I sent out about 8 letters to churches/ministers asking for support on my El Salvador mission trip. Basically there’s a set amount which we have to pay for ourselves. My goal has just about been reached. I am VERY grateful for the finanical support.
I had been really pondering this. I have the money in the bank for this trip. However being unemployeed I don’t exactly have money pouring in anymore. I asked alot of people about this…whether is it ok to ask for support for such a mission trip when you do have money saved up? The general feeling was that it was perfectly fine to do this. So I did.
I definitely wouldn’t have asked for support if I did have a job. I do realize that there are plenty more people more deserving than me. Yet I realize that there are church people out there looking to support mission work, yet just don’t have the time to go themselves. So I guess I’m giving them a chance to support someone they know personally.
So it is ok to do this? Am I treading on thin ice? This has all been a humbling experience. I hope I’m doing an ok thing. I realize that my money isn’t even really my money at all. It’s God’s money. And I hope my request hasn’t cost me any respect.
Then again I’ve wondered why people like me. I don’t do anything extraordinarily special that would tend to attract people. Is it specialized knowledge? Knowledge that causes someone to come up to me and start asking random internet and computer questions?
In case you haven’t realized it, when I make reference to the “Big Giant Screen” at church, it’s actually a subtle throwback to that campy sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun.” Whenever they had a direct command from the higher ups, Harry Solomon would stand up and yell “Incoming Message from the Big Giant Head.” Ok, I’ll stop explaining myself now.
Todd implimented the Blogamp thingy on his website. So now you can see all that weird music he listens to on a regular basis. Well, it’s not that weird.
Babies and Pottywords
At church we have a program for the elementary and middle schoolers. The program teaches fundamentals of church stuff and tries to push leadership skills and stuff like that. We have 2 different programs – one for the boys, the other for the girls. Anyways I decided to help out with this program this time around. I’ve been to two Sunday afternoon sessions. I’ve been sitting in with the 3rd-5th graders’ class.
During today’s session we got those weird philosophical questions that you just can’t answer with one simple sentence. Stuff like this:
- “If a baby’s first word is a pottyword, does God send them to hell if they die?”
- “Do demons and ghosts still exist?”
- “Where did the Bible come from? And how was it passed down?”
Still it is good that they are asking questions like this. Shows they are paying attention. I doubt that I’m doing much. Mostly just sitting around offering meager comments. I did have an impromptu showing some of them how the big giant screen in the auditorium works. They seemed interested in it.
I managed to find an old copy of CoolEdit ’96 on the web. Nevermind that CoolEdit 2000 is out. It’s $69, while ’96 is free. And all I want to do is convert wav files to Real Audio. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what I need.
I found Blogamp….a plug-in for Winamp. FTPs a javascript to your webpage showing what songs you’ve been listening to. I probably won’t use it on my page. I may not want people knowing what songs I listen to. But I’d like to see it on others peoples. Maybe even find some cool music.
Why don’t you get a job?
Something was said to me tonight that made me think “Am I really being a bum for not having a job by now?” Or is the economy so bad, that many many people are unemployeed? It’s not like I am being a bum….sleeping in ’til 10. Actually I am staying busy. As I said before I’ve got this project going with the church computers. And just this past week I helped a friend get his business website up and going. So things are keeping me busy. Even though I may not necessarily be getting paid for all of it.
Part of me says that I can’t see myself doing the old cubicle job again. I’d much rather get out of the office instead of staring at a screen all day. Everyone is telling me to start my own webdesign business. But I figure webpage design is pretty fickle anyways. Sooner or later people are going to figure out how to make up a simple webpage. So I can’t put much stock into that career choice.
I’m feeling confused, frustrated, worthless, overqualified, and discouraged at times. Not one single interview. Not one legitament callback from a real life employeer. What am I doing wrong?
And do I care what people think of me?
Packard Bell Pintos
I’ve been thinking about converting this weblog database over to MySQL, which is supposed to be better, quicker, faster than the regular ole database. I know nothing about MySQL, only that it is free and easy to use. But the good part is that I don’t have to know all there is to know. MovableType is supposed to be able to use it…no problem.
So I’ve been pondering this church computer networking issue. We’ve got all those computers donated waiting to be networked. The only problem is that our resident computer guru is also a CPA and won’t be able to help with this network installation until after April 15th (obviously). So the next big thing will have to wait.
Still it is amazing how far they’ve gone with these computers. I have been pondering getting the preacher’s computer some more RAM so it can be upgraded to Win2K. David’s computer is a Cadillac among the rest of the Pintos in the office. Well, maybe not a Cadillac, more of a nice Honda. Still the other office workers don’t know they’re driving Pinto computers. I don’t know how they’ve been getting along with those 8 year old Packard Bell Pintos (apologies to other Packard Bell users). Those are inadequate for zipping out those weekly church bulletins.
I’ve seen a scanner in the church conference room, not being used. I was thinking about asking permission to use it in the audio/visual pit area. You never know. It could come in handy whenever someone brings a picture to us wanting it to be shown on the big giant screen. The overhead is not always adequate, ya know?
I’ve lost all respect for singer Ryan Adams. That’s RYAN Adams….not to be confused with “Summer of ’69” Bryan Adams. Ryan Adams sings “New York, New York,” that one hit for the wonder. Seems Ryan tends to cuss alot in between his songs in concert and on his website. What a drag. Express yourself with reasonable language.
1991 all over again
So its like it is 1991 all over again. U.S. soldiers are in desert gear about to invade Iraq. Patriot missle batteries are all around them. We seem to see Colin Powell on the television alot. And there’s a new Nirvana song on the radio (“You Know You’re Right”) I feel like I’m back in high school again.
What are they gonna call this pending war? Gulf War II? Do they even have a name for the Afghanistan War? Somehow “The War on Terror” seems less enduring.
If 1991’s war was about oil, today’s war is about staying safe. And the funny thing is we had more international support when it was about oil. Now no one seems to think Iraq is a threat to anybody. At least not enough to take Iraq out militarily. “Oh the humanity!” they scream from their artdeco apartments. The thing is, I am pretty sure these peace activitists are pro-peace because its the cool trendy thing to do, not because they understand the potential threat or anything. Let them exprience ground zero at NYC in real time on September 11th. Then ask them again if Saddam is a threat. Anybody who even has a hint of threatening behavior needs to be dealt with. Inspections aren’t working. Running around like Inspector Clouseau is about as effective as one of those “wild goosechases” Waylon Jennings always spoke about in the Dukes of Hazzard.
Part of me wants to get UN approval for it. Then the other part says we don’t need UN approval because some nations will never experience the real threat we experience. We’ll never be able to convince France of the threat Saddam poses to us.
Mozilla Downgrades
I tried upgrading from Mozilla 1.0 to Mozilla 1.2. There were a bunch of bugs in it…like using the Ctrl-F keys to find a word in the page. Using that function completely crashed Mozilla. So I downgraded back to Mozilla 1.0.
The only reason I tried to upgrade was due to a plug-in I was trying to add to it. It was supposed to let you blog while surfing in the same browser window. The plug-in was supposed to work well with Mozilla 1.2, but unfortunately it didn’t work with Windows 2000. So my hopes were dashed.
I helped a friend of my mom’s get setup with Juno email. Nice old Windows 95 machine with 48MB of RAM. Probably adequate for her needs. Had a 33.6 USB External modem. It’s been a while since I saw an external modem. Anyway she’s happy. I’m happy. And she can email away.
The big companies that control our lives have done a good job at convincing us that email and the internet are vital to our lives. So that some retired grandmother in Omaha HAS to subscribe to AOL in order to continue contact with her grandkids in Missouri. So we HAVE to have the internet. Its the next big thing. The great white hype. The new frontier. The next best thing since sliced bread.
So apparently everyone NEEDS the internet. Everyone NEEDS email. As if our lives weren’t already complicated enough as it was. And somehow I’ve convinced you that my life is important enough to share (and for you to read) on this webpage.
Juno email? You’ve come a long way, baby. Circa 1996: Juno email becomes available. Everyone rejoices. Finally…free email without paying those huge tuition bills at your favorite junior college. So its been good for those grandmothers who don’t know anything about the net but want to send fickle messages back and forth.
Still this whole internet thing seems halfway between a huge inside joke and something remotely legitament. Legit for people who use it as a real tool. A huge joke for people who…well, use it as a huge joke.
Stories I’ve read lately:
Tale of the Big Giant Cheeto on Ebay
Anti-Americanism affect American Tourists
Friday Five: Last Things
1. What was the last song you heard?
Fatboy Slim – “Praise You.” They wore out that song when it first came out. But now it’s cool because I haven’t heard it in a while.
2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Bourne Identity and Changing Lanes.
Both were ok movies. I did find that just because a movie has Ben Affleck or Matt Damon doesn’t mean it will automatically be a good movie. J-Lo take note.
3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Printer cartridge for Phil’s printer. (Thursday) I’ll get reimbursed later.
Papa John’s Pizza (Wednesday)
Pizza at Bellacino’s (Monday) (yes I enjoy eating pizza frequently)
4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
I might upgrade some of the computers at church….particularly David’s computer which could get really spruced up with Windows 2K.
Worship on Sunday. I’m a traditional kind of guy.
Probably write in this lame weblog.
Surf the net.
I lead a very boring life.
5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
My parents (2), David, Phil, and Carole. (Hey I was just at church and ministers and church secretaries were there)
Woefully inadequate computers
Woefully inadequate computers for what they need to do in the church office. That’s all I have to say. I’m used to upgrading my machine every few years or so. That’s me. Thankfully I got a new machine a couple of years ago and I haven’t had to upgrade since then. And for the most part (knock on wood) this computer has been adequate for my needs.
The computers in the church office are another story. Ancient. About 8 years old. It is a wonder they’re able to put out a bulletin each week.
We’ve gotten some machines donated to the church. They’re about 366Mhz with 5 gig hard drives. I’ve been surveying the church office staff to see what their needs are. What programs they use and what programs they need.
I will be glad when we get these new computers installed. Life may be a whole lot easier….or open up a new can of worms during the transition period.
So the discussion board has been dumbed down according to a colleague of mine. Where is everybody? I don’t know…. Trying to post relavent questions as to spur discussion.
Jeff vs. The Volcano vs. The Superbionic Super Center
El Salvador class was tonight. I definitely think there should be a seperate class for first timers. I feel so intimidated with so many veterans of past trips in the same room. Are these people here to point and laugh at my stupid questions? My ignorance is showing. Watches? Can I wear my Snoopy watch to El Salvador or will it be stolen faster than a Mr. T starter set? Time to get a cheap digital watch at Wallyworld if I am going to know what time it is while in ES.
I did a search for Usulutan – the city where we are going to. Supposedly there is a volcano there. So that will be interesting. But somehow I suspect things will be too busy dishing out medication for any siteseeing trips. And I’m aware of that. It is a work trip. Rarely do you get to interact with real people in 3rd world countries. I count myself blessed to have met some real people in China. So I guess I’ll be meeting some real people in ES.
And it will be difficult to refrain from mentioning China during the trip. I will have to bite my tongue when I arrive…wanting to say “Well in China things were like this…” That’s old news. No one wants to hear about China. It’s all foreign compared to ES. I’ve been to China? So what? Lots of people have. Phil’s been to the Holy Land, but you don’t hear him mentioning it during every other sentence.
Then again, China is the only thing I have to compare to this third world country of El Salvador. So by human nature I’m going to do it. I’ll just have to do it silently as though trying not to annoy my tripmates.
I visited Papa John’s new Hermitage location tonight. In the same building as a Blockbuster video. What a novel concept. While a pizza gets cooked, customers can go right next door and pick up a video. The 2 businesses compliment each other. Still, the old Blockbuster building looks much larger than the new building. I guess DVD’s come in slim packaging hence the slim building. Maybe people aren’t renting as much with Tivo around.
Anyways the PJ’s moved away from the shopping center which SuperWalmart will tear down to build a bigger and better SuperbionicWalmartSuperCenter/ McDonald’s/ PizzaHut/ Oil Change place/ and gynecologist all in the same building. Okay, I’m kidding. It won’t be bionic and Pizza Hut and the gynecologist will not be available in said Supercenter. But everything else will be there.
Lent
I grew up in a church (and still am part of a church) that did not celebrate Lent. So when I got to high school and some of my friends were talking about what they were giving up for Lent, the concept seems so foreign to me. According to what I’ve read about it, Lent symbolizes Jesus’ withdrawal while in the wilderness fasting for 40 days.
I think if it helps someone grow closer to God, then Lent is probably a good thing. However church leaders which push Lent should know that the concept is not found in the Bible, although the more general aspect of fasting is found in the Bible. If you try to make Lent into some requirement for salvation, then you are treading on thin ice.
In some ways I think Lent may have caused more sin. Last night in New Orleans people partied…doing who knows what….and then when the clock struck midnight….like Cinderella’s pumpkin, the partying stopped. So why is a certain part of the year considered more holier than the rest? Shouldn’t we be living 100% for God 365 days a year?
What does giving up caffeine for 40 days before Easter have to do with Jesus’ death? Instead of doing something fickle like that, why not do some real fasting; visit a shut-in; volunteer at your church. Just don’t try to make something fairly fickle like caffeine and somehow compare it to Jesus’ death on the cross.
However I’m prefacing this by saying, I’m not trying to bash someone who celebrates Lent. All I’m saying is that there is so much more you can do to grow closer to God, than by just giving up chocolate for 40 days….