Harry's Ruminations

Ah, so, Google Reader .  It's going away in July 2013. Yes, this is another rant decrying the shutdown of Google Reader.  However, it's my process for working through losing the app I've used every day since it was announced.  I mean that.  Every. Day. I've used Google Reader so long, I don't remember what I used before it to read RSS feeds; I vaguely  recall using NetNewsWire or some other installed application, but those never felt right.  Just as with email, the concept of sync'ing internet content to my PC never felt right. I've gone on fasts;  I've been off facebook for years at a time, I've demurred and neglected twitter, but if I've had access to an internet-connected anything (PC, laptop, smartphone, Kindle), rest assured I was checking my feeds. Why?  And why isn't twitter or something similar a good substitute? Leaving aside twitter for a moment, the simple answer is speed and uniformity.   Speed : Unlike most

Most New Year's Resolutions fail. If you doubt this, look at your waistline, your bank account, and the amount you spend on your particular vice(s). So, how are  mine going ? Status at the moment: Small Group leadership.  I've sucked at this one, at least in the short term.  I did ask my co-leader to take over, and he did a wonderful job.  I'm back at the helm through the end of this term, but I remain undeterred that I'm going to step out of small group leadership (and small groups) next fall.  Rating: Fail. Facebook.  I'm out, and I've stayed out.  The app is not on my phone, and I have no desire to go back.  Rating: Winning. Kindle Bible study.  This one was classic:  I did it like gangbusters for 2 weeks, then...uh.  Basically, I was on day 12 of my study in January,  then I loaded it this morning and I was on Day 12.  Rating: Fail. Writing code every day.  At this point, I'm writing code at least every week....Rating: Fail. Stop watching TV

"Are these your kids?!" the 50-ish man leaned over and asked me.  Despite the din of 100+ decibel music, he seemed calm and his voice was clear.  We were second row back on the center stage, and Jamie Grace  just got done strumming her guitar in a duet with Toby Mac.  My son Joey was star struck, and Caleb looked like he'd just wet his pants when TobyMac strolled casually in on his part of the song, Hold Me . "Yup!  Well, this one is and the one in the green is a kid from our church." "Want to come backstage with me?" At that point, my mind went TILT .  Seriously?  Backstage...I told the boys to follow on and I passed my dumbstruck wife and mouthed the words. "We're" "Going" "Backstage" * * * How did we get here?  Remarkable coincidences abounded. Once my wife saw on Facebook that Winterjam was coming to Rupp, she posed-up to get a group from our church together to go.  There are two ways to get in:  Yo