Intrigue

I am still skiing in beautiful Red River, New Mexico, and it is snowing like crazy.

Skiing is all about balance over the skis. Skis are designed to distribute your weight evenly, so balance is an absolutely necessary.

One of my friends is skiing for his first time in a while, and he got some pretty good lessons. He picked it up pretty well, but he had one problem, he kept sticking out his butt. His body was trying to balance him out because his ski boots were strapped too tight, and as a result, he couldn’t use his knees and his ankles to really balance his body over the center of his skis, so his body tried to compensate by balancing another way. He would stick his butt out, and bend at the waist and lean far forward, and he kept eating the snow. Once he got his ski boots on right, he was able to balance a lot better and gain great control, and ski really, really well.

Sometimes, I stick my butt out - I take on too much: School, Internship, Work, Family, Extra-curriculars. In what areas are your life are your ski boots strapped on too tight and you look funny because your butt is sticking out?

You will always here ski instructors saying, “Lean Forward, Lean Back, Balance on the Center, Don’t Bend at the Waist …” its all about balance.

Don’t stick your butt out!

Sometimes when you go travel, they say, “Don’t drink the water, it’ll make you sick.”

Well, Ski Lesson number 2, drink the water.

Almost all of my buddies that I am skiing with, including myself are sick. Fevers, Disgusting Mucus, Upset Stomachs … sick. My friends mom said, “Well that’s because you aren’t drinking enough water when you are going through this major altitude change, and skiing all day long.”

She’s right you know, Water is essential.

How many times in life do we try to do major things (skiing all day long), or new things (skiing down difficult slopes), or incredible things (staying up all night long talking about who’s the better skier), without keeping the essential things, like water?

Put another way, how many times do we change jobs for the money, how many times do we start new programs in businesses, how many times do we add on, without remembering the essential fuel?

Drink the water dude.

I am currently in Red River, New Mexico skiing with a few of my great friends.

Each day so far I have learned some pretty interesting thing - today, was about missed opportunities. Last night, my friend who was loosing in a board game after making a foolish move kept going on and on about what he “should” have done.

My friends dad said, “If my auntie had balls, she’d be my uncle.” I loved this quote.

So as I was skiing, and I came across a really difficult black ski path called, “The Landing” - of which I was afraid I was going to land on my face. But I knew the only reason I had gotten as good as I had at skiing was because I took some risks - or opportunities, challenges, or chance, all words are equally synonymous of each other, and when I over came it, or accomplished that, or successfully completed that tasks, I gained a new skill, a new experience.

So, what do you need the balls to do?

Edit: Right after I wrote this post, I began reading some blogs, so be sure you check out what you can learn from diarrhea as well. How fitting.

Its time to add a new category to our blog,  a “Brand New Church.”My blogging partner, and really one of my closets friends has offically recently just left the digerati team at LifeChurch.tv. Zach Gilliam recently felt God’s call to join A Brand New Church in Arkansas, where he will be their technology director.

A Brand New Church is one of the most exciting churches in America. In rural America, where churches are normally small and commonly ignored, this church has absolutely been creative and innovative about its approach to reaching rural America. Pastored, by our old youth pastor, Shannon O’Dell, Zach is becoming a part of an incredible move of God.I added the new category, because Zach will have much to tell. The church recently went into a multi-site model, and Zach will be, among many other things, helping them reach people for Christ in innovative ways.

Its with a little anxiety that I will see him away, but I look forward to many road trips to Bergman, Arkansas, and tons of exciting stories.

Read more about Brand New Church in the news (here) and (here).

Here is the e-mail that Terry Storch sent the staff recently:

It is with mixed emotions that I let you know today is Zach Gilliam’s last day with us on staff at LifeChurch.tv. During his time at LifeChurch.tv, he has served in a variety of roles, ranging from star volunteer, to working as a part of the Media Distribution team, and finally, filling the role of Digerati Polymath. His contributions have been instrumental in so many ways and the impact he has made while striving to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ has been life-changing. Zach will be leaving us to move to Harrison, Arkansas, where he will serve on the staff of Brand New Church in the Director of Technology role. We have no doubt that God is going to use Zach in big ways to grow this ministry.  Good luck in your new role, Zach! You will be amazing! Today is Zach’s last day with us here at LifeChurch.tv, so feel free to stop by the Digerati offices to wish him well or drop him a quick email.Terry Storch and the Digerati Team  

I feel like I just watched something out of the holocaust. Some campaign could probably raise money with this video.

This post definetly caught my attention today.

Bobby Gruenewald at Swerve always reminds me that so much of what I do on a daily basis in pursuit of my own personal gain is absolutely meaningless.

I can remember a time when churches were afraid to even mention the word homosexuality. Being able to show the unconditional love like Jesus did, to anyone. He saw no color, no race, no creed - only a life in need.

This post is revolutionary innovation.

Well, at least if you are an AT&T customer in the OKC metro that is. Yesterday about 10am, it seems that AT&T launched their 3G network here in OKC…and it is glorious. Nothing like pulling 776 KB/sec out of the air.

Its about time too! Tulsa has had their 3G network for well over a year.

For the less technically minded out there, 3G is basically a technology that allows relatively fast internet speeds for mobile devices. You will get apx. 6mbit from your standard cable modem and I can get .7mbit on my device over the air. Pretty nifty.

Remember that phrase, “Home for the Holidays?”

This time around it doesn’t seem to be that at all. I have 3 papers due on Monday when I get back to school. This wasn’t too big a deal until I pulled up to my nice home with autumn colored leaves blowing across the yard as kids in their hoodies and sweaters rode across the driveway on their bikes and scooters enjoying their free time.

Instead… I’ll be in front of my black computer looking at the cursor blink over and over again on my fingerprinted smudged screen as I try to write papers about ethics, immigration, and the law.

Oh, the humanity. Oh, the calamity.

One of my closests friends today went to deposit a lot of money at the bank today. Because of HB 1804 he was asked to demonstrate his SSN.

My friend is an American citizen. A student at Oklahoma City University. A working citizen in the state of Oklahoma, and is 21 years old.

However, he was born in Mexico, is bilingual, and looks hispanic.

My friend today suffered discrimination in America, in Oklahoma.

He said and I quote, “Next time, I’ll bring my dirver’s license, my social security card, and my ****** little American flag. I’m A’merican (GW drawl).”

More info about HB 1804:

Here, here, and here.