Wow, I almost hate to use that word at all anymore. However I am changing my work group at NML from being a software architect in Investment Products to being a "free range" architect in the Agency Business Systems/TNC (The Network Connection) area.
I didn't so much choose this group at this time as I am being redeployed to a group that has projects to work on. This is a good thing as there are not a lot of development projects in my current group to work on. Whereas at one time I interviewed to be in one sub-group of the 4 sub-groups represented within this organization, I wasn't necessarily looking to go there now. They just grabbed me because they remember me from those interviews. At the time they were debating between Siebel expert or Java Architect...they went Siebel Architect. Now look who wants the Java architect after all.
I like that I will be floating across all 4 groups designing software for a wide variety of applications. I think this makes a little more sense anyways. Software architecture should be kept at a domain level anyways.
I have to move to the Van Buren building. I don't know where I'll be yet but I doubt it will be as cushy and nice as my corner window location I have now. Plus I have the airconditioning vents blowing on me all summer. ..it is so awesome and if we ever have a very cool federal trial, I have a perfect vantage point for watching it in the federal courthouse across the street. Oh well. I'd rather be busy and engaged than bored and properly chilled.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Victory and St. Marcus Update
It surely was a great weekend for Victory of the Lamb. This last weekend we hosted our 2nd annual Easter for Kids. Last year we had nearly 70 and this year we had 93 kids. Many of the kids were unchurched and were from families that we have not met before. The community is getting familiar with our distinctive Victory postcards I believe. That is 93 kids who got the true Easter message in stories, games, and crafts. Each event we do is growing larger and larger.
So is our congregation. We are moving to the Showtime Cinema across the highway on May 3rd. We will now be able to have a small theater and meeting rooms for the kids ministry and a theater that seats 270 for church. We are working on expanding the team that makes church happen each Sunday. Set up is more complex now. We are getting new sound equipment to #1 upgrade our sound for music but also #2 to make our band properly portable as we need to be to use a theater. We are also improving in videotaping services and providing a live feed of the service to the lobby.
The Victory Cafe will be our fellowship time now but will be bagel's/donuts and premium coffee before church. There is a nice little "cafe" like seating area with 10 or so tables with chairs. Ike is the official coffee barista for the church and has been serving Ike's Sunday Morning Blend for two years now almost. I think with the upgrade of our coffee blend he just might want to consider starting a chain of church coffee cafes. He has done wonders making 100 cup pots of Folger's so far. Imagine what he could do with Stone Creek or Alterra.
We will need a decent sized team to setup and take down each week as well as greeters and people to help direct people where to go and how things work. It’s going to be exciting to move to this next phase of Victory's growth. We are only increasing our capacity for a service by 100. Unfortunately I think we will be filling this somewhat quickly. I'm actually a little concerned as to what we will do a year from now. I suspect a 2nd service will be needed and it will need to be at 8:00 am. Then the Cafe will be operating as fellowship time after the 8:00am service and before the 9:30 service. That might be a good time for the two groups to mix. Who knows? That is a little ways off but unfortunately not as far away as we might think.
Pastor gave a small financial report yesterday and I was particularly gratified to see that we are ahead of schedule to becoming self-supporting. We are at 80% self-supporting in just two years. Our goal was to be 100% self supporting in 3 and we are definitely ahead of our goal for that. In addition to that our Land fund has been blessed as well. Not bad for a church that started out 2 years ago with 10 people and only a small amount of money.
St. Marcus
I went to St. Marcus last night for 6:30 church because Kt wanted to go to the contemporary service. She had gone to St. Marcus for the 10:30 traditional service because Ike had to sing for church and she had to drive him. Kt was a lil freaked out that they knelt for their confession and not keen on the traditional service. She also was not thrilled missing Victory in the morning so she figured she'd go hear Pastor Ben preach at St. Marcus. Our pastor has been filling in for the contemporary services at St. Marcus until they fill that pastor vacancy (the pastor who is considering the call was there last night visiting)
At the end of the service, they gave an update on their building project. They have some designs that they are gathering input on. Basically they are doubling the size of the school from 340 students to 700 (currently there is a waiting list to get in). The entire plant/campus plan is 10 million and they will start building when they have 8 million. Currently they have $4 million so they are doing pretty well. The plan is to start building in 2010 and deliver the building in summer 2011. Too bad..Ike will be gone by then. I guess it wouldn't matter as they would be using the addition for the younger grades and keep the middle school where it is and just give them more room to expand.
I continue to be impressed with the ministry here as it flourishes even in the inner city. God be praised for all the success.
So is our congregation. We are moving to the Showtime Cinema across the highway on May 3rd. We will now be able to have a small theater and meeting rooms for the kids ministry and a theater that seats 270 for church. We are working on expanding the team that makes church happen each Sunday. Set up is more complex now. We are getting new sound equipment to #1 upgrade our sound for music but also #2 to make our band properly portable as we need to be to use a theater. We are also improving in videotaping services and providing a live feed of the service to the lobby.
The Victory Cafe will be our fellowship time now but will be bagel's/donuts and premium coffee before church. There is a nice little "cafe" like seating area with 10 or so tables with chairs. Ike is the official coffee barista for the church and has been serving Ike's Sunday Morning Blend for two years now almost. I think with the upgrade of our coffee blend he just might want to consider starting a chain of church coffee cafes. He has done wonders making 100 cup pots of Folger's so far. Imagine what he could do with Stone Creek or Alterra.
We will need a decent sized team to setup and take down each week as well as greeters and people to help direct people where to go and how things work. It’s going to be exciting to move to this next phase of Victory's growth. We are only increasing our capacity for a service by 100. Unfortunately I think we will be filling this somewhat quickly. I'm actually a little concerned as to what we will do a year from now. I suspect a 2nd service will be needed and it will need to be at 8:00 am. Then the Cafe will be operating as fellowship time after the 8:00am service and before the 9:30 service. That might be a good time for the two groups to mix. Who knows? That is a little ways off but unfortunately not as far away as we might think.
Pastor gave a small financial report yesterday and I was particularly gratified to see that we are ahead of schedule to becoming self-supporting. We are at 80% self-supporting in just two years. Our goal was to be 100% self supporting in 3 and we are definitely ahead of our goal for that. In addition to that our Land fund has been blessed as well. Not bad for a church that started out 2 years ago with 10 people and only a small amount of money.
St. Marcus
I went to St. Marcus last night for 6:30 church because Kt wanted to go to the contemporary service. She had gone to St. Marcus for the 10:30 traditional service because Ike had to sing for church and she had to drive him. Kt was a lil freaked out that they knelt for their confession and not keen on the traditional service. She also was not thrilled missing Victory in the morning so she figured she'd go hear Pastor Ben preach at St. Marcus. Our pastor has been filling in for the contemporary services at St. Marcus until they fill that pastor vacancy (the pastor who is considering the call was there last night visiting)
At the end of the service, they gave an update on their building project. They have some designs that they are gathering input on. Basically they are doubling the size of the school from 340 students to 700 (currently there is a waiting list to get in). The entire plant/campus plan is 10 million and they will start building when they have 8 million. Currently they have $4 million so they are doing pretty well. The plan is to start building in 2010 and deliver the building in summer 2011. Too bad..Ike will be gone by then. I guess it wouldn't matter as they would be using the addition for the younger grades and keep the middle school where it is and just give them more room to expand.
I continue to be impressed with the ministry here as it flourishes even in the inner city. God be praised for all the success.
Next Up...the Auto Industry
Today I read in the paper that Obama is giving the Auto industry the heave ho. This could just be some political grandstanding to distract voters who are still pissed about AIG but the gist of the story was that GM and Chrysler have missed their deadlines, are not meeting the current terms of their loans and won’t be able to meet the requirements of the additional requests either. If that were to hold true, that means that Chrysler and GM would either need to close up shop and sell things off, or declare bankruptcy and try to reorganize.
Now no one would want to see 150,000 people without jobs because those two companies went under, not to mention the many other jobs out there that supply the auto industry. I believe my mother’s former employer that she retired from, Hamlin Electronics and its parent company KSS, would be one of those companies severely hurt as they supply air bag sensors to airbag manufacturers. I don’t want to give the impression that I would relish in that individual financial toll. I have lived that problem after a shakeup in the Internet industry. It’s not fun losing your job and eventually your house, cars, retirement accounts, and racking up debt that might take ohhh 6-7 years to just get on top of not to mention repay it all. If you’ve ever had to get food from a church food pantry you’ll have a good idea of what I’m talking about. It’s not something you wish on someone, but on the other hand it was something that has strengthened me and taught me valuable life lessons. Amazingly enough I recovered without any kind of government assistance and ironically a great part of the debt I was repaying was a crushing burden of taxes. It’s striking how the assistance and help of Christian friends and family pulled us through. This is the model of America I strive for….oh but that would rely on Christian values to provide the nations charity. We wouldn’t want to advocate that.
However I would have to admit I would love to see that kind of shakeup in the American auto industry. I would think it should knock the unions back to the stone ages in terms of their 50 – 60 year expansion of wages and benefits well beyond the scope of reasonable. I would think this will not serve Obama well as he lines up a few hundred thousand union workers (also called voters) and summarily betrays them. I'd think this would be like shooting Old Yeller for the democrats. Do you see me doing a little jig? So I’m waiting for Sally Struthers to do a commercial showing the starving children of autoworkers and we can help them with as little as $3000 a month. This should persuade the administration and the democratic majorities to pass whatever stimulus is needed for the auto industry.
No matter what happens this should be interesting.
Now no one would want to see 150,000 people without jobs because those two companies went under, not to mention the many other jobs out there that supply the auto industry. I believe my mother’s former employer that she retired from, Hamlin Electronics and its parent company KSS, would be one of those companies severely hurt as they supply air bag sensors to airbag manufacturers. I don’t want to give the impression that I would relish in that individual financial toll. I have lived that problem after a shakeup in the Internet industry. It’s not fun losing your job and eventually your house, cars, retirement accounts, and racking up debt that might take ohhh 6-7 years to just get on top of not to mention repay it all. If you’ve ever had to get food from a church food pantry you’ll have a good idea of what I’m talking about. It’s not something you wish on someone, but on the other hand it was something that has strengthened me and taught me valuable life lessons. Amazingly enough I recovered without any kind of government assistance and ironically a great part of the debt I was repaying was a crushing burden of taxes. It’s striking how the assistance and help of Christian friends and family pulled us through. This is the model of America I strive for….oh but that would rely on Christian values to provide the nations charity. We wouldn’t want to advocate that.
However I would have to admit I would love to see that kind of shakeup in the American auto industry. I would think it should knock the unions back to the stone ages in terms of their 50 – 60 year expansion of wages and benefits well beyond the scope of reasonable. I would think this will not serve Obama well as he lines up a few hundred thousand union workers (also called voters) and summarily betrays them. I'd think this would be like shooting Old Yeller for the democrats. Do you see me doing a little jig? So I’m waiting for Sally Struthers to do a commercial showing the starving children of autoworkers and we can help them with as little as $3000 a month. This should persuade the administration and the democratic majorities to pass whatever stimulus is needed for the auto industry.
No matter what happens this should be interesting.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Word of the Week
For my readers under the age of 5, I apologize profusely for not putting out last week's word. I'm sure this put a damper on the pre-school playground conversation. In any case I have an excellent word this week. I decided that it would be the word after watching Obama on Leno. This week's word is:
Codswallop:
Here are some sentences that contain codswallop:
"But I think the most important thing that we can do is make sure that we put in a bunch of financial regulatory mechanisms to prevent companies like an AIG holding the rest of us hostage..." (this is a nice was of saying socialism)
"The change I'd like to see in terms of tax policy is that we have a system, going back to where we were back in the 1990s, where you and I who are doing pretty well pay a little bit more to pay for health care, to pay for energy, to make sure that kids can go to college who aren't as fortunate as our -- as my kids might be." (like the AMT maybe...grrrr)
"Most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal. And that is a sign of how much we've got to change our laws -- right? We were talking earlier about credit cards, and it's legal to charge somebody 30 percent on their credit card, and charge fees and so forth that people don't always know what they're getting into. So the answer is to deal with those laws in a way that gives the average consumer a break." (or PERHAPS the average consumer should wise up their little tuckus so we don't have to have 3.2 trillion laws for the lowest common denominator...I think the movie Idiocracy is coming true)
When you buy a toaster, if it explodes in your face there's a law that says your toasters need to be safe. But when you get a credit card, or you get a mortgage, there's no law on the books that says if that explodes in your face financially, somehow you're going to be protected." (who says there should be...because living life is a risk. It requires education, patience, and an ability to adjust when the Sh*t goes down. It is totally worth it to retain true freedom. We do NOT need the government as our salvation. Go to CHURCH maybe)
To my readers under 5. Do not believe these sleek, suave, sophisticated lines of codswallop. They are all ways that will slowly rob the American people of the ability to think, act, create, and build. By devoiding the country of Christian values....the very values that feed charity, and good to our fellowman...there is a void for the government to step into and be the new "heart" of the country. I think you will find that for all the good to fellow man the current administration wants to achieve they are the very ones removing it.
codswallop.
Codswallop:
Here are some sentences that contain codswallop:
"But I think the most important thing that we can do is make sure that we put in a bunch of financial regulatory mechanisms to prevent companies like an AIG holding the rest of us hostage..." (this is a nice was of saying socialism)
"The change I'd like to see in terms of tax policy is that we have a system, going back to where we were back in the 1990s, where you and I who are doing pretty well pay a little bit more to pay for health care, to pay for energy, to make sure that kids can go to college who aren't as fortunate as our -- as my kids might be." (like the AMT maybe...grrrr)
"Most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal. And that is a sign of how much we've got to change our laws -- right? We were talking earlier about credit cards, and it's legal to charge somebody 30 percent on their credit card, and charge fees and so forth that people don't always know what they're getting into. So the answer is to deal with those laws in a way that gives the average consumer a break." (or PERHAPS the average consumer should wise up their little tuckus so we don't have to have 3.2 trillion laws for the lowest common denominator...I think the movie Idiocracy is coming true)
When you buy a toaster, if it explodes in your face there's a law that says your toasters need to be safe. But when you get a credit card, or you get a mortgage, there's no law on the books that says if that explodes in your face financially, somehow you're going to be protected." (who says there should be...because living life is a risk. It requires education, patience, and an ability to adjust when the Sh*t goes down. It is totally worth it to retain true freedom. We do NOT need the government as our salvation. Go to CHURCH maybe)
To my readers under 5. Do not believe these sleek, suave, sophisticated lines of codswallop. They are all ways that will slowly rob the American people of the ability to think, act, create, and build. By devoiding the country of Christian values....the very values that feed charity, and good to our fellowman...there is a void for the government to step into and be the new "heart" of the country. I think you will find that for all the good to fellow man the current administration wants to achieve they are the very ones removing it.
codswallop.
Welcome to Referred Ichabod Readers
When I insert pictures of cats.... they are my own cats.
I took this last night and we can say this represents
Ichabod cramming Lutheranism into a small box.
I have also posted my own thoughts on the ....oh what’s a good word for lunacy...."interesting" spin put on things in Ichabod maybe only two times. Every so often it seems like a good idea. Quite honestly, if Greg stuck with political and economic posts, I would find it so much more appealing and credible.
However, his posts on many things he opposes in WELS Lutherandom are just so unsubstantiated, unresearched, taken out of context, and certainly not considered in the best possible light. I think in general If I would use one phrase to describe his blog I would say "non sequitur." This stands in stark contrast to his many degrees he has obtained because the information he presents lacks all the research, scholarship, and critical thinking you'd expect of someone with that kind of education. If he applied that kind of scholarship to the information he spews out there at least it might lend to a nice debate or study opportunity. I'm always up for that. He is no Freddy Finkelstein, that's for sure.
In the spirit of Ichabod though I did come up with my own nickname for Ichabod. I call it Area 51. I have referred to Greg as Joe McCarthy. I used these nicknames because, due to the yellow journalism aspect of the blog, any followers who can give any factual credence to the information presented would automatically be susceptible to believing in UFO's, the shooter in the grassy knoll, and Area 51. I use Joe McCarthy because Greg clearly got a few things stuck in his craw in the early 90's because 15 years later they still come up over and over again. He has been on a witch hunt ever since to the point where his personal vendetta clouds any sense of rationalism. Maybe Don Quixote would be a good one to use although I'm sure Greg would rather be "the voice of one calling in the desert.."
Now, I don't want to leave this on a negative note. I like Greg. I respect that he gives his unadulterated opinions. That is what the blogosphere is about. I like his sarcasm. I know so many get their undies in a bundle about such things but I always respect a healthy sense of sarcasm. That might be because I am similarly sarcastic. I get a little dismayed when people who disagree with him (who will be summarily attacked back no doubt) go crying about the 8th commandment even when they are "on my side." I guess I don't like seeing any side of a debate being such a bunch of pussies. I admit his "ohh not the 8th commandment again.." graphic makes me smile every time. I like his politics. For the few items he adds about politics and economics I actually appreciate. You need people out there like Greg if only to sharpen your own mind, your own positions, and at times do the research to validate what you believe and Greg will certainly help you do that.
So welcome Ichabod readers!! I'm guessing I'll be more glad to have you than you will to be here. Oh and here I won’t care about your spelling. You can save the spell check for your Thesis or perhaps an upcoming syndicated columnist deal.
Dartball
In the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel today there was an article on the recreational game of Dartball. It talked about its origins and its somewhat aging and dying continuance in various church leagues. This is something that although I don't think my family ever participated in I know my churhes in my youth had a dartball team. However, this article had some quotes from some aged individuals that just cracked me up. Maybe its not that amusing for you but I found these quotes awesome. Here is the end of the article containing the awesome quotes.
"Unlike many of the players who have been tossing darts since they were in high school, George Brill took up dartball 10 years after retiring from a welding career. That was two decades ago. Now a spry 91, Brill said he enjoyed the camaraderie of dartball, though he lamented his lackluster play.
"I think I've got the lowest average in the league," Brill said. "That's because I can't feel some of my fingers."
Denis Larsen has played dartball for 44 years, and he said the key to playing well was keeping his throwing arm in shape. He didn't say how he does that.
Why has he played so long? "It's a night out of the house," said Larsen, 62, a retired church custodian.
Just then, a shout erupted from the Brown Deer United Methodist Church team. James Sheldon, 81, nailed a home run on his first throw. His excited teammates high-fived Sheldon.
"Hey, I'm happy. My eyesight is so bad, I can't see where the darts go," said Sheldon, who has played dartball since 1956 and whose son, Harry, is a teammate.
Told that at least he didn't have to run the bases, Sheldon gasped and said, "But I'm still out of breath."
When I'm 91 or 81 thats what I want. I want to do an activity I love and be able to say. I don't do so well because I can't feel my fingers...or I can't really see where I throw the darts anymore....How awesome would that be.
"Unlike many of the players who have been tossing darts since they were in high school, George Brill took up dartball 10 years after retiring from a welding career. That was two decades ago. Now a spry 91, Brill said he enjoyed the camaraderie of dartball, though he lamented his lackluster play.
"I think I've got the lowest average in the league," Brill said. "That's because I can't feel some of my fingers."
Denis Larsen has played dartball for 44 years, and he said the key to playing well was keeping his throwing arm in shape. He didn't say how he does that.
Why has he played so long? "It's a night out of the house," said Larsen, 62, a retired church custodian.
Just then, a shout erupted from the Brown Deer United Methodist Church team. James Sheldon, 81, nailed a home run on his first throw. His excited teammates high-fived Sheldon.
"Hey, I'm happy. My eyesight is so bad, I can't see where the darts go," said Sheldon, who has played dartball since 1956 and whose son, Harry, is a teammate.
Told that at least he didn't have to run the bases, Sheldon gasped and said, "But I'm still out of breath."
When I'm 91 or 81 thats what I want. I want to do an activity I love and be able to say. I don't do so well because I can't feel my fingers...or I can't really see where I throw the darts anymore....How awesome would that be.
Friday, March 20, 2009
More Proof of Squirrel Organization
In today's Journal-Sentinel, I found an interesting article about a Man's battle with a squirrel. I just want to keep people aware of the increasing number of squirrel attacks. These are the creatures we want to put corn on a stump for? I think not.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/41540672.html
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/41540672.html
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