So here it is, the eve of Father’s Day 2013.

As I’ve thought about it over the years, and in particular the past handful, I’m left in a state of not really knowing what to think of this day.

You see, I’m the product of this American society, raised in a broken (or as I refer to it, shattered) family.

The very abridged version: Parents divorced when I was 2, moved almost all the way across the country, mom remarried when I was 5. I remember being excited about that–that I’d finally have a dad.  He even shortly thereafter adopted my older sister and me. But that dream quickly evaporated…he was an alcoholic and was increasing violent as the years went on.  I left when I was 13, staying with relatives and then in foster care, and eventually back with my mother after she divorced him.

Fast-forward many years…both of these men passed away. And I learned more about them after their deaths than I ever did when they were alive. And in very positive ways. So this day leaves me conflicted. 

But it also leaves me more resolute than ever to ensure my kids aren’t conflicted like that by ensuring that I am present, involved, active, and most of all, that they know they are loved.

Am I perfect? Nope, not even close. But I am here, with them, loving them, guiding them, and changing the future so that we are no longer in bondage to the proverbial (and spiritual) sins of my fathers.

So on this day, here’s what I’d like to say to you all:

To those who had fathers present and active growing up…cherish them. Honer them.

To those whose fathers weren’t around but who are still alive…it’s never too late to restore that relationship, or even to begin it.

To those, like me, on the outside looking in…resolve today that you will change that for your kids. Step up.

Before we begin, I have a confession. You see, I’m not a Tom Cruise fan. I’ve never really found his acting all that stellar, not even way back when with Top Gun.

So that leaves me in a bit of a quandary…because I really liked the movie. And frankly, I think it might have been my favorite Cruise performance.

In the movie, he plays the main character, an Army vet (who was a military cop and investigator) with a bit of a reputation. He’s brilliant, he’s deadly, and after having dropped off the grid completely for a couple years, he’s mysterious. It’s a great combination.

In the opening of the movie, shot almost in silence, we see a shooter drive to a parking garage, assemble his rifle,and takes out 5 seemingly random people blocks away. The police quickly gather evidence, and apprehend their suspect in short order. The suspect, later brutally assaulted by inmates as he is transported, is hospitalized and unable to speak, but manages to scribble “Get Jack Reaper” on a notepad.

Only nobody knows how to reach him. At all.

He shows up on his own though, becoming, in short order, the defense’s investigator. Also in short order we begin seeing how things aren’t how they appear…how something’s not quite right.

Lots of action in the movie, including a scene where he does some incredibly painful, Steven Seagal-type moves…

Plus…and you can’t beat this: Robert Duvall, at 81 years young, as a former Marine Corp Gunnery Sergeant. I would’ve watched just to see him.

Plenty of action, plenty of plot twists…but again, it leaves me conflicted…because I liked the movie a lot…but it had Cruise in it…and I liked his performance.

As an aside…the female lead (Rosamund Pike) reminded me WAY too much of Kelly McGillis from Top Gun….but with a Mercedes instead of a horse. Not important to the movie, though…

If you haven’t heard of Copy from Barracuda Networks yet, well, you have now.

They offer an alternative to Dropbox and Box.com for online storage and file sharing…with some important differences:

1. More secure.
2. No size limits on files.
3. 15GB FREE…where others services limit you to 2GB or something much lower.
4. It’s from Barracuda Networks, not some company nobody’s ever heard of…they’ve been around a LONG time in enterprise security.

But there’s more. Oh, yes.

With this link, you can get another 5GB free.  So sign up now.

And a little tip once installed–was an answer to a question I sent Copy’s support. Copy creates a folder called “Copy” in the location of your choosing. But what if you don’t want to have to move other folders or files into that folder? Simple: within that Copy folder, create a shortcut to the folder or file you would want backed up…it will then follow that path and back it up. For instance, I’m using to have an automated backup of Documents and Pictures, primarily. So within the Copy folder, I created shortcuts to those folders.

If any questions on how to do that, please feel free to email or comment below.

Received a copy of Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole by Eric Mason to review.

Initially was drawn to the offer to review because of the title, but when I read the foreword was from Dr. Tony Evans, that sealed the deal, even though I’d not heard of Eric Mason. I liked the book for other reasons as well, though.

The premise of the book is that in order to restore our society and its ills (like the fatherless epidemic), we need to restore manhood. And in order to restore manhood, we need the gospel. Solid stuff.

I do have to say that, for me, it started off slow. Some of that was because of some of the background chapters, which were like building blocks for the later chapters.

Let me illustrate. I’m a dog earing reader (when it’s my own book, that is!)…and the below pic is this book.

While it may have started slow, when it picked up…it really picked up, as those dog ears show. The parts that really resonated with me were Chapters 7 and 8 (Restored Family and Restored Church). There’s a great balance of theology and practical application in the book, and fantastic illustrations (examples and stories, not pictures).

Throughout the book, Pastor Mason makes a superb case not only for men to be restored by the gospel, but to then take our proper place in our families, in our churches, and in society.  And here’s why:

“We cannot leave the functional leading of God’s people to chance. If we don’t take the initiative, the adversary gladly will, just as he has in the past. Nowhere in the biblical record do we find genocide to be gender-specific to women. There was genocide of nations, but when it came to God’s people, the devil always attacked the seed of the woman–the man. From Adam, to Moses, to the Lord Jesus, Satan knows that systematic change comes from men taking their proper place under the authority of Christ. I don’t mean to demean the glorious place of women; I do, however, feel a great need and urgency to bring light to a great need in our culture.”

Indeed.

Interested in reading more and being challenged in your thoughts of manhood? Check out Chapter 1 here…then pick up the book (the graphic at the top links to it on Amazon…or click here!)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7

Confession: when I’m wronged, I have a great desire to make it known and to right the wrong.

I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that.

But back a bit…in 2005, to be exact…as just one example…there was a time some things were being said about me both personally and professionally that were completely off-base. And I fought it…and fought it…and fought it some more. I documented, and I planned. And ended up leaving a particular company that I’d been at 6.5 years because of, or at least in great part due to (which in the IT industry is virtually forever).

In the end, though, that verse was a great reminder that in times like that, sometimes the best thing is to realize that what is sown will be reaped–on both sides. Not saying we shouldn’t stand up for ourselves, but sometimes the best revenge is letting the words and actions of those wronging you to catch up to them. And they will.  As will you. Go on with your life, doing what you are supposed to be doing.

In this particular case, my departure from the company was like the opening of a floodgate: within a month, another manager left; within three more, another…and the next year the trend continued.  And two years later, this long-time stable business of almost 20 years closed its doors because of the words and actions of the owner (new owner–founder sold the business a year before I left).  THAT was my professional vindication.

Best part was this: years later I’ve run into former clients that have told me their impression of the things that happened and things that were said. THAT was my personal vindication.

What examples do you have?

Morning cuddles… they make it all worth it.

Except for the taxes, maybe…but at least it softens the blow.

It’s story time once again folks, gather around. Tonight’s story is a dark tale of desolation and unimaginable horrors.

The dark portion refers mainly to the fact that we’re in Western Washington and it was–and is, in perpetuum (in the Greek language’s equivalent of the perfect present tense). Granted, it was morning, but it was still dark-ish, which in the literary sense is close enough.

With Sam in Korean class from 9 until noon, I decided to treat the other kiddos to hot chocolate at the nearby coffee shop.

We came back.

Now, while in some minds this might constitute a story in and of itself, we are not of that mindset. Plus we haven’t covered the unimaginable horrors…though by reading that, you are already imagining it.  You just created a paradox of sorts, so there’s that.

But that’s not quite horrific enough. I mean, seriously, we’re desensitized Americans.

As we were walking back into the house, one of the kids asked what happened to my foot.

I looked around, since I hadn’t noticed anything. Initially didn’t see anything, so out of morbid curiosity, continued to look.

And that’s when I saw the blood.

I didn’t react, fearing it would frighten the delicate children…they are homeschooled, so they aren’t nearly as desensitized as those properly-socialized kids. No, I remained strong. And stoic. Quite stoic, actually. A Herculean effort, but I maintained my composure.

But to increase awareness, I feel very strongly that I must share this tragedy with you, my people.

Brace yourself, for below is a picture of what I found.

Do not weep for me, for I survived.

It’s story time folks, gather around.

Tonight’s story takes place in a quiet, semi-lit, somewhat magical place called a bedroom. In that bedroom was a little girl whom we shall call Maggie.

Now Maggie was the sweetest little girl in all the land, and she was adored by nearly everyone she met.

But the particular night of our story, she was supposed to be laying in her bed sleeping. But later as her older princess sister Leeka went into the room, she found Maggie not only not asleep, but in a bit of a predicament.

Little Maggie had taken a small, white, smooth, and shiny orb that the locals call an airsoft pellet and inserted it into her royal nasal cavity. Way up.

The king was quickly summoned, since the royal physician was in a remote village doing some sort of royal physician-type activity., and the Queen was visiting another nearby kingdom.

The king could see the orb, and prepared to extract it. But the princess, right as he was able to maneuver the instrument to grasp the orb, didn’t like the uncomfortable feeling…even more than the uncomfortable feeling of the orb itself far into her nasal cavity.

So the princess was stood up, and preparations were made for an alternative treatment. Shortly thereafter, she sneezed…but without much of any movement by the orb. With encouragement of the king, and without any official decree regarding dungeons or towers, she sneezed again.

And out the orb fell. Albeit it slightly slimy.

Let’s face it…most of our Facebook Friend’s lists have grown beyond our actual, real-life, really-know-you friends.  And truth be told, we all have those handful of folks who post things that we don’t care to see, or whose opinions are less-than-desired, or who use Facebook as a recruiting tool for their MLM.

Here’s my easy two-step method for dealing with them.

Step One: at that first post that rubs you the wrong way, highlight their name, go to Settings, and select Only Important like below.

That will likely calm your Wall down quite a bit. However, if that person still gets past that level with something less than desired, there’s step two.

Step Two: once again click on their name, but rather than changing Settings, go down to the bottom and just click Unfriend. 

Simplistic? Absolutely.  That’s the beauty of it. Life is short…Facebook should be an avenue to connect and enjoy those connections.

Now go enjoy.

There’s been plenty of speculation about the tragedy in Boston, fueled in part by the investigation and not wanting to release information, partly by media not wanting to jump the gun regarding responsibility for the attack, partly because of conflicting reports, and some even speculate a conspiracy or cover-up. I think it’s easy to understand all of those reasons. And yet the withholding of information is what allows such speculation to exist and to grow.

What do you think?

I’ve been asked, and personally I do not believe in the idea of some sort of conspiracy involving government agencies for the same reasons I don’t believe the same theories about 9/11: it would take a monumental effort to not only create such a conspiracy, but to control it. People slip up. People talk. People boast. And in such cases, we’d be talking about a huge group of people involved.

What I do believe, though, is that there are plenty within the government who will absolutely use the tragedy to advance their agenda. Without a doubt. It was, after all, the former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel that exclaimed “[y]ou never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

I also think it’s telling that a number of media talking heads and certain government officials attempted to make an inference to “right-wing extremists” because it occurred on ‘Tax Day’.  I do not think that is the case at all–nor has it been historically in the U.S.–but I think it is, in fact, the direction they will try to take it barring any concrete evidence to the contrary or barring any cover-up that would show otherwise. Considering initial reports discussed a possible Saudi national under guard, that’s a real possibility.

But I’m interested in what others think about the situation. What do you think happened? What do you think politically will happen as a result? And more importantly, why?