Slingbox

I set up a Slingbox today so some guys overseas can watch TV during their downtime. Pretty cool little gadget. Now, they'll get to see great things, like Dave Matthews on the Country Music Awards!

I'm Alive
Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews
Music Video

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to thank my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can’t you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, when there’s not a soul in sight
But this boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well

Hold It Up

Hold It Up to the Light
by Smalltown Poets

It's the choice of a lifetime, I'm almost sure
I will not live my life in between anymore
If I can't be certain of all that's in store
This far it feels so right
I will hold it up, hold it up to the light,
Hold it up to the light, hold it up to the light

The search for my future has brought me here
This is more than I'd hoped for, but sometimes I fear
That the choice I was made for will someday appear
And I'll be too late for that flight
So hold it up, hold it up to the light,
Hold it up to the light, hold it up to the light

I said God, will you bless this decision?
I'm scared. Is my life at stake?
But I know if you gave me a vision
Would I never have reason to use my faith?

Now as soon as I'm moving, my choice is good
This way comes through right where I prayed that it would
If I keep my eyes open and look where I should
Somehow all of the signs are in sight
If I hold up the light

It's too late to be stopped at the crossroads
Each life here,each a possible way
But wait and they all will be lost roads
Each path's growing shorter the longer I stay

I was dead with deciding, afraid to choose
I was mourning the loss of the choices I'd lose
But there's no choice at all if I don't make my move
And trust that the timing is right.
I will hold it up, hold it up to the light
Hold it up to the light, hold it up to the light.

All The Way

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living Bread

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood

And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way

All the way my Savior leads me

Help Portrait

Hmm...different, but I like it:

Help Portrait is a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season.

In brief, here are the details:
Date: December 12, 2009
Where: Your city

Want to know more? Click here

Or Watch The Video

A New Face?

I remember when we first met, four years ago. At first, I resisted your allure. But you were popular. My friends were persistent. I gave in:

I joined Facebook.

At the time, you were exclusive. A person had to have an email from a few select colleges to join your club. This was before you had fancy tabs, live feeds, and silly applications. Back when having more than 100 friends was a REALLY big deal. This was your "golden era", when you really were all about keeping up with friends who actually knew each other and talked regularly. You helped nerdy friends coordinate lunch plans at Pie Are Square. It was great.

But something changed.

It was a slow demise that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it started when you moved a person's personal profile information to the Profile tab, somewhat hidden and conveniently out of the way, making it less about who a person is and what their interests are, and more about what they look like and the witty banter they can think up on their wall. Or maybe it was when frivolous applications and quizzes exploded on your pages. Could it have been your mobile app, tagging along where ever people went, sometimes even distracting them from live conversations in person?

Something's gotta give.

And so, I began contemplating a course of action. A way to return to the way things were. A return to the times when a person had to ask someone else if they wanted to find out who's dating who, or when so and so had their baby, or whether or not Johnny passed his Math test. I mean, will you be there alongside best friend Sue with a box of tissues when they break up? Will you change the little dude's dirty diaper? Will you teach Johnny Calculus? Well, Facebook, will you? Today, even Donald Miller's blog seemed to back me up. Perhaps today would be the day:

The day I delete my Facebook account.

But, wait, let's not get too extreme here. Can I really throw all those years away, like they meant nothing? All those tagged photos, wall comments, and fan clubs? That's gotta count for something, right? Right??

Right.

And so, for now, I think I might put you on the shelf, like a bottle of Maker's Mark. Maybe dust you off from time to time, take a swig or two, and savor the experience. But only from time to time. Because while you might be smooth at first, too much could leave me cross-eyed.

Guidance

Guidance comes to those who move in faith, not those who sit in doubt.
--Guidelines, Pastor Burtzlaff

What Next?

What's that silly saying: Change is the only constant. Well, that's true. I try so hard to figure life out and get all my ducks in a row, but it sure is hard when things are always changing.

But there's another saying: Change for the sake of change is not good. Well, that's true too. Change should be for a reason, hopefully a good, healthy reason. Not an escape.

God has a way of letting me know when I've held on to something too long, when it's time for a new season. I mean, why else would I have ever left good ol' College Station, Texas? ;) But what about the case where I know I'm not quite where I want to be? I know something needs to change, but I don't quite know what or how?

James 1:5 (NKJV) - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Ah yes, ask God.

In a month or so, I'll be back up in Maryland. Change will take place. That is for certain. But I'm still not quite sure where I'll be living, where I'll be working, or even what church I'll be going to. I'm not good with uncertainty. But. God will provide. That is for certain. For God is good.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJV)

Positive

While listening to a message from my parent's church tonight, I wanted to make note of one point Pastor Dommer made. He said, "Always look at what's best in others for your example, instead of what's worst in others for your permission." I liked that. It reminds me to focus on the good in people, taking note of positive behavior, because positive behavior is contagious.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. -- Philipians 3:20-21

Aggie Ring

The folks down here in Florida don't see Aggie Rings very often. I explained my ring to some Floridians this morning, so I thought I'd post the official symbolism here. I sure do miss those Old Army days in Aggieland.

Aggie Ring

One of the Greatest Moments in Life
One of the greatest moments in the life of any Aggie is the day that they receive their Aggie Ring. This moment began with the Class of 1889. The original ring is very different from the ring worn today. At that time several companies made several different versions of the Aggie Ring. It wasn't until E.C. Jonas, class of 1894, designed a ring for his class that the ring we know today came into existence. It has remained exactly as Jonas designed it, with one exception; in 1964 the Legislature of the State of Texas changed the university's name from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas to Texas A&M University, and the name on the ring was changed accordingly.

A Spontaneous Reunion
The ring worn by all Aggie graduates is the same except for the class year. This serves as a common link for former students. When an Aggie sees the ring on another Aggie's hand, a spontaneous reunion occurs.

A Ring of Symbols
The Aggie Ring is one of the most symbolic of our traditions. Everything seen on the ring represents a value that an Aggie should hold. On the top is a large shield, which symbolizes the desire to protect the reputation of the university. The 13 stripes on the shield represent the 13 original states of America. The five stars on the shield refer to the phases of development of any Aggie: mind or intellect; body; spiritual attainment; emotional poise; and integrity of character. The eagle symbolizes agility and power, and the ability to reach great heights.

Texas Pride
The large star on the side of the ring symbolizes the Seal of Texas. The five-pointed star is encircled with a wreath of olive and laurel leaves symbolizing achievement and a desire for peace. The live oak leaves symbolize the strength to fight for our country and our state. The leaves are joined at the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these two traits to accomplish one's ambition to serve.

A Dual Allegiance
An ancient cannon, a saber, and a rifle are on the other side of the ring and symbolize how citizens of Texas fought for their land and are determined to defend it. The saber stands for valor and confidence, while the rifle and cannon stand for a preparedness and defense. The crossed flags of the United States and Texas recognize an Aggie's dual allegiance to both nation and state.

Ready to Face the World
Traditionally, students wear their ring with the class year facing them to signify the fact that their time at A&M is not yet complete. During Senior Weekend at the annual Ring Dance, the student's ring is turned around to face the world proudly, just as the Aggie graduate will be ready to face the world."

Reunion

My great-grandparents had 9 children. For 17 years, those siblings and their families have gathered to reunite and stay connected. I haven't always been able to attend those reunions, but I was thankful that I could attend this year. We gathered in Fredericksburg, TX, a town that has maintained the heritage of the German settlers who founded it in 1846. There were probably 100 or so relatives in attendance, some from California, some from Florida, but most from Texas. Sitting in the banquet room, surrounded by my family during the Saturday evening "program", I couldn't help but think of Brad Paisley's song Two People Fell In Love. I am so proud to be part of this family. Here's a pic of the clan of 8 (Uncle Harold was called home this year):



Keeping with tradition, we closed the program with "Abide With Me". It gets me every time.

Abide with Me
By: Henry F. Lyle

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thy-self my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, they victory?
I triumph still if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Hymn # 490
Lutheran Worship
Author: William H. Monk
Tune: Eventide
1st Published in: 1847

Outliers

On my flight to Vegas, while I was reading one of Vince Flynn's fiction novels, a well-accomplished-looking man was sitting next to me, engrossed in a book of his own. I mean, he could not put this book down. Turns out he was reading "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and gave it a glowing recommendation. This peaked my interest. I had just finished reading Gladwell's book "Blink" a few months ago. Loved it. I'd heard a bit about "Outliers" lately, and figured it was time to read it for myself. My flight to Texas provided the perfect opportunity to start reading the book, and I quickly become engrossed in it as well. It's an easy read, very logical, and I found myself agreeing with Gladwell a lot. He has a great ability to take a complex situation, analyze it, and provide a conclusion that's slightly out of the norm, but makes perfect sense. If you are looking for something to read, I highly recommend this book. Essentially, Gladwell points out that success is not self-made. It is a product of culture, good timing, seizing opportunities, and working hard.

If you've read my blog before, you know I love quoting things, so here's 2 quotes that impacted me:

Those three things -- autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward -- are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying. It is not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between nine to five. It's whether our work fulfills us. If I offered you a choice between being an architect for $75,000 a year or working in a tollbooth every day for the rest of your life for $100,000 a year, which would you take?...Work that fulfills those 3 criteria is meaningful...Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning. Once it does, it becomes the kind of thing that makes you grab your wife around the waist and dance a jig.

It's not so much ability as attitude. You master mathematics if you are willing to try...Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work hard for twenty-two minutes to make sense of something that most people would give up on after thirty seconds.

Sure, those quotes seem pretty simple, maybe pretty obvious, but in the context of this book and the stories and examples Gladwell uses along the way, they make you view success differently than how society as a whole might view success.

What God Ordains Is Always Good

A touching article in this month's "Lutheran Witness" introduced me to the verses of the hymn What God Ordains is Always Good:

1. What God ordains is always good;
His will abideth holy.
As He directs my life for me,
I follow meek and lowly.
God indeed in every need
Doth well know how to shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.

2. What God ordains is always good.
He never will deceive me;
He leads me in His own right way,
And never will He leave me.
I take content What He hath sent;
His hand that sends me sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.

3. What God ordains is always good.
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; Each morn anew
I'll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

4. What God ordains is always good.
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather.
Now I may know Both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

5. What God ordains is always good.
Though I the cup am drinking
Which savors now of bitterness,
I take it without shrinking.
For after grief God grants relief,
My heart with comfort filling
And all my sorrow stilling.

6. What God ordains is always good.
This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm, For with His arm
He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me.

Windows

XKCD

What Must I Do

I just got back from a conference in Vegas, followed by a stop in Dallas to celebrate a certain special little girl turning 5 years old. Those kids grow up fast! I could probably write a whole post on Vegas alone, but I'll save that for another day. This post will simply be today's verse from the sermon:

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
-- Mark 10:26-27

Gravity | Love

Bets gave me Sandra McCracken's "Gravity | Love" CD for my birthday, and I've had it in my CD player for about a month now. I listen to it in the mornings when I get sick of NPR. Sandra's got a nice mellow voice, but what I really love is her songwriting. The American Songwriter Magazine says "Sandra McCracken is adept at writing songs that span the abstract and the tangible - songs that beg for repeated listens and imaginative reinterpretations." And I think it's absolutely awesome that she's married to one of my favorite artists, Derek Webb.

"Long Way Home"
It’s not what we expected
it's not what we had planned
but maybe it is better
than we can understand

like finding a good reason
in a bottle on the shore
everything will have it’s season
nobody’s keeping score

this is not how I thought that it would be
waiting on some circumstance, to make me feel complete

innocence, we pass it down
like corduroys with the knees worn out
i wanna take the long way home
the long way home

i’m driving in slow motion
on streets of might-have been’s
put to rest my reservations
A new day to begin

this is not how I thought that it should go
drag me around and around the things I thought I should know

love is not efficient, but even if it was…

innocence, lost and found
like corduroys with the knees worn out
i wanna take the long way home

Catching Dinner

My folks are in town visiting this weekend -- We went fishing in Tampa Bay and successfully caught Red Snapper and Mackerel for a tasty dinner! Dad fried the fish and the french fries (he's way better at frying things than I am), and we had a nice dinner at home:



When was the last time I caught my own dinner? I used to go fishing a lot growing up, but unless you call trying to throw pizza dough in the air "catching" dinner, or catching the eye of a guy who might later buy me dinner (which never happens by the way ;), it has been a LONG time. Maybe it's the memories of a simpler time talking, but I really enjoyed baiting the hook, casting my rod, and waiting in anticipation of what might bite!

Church

I began thinking tonight how similar I am to the President. Sure, our political opinions, on things like healthcare, abortion, and the military, are quite different. But he has been looking for a church home just like I have.

Ok, maybe not "just" like I have. He has aides and friends to help him scope out churches in the area. And his presence at a new church certainly wouldn't go unnoticed. I wonder if the President gets a letter from the Pastor afterward, thanking him from "braving the unknown to attend" and detailing when the next New Member class starts up?

Somehow, I forget how hard it is to find a new church home. Maybe it's because the Lord has always blessed me with great fellowship and good worship in the past. I grew up in a good church with a great school, couldn't have asked for a better foundation and Pastor in college, and in spite of what I might say about MD at times, I've got some great friends up there and 2 churches that feel like home. So why shouldn't I trust God can provide that in FL too? Maybe it's because deep-down, I'm really quite shy. Maybe it's because I am horrible at good-byes, so the thought of getting settled into a church during a temporary assignment just spells heartache when I have to leave.

Needless to say, it took the President 5 months to find a church home, and he had lots of people helping him! Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on myself. :) Or perhaps I should just pray harder. The thing about faith and prayer is that at some point, it requires action, and I've always had a hard time distinguishing when I should get down on my knees and when I should get up off my knees.

Story

I first heard Catherine Rohr's story at a leadership conference at Grace-Fulton in January. I was reminded of her story again while reading
this post on Don Miller's blog. She left her high-dollar salary in NY to start a program in Texas that teaches prisoners good business skills so they can make a positive difference once they're released. How's that for living out the Gospel and making a difference?

That's one of the biggest questions I ask myself: Am I using the talents God has given me to make a difference?

Space!

I saw the International Space Station tonight. Well, if you count watching a bright light in the sky move from the SW to the NE for about 6 minutes "seeing" it. I had bird-watching binoculars, but they didn't quite do the trick for space station-watching. Still, it was pretty cool!

Family

I just bought airplane tickets to Texas for an upcoming family reunion. This is an annual event where the descendants of my great-grandfather Oscar gather to catch up, play dominoes, laugh, and eat. Oscar had 9 children, who went on to have their own children, and so on, making these things a pretty big to-do. I am excited to go back to Texas for a few days and be surrounded by family.

Lately, I've been reading my great-uncle Mel's blog. In his blog, he shares stories about growing up on a Texas farm, seeing the world as a missionary, and life lessons he's learned along the way. It has been FASCINATING reading. He talks about being in Tienanmen Square 20 years ago during the massacre. He talks about growing up during the Depression. He talks about racism. He paints a picture into what life was like back then.

I'm glad I'm from Texas. I am proud that I'm part of the Kieschnick clan. I'm so thankful for the way I was raised and the blessings the Lord has provided me through family. And I can't wait to get together in a few weeks!