I have started a new website Practical Courtship! The goal of the website is to help make courtship work. So in a way it is a critique of courtship but it is also a guide. So far, it has received a fair bit of traffic and a ton of great comments. I encourage you to come by and check it out. Leave a comment and join the conversation.

Also, let me know if you are interested in writing an article for the site.

Here are some of the recent courtship posts:

• Does Courtship Work?
• Courtship & Predestination
• Courtship Definitions
• 7 Reasons Men Wait to Get Married
• Leaving is Hard to Do

There are a lot more to come.

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Every election cycle people ask me who I support for for various positions. I haven’t decidided on many of the offices yet but one Gov has one clear choice: Rick Perry. I have met him several times and while we don’t agree on everything one thing is for sure: he is Pro-Life and Pro Homeschooling and Pro Technology. Unlike the pretend republicans (cough Key Bailout Hutchison cough) running against him.

Perry is one of the few conservatives who “gets” Twitter. He doesn’t just outsource it to young staffers. He uses it well and other technologies too. If we want to continue to thrive as a state we need leaders who are forward thinking without compromising their principles. I am thankful to have a governor with such a rare and special mix.

Perry is not a perfect candidate but he is by far the best pick. The perfect candidate does not exist so if you hold off for perfection you will never accomplish anything.

Kay Bailout Hutchison

Kay Bailout is a Pro-Choice and Big Government Rino (Republican in Name Only).

• She talks like she’s fiscally conservative but she’s not.
• She talks like she’s pro life, but she’s not.
• She brings home as much bacon for Texas as she can. Which might seem nice for Texas but it is bad for America. Pork for us is still pork and pork is bad. I am glad she is running for Governor but only because it will bring her home from Washington.

Debra Medina is another conservative running but she lacks the experience to do a good job. You must be faithful in little before you can be given more and she has yet to serve even as a State Representative. Perry has the experience and is clearly the best person for the job.

I would like to ask you to support Perry. I’m not just asking for your vote. I’m asking you for $5. Below is a form where you can contribute to his campaign. If I raise the most money I get to have lunch with him which would be cool. But raising money for him is a win for Texas even if I don’t win this competition.

Most of you have probably never contributed to a campaign before. This is a great time to start. $5 is not a lot of money but it can add up when we all pitch in.

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At Patriot Academy this year I gave a talk about how technology has changed the world. While everything has changed, nothing is new under the sun. Everything that is has been before. By studying the past we can predict the future even when it comes to social media. Here are the slides for the talk. I’m sorry if they don’t make much sense if you missed the talk.

Slides

Twitter Tips

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One of my favorite things in the world is teaching. Now I (sometimes) get paid to do something I love.  If you would like to learn how to use Twitter better you are invited to come hear me speak. I’m just getting started as a professional speaker and so many of my classes are still free.

I have also added an upcoming speaking events widget to the sidebar.

Upcoming Classes:

• July 27, 2009
  • Introduction to Wordpress (If you ever wanted to learn how to use wordpress better come to this free class)
    
• July 29, 2009
  • How to Use Twitter Class (this class costs $35 and comes with a free lunch. Download Flier)
• July 30, 2009
  • Tech Talk With Rick Green on KLGO (tune into 98.5 or 99,3fm or listen on KLGO.net)
    
• August 4, 2009
  • New Media and Politics (only for Patriot Academy Students)
    
• August 6, 2009
  • Tech Talk With Rick Green on KLGO (tune into 98.5 or 99,3fm or listen on KLGO.net)
• August 13, 2009
  • Tech Talk With Rick Green on KLGO (tune into 98.5 or 99,3fm or listen on KLGO.net)
• August 20, 2009
  • Tech Talk With Rick Green on KLGO (tune into 98.5 or 99,3fm or listen on KLGO.net)
• August 27, 2009
  • Tech Talk With Rick Green on KLGO (tune into 98.5 or 99,3fm or listen on KLGO.net)
• September 11-12, 2009
  • NTCW Writers Conference (I’ll give a very short talk at this conference and then give 15 minute consultations)
    

Speaker Packet

• View my Speaker Packet.

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Some explanation is in order. No, I did not go on a date last night. No, I did not have yet another awkward encounter with a woman. But there is a story here and an interesting conclusion.

The tweet was the result of three completely unrelated things blending in my mind.

Thing 1: Barrack Obama

There has been a lot of chatter online about this photo of Obama at the G8 summit.

In light of the chatter, I have been thinking about how men ought to look at women. And, how they ought not look at women. The base forces of nature seem to war with the moral law. The specific social rules seem to vary by community. What is appropriate?

Thing 2: Girl in Parking Garage

As I left the apple store yesterday, I walked to my car in the parking garage. A young woman drove past me and as we made eye contact she unconsciously whisked her hair behind her ear. I wondered why she would do that, at that moment.

Thing 3: James Bond

Yesterday my family watched Quantum of Solice. So, as I walked through the parking garage, the movie swam through my mind.

In the movie, James Bond’s credit card gets denied at an airport. He looks deeply into the eyes of the lady at the counter who denied him the charge… and she melts. He asks “in a few moments you will get a call. Tell them I’m going to Cairo.” She smiles at him and he walks away.

Why would she melt? Why is this scene believable? Why can’t I do that?

I started adding up all the differences between me and James Bond. It was a depressing 30 minutes. Then I started eliminating the things James didn’t have to help him at the counter.

He had no gadgets, no money and no bad guys to beat up. But he still had one thing: His striking good looks and crystal blue eyes. If he had been ugly and peered into her eyes she would have looked away disgusted. I know. But James didn’t get disgust. He got permission. The woman gave him permission to look into her eyes because she wanted to look back into his.

The only difference between Bozo and Bond is permission.

So What?

You girls who are probably saying. “I could have told you that!” I know. Several of you already have on Twitter and Facebook. But to me this is a profound truth and I feel it applies to much more than just guy/girl relationships.

Gospel Permission

There is a Gospel application here. Before we can talk to someone about their soul we need their permission. Otherwise they won’t listen. Permission does not need to take long. Permission just takes tact. I find that tracts and humor can help break the ice.

But how did Jesus get permission? He healed people, raised the dead and offered hope. But, he had also something more. He could look into a man’s eyes, say “follow me” and the man would. Permission is power. Jesus’ power is supernatural. If we want permission that goes beyond gimmicks like tracts and treasure lists we need supernatural power too.

Business Permission

I have given Amazon permission to email me book recommendations. The emails are relevant because Amazon knows about the books I buy. If Barns & Noble were to send me an email recommending the same books I would spam it. Why? Because, Barns & Noble doesn’t have my permission to talk to me. They haven’t earned it.

If you want to grow your business you need to stop thinking of ways to spam people and start thinking of ways to earn their permission. Twitter is a good way to learn this skill. It doesn’t take much permission to send 140 characters once every other day.

Political Permission

The more I get around the more a realize that most people actually do care about politics. They just don’t care to hear about my politics. This is an important distinction. It is easy to write people off as complacent when I really just lack permission. Are people apathetic or do they just distrust both parties? A political party needs permission before it can have discourse. It must have discourse before it can sway opinion. It must sway opinion before it can win elections.

How do you get permission to influence someone’s political views?

I’m not sure. Striking good looks don’t hurt. Why else would Hollywood celebrates and Ann Coulter get such power? Humor seems to work too. I’m not sure what the answers are here. I know I often get into a political conversations on Facebook after sharing a link to a political YouTube video. What do you think?

Take Aways

• Permission is more valuable than money.
• Money can’t buy love, but permission is an ingredient to love.
• Money can buy spam, but spam can’t build a relationship between you and your customer.
• Money can’t buy votes, but permission can get attention and attention can change minds.

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This robot goes with the new website I started to help people use technology to advance the kingdom. It’s targeted at Authors but the tips will be helpful to you as well. Do you have a question about some tech topic? This is the place to ask it.

Recent Tech Tips:

1. 5 Tips for Getting The Most Out of Twitter
2. What is a Podcast?
3. How to Get Twitter on Your Phone
4. The Best Way to Track Site Statistics
5. How to Get Your Avatar to Show Up Everywhere
6. Does Your Website Pass the Radio Test?
7. 8 Quick Search Engine Optimization Tips
8. How to Get Twitter to Update Your Facebook Status

If you help get the word out about the site I would appreciate it.

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Instead of telling you about the computer work I did in Scotland, let me tell you about the adventure I had at Dunnottar Castle. It began when Jessica Heaton, an old friend from Belton, offered to take me on a Castle tour. She purchased a car the day before and this was her first day to drive on the backward Scottish roads.

Instead of driving up to the castle we drove to Stonehaven where we could see the castle in the distance. At the top of a massive hill we saw a small stone building with pillars all about. We decided to visit the the building of pillars first. As we left the car we saw a path above us on a high hill and a bridge before us that appeared to lead up to this path.

The bridge was a foul deception and led to the bottom of a steep cliff upon which was no trail made by the hand of men. The only way up lay in a long journey back through Stonehaven to the true source of the path. Undaunted by the high of the hill, I suggested we ascend it, rather than retrace our steeps which I was fain to do for we were in want of time.

At first Jessica hesitated and bid me scale the hill and bring tidings as to whether the accent may be attained by the gentler sex. As I climbed the hill I found the way fair and summoned Jessica to join me. Upon reaching the crest of the hill we were greeted by a a sign with dark tidings.

The sign forbade the climbing of the cliffs and issued a curse on all who attempted the perilous path. Leave it to the Scots to put such a sign a the TOP of a cliff and not the bottom.

At the top of the hill a fair air and a crisp breeze greeted us. As we looked upon the ocean we could not tell when the waters ended and the sky began. All was but a sea of blue above and and the sea of blue below.

Upon reaching the pillared mound we saw that it was a memorial to great warriors who had fallen in ancient war. We marked that the placed seemed used more frequently for weddings than for mourning. The ping of grief had faded into shadow in the memories of the people.

We continued on as we could see Dunnottar Castle in the distance. It looked as if it floated over an ocean of sky and not of water.

Upon reaching the castle we found the gate locked and the wall high. A gloom came over me for the great iron eagle was to summon me to the far away land of California on the marrow and my only chance to see the castle lay dashed before my eyes.

Un deterred I attempted to scale the wall. Though covered in chain fencing the way was to hard for me for my feet were to big to hold to the fence.

Then we happened upon a hole in the cliff that led away to a different place. I was sucked in by a yearning to scale the castle if only I could find a way.

The cave led us to the far side of the castle beyond which was a bay filled with seagulls. When I gazed upon the castle I saw that it stood above high cliffs.  I saw that the cliffs could be scaled.

I set in my heart to gain entrance. Jessica the wise knew not to dissuade me for the nagging feminine voice of caution is never regarded and often encourages fool hearty actions. She resorted to filming my ascent until she turned off the camera in fear that she might record my doom.

At first the way was easy. But as I climbed higher I was obliged to work my way across the cliff. Soon I hung above a high drop. Several times my hand holds gave way sending earth and stone echoing down into the rocky foam below. But I refused to turn back and be denied entrance to this ancient citadel.

At last I crested the final wall. There at the top of the cliff stood a sign forbidding anyone to climb these slopes. Crazy Scots.

Before me lay Dunnottar Castle in all its glory. As I started to explore the castle I turned a corner and hear a mans voice.

“Hello?”

“Hi” I replied

There sat two men. One with a weed eater and another with clippers. They looked at me with wide eyes. Was this a castle ghost?

“How did you get in?” The man with the clippers asked.

“I climbed.” They both stared at me not saying a word. “Does that happen often?” I asked.

“No.” The man said. He was still surprised but this ghost had an American accent so he must not be so bad.

“My plane leaves for America tomorrow and I wanted to see a castle before I left. Would it be ok if I looked around a bit? The men looked at each other and then shrugged.

“Come get me when you want to get out.” The man said. “I’ll let you go out the door.”

“Thank you!” My heart swelled with gratitude for these kindly Scots.

Photos could not capture the majesty of the place. So I prepared this video.

When it was time to leave the man picked up a massive key from a shed and let me out the main door.

Jessica before the cliffs.

As we left the castle the clouds parted and a clear sun caused the sea to shine with green life.

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Natasha Thomas & Olga Cantrell playing with weird camera poses.

• Russian is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world.
• Never under any circumstances walk in a Russian home with your shoes on. Even if they say you can don’t.
• Russian homes are warmer than my house in Belton. All that talk about how cold it is here is hype.
• Russian buildings are heated by warm water that flows through radiators in each room. The closer you are to a hot water station the warmer your house is. There is no thermostat or central air but the temperature always seems to be just right or to warm.
• Unlike in the movies, most Russians don’t speak English. But they do have fun accents like in the movies.
• More Russians speak Spanish than you might think.
• Russian have fun accents in Spanish too.
• The answer to icy roads in Russia is dirt. They cover the roads with dirt. Dirt + melted snow + car oil = slime. Slime is covers everything during the winter.
• Walking around St. Petersburg is a blast.
• Walking around St. Petersburg in new shoes = pain + blast.
• Playing tag with orphans while wearing new shoes is proof that you can have fun and hurt at the same time.
• Serving God sometimes means doing menial tasks that no one notices that are often criticized.
• Some of the coolest Christians work way behind the scenes.
• When a Russian asks you if you would like tea what he is she is really asking is would you like to talk. Tea is holds you to the table for the conversation. Tea is a Russian social lubricant.

A box of Russian Tracts. Many of these tracts are testemonies of the people who go to Street Cry.

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Here I am in front of a 3000 year old Sphinx. This statue sits on the site of a road and gets frosty in the winter. Those Egyptians knew how to build things to last!

Lucy, Philly, Ana and Olga admire a wall painting at the Winter Palace.

Here is a great example of the majestic beauty of St. Petersburg. The lady standing at the base of the right statue lived with us in the States for several months. Those are her daughters with her.

Gosha and Natasha put up signs advertising for an evangelistic concert Street Cry is putting on. There were several people at church the next Sunday who had come to Christ at the concert.

Here I am eating dinner at a Russian family home. Think of it as a micro orphanage. It only has 4 boys and 4 girls. Like a foster home it is much better for children than a traditional orphanage. The kids loved my beat boxing.

Thomas, Anna and Jenya at St. Isaacs. Natasha likes taking off center photos like this.

Sasha, Thomas, Natasha, Jenya and Philly. I'm the only American in the photo. Everyone else is Russian except Philly (far right) who is English. The children are orphans from the family home.

This is a Russian Datcha (summer home). It's not much of a place to live in the winter but it is pretty none the less.

As cool as this hat may be my Russian friends tell me only old men wear them. Oh well.

Books in a Russian Christian bookstore.

This is a battlefield from the Winter War between Finland and Russia. The Winter War kicked off WWII for Russia.

I named this statue the people's statue because its just a base. Anyone can pose to be immortalized on film.

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Two Russian orphans.

The biggest question I have received about my trip to Russia is “What is MIR?” No one has heard of it. To help answer that question I have put together the following video.

While in Russia I helped:

• Setup a several new computers
• Setup a new secure email system
• Demoed the XO Laptop to orphanage directors (yes yes a post on XO Laptops is coming)
• Secure the network.
• Increase the network speed.
• Setup auto backup.
• Trouble shot numerous computer related issues
• Setup StoneworksInternational.com
• Setup Mir’s new website  (still a work in progress)
• Tech training on how to process email more efficiently.
• Training on how to use a Mac
• Shot video footage for the Mir Video.
• Setup a website for Street Cry (still a work in progress)
• Edited the Mir Video.
• Passed out tracts with the folks from StreetCry

I also drank a lot of tea at the Cantrell’s with my Russian Family and explored a winter war battlefield.

Here I am filming an orphanage director. Her orphanage is interested in joining the XO-Laptop program. They are also involved in MIR's hosting program.

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