Significance

The significance of man is that he is insignificant and is aware of it.
- Carl Becker

I would add "in comparison to God."

Have you been to Yosemite?

Pro Life?

So here is the question. Are you PRO LIFE? if so what does that mean to you. A friend of mine, Ecumenical Pilgrim would say that to be truly pro life that means that you would have to be against the death penalty as well. The link goes to what he had to say about it. What are your thoughts. Why/Why not. I want to hear your reasons (not just emotional arguments) for what you believe. I reserve the right to tear apart your argument, and would like those of you with differing viewpoints to do the same... I will be playing devils advocate, and in the end will tell you what I believe on the topic.


So have at it, but a little FYI if your posts are rude or ill spirited I will not post them, so lets keep this a clean fight with no blows below the belt.

Its been a while

I have been away for two reasons: 1. lots of cool happenings have been taking place 2. I have been doing this little thing i like to call "Octoberfast." Yeah nothing like Oktoberfest, in fact quite opposite. I have given up or limited myself of several things through the month of October and have strict penalties for breaking them. Thank you to Pastor Loren who is holding me accountable... One penalty is that if, on a weekday I do not get up by 6:30am I owe him a bagel and coffee. Anther deal is that I am fasting from media outside of ministry or social times. This has been nice, and effectively held due to the stiff penalty of not being able to start my QB on my fantasy team if I fail to uphold the agreement. The kicker has been no energy drinks, which I love. That has been the hard one, and I would've failed IF I could've found one at my moment of weakness, but alas I am still clean. Ok. so a quick recap on what I have done since you have heard from me last.

Continue with our Jr High room remodel.
Went to Disneyland for 2 days
Went to San Diego
Played in the FCA golf Tournament

Loren and I were sponsered by one of my student's parents. We played at Brighton Crest. It was a lot of fun, the format was scramble, scotch, and best ball for 6 holes each. We ended up shooting an 89 (with a few, moments of grace...) I did however have the most amazing pitch shot ever! I was about 35 yards our from the hole, hit the ball long and it rolled back and went in! That's right I saved us by getting the double bogey!

(I am allowed to post this right now, I just don't post much since I am at work)


So what have you fasted from, and why?

10 Ways to Fail as a Leader

This was a good article that I was given at work, I figured I would post it since it is a reminder to me on some of the elementary lessons to keep in mind when in a leadership position.

Top 10 Ways to FAIL as a Leader
Steve Macchia and Rick Anderson

Perhaps you've even personally served under a notoriously bad team
leader and secretly wondered whether or not you'd have what it takes to
sabotage a team of your own. Just follow these simple guidelines:

10) CONSERVE AFFIRMATION. You don't want your team members to become
arrogant. Use affirming remarks sparingly.

9) HAVE A CLOSED-DOOR POLICY. Openness to feedback is a slippery slope.
One day you're listening, the next day you're on the verge of a
teachable spirit.

8) MAKE SURE NOBODY APPEARS SMARTER THAN YOU ARE. Nobody has more
knowledge or experience than you do. That's why you're in charge, right?

7) FOSTER AN ATMOSPHERE OF PARANOIA. Nothing puts a better positive
filter on incoming information than a renowned fear of your response to
bad news.

6) MAKE SURE ALL IDEAS ORIGINATE WITH YOU. Good ideas come from the top,
not the team. Shared credit is for couples with debt problems.

5) EXERCISE HIGH CONTROL. Remember, you're the team leader, and it's
your way or the highway.

4) LOOK OUT FOR #1. When in doubt, ask yourself, What's best for me and
my interests? Don't underestimate the value of manipulation.

3) DON'T TRUST ANYONE. If you refuse to trust them from the start, you
don't give them the opportunity to disappoint you.

2) ASK SOMEONE TO DO A SPECIFIC JOB, AND THEN DO IT YOURSELF.
Micromanagement is one of the surest ways to fail as a team leader. If
you want it done right, you've got to do it yourself.

1) FILL YOUR TEAM WITH PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU. Could there be a more ideal
team than one made up of multiple versions of you?