Category: Random

We Trust the Person in Front

Stalls in public restrooms should be made in a way where they stay ajar or open when unoccupied.  Some restrooms are like this.  This allows everyone to quickly identify the stalls that are available for use.  Every once in awhile, you encounter a line of women at the restroom with many stall doors completely shut.  They’re shut because maybe someone is in there or maybe it’s the type of door where it stays shut regardless of its occupancy and the only way to tell if anyone is in there is to actually push the door open or to look under for feet. Continue Reading

Dark Clouds Loom Over Sochi

For me, the Olympics is something very grand.  It is a time where the best athletes come together from around the world to compete AND unite in sport.  The Olympics are cool because athletes can experience different cultures and meet different people from both the hosting country and the athletes they are competing against.  So while, yes, athletes are training to win, the shared moments with teammates and coaches, and being at the Olympics itself is an experience.  I would think and hope that win and lose, the athletes still have an enjoyable experience, an experience of a lifetime.

And then there seems to be the reality of the Sochi Olympics…where I haven’t seen anything positive yet reported on it.  In fact, the Sochi Olympics don’t only seem to have a less positive vibe or events leading up to it, they seem to have largely negative and even dangerous happenings associated with it.  Just scanning the news, I’m seeing the following:

-57% of Americans think terror attack likely at Sochi Games
-Journalists report hotel horror stories
-Russians say authorities rounding up, poisoning stray dogs before Olympics
-U.S. official cites “number of specific threats” targeting Sochi Games
-The US Is Warning Airlines About Toothpaste Tube Bombs Ahead Of Sochi
-Hacked Within Minutes: Sochi Visitors Face Internet Minefield

And on and on it goes…

I even read that they told the USA athletes to not wear any clothing that resembles their US uniforms or even red, white, and blue as to be identified as an American since they may be attached.  That there was an escape plan for Americans should any attack occur.

C’mon!  What is going on?!  I’m pretty sure the last thing any athlete wants to think about when going to compete is any of these things.  It shouldn’t even have to be something of a concern.  But no, this is the sad reality of it.

It’s like a real life hunger games.  Who wants to participate in that?

Hopefully, some positive will come out of the games and we’ll be able to escape and get over all these negative things.

Sometimes You Gotta Just Do It

Most of our lives we probably sit around pondering things we could do, things we should do, things we want to do, things we’ll do later, and things we should have done.  For me, sometimes I think about doing things or I start thinking a lot about things that sound intriguing or even mildly interesting.  Sometimes, I’m just curious about things.  And so, I spend a lot of time thinking.  Thinking and researching and talking about it but never actually doing it.

I don’t do it because I’m scared and I don’t know if I’m capable.  Maybe I’m hesitant because I don’t know if it is something I actually WANT to do.  Maybe I’m hesitant because I don’t know if it is something I should do.  Usually, the hardest step is the first step.  It’s like running or going to workout, the hardest step is to get to the destination.  Once you’re there, it’s gravy.

But sometimes you just gotta jump right in with two feet and hope for the best.  Spending a lot of time pondering and thinking about it helps some but doesn’t truly get you anywhere until you actually take action.  And since the hardest step is the first one, sometimes it’s better to just jump in.  You know, like getting into a swimming pool because the water is so cool.  Better to just jump in and get it over with and then realize it’s not so bad after all.  Haha.

Since I’ve had several things on my mind lately that I’ve just been thinking about over and over again.  I decided to just take the plunge and hope for the best.

First off, I joined the Exodus Core Group.  I was really hesitant about this because I just didn’t know if it was something I wanted to do, should do, a combination of both or something else.  It was something I wanted to be apart of but did I want to fully commit to it?  Yeah, that’s a lot of time commitment and responsibility.  Did I believe in the vision?  Is there a plan? Can we actually do this? After much thought, prayer, conversations with friends, recent sermons, and studies through our Spiritual Formation Group, I realized that there wasn’t a really good reason to NOT do it.  And with that, I decided to just do it.  I have no idea what is going to happen.  We haven’t even had our first meeting yet.  But I believe that the experience will be a good way to grow spiritually and personally, it will be a way for me to use the skills God has give to me to serve our church, it will be a good way for us to grow with each other and to motivate each other, and it will give us an opportunity to make changes and impact the church in a (hopefully) positive way.  Will we be successful?  I don’t know but I sure hope so.  And since I’m IN IT, I’m going to try.

Secondly, I’ve been thinking about Team United a lot and how I need/want help with the ministry moving forward.  I’ve led the ministry for about 5 seasons/years and I would like to take a break, focus on new ministries, and have new leadership.  Once again, thought about it a lot, prayed, talked about it but was still a bit hesitant to take action.  Fears of no one volunteering, fears of what people might think of me, fear of people not taking it well all kind of bogged me down.  But the reality of it is that despite all these things, it is time and I’m ready for a break and for new leadership.  I want to help someone else grow and I want the ministry to continue to grow too.  And so with that, I reached out to several folks to see where they were at and if they were interested in taking on this ministry.  It was tough to offer that up but I feel like it is time.

Lastly, I’ve been eyeing this kickboxing class for a few days.  The classes look intriguing, the results look even more enticing.  It seems like a great workout and what better way to workout than to have someone else push you.  The hardest step was buying the groupon and the next hardest step is activating it.  I kept asking Jasen if I should do it and he kept saying yes.  I also tried to get my friends to join since I like buddy systems.  I kept looking at their website, at the groupon, at the videos, at their facebook.  Obviously I was interested, I just didn’t really want to do it myself.  Needless to say, I just did it.  I clicked the buttons and bought the groupon and proceeded to freak out.  I know once I actually make it to class I’ll be fine.  The hard part is getting there but at least I got through step 1.

So that’s it.  I just did it with fear and all.  Sometimes you gotta just do it.

Elf Yourself

Office Max has this fun site where you can make dancing elf videos of yourself.  Quite entertaining.  Video only available until Jan 1, 2014 for viewing.

Sorting the Links to Blog Only The Bling

Many years ago, I had a blog called BlogBling.  I just happened to remember it and tried to see if it was still there.  Indeed, it is!  I don’t remember the login anymore and I think my password probably goes to my Yahoo email that is probably now deactivated.

This was back in the day before some of the bigger sites got popular with posting random and interesting things.  I had a pretty good following but then it got too difficult and I got too busy.

It’s fun to find old things! 🙂