Cool Pen Trick

So I’m sitting in an orientation meeting as a new hire at Best Buy. I look over and one of the guys who also just got hired is doing what is in this video.

It was during down time and when he noticed that I was fixated on what he was doing he thought it was because I thought it was weird.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Cats try to win over the Cat hating crowd

Cats have always been despised by most sane people. They are stinky and have no affection for anything but themselves and there catnip. They are a menace and as the old saying goes “cats don’t have owners, they have staff.”

Because of this many of us have developed a strong distaste for the feline variety of house pets. We ourselves have come up with sayings like “I love cats, they taste like chicken” and extreme bumper stickers like “Missing your cat? Check my under my tire.”

Cats have been paying attention. They are not happy with there approval ratings. So as an attempt they win the cat hating crowd over they have developed ninja skills. Yes, ninja skills.

This is a smart move by cats if it catches on. If every cat becomes useful by serving there masters with there newly developed ninja skills then perhaps they will win us over. Watch the video and decide for yourself.

Lab Coats, Beakers, and What's Up with Uganda

What’s Up With the Serious Lack of Posts

I have given up on recording my experience in Uganda. It was a very growing time for me but I have not been on top of getting things written down as much as I would like too. I will be talking about my experiences in Uganda from time to time but for now they are taking an indefinite pause.

What to Expect in the Future

I am embarking on an experiment. For the next two weeks I’m planning on posting something every work day. It will range goings on in my life to observation about relevant and irrelevant topics. One day I could have link to a Youtube video, the next an entire thesis on why conservative principles are good for our economy. One thing is for sure it will fall under the umbrella of “My Life Lately.”

The purpose of this experiment is to see if I can do it. I will have some days busier than others, so will I have the foresight to plan for it. What will I do when I just don’t want to post anything and how will I react. You will be able to witness my endeavor to be a little more disciplined and diligent simply for discipline and diligent sake all for purpose of bringing you something interesting to read.

So sit back, relax, grab popcorn and see what happens. I could fail miserably. I could succeed. I could end up somewhere in between. And you get a front row seat to it all. Boy, you’re a lucky bean.

A Day in Uganda

My Life Lately

Hello everyone I just got back from spending a week in Boone for an AG Youth camp. It was amazing, the kid’s were amazing, and the pretzels were really amazing. Being at the camp made it hard to work on the second installment of my Adventures in Africa; I apologies for not thinking ahead far enough to prepare one before left. With out any further wordy introduction…here is day one in Uganda.

Adventures in Africa: Day one in Uganda

The Entebbe Airport was small but very clean, gray and reminded me more a multi purpose office building rather than an airport. After going through immigration (I was the first one, just FYI) we waited for our luggage to be unloaded. We spent a while rummaging through the suitcases and boxes looking for our backpacks and boxes of medical supplies. Of course there were a couple of people looking for there luggage longer than others. Ronnie, KK, Josiah, and Joe soon began to realize that there backpacks were not in Uganda with them. After filling out the correct forms with the correct lost-luggage people, we went outside baggage claim to meet the Dr. Larry who was leading the team of doctors we were going to work with. He had brought with him two drivers and two buses, one of which we loaded our luggage and the other ourselves. For the first time we were going to see this country of Uganda we had been preparing to visit for so long.

Our first destination was Kampala to exchange money and get supplies. To get there we had to travel about an hour and 30 minutes on the bus together. One of our team members said that the road to Kampala looked a lot like Brazil. It was very green and lush with jungle like vegetation. There were shops all over the road and almost all of them displayed some sort of Coke sign. Kampala was very developed and very urban. The orphanage we were working in was in a suburb of Kampala called Ceeta (I’m not sure if I am spelling that right) about a 30 minute drive from down town Kampala. We had to take a pretty rough road with pot holes the size of hippos and only one lane to accommodate all traffic.

When we drove up to the orphanage we were very welcomed by the doctors and translators that were already there. The many of the translators and house moms started unloading our packs and supplies for us before we even started. Feeling weird to be served like this, some of us guys politely inserted ourselves into the train of people carrying the luggage. Once that was done we started helping the team tie up mosquito nets around the beds.

We got about three houses done when we decided to call it for the day and get to know the kids. Some of us were throwing (or kicking) balls around, some were playing ring-around-the-rosy type games while others of us had no idea what we were doing and just tried to look like we were spending time with the kids. Something I wasn’t expecting what happened next. A group of about nine kids started to sing songs right there. One of the kids was leading the songs and everyone else followed. In a couple of minutes every orphan was joining in this time of worship. No PA, no instrument, just voices clapping, dancing and drums. I had never experienced anything like it.

My Life Lately

Hello one and all. This is Jed, finally bloging after some much needed rest and relaxation. Many of you know that April, May and June was a whirlwind for me with school, missions prep and figuring out what I was going to do this summer. Now that things have leveled off I am hoping that my bloging schedule will become regular once again.

Africa
I went to Uganda as a part of the New Life School of Worship which went under the umbrella of The Mill Missions (The Mill is New Life’s 20s ministry). There were 21 of us with the School of Worship (SOW) and over 200 sent with The Mill all over Africa. The Mill was sending about 25 teams of students and 20s all over Africa, from Egypt, Kenya and a lot of other places I just couldn’t keep track of. The two SOW teams were just one part of this endeavor so it felt like we were a part of a huge army invading Africa. Some of our missions were evangelistic in nature others were humanitarian, but all of us had the mission of creating more worshipers and spreading the love of Christ Jesus to a people who often feel over looked.

For us it started June 2nd, 2:00 pm Colorado time, at the World Prayer Center on the New Life Campus. Upon arriving I was bombarded by the students and there luggage crammed into the WPC courtyard, which for your information echoes like a cave. By 3:00 pm we had loaded up the buses, said good bye to friends and family (harder for some people more than others) and we were on our way to the Denver International Airport, about an hour and a half drive, give or take. Let me tell you getting two hundred people on a plane is an ordeal, and appropriate prelude to what this missions trip would be like. We waited about 2 hours to our luggage checked-in. If it wasn’t for hackisacks and the contorted positions you can make with your face while looking into a digital camera, I don’t know how we would have stayed sane.

The plane ride was smooth and comfortable with the exception of 10 minutes of turbulence right out of Denver. I always seem to break out into a cold sweat whenever I am in one of those situations, but fortunately for the people sitting next to me, there was no puking by my this time. After seeing “Jumper” on a five inch screen and a three hour nap we were at Heathrow London airport. This airport was like the sweet, hi-class mall; however, it lost its charm after a seven hour layover waiting for our flight to Kenya. There is something about the benches of airports, it’s as if they purposely make them uncomfortable so when you get on the plane you will be in the worst mood you can conjure. We flew Kenya Airways (“The Pride of Africa”) to Nairobi Airport where we had a two hour layover just enough to get checked in, brush our teeth and sit down for fifteen minutes before boarding the plane. On this plane I had a Coke and realized something, “Pop here taste amazing.” The view outside of the plane was equally astounding; we could see jungles, deserts with the signature African red dirt, and the Lake Victoria which was as beautiful as an ocean. Within an hour we began our adventures in Uganda.

Back from Africa, but not from the Springs

Hello one and all. I’m back from Africa and I would like to thank everyone for your prayers and support. Without you this trip wouldn’t have happened so thank you very much. I will be posting blog entries starting Monday with pictures and stories of the trip.

At the moment I am having a difficult time getting back to Iowa. I came back from Africa and noticed something a little fishy. Most likely it needs an alignment and some pins replaced, but I haven’t heard for sure. Hopefully it will be done soon and I will be able to see everyone from back home. See you all then.

Leaving for Uganda

I'm leaving for Uganda today. I'm tired and excited all at the same time. In theory, there will be a blog a http://www.themillonline.org/. Be checking for more updates and once I get back I will post stories and experiences.

I'm Going to Uganda

Uganda Update

I am going to Uganda. We had our 100% deadline last Friday and my team has reached it. Many thanks to our leadership, Matt Vogal and Becca Ham; and of course to all who have supported us both spiritually and financially (that’s you). The preparation for this trip has been such a growing experience so I am anticipating huge things when we get there.

Last Sunday we met with the doctors who we will be helping to administering aid. We took all sorts of supplies from medicine, clothes, to soccer balls and candy, and packed them into duffle bags to take on the airplanes. At that point it became very real to me. We were bringing basic things that I take for granted every day…because they don’t have it. We were going to give clothes to kids who didn’t have any. We would help give medical aid to orphans who only get it when people from other countries fly over and give it to them. For every object we put in a piece of luggage we are going to get give to a kid who may have never received such a gift. We circled around the pile of luggage we made and prayed over it. I didn’t say a thing. I didn’t even close my eyes. I just looked at it, finally realizing what kind of an impact we were going to make over there.

I am honored to be able to this. And I would just like to thank everyone who has sent me money, prayed or given me a word of encouragement. You are a very real participant in the very realrelief we are going to give in Uganda. Thank you.

The two white boxes are filled with $2000.00 worth of medicine.

The Glory of Chance

My Life Lately: Sharing the Stage with Lincoln Brewster

May 1st Lincoln Brewster played for “Illume,” a local church driven national day of prayer event that took place in Castle Rock. Three friends came with me, Ronnie, Gina, and Leigh on the forty minute trek to Castle Rock. We got there quite early and quite bored when we ran into a friend from the Mill. He was sporting an “Illume” T-shirt and told us they were giving out shirts beside the stage. Ronnie and Leigh were curious so they went to investigate and right before the concert started Ronnie hands me one of the shirts. Not really thinking about it I put it on. Lincoln was amazing both on guitar and as a worship leader. Toward the end he gave an invitation for people to accept Christ (about a hundred people raised there hands), and he encouraged the new believers to get with a “leader” and connect with a church. He started to describe the brown light-bulb shirts the leaders where wearing. He was at a lost to describe the shirts so he started to look around for someone he could bring on stage to model the shirts and he sees me. Of course, I am wearing the shirt and standing right in front of him. He asked me my name and had me come up on stage as an example of what a leader looked like. For about 30 seconds I shared a stage with Lincoln Brewster as told the new believers to go to people with the brown shirts like the one I was wearing. My friends have digital cameras for appendages and had been taking pictures all night, but somehow just didn’t even think to take a picture while I was on stage. What friends I have. I can’t help but think there was one person there who had a master list of all the leaders and looked at me on stage and thought to themselves “who is that person and how did they get a shirt.”

Playing for the Mill, Victory in Jesus, What a Great Looking Bunch

Playing at the Mill

Hello one and all. I had the privilege of playing electric guitar Friday at The Mill. Desperation was out of town so there was a lack of guitar players for Friday worship. I had expressed interest to Glenn about playing at the Mill so right before he started song writing class he told me he needed someone to play. Mitchell Shift led with Becca Ham. I’ll try to put up some pictures soon, but needless to say I loved it and hope to play again.

What God Has Been Showing Me

The whole idea of moving to another place in the country that I’ve never been before is a little scary. Yesterday, I came to the point where I said “God, I’m not going anywhere without you.” Everything I know and have experienced tells me if I go with him I’ll be more than fine. Yesterday I was holding on to that. Today in my devotions I read Psalms 108. David talks about how “with God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies,” despite surrounding danger. I don’t have tangible enemies, but I do have tangible challenges. I felt like God was telling me he will grant me victory, not just survival. I don’t know what that will look like yet, but I’ve gone from being hesitant to being excited.

Uganda Update

I’m trying to include pictures of our team time last Saturday. It really was a great time and I am very excited about how God will use us in Africa. Financially I am not doing as well as last time. I’m at $1770.00 when I should be at $2200.00. I’m not worried about it. God has a habit of providing. I would like to thank Paul and Cathy Strahan and Dan and Nancy Davis for there contributions. I am always touched when ever I find and envelope in the mail, so thank you very much for giving.

Spinning Brain, Back Packs of Unusual Weight

Last weekend was one of the busiest weekends of my life. It started Thursday when I had to be at New Life Church to meet with some musicians at 7:30 in the morning. We took the hour journey from Colorado Springs to Denver to lead worship at Colorado Christian University. The worship leaders where Quinn and the Becca Ham while I stuck to my normal shredding duties. After that I stuck around the New Life Worship offices to kill time before the all-worship-ministry-family night. Glenn asked me to fill in on acoustic at the last minute which gave me the opportunity to finally play with Matthew Fallintine lead by Brad Parsley.
The real whirlwind started Friday during the first annual “Church Connect,” which is a chance for School of Worship Students to meet with pastors from all over the country who need worship leaders. From 10:30 am to 5:00 pm was nothing but interviews, conversation and the routines of answering the same questions over and over again. A couple hours later the Mill was rocking it as they always do, followed by an Africa Missions meeting which ended at 11:30.
This wouldn’t have been so bad if they we didn’t where not required to be at a “team-time” for Africa to help us bond and strengthen us for our missions trip. We all when to the Incline, which is a mile-and-a-half of stars at a very high altitude off of Pikes Peak. Our team leader, Matt Vogal, decided it wouldn’t be hard enough for us guys (the girls separated to hike Barr Trail) and had the great idea of putting a hundred fifty pounds of rocks in his back pack and for us all to take turns carrying up the Incline. I was just short of insane. Once we got half way up the back decided it had enough and both straps broke. After that I had to get my scheduled yellow fever shots and diarrhea medication.
This wouldn’t have been so bad if I didn’t have to be on the New Life campus at 7:00 the next morning for Children’s Church rehearsal. Every other week I play guitar for Children’s Church (3rd -6th grade) some how we always seem to have to arrive earlier for practice every month. It is always fun but at this point I am exhausted. Once church was over I went straight to bed for a four hour nap. My head is still spinning.

Solos, Sweat and Silliness

My Life Lately

Wednesday I had the privilege of seeing Lincoln Brewster in Castle Rock, a town a half an hour north of Colorado Springs. The show-held at The Rock Church-was both worshipful yet personable. Lincoln Brewster did just as much talking as he did singing making people feel like they really got to know him simply by being in the audience. Towards the middle of the set the band left and it was just him and an acoustic (a cedar top Larrivee, most likely an L model) and he would tell stories about his family and church and use them to lead into songs. The set list was splattered with guitar solos both in songs and in between songs. I think his appeal for Christian guitarists isn’t just his amazing ability but the validity he gives guitar in worship settings.

What God Has Been Showing Me

The Christian life seems to be filled with instant gratification versus long term reward. This is an interesting tension: one feels good now and feels awful later, the other feels awful now and feels great later. Let me give you an example, I am writing this blog when I really should be at the YMCA working out. Writing this just seems more enjoyable than going to the gym to see how fast I can run a mile and a half. I keep thinking of Hebrews 12:2 “…who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is the ultimate example of putting the greater future ahead of the mediocre now.

Here are three things I keep in mind to help me work toward long term reward rather than instant gratification:

1. Think about the reward of doing it rather than the consequence of not. I always seem to do better when I am motivated by something I want rather than what I’m afraid I’ll end up with.
2. The idea of doing it is always worse than actually doing it. I have noticed that I will think about how bad something is, like running, than when I actually do it I wonder why I made such a big deal about it.
3. Make time for rest. When I am reading a required and boring text I will take small breaks during the reading to check my facebook, play guitar, or challenge my computer to chess.


Uganda Update

What do you do if you want to minister to children you don’t understand? Be goofy. We just started practicing our dramas last Sunday and they serve the sole purpose of getting people stop what they are doing and laugh at us. The dramas are silly, pointless and a whole lot of fun. We are hoping to get footage of us performing them in Uganda so we can post them on blogs and social sites for everyone to see. Practicing these has really made this trip real for me. I really am going to a place where there are no showers to build a huge wall and get really sweaty. I can’t think of a better use of my time.

Solos, Sweat and Silliness

My Life Lately

Wednesday I had the privilege of seeing Lincoln Brewster in Castle Rock, a town a half an hour north of Colorado Springs. The show-held at The Rock Church-was both worshipful yet personable. Lincoln Brewster did just as much talking as he did singing making people feel like they really got to know him simply by being in the audience. Towards the middle of the set the band left and it was just him and an acoustic (a cedar top Larrivee, most likely an L model) and he would tell stories about his family and church and use them to lead into songs. The set list was splattered with guitar solos both in songs and in between songs. I think his appeal for Christian guitarists isn’t just his amazing ability but the validity he gives guitar in worship settings.

What God Has Been Showing Me

The Christian life seems to be filled with instant gratification versus long term reward. This is an interesting tension: one feels good now and feels awful later, the other feels awful now and feels great later. Let me give you an example, I am writing this blog when I really should be at the YMCA working out. Writing this just seems more enjoyable than going to the gym to see how fast I can run a mile and a half. I keep thinking of Hebrews 12:2 “…who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is the ultimate example of putting the greater future ahead of the mediocre now.

Here are three things I keep in mind to help me work toward long term reward rather than instant gratification:

1. Think about the reward of doing it rather than the consequence of not. I always seem to do better when I am motivated by something I want rather than what I’m afraid I’ll end up with.
2. The idea of doing it is always worse than actually doing it. I have noticed that I will think about how bad something is, like running, than when I actually do it I wonder why I made such a big deal about it.
3. Make time for rest. When I am reading a required and boring text I will take small breaks during the reading to check my facebook, play guitar, or challenge my computer to chess.


Uganda Update

What do you do if you want to minister to children you don’t understand? Be goofy. We just started practicing our dramas last Sunday and they serve the sole purpose of getting people stop what they are doing and laugh at us. The dramas are silly, pointless and a whole lot of fun. We are hoping to get footage of us performing them in Uganda so we can post them on blogs and social sites for everyone to see. Practicing these has really made this trip real for me. I really am going to a place where there are no showers to build a huge wall and get really sweaty. I can’t think of a better use of my time.

Weather, Worry and Wonder

My Life Lately

Colorado Springs is Colorado Springs. One of the weirdest things about this place is the weather. One day you can have snow with a high of 15 and two days later it is 65 without a cloud in the sky. This is a semi-regular occurrence that tends to happen once every two weeks. Furthermore, one day can be a schizophrenic as a month might be. It is not uncommon to have a morning of snow, an afternoon of sun (at which point the snow disappears) just to have the evening as cold as Simon Cowell's comments.

What God Has Been Showing Me

It is one thing to learn about faith and trust from the Bible or a preacher, but it is another to put it into practice. For the first time in my life I have no idea what is going to happen next year, where I will be going or what I will be doing exactly. This really bothered me and shook me up a bit. I think you know what I mean. You don't know what will be required of you, what sacrifices you will have to make. It a weird place to be in.

The scripture that has come to mind is one that many people are familiar with: Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Paul gives us a little formula: if we match our worries with consistent thankful prayer our lives will be dictated by His peace not our fears. It is normal to have things to worry about but not to keep them to ourselves. God wants us to tell him our worries and requests and when we do, He will move. For me, this means I am content to serve where ever God will have me serve.

Uganda Update

Let me just say that I am so excited to be able to go to Uganda. As soon as I heard about this trip I felt a sense of urgency about going, like if I didn't I would be missing out on something that would really change my life. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me; I have all of your notes of encouragement taped to my bedroom door so I see them every time I leave my room.

Money for Uganda is not a problem right now. I haven't seen the latest financial update yet but I'm probably at $1600.00-1700.00 which is right on schedule (even a little ahead). I owe special thanks to Richard and Diane Cleveland, David and Audrey Moon, and Bob and Julie Gibson. Your gifts were especially timely and arrived at a time when I was eligible to be cut from the team. Thank you so much.