Loud & Clear

if you can’t change today…

Here’s the deal. I’m the king of “tomorrow, I…” and then come up with some new thought, plan, commitment, etc.  Of course I inevitably failed to deliver. I couldn’t understand how I could be so passionate about it today and yet fail tomorrow.

Here’s what I now believe.

If you won’t change today, you’re not going to tomorrow.

Too often, the promise of change tomorrow accompanies license for today. Since you won’t anymore tomorrow, you’d better enjoy it today. Then we complain to ourselves about how hard it is once we start.

When we can’t start today, right now, we are demonstrating why we won’t be able to tomorrow. We like it too much. We want to over-indulge in it. We want to get good and dirty in it just one last time.

This, you see, only reinforces our love for it. Our addiction to it. Solving those issues isn’t what this is about. Change happens from the inside out. When you are ready to put it down, right now, without any “just one more” about it, you’re really ready to change.

There are some personality types who don’t have a struggle with this. They set their mind and have the will power to do whatever they set that mind to. I wish I was like them. But I’m not.

So if you want to make a change, start right now! Not tomorrow. Not in one hour. Right now. Own it. Pwn it.

Once you own it, it’s yours.

What are you going to change right now?

what’s your blog saying?

From a couple fellow tweets, I got this.

What’s your blog saying? Find out here.

oh yes, Heroes is coming back

If you are one who follows, as I do, the awesomeness of Heroes, you will be pleased to know there is a new trailer out for the new season, coming September 22.

You may partake of the nectar of anticipation below.

Weight Loss Challenge: week 4

Today’s official weigh in:  220
Last Weeks official weigh in: 221
Official start weight:  225.5

Looks like I’m the turtle, not the hare in this race. But I am learning some important things about myself through this process.

Sunday after church, we packed the family up and drove to my folks house in Vacaville. I discovered if it feels like vacation, then I should be able to eat like it’s vacation. What’s the deal? As long as my routine is set and structured I can stay on plan, but as soon as there’s schedule or routine an interruption, then I’m justified in interrupting my discipline too?  I don’t get me.

I need to figure this thing out. Suggestions?

Oh, and we had an absolutely fantastic time at the folks house. Saw my siblings and little cousins. I love my family. They’re awesome.

auditorium upgrades- step by step

So we talked about it for a few weeks leading up to this past weekend- new auditorium upgrades.

Now, here’s the magic. Our center screen is made from styrofoam. Oh, you heard me right. Instead of a $3800 screen, we build this baby for $500. And that’s just the cost of the custom cut foam. A volunteer donated all the framing material from his business.  The projector ceiling mount would have cost us $600, but another volunteer custom designed and build a ceiling mount for us for free. And let me tell you, Panasonic should call him up for his design. It’s beautiful! Those hazer’s we’re using?  That’s right- donated by a volunteer!

I love our people. It made me think of Solomon’s temple with each person bringing his gift of expertise to add to the beauty of God’s temple.

So here’s the run down of the install last week.

First we made the frame. You can see the stack of styrofoam behind it.

Next, we glued the foam to the frame. We tried really hard to match seems so you wouldn’t see the lines. It’s not perfect, but came out great.

After we let it set overnight, we put the screen on a stage and mounted the border to the frame. That’s Jeff in the background putting in the final touches.

Hanging the screen was a challenge. At 12′x21′ it’s no small thing and while mostly foam and aluminum studs, it still weighs a bit. Was glad when it was done!

Next, we hung the projector. As you can see 30 ft. is a long way down in a tiny man lift!

The finished product is amazing. I’ll try to get a pic up from this weekend with the series logo on the screen. It’s awesome.

Special props and thanks to Jeff and Lance, Richard and Bobby for all their help and expertise. We couldn’t have done it without you!