I love my mac more and more . . .

GarageBandTuner
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Every Wednesday, I teach a guitar class at Hendersonville. I have about 7 students and until today I didn't really have enough guitars to go around. Early this afternoon I was restrining some of the guitars that I recently got a hold of . . . but I needed a tuner.

Then I remembered Garageband on my Mac. It's a music program where you can compose music, do podcasts, blah, blah, blah. There was a piano keyboard on there so I knew I could at least find an E to get me started on my merry tuning way.

However, in my attempt to find the keyboard, I found something very different.

If you haven't maximized the picture yet, go have a look and come back. Check right at the bottom of the screen in the middle (if you can't see it, once you click on the preview to the right, on the next screen you should see a link to "All Sizes" - That will make it bigger).

So . . . in Garageband is a Chromatic Tuner, that uses either the audio input on the back of the mac, or the external microphone!

I was impressed.

I love my mac more and more each day!

Des

My Clean Remote

Apple Remote
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

This is a pretty neat device. It's the remote that came with my new Intel iMac (which, if you haven't heard already, I LOVE).

The remote is great. It allows me to access my video clips, iTunes music, DVDs, etc, etc, from across the room - usually it involves me and or my wife getting ready in the morning. Sometimes, we'll use it if we're doing house work. I'll often just stick it in my pocket and do some chores - pulling it out whenever I need it.

It's precisely this combination of apple functionality and house chores that caused this little thing to end up in the bottom of my washing machine. OK . . . and a lack of responsibility on my part.

Yes, I washed out my Mac Remote.

I was devastated.

Interestingly enough - it still works! That's right - I let the thing dry out and it is working FINE.

At least now I know that if it gets dirty - I can just throw it in the wash.

Grace,

Des

Pool Cue 1

Pool Cue 1
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

So, I've already mentioned that Chuck had given me a reel.

Last night, he came in - very quickly dropped this off and said he had to run back to his place before coming back. That's exactly what he did.

So I take the cue out of the case and tried a few shots with it . . . it works, good feel, good weight.

When Chuck finally gets back I say, "That's a real nice cue you've got there, Chuck."

"That's yours." He responded in his low, gruff voice.

So I thanked him and then he let me listen to a tape of the Kingdom Heirs.

Chuck is an interesting man.

Grace,

Des

Pool Cue 2

Pool Cue 2
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

And here's the stick.

Reel Cool

Chuck.jpg
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Last week, Chuck gave me a reel. Chuck, of course, is my friend from Waynesville who has been hanging out with me at the Coffee House at The Salvation Army corps. In this shot, he's going over the features of the reel.

I'm wondering when I can get a chance to go fishing with him. I have to do that at some point.

He is definitely a giver.

He gave me something else tonight, which I'll post about later. I wanted to get this out there first!

He also came to church on Sunday. First time in a LONG time.

Something is happening.

Grace,

Des

North Carolina: No; Kandahar: Yes

So - those of you who know me well, know that my favourite coffee in the world is Tim Hortons. It's a Canadian outfit that is owned by Wendy's and is starting to make a surge in the Northern US. None, however, in North Carolina.

Well, THIS story was posted on CBC.ca

Tim Hortons officials say they will open a store at the Kandahar military airfield in Afghanistan within the next few months.

Canadian soldiers have reportedly been lobbying for weeks for the move. Their requests were passed on to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, who passed the message on to the company.

In a news release issued Wednesday, Tim Hortons says it will convert a trailer and deliver it to the Canadian Forces for use in Afghanistan. Military personnel will be able to purchase selected baked goods and beverages, including coffee.

The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency, the morale and welfare arm of the Canadian Forces, will be responsible for staffing and training, and also for operation of the trailer.

"I know I speak for all the men and women of the Canadian Forces when I say that I'm delighted to hear this news," Gen. Hillier said in the news release.

"Opening a Tim Hortons to serve our troops in Afghanistan strengthens an already superb relationship between two great Canadian institutions. I would like to thank Tim Hortons for their endless support of the Canadian Forces over the years."

Former police officer Ron Joyce co-founded the famous chain in Hamilton in 1964 with the late NHL hockey player, Tim Horton.

In 1995, Tim Hortons merged with U.S.-based Wendy's International and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the fast-food burger chain.

Wendy's announced earlier this month that it had stepped up plans to spin off Tim Hortons, saying it will sell its remaining stake in the popular coffee and doughnut chain by the end of the year.

I'm still waiting for Asheville.

Grace,

Des

Shots from Newfoundland

Here are a few shots that my sister sent yesterday from just outside my parents house back in Newfoundland. It's SO peaceful there. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back there to visit before too long. 

Big Sis

Big Sis
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

I DARE you to even TRY and tell me that this isn't ADORABLE!

Big Sis and Little Bro.

Nice.

Big Sister II

Big Sister II
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

THIS is a proud big sister.

Camden

Camden
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

7lbs 15oz and 20 inches of newborn (pictured here at 5 hours hold). David Camden Baden Dawe - son of David and Julie Dawe. He is precious - and, as you can see, enjoying life outside the womb!

Des and Ainsley

Des and Ainsley
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

My little god-daughter and I! She is going to be a PHENOMENAL big sister. Look how excited that little one is! She is precious.

Des and Camden

Des and Camden
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

I don't hold many newborns. I'm usually scared. This guy, however, is very strong. Watching him in the nursery - he would dig his head and his ankles in to his bed and arch his back. I was impressed. I can barely do that now!

Kristy and Camden

Kristy and Camden
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

My wife and our (friends') baby. Obviously, the woman in this picture didn't just give birth. Just taken lil' C for a test drive! I'm sure she's going to be a wonderful mother!

Big Sister

Big Sister
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Ainsley was VERY proud today - she is going to be an AWESOME big sister! She loves her little brother very much.

Super Awesome

This is an amazing video from Gordon College - of some guys reenacting the world of Super Mario Brothers . . .

Very cool




Grace,

Des

Doing my Part

Just doing my part to get free software to the masses!

SubEthaEdit is a great text editor for the Mac OS.

MacZot and CodingMonkeys are going to be giving away $105,000 in FREE mac software. Not too long ago they gave away a great program for macs called AppZapper and now this promotion is bigger and better. Every blogger that posts about this promotion will help make this app free - for every blog the price is reduced by $0.05 . . . until it's FREE!!!!

Check out the deals here:

SubEthaEdit from CodingMonkeys

BLOGZOT 2.0 on MacZOT.com

Thanks - hopefully, soon, I'll have some free software for my new iMac!

Des

Shocking Warfare

shocking_tank
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

So, at TMI a couple of years ago, Bernie Dake introduced this game that, to put a long story short, shocked your hands if you lost. There were handles for up to 4 people to play. They watched a light and listened to annoying music - when it stopped they had to press a button on their controller or get their hands shocked.

Well, this is cooler.

Two remote-controlled tanks that shoot each other with an infrared cannon. When your tank gets shot, your controller shocks you - up to six times, at which point the game is over.

It even comes with a wrist strap so that when you get shocked and your hand contorts, if you drop the controller it won't get bashed on the floor.

I need one of these.

Find it at http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/7485/.

Des

A busy week

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Things are going well with us in Asheville and the surrounding area. Things are busy. Camp is coming up. We've got conferences and things to do all over the place - no sign of slowing down yet.

And, of course, my parents have been in town. That was awesome. It was so good to have them around and just hang out with them - to be in the same country as them, even. I'm glad they got to make the trip.

We've gotten the first phase of approval on our quest towards permanent residence as well. One more to go (granted it could take as much as a year). Right now, we're in that we can't travel anywhere because we're in "limbo" phase . . . but we're probably a couple of months out from being able to at least travel home again. That's a good feeling. It's been a while . . .

I was at a Catholic Church yesterday and will be again today for a wedding. Catholic churches amaze me because they (as Jonny Gainey said) "create a sense of awe of God." This wasn't an old Cathedral, this was a very new building - but it was still created/decorated/respected in such a way that it just commanded this sense of reverence and repect.

Next week, Julie & Dave will have a new cute baby.

Like I said, no sign of slowing down!

Grace

Des

Parents at the Lake

Parents at the Lake
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

It really was awesome having my parents in town for a few days!

This is them sitting at Lake Lure, NC.

They look pretty good themselves!

Grace,

Des

My wife and I

My wife and I
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Today was the last full day that I have my parents around. It's been great to spend so much time with them - it's been great just to SEE them after so long!

One of the things we were able to do this week was to go visit Lake Lure and take a tour of the area.

This shot was taken there. Isn't my wife beautiful?

Grace,

Des

Biscuits and Gravy

Mmmmmm . . . . I love the sound of that title. My parents are still in town, which is great! What's also cool is that today I got to make for them a wonderful southern delicacy - biscuits and gravy.

Now, before you get too far down my throat about a Canadian making biscuits and gravy, I've been told by many-a southerner that I make FINE gravy. It was the mentorship of a southerner that got me to this point (thank you Mr. Mike Michels!).

Most Canadians that I know that have come down this way aren't too fond of this wonderful treat. Thank goodness it grew on me. My parents loved it. That's what I like to hear.

Kristy still hasn't been won over to the light.

Here's to biscuits, gravy, new experiences, and family!

Grace,

Des

Hard Rock

Hard Rock
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Nothing like a cheeseburger at the Hard Rock Cafe!

Parents

Parents
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

My parents enjoyed the mountains! I'm so excited that they got to come visit!

Couple

Couple
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Luckily, I found a cute girl at the top who wanted to have her picture taken with me!

Struggle

Struggle
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

I fell over the side but managed to struggle back to safe ground.

The Mountains

The Mountains
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Kristy and I got to spend some time in the Mountains today with my parents, who are here visiting!

Google Calendar Launches

Google has FINALLY launched their "CL2" calendar service. If you go to http://calendar.google.com . . . you can sign up for a great little calendar service that will be (eventually) completely integrated with Gmail. Right now, you can invite people to events, keep track of who has replied/declined . . . you can be reminded of events via text message or email.

It's pretty neat . . . and if you alread use a similar program on your computer, you can upload you calendar to the internet and have access to it from anywhere!

Check it out.

Monitor is Off

Monitor is Off
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

So . . . this photo comes from a hospital. I took it when Kristy and I went to see Kathy and Jay, and meet Caden for the first time.

I laughed a lot when I read this.

The things you can find in a hospital room.

Grace,

des

Firefox Universal Binary

I'm obviously (if you've been reading my last few posts) a newbie in the Mac world . . . running a new 17" iMac Intel Core Duo. It's an amazing machine . . . I love it.

One of my biggest complaints, though, is that Firefox (my favorite web browser) was real slow on my mac. Now that Macs use a completely different architecture, a lot of the programs have to be recompiled to run at optimal levels of performance.

Firefox finally is! Or at least in a pre-release version . . .

I don't know if "Universal Binaries" will speed up performance on people running PowerPC macs . . . but if you (read: Phil) want to try it out, click on the title of this post to go to the pre-release download page for firefox.

iMac-ing is going very well . . . and I'm learning how much I don't know.

Grace,

Des

Naked on Palm Sunday

Yesterday was Palm Sunday - it's the day where Christians remember the "triumphant" entry of Jesus into Jerusalem - riding on a donkey. I was at Hickory with In His Grip (a drama group that I'm involved with) and was listening to the preacher who made mention of the fact that people put their garments on the road so that the donkey could walk over them - kind of like a red carpet type of thing.

I don't think there was anything real special about the way it was described . . . except that I had a thought that I had never had before.

If the people who lined the streets removed their garments . . . wouldn't that mean they were naked? Or at least in their boxer shorts? I've never really thought of that. Certainly they wouldn't have packed extra clothes? Right?

So were they there, just totally "exposed" to Christ . . . who would later die for what he "saw" in them? Was everything completely unhidden . . . figuratively and literally?

You can read about it in Mark 11:1-11 . . . or any of the Gospels for that matter. In Mark 11, note verse 8. Click on the title of this post to check out the passage at biblegateway.com.

Anyone with insight, please comment.

Grace,

Des

The Public Restroom of Life

WARNING: this post has been rated as gross by me. If you read you may be disgusted.

I was in a public restroom today. Specifically - a public restroom at a Wendy's restaurant. It was disgusting. Public restrooms may be, for me, the biggest stomach turner. Now . . . I'm a guy, so I can't speak to the conditions of Women's restrooms, but finding a men's room in any kind of presentable condition is practically impossible.

Even the "nice" ones . . . are often vandalized - it's got that Sharpiti all over the stall (Graffiti written in Sharpie) saying for a good time, call me.

Honestly . . . most often public restrooms are often so nasty that I don't even want to leave my waste there. The most vile, disgusting part of physically being human is too good for this place!

You want to wash your hands, but then you can't dry them without touching something - you can't even leave without touching the door. What's the point? You'd just have to go back and wash them again.

I wonder how God feels about sin. Sometimes I think He's more tolerant of it than we think He is. That probably doens't make a whole lot of sense . . . but it does in my head. Other times, I'm reminded that maybe it's like walking into a public restroom . . . . at a truck stop.

Anyway . . . just some thoughts I had today. Getting a vision whilst you're peeing is something that may not happen that often.

Oh, while we're talking about waste . . . if you havne't heard it yet, remind me sometime to tell you the "Look what just fell out of my undies" story. Camp counselling is often fun . . . but you also have to deal with a lot of crap, sometimes!

Hope you weren't too disgusted.

Des

Sharing One iPhoto Library Among Many Users

I should point out that I paraphrased an article from macosxhints.com in putting this post together. Please dont' think I figured this out by myself . . . the article was written by a guy named, elmimmo.

I don't mean to bore you with tech talk (for those of you who would be bored by tech talk!) - but this is as much for me as it is for anyone else - probably more for me. It's something I had to try to figure out and now, I don't want to forget - so if I ever have to reload my iMac, I can come back to this post and do it all again!
So here goes. My problems was that I could share photos between my account and Kristy's account and the Mac . . . i take that back. I could share them - but in order for her to access mine - I would have to log in, open iPhoto, leave it open, switch back to her account and view the photos that way. They're OUR photos, and I want there to be ONE location.

So this is how you do it:

1. Enable ACL (access control lists) on your system. The command in Terminal is:

sudo fsaclctl -p / -e

2. You'll want to actually MAKE the folder where your pics will be stored. It needs to be accessable by all of the users that will be accessing it. I did it in /Users/Shared . . . and I called the folder - "iPhoto Shared Library." I did it by opening my "Macintosh HD" and simply navigating to the /Users/Shared folder.

3. Add the ACL rule for each user - do THAT by typing THIS in the terminal window:

sudo chmod +a "UserName allow delete,chown,list,search,add_file,add_subdirectory, delete_child,file_inherit,directory_inherit" /Users/Shared/NameofLibrary

All of the items above separated by commas have NO spaces inbetween them. Also, if your Library name has spaces in it, you'll have to put a backslash (\) before each space. Example - my library is called iPhoto Shared Library . . . so I would have to type that as iPhoto\ Shared\ Library. Get it?

Do this for every user that wants to be able to use this library.

4. Log in to each users account and tell iPhoto to use this new library. To do that, hold down "Option" when you start iPhoto - it'll ask you what library to use.

If, like me, you had already loaded pictures into your individual library before realizing that it wasn't easy to share, just COPY (not move) them to the new location . . . then delete them from the original location.

I did it today and it works stupendously. Now, though, only one user can be viewing the library at a time - I'm sure there is a way to make two copies of the library regularly, using automator or something . . . but I'll take the inconvenience of only having one user able to access it over having 2x the amount of disk space used.

That's it.

Grace,

Des

Ooooh, yeah.

CIMG1319.JPG
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

There it is. It's up and running. I may be confused . . .

It's pretty different.

But it's awesome.

First Start Up

CIMG1313.JPG
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

CIMG1308.JPG
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

It Has Arrived

CIMG1304.JPG
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

It finally came. It's finally here!

First Post from My New iMac

The moment has finally arrived.

My iMac arrived today - at about 5:00. I have no idea what I'm doing, but it looks sweet while I'm doing it. I'm sure I'll learn. If any mac users out there have any tips, just let me know.

I've got so much to do already. I have a bunch of programs that I want to try, and I've got to figure out how to get my pictures on there so I can edit them and keep them.

I'm pretty stoked.

I'll post some pictures soon.

Des

Every Move I Make

Today was very cool.

At the Asheville Boys & Girls Club, we celebrated the opening of Boys' and Girls' club week. There were opening ceremonies, and cake, and basketball games. I've been working for a couple of weeks with a group of 8-11 year olds, teaching them to sing "Every Move I Make" with some cool (depending on who you ask . . . Kristy) moves.

They did very well.

Then tonight, as I was watching the news . . . there they were! Singing away. It was good. Most of them were pretty excited.

That's it. It was just cool that they were on there. I wonder if they saw it?

Grace,

Des

Outreach

Kristy and I will be doing a seminar this coming weekend at the "Main Street Ministries Conference" held by The Salvation Army at Camp Walter Johnson. We'll be dealing with what outreach is and how we can both make our programs and other initiatives more outreaching! It'll be good, I think. It will be the first time we've presented this material though.
Anyway, all of our material will be available on the following website in the coming few days: http://www.webandflowdesign.com/outreach.

Go there and check it out. Handouts, case studies, resources, and even our visuals will be there - if you need it.

Grace,

Des

Excellent News

I have excellent news:

Estimated 17" iMac (with intel core duo) arrival date: April 5th, 2006.

The time has come.

Des

p.s. I'm also working to update my "Web & Flow Design" site. If you don't know what that is . . . it's a side project I'm working on. Let me know what you think of my new front page . . .

http://www.webandflowdesign.com

Thanks.

High Tech

So, I know I was promoting how High Tech our Youth Councils show was . . . these headsets tell a different story.

They may be a little dated.

Grace

Des 

The winter of my discontent . . .

It's snowing . . . .

Not sure.

Des

More From Youth Councils

Well, we're still here at Youth Councils. Things are going well . . . it's Saturday night. Steve Fitzhugh has spoken some great messages that have really connected with the kids. We had the 3rd Annual GodStock Outdoor Music Fest Extravaganza this afternoon, and then In His Grip performed a couple of sketches this evening at a dinner event.

It's been a busy day.

Here are a few pics.

The first is a shot from the back of the hall, where I'm perched. The set is amazing. It was designed by Jeremy at DHQ and built by Major Musgrave who seems to be able to build anything at all. Including a billboard video screen.

The praise band is "Entertaining Angels" from Tampa Florida. They've done a great job too. Good sound.

This is them.

I've been doing a load of video work. I think I might post some of it so that it's available to the other divisions here in the south if they're looking for some content.

Added to the to do list.

The final picutres down below here are of the general area around where I've been working. My computer (and 19" aux display!) are doing well.

I've also got a Remote Desktop Connection to a server perched upstairs where the videos are all rendered.

It's a great set up. It's nice to have these tools available to us.

That's it. Hopefully I'll be able to post more pretty soon.

Grace.

Des



 

Appreciation

One of the cool things about my job is that I get to work on really cool things like this. Once a year . . . right about now . . . it's time for Youth Councils!

This is 13th Floor . . . performing on our stage.

Grace

Des 

Proving How the Universe Was Born

Physicists announced Thursday that they now have the smoking gun that shows the universe went through extremely rapid expansion in the moments after the big bang, growing from the size of a marble to a volume larger than all of observable space in less than a trillion-trillionth of a second.

I have only one thing to say - I think this also proves that God is amazing.

Grace,

Des

Do Yourself a Favor

So, I've been noticing that far too many of you are still using Internet Explorer . . .

If you haven't tried the firefox browser yet, you really need to. I use it all the time. It's light-weight and compact. You can add on all of these different things called extensions (like plug-ins) that let you do ANYTHING you want. For example, I have a calculator, lots of web design tools ('cause I like to do that kind of thing), music players, and, if you're desparate, you can even open things up in internet explorer from within your browser.

One of the other cool things is "tabbed browsing." You know how when you want to open two or more pages at once with Internet Explorer you have all of these different windows open? So if you want to have Amazon.com, Desmerizing.blogspot.com, google.com, and espn.com all open at once you would have to have 4 windows open. Well, in Firefox . . . you only have one with four different tabs open so you can quickly and easily switch between however many you have going at one time.

Try it out. I've got a little firefox button to the right side. Download it and install it and give it a shot. Be sure to try out the tabbed browsing thing, and try downloading some extensions too (by going to tools -> extensions). Worst case . . . you don't like it and you have to uninstall. I think you'll be hooked though.

Let me know what you think.

Des

Why Asheville is an Interesting City

So, Kristy and I have been walking about downtown Asheville for a couple of days now. We're trying to figure out where everything is, trying to find a good Coffee Shops, restaurants, etc.

Today, as we were walking along Patton Avenue, we came across the Jerusalem Garden restaurant.

Looks pretty neat. Inviting. Especially if you like Moroccan and Mediterranean Cuisine. But here is just one more example of why I think Asheville is one of the most interesting places on the planet.

Apparently, the Jerusalem Garden's claim to fame is that it has the Best Sat & Sun Southern Style Brunch. Now . . . I'm assuming they don't mean Southern Mediterranean or Moroccan. Can someone please explain how THIS place has the best biscuits and gravy?

I love Asheville.

Grace,

Des 

Written with Writely

This post was written with Writely.com. It's an online Word Processor that I've been "using" for a while. TODAY, though, they were bought by Google. I'm wondering how all of these little things that Google owns will come together. I think for the time being, they're not allowing new accounts until they make the transition completely to Google.

I just wanted to try to see how the blog posting worked!

Des

note: this post was written a few days ago, but there was an error when I tried to post it to my blog. But, it finally got resolved. Yay.

The Edmonton Temple Street Team

This is a poster for the Edmonton Temple Street Team that I found on Jason Guy's Blog at http://realguy556.blogspot.com.

It's pretty cool. Pretty easy to do if you can get the right people.

Have a look and check out Edmonton Temple's Site and Jason's Blog.

They're both pretty cool

Grace,

Des 

My Home and Native Land

I've tried posting this once.
Unfortunately, it didn't work as I had planned.
I just wanted to share these pictures because it's where I grew up. This is right in front of my parents home in Newfoundland.

THIS was acutally Christmas Day 2004. I know it's had to believe, with the lack of snow and all. But it's true.
The water is a part o Trinity Bay, which is a part of the Atlantic Ocean.

A very cold part of the Atlantic Ocean.

Anyway, that's it. It's small and quaint.

And it's home.

Grace,

Des 

New Life

Ok, so it's no baby. But I've started growing some plants again. I used to grow a lot of plants. This is my first attempt to get back at it. It's much harder when you're in an apartment building.

But . . . I'll make it work.

This, by the way, is Basil.

Grace,

Des 

Enjoyment

I really like playing my bass.

No . . . I mean REALLY. I really like playing it.

I don't do it enough.

But I did it tonight.

Grace,

Des

Another Another Angle

This is a continuation of the last post . . . please see the anonymous comment from "Another Angle" just below.

Firstly, let me say that I don't speak for The Salvation Army. I don't have much information on their beliefs. There is a Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, which I don't, at the moment, have a copy of. You can find it online at THIS LINK. That will have the most detailed official info about the 11 Salvation Army doctrines.

Now, as for the issue of predestination . . .

I don't think Lorne was insinuating that our days are already planned out for us and as much as we want to act independant, everything goes just according to plan. In terms of human "plans," I don't think there is much that goes according to God's "plan."

Personally, I believe in complete free will. I choose to act in such a way that I determine to be best. God, for sake of this discussion, simply observes . . . I guess in a way, grades us.

Just today I was reading about the Rich Young Ruler . . . basically a rich man that asks Jesus what he has to do to get eternal life. It's found in Matthew 19.

Jesus response is two-fold . . . his response to getting eternal life is simply to follow the commandments. Now, there is more to consider . . . this man is a Jew, and Jesus has not yet been crucified (i.e. This man couldn't claim Jesus sacrifice to get eternal life, because it hadn't happened yet). Either way . . . it was a simple "To get this, do this." Response.

When the man questions further, Jesus says something very interesting . . .

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

There is obviously more beyond simply receiving eternal life. It seems to me that you can do enough to "just get by" or, for the truly motivated, there is more that we can do to further serve God. I hate to use the grading analogy . . . but there it is.

So . . . back to Lorne's comments. I think Lorne's thinking was more along the lines of "if you want to be perfect" than anything else. If you will, as a pastor, he had my eternal best interests in mind.

Hopefully this makes sense. It does to me, but obviously I can get inside my own head. There's also much more to this than one passage of scripture as well, but I think it makes the point fairly well.

Grace,

Des

Another Angle

I posted a comment on a friends blog a few days ago, and thought that I would share it here too. When I started at university I had to move away from from home. Not far . . . just about a one hour drive. In any case, it involved a move and, therefore, new friends, new church, new environment, etc.

After just a couple of weeks, one of the churches I had been attending had a welcome dinner for college students following one of the services. Major Lorne Pritchett was the Corps Officer at the time and we got chatting sometime during the meal.

He gave me a piece of advice that has not left me since. I've moved, in some degree, several times since that first year of universtity. But he told me:

"You're not in [university] to go to school. You're here because God has something for you to do in here, and university is just the way that He's arranged to have you here."

I've never forgotten that. It has been at the forefront of my mind with every move, with every change really, that my life has experience since then. It's good advice.

So wherever you find yourself, God has something for you to do.

Grace,

Des

Come Together

I'm becoming discouraged.

I am a Salvationist and I am becoming discouraged.

Our army is becoming fragmented and we're taking to a kind of guerilla warfare. Every soldier has their own agenda. We don't have a unified front. We don't use the same ammo. We don't even share a common target. You shoot at me, I shoot at you: some shots hit the enemy, some shots hit ourselves. And it's doing us in.

I live in the present. I respect the past, and plan for the future, but I live in the present.

I've read blog posts, I've heard rants. I've been told that I should be shouting Jesus' Gospel from the rooftops in a annoying but supposedly effective style of evangelism. I've been told that, "What this corps needs is a Junior Band!" I've heard primitives call out traditional. I've heard traditionals rant against the NEOs. I've heard how we should be friends to all mankind and how we should not be friends with all of mankind.

Wading through all of the interpretations and thoughts and orders and regulations is not unlike taking a dip in the middle of the Everglades on a nice sunny afternoon. It sure is refreshing in the moment, but then you get eaten by a 'gator . . .

What strikes me as interesting is that while all of this "discussion" goes on - though it often does not have that much civility - the other 90% are going about our business, carrying on our civilian and our military duties. I've never fought in a "human" war, but I bet it would be hard to do if there were 8 different commands at any given time - some from military leaders, some from a militant uprising from within the corps, some from the veteran soldiers, some from the rookies.

soldiers, be strong and courageous. Continue to advance, as you have been, into enemy territory (middle class neighbourhoods, shopping centers, Africa, urban America, Waynesville, London's East Side, London's West Side, Buckinham Palace, etc). This infighting will not last forever.

There is a place for the front-line soldiers. Their valiance and sacrifice cannot be topped. There is a place for the administrator. Their careful planning and budgeting can determine the outcome of the war. There is a place for support staff. Tanks need Fuel and Ammo. There is a place for covert ops. We may never know how much is done out of the bright lights. Yes, there is even a place for the military bandsman. Doesn't Bush even have his own band? The President's Own?

Being a soldier, engaged in a battle, means more than you may think.

Grace,

Des

This Post Really Sucks

According to Mental Floss Magazine, the United Nations Economic Commission estimated in 2003 that sales of vacuum-cleaning robots wouldn't reach 400,000 units until 2006. Well, it turns out that the iRobot Roomba vacuum had announced that it sold it's one millionth unit just over a year later in 2004.

Now, that begs one very important question.

What on Earth is the United Nations doing discussing robot vacuum cleaner sales?

SURELY, there are more important things to be discussing at THAT level of global leadership. The last time I checked millions of people were dying of preventable causes all around the world. The lsast time I checked millions of tons of food COULD be distributed to starving families in some of the poorest countries. There are still wars. There are still horrific disasters.

And the UN is discussing vacuum cleaners?

That really does suck.

Grace,

Des

Pictures of a New Baby!

Kristy has been very excited about posting pictures of Caden Robert Stock - the newest Stock. He is a cutie. See him at Kristy's Blog.

Grace,

Des

It Only Gets Better

So, tonight at the coffee house in Waynesville, Chuck and I performed. I didn't even know he could sing. But he can. And he writes. He gave me a couple of his old notebooks that he's written poetry and stuff in. It's pretty amazing. After he started singing, I grabbed my bass and we rocked it old school.

In a way.

In a completely different way, we didn't rock anything. But it was definitely fun.

We played pool too. 3 Games. I beat him LEGIT in one of them. He MAY have let me - I don't think I'll ever know.

Anywho . . . it was fun.

And it keeps getting fun-er.

Chuck is a much better writer than I. He beats me at pool and he writes better than I do. Hmmmmm.

Grace,

Des

Another New Design

Well, as you can see, I've been working hard to redesign how my blog looks. I think this is my favorite so far. This is what I do when I can't sleep.

Anywho, I'll have to get to working putting a link to everyone's blog back up - and a few of the other things that I've had going on over there . . . but that will come.

Right now, I think it may be time for bed.

Grace,

Des