RUNwithGOD

To Read, or not to Read... there is no question...

I've come to a conclusion... I work too much... My mother sends me an email today saying that a workaholic wouldn't have time to blog, so I'm not a true workaholic. the fact that it's midnight, and I'm writing this blog - I would argue - proves that I am a workaholic... That and the fact I've written like 2 substance-posts this month... I'm too busy caught up in the daily details... I've got to step back and look at the bigger picture... But I digress...

My blogroll - the hundreds of Blog RSS feeds that I read (present tense) on a regular basis - yeah, you guys are gone. Truth be told, I've been too busy to read (present tense). Check out my Google Reader... 1,000+ new articles to read (present tense). And it's said "1,000+" for MONTHS...

So goodbye to the many of you that I've read (past tense) in the past. I'm taking a long, hard look... don't take it personal. It's not you, it's me.

Except for Dan Lyons. Dan, I'm sorry. It really is you. Please resurrect Fake Steve Jobs back from the grave.

To those of you that I continue to read (present tense), I look forward to you inspiring me to do bigger and better things! Stretch my knowledge. Be my inspiration.

LOST: So who is John Locke?

Don't even remember how I stumbled upon the video. But if you're like me... struggling through the Fall TV season 'cause LOST isn't on the air... well... enjoy this...

So how will the Globetrotters find the Island if Locke keeps making it disappear?

Is that Video Chat in your InBox? Yes, yes it is...

Seriously, pass the Kool Aid. I talked about Google Apps last week... and they've done it again... Google is quickly passing Apple on my pseudo-Cult list...

Check out Google's blog... Google is announcing video chat built into their GoogleChat IM software.

So whether you want to talk to a person in the office next door, the campus across town, or the guy in another state... you can do it straight from your Google Inbox. Gotta love it.

CFers, you do need a webcam, which can be purchased very inexpensively - or those of you that have MacBooks, MacBookPros, or iMacs, you may have a webcam built-in. Go download the plug-ins from Google and get talking...

So, you ask, what's Amy up to these days?

My wife is an enabler... she says to me the other day "Jeff, I want an iPhone app that will help me track how long Caitlyn's sleeping..." I go online and find a nice little app called "Baby Log", which allows Amy to track a number of different things. Sleeping, Diapers, Feedings... good stuff.

So check it. This is what my wife was up to Friday night... Did I mention I appreciate her? She is doing a phenomenal job! Amy, thank you for everything that you do!

And to wrap up a completely sappy, sentimental blog post, I'm attaching a photo of Caitlyn having a heart to heart conversation with "Pengi the Penguin" (my favorite toy, of course).

Not so long ago, in a CNN Studio not that far away...

Love 'em or hate 'em, it's President-elect Obama. Romans 13:1. And that's all I'm going to say about that...

Check it. Watching the Election coverage Tuesday night I saw one of the coolest things I've ever seen on TV. Will.i.am "beamed" into the CNN studio circe Star Wars' Princess Leia ("Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope...")

Check out the footage below...

Awesome. Check out some of the behind the scenes footage...

It's an exciting time to see what is technologically possible...

Thoughts from Ministry Rally...

1) We're going on TV. WSVN (Fox affiliate) Sundays @ 11am. What's the word I'm looking for.... uh... WOOHOO! This is yet another seed distribution point, another opportunity for us to impact people in Miami-Dade for Christ. God, thank you for the opportunity. Christ Fellowship, thank you for believing enough in the Media volunteers to allow us to serve...

2) Great worship. Love the strobe lights... and by strobe lights I mean smoke alarm when my unnamed light tech went a little heavy on the haze. Thank you to Miami-Dade Firemen for not yelling at us TOO BADLY...

3) Great Advanced Training sessions. New people at practically every seminar. People who use audio, visuals, or computers as their hobby... but want to use their talents (so to speak) for the Lord. Had some great conversations. I love meeting new people!

4) Had a conversation with a member of CF. She's been connected to the church for over 40 years. She's in her 80s (a Great Grandmother) and asked me if she could test drive Media being a VJ. Why? Well, if my Mom can do it, she wants to try. Seriously, how great is that!

5) Highlight of my night happened in Starbucks after the breakouts (I took a couple of our volunteers out). Following is a conversation between me and Eddy P:

Eddy- I'm just looking forward to digital scripts!
Jeff- What are you talking about?
Eddy- Jeff, you give us these massive scripts. I can't follow that and do what I need to do. I don't have enough hands. I want to see the script on a computer monitor and then have someone scroll the page for me when it's time so I can have my hands free on the switcher.
Jeff- Eddy, that's beautiful. That's the best idea I've ever heard. That one person can help Sound, Lights, Camera Director, Stage Director, and VJ keep up with what's going on. We're doing that immediately!

So here's the deal. I need four people (one person for each service) that can scroll a Microsoft Excel document. Basically, if you can click on an Excel document, you can do this. Let me know if you're game!

God, thank You for these opportunities. Thank You for allowing us to do great things for Your Glory.

"I could see God moving... I just wanted to be a part..."

It's been an exciting couple weeks at CFPB Media...

We've picked up three VJers. My mom is one of them... I love it! Three people are now in regular rotation because they are willing to click a mouse... No experience required, no knowledge necessary... just click a mouse...

We've picked up a couple camera operators. I spent two hours tonight working with a couple potential camera guys. They used to do camera stuff years ago, and they're interested in "scrapping off the rust" and helping with the visual representation of worship on the CFPB campus. Awesome!

I just got off the phone with a potential ProTools guy. He does multi-track audio at his house using Cubase. I told him "Oh, then you really should check out our ProTools setup..." He said he always wanted to learn ProTools, and was looking forward to the opportunity. He starts training tomorrow night!

Whether you have experience, rusty experience, or you're just willing to help... COME CHECK OUT MEDIA! See you at the Ministry Rally Breakout sessions Friday night!

What were you doing 15 years ago today?

Me? Going on a first date my wife... who looked as stunning back then as she does now (I think that's a compliment...)

To the original myBabyGirl, thank you for being part of my life... Looking forward to the next 15 years...

In View of God's Mercy, jreed

Google Cal in your InBox? Yep...

Back in June, CF moved their inter-office email communication to Google Apps (CF+G). So far, the experience has been great.  

• Better web-based interface 
• Better spam protection 
• Complete online software suite (Google Cal, Google Docs, Google Sites...)
• Cross platform (not being locked into a M$ options) 

One of the things I love about Google is there desire to experiment to make their product better... and instead of of keeping their experiments under closed doors (Apple, M$) - they broadcast their experiments to the world and let the users get their hands dirty on it.

In Google World, they call it GOOGLE LABS.

Couple cool things just came out of Google Labs this weekend... the ability to view your Google Calendar AND Google Docs FROM YOUR INBOX! Instead of having to view a separate site... I can see my calendar and my in-box on the same page...

Thanks, Google, for streamlining your software into an easier interface!

If you have a CF Email account, take advantage of this! Log onto your your mail account, click on "Settings", the click on "Labs".

Activate "Google Calendar gadget" and "Google Docs gadget"... and any others you feel like experimenting with.

See everybody online!

The NON-Political Post...

So, evidently there's this thing called an election this week... Maybe you've heard of it?

Who am I voting for? This is not the venue for that... (although Nader's looking better and better...)

For the half-dozen undecided voters out there, check this out. Google's assembled quotes on key topics from both candidates... so you don't get spin, you don't get commentary... you get their words and only their words...

After all, there's no easier way to hang a man than with his own tongue (disgusting, yes, but true...)

Anyone else think that SO MANY PEOPLE are voting early that there's gonna be like 5 people voting on Tuesday?

House: Christian "R"-Rated Horror Flick? ABOUT TIME!!!

I don't read much Christian fiction. The last fiction title I read was years ago... Frank Peretti/Ted Decker's House (or en Espanol, Casa). Good book. Loved it until the last 30 pages, and it fell apart (for me anyway).

What surprised me about the book is how graphic it was. This was a fairly decent horror story...

Tonight I get a mysterious email from Heather, with a link to HouseTheMovie.net...

Christian Horror Flick? Really?

Gets better. House is RATED "R"... No, not kidding! Why's it rated "R"? Check out the trailer...

 

 

Is this film for everyone? NO!

Would I take my daughter? NO! My wife? Probably not!

Can the story be used to reach people? YES!

Ironically, the House trailer was shown this week in SAW V and The Haunting of Molly Hartley.

What do you think of a "R"-Rated Christian Horror Flick?