Andrew Minchew's Blog

Getting more faith.

2009-09-15T09:30:00.002-05:00

Sometime ago, I heard someone say that sometimes, when we ask God for something like more faith, more peace, more passion for prayer, etc he doesn't just give us more, he gives us the opportunity to practice that thing that we has ask for more of.

For the past few months, I have been praying for more faith and more peace. Let me tell you this, "Be careful what you pray for."

It would be an understatement to say that God has given me opportunities to practice faith, peace, and contentment.

God has had it on our heart to move somewhere that will put us around new people, to minister in a new way. After looking far and wide, we found that place in the heart of Houston. So after looking for three months, Susan found a place on Craigslist two hours after it was posted, we checked it out that evening, and signed the lease the next day. This is warp speed compared to how I make decisions, especially regarding money. But an opportunity to practice faith, that this is what God has for us.

A week later, Susan and I found out we would be parents! If this wasn't an opportunity to practice faith and peace, I don't know what is! So I started practicing! And, I started practicing daily prayer and devotion a lot more regularly. A month ago, I was fearful, worried, and unrested on an almost hourly basis, thinking about how we would handle this new responsibility.

But over the past month or so, after daily being reminded by myself, by God's word, and by others, I have come to hold in my heart the assertion that God will provide for all our needs. And he has!

More thoughts on Twitter, and the nature of 'real-time'

2009-09-13T20:44:00.002-05:00

So, I've been trying to pin down exactly why I am losing love for 'real time', Twitter, etc. and I may have a few more thoughts...

Too much tweets!
Everytime I open up a Twitter app and see all those tweets stacking up, 15-30 per hour, and I follow about 60 people. When I see those tweets, its like an amplified version of the anxiety I feel after not checking Google Reader for a while. Its like I feel responsible for reading all those missed posts. I know I don't really have to, but its that sense of 'I mighta missed somethin' that isn't healthy. Why would I bring that upon myself?!

Context is King
I hate @replies. Why? Because there's no context to them. On most other social networks, (particularly one that rhymes with space-rook) you comment on stories, posts, pictures, etc. But if you wait for an hour, a day, even a WEEK (which might as well be an eternity in'real-time'), there is still context to your comment. In the Twitter-sphere, replying to something a day later is, in my humble opinion, out of context. And I know that some Twitter apps thread replies, etc, but even so, I'm just not comfortable replying to anything more than ten-minutes old.

Useful? Yes. Social network? No.
I don't think I'll quit Twitter forever. I definitely won't be giving up my sweet username. It's just not gonna be my social network. At least not in its current state. And not in my current state. I'll get my networking done somehow.

UPDATE:
I'm easing back into Twitter.

image courtesy of flickr user carrotcreative

Dear Twitter, I quit.

2009-09-04T12:32:00.001-05:00

Dear Twitter,

I quit. Sorta. I think you might be eating my soul-parts. I'll still have to use you for workly things, but for personal interactions, I'm going old school. Facebook. Yea, I know, that's not really old school, but I also intend to blog more. Not so much for my readers, but for myself. In some crooked way, my devotion to telling the interwebs about what I'm doing using more than 140 characters at a time is cathartic. That's all for now. I'm sure you won't miss me much. Celebrities and spam-bots seem to be keeping you pretty busy these days anyway.

Sincerely,

Andrew Minchew

PS - I'll write you back next Friday to let you know how things are going for me.

15 Pounds Later

2009-07-24T18:35:00.005-05:00

Hey interwebs. I weigh like 190 lbs now, about 15 lbs lighter than the last time I talked to you.
Anyways, I am still alive, etc. Seeking the will of God, loving my wife, and playing with my dog Max, who you haven't met yet. Here he is.

Other than that, not much is going on. I miss you, but until a big business decides to bring you to my home at a cost that is reasonable, I am bound to interact with you in Panera's and Starbucks's, and on my lunch hour, at work. I hope to be connected to you again sometime soon.

Sincerely,

andrewminchew@gmail.com

Too Much Sharing

2008-12-22T17:00:00.000-06:00

Something that has struck me lately is how easy it is for us all to share content with the world. With one click, I can share any webpage I want to share to multiple communities online, with the potential to reach millions and maybe billions of people...

But here's what I'm wondering now: when it is so easy to share the ideas of others, are we getting less and less practiced at being able to communicate OUR OWN ideas? I'd be interested to hear some thoughts on this.

Another life update.

2008-12-18T18:36:00.003-06:00

Back in May, I said some things about pursuing goals and having those goals resurrected in me. If you don't remember, here it is.

With that reference made, I am happy to announce that I am one major step closer to my goals. After 113 credit hours, 9 semesters, eight of them having classes in them, marrying the love of my life, two changes in my major, three new computers, and an unfortunate amount of students loans... I will... in January of 2009, receive my Associates Degree in General Studies from the South Campus of San Jacinto College.

Thank you, applause not necessary (this is the internet and I can't hear you.)

That is really all I wanted to share with you, internet. I am on the next phase of my life, and I'm happy about it. What does this phase include? Part of it is hopefully KILLING all my debt, supporting Susan as she finishes her BFA in Art from UHCL. Also, I intend on this next phase involving me losing approximately 25 pounds. There's more to it than those items, but you will hear about those later. Don't worry, the last two years of my education are indeed coming, but after this intermediate phase.

This chapter is called "LOSING WEIGHT, KILLING DEBTS"

bad news

2008-12-18T18:29:00.000-06:00

I wrote this in July, and just realized that I never posted it. For your reading pleasure, I will now share it.

---

i weighed myself last night.

2 0 0 L B S : (

this is quite a disappointment. i guess you'll all be hearing about my efforts at weightloss now too...

in other news...

some interesting facts on our economy:

The most recent Federal Reserve study showed that 43% of U.S. families spent more than they earned. On average, Americans spend $1.22 for each dollar they earn.

Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt.

As of April 2008, the total U.S. federal debt was approximately $9.5 trillion[2], about $31,100 per capita (that is, per U.S. resident). Of this amount, debt held by the public was roughly $5.3 trillion.[3] If, in addition, unfunded Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare, etc. promises are added, this figure rises to a total of $59.1 trillion.[4] In 2007, the public debt was 36.9 percent of GDP [5], with the total debt of 61% of GDP ranking 26th in the world.

I was going to make some brilliant proposals for how to save our economy, but it boils down to only spending money on the things that are important. Yes, society would collapse some, but it would even out. Right now the US economy is built on money that to some extent we didn't earn.

Progress, etc.

2008-12-04T23:17:00.004-06:00

If you're nerdy and even remotely involved in ministry, you will like this guys blog:

http://www.rhettsmith.com/

Recently, Rhett posted this video and thought about it in relation to "the evolution of vocation" as he said it. I think he hit the nail right on the head when he said that future vocations would be "cobbled together" from previous vocation.

Originally, I was thinking about this in relation to the nature of work in general and whether all these advances would put us out of jobs. In response to my own question:
No. All work is an evolution from the original work which came about when God told Adam he would have to work the ground to find food because of his sin. Or something along those lines. So, as long as there is sin, there will be work.

But after I got past that idea, something a little more interesting / troubling / intriguing crossed my mind. If culture is changing exponentially, what does that mean for the way that generations relate to one another? Will generation gaps grow larger and larger and larger? I don't see how they cannot.

It sorta raises the question of will we ever outrun ourselves, and I don't know that we can. We'll just be solving bigger, more complex problems, faster and faster. Or the problems will get bigger and bigger and more and more complex and we won't be able to solve and then before you know it it will be December 20, 2012 and it will all be over anyway!

But I digress. More and more, faster and faster will be our motto, and if we don't learn to take advantage of the tools we have available, we will become outdated, unimportant, and some other depressing word...

...more on this later, if my intelligible thoughts return after a good nights sleep.

PRETTY EXCITING!

2008-11-04T18:20:00.001-06:00

*NOTE* there was a map with live updates of election coverage here. not anymore. i think it was slowing this page down, so i took it down. we all know who won, and even though i wrote that title long before the results were in, i think it still stands. it's exciting, no matter who you voted for.

My wife, again, is awesome.

2008-10-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Chocolate milk.
Egg nog.
In one night.
Awesome.

For some reason... and BTW... and P.S.

2008-10-27T22:20:00.005-05:00

For some reason, this song equals winter to me.

Fork and Knife - Brand New

Oh and by the way, 80 on my speech, 100 on my BCIS multiple choice section. Tune in next time for my BCIS 'hands on' portion grades and next week my Speech Mid-Term Test results! I am truly a master of suspense!

Another post script, there is water mysteriously leaking from the light in the kitchen. It leaks every Monday at about 10:30 PM. Weird.

My un-crappy Monday.

2008-10-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday several factors stacked against it, giving it the potential to be a really crappy day.

It was a Monday.
I spent 6 PM to Midnight Sunday working on a 7 minute speech for class.
I had a dentist appointment at 5:00 PM.
My speech was due at 7:00 PM.

Despite the potential for crappiness, Monday was delightfully un-crappy.

I woke up rested.
My new dentist was no-nonsense and I was in and out quickly without any lecture about how bad my teeth were. And despite the sounds of a 56K modem in my mouth, the cleaning and polishing was nearly painless.
My speech went well, from what I could tell. It ended up running 8:05 minutes (which is fine with me since I prefer past time to under time.)
And to top it off, Susan got out of class early and we had ice cream before bed!

Thank the Lord for a good day and for His grace and mercy which makes it possible to enjoy those kinds of days.

I hope your week is as un-crappy as my Monday was.

And for anyone curious, here is the from my presentation:

Why my wife is awesome.

2008-10-20T21:44:00.005-05:00

"Why is my wife awesome?" you ask. Well, there are innumerable answers to that questions, but the answer that comes most readily to mind right now is as follows.
My wife knows I am not a big fan of useless or trite souvenirs. You the reading audience could benefit from this information as well. If you are in New York City and want me to know you were thinking of me while you were there, a picture message of yourself by the Statue of Liberty will convey that message. Please don't bring me a New York City snow globe. It just doesn't appeal to me.
The other side to this coin is that I do appreciate functional, rational gifts. I love getting gifts when you KNOW I will appreciate or use them. If they are from another place, that adds to my appreciation of the gift.
With those two premises established (my wife knows me well) take a look at the souvenir she brought me from her recent trip to Washington D.C.

That's right. United States Postage Stamps commemorating the life and work of mid century American designers Charles and Ray Eames.
I love the work of Charles and Ray Eames.
These stamps function individual as postage or in a group as a work of art.
My wife is awesome.
Case closed.

CUTE OVERLOAD

2008-10-15T07:25:00.003-05:00

I usually don't get forwarded emails, and when I do, I usually don't share because I know other people care just as little about said email as I do, but this email overwhelmed me with cuteness. Yes, men can succumb to such forces. Just look at the pictures (all 5 of them) and move on. Or... comment, then move on.

Fahrenheit 451

2008-10-12T18:35:00.002-05:00

I like reading, if the book is good. This book was good. I was going to try to write some kind of review of this book, but I decided not to. If you want to know more about the book, read it. It is only 165 pages. You (probably) have time.

Things this book did for me:

I like TV even less.

I'm a little bothered by the idea of really big TV's now.

I want to read lots of books, gain lots of knowledge, and throughout my life, let God turn it into lots of wisdom.

I don't think I want my kids to go to public school.

Self Portrait

2008-10-06T22:09:00.005-05:00

I drew this picture of myself, winking at myself the other day while I was waiting for my computer to process something. I thought it was pretty cool. Nothing like Donnie's self portrait on facebook, but its a start, right?

I just sat here for like fifteen minutes thinking about how much money 33,000 dollars is. And trying to figure out how I spent that much money in 3 years of college. And now, how long it is going to take to pay it back. From what I can figure, just under 3 years is the best case scenario. Maybe I can get the government to pay it off for me? (Low blow, I know.) I don't think that if Susan and I summed up all our possessions they would come close to that much money. God will provide though. Whether he will provide me with patience and diligence or a fat check for exactly how much I need is a different question.

I realized on my way home from class that another way I deal with stress (besides singing along to loud music in the car all alone late at night on country roads) is making lists. It doesn't really do anything to help the situation, just gives me a sense of control. But I can look back on some times when I've made lists and 90% of the list is stuff I can't do anything about. Those are the times when I rewrite that list in the form of a prayer for patience, perseverance, and peace.

One more paragraph and I think this would lose any cohesiveness as a single post.

Goodnight.

Speech Number 1

2008-09-28T20:06:00.005-05:00

well...
due to stupicane ike, my speech got delayed by two weeks. this means that instead of waiting six days after we talked about it in class to start my speech, i procrastinated for an outstanding NINETEEN DAYS to really buckle down on this speech. in the course of writing my speech i took wii breaks, wee breaks, cake ball breaks, internet breaks, and even a "pi'ture drawin" break. the results of my pi'ture drawin break are displayed in the image above.
but, its done. and now that my first speech is delivered, i can rest easy. until the sunday before my next speech is due. or maybe the saturday before...

ANDREW'S TERRIBLE HORRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY

2008-09-27T19:49:00.003-05:00

ACT 1:

tammi: hey i ran out of gas can you bring me some

me: sure, i'm awesome enough to do this task.

[go buy a gas can. go to the gas station to fill up the can and...

LOCK MY KEYS IN THE CAR...

WITH IT RUNNING.

ACT 2:

me: hey susan i know your at work and all but can you bring your spare key to my car and open it up

susan: sure honey, i'm awesome and love you so much i will gladly do this for you

me: you're awesome. bye.

me: (to self) well the least i can do is try to get into the car...

[tug tug push push on window...]

SLICE MY FINGER! BLOOD ALL UP ON THE CAR!

[more tug, more push, window cleaning brush...]

UNLOCKED!

me: hey susan, i got it never mind.

susan: cool. i love you.

me: i love you too. bye.

ACT 3:

[to apartment to wash cut and get water cause maybe tammi is thirsty]

me: hey tammi i am on my way

tammi: cool.

15 minutes later

tammi: hey never mind a guy is towing me to a gas station

me: cool.

ACT 4:

[go by parents to check on towels in washing machine]

WASHING MACHINE STOPPED. TOWELS SOAKING WET IN POOL OF WATER IN MACHINE.

[wring out 5-8 heavy towels and put into dryer, go to wash dirty soapy water off of hands]

WATER TO SINK OFF.

CELL PHONE LEFT AT APARTMENT.

[drain water from washer, put towels back in, head home to get cell phone]

REALIZE 2 MINUTES FROM HOME THAT WHEN THE NEIGHBOR WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF THE WATER GOING INTO THE POOL, SHE INSTEAD TURNED OFF THE WATER TO THE WHOLE HOUSE.

me: thanks neighbor (with sarcasm)

ACT 5:

me: (to self) i will hang this painting for susan. i will only wear flip flops because i am inside and what could go wrong?

ON THE WAY TO MEASURE THE WALL, KICK WOODEN CHEST WITH BIG TOENAIL. BLEEDING ENSUES.

The End (Hopefully)

Man Work

2008-09-24T23:32:00.004-05:00

Over the course of the past week or so, I've gotten the opportunity to do lots of "man work" i.e. destruction, chainsaws, moving big stuff, etc. There's something really satisfying about this kind of work. Sleep comes quickly. You get HUNGRY and eating a big meal feels good, not heavy.

And on a bit deeper note, I feel a lot closer to the men I have been around this past week or so, even though no more than quick jokes and functional communication have been exchanged. And I feel a lot more respect for these men after seeing them work really hard and accomplish large physical tasks.

That's pretty much all I've got, just some observations. I'm going to bed.

Hurricane Ike (Post 1)

2008-09-14T23:16:00.002-05:00

susan and i are doing fine, we'll have pictures later, but for now i just wanted to share a few things.

its pretty deplorable that reporters are already second guessing the actions of our local officials. they's been working for a week straight, first trying to warn people to get ready, then telling us in no uncertain words "GET OUT. THIS WILL BE BAD. DEFINITELY DON'T STAY. IF YOU NEED A RIDE, GET ON THIS BUS AND WE WILL SEND YOU OUT OF TOWN." Then they were immediately trying to inform us what was going on, what had happened, what conditions were, etc. Now they are working hard to get our city back on its feet. SO GIVE THEM A BREAK. They've probably been up for a week straight, don't hassle them, let them work.

Judge Ed Emmett, you have my vote. Good job. Thank you.

Mayor Bill White, you have my vote. Good job. Thank you.

PS - Smear ads the day after Hurricane Ike is just dirty and trashy. It shows no character and warrants no support. Ever.

Casting Lots

2008-09-09T08:41:00.004-05:00

Today I was reading Proverbs 16 and the very last verse caught my eye.

The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.

Now obviously, I know this isn't condoning gambling, etc. but it does make me wonder about the value of "flipping a coin" in the instance of certain life decisions where neither option seems more or less valid than the other and no factors are causing me to lean in either direction.
Is it ridiculous to think that a roll of the dice could be of value in answering the question of "what is God's will for my life?"

**Disclaimer: I would never say to leave it to chance when one or more of your options is very clearly not righteous. I'm speaking specifically to those instances where neither of your options is in direct opposition to the will of God.**

Sorry, you're too awesome.

2008-08-28T21:24:00.003-05:00

Me and Donnie heard about this on NPR the other day. The parents in this baseball league are trying to ban this kid (Jericho Scott) because he throws pitches so fast that the other kids can't hit em. He hasn't hit anyone, apparently he's really accurate. So this boils down to "Sorry Jericho, you're just too awesome."
My thoughts on this:
"Parents, get over it. Eventually your kid has to learn that everyone isn't equal at everything. Eventually, your kid is gonna get owned, whether its on the court, or the field, or the internet, or the in the gradebook, or in a debate, eventually, your kid won't cut it."

My paradox.

2008-08-27T23:48:00.002-05:00

I want to be effective in the things I do, whether work, study, exercise, etc.

In my efforts to be effective, I waste time reading about how to be effective.

Oh, and I don't take enough time to reflect on my day.

*sigh*

MY NEW BIKE

2008-08-24T19:48:00.000-05:00

THANKS JOEY!

On a similar note...

2008-08-16T17:11:00.003-05:00

I uploaded more Wii Olympics 4X100m Swimming relay videos to youtube so that i could get them off of my harddrive, so here those are: