Knowledge + Wisdom = :)

Just to follow up on my "information explosion" post... it hit me this morning of how dangerous it may be. You see... knowledge itself, without wisdom, is very dangerous and harmful. Adam and Eve could testify to that. Wisdom is the practical side of knowledge , it shows us what's important , gives proportion to what we know and enables us to skillfully use insight to reach our goals.

As I read through James this morning ... I was reminded that there are two different types of wisdom: worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom. They are both complete opposites. The first uses knowledge to get ahead at the expense of others - the second uses it to benefit others. It's all in the motive ....

As we overload ourselves with info, we tend to become arrogant and prideful- but when combined with Godly wisdom - it enables us to love and to live peacefully. That's my prayer for you and for me!! Let us be informed and knowledgeable... but let it be combined with God's wisdom which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere!!!! - James 3:17

Tips & Tools (Information Explosion)

I was asked by a co worker this week to provide some type of Information Explosion 101... so here's my attempt...

With so much out there ... how can you keep up? Well, although I can't control the content of the information you will subscribe too... here are some tips and tools to help all you bloggers,iPoders and web surfers get your daily dose of information .... (I'll throw in my suggestions and subscriptions along the way)

Blogs...

Google has always been Simple, Consistent & Powerful - as a result, their Google Blog reader offers all three in one. You can create your free account here. This tool will allow you to subscribe to all your favorite blogs and get their feeds all in one site - blog reading will become like checking your email. They also offer an "off line" feature which allows you to download up to 2000 posts and be able to read them while disconnected from the internet. Very cool for those "No Wi Fi" moments...

(I currently subscribe to 147 blogs ... some of which are updated daily, some weekly, and some NEVER!! ::cough cough:: They all vary from creative & leadership stuff to music and personal friends) Remember, you can subscribe to the news, comedy, reviews, whatever .... Email me for some blog suggestions...

Podcasts...

Podcasts are basically Audio Magazines (at least for me). I've gotten in a weekly routine of updating my iPod and taking my podcasts to the gym. There's nothing like multi tasking ... burning them calories while listening to Steve jobs or John Maxwell. Even though podcast's are not exclusive to iTunes or iPods - I highly recommend them!! On iTunes you can subscribe to a variety of Podcasts that update automatically to your computer and then to your iPod once connected. Here's a list of some of the podcasts I listen too (or watch) regularly:

-Catalyst Leadership Podcast
-LifeChurch.tv - Switch Film Podcast
-Maximum Impact - Leadership Podcast
-Creative Pastors Podcast w/ Ed Young
-The RELEVANT Podcast
-Flamingo Road Church PodCast
-Larry King Video Podcast
-VH1 Best week Ever
-MTV news podcast

Magazines...

Nothing like good old fashion magazines for those silent moments in the can :)
Here's what I subscribe too: Relevant Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, TIME Magazine & Men's Health - ( TIME & Men's Health are coming to an end, I might not renew it since the online version is just as good) Ohh... and just for the record - marcy subscribes to "Cooking Light". There's just something about holding a magazine and rolling it up afterwards that makes it irreplaceable... and plus - I just love smelling all the free fold out cologne samples ;)

TV...

I wouldn't be watching TV if it weren't for DISH DVR. It's what I want when I want it... selfish, I know ... but "it is what it is"! You may have TiVo, Apple TV, or IpTv - it's all very similar. It's the modern day VCR minus the dusty VHS tapes.
For us (Marcy & I), TV has become simply for entertainment and laughter... we normally watch TV while working out at home or with guests. Here's a current list of what we're recording... no news! :[

-SNL (For sure!!) reruns, new ones - all of them !
-Late night w/ Conan
-Letterman & Leno (I just watch the music acts) ;)
-Ed Young TV
-Cirque du Soleil stuff
-Influence w/ T.G.
-Planet Earth (the footage is amazing)
-Selected Socer Games (Brazil)
-Church Stuff... (yup.. I actually watch church stuff - the good kind)


Phone...

Aside from my Blackberry's basic functions.. which keeps me connected to my email, texting, twitter & more... I recently signed up with SPINvox which emails me my voice mail messages! So when I'm in meeting and can't take a call - someone will leave a message and it will be converted to text and emailed to me in under 5 minutes. I could then see it on my blackberry or my laptop. It's free... check it out.


Bible...

Sometimes we can get get caught up in the information explosion and allow these things to compete with the true source of information, one that has been around long before blogs, podcasts or any other weird gadget. God's word is by far more powerful than all these tools combined. Before you check your blogs or listen to your Podcasts... let me encourage you to purposefully stop and read His word. These tech tools only exist to help us be smart with our time and more efficient... let them help you make even more time for Him.

You see... news becomes old, podcasts come and go, blogs disappear, songs become overplayed, magazines become outdated but God's word never changes and His love never fails !! He is the same yesterday,today and forever - Hebrews 13:8


I'd love to hear your tips & suggestions ... post them here


The Best is yet to Come...

Microsoft Surface .. just a big iPhone

Aside from the nationwide buzz on the iPhone
- Microsoft has been running after a buzz of it's own with the new Microsoft "Surface". Find out more about it over at microsoft.com/surface (i purposely refuse to link it from my blog and ruin my future mac endorsement):) However ... here's a great spoof on the surface that will save you some time and give you a good laugh. Pardon the mild language (i tried bleeping it for all you conservatives out there, but was not successful...It's simply for dramatic effect - you'll get over it! By the way ... it's a sarcastic video for you slow "microsofties" out there...so I don't wanna hear any Uhhh I don't get it ;)

EXTREME WEEK

May I present to you the Extreme Week Band !!! We've been rocking and rolling in front of an auditorium packed with the most energetic kids I've ever seen !!! They jump, shout, scream, dance ... it's extremely crazy! There's also nothing like seeing the future of our church in worship ... I must say its one of the highlights of my worship leading thus far. Monday night we closed the set with "How Great is Our God" - every kid in the room had their hands raised up high and their voices united in one song. It was sweet...God sure is Great!! There's still one more night of Extreme week left and then the big Finale - KIDZ BLITZ! Bring your kids on by....

The Real Goofy

Alright guys.. here's a little challenge for you all. Who's the real goofy? Look closely, one of them is actually not real!!

Mouth + Trumpet = Mumpet

Here's a cool clip of a Brazilian Jazz singer doing her thing ... wait and watch until she starts doing her "Mumpet" thing ... it's crazy !! FYI, it's a clip taken from Brazil's version of Jay Leno ... he's called "Jo Soares" and is the man to watch after midnight. Good call dad! Valeu Pai! Enjoy

Resiliant Life ...(cont)

While reading A Resilient Life last week, I took some notes worth sharing regarding the stages & questions we encounter once we choose the resilient life path. I'd like to hear your feedback... is anyone asking themselves these questions? Holla back...

The path to a Resilient Life is preparing for what is up ahead, what we are likely to face and where the possibilities and obstacles lie. We could all learn from those with acquired wisdom (and years) and be more prepared to answer these questions when they arrive. Here are some you might be asking right now ... and some you will be eventually.


20's - Wassap? or What's Up?
What kind of man/woman am I becoming?
Am I like my parents? Different ?
Can I love ? Am I lovable?
What will I do with my life?
Around what person or conviction will I organize my life?

30's - Who's Who?
How do I prioritize all the demands being made in my life?
How far can I go in fulfilling my sense of purpose?
Whom are the people I know and do life with?
New friendships become hard to establish ... old ones have drifted.
What does my spiritual life look like? Do I even have one?
Why am I not a better person?

40's - Who? Me?
Youthfulness and inexperience is no longer an excuse.
Who was I as a child and how did that influence who I am today?
Why do some people seem better off than I? Why am I disappointed in myself and others? WHy are limitations beginning to outnumber options? How can I impact/influence my generation? Why do I have so many uncertainties?

50's -What's happening?
Why is my body becoming unreliable? How do I deal with my failures and successes? How can my spouse and I reinvigorate our relationship now that the children are gone? Who are these young people who want to replace me? Will we afford retirement?

60's - When & How?
When do I stop doing the things that have defined me? Why do i feel ignored by a large part of the younger population? Who will be around me when I die? Who will go first? Why so many doubts and fears still? Are the things I've believed in capable of taking me to the end? Is there really life after death? What do I regret? What have I done that will outlive me?

70's & 80's - Remember me?

Does anyone remember or realize who I once was?
Is my story important to anyone?
How much of my life can I still control?
Is there anything I can still contribute?
Is God really there for me?
How will I die?
Heaven? what's it like?


These are the questions we must prepare for now and for the long run .... if you have no answers... your spirit will be fatigued and your vitality slashed... RUN a RESILIENT LIFE !! Anyone like to add from their life experience?

iFlat

Hey guys.... just found this really cool thing that will help you catch up on your reading, thinking and meditating. It's called the "iFlat" and it comes with NO JACK!! Yep that's right ... NO JACK ... that way .. you're forced to wait almost two hours for AAA to show up. Get your's today and let the reading begin. (batteries not included)

Live & Learn

Alright boys... here's a life lesson for ya'll in under 20 seconds!

Before there was Starbucks ...

So a Brazilian and a Cuban walk into a bar ... I mean - a restaurant. The Cuban goes, "Oye, why don't you order some coffee?" The Brazilian responds "Sure" - only to realize he didn't know how to. So the Brazilian began praying to St. Arbucks - but it didn't help. No Grandes, No Lattes, No Ventis - No pretty walls with printed urban landscapes, -No dimmed lights hanging from the lowered ceiling - No New York Times for him to hide behind - and worst of all NO T-mobile Wi-Fi for a quick Google check. So what did I do ... I mean ... "He" do ;) The Brazilain was embarassed but had to resort to the Cuban for help - and as a result he was lectured by the Cuban with a spanglish speech that began like this: Mijo! Before there was Starbucks, "existia" Cuban Coffee......

After three hours of "Coffee This, Fidel that" we finally ordered our Coffee. And you know what - it cost a buck !! So as a result - I've decided to educate my Gringo and non Cuban friends on how to order their coffee in South Florida. Please take notes...

Cuban Coffee 101

Cafe -(Kha-feh)
A straight shot of espresso with lots of sugar. Served in a small cup. Costs about $1 and comes with a free Cigar. Nah j/k

Cafe con leche-(Kha-feh kon leh-che)
A serving of mostly milk with some espresso. Prepared as ordered. Served in a regular cup with lipstick left from the previous customer. :)

Cortado-(Khor-tah-dou) - Literally means "cut" - half serving of espresso with another half of milk. Be careful when pronouncing since it sounds like a cuss word in some Cuban villages. You might literally get cut in that case.

Colada-(Kho-la-dah) - literally means "brew" - this is coffee at it's strongest form. Usually served in multiple mini sized cups by a 50 year old cuban lady with purple lipstick and a hair-net.


I would like to thank my Cuban friend iGor for educating me in the wonderful world of Cuban Coffee....... SEE YA AT STARBUCKS BRO!

And we're back ....

The past two weeks have been awesome... from catching up on my reading, playing ball with the guys to hanging out/cooking with my wife and even getting ordained. Whoo Hoo... only a "Toon Blog Recap" to summarize the highlights of the past 15 days... click to enlarge and pardon my drawing skills