I had the privilege of heading down to Frisco, TX for the Fellowship Technologies Dynamic Church Conference 08 or DC08 for short. Now I could just recap the entire thing for you…I did take notes but what kind of fun is that? Here are some of the things that stuck out the most for me.
1. I think there were more people there this year than last. And the content was dumbed down a bit (Keynotes specifically) so that it wasn’t so technical. Last year this was a pain point. Most of the people there couldn’t care less about AJAX, Platforms or Frameworks. This year I think people began to understand what F1 is trying to do…really empower the church to use technology.
2. I attended not as many technical sessions as last year because Sunset was either not implementing those features or we already had the knowledge to do so in the first place. Instead, I attended more “process” oriented and communication specific forums.
3. I had the privilege of rooming with Bill Hill, Sunset’s money man. He is truly a unique individual. Better though was that I got to really sit down and talk to Mike Matousek, the new Minister of Operations and my boss. Every single night the 3 of us were talking ministry @ Sunset and had some meaningful discussions…it was simply awesome! Good bonding experience with Mike also.
4. I got to see this guy. We happen to take a lot of the same sessions as we both share a passion for engaging church ministries in using technology.
5. I got to have dinner and hang with Terry Storch, Jeff Pelletier and his wife, and Matt. Afterwards we saw an amazing Lincoln Brewster concert. So sweet. My only regret is that I hadn’t of stayed up till 3am the night/morning before…wanted to be a little more engaging with Terry @ dinner.
6. I got to meet with Jared and Jill Still! Unfortunately again…I was up till like 3:30am the night before and I was just mush for lunch…I was so dazed it wasn’t funny. Matt got some footage of me eating sushi for the first time though…that was…interesting.
This conference helped me realize that ministries in general are missing an entire generation of people who communicate differently. Online activities, web sites and social media are here and now. In the end, in a small away I left disappointed. Not specifically about the conference, but how most churches deal with this “problem” of technology and communication. I think Terry put it best in his session on social media:
It’s no longer an opportunity to engage the community with technology, it’s a responsibility.
That really resonated with me. I often focus on the negatives rather than the positives. After getting back and thinking about my approach and really what I think He has called me to do, I’m much more happy since relying on Him rather than my own ability. There is just too much opportunity to get discouraged.
Through a friends blog I found out about Romans 8 Movement. I have been trying to memorize Romans 8 with this group for a couple of weeks now. I have also found that memorization is really not my favorite cuppa tea. I think part of it may be that Im some 6 and a half months pregnant and I cant seem to remember anything anyways.
However, I am signed up to memorize it and that I will do. I have called upon my old highschool and college ways of memorizing speeches. I write it out. I talk about it to myself. It helps that I visualize words in my head as I talk. When I can see it go through my mind, I can usually hold it in my memory. I am finding what was once a daunting looking task is actually becoming a great challenge which is challeging not only my mind, but my heart as well.
So today I get to sit out on my parents front porch swing in Corbett, in a calm breeze and already warm morning listening to what God puts on my heart and reading through Romans 8. I’m really very blessed.
It has been so long. This blog has been neglected. I am so sorry.
Let me update you on life.
Zaeda is almost three! ( coming up so soon on June 22nd!) She has entered a difficult phase of independence. I didn’t think that the independent phase could get any more independent than it already had. I was wrong. She is growing in amazing ways though, and can be seriously sweet as well as sassy and strong willed.
Elizabeth is doing really well too. She spends Thursdays and weekends with us every week. Our adoption committee meets on May 27th and we will know then if her adoption has been approved by the Department of Human Services. She will move in with us full time the first week of June. Craziness. It has been so long in the making.
Matthea is growing strong. We are getting our home all set up to have another little baby. The end of August will roll around so soon. I cannot wait! I feel better some days now so I am able to get some things done. However, the sickness still hits every night and morning. Yuck. All I can say is that Im glad I know such an amazing little kiddo will come from all the sickness. It gets me through.
Mike’s away this week at a church conference in Frisco, Texas. All his girls, including me, miss him really badly. I am glad he gets to go to this conference though, he gets to meet some cool people, hang with some of his best pals and come back with great ideas and a little refreshed from his intense work schedule. Oh yeah. he also gets to experience big Texas weather… rain, wind and when he was supposed to be landing in Dallas fort worth I noticed that there were tornado watches ALL AROUND that area. How fun.
Technology changes. It changes pretty fast actually. And with this in mind, I would like to share with you something that’s been on my mind the past couple months.
Americans in general aren’t adept to change.
When things change, people worry. They don’t know what happens next. They’re scared of change…they fear it. Maybe I should change this to leaders?
can i be real here? this makes me upset…
I take a look at say this Census fiasco and am just shocked. We are supposed to be the tech center of the world and we can’t even manage a project like counting people? Yes, I’m oversimplifying but I think it has merit. Take this quote:
"The computers proved too complex for some temporary workers who tried to use them in a test last year in North Carolina."
"Now, officials say, technology problems could add as much as $2 billion to the cost of the 2010 census and jeopardize the accuracy of the nation’s most important survey."
I love the fact that it’s a "technology" problem and not a people problem. It can’t be a people problem, we understand the real problem, it has to be the technology! Right…
We not being able to adapt to change is one of the biggest hindrances to America. And for the near future its only going to get worse in my opinion. Take a look at our education system. High school drop outs are rising high, in some cases coming towards 50%! Here is another quote, but check out the articles here and here.
"Stephenson said he is especially distressed that in some U.S. communities and among certain groups, the high school dropout rate is as high as 50 percent."
Take a look at some of the top corporations in America. We see Intel, Sun, Microsoft, Google and the likes starving for talent. They can’t get enough. So what do they do? They look abroad. They look to India, China and Pakistan (many others too). But when they do this they get hit with the "don’t outsource American jobs".
What do we do? How do we change this perception? Do we need training? If so, on what? Do we need it with the technology, or how to approach problems dealing with technology? I think our approach is wrong, but I would love to hear your thoughts.
How do we solve this problem to keep Americans relevant with technology?
Ξ March 16th, 2008 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Life |
Ok. So I was having a bad/good day today. You may know what I mean. I was having a bad day that turned good, that turned bad, that turned ugly, then turned back to good. Ever have one of those? Well.. to start it off, I *am* four months pregnant, emotions running wild. Then, I have a lot of stuff going on in my life. Just stuff that needs to be dealt with and only can be dealt with by God. I have to let Him take over, and my oh my, has it ever been hard in these instances. Ok. So I taught today in the 2’s room at church. I was hit hard with the message I was teaching for two year olds. I love it and really dislike it when this happens. In this instance here’s how it went…
I am watching all of these toddlers be extremely excited about learning about how Jesus walked/rode the road to Jerusalem and how people were so excited about him coming and praising him and shouting "hosanna" - which I read about meaning "save me". The toddlers all had palm leaves (made out of green paper, mind you) and they were telling Jesus "Thank you" and shouting and making great noise. It hit me hard that I was supposed to be doing this exactly same thing in my life. Where I had been moping and frustrated and angry angry angry in my life lately, I was supposed to be thanking Jesus for giving me the things I do have, for telling me to give up my fears, frustrations and anger to God so that God could do what is in His will. No amount of Bible reading and soul searching had brought about these results. It needed to be simple, straight forward and RIGHT THERE.
Oh man. I was power struggling with God. He had tried to show me so many times and I just wouldn’t listen. I was being exactly how my toddlers can be to me. God had to speak to me on a toddler level, simply because I was being one. Woah. And then, to top it off, I initially disagreed with Christ that He needed to reach me that way. Uhm yeah. I struggle with control.
So I realized that it was the best way to reach me and I Thanked God for the rest of the day that He was willing to try so many ways to get to me and there was no giving up, even when a 25 year old needed to be talked to like a two year old.
Ok, now here is the really bad part. After spilling my guts to God in the car, crying and just letting it out. I was totally tired out and uhm.. who pulls up next to my car in the next lane? Jay McKenney, Matt Singley and my dear ole Hubby. They honk. They totally know its me. Uhm. I look so bad, and I was just baring my soul… and.. uhm… so now people totally know that I am breaking down. Haha. I am so totally not comfortable with people seeing me crying/looking like I was crying. That sucked. and then I realized. Its all part of the plan. It was God just showing me that I could do what I needed to do, and we are all just human. Dang. We’re all just human.
So guys, thanks for being a part of making my day mean a little bit more.
And Mike, I am dang glad you’re home. I need you to help balance me out, pregnancy emotions and all.
Ξ March 16th, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Life |
It seems to be the topic for me at the men’s retreat this year. There are so many things that I don’t even consider distractions, more like noise. When you go on a "retreat" you expect to get away from the noise of normal life. Most people think that the lack of vehicles, horns, city noise and cell phones is the reason for the retreat and for me it’s really not.
i’m not to sure what it is
Maybe it’s the fact that here I don’t feel stress about doing work. I mean…with an Internet connection I could do work, but I really don’t feel the pressure. I am miles away from the nearest town…and that town doesn’t really amount to a lot; considering the towns I’m used to.
I guess distractions for me is just the buzz of normal life. I went up to Seattle to get away and reconnect with old friends. I come out to Wildhorse not to really get away, but to reconnect with myself…my priorities. In the end they’re really God’s priorities and not mine, he just wants me to follow them.
This post is really just some floating thought…I’ll probably have a more structured post later.
Good night everyone.
Ξ March 6th, 2008 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Life |
It seems like everyone goes on personal retreats. I thought I would get away a bit and head up to Seattle to hang with both Phil and Dan. So we set a date and went. Now since I’m a "Corby", I’ve known both Phil and Dan since about 3 or 4 years old. I really do enjoy and value the time spent with them. What did we do? What we do best…
Video Games!
First, we had to drive up there. It would have been a two and a half to three hour journey but since we hit traffic it turned into five hours! Totally not expecting that. Had some good conversation though and finally arrived at our destination. Next was the unpacking of the goods. The goods included my two gaming rigs, Xbox 360 and monitors.
Now I’m not going to go into a blow by blow account of what we did because 
frankly that’s really boring and you just had to of been there. They key word for this trip though was "fun" and that’s exactly what we had. Aside from the lack of sleep (average night ended at 3:30a-4:00a) and the video games there were two highlights.
Mars Hill Church
Dan awhile back wanted a new church to visit so I suggested that he go to Mars Hill Church. There was a church site rather close to him and he decided to go. He has become hooked on Mark Driscoll and I don’t blame him. I was real excited that we would be attending. Turned out to be better than expected! Very charismatic, and seemed very knowledgeable on what he was talking about. You can view the service I saw here.
Guinness & Starbucks
I discovered Guinness last weekend. Simply an awesome stout…if you can call it that. I think it’s in a different class altogether but that’s just me. All I can say is that I’m hooked (in a responsible way, of course 
) and there is no going back. Even Guy love it!
We also on Saturday took a trip to Pikes place. Never really been there (within the last 15 years anyway’s) and I thought "Wouldn’t it be swell to pay tribute to Starbucks???". We did just that considering Dan had never been there either. I was expecting something a bit more modern and larger. It was about the size of my living room square footage wise and there were so many people in it that it was hard to move around. In either case, I ordered a tall white mocha and it in fact did taste better than at the other locations. Nice!
Those are pretty much the highlights. Specifically for me it was coming back refreshed and relaxed. A lot less stress and a more positive attitude towards work, something I really do enjoy…just in moderation 
.
Ξ March 4th, 2008 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Life |
So awhile back when Jay and I took a trip down to LA to visit Matt, we took our camera’s and Matt also got some good footage of the rides as they were happening. Well, when we arrived back home Jay and I were eager to get the video footage on our blogs for all of you to see but Matt couldn’t find the camera. We thought it was all lost.
I found it. . .
I found it in my bag that I took down there. I’m not sure how it got there, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t me since Jay and Matt had packed my bag since I wasn’t going back to Singley’s house…they probably assumed it was mine. The footage is…funny to say the least. Below are the two best video’s that came out of that trip.
I’ve watched it over a couple times just to hear that little girl scream from Jay…priceless. (RSS Readers: Videos are below!)
Ξ February 28th, 2008 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Life |
Wow…it’s almost been a month since I’ve last posted. There have been plenty of things going on, and now you have your answer on why I haven’t posted. Although it does get tiring…always using work as an excuse for the reason why you don’t blog. I mean…everyone else uses it and I was hoping to be a little different.
I think one of the problems I have is that there is always technical stuff I want to post, but don’t feel appropriate to post on this blog. I’ve floated the idea around of hosting another blog just for my tech posts (because I’m sure everyone who checks this site for Melanie’s posts would be very upset if I did that </pun>) because I seriously would be a post fiend if I just released floating thoughts regarding the technical stuff. It’s all about knowing your customers though, huh?
I suppose another reason is that it is way more difficult for me to formulate an idea down on text for me compared to the next guy. I do have ideas, thoughts and other things that are not tech related but to put them down on paper (or blog) is cumbersome for me. Considering I have a hard time explaining things in spoken words, this is not surprising.
On a different subject, Melanie is super sick. She just recently got over a cold…or flu…either way it was bad. But her being preggo makes it 10 times worse. Zaeda is now experiencing some symptoms: I had the privilege of rushing her to the potty to throw up and well…she didn’t make it. She instead made it on me…all over my chest. Nice.
I’ll try and blog some more…I have some good content I’ll try and get down on paper.
Ξ February 6th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Life |
Whether this becomes a series on this blog is up in the air…
I thought this was funny. It’s what I feel like I do the majority of the day…or maybe it’s what I want to do the majority of the day.
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