The Inside Track - September 2006 - From the Editor

I think one of the things our Arts Team does extremely well is the way we come together for Big Sundays like Easter, Christmas Eve, Friend Day, and Nascar Sunday. We also come up big when the community needs us to like after Hurricane Katrina and for the VT memorial.

But what happens after that? Certainly we have done a good job of putting together services that are good enough to make people want to come back. But is there a back door? And is it standing open?

This is historically the point where Arts staffers say, "I've done my part. The offense has scored. After that, it's the defense's turn." But what about our part?

First, I hope you'll spend 3 minutes to read this article. (It's short).

This article came in an e-newsletter I get called "The Inside Track".

The Inside Track - September 2006 - From the Editor

Then, for discussion, two questions:

1 - Do we do a good job helping people to form relationships once they join the arts ministry?

and

2 - Do we do a good job of providing low-commitment, easy-to-plug-into positions for new people to join the Arts ministries? In other words, we just had a ministry fair. How hard is it going to be for those people to get plugged in to our ministries? Are there difficult hurdles for new people?

Amazon for everyone!

I have this relative. And they have a birthday coming up. And I hardly ever see them. And there's nothing to buy for them.

Here's my theory. Everybody in the world should get an Amazon.com wish list. It's so easy - you just click on stuff you want and click "Add to my wish list". Then you make sure your amazon profile is up to date.

Next thing you know, you start getting cool presents that you really want in stead of knit sweaters and pink bunny suits.

Why wouldn't everybody want to do that?

Oh well, I hope cousin Larry likes his pink bunny suit - with the ears and the feet. And he better wear it to our next family get-together!

Pipe Dream, the sequel

Here's another video of "Pipe Dreams". This one is the sequel to the one posted below. Different tune, and different views.

Renewed Love

OK, after weeks of lusting after the new iPhone, I have decided to renew my vows to my LifeDrive. Liffy and I had had a falling out of sorts when she refused to play Rhapsody To Go files, and when she stopped synching with my home computer. I think she was still mad at me for leaving her behind and alone in Jim's car for a week. Imagine - not being recharged or sync'ed for a FULL WEEK.

I guess she had reason to be mad at me.

As to the other issues, we're working them out. The important thing to remember is that any relationship takes work. And when there are problems, you can't just ignore them and hope that they will magically go away.

Oh - and never lust. That's important, too.

Fantastic Music Machine

A friend of mine emailed me this video today. It was listed as a manufactured music machine. Turns out it's all animation, but even so it's impressive to a video production guy like me. Check it out here.

Oh - and an advertisement will load before the true video. I'm not responsibile for whatever they try to sell you. Nor do I get paid any commercial endorsement royalties for it. But I should. ;)

Freakishly Large Hand of Jesus: Good Friday? Lord have mercy.

Interesting story about how the Good Friday service could have gone...

Freakishly Large Hand of Jesus: Good Friday? Lord have mercy.

Amazon.com: Amazon Current's Amazon Blog

My friends and I have all been lusting over the iPhone since its existence was first mentioned. Here's an article that says it might not be worth the price tag. But then again, maybe it will.

Amazon.com: Amazon Current's Amazon Blog

At any rate, it's a pretty hefty price tag. $650? Plus the subscription fee? For that price, I may elect to continue to carry my iPod, my lifedrive, and my cell phone. It only comes in 4 GB and 8Gb storage capacities anyway, and my LifeDrive has 4. And I think my LifeDrive does every bit as much. Provided it's coupled with my phone. And the video iPod comes in 80GB versions. How much video could you put on an 8GB phone? Not so much. So it seems it wouldn't really place the video iPod. (Not that I have one of those.)

Sure is pretty, though.

Anway, I'd be the guy to leave it behind at a hotel somewhere.

The point at the end of the article is that the iPhone will do well despite that the technology isn't all that new - it's just better. There were mp3 players before the iPod. Apple just did it better. Better interfaces. Easier to get to your information. More user-friendly.

But it would make me cool.