"Surely I am coming quickly." - Revelation 22:20
Anytime you see or hear the words coming soon, the connotation you think of is something updated or brand new is right around the corner. Those two words create an excitement for what may be on the horizon even if it is actually months away. Many of us hip-hop heads of a certain age can recall Mike Jones (Who? Mike Jones!) announcing for three years his 2005 album Who Is Mike Jones? repeatedly in what seemed to be in every verse he rapped. Was it a game-changer? Aside from bringing the chopped and screwed sound to the mainstream, it was a pretty average album that happened to sell five million copies thanks to the buzz it generated.
Throughout the book of Revelation, we learn two things: 1)the 66th book is not one to fear; and 2)coming soon doesn't necessarily apply to our standard of time. What may seem like forever to us is merely a moment to God. While the elders have proclaimed for decades - in the African American Baptist church, those decades date back to slavery - that Jesus is coming soon, Revelation reveals to us that His return takes a sense of urgency. Key phrases such as "things which must shortly take place: (1:1) and "the time is near (22:3) are indicative of a coming return. In Chapter 22, the Lord says "I'm coming quickly" (verses 7, 12, 20) implying the time to prepare ourselves is now.
The most important idea is not focusing on a specific date for Christ's return, but setting our hearts to live for Him today. People have attempted to pick the date only to be rebuffed. In May 1980, Pat Robertson startled viewers of the 700 Club when he informed them that the world would end two years later in 1982 guaranteeing a judgement on the world. Thirty-two years later, we are still here, proving that setting a specific date is a sure sign of failure. These false teachers are responsible for their gullible followers (see Jonestown, the Branch Davidian complex in Waco) who have accepted their brand of twisted doctrine as truth. Titus 2:13 reminds us to live for Jesus today "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Live your lives as if Christ is coming back today.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
how do i hate thee
how do i hate thee?
let me count the ways...
your existence as a black hole in my life truly serves no purpose
except to dread your name
there are not enough expletives to clearly articulate my feelings properly
regardless if they are of the three-, four-, five-letter variety or more
my hatred of you stems from broken promises
more inconsistencies to standards than a liar on the judges stand
blatant favoritism
perpetual boredom
and obviously less appreciation than a spoiled brat eating ice cream
i hate thee for all these reasons and more.
eff you, i'm gone.
let me count the ways...
your existence as a black hole in my life truly serves no purpose
except to dread your name
there are not enough expletives to clearly articulate my feelings properly
regardless if they are of the three-, four-, five-letter variety or more
my hatred of you stems from broken promises
more inconsistencies to standards than a liar on the judges stand
blatant favoritism
perpetual boredom
and obviously less appreciation than a spoiled brat eating ice cream
i hate thee for all these reasons and more.
eff you, i'm gone.
Becoming The Go-To Guy Or Gal At Work
You know that one person at work you can always rely on to know the right answer or to show you how to navigate a difficult process - right away. He or she often works hard, stays late, and sometimes sacrifices a day off to relieve a co-worker, but no one has a stronger job security, brighter prospects for advancement per industry, or commands more respect in the company. While you cannot become the go-to person overnight, you can plant the seeds and cultivate them as you grow. Here are several ways to become truly integral to the team:
1. Be good at what you do. Simple, right? Often we assess our successes/failures at work by what we have completed impeccably. If you're not doing your job well, then no one else will think you are worth the expert status you seek. Take care of the basics first before you start beating your chest.
2. Step forward. Want to be seen in a positive light regarding your performance? Volunteer your talents and time. Not every manager will recognize your expertise; in times of tough projects, step up and throw your hats in the ring joyfully. Keep in mind that since not every project undertaken is going to be a winner, each project is a step closer to greater things. Being reluctant to step forward can also show a lack of self-confidence as well as creating a sense of resentment among your team members.
3. Don't overdo it. Do not let your willingness to help out become greed for more work. It is one thing to be a spectacular subject-matter expert, and another to become a workaholic. I know this from personal experience, so trust me. Prolonged overachieving will lead to burnout, causing you to be passed over for promotions that you have worked so hard to attain.
4. Read like hell! Knowing how to use technology is almost as simple as learning how to read. Practice takes, of course, practice. This can be as simple as testing all of the latest electronics gear a big-box retailer may have in stock, or as difficult as working through a compiler. The more you know, the more respected you become. It wouldn't hurt to stay current on industry trends, so read articles, subscribe to magazines, listen to podcasts, etc.
5. Articulate your message. You can be the smartest guy in the room - more often than not, I feel like I am - but if no one understands what is being said, then you just wasted a lot of time talking. Take a page from tech support. While those representatives are masters of explanation, one quality they do possess is a listening ear. What is the need? How do you resolve it? Are they really listening, or chiming an "mm-hmm" every nineteen seconds solely to pretend like they are to appease you? You are better served with people who figured out how to clearly present a message; knowing everything means nothing if others cannot reap the benefits of your knowledge.
6. Own up. Becoming a go-to person at work means not being perfect, but admitting mistakes and acknowledging your limitations. You've already proven yourself to be reliable, capable, willing, honest, and accountable; if something happens, you are in a position to take responsibility. Do it and learn from your mistakes.
7. Broaden your horizons. People can't count on you if they don't know who you are. You may come as well-regarded among the people you work closely with, but building a reputation means branching out from those nearest you. That means put yourself out there. I'm not just saying create a LinkedIn account, but sometimes doing the things after-hours such as participating in office events (the softball team, potluck) as well as learning - and remembering the names of those you meet. Everyone has a purpose, and his or her six degrees of separation may be enough for you to be invited to join cross-departmental teams to highlight your strengths when called to do so.
8. Support. Growing up poor, my parents at times failed to understand why they needed to spend money for computers, graphing calculators, compiler systems if that implement would have to be replaced in a few short years. Their reasoning was because they didn't use it, maybe I could work through it without relying on a short-term yet pricey crutch. Obviously I had their undying love and support, but that checkbook stayed shut even after I began working part-time to pay for these objects. The same Mickey Mouse calculator I received as a seventh birthday present could not graph matrices nor calculate moles, meaning I had to get the understanding through constant repetition and having to open my own wallet.
The most cost-effective thing you can do is get a mentor. Find someone whom you get along with and is competent at what they do, and pick their brains. Again, you don't know everything, so ask questions. You're not expected to become a best-buddy instantly, but making the time available is critical in your development - and eventually becoming the go-to person at work.
While it is difficult to become a go-to person at work, the designation becomes even more tedious to shake off once it is affixed to you. Make sure you are ready for the additional responsibilities it will entail; those no-work vacations and unplugging from the laptop/tablet/smartphone will become even more important once then team starts depending on you as well as getting quality rest.
1. Be good at what you do. Simple, right? Often we assess our successes/failures at work by what we have completed impeccably. If you're not doing your job well, then no one else will think you are worth the expert status you seek. Take care of the basics first before you start beating your chest.
2. Step forward. Want to be seen in a positive light regarding your performance? Volunteer your talents and time. Not every manager will recognize your expertise; in times of tough projects, step up and throw your hats in the ring joyfully. Keep in mind that since not every project undertaken is going to be a winner, each project is a step closer to greater things. Being reluctant to step forward can also show a lack of self-confidence as well as creating a sense of resentment among your team members.
3. Don't overdo it. Do not let your willingness to help out become greed for more work. It is one thing to be a spectacular subject-matter expert, and another to become a workaholic. I know this from personal experience, so trust me. Prolonged overachieving will lead to burnout, causing you to be passed over for promotions that you have worked so hard to attain.
4. Read like hell! Knowing how to use technology is almost as simple as learning how to read. Practice takes, of course, practice. This can be as simple as testing all of the latest electronics gear a big-box retailer may have in stock, or as difficult as working through a compiler. The more you know, the more respected you become. It wouldn't hurt to stay current on industry trends, so read articles, subscribe to magazines, listen to podcasts, etc.
5. Articulate your message. You can be the smartest guy in the room - more often than not, I feel like I am - but if no one understands what is being said, then you just wasted a lot of time talking. Take a page from tech support. While those representatives are masters of explanation, one quality they do possess is a listening ear. What is the need? How do you resolve it? Are they really listening, or chiming an "mm-hmm" every nineteen seconds solely to pretend like they are to appease you? You are better served with people who figured out how to clearly present a message; knowing everything means nothing if others cannot reap the benefits of your knowledge.
6. Own up. Becoming a go-to person at work means not being perfect, but admitting mistakes and acknowledging your limitations. You've already proven yourself to be reliable, capable, willing, honest, and accountable; if something happens, you are in a position to take responsibility. Do it and learn from your mistakes.
7. Broaden your horizons. People can't count on you if they don't know who you are. You may come as well-regarded among the people you work closely with, but building a reputation means branching out from those nearest you. That means put yourself out there. I'm not just saying create a LinkedIn account, but sometimes doing the things after-hours such as participating in office events (the softball team, potluck) as well as learning - and remembering the names of those you meet. Everyone has a purpose, and his or her six degrees of separation may be enough for you to be invited to join cross-departmental teams to highlight your strengths when called to do so.
8. Support. Growing up poor, my parents at times failed to understand why they needed to spend money for computers, graphing calculators, compiler systems if that implement would have to be replaced in a few short years. Their reasoning was because they didn't use it, maybe I could work through it without relying on a short-term yet pricey crutch. Obviously I had their undying love and support, but that checkbook stayed shut even after I began working part-time to pay for these objects. The same Mickey Mouse calculator I received as a seventh birthday present could not graph matrices nor calculate moles, meaning I had to get the understanding through constant repetition and having to open my own wallet.
The most cost-effective thing you can do is get a mentor. Find someone whom you get along with and is competent at what they do, and pick their brains. Again, you don't know everything, so ask questions. You're not expected to become a best-buddy instantly, but making the time available is critical in your development - and eventually becoming the go-to person at work.
While it is difficult to become a go-to person at work, the designation becomes even more tedious to shake off once it is affixed to you. Make sure you are ready for the additional responsibilities it will entail; those no-work vacations and unplugging from the laptop/tablet/smartphone will become even more important once then team starts depending on you as well as getting quality rest.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
The Devil's Aim
A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. John 10:10
Monday, March 17, 2014
Suicidal State of Mind
folks, let's face it: i'm tired.
every day feels like a run-on monday, unyielding toward the worst
i work for an employer i don't particularly care for
(surprise, that's nothing new)
and if i were ever able to escape the night shift, i'm sure someone would present me with a lifetime achievement award
for working so well within the margins
never invited to the grownups table
this introverted genius toils in the shadows of life, expecting to go unnoticed
only for mistakes to be magnified 100X by the so-called leadership
who reminds me swiftly i can be easily replaced.
how can i not forget, in this right-to-work state?
where the bottom dollar trumps high performance, dedication, strong work ethic, etc?
you say it almost weekly...
and like a battered wife, i keep coming back for another black eye and blue bruises and all
for round after round of eternal abuse.
all i really want to do is sleep.
maybe that's why i place such a premium on rest - for everyone else, of course
me? i'm superman. all i need is about four hours and a can of full throttle blue demon with a pair of no-doz capsules
600 milligrams won't slow me down one bit
but i can always use more caffeine
headaches don't matter - just give me another dr. pepper and i've got the next few hours before i crash again
soda may inevitably be the death of me
or maybe the high blood pressure accrued from eating no-doz and feasting childlike:
pizza, beer, pb&j, and fast food.
maybe i'll sleep when i'm dead.
underneath the happy face is a man beaten by life
the windows to my soul are tinted by delusion
my voice, once bold and booming, reduced to a whimpering silence
never was the most attractive
whoever told me clothes make the man clearly doesn't know me
too modest to be fly, never good enough for your standard of masculinity
so? eff it.
my skin (sometimes my sin) is one i've never truly felt comfortable in, but it's mine
i'll be fine
it's been 35 years, so obviously i am finally accepting my limitations
and fyi - i'm not talking about my black skin, negro features, etc.
i have an anxiety of being normal
working monday through friday like most normal adults (during the day)
dealing with traffic jams and other inconsiderate drivers
navigating office politics
what if i don't make it?
do i really belong in the graveyard, or working the graveyard?
to my detriment, i become more of a recluse than i already am?
associating with other people is akin to removing the leash from a rabid pit bull
lost am i in the shuffle
til one day my temper defeats the supposedly calm
papers fly everywhere
pens become darts
systems become compromised
nasty four-letter expletives exchanged
and maybe 260 pounds of black power shattering someone's jaw
you're not taking me alive
so from my elastic bvd waistband i pull a revolver, point to my newly shaven head, and squeeze the trigger.
boom.
i win.
game over, life over.
everybody's happy
no one cares because i didn't care
i didn't matter, not even to those closest to me
i bid thee adieu
farewell
sayonara
you won't have me to kick around anymore
goodbye.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Job Searching Tips
Need a job, or a better one than the one you're working? Visit this link: http://www.slideshare.net/markrotoole/congratulations-graduate-eleven-reasons-why-i-will-never-hire-you
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Craft Beer Madness
Just wondering if anyone would be interested in a Craft Beer Madness tournament similar to the NCAA Men's Tournament. My beer game lately has been centered in the South, but I'd like to check out some of the Portland (either one, Maine or Oregon both have good stuff) and the Midwest is coming strong as always.
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