RMOJ: Vacation!

I'm heading to a warm warm place, where the ocean's swell and the skies are pretty. And I'm going to enjoy myself. So there.

Imagine: Elections that work.

I'm a Canadian citizen. And part of being a Canadian citizen is the right, and often touted as the duty, to vote.

Voting is a simple process. You receive an information card in the mail about two weeks before the election, you report to the correct polling station, and you cast your ballot. Simple, effective. You get to concentrate on the issues.

That's the theory.

Here's how it's working for me, in practice.

I receive a card in the mail that states "Please contact your local Elections Canada Office before Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 6:00 PM if: you did not receive a voter information card."

And you know what, oddly enough, I didn't receive a card. I voted in the last election - my card came just fine that time. But I didn't get one this time. Hmm. OK, I'll call the 1-800 number so conveniently printed on the card and ask for my voter information card to be resent.

So I call: 1-800-463-6868. I'm listing the number here because it is public, and if you're at all interested in learning just how annoyed I am, you can call it.

It's an automated voice system. After getting through "English" and "Voter information card," the voice tells me that I should have received my card by now... and dumps me out into the main menu. No way to ask about why I HAVEN'T received my card.

So here a phone system designed to answer problems... that dispenses the same information I already have on the card that tells me to phone the number. Quite literally, the recording was made by someone reading off the card. Except the card is more in depth and faster.

Alright, so I'll send out an email. There's no excuse for Elections Canada to not have a phone number that actually works, but I'm conversant with technology - I'm sure I can send out an email and have an answer by tomorrow.

Except there's no email address listed on the card. There's a physical mailing address - except that I'll be out of the country and not be able to actually carry on a conversation via postal service, probably including four of five letters back and forth, before the election occurs.

Oh, I can FAX Elections Canada. I don't have a fax machine. I run my own business and WE don't have a fax machine. I work as a contractor, ordering supplies, sending drawings, documents with signatures... I've used a fax machine twice in the last ten years.

I take a more careful look at the card... it says "local Elections Canada Office." Maybe that 1-800 number is national - I can find a local number, and they'll be able to help me out.

Except Elections Canada isn't listed in the government directory. I end up calling the general information line. They hook me up with... you guessed it - the same 1-800 number I just called. Apparently there's people there, waiting to take my call (wondering why none of the phones ring, because the automated system doesn't allow you to speak to an operator).

So come election day, I'll walk into my polling station, and vote. Without my voter registration card. Without using the system they put in place to streamline things. I'm the guy that makes them put in extra time and paperwork to record my vote.

Because apparently, voting is a complicated process.

For my brothers!

Hey boys! I want to wish all of you guys a safe and restful vacation! I will keep the fort in tact while you guys are away! You are in my prayers for safe travel and for more lessons on life that we will share when we reunite again! May God keep you and give you his peace! I love you guys!

Mike

Lessons In Love, By Way Of Economics

So I have been on the computer day surfing around when I came across a friend of mine who talked about this new movie coming out. Its called Expelled No Intelligence Allowed. That in itself is very interesting and I would encourage you to check this movie trailer out! 

After I checked out the movie trailer I wanted to find out more about this guy named Ben Stein so I went to his webpage to discover that he had made this post in the NY Times. Its an incredible writing about love that is so true to life. It has a lot of interesting points that we can all learn from, its a little long but read it! Do it! You won't regret it!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/business/13every.html?_r=1&em&ex=1216440000&en=a9a6d3e97f11545f&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

RMOJ: Age

One of my co-workers is turning 40. So the gals of the office (notice how it's always the gals of the office...) decided to humiliate him in the most loving way, and post cheesy over the hill decorations all over the entrance to his office... and maybe elsewhere.

And it's funny - because at 40, he's most likely in better shape than anyone else in the office. I'm more over the hill then he is, in terms of what we can do. He still acts like a teenager with new toys. So I want to see the look on his face when he sees the "stop, shuffle and creak" signs...

Happy 40th, Dug... don't worry, I'll still think of you the same when you can't see your biceps because of your grey beard.

RMOJ: Recycled Paper!

After a long and arduous process of price negotiation and back and forth with internal and external persons, we have confirmed the intent to immediately switch over to 100% recycled and chain of custody approved office paper! :)

Inspire: Learning from Our Past

Today I'm reminded of a line from the movie, Batman Begins.

Maybe you already know what line I'm thinking of. In one scene Alfred says to Bruce, "Why do we fall, sir? So that we might learn to pick ourselves up."

Some may say that it's simplistic or cheesy. But I, for one, can see a lot of truth in it.

Oftentimes our lives are run by our circumstances. We give our joy away to the predicament we're in. We allow others to steal our joy.

Life doesn't have to be that way. Your joy is your own. Even in difficult situations, we can learn to remain in God's peace, which He has provided in abundance for us.

Why do we fall? Why do we make mistakes? Why do we have regrets? Why do our plans fail? Why?

When we're first learning to walk as children we fall a lot. But we can't learn to pick ourselves up if we don't fall. We have to know what falling down feels like.

Our circumstances as adults may appear to be more complicated, but really it's no different. You learn from your first heartbreak. You learn from going into debt. You learn from losing a loved one.

This doesn't mean that we have to make mistakes to learn, but often we don't learn anything when we try to play it safe. More than likely, God will bring you out into the wilderness when you are seeking security.

You were betrayed by a friend. But there's someone right around the corner looking for true friendship. Maybe someone you overlooked or ignored. They've been waiting for you in silence and bearing the loneliness.

A business venture failed and you lost all your money. But you're going to meet someone that is looking for true partnership. It may not happen right away, but believe that God is ordering your steps and that He's going to connect you with people of right faith.

Your heart was broken. But you're going to meet your spouse, an amazing man or woman of God. It's going to be better than you could have ever imagined. It's going to take work on your part, yes, but don't sit around thinking that you're unattractive and that it's never going to happen for you. Learn to be happy where you are. You are loved.

Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Raise The Bar

While the world slept this morning I was awake. I'm not sure why at all but then what choice did I have? I woke up this morning at 5:30 and I could not sleep at all! There was really nothing on my mind to warrant such an early awakening. I was in bed at 11 or so last night so it was still a fairly good sleep. So what's a boy to do? The usual coffee and eggs and croissant for breakfast at 6:30. Part of me thinks, insane right? I don't even get up this early when i have to go to work! Maybe I am simply being prepared for the day in grand fashion. Its a chance to get my bearings, think about life, spend some time, in a world where no one seems to take a look at their lives because they are to afraid to see something they won't like. For me, in this day and in this hour, I am being called to something greater, I am being called to live a life full of Joy and Happiness even if the time or the situation doesn't call for that type of attitude. I'm being called to a higher level of living. I am being called to a higher standard, not that my old standard wasn't "good" enough to make it through and make it through well. I have been encouraged by my friends and by people I don't even know to live life better. I also am under the assumption that since i'm here anyways I might as well call myself to a higher standard. I don't see the point in just existing. We might as well make a name for ourselves whether it be "rock star" or "Lover of Friends" or "good husband or wife" or "athlete". Whatever our title in life, whatever we decide we want for ourselves I pray that we do it better than our best and we never give up trying to raise the bar on our lives.

Gahh....

I am simply stressing about little nothing things, and i cant really figure out why, my stress levels have been through the roof ately but the thing is that i dont know why, i mean, ive been taking my anti depresents, i have nothing wrong going on in my life right now, everything is rockin, yet something is up in my mind, i donno if it is satan jus pushing at me, which i am asuming that it is, or if it just me. i havent a clue, alot of wierd things have been happening that have just been stressing me out lately, little odd things, but i cant even pick them out one by one out of a crowd, MESSED UP.

RMOJ: Senseless Beauty

Our household was the target of a (not so) random act of senseless beauty. I arrived home from work on Friday and found two large pots of flowers on our front step. The person who left them obviously has no idea about our history of killing anything in the front yard, or has no idea about how we pursue the practical elements of taking care of them. But they're there, and they're beautiful.

Thank you to whomever blessed us with beauty. May you be richly blessed in return.

RMOJ: Aviation

I received a beautiuful poem today that grew out of a conversation shared with someone last week. It is incredibly joyful to see the walls of hiding and hurt come falling down in someone's life that give way to a world of opportunity and flight. The most beautiful part was that the conversation which prompted the poem was so delicate and unplanned. It was just sharing the beautiful fruit of truth that had been previously given to me by someone who cared enough to take the time.

We must not underestimate the force that is Living within us to breathe life. It doesn't come from us, but we have the ability to let it loose to fly around. All we need to do is give praise to the Giver and soar with it.

Inspire: The Human Factor

I'm writing today from a well documented treasure trove of information, insight, and condensed wisdom.  Many of you will be familiar with this beautiful gem, made long ago but with messages of hope, truth, and courage that still inspire to this day.

I'm talking, of course, about MacGyver (read ahead at your peril, spoilers for those who still don't own the series on DVD).

I watched an episode today with my roommate, specifically the opener to Season 2, The Human Factor.  And it's a hilarious retrospective on the culture of the times Lasers are used not once, but several times throughout the episode, forming barriers that will incinerate people, shooting from mobile robots, and yes, even shooting out of a security camera at one moment.  Luckily for our hero, these high tech "lasers" [insert quotes ala Dr. Evil], also seem to suffer from the storm trooper syndrome, that is, unable to hit anything further than six inches away, except plot devices.

But beyond the now cheesy 80-ish quality, there's one thing I love about MacGyver - it's one of the last shows where they tried to actually teach you something, supposedly on the assumption that the world would become a better place by watching more television.  There's a morality and a courage seldom seen on the modern screen.

This episode focused on MacGyver trying to break in to a government building to test their brand new, state of the art security system.  The catch?  There's no humans.  It's all controlled by a central computer, that apparently can learn and adapt.  Of course, the computer goes berserk, and starts trying to kill MacGyver and his beautiful female friend (who happens to be the scientist that designed the system and programmed the computer, and is trapped by it... irony, here we come).  

But I want to focus on a few almost overlooked lines that help bring out the central conflict in this episode:  Rationality (as characterized by the programmer and her computer) versus instinct (as characterized by MacGyver).  

Early on in the episode, MacGyver and the programmer face off, reciting each other's backgrounds... they've both done their homework and are now allowed to insert plot devices.  Mac Gyver mentions that the programmer took a year off for "personal reasons" before going into programming full time.  As the episode progresses, hints are made as to what happened, but it's never fully revealed.  

So I will now fully reveal it.  

In her year off, the programmer met a man.  A wonderful man.  Who moved her heart.  And then, horribly, horribly betrayed her in some fashion.  So she decided that  she would never trust her heart again.  She closed down - became rational, logical, and sought solace in the world of the computer... where there was no chance of betrayal (and she is ultimately betrayed by her own faulty programming, in the most subtle and greatest irony in the episode).  

This is where a lot of people are.  Some men, and a lot of women.  We tried trusting once, and it didn't work.  So we shut down.  Buried ourself in work, fantasy novels, close (but not too close) friends, machoism, sports, achievement...  anything we could try to numb the pain.  And none of it worked.  

I could talk about what that looks like, but you all know.  Everyone who's been in love knows, and if you haven't, I can't instruct you in a single blog post.  I want to focus instead on how we get out.

How did our intrepid rational woman get out?  Not by anything she did.  By being rescued.  It took MacGyver saving her life (repeated times) to restore her trust in people in general and males in particular.  Because the wound that is caused by a man... can only be healed by a man.  

So what does this mean for you and me?  Simple.  We need to make changes.  

Women:  Stop trying to fix it.  You can't.  Stop running.  Start crying, start forgiving, start loving God and others... live in that risky place... because if anyone is ever to love you, that's the part you want them to love.  

Men:  In three words, grow some balls.  Step up and be a man.  There are women out there that need someone they can trust - that will care for them and not betray them.  Be a man of honor, stay true to your word, fight for what is right, not what is easy.  Be quick to apologize and admit your mistakes, be truthful in everything.  

Is this too much to ask of one person?  Yes.  Is it a goal worth striving towards?  Of course.  

RMOJ: Take one from the bottom and put Him on top

Jenga. You know, take a block from the bottom and put it on top. The player who manages to not cause the tower to tumble over wins. We played Jenga tonight at the shelter. When people came in for dinner, they came in maybe a bit hungry and tired. The Jenga game served as a catalyst to get them interacting with each other, supporting one another and best yet, laughing from their true self. What joy it was to watch these adults, some of whom who have been hardened by the truth on the streets, just take a moment to play! Even those who weren't interested (or at least pretended they weren't) kept peeking over at the Jenga table. Their eyes showed hope and expectation that their hearts haven't yet realized. May there be many more moments of impractical Joy in the days and weeks to come in that place.

Inspire: Stolen sense.

I got robbed today.

I didn't get help up at knife-point on the street. Someone ended up walking into my church and stealing some gear from our booth.

I feel violated. Something I valued is gone. Because of this, we don't have lighting at our booth this weekend. And stealing from a church? Is there nothing sacred? I've never seen the guy (statistically speaking), and probably never will. But he took something of value to us. However, more than violated, I feel sad.

I guess being a criminal doesn't pay because the smart money is elsewhere. What was stolen was a lighting controller. Probably a $200 item. Except that he didn't take the power adapter required to plug it in, or the cable required for it to do anything.

I almost want to be there when he tries to pawn the item and can't explain what it is, what it does, or anything. If he manages to go through an ordering process and get a new power adapter for it (I couldn't find anything, including from the states), he MIGHT get $50 for it. Minus the three hours, minimum, of calling and the $120 for replacement parts.

And it wasn't like there wasn't expensive stuff just lying around next to it... guitar amps, even small, portable expensive equipment. There was even an entire PA system ON WHEELS that was ready to be hauled away.

So please, if you're going to rob me, please at least don't do a half-assed job of it. Because I'm mildly miffed about stuff being stolen. I'm more disappointed that the gene pool allows someone with that level of intelligence to continue to survive.

Imagine: Ice cube tray racks!

Yes, ice cube tray racks. I was at a friend's house the other night, and noticed that their freezer was bereft of any separation save one: A pair of wire racks in the upper left corner to hold ice cube trays.

My heart leaps for this all the time - not the stellar, show-stealing amazing new iPhones or the fancy gadget that does 387 things, but the slow, steady, measured, intelligent design. Road cases that are as strong but 60% lighter, to save on fuel costs. Color coded wires so that tracing cables is easier. Maintenance covers that open without tools. Designs where every single screw on the entire item requires the same screwdriver, not three separate ones. Packing methods to get more in the same size container. Helpful guys that label things right and load trucks right.

These aren't the flashy things, but they get the job done. They ensure that when you need those ice cubes, you'll find them.

Don't overlook the little things.

Imagine: The Fast Fury of Fall

Have you noticed that you feel more alive lately? There is something about the transition of seasons, the creeping from sleepiness of summer into the brisk climax of fall that shouts of God's glorious landscape. It makes me feel squirrelly. It's the kind of feeling that there is opportunity everywhere, so much to harvest and plant before the winter (figuratively) that you don't know where to start, what adventure to take on. Maybe it's a throwback from school days gone by when September invoked feelings of opportunity, excitement and challenge. Each September had me thinking that this would be the year that I would really 'get it together'.

The band is buzzing with the excitement of upcoming shows, new challenges are overflowing everywhere and commitments are resuming at work and abroad. So in the midst of this all.....is there time to just s.t.o.p? breathe in, hold, breathe out and repeat?

Lord, please give us Your vision. Set us apart from the busyness that is for busyness sake only. God, give us projects, hopes, dreams that give You joy. Make us Holy and pure enough to accomplish those tasks that You want us to live out here on earth. May we stop to just rest and recharge with our true Father. Amen.

Transcend: I'll take those plans to go, please!

The band's next show is tomorrow. We had practice tonight. We should
have played the set, ironed out the wrinkles. We should have spent
some time finalizing the set list, making sure the order ran well,
working transitions.

We didn't.

Instead, we went and had food, read from the book we're going through,
shared deeply personal stories, prayed with and for each other, and
wrote a new song. One of the most powerful songs we've ever written.
And my drums didn't even make it out of their road cases.

I came in to practice tonight from a crazy day - it was supposed to be
my day off, and got invaded by just about everything - physically,
emotionally, spiritually. I didn't manage to get my morning routine
done until after 3 o'clock. But somehow, everything seemed to work.
Not by how I planned it, though. If this day had gone according to my
plans, I would have missed so much. The agony that made the joy
somehow purer, the sweet and savory scent of lessons hard wrought
through actual living. Life is not all butterflies and daffodils, but
sometimes there's a rose among the rubble.

This post is a testament for those who love me: I need to always
remember that my plans are only a rough sketch, and them falling to
pieces is sometimes the only starting point into something amazing.
Lord, break my plans that don't bring You glory, and reveal what has
been passed by underneath.

Inspire: Walking in love

I'm in love with a beautiful woman.

But I didn't fall in love.

It wasn't love at first sight.

I didn't get run over by the freight train of euphoria on the way to
mind-blowingly-amazing-ville.

But I don't mind. As a matter of fact, I'm glad.

Because falling in love can fall out again. The giant fireworks of
love at first sight looks miraculous for a moment, then quickly
fades. I'm stoking the fire of love, adding fuel to it carefully.
Sure, it doesn't look as impressive - but it does a much better job of
keeping me warm through the cold, dark night.

Both me and her have made a commitment to walk in love. To go slowly
not because we need less speed but so we don't miss the beauty on the
way over. I don't need mind-lowing when I have thought provoking,
inspiring, and graciousness every moment of the day. It just involves
being able to do two simple things. Give, like I have everything in
the world to give, and receive, like I'm a starved orphan gracious for
their next loaf of bread. I am so rich and so poor. And so filled
with joy.

RMOJ: Wrong number

I pick up the phone:

Caller: Hi!
Me: Hi!
How are you doing?
Great! It's been a great day.
Really? A great day? Why's that?
Well, I don't really have an excuse for it to not be a bad day.
Oh. Okay.
Do I need a reason?
Well, not really, I guess. I was just a little shocked.
A little.. ohh...
You're looking for Adam, right?
Oh, so this isn't the Stilton residence?
Nope. And you're not Phil, are you?
No. Guess I got a wrong number.
Oh... well, have a great day - and remember, you don't need a reason!
Well, alright, bye.
See you later - Or I guess, not.
Alright.
*click*

He sounded SO like my friend Phil it was eery. And even asked the
common questions, too. Well, God bless him, whomever he's trying to
call.

Inspire: Taking Ownership

God calls us to higher standards. He calls us for our own good. He calls us because He wants to bless us.

How many times have you called your peers to higher standards?

I've been seeing a lot of change in my life since I started taking some ownership. I realize that can mean a lot of different things, but what I'm talking about is a paradigm shift in which your friends, your family, your finances, your life becomes yours. Maybe you feel that the people in your life are 'just there'. But no, it's not an accident. They are your friends and they are your family. Maybe you've already experienced such a shift in your life.

Unfortunately society has told us that 'possession' is a bad thing; or at least given it some negative connotations. The ownership I'm talking about isn't about manipulation or the act of being possessive. It's about taking responsibility in your life. It's about taking action.

If you saw your friend being hurt by another person, what would you do? Would you stand by idly? Would you confront that person? I was in a situation like that recently. I decided the right thing to do was to call that person to a higher standard. It's quite amazing what happened. That person responded to that call, and started to show a lot more respect. How important are your friends to you? Are you willing to fight for them?

There's a lot more risk involved in taking ownership in life. It means a lot more responsibility. It means a lot more effort. But ultimately, it means more fulfilling relationships and a more fulfilling life.

It seems like too many people feel they are entitled to everything in life, including respect. They don't know that you have to fight for what's important. They don't know that they are hurting a lot of people with their words and actions because they haven't taken ownership of them yet. They blame other people and external circumstances for their bad behavior.

But no, ownership means that you take responsibility regardless of how you're feeling. We don't need more yes-men in this world. We need more people that fight for what's important to them. We need to reflect God's love by calling others to higher standards.