I guess it’s public now (at least with our immediate families) so I can post about it. We’re pregnant. Well, Becca is… but I helped! 
Anyway, I am pretty wiped out emotionally today in any case… bordering between paranoia, overwhelmed and exuberant.
Back when I was in High School during my sophomore year, I was given a project to make a music video for a communications class. I chose this song and to pull clips from a movie called “The book of Matthew”. This song was originally recorded by Michael Card.
This was also a project that I worked on a lot with my dad. He’s been asking me to remake it for awhile now as the old VHS version was pretty bad. I could not find the video anymore, so I pulled my original and remastered the footage cutting out the places where the VHS tape had worn away and no longer tracked correctly.
… I am actually supporting a presidential candidate for a change. I am one of those people who usually hates politics and for the most part, would rather not waste one hour of my life to go and vote half-heartedly for someone not worth voting for.
It may have changed this year. For the first time I have decided to endorse one particular candidate for president. Mike Huckabee. Why? Because of the faith that drives him forward. I share that same faith and belief and believe that when it comes to doing the right things for our country and others, we have no better choice politically than Mike Huckabee for president.
I am not out to convince others of this fact or some political agenda, but I have a hope that this country can move back into a positive direction and with an example of a firm committed Christian at the helm, I think the difference will be more in the lives of our fellow countrymen and through a few good men, God will be glorified.
Often times it seems that work comes to me in strange ways. Usually on some level, I let myself be taken advantage of. I end up volunteering for some random task because I feel like I may be the most qualified to do the task or it’s a friend that I just want to help… or I just have a hard time saying “no” for some reason. This is probably one of my biggest downfalls for me on a personal level.
This feeling comes to me where I feel like I have volunteered myself for way too many pro-bono cases and too many causes for which I take interest. In this I work too much. Am I paid for it? Most of the time, no.
I don’t mind giving of myself for a worthy cause that really isn’t self-serving on the other person’s behalf, but am I letting my talents just serve other people’s selfish motivations rather than the things I feel are more worthy of my attentions?
The answer is yes.
Now comes the question “what do I do about it from here?”
Through my life there have been some interesting times. Loved ones leaving or dying, other loved ones with various illnesses, and the daily things that come when you work with people. I’ve come to realize that there is a bit of baggage that I’ve accumulated. Some of it is angry, sad, disappointed, livid, and all of it carries a certain amount of weight on me. To many, it comes across as “a wisdom beyond my years” but in reality it may just be a “repression of my fears”.
I am coming to realize this because I’ve had so many symptoms that come back to the doctor(s) just telling me it is stress. All kinds of things could be contributing factors. I can’t really put my finger on some of these stressors, but I am coming to terms with the fact that I am stressed and do have this emotional baggage. I guess that is a start. Now to rid myself of it?
Today I had a bit of a revelation. I do like my life. It’s just not where I desire it to be… yet. There is a few things left on the plate that I desire to be a reality. I won’t go into detail but what I have began to do is lose hope that I would get there eventually. It’s like forever asking the question “are we there yet?” and finally stopping because you resolve that you never will get there.
So today, I have taken that dusty, dirty thing called “hope” back off the shelf and am going to try it again. This time with the realization from the start that the journey will be long. It will be tiresome, but there is a “Joy in the Journey” as Michael Card says in this song.
Apple recently decided that they aren’t going to accept cash this Holiday Season, well… if you want an iPhone or two (limit two).
Here’s some excerpts of the story that c|net ran:
Would-be iPhone buyers must now present a credit or debit card if they want to take home an iPhone, and they’re also now limited to just two units, as they were on iPhone Day, according to The Associated Press. The AP quoted an Apple representative explaining the move as a way of making sure there are enough iPhones for the holidays and to prevent unauthorized resellers from flooding the market.
and
Before Thursday, when the policy was implemented, you could walk into any Apple store and plunk down cash for up to five iPhones. While the concerns about supply are harder to gauge from a distance, the credit card policy seems designed to make sure buyers leave a paper trail.
Granted, debit cards are accepted instead, but at the price iPhones are running anyway, I’d rather unlock it and sell it on ebay and pay off my student loan than buy one to use.
But, as my mind turns… I’d have to wonder about the exchange that Dave Ramsey and Steve Jobs would have over this one.
Technorati Tags: iphone , steve jobs , dave ramsey , debt , credit card , credit , apple , financial peace
I must confess something today.
I’ve been a lurker over on Gaping Void for awhile now.
I guess what draws me most to the drawings of Hugh MacLeod isn’t that they are so amazingly good, because honestly they are fairly simple. It’s the fact that they are original, very raw, and usually at lease make me smile and relate in some way. Most of us are just jealous he gets away with it and that he thought of it first and would rather not be copycats by even trying…lol.
I have a friend who is a very influential blogger that I was asking recently about the direction of decloned. He mentioned that I might want to possibly go in the direction of Gaping Void (or that "naked pastor guy, Dave"). This intrigued me.
So I started analyzing what Hugh is up to on Gaping Void. In reality, he is simply sharing thoughts. This is the raw idea of what blogging is all about. But as Brian Clark pointed out recently, Hugh also uses his blog as a launching pad for other endeavors (such as working with Microsoft or Stormhoek or various speaking engagements).
So here it is I come down to the questions I must grapple with as I begin taking a personal blog that just existed because I wanted a place to write to a valid professional blog with a purpose. What elements of other successful blogs can I model and yet still remain original? What will I use my blog as a launching pad for? Where will I go, what will I do, etc.. so on and so forth.
This are big questions that I don’t think I will be able to answer all at once, but I don’t think I need to. Just draw, write and share. Meanwhile, if you happen to want an objective, satirical perspective on your business endeavor with an occasional original cartoon every now and then, contact me to see if it’s something I might be interested in.
No wineries please (unless you give me free grapes for life).
Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about what other artists, bloggers and people who have been great people and friends that I’ve met online. Tonight, I drew this little cartoon guy with his thumb up and he seemed destined for a purpose.
This award goes to David Hayward over at Naked Pastor. I thought it would be good to explain why I think David gets this little award since each person is unique in why they may receive it.
David is a great guy who not only shows a passion for writing on Naked Pastor, but also in the thoughts he shares, he shows a genuine concern for people in general. He has not backed down from the honest truths he shares on his (naked) blog, baring his soul in his writing. It’s a refreshing read if you are in ministry to hear some of those thoughts echoed by someone who is serving in the same capacity you are. It’s the kind of honest truth that makes you feel bold and naked at the same time.
I am not sure how often I may point out people like this and give them this award. It’s been kind of a spur of the moment thing tonight, but as of now I can think of a few other people I’d like to mention too in the future.