Monday, June 30, 2008

If Church was a Sesame Street Episode, Who Would the Pastor Be?



Based on this post, I'd suggest Count Von Count.

Facebook can create problems

Facebook, or any other social networking sight for that matter, can create problems for organizations that care for children. The neat thing about Facebook is sharing pictures with people - some you know and some you don't. And from the Facebook pages I've visited, many like to capture pictures of their regular activities, so when you work with children, it's logical that you'd post pictures of you and the kids you take care of.

In many cases, before any photograph can be published or distributed publicly, unless it's a large group photo, the individuals pictured need to sign a consent form authorizing the distribution. I think Facebook and other social networking sites get too close to that line of demarcation. One can argue that Facebook isn't a public distribution of a photo. We need to place ourselves in the shoes of the parents.

So while I won't state that it's definitively a problem, it's too close for comfort for my take on the matter. I think paid and volunteer staff should be trained that they need to be highly protective of the pictures they take while serving/caring for children, if they take pictures at all.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Anthems, pageantry and FOOTBALL!!!

For the past month, all of Europe, many soccer fans worldwide and apparently even Pastor Scott, have focused on the Euro2008 tournament which concluded today. It would appear, for many nations, their national soccer team is their primary outlet for showing their patriotism. Before each match the national anthems are played for both teams participating in the fixture. And while The Star Spangled Banner has become so routine those singing it at national events deem it necessary to add their own twist, the national anthems in international soccer are a study in national pride and pageantry.

The players all sing along with fervor. In fact, at the 2006 World Cup, one of the Italian players didn't know the words to The Song of the Italians and was publicly called out and ridiculed by the press. The fans, thousands strong, join the players, waving flags and raising scarves in the air. I must watch a lot of international soccer for...

I have a pretty good handle on the words to the Italian national anthem, though I've never looked them up, visited Italy or studied Italian. I've just watch soccer. Apparently a good number of matches involving Italy apparently.

I learned that Spain's national anthem is one of the few worldwide that has no words. That's fine for them, but it makes their soccer players looked kinda stupid during the pre-game ceremonies. The fans solution is to la, la, la-along with the tune so as not to be outdone by the opponent and their worded-anthem.

Every time I hear the Russian anthem it evokes inner pain, disappointment and the early stages of tears. I can only think it's routed in Olympic defeats, likely in ice skating, though I'm not sure why that sport in particular would cause such emotions. Whatever the cause, those feelings emerge each time I hear that particular anthem.

It was a great month of sensational soccer/fabulous football.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

What is True and What is False?

The information I highlighted in this post turns out to be a hoax. Meanwhile, they've supposedly found a hard white substance under the surface of Mars.

Here's more on how the scientists concluded that what they've found is ice.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Empty Chairs

Empty chairs at a church service? Considered a bad sign
Empty chairs at a budget meeting? Considered a good sign

While I don't consider empty chairs at a budget meeting a bad sign, I don't necessarily view it as a good sign. If you have questions, contact me a the church office; I really do enjoy budget conversations.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

A Sunday Observation

I observed something this Sunday morning that I'd never observed before. It's probably been there for weeks, maybe months and even years, but I only observed it for the first time today. Others have pointed out the volume of traffic at supermarket parking lots. And while that definitely is true of our community I've viewed it from a distance.

This Sunday, what was supposed to be a Q&A time about the proposed budget turned into a personal quiet time, but what was happening out the window caught my eye. Grace Church's neighbors were setting up their pool. It was more than a Kodak moment, for just capturing the images that my eyes observed would miss several other senses that contributed to the full effect of the moment.

For as my eyes saw the three children running around the yard performing their rendition of an open the pool dance with mom and dad methodically going about the procedures for pool preparation, emanating through the hallways and into Room 203 were the praise songs from the Auditorium. It hit me that probably every week, within but 100 or so feet, there's a family that presumably doesn't worship a Risen Saviour. A family who's name may or may not be on the wall, but are literally on the other side of it.

I'm not giving up on that family and the others that surround our property. Last winter Pastor Scott, Rick Bernhardt, John Kegarise and myself invited some of the families to have dinner with us, but we received but a few responses. I've suggested we personally invite the families to the upcoming Patriotic Service and family fun afterwards. I'm not giving up.

I hope some day I see a similar scene... the parents and the children eagerly anticipating going into a pool with praise songs in the background. Only this time it's their entrance is a public proclamation that they believe Christ died on the Cross for their sins.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Analysis of a siesta

I find solace in discovering others who suffer from analysis-paralysis, especially when it's a topic near and dear to my heart... http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/naps/

Descending the stairs

Though I have approached most days in my life with a anticipation of what God had in store, I never expected the uniqueness I experienced nowadays. Caring for a loved one diagnosed with dementia, I never know what awaits when I descend the stairs each morning. If it's a good day, he's ready to go out the door and wondering why I'm a minute late. If it's a less than good day, he can be in a general state of mass confusion, not confused about one thing specifically, just an overall pervading sense of disequilibrium that renders him unable to figure out even the simple things. It manifests itself differently everytime. I descend the stairs each morning wondering what hand we've been dealt.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Fuel prices

I wish Sheetz and the like would offer pricing options similar to those offered by heating oil companies - I'd love to lock in a rate for the next twelve months or even pay up front for a year's worth of fuel.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Computer programming into the wee hours of the morning

I enjoy learning about our nation's past space exploration and our current endeavors.
I've tinkered with and enjoyed mild amounts of computer programming since grade 6.
The current Mars mission combines both as this article describes.

Something about having to write code everyday to keep a spaceship parked on Mars running, with the pressure of just one bad command possibly rendering the ship inoperable, grabs my interest. Just the idea of transmitting code across millions of miles fascinates me.

With the Mars day spanning a half hour longer than ours, I'm assuming they've got the right people working on the mission. As I worked toward my AA degree in Computer Science back in college I bugged-out of the program at 3am one morning while working on the semester project. I've never regretted that decision, but I hope the folks working on Phoenix have a greater tolerance for programming late into the night than I did, or still do.

This is your brain; this is your brain on fast food

A former colleague of mine, who frequents fast food joints posted this recently.
I think it's an example, in the vain of the old anti-drug commercials, except the emphasis is the dangers of fast food and it's affect on one's temple.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

No Party Worries with Grace Church Staff

A group of Grace Church staff attended last night's Phillies game. They had a blast. But judging by the state of mind of those who attended this morning, and it's clear who was out last night and who wasn't, any concerns that I might have had in regards to whether I work with a group of people who are out late night on a regular basis have been diminished.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

An 11 Year Legacy

I had the privilege of attending a farewell party this morning. The health insurance broker that's helped Grace Church with our health insurance needs, since before I joined the Grace team, recently left the firm he worked with for 11 years.

The farewell breakfast was a surprise and at least some of the clients were invited, at least I was. Held at Lancaster Country Club, the setting was very nice, fitting for how much he meant to the firm and to his clients. Of course, my relationship was with the broker, so I didn't know anyone else in the room. In such situations, I like to head for a corner to observe before diving in, which is what I did. In the end an acquaintance showed up which made the morning much more comfortable. But all of that's not the point of this.

When I received the notice of his pending departure about a month ago, it was a shock. This man was our health insurance guru. I trusted him implicitly to give us good advice in picking the best plans for our employees. In a matter of minutes during our first meeting, he had listened so well that he had a firm grasp on my heart for our staff and what we were trying to accomplish. The news of him leaving the firm caught me off guard, but having worked together for the last ten years, I knew he had adequately prepared us for navigating the paths on our own. Those who spoke at the breakfast, his partners, his staff and even the person succeeding him at the firm conveyed similar sentiments. It was their way of closing a chapter on his life.

You'd think he'd been with the company for an entire career, something like Pastor Young's 33 years at Grace. No, this was the conclusion of 11 years with the firm. I was stunned by how much impact he'd made in 11 years, by how much fanfare had been generated by a decade's worth of partnership.

After only 11 years, he had already left a legacy.