Proper Confidence

I just finished a book for our upcoming class.

The title rhymes with the title of this post. its actually the same. by Lesslie Newbigin

I really recommend it. Its a little less than 100 pages. It gives a lot of perspective on post-modern thought, how it developed and the affects it has. It seems rare that you come across a book that makes you think the entire way through, this one does.David I know you are reading some Dallas Willard, I think this will connect really well with The Spirit of the Disciplines. You may of read it already, if so let me know what you think about it.

Photo Album

I’ve updated my google photos. You guys should check them out here

Social Success.

So I just briefly looked at a post about online communities and how in different areas companies are hoping to become the facebook for that market. This was specifically talking about a company that wants to be the “facebook” for  churches.

- I don’t think it will work, I don’t think it would work for any venue or market,  at least not going about it with that strategy. Its too broad. Think about how facebook grew. It became popular on a small market (Harvard) and then was slowly released onto more and more campuses. At first it added to the prestige of it; our University has facebook - separating your school as a cutting edge school, not academically but culturally. Now in just a few years facebook is known and used world wide – in my opinion (and within my limited knowledge) it is the best example of the interwoveness of the world wide web. It worked. So big news, facebook was popular. BUT – How did they go about it ? – they mastered a small market, saturated i, used that momentum and then grew from there. Rather than hoping to start broad and pull from lots of people, they mastered a market, excelled there, and the idea grew.   SO for those of my readers that are interested in starting their own social network – think about it before you start. But in actuality I think this general idea (not principal, just idea) is worth thinking through; it could help when you are thinking strategically about anything to do with influencing people.

Values of Community

here is an interesting article. I read it; I like it. If I was in the states I’d be interested in going to the conference he talks about; some of you might remember me talking a little about the book Total Church in December; this conference is with the same guys. Let me know if anyone goes I’d be interested to hear what you think about it.  And I’d still recommend the book.

Legendary.

So the roommates and I have decided to really work on our Mustache’s. We are about 5 days in. When I say work on I mean begin to grow. And it has been interesting to see the new treatment I get with the mustache. People definitely respond to me differently; some people say I look like I’m 40. One of the roommates says I should be wearing a red hat and overalls; and jumping over goombas to save a princess from a castle. I think he also expects me to be cooking Italian food, and keep saying Bertolli.

Speaking of Bertolli – have you had the frozen Italian meals, they’ve become a meal down here, and they are relatively cheap, especially if you split it with someone.   

But last night was maybe the best, actually its not much of a story at all; but it lets me tell you about a place I go regularly.  There is a neighborhood minimarket/restaurant/sports bar – where you can by the food you forgot at the grocery store, a sandwhich ( which I believe are the best in PR) or watch a sporting event and drink a cerveza (if you so desire). SO the atmosphere is really lacking, but the functionality of the whole place keeps us coming back often.  the name is classic in a of it self –  ”On D WAY”. spelt in english with a “D”. 

So i’m there often, and people begin to be friendly when you use their business regularly. Last night however the usual friendly faces have turned into faces of apprehension and concern. I can tell they don’t know what to think about the mustache, questions race through their mind:  ”is he serious ?”, “did I just hit a time warp (much like the kid in acclaimed classic  ’The Flight of the Navigator’) and everyone gained 20 years on me ?” -

Saturday should be interesting – we are hosting a game of ultimate frisbee on campus – no one here has really heard of it or played before – So since the 4 experienced players will all have mustaches -it could become a PR legend that to be good at Frisbee, you must first grow a mustache.  - I think this is how Uraban legend’s start ….

Nose Job.

I’m checking headlines today and CNN”s headline reads – “Man Bites nose off at drive through” – which gives me this strange picture of a man grabbing his bag of greasy goodness with his hand and the cashiers nose with his teeth all at the same time; this is not what happened. 

however a grown man in South Carolina did bite another man’s nose off … was it  in a cage fight ? or some druken brawl ? , no, it was at  the Burger King drive thru after a fender bender – this is why if you work at fast food it is so important, to keep those people moving.

Game Time.

so last night my game went well; we lost, by 1 point. But more importantly I did not make myself look like a complete looser. however I was pretty dorky. [I'm playing in a neighborhood basketball league; affectionately called "the open" -"the open" because in the winter they have a "masters league" not exclusive for those that have mastered the sport, just for those that are older than 35, however once I'm 35 the two will go hand in hand.]

So Last night was basically my first date with the neighborhood basketball team. I was a little nervous, not from having dinner with a beautiful girl, but playing pseudorganized basketball with 8 other semi-athletes. So my team, who I incorrectly presumed had already plumbed the relational depths via three 40 minute games (we are 2-2 after last night by the way), does not wear matching shorts.  

For some reason I was under the impression that our team would have matching shorts on; Well we didn’t, but to preemptively avoid any embarrassment, I spent a small part of my afternoon tracking down some shorts that would match our stylish ( yes very stylish) Magics Jerseys (however someone left the ending s off the jersey). However when it became game time, I realized that I should have spent my afternoon on my jump shot rather than my shorts. As the other players apparently didn’t have time to work on either, matching shorts or jump shots

Isn’t it odd, the way we (i’m including you so I don’t feel awkward) worry so much about how we are going to preform come game time, in that “important moment”, but we don’t discipline or practice for it. 

You know that if you just copy a great players shot (or his shorts) it won’t make you great, but it takes a life of discipline, consistent practice, daily plugging it out, to really preform in the clutch. 

recently I’ve been taking this thought process on the spiritual level (mostly thanks to Dallas Willard), do you expect to preform in the clutch, at those crucial life moments,  without daily, consistent spiritual discipline? Do you want to shoot like the apostle Paul come “game time” (actually defining game time could come later, it being life – I know you could claim its always game time), but have the discipline of a 14 year old during summer break with an x-box and a bag of Cheetos ?

about time

So, I’m rejoining the blogging community. 

I want to write more than I have been recently. (which recently has been zero, so more than will be +1) 

It’s been so long since I have written anything, I’m not going to attempt to catch you up on the past 6 months of my life; maybe you will be able to piece it together, especially if you combine it with information that you already have.  

let me know if your reading, and as always, I’m wanting some comments, questions, etc. 

 

as far as content goes, not doing any right now; I’ve got a basketball game – I’m on the Magics (that’s right with an s) – that I need to get ready for.  Its my first game of the season, because I’ve been in the states, but I’m back in PR. and I’m pumped.

Puritan Reading

need something to read ? these Free Books should keep you busy. for a long, long time. thanks to monergism.com

Theater Church

This is very believable, isn’t it ?