Finally At Liberty To Say

Brokeback Mountain

2006-03-21T05:09:00.000-08:00

Man, if John Wayne were alive today, someone would be dead for making this crud.

Like the Pros do it

2006-02-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

So the wonderful staff at 1stFamilyChurch recently asked me to design a newsletter of sorts of them; fun little project, it taught me a lot about designing with someone else in mind (a lot of someone else's in this case). But one thing, in particular, I found is that adults love their picture. I kept wanting to design something edgey, full of graphics design, low on color. So to make a short story long, one of the guys I've met blogging saved my tail.

Jarrett Fuller has an awesome eye for photography, and I ended up choosing prints entirely from his gallery when doing the latest layout for FFC's newsletter. And while, I'm sure the publication very well may be far from compete, I just wanted to say thanks to Jarrett for letting us use his photos. Thanks to him we've managed to put together a piece that meets both my "design" standards and the staff's "practical" ones. You're the man, Jarrett!

Looking Good

2006-02-14T08:20:00.001-08:00

The other day, we had a speaker come in to speak at Convocation, pretty routine for us, at least, but apparently not for him. The man attempted to supervise the entire set up of convo, it seemed. I doubt this was his first speaking engagement apart form his church, but he couldn't have been very seasoned, at all. First things first, if you bring us a Power Point with a Royal Blue background and yellow text in a Comic Sans font, we're going to "doctor" it . That might have flew somewhere else, but that's not going to cut it here.

Unfortunately, we were having an abnormal amount of trouble with our Martin 250s and 300s that morning, so no one had a chance to get started on this man's outline until the service actually started. That's cool, we've done tighter before.

So we're mid-way through the message when he gets booking. I mean, he's flying through points like they're nothing. The guy next to me is having trouble keeping up, needless to say (I mean, he's good, but I don't think anyone's that good). So the inevitable happens: we miss a point. The man actually stopped and said "I'm sure it's coming up on the screens in a second, maybe someone fell asleep up there."

I was almost too stunned to put the point up there at all, and I I almost don't even know where to begin ranting. Suffice it to say, if you don't say anything, no one's going to know something's wrong. An AV department is not trying to make you look like a moron, believe it or now: we're going to make you look good, but if you're stopping us, there's nothing we can do about it.

Looking Good

2006-02-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

Learning Who's Boss

2006-02-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

To this day, one of the hardest aspects of designing graphics, publications, anything really, is not designing something I like, because I'm not the one trying to be reached with this piece. Granted: sometimes I fit into the same demographic as those who I'm designing for, and those jobs are really fun and easy - it's like I'm drawing up something for my own wallpaper, or something.

But more and more, I'm getting projects for another demographic, and thus I'm having to weigh what I like professionally (not personally) and what they like personally (not necessarily professionally).

I'll be honest, when you're working with someone who has a horrible eye for design, colors, and layout, this just plain sucks. Luckily I've only had a few of those jobs. That's not the point, though.

The point is, that just because you're favorite ad firm is trying out something now, doesn't mean you need to try and push that on you 85-year-old client. Don't design for you, design from you. Chances are, you'll find that you client's satisfaction will amplify your own, and you won't constantly be having to re-do their projects, either.

Stepping On Toes

2006-01-30T16:40:00.000-08:00

We're in the middle of Spiritual emphasis Week this week, and like every SEW, a guest speaker is brought in to speak. Now this goes over great with the student body, I mean anyone new is a blessing from God himself to the vast majority. The tech community has a slightly different view, however. See the student body doesn't have to deal wit this new speaker: we do.

So this is my second SEW, the first guy was awesome. Funny, interesting, good-ole South Carolina boy. He came alone and coordinated with us to plan his outlines for the services, which was cool: we got to know him. This guy, though is a cookie of a different flavor.

In the weeks leading up to SEW, I head rumors as to how hard this guy who if you really want to know who it is, it's not that hard to look up was. Big deal, people are people, right? So right before load in, one of our Campus Pastors, comes up to me and says, "...not to add any more pursue to you, but this guy is really expecting us to screw up big time with the production. So if you could be perfect for the next week while he's here, I'd really appreciate it."

Wow.

I mean, I like to think I'm up to it, but hey, I'm but no means an expert. And hey, computers crash on us on a weekly basis, nothing I came really do about that.

So I'm at the meeting post-load in, where I'm told that not only are we to be absolutely perfect (which isn't that bad of a standard, really) but this guy is bringing in not only his own outline, not only his own graphics, but his own operator too! I'm not too sure if I'm justified in this or not, but I felt slapped. To me, the house operator, that said "you're not good enough for me" it said "I know you do this every other day, but my standards are just out of your reach" that says "you don't know my style and I'm not willing to give you time to learn". That's unreasonable, in my professional opinion.

Let's forget about that fact that I know the system better the she does, and let's forget about that fact that I think their presentation look like Grade A C-R-A-P...let's toss all that out the window. How professional is that?! To come into a house as a guest and kick the owner out: that's a principal I just can't grasp. I 've been trying again and again to see this his way, but I just can't, and like I said, I may not be justified in this rant. But there's a fine line between professional standards and stepping on toes, a very fine line indeed.

I wish I spoke Italian

2006-01-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

My CNN widget brought my attention to this story this afternoon; about a priest being sued (for all practical purposes) because he claimed it was an obvious, and widely accepted, truth that Jesus Christ existed. Nothing about the purpose of His life: existed. I wish I had Doc's email address, so I could forward this to him. I bet he'd get on a plane and straighten this guy out real quick. Which brings me back to my opening remark: I wish I spoke Italian.

Wonderful Days Bring Wonderful News

2006-01-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

I just received word from the "powers above" (the ones right underneath the Big Man) that we're considering upgrading to PVP.

Their site pretty much speaks for itself, but in short this will allow us to mix our own video loops live and in house. Granted: it will take a while still before we can put on a show like Catalyst '05, but we're taking steps towards it, still. And as an added bonus, I know I'll sleep better knowing I'll have this awesome software on my hardrive before long.

I take it all back

2006-01-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, Tally I owe you a huge apology.

I ordered iWork '06 (Pages 2 and Keynote 3), and all I can say is good bye; good Bye to the last thread of Microsoft Office in my Mac. I almost want to delete all my Office aplications, but I'm a saver, so I won't. Just cause I feel like bragging a little, take a peek at what I'm getting to tinker with

Pages is a wonderful integration of Publisher, Word, and Excel. It actually has some nice looking templates (fully customizable, of course).

Highlights

Start with any one of 66 templates, including 25 new designs.
Import documents created with AppleWorks or Microsoft Word from both PC and Mac.
Export as a cross-platform PDF, Word, HTML, RTF or text-only file.
Build form letters with drag-and-drop simplicity using your Address Book

Keynote, quite honestly, was the reason I bought this software. Imagine this, if you will: so Doc's (Falwell) is up on the screen, the next slide is black, however, we have our video mixer key set up to remove 100% black, which wonderfully enough, is the color of the afore mentioned next slide. So Doc finished reading his verse, and the slide transitions with one of those page flips where the bottom right corner starts peeling up over the rest of the slide, but instead of the black slide being there, the video mixer pulls out the black and lays in the camera feed - Doc. So all the audience saw was up going from the versestrightt to Doc. I should post the video so you can see for yourself: it was hot.

Highlights

Choose from 27 themes, including new HD themes up to 1920x1080 pixels.
Add gorgeous cinematic transitions, animations, slide builds and more.
Import presentations created with AppleWorks or Microsoft PowerPoint on from both PC and Mac.
Export your presentation to PowerPoint, or to iDVD or iPhoto.
See all your slides at a glance in Light Table View and easily reorganize them.

Seasons

2006-01-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

One of my many pastors, John , once told me that God brings people into our lives for a season; and only He knows just how long that season will turn out to be. I consider myself blessed to have met so many great men (and women, for that matter) in my life, and even more blessed that a majority of them have remained in my life.

That said, tonight my boss told me he was resigning, though I'm not entirely sure why I feel this badly. I knew I respected the man, that was undeniable. He headed up our department his junior year here, so he's got to know a bit about what he's talking about, huh? Paul was just one of those natural leaders, I suppose. Like the generals you read about who's men would follow him to the death; that's how we techies were to Paul.

One of the first things I noticed about working for real is the amazing amount of "kissing up" that goes on. Everyone constantly longing to out-know everyone else. This seemed to hold true no matter how high you seemed to climb on the ladder of authority. I think that's why I respected, no still respect Paul this much. It was enough that he was wonderful at what he did, but he made the rest of us feel like a million dollars everytime we did something that could never come close to compare with his work.

Shadow Grove Community Church, you're adding a great man to your staff.

NO!

2006-01-15T19:35:00.000-08:00

I just posted a comment the other days on Tally's blog about my history with 24. So you can suffice it to say that the season premiere tonight was up there on my to-do list. I won't give away plot for those of you who might have missed it, although the last 15 or 20 minutes absolutely killed me! So incase you missed it, here's the caption Fox blessed the nation with:

"We are expeirencing audio difficulties"

So...apparently the national Fox audio signal was not functioning properly (possibly the greatest understatement of 2006). So it looks like I'm going to have to wait until Season 5 hits DVD, unless Fox releases a script for Episode 2, that is...

Alright, alright

2006-01-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while. I confess, I have no real reason other than I just got busy with...well life, and blogging was one of the things that got cut. So for those of you who still check in on me, I'll bring you up to speed with the life of this college student.

I'm at Liberty still, and I even go to class occasionally when I'm not working. I of course say that jokingly, but in all seriousness, I really do love my job. I work for the lighting and video department of Technical Productions over at LU; which is a fancy way of lumping up convocation (our 'formal' services every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), Campus Church, any events that might roll through that need lighting or video, and concerts. So it's not that small really, I suppose, but like I said, I love it. It's a lot more physical than I expected, but that would be due to the size of equipment we bring in. It happens, you know?

So it's been great catching up with you guys, I'll have to keep this up. Power to the Macs!

A Two Way Hug

2005-10-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

In reading “My Utmost For His Highest” this morning, I came across something profound, yet simple (those are always the best truths). This was Oswald Chambers’ quote: “And yet you go away with nothing, whilst all the time God has stood with outstretched hands not only to take you, but for you to take Him.”

It makes me think of a Soap Opera, or just the drama of high school and middle school, where someone can just stand there and “take” a hug, and not return it. You’ve probably done it. You just stand there, with your arms down to your side, and let someone hug you. It’s not really defying them, per se, because it’s not an order on their part, but rather just rejection. God doesn’t order us to hug Him, nor does He run to us: He stands where He is, with His arms open. It’s up to us not only run to Him, but hug Him, as well.

You can’t do one without the other. Hugging Him from a distance makes little, if any, sense, and simply going to stand in front of Him does littler more good. He is hugging all of us today. Are we hugging Him back?

He's a Big Deal

2005-09-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

Christianity is by far not the only world religion to include Jesus Christ into it’s tapestry; in fact, just about all of them do: Islam, Mormons, Buddhists, Christianity, Catholicism, New-Age Idealists, any given cult, and the list goes on and on. Every story finds a way to weave Jesus into the picture. Though in many (ok, ok, pretty much all) of them don’t have Him staring in the feature, He is at least cast as an extra in one scene or another.

Ever wonder why though?

What is it about Jesus Christ that makes everyone need to find a place for Him, and why do Gandhi, Buddha, Muhammad, and Joseph Smith posses the same appeal? And why does Christianity not feel the need to places all these figureheads within their teachings? Why is it that I had to use spell check to spell Gandhi, Buddha, and Muhammad, and the name of Jesus is like typing my own?

Ever wonder why though?

Jesus Christ has an appeal that the human race can’t ignore. They may not like Him; they may not like what He had to say; they may even say they don’t believe He walked the earth. But you don’t hear them debating Gandhi, Buddha, or Muhammad, do you? Agree or not, people can’t get off the subject of Jesus Christ.

Ever wonder why though?

The Bible, the biography of Jesus, says that Jesus pulled off a trick that no other mere religious figurehead could: He died and He lived again. Without that, all His teaching would be for nothing, His miracles magic tricks, and no hope for the human race. Whether or not they’ll put Him first, other religions see that He’s a big deal.

We're praying for you Corpus Christi

2005-09-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

I know this makes three posts in one day, but New Orleans was one thing; I didn't have family there. From a category 1-4 in a couple of hours, and then a 5 only a few hours later. The title says it all: Texas, Corpus Christi, First Family Church, you're in my prayers today.

SAT Score: 1601

2005-09-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Why follow a moron?

It’s a good question, colleges ask it all the time when admitting students, places of employment all over America ask it when hiring new talent, even high school won’t let you play sports if you don’t pass class.

So what’s the big deal?

Well let’s take this one step at a time. Would you want a lawyer who was 13 defending you? Would you enjoy getting the miss-calculated bill from him, later after you lost your case? How long would you let a doctor who failed out of medical school operate on you? Would you let a man who’d dropped out of middle school be the president of your country? Education matters, and the lack-there-of makes a large difference.

So I ask again, why follow a moron? In any context, why? Because if you think the man who leader you in this life needs to know what he’s doing, imagine the Man who will lead the next one. Dallas Willard, a contemporary Christian philosopher, wrote the Jesus was not simply a “mere icon, a wraithlike semblance of a man, fit for the role of sacrificial lamb or alienated social critic, perhaps, but little more.” Willard brings up an excellent point: in a world of Doctorates and PhDs, why follow a moron of the past? Willard continues that not only was Jesus not any of those things (…a mere icon, and the like), but he was the most intelligent person who ever lived.

Well that’s good, then. “Jesus is Lord” can mean very little to someone who can’t hesitate in saying “Jesus is smart”. He is not just nice: he is brilliant. And that sort of brilliance deserves unyielding support and commitment.

Stamp Collecting

2005-09-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

There are some stamps of approval that are the last word in approvals; once they are obtained, every other stamp is irrelevant. God's stamp of approval is like that; when He declares a thing is right, all other opinions are of no significance. God placed His stamp of approval on Paul's ministry in Ephesus. Note how He placed His stamp of approval on Paul's work there: "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts 19.11-12). What ever Paul did there should be a model for us and for others in the way of ministry. Let's take a brief look at Paul's actions in Ephesus.

It was there that Paul "went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." (Acts 19.8-10).

First, notice that he "spoke boldly." The word of God does not need to hide behind anything. Its message deserves courageous proclamation; timidity has no place in this arena. Paul put it this way with Timothy: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord" (2 Timothy 1.7-8a).

Next, note the primary place of his work; he "went into the synagogue." This was not a place where he was likely to receive ready acceptance, especially from those in authority. He taught the 'Sonship' of Jesus Christ while the leaders in the synagogue would have by default opposed the idea of the Messiah being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Paul took his ministry to people who had an interest, albeit a misguided one, in things spiritual and in Sovereign God.

Then notice his methods. He reasoned and persuaded. Paul knew that the key to conversions had to do with man's will, intellect, and emotions. He attacked these faculties and features of man with the gospel message. The word translated "reasoning" in the passage quoted also literally includes the idea of discussing and arguing. Nice just doesn't get it when it comes to opposing false doctrine. Bold speech which confronts error head-on is usually required. Likewise, Paul "persuaded" his hearers. He was not looking for cheap converts half persuaded by kind words and fair speeches; such cannot stand in adversity. Paul looked for men who wholeheartedly embraced the gospel message.

Finally, some were hardened by Paul's message and/or methods. That being the case, he was compelled to move his base of operations away from the synagogue and to the school of Tyrannus. This negative reaction forced Paul to move, but it did not force him to change his message or his methods. Paul simply moved to a location that would permit him to do what he knew he had to do, boldly proclaim the gospel without regards to naysayers and recalcitrant individuals.

When God approves something, that ought to be the end of all controversy. However, we still fail to recognize His wisdom in many cases. When the results of bold preaching are negative, we are prone to change the message, the messenger, and/or the method. God worked and He still will.

On Boredom

2005-09-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Boredom can make a mind to do funny things; then again, I suppose funny things can make a mind bored. Boredom, itself, funny, when you think about it. What exactly is it? Merriam-Webster Online defines it as “the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest”.

So when I hear the fine example of upperclassmen say that they’re bored with Liberty, what he’s saying is God’s plan for his life doesn’t hold his interest. The Bible says that Abraham wasn’t 100 years old until he had the son God promised him, and didn’t die until he was 175. People today die at 75, and teenagers drop out of high school to start families.

Life’s getting even shorter.

Who has the time to be bored? Who has time to waste? God was a wonderful plan for every life upon this earth, and to be bored is to be inactive. So don’t be bored, and the next time you feel you are in a “state of being weary and restless through lack of interest”, whip out a Bible, go ask someone how their spiritual life is doing, volunteer for the Red Cross, do something! God doesn’t care how you worship Him, as long as you do worship Him. So don’t be bored, be in Him.

Abba, Father

2005-09-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

I’ve been reading lot. Not just for class, either. I read my Bible for fun now, and that scares me…ok, not really. I find myself craving that wisdom, like that cool older brother I want so badly to hang out with.

But with that comes new questions, one of which I just answered recently, in reference to marriage (and thank you to you who helped with that process), but my logic-driven mind continued down that road until I found some principals about raising my children, some day. Here’s what I found.

1. Be a positive example (Psalms 103:8 – 13)
2. Teach a spiritual heritage (1 Peter 1:4)
3. Provide financial security (2 Corinthians 12:14)
4. Provide Biblical instruction (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
5. Give constant discipline (Proverbs 22:6)
6. Give some practical advice (Ephesians 6:4)
7. Provide future blessing (Mark 10:13-16)

And as comforting as it is to have on outline for how God wants me to raise my children, I can’t help but think of my own father in all these things. So this post isn’t as much talk of the future, as it is thanks for the past, I suppose. Thank you Dad for being all of these things to me for the 18 years I’ve walked this earth. Thank you for telling me you’re proud of me; I hear it every time, I promise. You’ve provided me with a wonderful Godly example by which I can live, worship, and raise new life. I love you, old man.

Don’t lie to mom

2005-09-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Tom and Mom had been at ends for weeks now. He wanted a State School, while she wanted him to attend a Christian University. Ultimately, she rationed, if he was the one attending, then he should be the one to choose. So she caved, and off he went.

His first summer home, Tom informed her that he didn’t really like dorm life, so he’d like to move off campus. But to help pay for the apartment, he’d get a roommate. Mom thought about it, and couldn’t really find anything wrong with the idea, so they decided it’d be alright. Three weeks into the semester, Tom called to inform Mom that Tim, the supposed roommate, backed out, so he found a new one: Julia.

Mom wasn’t mad, really; she was pissed, but Tom talked to her,
“Mom, we’re just friends. It’s just like Tim, really. We share food and a roof and bills, that’s it. Don’t worry, mom, this is just the way things are these day.” That got her. And she’s heard something about letting them make their own mistakes, so she caved to his plan again.

Later in the year, Tom and Julia asked Mom over for dinner. So she showed up at the apartment at the designated time. The dinner was awkward, Mom starred daggers at Tom the entire time, until finally Julia got up to go tend to the kitchen. Mom asked Tom “What is going on, Tom”, “Nothing Mom,” he replied. “Everything’s just fine, we’re just friends.’ A few days after the dinner, Julia came to Tom and said “Tom, I haven’t seen my silver gray ladle ever since that dinner with your mother. Do you think she took it home with her?” Tom was at a crossroads, Mom was already mad enough at him, but on the other hand, this ladle belonged to Julia’s grandmother and meant a lot to her. So Tom decided tot email Mom.

“Dear Mom,
Ever since you left Julia hasn’t been able to find her silver gray ladle. Now I’m not saying you stole it, and I’m not saying you didn’t, but she’s really like to find it.

Tom”

A few days later, the reply came.

“Dear Tom,
Don’t lie to Mom.
Now I’m not saying you are sleeping with Julia, and I’m not saying you aren’t, but if Julia were sleeping in her own bed, she’d have found her silver gray ladle.

Mom”

I love you, mom.

Headaches

2005-09-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

I’ve worked with Audio/Visual teams with several churches now, so I consider myself somewhat up to snuff with a “status-quo” system, as far as church audio goes. Though I’d always discounted that to a simple lack of funding that lead to a simple lack of quality, which in tern leads to an abundance of headaches.

Untrue.

I’ve been working with the team here at Liberty for just over two weeks now, and the headaches are very much still apart of the picture, in fact, I’ve learn that bigger speaker don’t reduce your headaches, they increase them. They’re heavier, their wheels brake, they need larger cables, and they take more power, too.

Just goes to show you that money (among other things) doesn’t make a church service what it is. Sound Systems don’t make a service; in fact the headaches Satan puts inside them can very easily break a service. The rig I’m working with here at LU is easily the largest and most advanced I’ve ever worked with, but I’m having some of the same issues I’ve had with a two speaker PA system, anywhere else.

So whether you’re on a system bigger than one I’m on right now, or an all-in-one set by Peavey, there will be headaches. So be encouraged, because as long as you set up with a heart of worship, you services will never be better.

The Days of Old

2005-09-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Today is so much cooler than yesterday. I really mean no disrespect to yesterday by saying that, it’s just the kid in me talking. Today on iTunes, I was an advertisement for the new Motorola ROKR, a new phone from Motorola and Cingular. This phone, when paired with a computer plays back the music you can transfer to it. Essentially making it the world’s first iPod/cell phone, and by cell phone I mean camera/video/Bluetooth/everything else they’re packing into these things today. All that in 3.77 oz, simply amazing.

Speaking of iPod, however, the mini’s are said to finally be retired. You won’t hear me complaining, though, I never like the little buggers, anyway. Though, Apple’s come out with a new beautiful little device. And I use the term “little” in it’s fullest sense. They’ve called it the iPod Nano, and I want it. I got my Gen. 4 iPod not too long ago, right before the U2 edition came out. Since then, they released two classes of color iPods, both with large storage limits then my 20 gig. Now all they produce are color screen, and they are still getting even smaller.

The world’s getting smaller and smaller, no doubt about it. Technology’s allowing us to demand something be fast and better than it was yesterday. I had a professor tell me the other day, “When I was in college,” (you know it’s going down hill after you hear that) “we thought technology was as good as it was going to get.” I thought about that, and it occurred to me that never once have I expected the world to stop growing (or shrinking, I suppose I should say) around me.

And I hope it doesn’t, either. I love the world I love in.

Oh Well

2005-09-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I wanted to start a whole new blog for a whole new chapter in my life, however, it would seem as if the name I choose for that chapter was a little...difficult to remember. So that brings me back to this one.

Oh Well, I always liked this one just fine, anyhow.

So for those of you who read this with any regularity, know that the other one, what ever it's name was (even I can't remember ) is now retired. We;re back to Square One, like the song (Coldplay, for those from another generation).

Thanks for reading, more to come at later days.

Be New

2005-08-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

New life, New blog.

www.CollegeLife101.Blogspot.com

Check it out sometime, I'll post there more than here, for like...well the next four years.

Be Better

2005-08-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

I heard Jerry Falwell live for the first time today. His voice is extremely commanding in comparison to the others I heard speak at today's orientation. But one thing he said stuck out in my mind: he said "If it's Christian, it should be better".

I've learned my audience by now, and you're all smart people. You don't need me to explain that to you. So I'll end this very short post by asking you "is your church better?"

Sites That Have Rocked My World

2005-07-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Jarrett over at JarrettFuller.com posted earlier about mixing Flash sites with HTML. The Pros, the Cons, and everything in between. This was originally going to be a reply on his site, but it was getting too long, so I decided to make it's own blog.

When I first learned Flash, I was in a High School Webmastering class. The people in there introduced me to 2Advanced Studios, and what used to be EndEffect and Razor Art. I loved these sites, but what I never realized then was that these three sites, though they were all the same to me, had three completely different approaches.

2Advanced was all Flash, however that worked of them, because they weren't big on content. All they had to do was sell themselves through their site and provide contact information.

EndEffect was an HTML site that used large scale graphics instead of tables, they ran into trouble when their creator couldn't stick with a layout. Now, precurser (creator) just uses the site to point to his DeviantArt profile.

RazorArt used that annoying idea that broke large graphics into millions of tiny ones so they loaded faster, but while you were waiting on them you had no idea what was coming because the tiles loaded at random. Man, I really loved that on dial-up.

I used to prefer a mix of iFrames and Flash/HTML. (See Focal Point and First Family) I liked that a user could visit the site and never have to scroll down. Then it hit me that whether I have them scroll in the main window or an iFrame was complete irrelevant. So recently I've adopted a much more linear approach. Something like what History has, or I really like Granger, too.

Their [History and Granger] just clean cut and to the point, which, as a Designer to churches, is what I need to be. Each of these sites had a method to their madness, I just tried to take that concept out of context each time because the end results they got looked so darn good.

Your Life on Tape

2005-07-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sam and David had been football buddies for as long as they could remember, and today was no different save one thing: me.

Unlike them, I wasn’t the “football type”. Oh I knew all the rules, and even which way either team should run with the ball. But the entire reason they invited me was the fact that I never went out of my way to watch a football game offended them greatly. Thus they made it their personal quest to brainwash me into a tailgater, living only for the glory that my team shared.

What amazed me was their seemingly psychic powers. They could tell you the plays, in detail, before the ball was even snapped. They called the wholes in the offensive or defensive lines, the receivers that were open, even the yardage of each play down to the very yard, never once missing. I even made the comment: “why don’t they just wire you as their coach?” Sam and David would just look at each other, smile contentedly, and good back to the game.

They even managed to predict the ending, which was wonderful. The offensive team down by three, faked like they were going to kick the ball, but instead threw it to a receiver for a full touchdown. Sam and David were on it step-by-step. I couldn’t believe it. Every single play, they called it either before or as it happened.

I fell back into my laz-e-boy.

“That was amazing”, I said.

“Yea, you want to see my favorite part?” David said.

He reached down and picked up the remote and begun to rewind the tape.

I stopped.

The game wasn’t live, Sam had recorded this game years ago, I came to find, and they watched to so often that, of course, they’d memorized it. Their seemingly magic power of foresight weren’t magic at all, they’d just seen it millions of times before. All those times when I argued about who win the game, what was going on, everything, was all in vain. No matter how hard I tried, they had already seen the out come of the game time and time again, so naturally, they were right

My God’s like that, too. All those time I ask Him what are You thinking?! I’m wrong; it’s as simple as that. He’s seen it. Time and time again, He knows the journey our life will take.

That’s not to say we have no free choice, though. The players in the game had the freedom to run whatever play they chose, but Sam and David had already seen it, so they knew what was coming. Just like Sam and David, God had seen the plays of your life on His God-sized big screen over and over, He knows. So why don’t we just sit back, and let Him coach, instead of insisting we do it our selves, after all, since He’s the one who seen what the other team’s doing, how can we loose?

I like that...Jesus the Revolutionary

2005-07-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

I read Tally's post this morning about a fiarly new blog: Manhattan Christian Church, pastored by JR Vassar.

After reading the entry by JR, I was reminded of a time when I felt the same connection. Of all times it was at midnight of May 19th, and I had been standing in line for thirteen (13) hours for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I would have been there all day, but after I skipped class, the fine people at the theatre wouldn’t let me start the line that early, so I went and got a bite to eat real quick. Then I made my way back and just sort of started my own line without asking.

I was easily the first person that day. I think it was on at least hour five before anyone else even showed up to stand in line. She was a stereotypical soccer mom. I wouldn’t typically label her that, but I had plenty of time to get to know her, and she had her two children with her.

Seven o’clock rolls around and the line consists of: myself, Andrew (my friend who’d come to join me later that day) the soccer mom, and the ticket usher (Jason, his name tag allowed), when a rush of people flows through the theatre. By seven-thirty the line was out the door, and down the street. At that point we lost track, the line was gone, out of sight, around the corner of the building, I heard. But not us; not me.

I was first.

The day had been much longer for me. Those people at the end of the line saw the same movie I did, but as JR so perfectly put it was more awe-inspiring for me. Even Andrew, who was for all practical reasons, there with me all day, didn’t get what I did out of the movie, because I had stuck it out for the entire thirteen hours it took.

Jesus the Revolutionary (I think I’ll start using that more often) is no different. All of us will see the same heaven, but there’s so much more to Christianity than that. Pastors will often say, “there’s more than getting your fire-insurance” and that’s a perfect illustration. I’ve had friend after friend swept up emotionally in the moment when they accept Christ, then…what? Nothing. Christianity is not a religion; it’s a lifestyle. It’s not rules; it’s a relationship. It’s not a job; it’s a gift.

Christianity is not about getting into the movie: that’s a given, it’s about getting to the front of the line, no matter the wait.

The Music at the End of the Tunnel

2005-06-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

I never listen to the radio. I don’t know, with an iPod, I don’t see why I’d let someone else pick the music I listen to. But I digress, there was some interference, and I switched to KLOVE just as I was coming up to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The moment I entered the tunnel, the radio went from static to silent, the way it stayed for the some three miles remaining.

I saw the light at the end of the tunnel much sooner than I heard the music, though to me, the music is what I was waiting for, not the light; I had headlights. The lights weren’t the problem, I could hear in the tunnel.

The illustration is no doubt obvious at this point. There are times in any life, when God takes us underground. He does this with good reason, because under no circumstances could my car have handled that body of water. We can’t see this, though; all we see is God taking us underwater.

When He takes us down there, we can see what out headlights show us, and as such worry very little. We can see God’s plan as far as He wants us to see it, what just in front of us. The problem, though, is that when He takes me down there, at least, I can’t hear Him.

Just like my radio, at first God’s voice comes in static-y then not at all. There’s hope, though: posted just before the tunnel entrance are signs read “Do Not Change Lanes In Tunnel”. So He leaves us Basic Instructions, for while we’re deaf.

God doesn’t leave us when he detours our lives, he just chooses to quite down for a while. I won’t pretend to understand why, but I like to think it’s to build character, to test integrity. A wise church billboard told me once: “integrity is who you are when you’re alone at night.” So if God’s quite, it’s almost like He’s not there, and thus testing to see what we’d do when He’s not there.

I realize this is very shaky logic, and I’d welcome correction. These are just ideas that God showed me as I traveled alone, well, alone enough…my other half was asleep.

God > (Your Answer Here)

2005-06-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

I was watching television the other day when I saw the new (or at least new to me) Audi commercial. They have several ones, but they all center around the “Audi > anyone else” idea. Of course they never say this they use clever “Lead > Follow”, or something inspirational like that, but it got me thinking nonetheless.

I was trying to peg God with a saying in that same format, something like “God > Me”, or along those lines, yet every time, I would say to myself, “ No, no, He’s bigger than that.” At one point I just turned the television (which I was paying no mind at all, at this point) and just thought.

I never came up with one, and the more and more I think about it, there really is none. So instead of an inequality (which it still is speaking in terms of theology) but a “no solution”, which sucks, because I hate not getting an answer. No, no, in all seriousness, He’s showing me (yet again) that He’s bigger than that. That’s what I get for trying to peg God to any one thing to begin with.

The Power of a Circle

2005-06-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

Any guy out there will agree with me, teenage years can be rough on a teenage spirit. I grew up in church. So for those of you who didn’t that simply means the household I grew up in had certain…standards, to say the least, and being far from perfect as I am, I’ve slipped and even fallen more than my far share.

Unfortunately, those tempting pains never go away, and while this sucks extremely badly, for tack of a better term, I’ve found a solution that seems to be working, for me at least.

Now, there is something to be said for an actual, human accountability partners, but how much more powerful would it be if God, Himself were that other individual? The first night I got here to Virginia, this girl with whom I’d been talking to every night over the phone came over. Now I promise this post isn’t about her, but just let me say, she is with out a doubt the most spiritually grounded person I’ve ever met in my life. There, I just need to get that documented somewhere. But one of the first things I learned from her was about the commitment she had made for purity. This did include sexual purity, but it was so much more than that, it was…well pure purity, if that makes sense.

What she taught me was extremely simple, spend a little money and buy a purity ring. I’m sure you’ve seen one of these before, there’s nothing sacred about which ring you buy, one from a quarter machine will do if you must. Just keep in mind that this will be the most important ring you ever buy. My future wife may not appreciate that comment, but it is true. This ring symbolizes a commitment to God, and I wish with everything in me that I had gotten one sooner.

Don’t get me wrong; the actual temptations are still there, more prominent, even, now that they’re so ineffective. But every time they do show, my ring serves as a visual reminder of that commitment. I could be alone on this one, but I can’t stand the thought of letting the God of the universe down.

It’s my wedding ring to Him. I wear it on my left hand; just like I will one day wear the ring my wife will give me. But until that day, I’ll wear God’s. Who knows, maybe when that day comes, I’ll even choose to wear both. Or maybe we’ll just cross that bridge when we come to it.

The Fine Print Footnotes

2005-06-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

It makes me feel old to say I remember the day when looking up scriptural references had to be done in a Bible. That said,this site: StudyLight has been an invaluable resource for me. I can't count the number of times when I daily use it to look up anything and everything.

This has a point, I promise.

I was talking to a discouraged individual the other day, when my mother's life verse came to mind. Although I couldn't quote it perfectly, I stumbled my way through it, in an attempt to bring perspective to the current situation.

"I know the plans I have for you. They are plans to prosper you not to harm you."

Luckily, she didn't know the verse any better than I, but the encounter showed me that I didn't know God's word as well as I should, so this morning I really focused on that verse.

As I expected, the verse, itself hadn't changed any, what got my quite time really going, was the footnote. The verse says "I know the plans..." but the footnote says "Lit am planning".

This was huge! God not only had a perfect plan, but it was still going. Because it said "am planning"; that's present tense, that's right now. You may not be trying to see God's hand in an overbearing parent, like my friend, but God's message doesn't change. He continues, to this very moment, to plan the best course for your life. Your life isn't merely a story already published in a heaven bookstore, but a live coverage report playing on a news network.

Book of Jeremiah
Chapter 29 -
29:11 - `For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, `plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

SunCom's Firefly

2005-06-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

SunCom, a wireless carrier, has an interesting product. They call it the Firefly, and they market it directly to parents looking for a phone to keep in contact with their children. The phone has no number keys. It has a phone book for only twenty numbers, for the children’s friends or other family members, presumably. The prominent feature on this phone is the two other buttons on the phone, one for mom, and another for dad. It’s a nice take on specialized speed dialing. It’s set up on a pay-as-you-go plan, 1200 minutes or 12 months, which ever occurs first. With a 200-dollar price tag, though, parents should probably make sure they really need their kids to have this nifty piece of technology. This is the first cellular phone, though; I’d give to one of my children, as they claim it’s practically unbreakable. Who knows? Maybe there really is a market for a device like this.

SunCom's Firefly

Moments from the Verdict

2005-06-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

As I sit here, moments before Jackson is convicted, I wonder why aren’t all child-molestation-related cases this big of a deal? Why is it that this case is headline worthy simply because a celebrity is involved? Are his standards so much higher than us non-celebrities? But don’t misunderstand, I do not, nor will I ever, support anyone who would even allow himself to be left in a situation that would incriminate on the scale Jackson has. Guilty or not, he made some bad calls. But maybe the world will be just a bit safer for children now that this scare has happened.

The Battle of the Beaches

2005-06-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Today I had the distinct pleasure of visiting one of the beaches here in Virginia. I know that it was not Virginia Beach, I had already been to that beach, and this certainly wasn't it. It was about half an hour from Chesapeake, where I'm staying, though, if anyone out there wants to run the numbers. This was an experience, though, not because it was a beach. I'm from Corpus Christi, there's more miles of beaches than Gideon Bibles in Holiday Inns. No it wasn't the beach, rather the quality of the beach.
For one there was practically no sun. Not only did that make for a nice, well...sunless day, but there was practically no heat at all. People reading in Texas will enjoy this, too: the sand had no sea weed or shells mixed with the sand. Awhile back, my family and I visited North Beach in Corpus Christi that had tiny sea shells mixed into the sand. Let me tell you: any kind of running, or walking for that matter, tore the feet to pieces. Nothing like that in Virginia.
It was a nice day, all in all. I was going to post pictures, too, but my the camera guy has them, I think. Maybe I'll put them up later.

Porn, Porn, Everywhere Porn...

2005-06-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

So new legislature has past for a '.xxx' suffix to be used exclusively for Pornography sites. My first question is so what? If I own a multi-thousand, maybe multi-million dollar site, why would I voluntarily change that? Chances are if I run a site of this...nature (we'll use the more politically correct word) I don't have the ethics to change the way I do business out of the goodness of my heart. Especially when a '.xxx' ending will run an incredible $60 a site, as opposed to a bottom of the barrel '.com' runs somewhere around $6 a month.
Then there's the Japanese Pornography. Apparently, pornographic videos will not only be produced for PSPs in Japan, but also for the rest of the world. I don't know...I was under the impression that PSP games had regional locks preventing that sort of circulation, but apparently I've been reading the wrong blogs.
That was just just a rabbit trail, though. This new ending (.xxx) will make content filters much more effective. As a pornography survivor, myself, I know just how important that is, not only to have the filter, but for the filters to actually do something. Another good point to all this is that actual laws can now be passed regulating these sites. Right now, is voluntary, later, though, I could be illegal for adult content to be posted on a suffix other than a '.xxx' ending. So maybe this is just a first step towards a great good. I'm all for greater good, by the way.

DONE!

2005-05-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

After my mom became the children’s pastor at First Family, I’ve been hounding her about giving me parameters for a children’s logo. She and I had been back and forth from the drawing board for months now until we finally came out with this logo. I personally like it a bunch and all the kids we asked did, too, we even found the spiritual significance behind it, so the adults love it, too. I can see it on shirts, backpacks, lunchboxes, the whole line basically. Most importantly, a logo gives people a common banner. Children, most children at least, won’t understand this, quite yet, but there are a few, I believe, who will. I’m typically very selfish with my art, the PSDs, in particular; I have this thing about other people using my work, but God really wants me to share this with anyone and everyone, and plus I need to learn to let go.

The idea behind the piece is that we, the church are the box, and the blue circles are the Trinity, stuck inside the church. This parallels my selfishness with my graphics; we can’t keep God locked up inside the walls of our church (like that could hold Him). The theme is that we need to share God [the Trinity], take Him outside of the church, spread His name. It’s cliché, but true. Plus it makes a really cool play on the “Think Out of the Box” idea, too (that was just for free).

Leap of Faith '05

2005-05-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I just posted my first official blog under the Focal Point Church blog. It’s a strange feeling, now that I think about it. I wouldn’t call it fear or even doubt, but I still can’t put mt finger on how I feel about this internship. I have no doubt God will do awesomely wonderful things in and through me this summer, I just wish I know a bit more. I’m not even sure about what. I guess if I know that, there’d be no faith, eh? If this were some big public event, I think it’d be called Leap of Faith ’05.

Talk2Mikael

2005-05-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you don't need one more number to remember. Unfortunately, numbers are pretty much here to stay. So I got the great idea that if i start posting my numbers here, I can look them up later. No, I don't mean bank account numbers or anything thing like that, no what I normally have trouble with is my icq number.
Thus I return to my title. Below is listed all my contact information so:

I can look them up when I need them
Others can contact me

I'm including forms other than icq just because I already have the post going. That way you can pick your poison.

Aim - myhrit
MSN - cus22PRS@hotmail.com
Y! - asdfCampNoneOwnage
ICQ - 223393215
mail(s) - myhrit@techie.com, webmaster@1stFamilyChurch.com, Mikael@FocalPointChurch.com
Misc - myhrit is a combination I created based on various names (Mikael, Harrison [my middle name], Ritter, and the 'y' from mykie [from some old friends]), so not many people use it. Chances are if you see a myhrit logged onto to and system or site, it's me.

GO BIG

2005-05-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

Bay Area Fellowship of Corpus Christi, Texas just finished their GO BIG conference. My mother was able to attend the entire thing and I’m still hearing the object lessons they used and I’m really hoping they do it again. Because my mom knows some people on staff, they were able to sneak me in on day two for the break out sessions, so she and I attend the children’s session were I immediately learned two things.
-It will never be perfect, though that not cause to not try.
-When you ask the right people the right questions you get the right answer.
This second one really stuck with me. This summer (at my internship) I expect to have many questions; actually, I’ve had quite a few already, and this little tag line really spoke volumes to me from the pros. I know no church will have BAF’s success over night, but I’d really like to be able to stand at the gates of heaven and be able to say that I had a hand in building a children’s program that reached some odd 50 kids in some odd 7 services weekly. I’ll probably have more to say about Go Big later, but right now I’m late for school.

Big Leagues

2005-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well…this is it.

Tomorrow (Friday) my parents and I go to visit the first of many colleges. I have my choices, and what not, but this is visiting campuses. If there’s such a thing as high school big leagues, this is it. Oh well…here goes nothing.

deviatArt.com || A review of sorts

2005-03-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

Ok, so you probably can’t call it a review because I have nothing but good things to say about the deviatArt community. But it makes me feel at least some-what important to be able to review someone, so it’s a review in my book, hence the title. The idea deviatArt for those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting is to provide server space to showcase art of all sorts. Abstract, anime, comics…graphics of all sorts. So my friend in Illinois had looking at some of his stuff, so I though I’d give it a try.

I created an account, uploaded a picture of me, and typed a typical novel of information required to register at any site. The last thing I did was upload the graphic used for our church logo.

That was yesterday.

So I log on today just to check on things and I have not one, not two, but three responses to my graphic. Comments on font choice effect usage, readability and over-all appeal. Wow. Didn’t see that one coming. These three guys have opened my eye to the world of online peer critiques. And if you haven’t visited either [the world of peer critiques of deviatArt.com] I’d recommend both highly.

Target is...well...a Bulls Eye

2005-03-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter where you live, there's a Target near you - and they've got loads going for them. I went just to go the other day, a sure sign that I need a hobby, and found myself wandering isles I'd normally never even venture near such as candy, make up, and women's clothing. One thing stood out above anything else anywhere I meandered to, though: their marketing perfection.

Alright, perfection may be strong, but it's not far off target (forgive the pun). I've always been a fan of the power of simplicity: "Don't use four words when two will do” and the AP English in me loves useful grammar, clever grammar; as in one word sentences, each with a period ending the line.

Target recently (and I use that word very loosely) launched a new, more modernized marketing campaign using custom voices proclaiming “See. Spot. Save. Target Dog”. The commercials were extremely simple: reds and whites. But I think what I loved the most was the actual Target Dog, a white dog with a red (obviously dyed) bulls-eye around his left eye. Marketing must be original. That is the point, after all: to show your product in a light that will make the consumer want it, regardless of the competition or price. After all, Target’s clothes are certainly nothing compared to a GAP or American Eagle (both of which have excellent marketing, in my opinion, as well) and yet Target thrives.

At the end of my visit, I picked up a few brochures from the kiosk behind the registers where I found the most pleasing eye candy I’d found in some time. These did it for me. I at once began looking around and saw graphic after graphic above the different departments and starred in awe. Really, they were nothing special, but collectively, they meshed so perfectly (and yes, that is the best word in this case). Every sign complemented the other, yet had a unique ‘personality’ of it own. The banners at the entrance were colorful, with the season, and up to speed with fashion’s “color of the week” as I like to call it.

All in all, Target’s got people upstairs who are good at their jobs. The marketing is simple, but gets the job done (and well). It’s up-to-date but not preppy, as some other chains might seem. Most appealing to me, the graphic designer, though, was the cooperative signage in the store combined with the brochures that really served no purpose to me, particularly – they just looked awesome.