Apple Certifications & Serving study

Well I’m into studying for my 3 of 4 tests to get my Apple Certified System Administrator certification. I get very very tired of studying. I think I can last about 30 minutes then take a 8 minute break. (It’s enough time to complete a little game of Modern Warfare 2 on the PS3, yes I know ridiculous!) But right now I’m studying the Snow Leopard Server Essentials and learning about Mail Services for Mac OS X Server. Very good stuff and simple to understand, I’m a little partial to the author since he is one of my friends.

We had a little more snow this morning, so we might have about 4-5 inches on the ground right now, which to us is really not that bad at all. Sun is out now and melting the snow. I think I’ve said this once before but they clean/snowplow the streets quickly in Chicagoland and really allowing us to get around easily. I think with how cold it is up here is another reason every one is fascinated with coffee up here. I think they have three main coffee shops: Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, and Dunkin’ Donuts. I’ve even drank more coffee up here then I ever did while in TN.

Our church is going through a serving campaign right now. It is an excellent series and many collaboration projects occurring at the same time. The Sunday morning service is wrapped around what you have learned in your devotion, then there are small gr0up discussions surrounding this as well. And since it concerns the theme of serving they have setup many venues for you to get out in the community and serve for at least 90 minutes during the campaign. All of it was written by the Senior Pastor. Very neat.

You’ll need to read my wife’s blog to figure out all the interesting things I have been doing around the house. I have had my working hands busy this month.

Well I guess it’s tax time! Do I really have to report all the money I got from the consulting job? (BTW I know its a yes, I made over the IRS limit, crap!)

Great viewpoint about “New World” devices

Since the iPad was introduced I have been skeptical and concerned. But still nonetheless very excited to see what Apple has planned for this device. Well I thought I would share what the developer at Panic software wrote about the release of iPad:

http://stevenf.tumblr.com/post/359224392/i-need-to-talk-to-you-about-computers-ive-been

Snow is gone … for now

Its great I finally see the grass again! Yes this is a praise for I haven’t seen it in over a month. We have had about 4-5 inches of snow on the ground for days. What was even better was to hear Conner say this morning, ” NO I don’t want to see the grass!!!! Daddy I want the snow back…” And because we live in Chicagoland all I said was wait until next week. And yes it is suppose to snow this week, we have just had a weekend of rain thankfully. It got up to a balmy 44 degrees today.

Church was good this morning. Its been 25 years that Christ Community has been around, and they celebrated. My enjoyment arrived at the door of the church when they greeted everyone with scones and pastries. So I had to give in for I saw a mini-eclair that was gone in 2 seconds.

Playing a lot of Modern Warfare II on the PS3 with my friend in TN, Chris, and really enjoying the game. Thank you gift cards to Target!

Trying to figure out how we can get down to Disney World the day after Christmas. I have enough Hilton points to stay on disney site all week, therefore going to book that soon. Then the park tickets for all four of us is still going to be around $1000!!! Its incredible. But I know we will enjoy it, for the boys turning 5 & 3 by the time we go.

Mason is eating everything. Four bowls of cereal this morning! Last night before bed he had 2 bananas! Our grocery bill is crazy, but Katie is doing an excellent job of couponing.

Thats all for now.

Additional fuel against Christians

This just gets me so irate. So the military has not had one complaint from any soldier about the inscriptions, but once an Activist group finds out about it things get crazy and stupid.

Muslim anger over military ‘Jesus’ scopes

If a soldier has an issue with this then let him be the first one to blow the whistle not an outsider that has never fought in a war. Now the Muslim Public Affairs Council is the entity that I have more issues with, stating in the above article the following statement: “Having Biblical references on military equipment violates the basic ideals and values our country was founded upon,” is WRONG. The MPAC needs to read the constitution, bill of rights, and other original US documents to know that this is in fact a Christian-based nation, for they have obviously not read the same documents I have. Oh and MPAC, the original documents are in the Library of Congress, its not the doctored version in our schools or Muslim libraries.

New Year, New Perspective

So I often think about writing on my blog but never get around to doing it. We are currently in 5 inches of snow that fell in Dec and supposedly more then 8 inches will come tomorrow. I was able to shovel the sidewalk out yesterday. Thankfully we have some very kind neighbors that brought their snow-blower over and blew off the snow during our visit to TN.

Both of the boys are getting sick and of course that means it will trickle to Katie and I soon. I think its because of the changes we have had from TN to IL again. We kind of had the same issue when we got up here, or at least I did. But both of the boys are really enjoying their Christmas toys. With all of the new toys it really keeps them busy since we haven’t got out of the house for the past 3 days, and now with more snow it might be longer.

Katie and I are enjoying a new book by Randy Alcorn named “Heaven”. This book has an uncanny way of explaining the depths of how awesome Heaven will be.

So the title includes the words new perspective because I have started a new prayer journal to chronicle my devotions and prayer life. This was brought on by Ted’s incredible prayer life journals that he had. I plan on staying more consistent with my devotions so that I can also keep a closer eye on Christ’s love for us.

Christmas was bountiful from the presents perspective. I got quite a few new video games, iTunes gift cards, long underwear, coat, sweaters, and money. I was able to purchase the new Wii Sports Resorts game which the whole family can play and we really enjoy it.

As far as work goes I’m in the process of getting some new software together for CPS and it will all be including on any new machine they order. So this will be a long process until the end of February. Meaning I might not have time to write again until then.

Pain

So there are many items around my empty house that is causing me pain at this time.

Tennis Racquet – Every time I look at it I think of what a wonderful play partner that I have lost.

Toys – Having to pick them up around the house, knowing that my boys are not going to be able to play with them for a month while they are with Mom and JJ.

Christmas Tree – Only because I would love to be spending time with the family right now and helping JJ and wife at a time like this.

Snow – Only because the boys are not going to be able to play in it.

iPhone – Every time I open my call favorites Ted is at #3, and I just can’t delete it yet.

House – Knowing that I am going to be here for two weeks by myself.

So overall I am still numb to the idea that Ted is gone. I still have my moments like when I look at the photos in iPhoto today, or when I heard a Phillips Craig and Dean song on my iPod. It is soooo surreal its unbelievable. And praying so hard for my wife while I am away from her.

Then there is my flip side; my personal celebration. I am so happy for Ted right now. Just knowing that there is no time to pass before he feels the overwhelming joy of Jesus by his side. In some ways I would love to be at that state, but I am here to do God’s work and thats what I plan on doing. I am thankful for the peacefulness that God has brought me at this time of my life. Losing my two spiritual leaders is a very hard thing to do, and as many people have told me, its time for me to step up now. I pray that I start a new wonderful journey of my life and explore the Bible in unmentionable ways. For the Bible contains all the mysteries of life.

Ted, you have started incredible journeys in great number of people including me.

The Grand Homecoming for Ted

Well December 2nd, 2009 will live in infamy for my life.

My company has a large assessment initiative occurring in the school system and I was helping with the installations. Therefore the morning of the 2nd I was at Hibbard Elementary School in North side of Chicago. I was inside a classroom getting the laptops ready. Then I received the phone call from my wife that Pop had a heart attack and they couldn’t get his heart started. I ask for clarification… “Did you just say Pop?” And she said yes. So I immediately turned around and informed everyone that I am leaving. I lost it. It took about an hour to get home and that was in a Hybrid going fast with tears in my eyes. After 30 minutes of being on the road I received the horrible news that Pop didn’t make it.
After getting home I packed the bags and went onto southwest.com and purchase the first flight out.

Theodore Manning Spottswood was by far the best Father-in-law that I could have EVER asked for. He was unbelievable. After my grandfather died I was able to talk to Ted about a lot of spiritual matters. Pop loved playing with our boys, and I think that was one of the grandest highlights of his life. Grandkids were everything to him. Ted loved this life that he was in, but also battled it spiritually. Ted wanted to see Christ, just as I have that desire. Christ did more for us then anyone on this earth can ever accomplish and the desire is to see Him soon.

We are very much still in a state of shock. Christmas will be hard. We are going to continue to pray for God’s guidance.

Compass created life

So as I was reading an article today on how a teacher learned through her father the Great Depression and she was to integrate that into technology curriculum, I pulled away with a metaphor. So it is quite interesting when we think about a compass. (Yes the teacher talked about how she had no compass for this new project.) Compass always points to the magnetic north. But I think before we come to the ultimate knowledge of Christ we don’t even look at the compass. We have been given to compass since birth and to me it represents the Bible. We put it down, place it in our hands but don’t look at it correctly or mistake it for another tool, or just plain forget about it. We accept Christ we finally pick up that compass and start to understand its value in our lives and how it is the always going to point in the one direction we need to know about, Christ. But our problem is that we think everything is better now that we know our way. So yes it does, but it not easy. Just like you are to use a compass to “find” you way, that way might be over a mountain, down the stream, through the dark alley, so is it with our lives. The Bible shows the way but it is not going to come easy. Down the dark alley is inevitable for Christ never says in the Bible that this life is going to be easy, but that he will guide us. Over the mountain understanding that parts of life is struggling to get up the hill, always knowing there is the backside/easy side to the mountain. Down the stream to me entails that the experience might have its gorgeous view but you can’t exactly get good traction because of slippery rocks, but you’re still looking at your compass knowing you’re headed the right way. Overall we just need to be thankful that we can have hope in our compass.

Documentary about world views of God

Something we will have to review personally is a documentary released in theatre soon: OH My God. Watch the trailer here: Oh My God Trailer

Don’t have an opinion yet but maybe soon.

Fall 09

It’s been over a month I know… So there have been a few things that have happen since then that i can write about.

First is that I was able to go to Washington DC last week. This would be the first time that I have ever been, but unfortunately I was unable to do all the touristy stuff. I was there for training in our Reston office. It was very good training in deploying Macs into schools. So once the class was done on Tuesday I did get to DC in enough time to see the Washington Monument then walked over to the Lincoln Memorial. All of this was so incredible for me since I have a passion for history. Oh then on Thursday night I did get over to the Capital building. But it was all completely unfulfilling, so I’ve told my wife that we are certainly headed back one day.

Few weeks ago we had Katie’s family in town. So in total we had 12 people in our house for a few days. Yes it was crazy. We pulled through, but at times it was quite overwhelming for me. I really had a good time overall, and enjoyed our stay in downtown Chicago. My mother-in-law was able to find an incredible deal at an apartment that was right on Grant Park.

Then the month of November we will have a few visitors, our goal therefore will be to keep the house clean!!! It will be good to see our TN friends again.

Like Katie has mentioned many times before “We are happy with our little bubble here in Geneva.” and that pretty much sums up our status. Our church is very good, and we feel like our community group is growing on us and we hope they are growing to enjoy us too.