Why everybody needs to leave me alone today!!!

I am taking a breaking today. You can't stop me.

Last Sunday morning I spoke at church about Sabbath and why it is so important to take one. So today I am practicing what I preached. 

My email will not be looked at until Monday morning.
My Facebook and Twitter will be abandoned until tomorrow.

My phone will be in airplane mode so that I don't receive calls or texts.

My family and I are going to Central Park all day to laugh and play, to enjoy one another and this beautiful place.

I am taking a Sabbath!

You need to take a break!!!  Don't believe me?

• Here's the link to when I spoke 7/28 about Sabbath - maybe listening to it will convince you.
• Here's my message notes - maybe reading those will help.

You are not a machine!
Stop working and take a break to enjoy your life, family, and His creation.

I am doing this today.  Leave me alone!!!   =)

Week in Review #5

"Live from New York...it's my blog entry!!!" Sorry, that is incredibly cheesy, but I couldn't resist. This week's stuff:

"That was a pile of crap" - a note to preachers/teachers

Every teacher or preacher has that moment when they feel like they didn't do a good job. It doesn't matter if you are just starting out or have been speaking for years - that one Sunday, that one class, that one group will come.  It will be over and you'll feel like you need to apologize to someone.

For me this day came a few weeks ago. An intro to a talk I had come up with didn't go as smooth as had planned, I was getting lost in my notes, and just felt like things weren't flowing very well.

My answer to, "What apps should I download?"

I am a techie junkie at heart. People who know me know this. Because they know this, whenever someone buys a new iPhone or iPad I get asked about apps. "Hey, what cool apps should I download?" 

This has happened 3-4 times in just the last couple weeks. The problem is, I have a ton of apps on my devices. It's hard to just rattle a couple off. So I'm writing a post to answer the question.  

Below are my app recommendations for iPhone/iPad (sorry Android people - you're on your own!). This gives me a list I can email to people from here on out, so I'll be updating it periodically. If you know of a cool app that I don't have listed, let me know about it!

I've put things into categories to make it easier. If something is iPad only I've also indicated that. At the very bottom I've listed a bunch of websites I frequent that are really good for: finding out about free apps and sales, learning about new apps, and getting reviews on existing ones. 

 

Praying for NASCAR

My cousin Rachel put this on my Facebook wall yesterday, and I haven't stopped laughing about it since. This is a pastor's opening prayer before a NASCAR event. He quotes 1 Thes 5:18, "In all things give thanks," and then goes on to do just that:

In the midst of my laughter, a big part of me is saying, "This is so messed up." But there's also a small part of me that says, "Maybe there's a little something right there." I go back and forth. Similar to what my cousin said to me, "at what point is producent placement taking it a bit far?" Then again, it is the culture he is part of.  Though I tend to lean more toward "eh" on this one, I'm not 100% sure. Thoughts?

Regardless, I do feel very strongly about the fact that I have a smokin' hot wife. But I will be thanking God for that fact privately, not publicly.

She would kill me.  =)

Bono, the blind man, and the 2nd commandment

We are going through the 10 Commandments at church, and I've been fortunate enough to have spoken on the first four of them. It's been an incredible time and a really amazing series.

Last week I saw a sweet video of U2's recent concert in Nashville that reminded me of the power behind the 2nd commandment.

Week in Review #4

This week...

• ... can for the most part be described with the words travel & unpack, though in an unrelated manner. The first half of the week I was in Baltimore for a conference. The rest of the week was spent unpacking the condo. Unpacking doesn't take as long as packing, but it can still be exhausting. 
• Yet another trip to IKEA - this one being returned from with a larger haul. Such is moving I guess.
• Lion was released by Apple. Got things installed Thursday, but haven't really been able to play around with anything of sort yet.  Launchpad is pretty cool, but Mission Control I need to get acquainted with.  If you are an Apple person, this is the best collection of stuff I found on getting things set up in Lion: OS X Lion How-to's and Tips Roundup: Everything in One Place. Highly recommend checking it out!
• If you do any type of graphic design, this is an amazing app: FontBook
• Another great Michael Hyatt article: 5 Reasons Why You Need to be Better at Saying "No"
• I was sitting at a table in a pretty quiet room looking at blogs and such earlier in the week. When I saw this Google+ joke I erupted in laughter and the entire room turned to look at me. It was worth it.
• Very pumped about the Hunger Games movie coming out next year, and the online movie poster only adds to the anticipation.
• Blog posts from earlier in the week:
• Maybe you're the one who needed to read this
• My 2yr old and G.K. Chesterton
• And the Pic of the week: Baylee & Jaxon showing off Baylee's new bed:

My 2yr old Jaxon & G.K. Chesterton

Monday we had lunch at a McDonalds near Midway airport. Because I was flying out for work in the afternoon, we went to this particular Golden Arches so I could laugh with the kids in the play area up till the last minute before having to head over to the airport.

It really is amazing to think of the minds that artfully concoct the different tube and slide patterns. Kids go through laughing and sweating and enjoying every minute, parents go through at the risk of needing reconstructive knee surgery afterward.

This particular play area had an enclosed section that I could actually stand up in, thanks be the maker, my head just an inch or two from the ceiling.  It was circular, about 5 feet across, and for whatever reason my two-year-old Jaxon loved this part of the structure. Probably because he didn't have to really climb anything to get to it, just one tube crawl into the enclosure. 

Maybe you're the one who needed to read this today

This morning I needed to read this.  Maybe you need to as well:

Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 

My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; 

his mercies never come to an end; 

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 

Lamentations 3:19-24

Yesterday you failed...today is new.
Yesterday you wanted to punch a wall...today is new.
Yesterday you were a jerk...today is new.
Yesterday you were lazy...today is new.
Yesterday you were ready to resign...today is new.
Yesterday you exploded...today is new.
Yesterday you procrastinated...today is new.
Yesterday you doubted...today is new.
Yesterday you were going through hell...today is new.
Yesterday is over...today is new.

Today is new.

His love for you and me...it never ceases.
His mercy for you and me...it never ceases.
It's forever and ever new.

Think about your junk and with it in your mind go back up and read that scripture again. (Read all of Lamentations 3 - it's amazing!)

And let it remind you...yesterday is over.

Today is new.

Week in Review #3

We were finishing up moving this weekend, therefore wasn't able to look back at last week.  So, it comes now a little late:

• We have 95% of our stuff over at the condo. Still need to take clothes and some odds & ends. Oh yeah, and clean up the house =) 
• My son Jaxon's 2nd birthday was on Wednesday. We had an amazing time at Odyssey Fun World. The funniest part of the whole time was that Jaxon wouldn't use his hands to eat his cupcake.  Not sure if he was scarred by the mess of his first birthday or what, but it was rather humorous.   
• I was in Pensacola FL all day Thurs till Fri morning for work. Kinda stunk to be driving alongside the ocean and beaches but not being able to stop.  And I learned that people in Pensacola drive a lot different than people in Chicago.
• IKEA is a time warp building. You walk in, but you don't realize you were there 3-4 hours until you are walking out.
• LOVED this article about John Mayer and why he quit using social media. 
• Still waiting for the Lion from Apple. I keep telling myself that I'm going to wait a week or two before upgrading, but I know I won't be able to wait.  Anyone else?
• Google + is out. I love it! I love how simple it is, and I love how it is linked to all my other Google stuff. Here's a great overview on it: Google + - The Complete Guide. Will it take down Facebook? Not sure. But if anyone thinks it's not possible to take down such a large entity like Facebook, go check your MySpace page.
• Have been thinking through a blog post about Casey Anthony and my take on the situation. Read this article on CNN that gets to the heart of what I've been thinking about: Casey Anthony and the Challenge of Forgiveness.   
• Pic of the week.  Last Wednesday I was playing with Jaxon at Odyssey on the inflatables. As he climbed up the ladder I snagged this shot.  There's a depth to it that I love - watching my son climb. Keep going buddy. Keep going:

Logos blogging

I was asked to write up a blog post for Logos about my job.

It was posted today, here's the link:
Do What You Love. Logos is Hiring.

My little man is two!!!

Two years ago today I was given an amazing gift and privilege. When the doctor said "It's a boy!" I was overwhelmed with a happiness so deep I really can't adequately explain it.  I have a son!  We have our Princess, and now we have our Jedi. 

Jaxon Zion Moss was born two years ago today. His little body has gotten bigger, and being all boy he has he share of bumps and bruises from jumping off couches and playground equipment. His personality has emerged, and it is such a happy disposition and also so loving. He is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear (which is only just a stepping stone to Star Wars stuff) and is loving toward his sister (But also a little ornery at times. Last night he ran into the living room where she was building a Lego tower. He pushed it down, laughed huge, and then ran out). He is growing up to be such an amazing little dude.

And I am so incredibly thankful that he calls me daddy!  Happy Birthday to my buddy!!!

Here are a bunch of recent pics of him:

An elderly cerebral hemorrhage survivor got in my face

This week I'm working with a smaller education conference in the southern part of Illinois. It's incredibly hot, and the church only has air conditioning in the sanctuary, which basically means I've been sweating like a dog for the last three days.  It's still been a great time.

Not long after I did my presentation on Logos, an elderly woman came up to me and asked if she could sit with me at my table.  She thought the software looked amazing and wanted to get it to help her get ready for Sunday School. 

"This will be a good tool for me I think. I love to learn and study God's Word, and don't take the opportunity to be able to do so lightly"

"I'm with you there mame," I said. 

Looking over the Logos form, she says, "You see, I'm a cerebral hemorrhage survivor. Most people do not survive that ordeal. But I did"

Week in Review

This past week I was at the NACC conference in Cincinnati, and it was a non-stop experience. I started every morning at 8:30am and didn't get back to the hotel room until 10pm. Add to the craziness of the conference itself the fact that the internet signal in the convention hall was horrendous, there was pretty much no chance for blogging this week. So at home now, I blogger...

"Born in the USA" was not written for July 4th

Firework shows across the country are wrapped up by now. Bottle rockets, jumping jacks, roman candles and the like will still be going off for quite awhile. Some of the firework shows were probably lame (like the one I saw in Cincinnati) and some were probably awesome (like Navy Pier most likely). Most all of them are set to some type of music.  I can't imagine how many of the shows in our country will include Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA"

The most unpatriotic song ever.

Week in Review

I've been really trying to get into a regular blogging rhythm lately.  It's just a good place for me to process what I'm experiencing in life, regardless what it is (scroll to the bottom of the page and read the left column, as far as why I do this blog). One cool thing I've seen in the writings of other bloggers I follow is the concept of a day for random meandering.  Ben Arment calls it his "Wednesday Morning Run Down" and Tim Schraeder calls his the "Monday Mind Dump." Love this idea, and am going to learn from it. For me Saturdays will be the best day for meandering, hence, "The Week in Review." 

Here we go...