Fancy things

I was just looking at how long I have had a blogger account. Since May of 2007. That's 5 years, 7 months. That's 60 months. Roughly 24,455 days. I was looking at how many blogs I have posted. 272 blogs posted. Break it down, it's about 1 blog every 90 days.

Just thought that was interesting.

Christmas

I sure do love Christmas.

Christmas Music.
Christmas Movies.
Christmas Carols.
Christmas Cookies.
Christmas Candy.

It gives me such a sense of joy. And peace.

Christmas is not like it used to be. Or maybe I am just viewing Christmas through different lenses than when I was a kid. The holiday has lost it's magical-ness. It was great because there was 100 feet of snow on the ground. I would get tons of candy and gifts for Christmas. We would get what seemed like a whole year off. We'd get to go have a great time visiting family in Iowa for what seemed like a month.

Now Christmas comes and goes. I dont get as excited about the gifts. Santa isn't real anymore. It seems like its rare to have snow on Christmas day. Christmas break gets shorter and shorter. The trip out to Iowa seems shorter and shorter.

From a a book I'm reading called "The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask" comes the quote:

"With the addition of years, most people begin to see through the empty promises and short-lived pleasures of the current order."

The promises of Christmas that I used to have faith in are fading. Not that those old parts of Christmas were bad, but I rarely took note of the root of the holiday. Maybe I can get joy and peace and happiness now from understanding what Christmas really is. A celebration for the birth of Christ.

That is what I'm going to cling to. My new joy and peace.

Summer Thus Far

It's June 16th. So I've officially been away for 17 days. It's one of those things where it feels like it's been longer, yet it feels like the summer is flying by. So what exactly have I been doing with my summer? I'm the video guy for Silver Birch Ranch. Two years ago I was the audio guy. So it's slightly familiar being back here in the tech department, but different because, well... obviously video is a little different than audio.

What kind of work does being the video guy entail? I am basically responsible for any video stuff that happens this summer. Filming, editing, burning DVDs, packaging DVDs. Each week my goal I'm working for is a 7-10 minute "Week in Review" DVD of footage of all of the events that take place at camp. The more events, the better. The more campers, the better. Just a few hours ago I just finished burning out the Master Copy of my first "Week in Review" DVD. It was for Junior Camp #1 and Middler Camp #1 (two camps combined into one week). It was on the longer side: about nine minutes and 40 seconds. I was told to aim for 8-9 minutes. But I think I did pretty awesome for my first video. It literally was my first real video. Before a week ago I had no experience at all with video editing. So I've really been thrown into a new world this week. It's funny... two years ago when I was the audio guy, I was also officially the tech director, which was a whole new world at that time. I knew basically how to run a soundboard, so its strange that they threw me in that role, plus the leader role. But it worked out alright.

So I've been here for nearly 3 weeks, but only have done one video. That's because the first week was a Family Camp. There are a total of four family camps this summer. We don't do "Week in Review" DVDs for them. I dont really know why, but I'm okay with that. During Family Camps I will be working on SBR Promo Videos.

Actually the whole time I've been here, I've kind of been a puppet of the Program Team. I don't mean that in a negative way. I just mean I've been working for them and helping them get the summer started. Oh, where would they be without me?!? They'd be lost!

May not sound like I'm doing that much, but I've had a lot of busy busy days. Been staying up late and getting up early. I'm exhausted! I am really worn out. I need a break already. Sad thing is, I'm sure there are people here who work harder and longer hours than I do. Mad props to them.

So I'm tired. But I'm serving. Having a good time. Learning. Growing. I miss family and friends. Don't miss school one bit. Don't miss spending money on gas. I miss having real food. So I guess that's that.

Church Notes

Gotta love it when you go to a church that hands out the little half sheet of white paper with a basic outline of the message with blanks to fill in!

I went to Great Lakes church in Kenosha, WI today and for some reason just feel like sharing my notes and my thoughts. Italics are my thoughts.

Title: Elephant in the Room... Greed
Speaker: Dave Nelson

Greed
-Greed says, "Life is about me!"
Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:4
-Greed is tamed by taking an interest in other people.
So encourage each other and build each other up... 1 Thes 5:11

Encouragement
-Encouragement brings change
Then he asked them "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Now i say to you that you are Peter (which means "rock"), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Matthew 16:15-17
-Encouragement creates confidence
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29
-Encouragement is a constant "yes" in a world that says "no."
...What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45

How to encourage
-Proactively look for good in other people.
...bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11
If we are unfaithful, God remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13
-Find multiple and creative ways to communicate the good you see in other people.

o Starting point: Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.


The focus of the message was more on encouragement than greed. I really would have liked to hear more about greed. And my first thought (or second or third thought) is not to match greed and encouragement as opposites.

Anywho. One thing that stuck out to me was Philippians 2:4 which says "Don't look out ONLY for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." What happens if you take that "only" out? It becomes "Don't look out for your own interests..." Honestly, I think of Christianity as being something where your goal is to be as selfless as possible. Like watching out for numero uno is a no-no, a sin. But when I read this it was like a shock to my system. I was like "Wait... so we can care about ourselves?" I really honestly think one thing that holds me back is the thought that I am supposed to be selfless. That one word "only" changes things. God says to me, "You have much to learn, my young apprentice..." and He lifts that burden from me.

Turn Signals

Now here is something I'm passionate about. Turn signals. Turn signals are one of the greatest inventions in the world, yet they are so unused and under-appreciated. They are used incorrectly and sadly misunderstood.

Have you ever been driving down the road when out of nowhere somebody you're behind starts slamming on their brakes for no apparent reason? And you're like "What the heck are they doing?" As they almost come to a complete, then they flip on their turn signal. Oh. They're turning.

Or how about this: You're sitting on a side street, waiting to turn out onto a busy main road. All you want is to make an easy right turn, but there are just so many cars. Then you see a break after these last 4 cars pass. But the third car is slowing down, but it doesn't look like they are going to turn at all. Before you realize it, you see their turn signal as they race on to your side street, turning so fast that they almost go on two wheels! If you only knew they were turning, you would have had plenty of time to pull out on to the road. Great. Now the break you were waiting for is gone, for there are more cars here.

Why do we have turn signals? What is the purpose of them? When do we use them? Obviously nobody knows! Well, I've got good news for you. I know the secret to turn signals. I know the answers! Are you ready for them?

We use turn signals to alert other drivers that we will be changing lanes or turning soon. We're supposed to use them before we start braking, so that people know why we are braking! So we don't start braking, and then as we are turning quick flip it on. Yes, it is a law in some states that you must use your turn signal when changing lanes or turning. But did you know you're supposed to put in on at least 100 feet before turning? Some states require 500 feet! And you retards flip it on as you're turning.

Now changing lanes is the same thing. But changing lanes is a whole other blog. I don't have room to go into detail about that.

So when it comes to turning, people, please, use your turn signal. It will save lives. To help you use your turn signals, I have a plan. Each time I see you fail to use your turn signal correctly, I will write down your license plate, and soon as you get 3 strikes, I will accidentally drop my cell phone on the floor, bend over to reach for it, taking my eyes off the road, and I will gently smash you off the road.

You wanna keep your Lexus? Well, make sure you use those pretty little turn signals.