andrew dodson

Don’t worry, Tim.  We’ve all been there.  Not long ago, back in 2004, I was a pro-Windows, pro-PC guy.  I didn’t see what the fuss about Apple was all about.  PCs were cheaper and usually had more bells and whistles than Macs.  In the MP3 player world, I had a Creative Nomad that was 20GB and worked perfectly – even looked a lot like an iPod.  Then, I started working at CLS – an all-Mac facility – and started seeing what the fuss was all about.

Today’s post over at Challies talks about the process a lot of PC users go through in their switch to Apple.  Along the way, he talks about people like me:

What I’ve come to realize is that I don’t dislike Apple computers. No, I just dislike the people who use them! I’ll grant that there are some exceptions, some people who are humble Mac users. But far too often I’ve come across these Mac apologists, the kind who feel the need to disparage all things Microsoft and to boast in their own superiority. They are the ones who make you feel like you’re missing out, like you’d be so much better and more popular if you’d just become part of the in-crowd.

Plain and simple – everyone should use a Mac. They just make life much easier.

My iPology :: technology :: A Reformed, Christian Blog.

ABC has posted the video of their story on Mark Driscoll at the link below:

ABC Nightline video with Mark Driscoll.

Last night, ABC Nightline aired a story on Mark Driscoll.  Overall, I thought it presented Driscoll as he is – a little bit edgy, and someone who pushes the envelope (not in a bad way).  I couldn’t help but think while I was watching it that ABC was trying to make him look like a loon, but they just couldn’t.

Here is a link to a print story on their website:

ABC News: Pastor Dude’s Mega-Church Draws Crowds.

If I can find the video on YouTube, I’ll post that as well.

What the Web knows about you.

(ht: Challies)

Check out the photos page for galleries from Christmas and the Abbott Family Danglethon.

There is snow on the ground right now, and that is a very good thing.  We didn’t end up getting as much as expected in Frankfort, which is a bummer.  I was pretty anxious for the possibility of eight or nine inches of snow.  Oh well.

Snow days seem to be a good day for everyone to catch up with life.  I was just on Facebook and noticed a lot of my friends uploading pictures, videos, changing their profile pictures, and updating their status to the likes of “I didn’t go to work today, so I’m cleaning the house.”  I figured I’d use part of my snow day to post on the ol’ blog.

As of a couple of weeks ago, I am now a full-time freelancer.  After four and a half years, I decided to leave CLS.  I enjoyed my time at CLS, but really felt like it was time to pursue either BADmedia full-time, or see what other web and graphic jobs are out there in the world.  So far, I’ve applied for a few full-time jobs, but haven’t landed anything yet.  If I am offered a job, it will be a tough decision to choose between the security of a full-time job, or the freedom of freelancing.  I have really enjoyed freelancing for the past few weeks, and it’s been amazing to see God’s faithfulness in this time.  Despite leaving a good full-time job, I’ve been able to get by for the month of January, with jobs continuing to line up for February.  God is good.

In a way, every day has become a “snow day” for me.  I am able to set my own hours and do the work when I want.  I can work from coffee shops, restaurants, parks, bookstores, libraries – anywhere with free Wi-Fi.  It also means I no longer have the option of saying, “I’ve been too busy to blog.”  Hopefully that means I’ll be able to post more often, which I will enjoy.  Enjoy your snow day!

Christmas and New Year’s came and went very quickly for me this year.  One of my least favorite responses to the question, “How are you?” is something to the effect of saying I’ve been busy.  Seems that everyone is busy these days.  But, I can’t remember having a busier December than 2008.  CLS was rockin’, we were preparing and performing Behold the Lamb of God, I had a recording or two to work on, shopping for Christmas, parties to attend, and so on.  It was all very good stuff that I enjoyed, but it wore me out!  It wasn’t until this past New Year’s long weekend that I was able to catch up on rest.

The new year is always exciting.  What’s in store?  I tend to shy away from resolutions, but I do like to come up with mottos for each new year.  This year, I’m thinking “Humility. Faith. Obedience.“  Here’s what’s on my mind:

Humility

This may come as a shock to some, but I have not been blessed with a great amount of humility.  I am well aware of my self-centeredness the majority of the time, and the fact that I can often react like a jerk if a situation isn’t going how I would like.  So, this is an area I’d like to improve this year.  Thinking of others first.  Are their needs being met?  If you’re reading this and thinking, “I can’t wait to see how this plays out,” I would ask for your grace and patience while I try to better myself.  Humbly, of course!

Faith

Such an easy thing to overlook sometimes.  In my self-centeredness, I often forget how utterly dependent I am upon God.  Coupled with faith is trust.  Am I trusting God in every area of my life?  Do I have faith that He will continue working in my life just as He has done to this point?  Faith is a huge topic.  I could write for days on faith.  Not today, though.

Obedience

Bottom line – am I being obedient to God?  Do I do the things He asks and requires of me?  The first step in obedience is digging into the Bible to see what God wants from me.  The next step is putting those things into practice.  I haven’t always been the best at putting them into practice.  I’m hoping I can do a better job of this in 2009.

This inspiration for this motto:

Micah 6:8

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?