New Nikon DSLR

I love my Nikon DSLR and wanted to let you know about Nikon's upcoming newest release for their consumer DSLR: the Nikon D60. No pricing yet, but I'm guessing it will come in around the $600 - 800 price range. It has a 10.2 megapixel sensor, 2.5-inch LCD (not live-view), SDHC, vibration sensor cleaning, and an even smaller body than the D40x. Sounds awesome!

Changing the subject, if you want to hear a funny story, you have to listen to this week's episode (#53) of the Mark & Miller Show. Miller had me laughing pretty hard with his latest "Anthony story."

A Little Discouraged...

I hurt my foot playing beach football last week and have not been able to run now for over a week. I really miss running and find myself getting a little discouraged. I feel like I’m losing my energy and stamina. I can feel it slipping away. Can someone fall out of shape in a couple of weeks? I can already feel the difference. And the bad news is I'm not sure when I'll be able to run on it. The good news - my team won the football game.

Not being able to run got me thinking about my walk (run) with Christ. Do I feel any different when I’m not immersed in God’s Word and spending the time with Him that I should? Do I feel like I’m losing strength and getting spiritually weaker? Paul says that physical training is of some value but spiritual training is of greater value (1 Tim 4:7b-8). My running pales in comparison to my time alone with God and His Word.

How’s your spiritual workout?

Genius...Pure Genius

Why didn't I think of this? This little invention, the Handpresso, is awesome. Imagine being able to make a shot of espresso wherever you are (as long as you have some hot water). Check out the video on how it works. Genius.

Mark & Miller

A couple of weeks ago David and I used our weekly podcast platform (Mark & Miller Show) to do the announcements for the worship services here at McGregor. For those of you who are not McGregorites or were out of town that Sunday, here's your opportunity to view it.

Challenging Read...Part 2

Here's a few more snippets from Chapter 4 of the book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.

• Basically there are two types of people in the world: complainers and worshipers.
• Adversity is often the seedbed of opportunity.
• We may dream of zero gravity, but what we really need is a healthy dose of adversity.
• God wants to redeem the adversity you've experienced. He wants to recycle your adversity and turn it into a ministry.
• The more problems you have the more potential you have to help people.
• If you don't have any problems, you don't have any potential.
  
• Trials have a way of helping us rediscover our purpose in life.

What is God trying to teach you right now through your difficult circumstances?

Challenging Read

I mentioned a while back that I have been reading In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day with a group of guys I meet with. Not sure if I mentioned just how power-packed this little book was. Wow! It's one of the more challenging books I've ever read. And, it seems to be hitting me right where I am. Just to give you a taste, I've compile a few quotes from chapter 4.

• It's our past problems that prepare us for future opportunities.
• Sometimes the biggest problems present the greatest opportunities for God to reveal His glory and work.
• We should stop asking God to get us out of difficult circumstances and start asking Him what He wants us to get out of those difficult circumstances.
• Maybe our problem isn't our circumstances, maybe our problem is our perspective...Maybe prayer is less about changing our circumstances than it is about changing our perspective.
• Maybe we need to quit praying safe prayers.
• Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God.
• The most important choice you make every day is your attitude. Your internal attitudes are far more important than your external circumstances.
• The worse days can actually turn out to be the best days if we learn the lessons God is trying to teach us.

I'm going to stop now before this post gets too long. I'll post some more tomorrow from chapter 4. But as you can see, pretty challenging stuff.

Happy Birthday Macy!

Running. Sometimes I really love it and sometimes it's really hard. I mentioned in an earlier post I was getting a little discouraged with my times. So, Saturday I decided to push it. And I did. I ran mile one in 7:29. Mile two only a few seconds slower at 7:31. I'm on pace to crush my best 3 mile time. But shortly after the 2 mile mark (like 2 feet past it) I almost died (not literally Macy). Oh well, at least I know I can do 2 miles a lot faster. Now I just have to sustain that pace longer.

Monday's are my 4 mile day. Yesterday I ran 4 miles at an 8:17 pace per mile. I felt real good about that, especially with my last mile being the fastest. Somehow, someway, I'm gonna get these times down. Yeah, I think I still love running.

Random Thoughts...

• I'm excited American Idol is back tonight. There hasn't been much lately on TV to watch.
• I'm feeling very grateful right now...nothing terribly specific, other than I have a sense of just being really blessed in so many ways.
• I'm still bummed about the Cowboys losing. I'm pulling for the Packers now.
  
• Tomorrow is my beautiful bride's birthday. Happy Birthday Macy!!!
  

A Week's Worth

Sorry for not posting this week until today. No excuses, just didn't get it done. But it's been a good week, so let me catch you up...

• Another awesome Focus Midweek Worship Wednesday night. Great worship and challenging Bible study. We've done two now and what an incredible midweek blessing these worship experiences are.
• Three good runs so far this week with number four coming tomorrow. I now run four miles on my Monday runs and still 3 miles on the other runs during the week. I'm getting a little discouraged lately because my times are not dropping any. I know, it's not about speed but about health.
• Love being back in the office and working again. This has been the first full week back since a long break.
• Go Cowboys!!!
• Got my Guitar Hero fix in once this week. If you know anybody wanting to get rid of a PS2 because they upgraded, let me know.
• Wish I had been able to go to Consumer Electronic Show.
  
• Recorded our first Mark & Miller show for 2008 this week. It was good to get back in the podcast studios. Click here to listen to this week's episode. We also got to record a little surprise for you McGregor people that you will see this Sunday morning.
• Started reading In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day with the guys I meet with on Thursday morning. Wow! Very challenging little book.
• Did you know Gerald met Jewel at the Ale House restaurant this week?

Have a great weekend!

Incredible Bass Player

Back in my high school and college days I played a little bass guitar. I never was all that good, but I developed a deep appreciation for those who are really good. Recently I came across a video of Victor Wooten, one of my favorite bass players, playing a solo arrangement of Amazing Grace that blew me away. For those of you who are music fans - enjoy. This guy is incredible! (FYI - you won't hear Amazing Grace until about 1:40 into the song)

Cool Web Sites

I love finding really cool and awesome new web sites/apps. You know, the kind of web 2.0 site where you can actually get something done or waste hours just having fun. Here are two that I discovered over the holidays that accomplish both.

Yodlee's MoneyCenter - this site is amazing! I discovered this web app through Money Magazine. What does it do? MoneyCenter lets you upload your bank accounts, credit cards, mortgage, loans, investments and even frequent-flier accounts into its system. Then a click of a button will show a net-worth statement that considers all assets and debts - and can even factor in home values. And it does a whole lot more! If you're worried about the security of your data, know that Yodlee is what powers major banks' online products.

FotoFlexer - is a fun photo editing site. It is the best one I have found. The premise. You upload your photos and edit them using their web app. It has all the cheesy effects that most basic photo editor apps have, but goes a little further, letting you work with layers and a few other higher end effects. This site can be a lot of fun and even somewhat productive. My biggest complaint is the inability to save your work in a higher resolution. The picture in the post is of Gray Foster edited with FotoFlexer.

Give these two sites a try and let me know what you think.

Sunday School for Atheists?

I thought this article was pretty interesting. Not really surprised, but am reminded of the importance of what we do as the church in developing fully devoted followers. The world is working hard at making fully devoted non-believers.

Sunday School for Atheists article

Oh, Happy New Year!