ShelbyLife

We, The People

ShelbyLife — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:13 +0000

We the People on the Internet, in order to form more perfect websites, establish Internet justice, insure realistic tranquility, provide for e-commerce, promote the general Wordpress, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this List of Wordpress Based websites.

to the Postmaster of

ShelbyLife — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:55:51 +0000

Now the USPS requires ‘Address Service’ on all bulk mailings. Address Service is a service where all mail pieces with undeliverable or forwarding address will be returned to the mailer to update the address. This service charges $0.50 for each returned mail piece.

So, I’m updating a huge stack of address.

And reanalyzing CAG’s address / phone updating strategy.

1) adding ShelbyLife.calvarydover.org/InfoUpdate to Pathway
2) InfoUpdate cards at Help Center

CAM09C
Postcards

TGV09
updating referral organizations info

CEM
A) CAM roster

Hercules Hook

ShelbyLife — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:31:45 +0000

Our staff coat rack has been pilfered again by the Creative Arts Ministry for the Christmas Production. Since the coat rack seems to be so important to their productions, I thought they might be able to find it in their budget to buy us a box of these…

and they can keep the coat rack.

***
removed new ACM from NCF invite list.

bulk mailings are becoming an issue as they now charge $.44 to return any undeliverables. the question now is what to do instead of bulk mailings and how to insure accurate addresses.
1) class rosters
2) pew callers – accuracy comes from promoting signing in

Blogs in Action

ShelbyLife — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:23:44 +0000

Today is Blog Action Day

I believe in the power of the Internet to leverage change.
I believe God created the Earth and all its resources for humans to use.
I believe in being a good steward of those resources.

How can my inspiration for a Eco-themed Blog Action Day not be The Lorax

The World will go about its business, changes will not be implemented, things will be done the way the are always done, ‘Unless’.

Unless someone thinks differently.
Unless someone speaks up.
Unless someone starts a change.

Be that someone in regards to the environment.

the Suitcase and the Plan

ShelbyLife — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:59:31 +0000

weeks 3 & 4 of Men’s Fraternity

a big emphasis in Men’s Fraternity is planning. Men usually plan in business, vacations, even tailgating, but don’t seem to plan in their lives. As members of Men’s Fraternity, we are expected to write a Manhood Plan to share with our brother in the group. The plan helps you analyze your life and has you create action steps to resolve any issues.

The first step in creating the Manhood Plan is looking back at your past.

Our past is very important to who we have become. If we look at our lives carefully, each of us has used moments in our lives to define who we are. We have either purposefully emulated or opposed characteristics of people in our lives.

Looking back must include “Unpacking” the suitcase of wounds most men carry around.

The Five Wound men must deal w/ (bold items directly from Men’s Fraternity workbook)

The Absent Father Wound
physically and emotionally

The Overly Bonded with Mother Wound
sees the shadow of his mother in all women in his life. becomes scared or controlled my women.

The All Alone Wound
won’t deal w/ circumstances. hides emotionally

The Lack of a Manhood Vision Wound

The Heart Wound
the innate desire to not do what we should, and to do what we shouldn’t

We must look back and “unpack” before we can analyze where we are now and see where want to go w/ our lives.

a King, a Cowboy, and Sam Walton

ShelbyLife — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:55:02 +0000

in week 2 of Men’s Fraternity, we discovered the 4 Faces of Manhood. Men need to strengthen each face, but also learn how to balance them together. Each face also has 2 alternate identities, that appear if that face is too weak or strong in the life of a man.

the King – Righteous Energy
Proverbs 4:18 & Proverbs 20:7

the King is characterized by Strong Convictions, Courageous Moral Choices, and Righteous Leadership.

He chooses right over convenience. He cultivates his morality. His choices affect the strength and weakness of the other faces.

Each bad decision though weakens the strength of the King. His decision making ability is deteriorated by repeated bad moral choices. With each bad choice, he is less trusted and less eager to make the right choice.

the King’s alternate identities:
too weak – Abdicator
too strong – Tyrant

the Warrior – Conquering Energy
I Timothy 6:11-12

the Warrior is characterized by Initiative, Persevering, and Fighting.

He is a starter and finisher; a go-getter. He is idolized in movies and culture such as Gladiator, Sam Walton, & James Bond.

He steps on and over people to get to the top. His work-aholic attitude leaves his friends and family aside.

the Warrior’s alternate identities:
too weak – Wimp
too strong – Destroyer

the Lover – Romantic Energy
Ephesians 5:25

the Lover is characterized by Tenderness, Sacrificial Care, and Physical Affection.

He knows how to identify with his spouse. He grows closer to his spouse each day. He learns her and desires her.

If he lets his guard down, his romantic energy is misdirected.

the Lover’s alternate identities:
too weak – Cold
too strong – Critical

the Friend – Connecting Energy
Proverbs 17:17 & Proverbs 27:17

the Friend is characterized by Loyalty, Accountability, & Fun.

He tells it like it is to save other men. A Friend will assist other men in cultivating their King.

Culture enforces the myth that men don’t need friends. The ultimate loner, the cowboy, thinks he can survive by himself, but he has no one to watch his back.

the Friend’s alternate identities:
too weak – Loner
too strong – User

When did you become a Man?

ShelbyLife — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:02:16 +0000

You can find many examples in the Bible of men taking charge, fighting battles, and being great servants. Being men we all wish we could be.

But society has distorted the definition of a man. The view one finds on television and movies is men are only good for watching television, blowing things up, and oogling females.

Growing up in a society that has weakened what it is to be man, did you have a definition of becoming a man? What rite of passage was it for you?

…first paycheck, becoming a father, becoming a Christian, drinking your first beer, joining the Varsity squad, cell phone, drivers license…

I attended my first Men’s Fraternity meeting on Tuesday.

Men’s Fraternity provides men with an encouraging process that teaches them how to live lives of authentic manhood as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the Word of God.

The next few sessions will concentrate on defining manhood by discussing Genesis 1-3.

During Men’s Fraternity, we will define manhood in general, define our own manhood, and write a manhood plan for our lives. We will learn how and why God created men to be the head of the house. We will discuss our issues and find our we are not alone. We will bond, learn, and encourage each other in the fraternity of men!

My group meets @6A every Tuesday at Calvary Assembly of God.
Consider joining us on the quest for authentic manhood!

At what age do you give a child a cell phone?

ShelbyLife — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:34:23 +0000

I just finished updating the Solid Rock (Teen) Ministries info. Entered emails, some new USPS address, and lots of new cell phone numbers. I’ve debated before about adding cell phone numbers to children in a family. If a child wrote down a cell number, I’d first check the Head of House, if there wasn’t a cell there, I would add it for the HoH. A lot of times, the cell number the child wrote down was already listed as the HoH’s cell. And then sometimes it depended on age if I would add it to child. But all that got to be too much. Now if anyone writes down a cell number, I just add it to their file.

So, now I have to figure out – ‘At what age do you give a child an email address?’

I feel like Terry Francona

ShelbyLife — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:50:22 +0000

No, I haven’t lead the Red Sox to an 8-0 record in World Series games.
It’s been cool enough in the office that I’ve been wearing a Phillies sweatshirt around the office for the past couple weeks.

I feel like Francona in that I’m still wearing my regulation work clothes under the sweatshirt.
Except nobody has asked to inspect my uniform.

***
MCR mailing

Moving individuals to prospects & misc

new fall 2009 classes

computer security – now doing this on thursdays

may attend DC CITRT on Oct 27. Learn More

Reading Double Feature

ShelbyLife — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:38:28 +0000

I finally finished President Nixon: Alone in the White House. And have started some new books.

From Hiroshima to Glasnost

About – This book follows the career of Paul Nitze. In his 40+ year DC career, Nitze held positions of power in defense, economic, and strategic policy making. He traveled the globe to analysis the causes and effects of US affairs. His analysis and predictions greatly affected Presidential decision making, US policy, and continue to affects the state of World affairs today.

Notes – Never heard of Paul Nitze before seeing this book. Currently I’m sixty pages into it and already this guy has changed the world. Not only political and economic analysis, but very philosophical too. Very interesting.

The Secret Message of Jesus

About – Jesus’ message wasn’t about ‘get saved’ and wait to get to Heaven when you die. Jesus left heaven and became fully a man, yet also was fully God. He preached a message of repentance. He preached a message of revolution. He preached a message ‘hidden’ in parables and miracles. McLaren explores this message in its Jewish context and why the ’secret message’ of Jesus is worth searching for.

Notes – Haven’t read any Brian McLaren before reading this book either, but had heard of him. Not 100% in favor of writing style, but I like the book and agree w/ the message.