The demise of a Penn State football coach causes me to reflect on inaction...

Anyone following news lately is familiar with the outspoken faith of Tim Tebow. However, after listening to a podcast about the recent death of Joe Paterno, I never realized the Coach said a prayer after every game. I, like many, remember him as the coach who was fired for not doing something more to stop the children abused by coach Jerry Sandusky. Sad that not doing more was the legacy he will be remembered by many. Edmund Burkes is famous for stating "The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing". Joe Paterno has publicly stated that he regretted not doing more to stop Coach Sandusky. It makes me recount in my life of the times where I have been guilty of inaction. It is my opinion that G.K. Chesterton said it best in his responded to an article in a respective newspaper. “Dear Sir: Regarding your article 'What's Wrong with the World?' I am." Ditto Mr. Chesterton.

Publish Post

Becoming a better online communicator...

One of my weaknesses is communication. This is especially true of online communicaton. I found these helpful articles (here & here) that express good tips when sending out emails. If your like me, then they are worth checking out.

Comfort and the fish...

"You should always take steps out of your comfort zone from time to time; for if you do, you are bound to come across something beautiful. Sometimes greatness waits just beyond the mysterious door that we never choose to journey through." A friend of mine wrote this, and I see its truth in my own life. Many of the times I've witnessed God work involved me stepping out out of my comfort. In fact, this serves as a reminder, since I've not done that lately. I remember back during my undergraduate days at something I had witnessed in my own life & upbringing... that comfort can kill Christians. If we become complacent, we can die. Harsh maybe, but the same is true of the salmon who swims up stream. If he lets the river win, then he dies. Our struggle in this world is quite similar only the life that we save is spiritual, and surviving may cost us our life- at least the one we want.

Have I lost a heart for the lost?

Today's reading in Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest was quite convicting. He states "God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them." Chambers then asks if our daily activities are pushing out our time for Worshiping God. He ends with the question "Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit?"

This is especially convicting because the last six months I have not truly thought much about the salvation and restoration of my colleague. Just yesterday a colleague whose office is next to mine indicated that both she and Clark had been praying whenever she heard me talk to my office mate about God. It then dawned on me that the 3 Christians I know in my company of 400,000 (granted I've not even met .01% of them) have their offices next to mine. Could it be a coincidence that these two believers are only a ear shot away? Of course... but then coincidences are Gods way of remaining anonymous.

The Crappy Christmas Pt 2

This is not the first time I've talked about a Crappy Christmas.

However, this year the sullen mood results from facing the fact that I soon will not have a Grandfather. Recently I've gotten to spend some quality time with him. In such a short time I've seen him express both extreme joy and deep sorrow.

A couple days ago I told him that I donated my birthday to Him, and used it to raise money for Blood/Water Mission. I was able to raise $370 dollars towards the cause. He started crying; first for the joy he felt, then for the unresolved sins in his life. It was very powerful- I've never seen him cry so uncontrollably before.

I also had to help my grandma clean up after he alleviated himself in his diper. I hesitate to even type these words- as the act itself is seems so degrading that it should remain private. And yet that is what people tend to do with their Sin. They try to hide it so the appalling reality is hidden under the covers. As disgusting as it was in both sight and smell, what I was witnessing was nothing in comparison to the way God views our sin. The process really made me reflect on the purpose of Christ birth and death on this Earth. Christs death allows God to pick us up from our own filth and wipe off the sin excrement. God then restore us to a pure state. Why.... because of His Love!

Designing a web interface and.... woah, I'm a Glutton!

While looking at blogs to get ideas for designing a User Interface, I came across this phrase (linked here)

Most people think of gluttony in terms of eating. However, the more generic definition of this sin is over-consuming something to the point that it is wasted. It’s a desire to consume more than you can possibly consume.

Wow, I realize recently I have become a glutton for movies. Why? Is it because I download on average 6 movies a day? Is it because my Netflix in-box has 250 movies saved in its queue? Is it because I have two hard drives with about 500 gigabytes filled with movies? Is it because I have around 200 movies on DVD? Is it because I have an accounts at nine different video stores in the midwest? Is it because I know of all the web sights where you can watch free movies/TV? (stagevu.com, quicksilverscreen.com, hulu.com, veoh.com, crackle.com, sidereel.com, surfthechannel.com, southparkstudios.com, vimeo.com, youtube.com, megavideo.com, megaupload.com, tudou.com, .....).

While these are all symptoms of gluttony, I don't believe any alone represent my depravity. They are symptoms, not its source.

I identify myself as a glutton because I acquire so much more than I'm able to consume. Why do I do it? Because I can never have enough... because it is a habit....because I am sinful. We as humans are all to familiar with self destructive tenancies.

I recognize this tendency in my life. Please God, now give me the desire and strength to break it.

a dream within a dream....

Last night I had a dreamed that I was dreaming about my ex girlfriend. It is weird to have a dream in a dream. Then in my dream I was analyzing what I needed to do in response to my dream. In my dream was planning how I would get her back. It was interesting because I don’t think about her much anymore, however she still seems to haunt my subconscious. Why is it that there are those who still haunt us despite having little to do with our current lives? People who have left their mark so vividly that even in their absence they haunt our dreams. Be wary of the people you entrust yourself to. The impact they have may be far greater than you can ever realize.