ragamuffin Soul.

tags: New Covenant Community Church | NewCov | Fresno | sermon | bumper | Creative Chaos | Ragamuffin Soul

Ministry Truths...

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

Perry Noble has hit the mark once again...

One of the lessons I’ve learned while being in the ministry for the past 17 years is sometimes what people say isn’t exactly true…things such as…

(WARNING…you will probably only like this post if you are a pastor or a staff member of a church!)

What They Say: “I’m looking for a church that preaches the Word!”

What They Mean: “I’m looking for a church that preaches MY view of the Word. I think the BLANK translation should be used…I think BLANK should be talked about a lot while BLANK should be ignored. And if you ever stop preaching my view of the Word I will leave and tell others that you don’t preach the Word!”

What They Say: “Lot’s of people have been coming to me and saying they don’t like is…”

What They Mean: “I basically only have three friends…and all of them think exactly like me. The other night we were enjoying a time of self righteousness because, after all, we are right about everything…and were also slandering you (in the form of prayer requests) and thought it would be wise to approach you with our pet peeve. We’ve actually talked to no one else about this but said “lots” because we wanted to validate our dysfunction.”

What They Say: “I’m leaving the church.”

What They Mean: “Beg me to stay. If you will just ask me I will share with you several ways you can compromise God’s vision that He’s given you, thus becoming nothing more than a people pleasing pastor who is more interested in popularity than obedience. If you don’t bow to my demands I will remind you that I tithe and that the church needs my money, reducing you to a mere preaching whore…one who is paid for a service for the pleasure of another person.”

What They Say: “I want a church that is more focused on discipleship.”

What They Mean: “I want a church where everyone knows me and how important I am! I don’t want to reach people who are different from me, be it economic class or race or even musical preference. I already know WAY more than I do…but I somehow equate spirituality with knowledge rather than application and I rather enjoy feeling intellectually superior to those who don’t know as much as me.”

What They Say: “Don’t take this personally…but…”

What They Mean: “I am about to lower the BOOM on you…but you can’t get angry because I told you not to take it personally. Even though you have dedicated your life to this and pretty much invest every ounce of energy you have to this cause…and I think about it once or twice a week…you need to receive my attacks, even when they are personal…and you cannot retaliate because, remember, it’s not personal.”

OKAY, that was fun! I typed it all with a smile. Trust me…I’m not mad or frustrated with anyone…I just thought a pastor or two MIGHT get a smile out of this. :-)

What do you think? What would you add?

Check out Perry's blog HERE.

HT: Perry Noble dot com

tags: ministry | Perry Noble

Church Encourages Texting During Sermon...

2008-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

O'FALLON, MO. — The spotlight shone on the Rev. Mike Schreiner on Sunday as he preached about who goes to heaven and how earthly relationships will translate in the hereafter.

Off to Schreiner's right, the steady glow of dozens of cell phones lit up the section where the teens of Morning Star Church sat listening to the sermon, thumbs furiously working little keyboards.

High above the 700-seat sanctuary, Amie Haskins, 27, the director of worship, sat in the church's control booth receiving their text messages on the church's cell phone. She screened out some (most were about whether pets would be in heaven — a point she knew Schreiner would be addressing later in the sermon), and typed others into a computer that was connected to Schreiner's laptop next to him. During Schreiner's 30-minute sermon, Haskins received 35 questions...

Schreiner answered just three of them, but the church's embrace of texting — this was the third week of its experiment — has already improved the dialogue, according to Schreiner, and energized many of Morning Star's younger members.

"I love it," said 14-year-old Kailey Elfstrum, who had her text all ready to go even before Schreiner's sermon began. "You get to ask the pastor anything you want while he's talking."

Her friend Maddie Howard, also 14, agreed. "You don't want to admit your sins to the rest of the church, but this way you can still ask something important," she said...

For more senior members of the congregation whose thumbs are less dextrous, or perhaps arthritic, Morning Star also allows its members to question the pastor the old-fashioned way — with forms placed in the weekly bulletin they can write on and submit in the collection plate.

But it's not just Morning Star's young members who are pleased with their church's experiment. "I think it's neat," said Bill Sullivan, 60. "I hope they keep it up."

Mike O'Brien, 44, said his 13-year-old daughter and his wife have texted questions to the church's pastors. "It beats walking out of there with a question burning in your head and not having it answered," he said.

Schreiner said that after just three weeks of taking text-message questions, he can feel a difference in his preaching.

"It gives me a little more of a teaching role," he said. "It gets back to Jesus Christ and the Sermon on the Mount where I picture Jesus having a conversation with the people. With texting, it becomes much more of a dialogue."

Read the entire article HERE.

This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesday hosted by Ethos.

HT: STL Today

tags: texting | text messaging | church | sermon | Watercooler Wednesday | Ethos

Blog of the Week...

2008-10-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

Last night I stumbled on a great blog called Alpha Student. Here's what they are all about:

Alpha Student’s aim is to help you get the most out of your time as a student. Whether you need practical tips, money know-how, academic help, friendly support, a plan for your future, or just some fun, you’ll find it here.

We started Alpha Student because we’re students ourselves and wish we’d known a lot of the stuff here when we started out. We want you to learn from our past mistakes and unnecessary worries, and we want to share our current experiences with you too.

Above all, Alpha Student is for you. It’s not just a blog – it’s a community of great students, all of whom want to get as much as they can out of being at college or university.

Alpha Student is the brainchild of Ali Hale (a postgrad, studying an MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths College, London (she has a BA in English from the University of Cambridge)) and Paul David Luke (a mature undergrad (even if that sounds like an oxymoron), studying Law & Politics at London Metropolitan University).

This would have been a great resource when I was in college. So if you're in college - or you know someone who is - give Alpha Student a look see.

tags: college | student | Alpha Student

Worship Confessional: 10.05.08

2008-10-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days when you were totally prepared but felt totally unprepared? This was one of those days when I felt absolutely aware of my inadequacy before God.

The worship songs were great - we did two of my favorites: From the Inside Out and Jesus Paid it All. I don't know how the set played in the room. Like I said, I was in a weird place this morning.

We started a new sermon series called "Tough Stuff." For this series, we are using video bumpers. Check this week's out on YouTube HERE (watch it in high quality).

Anyway, here is the set (with iTunes links). You can also view the entire 2nd service on the NewCov Production Mogulus channel...

Hosanna (Starfield version)
From the Inside Out (Hillsong United)
Jesus Paid it All (North Point version)
Take My Life (Chris Tomlin)
Your Love, Oh Lord (Third Day)

This post is a part of Sunday Setlists hosted by FredMcKinnon.com.

Movies I'm Looking Forward to...

2008-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was at the movies the other night watching Burn After Reading (which I really didn't get into) and saw a couple of trailers for some upcoming movies. These look great!

The Soloist...

The Secret Life of Bees...

tags: movie trailer | chefs | The Soloist | The Secret Life of Bees

Easy Printer Sharing - Even Across Platforms...

2008-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

...and across town!

Free Windows/Mac/Linux peer-to-peer printer-sharing tool PrinterShare cuts out the network fiddling and router tweaking necessary to share a printer from, say, a Mac system at home to your Windows PC at work, although Vista systems require a UAC work-around for full two-way printing.

Begin rant...

Vista killed the PC for me. I am staying with XP until I can afford to switch to Mac. Then there will be no looking back. I am sorry I ever left you, Mr. Jobs. I just never really liked that guy from Pepsi.

End rant...

The PrinterShare system requires signing up each computer on your network and assigning it a name, but once you're set up, sharing and accessing printers is truly simple. Files you send to be printed remotely are encrypted by default, and free accounts print, unfortunately, with a cover sheet that includes an ad.

For those trying to make connections between troublesome systems, PrinterShare might save some frustration. PrinterShare is a free download for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

Read more HERE. Download it HERE.

HT: Printershare via FreewareGenius.com via Lifehacker

tags: printer sharing | PrinterShare | print anywhere

Creativity and Sleep...

2008-10-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

“Waste not life,” wrote Benjamin Franklin, patron saint of American entrepreneurs. “In the grave will be sleeping enough.”

Centuries later, the attitude toward sleep in America — and in American business, in particular — has scarcely changed. Bumper stickers offer an updated version of Franklin’s dictum: “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

But now, a Harvard sleep researcher finds that if you sleep on new ideas and information, you're 33% more likely to make connections between distantly related points.

Steve Jobs, the chief executive of Apple, once defined creativity as “just connecting things.” Sleep assists the brain in flagging unrelated ideas and memories, forging connections among them that increase the odds that a creative idea or insight will surface.

While traditional stories about sleep and creativity emphasize vivid dreams hastily transcribed upon waking, recent research highlights the importance of letting ideas marinate and percolate.

Some sort of incubation period, in which a person leaves an idea for a while, is crucial to creativity. During the incubation period, sleep may help the brain process a problem.

Another theory is that typical approaches to problem-solving may decay or weaken during sleep, enabling the brain to switch to more innovative alternatives. A classic switching story, recounted in “A Popular History of American Invention” in 1924, involves Elias Howe’s invention of the automated sewing machine: after much frustration with his original model, which used a needle with an eye in the middle, Howe dreamed that he was being attacked by painted warriors brandishing spears with holes in the sharp end. He patented a new design based on the dream spears; by the time the patent expired in 1867, he had earned more than $2 million in royalties.

Spear-wielding savages make for compelling stories, but creative insights directly induced by dreams are rare. In general, people are unaware of sleep’s effects on their performance.

Dr. Ellenbogen’s research at Harvard indicates that if an incubation period includes sleep, people are 33 percent more likely to infer connections among distantly related ideas, and yet, as he puts it, these performance enhancements exist “completely beneath the radar screen.”

In other words, people are more creative after sleep, but they don’t know it.

“It’s more that sleep brings a change of approach,” explains Mark Holmes, an art director at Pixar Animation Studios who worked on the film “Wall-E.” “You can get tunnel vision when you’re hammering away at a problem. You keep going down this same path, again and again, just tweaking, making incremental changes at best. ” He continues: “Sleep erases that. It resets you. You wake up and realize — wait a minute! — there is another way to do this.”

Read the entire New York Times article HERE.

This post was going to be part of Creative Chaos hosted by Ragamuffin Soul (but he's on a tehnology fast).

HT: The New York Times via Lifehacker

tags: sleep | creativity | Creative Chaos

Secret Controls for iTunes 8 Visualizer...

2008-10-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

After enabling the visualizer (View -> Show Visualizer or Command-T) in iTunes, you can call up its help screen by pressing the “?” key. On the help screen, you’ll see that you can press M to change modes, P to change palettes, N to toggle nebula mode on and off, and much more.

But you won’t find the following keys listed in help—these keys are left over from the days of yore, when the now-in-iTunes visualizer was an independent iTunes plug-in known as Mangetosphere. These hidden keys offer even more control over the behavior of the visualizer:

+ and -: Increase or decrease the intensity (brightness) of the particles; multiple presses further increase or decrease the intensity.
A and S: Add or Subtract particles to the visualizer. You can make the visualizer as complex (or sparse) as you wish.
R: Reset the intensity and particle count to their default values.
E: When in nebula mode (press N), this greatly accentuates the nebula clouds, making them very easy to see. (If you’ve used the M key to change modes, you may find that the nebula clouds aren’t visible; it seems they’re only used in certain modes.)

See what the original Magnetosphere plug-in looked like in this mesmerizing clip.

This post was going to be a part of Creative Chaos hosted by Ragamuffin Soul (but he's on a technology fast).

HT: Macworld via Lifehacker

tags: iTunes | visualizer | undocumented | Mangetosphere

YouTube Bumps Up Upload Size...

2008-10-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

YouTube is testing a new video upload tool that lets you edit your clip's metadata while the upload happens, and they're bumping the upload size limit from 100MB to 1GB.

Here's the tester link to the new uploader.

And check out these 10 YouTube hacks.

This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesdays hosted by Ethos.

HT: CNET News via Lifehacker

tags: YouTube | uploader | hacks | Watercooler Wednesday