I recently read a letter from Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion author) to his 10 year old daughter. It was interesting to me. In it he talks about how we know things. He talks about evidence and that without evidence nothing can be truly known. He tells her to be sceptical about anything that does not have evidence, and to be wary of "hunches" or things that just"feel right". It is quite a long letter, that I in no way believe was actually intended for his daughter, but in any case let me respond in kind, by writing my own letter to my own daughter.
To my Dearest Daughter,
Now that you are eleven, I want to write to you about something that is important to me. Have you ever wondered how we know the things that we know? How do we know, for instance, that the stars, which look like tiny pinpricks in the sky, are really huge balls of fire like the Sun and very far away? And how do we know that the Earth is a smaller ball whirling round one of those stars, the Sun?
The answer is science. So what does science say about how they came to be? Well they don't, at least they don't agree, there is no evidence for that, so they just "hypothesize" another word for an educated guess. yep, a guess. Science is great, I am not deriding it, but when the best minds in the world tell me something, and they know it because of science, and then they tell me later that they were totally wrong. Or scientists disagree, what am i to think about science. Maybe they are not all knowing, just smart men who have some facts, but not all.
You see I am sceptical about, not just religion, but about science too. I don't believe, just because someone told me, or I read it somewhere. I need more than that. People love to put down others, i don't really understand why, but they particualrly like to put down other's ideas and beliefs. Thjey don't want you to reciprocate, that is not fair to them.
Here is the thing for me, in the complete absence of any idea how the world became so complicated, when science tells us that nature should become less complicated (this is a process they call "entropy" that things go more towards chaos as a natural progression), not more complicated. But wait, evolution and science says that the opposite happens, the world, and creatures started simple, and have become more complicated and structured over time. I have an answer, the world is amazing and complicated, and beautiful because... it was created that way.
Now I get that the evidence for it is not so easy to discern as timing the speed of something, but the evidence is all around us. I see the way a pebble thrown into a lake creates waves, and I think of God. I see a bird in flight and I see God's hand in action. To me to say that beauty happened by accident, or love is just one of those biological things, is just silly. I hear people, smart people, say things like that and I just don't understand. I like logic, as do they, and it doesn't make logical sense to me that it is all unintentional and accidental.
My advise to you is simple.
Think, don't just accept, don't just disregard... think. Look around you and see what makes sense to you.
Feel, feel the wind on your face, the rain on your tongue, sand running through your fingers, love for another person, joy at being with them, sadness for no reason. When you feel these things, try to feel like it is all just coincidence, an accident that they exist at all, and never mind that the evoke emotion in you.
Believe, believe what you want, but always be wiling to continue to do the other two things. I may believe something, but that does not mean that I should stop thinking, or stop feeling and neither should you.
Respect, respect other's thoughts, feeelings and beliefs. It is wrong to treat others badly because they don't share yours.
Listen, listen to people, and learn what they care about, what they belive, what they hold dear to them. It does not have to be the same as yours to be just as important to them as yours are to you, but you don't have to change to make anyone else happy.
Be Strong, be strong about who you are and what you think, do not let anyone change you. You be the person who changes you, if after careful consideration, you decide that you want to change, what you do, what you believe, what you care about, or what you think.
and finally, Be Yourself. You are an amazing young lady, who God created to be the only one of you in existence, you are not random, you are not an accident, you are not coincidence. You are unique and special in every way, so do not let anyone take that away from you. No matter what happens, no matter what is said, be You.
You are the only you there will ever be, and I for one, Love you very much.
Dad.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
WOW
Hmmm, so a guy, let's call him Steve, hasn't got a sense of humour.
I thought he did.
Learn something new every day I guess.
I thought he did.
Learn something new every day I guess.
A guy - let's call him Dave
An interesting conversation occurred today -- I thought I was an equal participant in the conversation but as it went on it dawned on me that I was being treated as a second-class citizen. I find it funny how that can happen and I was perplexed and challenged -- but there really was not much that I could do. The person I was having the conversation with has power over me. Silly power really, but power nevertheless.
You see, the conversation was about basketball. More specifically about the ability to get tickets to see the pre-season favorite North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. This season. The season where they return their top six scorers, the consensus 2007 Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough and three potential NBA drafted players who decided to withdraw from the draft to return to school. The so called good friend whom I was having the conversation with now has (he did not always) a contact who is offering him tickets to see UNC live. And as I learned in the conversation -- he is not taking me.
Power sucks. At least when he watches the team I cheer for destroy some sacrificial opponent he will remember that the Tar Heels have power over his team - the Duke Bluedevils.
Small consolation.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Why?
I have a friend who is having a bad week. Now nothing really unusual there, we all do from time to time, but what makes this different is that he is finding it to be affecting his marriage and his faith. I don't know all the details, nor would I share them if I did, but he asked me the other day, "why does God allow stuff like this to happen". I don't think he is going through any major trauma, but he is struglling in a real way, no matter how small or large his current difficulties are, and really no matter what the problem is, who hasn't been there?
Who hasn't had this thought? I know the correct theological answer, or at least something like it, but somehow providing that didn't feel right to me. It also didn't feel right to just say, "oh we all go through that", or something trite like that. In fact what I did say was, well nothing. I listened and tried to share the question without going through the answer. He is a smart guy and already knows all the Church answers to the question, but that doesn't mollify his pain. It doesn't make him feel better, it doesn't help in any real way. I am not gifted in this kind of thing, my friends will tell you how I am not into the "fuzzy"stuff like counseling. The thing is, I like this guy and I want to help, but I know that I can't, what I can do, just about all I can do is listen, empathize and pray for him.
I really don't even want to think about the answer, just really feel that question. I am in awe of people who suffer and never question, at least I think I am. Actually as I think about this, I suspect that they are either not expressing their feelings, or they are a different species of human than me. I feel like there is value in asking questions, and sharing suffering. We all, or at least most of us, feel that pain from time to time.
In the end, I don't think I helped my friend. That makes me sad, and I wonder "why does God allow stuff like this to happen".
Hmmmm...
Who hasn't had this thought? I know the correct theological answer, or at least something like it, but somehow providing that didn't feel right to me. It also didn't feel right to just say, "oh we all go through that", or something trite like that. In fact what I did say was, well nothing. I listened and tried to share the question without going through the answer. He is a smart guy and already knows all the Church answers to the question, but that doesn't mollify his pain. It doesn't make him feel better, it doesn't help in any real way. I am not gifted in this kind of thing, my friends will tell you how I am not into the "fuzzy"stuff like counseling. The thing is, I like this guy and I want to help, but I know that I can't, what I can do, just about all I can do is listen, empathize and pray for him.
I really don't even want to think about the answer, just really feel that question. I am in awe of people who suffer and never question, at least I think I am. Actually as I think about this, I suspect that they are either not expressing their feelings, or they are a different species of human than me. I feel like there is value in asking questions, and sharing suffering. We all, or at least most of us, feel that pain from time to time.
In the end, I don't think I helped my friend. That makes me sad, and I wonder "why does God allow stuff like this to happen".
Hmmmm...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Canadian Olympic Team
I am not sure this is the topic I wanted for my first post to this blog - but I need to start with something and this is really bothering me right now.
If you will allow it I would like to share my opinion on the state of our Olympic team. In a word, the team is "terrible".
As you begin to scream at me about how you did not allow me to share my opinion and you are thinking how can I say that about this group of athletes and it really is amazing just to make it (to qualify) for the level required at the Olympics let me ask you to pause and hear me out. My opinion about the team has nothing to do with any specific athlete (or their coach) or the colection of accomplishments that each athlete and the collective group of athletes has obtained. In fact, as a former coach and a proud Canadian I am extremely pleased, impressed, and honoured by all of our Olympic athletes. Every single one of them is doing the best they can with the resources they have been given to represent Canada and for that they need to feel proud and good about themselves. My problem is with the system - the way we encourage young Canadians to "enjoy" sport, presenting them with a diverse set of experiences and identify clusters of talent and nurture that talent through fun, rewarding and challenging opportunities. That last sentence was sarcasm.
Not only do we not model ourselves after any country with any level of success greater than our own, we refuse to make sport development a priority at any level. From your local community association up to the PSO and NSO's we are too concerned with individual athletes, often the children of the rich or the "squeeky wheel", who have some level of talent, and how we can give them opportunities to "play". Our sport programs are marred by sports that "over-train", "over-game", and "under-perform". There is a great interview of Alex Baumann in a recent issue of Maclean's magazine (http://www.macleans.ca/culture/sports/article.jsp?content=20080806_83881_83881) where Baumann describes four keys for improving our Olympic team:
Four great points but he is missing in my opinion the most important - (really two points tied together) - young athlete opportunites with talent identification. We need to encourage the masses to try out and be exposed to a wide variety of sports and give them quality instruction (coaching) that presents the sport in a fun and engaging manner. Then sit back and watch for the two athletes characteristics needed at that level - enjoyment and any natural talent.
Our athletes and coaches are truly amazing and are doing amazing things. For us to send more medals home we need to foster an environment of enjoyment and diversity - giving kids the chance to play.
My 2 cents.
If you will allow it I would like to share my opinion on the state of our Olympic team. In a word, the team is "terrible".
As you begin to scream at me about how you did not allow me to share my opinion and you are thinking how can I say that about this group of athletes and it really is amazing just to make it (to qualify) for the level required at the Olympics let me ask you to pause and hear me out. My opinion about the team has nothing to do with any specific athlete (or their coach) or the colection of accomplishments that each athlete and the collective group of athletes has obtained. In fact, as a former coach and a proud Canadian I am extremely pleased, impressed, and honoured by all of our Olympic athletes. Every single one of them is doing the best they can with the resources they have been given to represent Canada and for that they need to feel proud and good about themselves. My problem is with the system - the way we encourage young Canadians to "enjoy" sport, presenting them with a diverse set of experiences and identify clusters of talent and nurture that talent through fun, rewarding and challenging opportunities. That last sentence was sarcasm.
Not only do we not model ourselves after any country with any level of success greater than our own, we refuse to make sport development a priority at any level. From your local community association up to the PSO and NSO's we are too concerned with individual athletes, often the children of the rich or the "squeeky wheel", who have some level of talent, and how we can give them opportunities to "play". Our sport programs are marred by sports that "over-train", "over-game", and "under-perform". There is a great interview of Alex Baumann in a recent issue of Maclean's magazine (http://www.macleans.ca/culture/sports/article.jsp?content=20080806_83881_83881) where Baumann describes four keys for improving our Olympic team:
A: That's right. My focus is really on four things. The technical leadership is probably the most important thing, ensuring we have the best coaches to run the program. Training in competition is critical as well: providing athletes and coaches all the opportunities. Then, as you mention, the whole issue of injury management and prevention. Enhancing quality support services would be the third aspect. Obviously we're pushing our athletes more and more and we need to ensure that we have injury management and injury prevention strategies, and ensure support services like sports sciences and physiology, psychology and biomechanics are there as well. That's what the leading nations are doing. The fourth thing in terms of focus needs to be increasing the organizational capacity of national sporting organizations.
Four great points but he is missing in my opinion the most important - (really two points tied together) - young athlete opportunites with talent identification. We need to encourage the masses to try out and be exposed to a wide variety of sports and give them quality instruction (coaching) that presents the sport in a fun and engaging manner. Then sit back and watch for the two athletes characteristics needed at that level - enjoyment and any natural talent.
Our athletes and coaches are truly amazing and are doing amazing things. For us to send more medals home we need to foster an environment of enjoyment and diversity - giving kids the chance to play.
My 2 cents.
You Know who you are
This is to the person, or more correctly people, you know who you are, who drive in the left hand lane. You are not passing, no you are just driving along as if it was your right to drive in that lane. It is not! It is a PASSING LANE, the signs clearly indicate that it is for passing (well what they say is slower traffic keep right), now since I have come up behind you, that means, logically I AM GOING FASTER, which means, hey what do you know, you are going slower, so move over. I have heard people say "I did not see you come up behind me", but if you moved over as a normal procedure, you wouldn't have to, you would already be out of the way.
Now once in a while you will come across a slower moving vehicle, and you will need to pass them. Listen carefully, because this is important. If you decide to pass, do not pull in front of a car moving faster than you, and if by some chance you end up that way anyway, speed up, so you are out of their way faster. You see, we all have to use the roads, and if we all agree to follow some simple guidleines, we will all be happier, well I will be happier at the least.
The point here is...stay right, except to pass, and when you pass, speed up , so that you are in the left lane for as short a time as possible. In fact, lets make it a game, in any trip see how little you can be in the left lane. Have your passengers keep track and hit you for anything over say 30 seconds (kind of like a punch buggy - no returns). I appreciate your attention on this.
Now once in a while you will come across a slower moving vehicle, and you will need to pass them. Listen carefully, because this is important. If you decide to pass, do not pull in front of a car moving faster than you, and if by some chance you end up that way anyway, speed up, so you are out of their way faster. You see, we all have to use the roads, and if we all agree to follow some simple guidleines, we will all be happier, well I will be happier at the least.
The point here is...stay right, except to pass, and when you pass, speed up , so that you are in the left lane for as short a time as possible. In fact, lets make it a game, in any trip see how little you can be in the left lane. Have your passengers keep track and hit you for anything over say 30 seconds (kind of like a punch buggy - no returns). I appreciate your attention on this.
Monday, August 11, 2008
I'm sure it wasn't a real baby!
I was just reading a post on a friend's blog. The post was about how the Church, well actually the "institutional church" is how it was put, is becoming irrelevant. It has lost the focus on God, it just spends its money in paying the mortgage and supporting itself. The argument goes on to say that we need to abandon this and do more communal style, impact the community type of activities and this really only happens outside of the Church.
Okay so maybe I am naive, maybe foolish, and likely just not smart, but I say that's total crap. I am not saying that the Church is not flawed or that "religion" is good. What I am saying is that it was always so. Read the Bible. Jesus spoke to the pharisees, guess what, the Church is the pharisses, Jesus addressed this issue, but did he say don't try to do this? Well, no. He rebuked the people who had lost there way, and perhaps many, maybe even all Churches have. I just refuse to say that we should stop getting together to worship God, because some Churches are missing the point. I don't even care if they all are. the possibility exists to make something that reaches out and also comes together for fellowship shared worship and growth. Yes, everything we do is ultimately tainted because we are human, and fallen and that's just the way it is. But the shock and surprise here is that all these new attempts are still done by humans and so, they will fail and fall, and be tainted also.
I just just grow weary of the railing against the traditional without any understanding that...EVERYTHING WE DO IS GOING TO RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEMS...because we are the authors of them and we are the problem makers.
Okay so Church can suck and be wrong focused, man I can't get through a day without finding myself wrong focused. So should I stop living? Well let's not be stupid here.
I am not saying we should not try some new things either,we can, but let's not stop doing some more traditional things either. I was not a believer and now I am, and I have news for you, it wasn't Church and it wasn't a coffe shop ministry and it wasn't a "cool" hip evangelist pretending to do something else, it was God, plain and simple. So lets get out of His way and join Him in His work, however we are called.
Okay so maybe I am naive, maybe foolish, and likely just not smart, but I say that's total crap. I am not saying that the Church is not flawed or that "religion" is good. What I am saying is that it was always so. Read the Bible. Jesus spoke to the pharisees, guess what, the Church is the pharisses, Jesus addressed this issue, but did he say don't try to do this? Well, no. He rebuked the people who had lost there way, and perhaps many, maybe even all Churches have. I just refuse to say that we should stop getting together to worship God, because some Churches are missing the point. I don't even care if they all are. the possibility exists to make something that reaches out and also comes together for fellowship shared worship and growth. Yes, everything we do is ultimately tainted because we are human, and fallen and that's just the way it is. But the shock and surprise here is that all these new attempts are still done by humans and so, they will fail and fall, and be tainted also.
I just just grow weary of the railing against the traditional without any understanding that...EVERYTHING WE DO IS GOING TO RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEMS...because we are the authors of them and we are the problem makers.
Okay so Church can suck and be wrong focused, man I can't get through a day without finding myself wrong focused. So should I stop living? Well let's not be stupid here.
I am not saying we should not try some new things either,we can, but let's not stop doing some more traditional things either. I was not a believer and now I am, and I have news for you, it wasn't Church and it wasn't a coffe shop ministry and it wasn't a "cool" hip evangelist pretending to do something else, it was God, plain and simple. So lets get out of His way and join Him in His work, however we are called.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
True
"Would you tell me which way I ought to go from here?" asked Alice.
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get," said the Cat.
"I really don't care where" replied Alice.
"Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," said the Cat.
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), novelist and poet (1832-1898).
This is the Church, seeking to change, but with no idea what it wants to become, and so no idea how to proceed and because of that it either will not change, or just does so randomly.
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get," said the Cat.
"I really don't care where" replied Alice.
"Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," said the Cat.
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), novelist and poet (1832-1898).
This is the Church, seeking to change, but with no idea what it wants to become, and so no idea how to proceed and because of that it either will not change, or just does so randomly.
R-e-s-p-e-c-t find out what it means to me
As I read a friends blog, i was struck by this thought, no I don't think it is new, or even unusual to express, but here it is...
Some People Suck! I am not talking about people in general, though they can, but specific people who for one reason or another take it upon themselves to make another person feel bad. Often out of selfish reasons. I know I have often done this myself, but I don't excuse it in myself, it is reprehensible. I also hate it in others when i see it. Why does it happen, why do I feel free to treat someone else with a lot less than the respect I want from them? I guess the answer is that I am so focused on my own issues and daily whatever that I don't care in that moment, and that is truly sad.
I hereby declare that i will treat others as i wish to be treated (where have I heard that before?)...unless I get annoyed, then all bets are off.
Some People Suck! I am not talking about people in general, though they can, but specific people who for one reason or another take it upon themselves to make another person feel bad. Often out of selfish reasons. I know I have often done this myself, but I don't excuse it in myself, it is reprehensible. I also hate it in others when i see it. Why does it happen, why do I feel free to treat someone else with a lot less than the respect I want from them? I guess the answer is that I am so focused on my own issues and daily whatever that I don't care in that moment, and that is truly sad.
I hereby declare that i will treat others as i wish to be treated (where have I heard that before?)...unless I get annoyed, then all bets are off.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I May be Pathetic, but what can I do?
So the other day I was bored at work, so I took one of my coworkers wireless phone headsets and switched with another coworkers. I laughed a lot when she tried to answer her phone, but could not pick up the line. I know, I know. It is pathetic how little things like that make me laugh, but they do. I can't help it, the "what is wrong with this phone, I don't get it" sent me over the edge. Do I need help? Can you even get help for problems like that?
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Evolution
We had some students over for supper yesterday. One of them found out I am studying to be a Pastor and he started asking me questions. Now as a former non-believer it should not really throw me off when this happens, and yet it totally did. I had no good answers only bad ones, to simple questions. I ended up staying up half the night thinking of how I should have answered them, and what I should have said. Now as far as I know, there is no way to go back and correct it, but since I have this, I may as well express my thoughts...
Q: Do you believe more in the Bible or in Evolution?
A: I believe in God. I believe that he created everything and everyone. There is no "more" for me. I accept that the Bible has parts that may look more like myths to people, but I believe that the Bible is God inspired to convey something to us. I think that God wants us to know him and to enter into a relationship with him. I think the bible is a record of his attempts to do that, culminating in his Son Jesus Christ coming to show us the way. I believe it is true, yes all of it, but I can see that there are areas that cause people problems. I do not intend to gloss over them, I just think that even if there are areas that bother you, does not mean it is wrong, it may be as simple as, I just don't know, I can live with that. I think Evolution is a theory that has valid parts (creatures evolve over time), but has invalid parts (creatures do not become other creatures, even over long periods of time). This does not in any way affect my belief in God. If God used evolution, then he did, if he didn't then he didn't.
Q: How can you believe in the Bible when parts are so clearly myth, like Sampson and Delilah? He lost his hair and all his strength?
A: It is possible that that is a story with a purpose, not intended as a literal truth to be believed as such. I guess what I really think though is this... The creator of the universe gives different abilities to each of us. I certainly think it is possible that someone who spends his entire life, eating carefully, living a God filled life (such as Sampson) could have an inner and outer strength that defied conventional wisdom, and that part of what made him strong was the inner knowledge of God's power in him. I further think that if he discovered one day that what made him special in his own, and God's eyes, was taken from him through his own arrogance and foolishness, that he would be incapable of defending himself the way he had before. The world is a wondrously compex thing and our attempts to make it simple are also arrogant and foolish.
Q: So you think Evolution is wrong?
A: I think that science has shown some huge problems with it. I think that my belief in something or disbelief in something makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to its truth or actuality. When I was an atheist, God was. My non-belief in Him, made no difference to whether or not God existed. The exact same thing goes for Evolution, my not believing it makes no difference to whether it is true or not. It is or it isn't, I don't think it is true, but hey I could be wrong, I have been many times, and will be many more.
Q: (not really a question, or even expressed exactly this way) I hope you don't think I am being rude challenging your beliefs this way.
A: Not at all, I enjoy talking about this. I also want to say that I expect that you are an intelligent person who has thought about his views, and as such I want you to know that I am not trying to convince you to accept mine as yours, I am simply expressing mine in, I hope, a way you can understand. I wrote it this way originally, but as I now reread it, I have a different take... I think he was being rude and derogatory. It is exactly how I was when I was an atheist and his age. I was painfully aware at the time, that I was giving bad answers, but the fact is, there is no excuse for my rudeness when I was his age, and little for his. I am so sorry to anyone I offended in the past, I wish I could go back and talk to myself (though I probably wouldn't listen), and I really hope that my friend will realize faster than I did, that being arrogant without accomplishment, just makes you a clown... and not even a fun one.
Now the conversation did not go this way, but I wish it had, not that what I just wrote was perfect, but it would have been better. I feel like I let myself and God down by not better expressing my thoughts, feelings and beliefs. I hope by doing this that if ever that comes up again, I will do better.
Q: Do you believe more in the Bible or in Evolution?
A: I believe in God. I believe that he created everything and everyone. There is no "more" for me. I accept that the Bible has parts that may look more like myths to people, but I believe that the Bible is God inspired to convey something to us. I think that God wants us to know him and to enter into a relationship with him. I think the bible is a record of his attempts to do that, culminating in his Son Jesus Christ coming to show us the way. I believe it is true, yes all of it, but I can see that there are areas that cause people problems. I do not intend to gloss over them, I just think that even if there are areas that bother you, does not mean it is wrong, it may be as simple as, I just don't know, I can live with that. I think Evolution is a theory that has valid parts (creatures evolve over time), but has invalid parts (creatures do not become other creatures, even over long periods of time). This does not in any way affect my belief in God. If God used evolution, then he did, if he didn't then he didn't.
Q: How can you believe in the Bible when parts are so clearly myth, like Sampson and Delilah? He lost his hair and all his strength?
A: It is possible that that is a story with a purpose, not intended as a literal truth to be believed as such. I guess what I really think though is this... The creator of the universe gives different abilities to each of us. I certainly think it is possible that someone who spends his entire life, eating carefully, living a God filled life (such as Sampson) could have an inner and outer strength that defied conventional wisdom, and that part of what made him strong was the inner knowledge of God's power in him. I further think that if he discovered one day that what made him special in his own, and God's eyes, was taken from him through his own arrogance and foolishness, that he would be incapable of defending himself the way he had before. The world is a wondrously compex thing and our attempts to make it simple are also arrogant and foolish.
Q: So you think Evolution is wrong?
A: I think that science has shown some huge problems with it. I think that my belief in something or disbelief in something makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to its truth or actuality. When I was an atheist, God was. My non-belief in Him, made no difference to whether or not God existed. The exact same thing goes for Evolution, my not believing it makes no difference to whether it is true or not. It is or it isn't, I don't think it is true, but hey I could be wrong, I have been many times, and will be many more.
Q: (not really a question, or even expressed exactly this way) I hope you don't think I am being rude challenging your beliefs this way.
A: Not at all, I enjoy talking about this. I also want to say that I expect that you are an intelligent person who has thought about his views, and as such I want you to know that I am not trying to convince you to accept mine as yours, I am simply expressing mine in, I hope, a way you can understand. I wrote it this way originally, but as I now reread it, I have a different take... I think he was being rude and derogatory. It is exactly how I was when I was an atheist and his age. I was painfully aware at the time, that I was giving bad answers, but the fact is, there is no excuse for my rudeness when I was his age, and little for his. I am so sorry to anyone I offended in the past, I wish I could go back and talk to myself (though I probably wouldn't listen), and I really hope that my friend will realize faster than I did, that being arrogant without accomplishment, just makes you a clown... and not even a fun one.
Now the conversation did not go this way, but I wish it had, not that what I just wrote was perfect, but it would have been better. I feel like I let myself and God down by not better expressing my thoughts, feelings and beliefs. I hope by doing this that if ever that comes up again, I will do better.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Hellooooo Steve?
So we created this to both blog about whatever, and so far Steve is not carrying his share of it. Perhaps I have been talking about stuff that is not relevant for him. so...
He asked me the other day how I manage my bookmarks, did I use a special program, and how did I keep track of them, sort them, and how often did I update, delete and reorganize them, this is what i do, it may help some of you out there...
First, I categorize my fiolders into similiar sounding names, such as "cool things" and "very cool things"
This allows me to be unsure where I put stuff, and I often end up with mutiple instances of the same webpage for convenience.
Second, I use only the bookmark tool that my browsers come with, yes I use two different one, which also allows me to further create confusion and have multiple entries of the same stuff.
Third, about once a year I go in to organize them, usually i discover a cool website I haven't visited in a long time, spend an hour on it and forget about the organizing.
This mutli pronged approach lets me feel organized without actually being organized, since that is much more work. i highly recommend this system, and would be happy to further elaborate to any interested parties.
He asked me the other day how I manage my bookmarks, did I use a special program, and how did I keep track of them, sort them, and how often did I update, delete and reorganize them, this is what i do, it may help some of you out there...
First, I categorize my fiolders into similiar sounding names, such as "cool things" and "very cool things"
This allows me to be unsure where I put stuff, and I often end up with mutiple instances of the same webpage for convenience.
Second, I use only the bookmark tool that my browsers come with, yes I use two different one, which also allows me to further create confusion and have multiple entries of the same stuff.
Third, about once a year I go in to organize them, usually i discover a cool website I haven't visited in a long time, spend an hour on it and forget about the organizing.
This mutli pronged approach lets me feel organized without actually being organized, since that is much more work. i highly recommend this system, and would be happy to further elaborate to any interested parties.
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