Receiving Good Gifts from God

I am taking a deep breath and concentrating on something other than technology for a little while.

You know that one of my favorite (or rather… six of my favorite) topics of discussion is/are my six nieces and nephews. It’s okay to claim that I’m prejudiced, I really do think that they are six of the niftiest people on the planet.

Melanie is an example. She is going into her senior year in high school. SATs and ACTs are in the rearview mirror for now, she scored rather well. Now, she has been nominated to attend The National Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC.

Here is the website if you would like to take a look at it:

http://www.cylc.org/nylc/index.cfm?utm_medium=EMAIL&utm_source=06-16-10&utm_campaign=NLC1109_SPRE_NRCCUA2_CONTROL

She is quite excited about the possibility of going, and is getting her plans in place to earn/beg/borrow the $1500 that it will cost to go. I probably ought to set up something at WISHEO…

I’ve got to go rest and eat dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow…

My sister, Lori, has applied for a very interesting job opportunity — teaching music here
http://www.osan-es.pac.dodea.edu/

Don’t really know exactly what I want to ask you to pray for, but God’s Guidance and Will is definitely needed. I think this could be wonderful for her… but I would still be here, not there.

OK, after church I decided to play with more toys from http://aviary.com/ and discovered that they *DO* have what I was looking for under the Audio Editor.

Don’t they know how dangerous it is to give people like me that kind of power? I could waste some serious time here… and not even notice what I did!

Anyhow, I cannot describe the further experiments with “Life”. If you enjoy them, feel free to use them as you wish. Comments, pro and con, are always welcome!

I found a new toy. It lets me play with music even though I can’t read the notes, and it is not difficult to use. They didn’t even need any teenager to be on hand, and I created something… melodic.

The Music of Life

AVIARY is well known for their free tools for creativity. I can’t tell you how much time I have spent with them — both wasted time and learning new things. This one holds promise as one of their best so far…

I am hoping that it grows in our ability to control our creations. It would be nice to not need to rely on so much randomization, but this is the first iteration of ROC.

It would be wonderful to be able to put two or three different creations together into something of a song with verses, or maybe repeat partial… phrases? For the folks who really do read music, it would be wonderful to use that skill with this tool… and there may be a way to do it, but I have not figured it out yet.

Happy Friday!

I am really starting to get excited about my classes next month: Gospels I, Pastoral Counseling, and Fieldwork. From July 12-23, I Will Be so busy that I will not be able to see straight. Blogging may have to take a back seat for those two weeks, but I may be able to squeeze it in. (I hope that I can…)

“Nervous” doesn’t begin to describe one cluster of feelings. I’ve tried graduate school before (U. of H. Graduate School of Social Work) and absolutely hated it. Did not do well and was my own worst enemy there.

I just hope that I’ve gotten off of that arrogance out of my system. I really cannot afford it! Of course, the coursework is totally different and is more conducive to humility… but that doesn’t take ME out of the picture when it comes to problems.

Some of the books are in my hands in digital format. I REALLY am enjoying them and cannot wait to get ahold of the others.

Some days you just don’t feel like writing. I would much rather be in a cool library surrounded with stacks of books that I want to read.

Or… in a cool library reading everything I want to read on my Amazon Kindle. One of the things on my “for fun and education” list is The Law by Bastiat. Right next to that is Homer Hickam’s Rocket Boys, the second book in the Harry Potter phenomenon, and some Vince Flynn adventures.

Of course, I will get some reading in later next month. After the convention meets in Houston, I will start my classes at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne Indiana. Sort of… I will be sitting here at my computer instead of actually traveling. That should be quite intensive.

I know that it’s necessary. I know that it is smart. I know that I really need to upgrade the blog any time new versions can bring improvements — especially when it comes to security issues.

The process just makes me nervous! For starters, computers never do exactly what I think they are going to do. I don’t know if it is lack of knowledge on my part, or… maybe technology really is POSSESSED!

I just know that… if I don’t back up the website INCLUDING the databases before I start, it is a serious gamble. Nothing like starting from the blank slate a few times because you were sure the backups weren’t needed BECAUSE YOU WERE SMART WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTERS to cure you of any arrogance in the matter.

If you’ve come back tomorrow and nothing is here, you will know what happened.

Although my brother-in-law and nephew made a quick pit stop home this weekend, it was only a pause before continuing on to Boy Scout camp. I’m not sure which one, but I am sure they are having a good time and are completely and utterly worn-out. I’m not sure I will be able to forward any stories…

Anyhow, my youngest sister and her three daughters are coming home today. They were at Pigeon Forge for part of the time, and at Poppy and Grandma Connie’s timeshare part of the time. I know that they are making connections with some of Leslie’s friends from school… and my cousins. It really is a whirlwind tour!

I am delighted that they are back in town. I really get a kick from all of them.

Happy Monday!

I have really had my head in technology-type stuff today. For starters, I went through the information on repairing/restoring websites again. And again… Zion’s website has been intruded upon. The hosting was already set up when I got there and has changed hands several times. I don’t know what it was or is… all I know is that I cannot change file attributes.

So… before doing everything in these steps:

• http://25yearsofprogramming.com/blog/20070705.htm

• http://www.unmaskparasites.com/malware-warning-guide/#cleanup

• http://www.stopbadware.org/home/security

• http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=163633

Since I cannot do what I need to do where it is, I’ve spent a day comparing and contrasting website hosting packages. Here is the short list of the best along with what I think might be the best choice:

Today is the high point of my week. I get to hear God’s Forgiveness placed in my ear, and often on my tongue. All of God’s people-Past and Present and Future come together in these weekly fore-tastes of the upcoming Wedding Feast of the Lamb and HIS bride, the Church. I get to mingle with people I get to see here and now, AND in the future. If I go to Bible study, I’m not just intellectually gathering data about God — I am inhaling the life giving oxygen from the world that is to come.

Do I have to go to church? Do I have to read the Bible?

… Do I have to inhale and exhale?

I don’t HAVE to do any of those things. God calls HIS people, and they respond. God also calls the people who are not yet his. He even gives you the ability to listen.