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Live Blogging C3 Church: Imagine The Vision

2012-02-05T12:35:00.003-05:00

This weekend, Pastor Matt Fry returns to the pulpit for Super Vision Weekend at C3 Church. Stay tuned during the 11:15 am service (EST) for a live blog of the sermon. Refresh this page during the hour for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

Seven Key Phrases
Foundational scripture Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG)

In this message, there are Seven Key Phrases and then Pastor Matt talks about the two year vision for C3 Church.

First Phrase: God Can Do
The beginning of success starts with, "God can do!" Some people walk around with an arrogant attitude saying, "I can do it all by myself." Others say that, "We can't do." Your attitude will affect your life.

In an airplane there is an attitude indicator that determines the altitude. So to put it another way, our attitude affects our altitude in life. Make sure that you have a God Can Do attitude.

Surround yourself with other people who have a positive attitude and that believe that God Can Do. Maybe there needs to be a relationship shift. Remember, we become like those we hang around. So, pick positive people.

You know we have a built in attitude indicator, he's called the Holy Spirit.

Second Phrase: Anything
God can do anything. Nothing is impossible for Him. There are no limits for Him. He's all powerful. There are no limits for his grace. We can do anything through Christ.

Third Phrase: Far More
God can do FAR MORE than what we can imagine. Imagine the most awesome thing that God can do for your life, business, kid's life, ministry, future, or church family. God says that he can do far more than that. Why? Because there is no limit to his power. Our God is a powerful God. He wants to do big things and He is looking for those who want to partner with him.

Pastor Matt encourages all to live life FAR MORE than we could ever imagine.

Jesus talks about living a second mile life. Going the first mile is expected, but God loves it when people go beyond the expected. When Jesus died on the cross, he went the second mile for us.

Tithing, going to church, attending a connect group is great, but how can you go even further? God wants us to live a life above and beyond the bare minimum.

Fourth Phrase: By Working Within Us
God always works from the inside out. Man wants to work from the outside in. Religion works from the outside in, but a relationship with Jesus works from the inside out.

There is a gentle working from the inside out. The church just got off a 21 day Daniel fast. That fast worked from the inside out.

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

Fifth Phrase: Glory To God In The Church
God loves it when people give him glory. The church is not the building but the people who are within the church. There are two institutions: Church and family.

Sixth Phrase: Glory To God The Messiah, Jesus!
When people see us, see how are our lives have changed, and then say, "Hmmmmmm, that doesn't make sense!"

Matt talks about a recent high school reunion and they asked him what he was doing. When the answer is, "He is a pastor" they say, "Hmmmmm, that doesn't make sense."

In another story, Pastor tells the story about C3 Church and how it is successful in the middle of a tobacco farm. The only way to explain it is Jesus. That's why God used ordinary people, because it's not about the man but what God has done.

It's all about Jesus, let's give him all the glory.

Seventh: Glory To God Through All The Generations
God not only wants to work in your generation but in many generations. We shouldn't only focus on one generation, we should look at many generations. If not, the church will die a slow death. We have to focus on our kids and the kids that follow.

When we make decisions, let's not worry only about ourselves but worry about how our decisions will affect the kids.

The Vision: Imagine
In a video, Pastor Matt delivers the church's two year vision.

Attack the Debt
Matt is referring to the worship center and the debt incurred to build on the campus.

Development the Campus
This includes upgrades to the multi-purpose center, the children's area, and other campus enhancements. The long term vision is a dream center that can positively affect lives in our area.

[Pastor Matt comes back on stage] He talks about the Dream Center in California and the girl's program in Lima, Peru. Lives are being changed in these places.

One day Pastor Matt would like to have a Dream Center here in North Carolina. To the best of his knowledge, there isn't one in the state. What does God want? he prays.

That prayer reminds him of another prayer made years earlier about C3 Church. Look at where we are today.

In prayer, God told Matt that he needs to focus on two things: Attacking the debt and developing the campus.

How soon will God work? He doesn't know, but in two months we're going to have a celebration to initiate the start of our Imagine campaign. The campus is currently valued at $18 million dollars and the church owes about half of that.

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:

Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

Leveraging The Blog To Improve Career Readiness

2012-02-04T15:38:00.002-05:00

In recent weeks, I have been thinking and writing more on blogging. Today is no different. However, in this entry I would like to spend a few minutes sharing something I've learned from live blogging events. Then, as a result of that lesson, I will outline four takeaways to improve your readiness as an employee or student.

Self Observation: Live Blogging Over Summarized Highlights
During the process of writing my most recent blog entry, I noticed that I spent a great deal of time and energy trying to complete it. Looking back, I would guess that it took around two hours to finish, but it failed to provide any real substance. Where were the details?

Instead of offering my readers solid nuggets of information, I merely summarized the evening into a few paragraphs. That's nice but I can do better.

In contrast to the article Triangle Social Media Club Hosts Panel Discussion on Social TV, my live blogging efforts do a far better job of digging deep into a topic. This got me thinking. What is it about live blogging that I like so much? Why is it easier to write? Below are a few thoughts on the matter.

Greater Detail
In comparing my live blog articles to those written after the fact, I notice a difference in the details. Live blogging allows me the opportunity to capture the finer points of the event, idea, or interview. I can easily capture names, statistics, and references almost as quickly as they are introduced. Unfortunately, trying to recall specifics after the event often leads to broad generalizations, summaries, and even omissions. The further away one gets from an event, the fewer details we remember.

Active vs. Passive
Writing in the moment offers me the authority to speak in an active or present tense. Live blogging lets me explain how the subject feels now versus how one felt yesterday. Tomorrow, one may no longer think or feel the same as they do today because things change.

Conversational
Live blogging often captures an idea in a conversational way. In thinking about C3 Church and the live blog I write for them, I find that Pastor Matt Fry delivers his message as if we were talking in the hallway. To me, it's more interesting and engaging. When I compare the live blog to an article I write after the fact, the summarized version reminds me of a boring news story written by a stiff robotic life form. It doesn't read naturally in the way a conversation does.

Faster To Market
One of the most refreshing things about live blogging is that I can release it almost immediately after the event is over. In most cases, I simply review the document for minor edits and then publish it, whereas writing the traditional blog can take hours or even days.

Improve Your Readiness As An Employee or Student
There is nothing novel about live blogging or my aforementioned observations. However, there is something exciting about understanding yourself. That moment when you realize that you do your best work late at night is the moment when the world of opportunity reveals itself to you. Changing your work habits to better fit your natural tendencies and abilities is exciting.

As an employee or student, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest information and be ready to deliver your ideas, along with supporting documentation, at a moments notice. How? you ask. A blog, I reply.

In the following section, I would like to offer four steps toward improving your readiness.

Capture It
At the most basic level, it all begins with an idea. Thankfully, both you and I are full of ideas, right? The difference between a really great idea and your success comes by way of doing something with it. Therefore, step number one is to capture the idea.

There are many ways to achieve this step, here are a few I came up with:

Take minutes during a meeting
Live blog an event, speech, or interview
Record your ideas as a voice note on your mobile phone
Take a picture of something memorable and inspiring
Record a video response to an article you just read
Leave a message on your voice mail
Write them down in notebook that you keep with you at all times

It doesn't matter at this stage how you capture the idea, just make sure that you do. To help you master this step, remember the following things:

It doesn't have to be perfect
Keep it simple
Edit after its done
Capture the idea as quickly as possible so as to keep the essence of that moment
Capture everything, even the small stuff

Put It In Writing
Now that you have the idea recorded somewhere, put it in writing. Unfortunately, some find this to be the most challenging part of the process, but I think it's also one of the most important. Below, I list a few reasons why putting your ideas in writing is essential.

Easily Searchable: For starters, the written word is easier to find when visitors use search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Therefore, if you want to find your relevant ideas quickly, then you need to transform the content found in your audio, video, notebook, and images into blog text.

People Often Skim: Another advantage of putting your content into writing is that it's easier for you to skim. Based upon my own consumption habits, I can tell you with certainty that users are not reading every word you write. With the use of headers, italics, and bold text, you and your visitors scan the page for the most interesting and relevant parts. One cannot do that in video or audio clips.

Group It With Like Items
The third step in the process of readiness is to properly organize your written ideas for quick retrieval. As mentioned in the previous step, the search engine helps connect readers to content. However, it is also beneficial to organize your ideas based on categories. If you need to find all your articles on time management, use tags to group stories based on subject matter.

Build On It
The final step in being ready is to build on your earlier work. As you gather ideas and write articles on those particular topics, you may eventually establish an impressive body of work that offers significant value to readers, your boss, or instructor.

In the beginning you may only have a hand full of articles on a topic, but consider writing an article that lists them as valuable resources (i.e. Top 10 list or Best of series). Continue to write and you may transform those Best Of articles into a small eBook, policy, or report. Subsequent work can only help you develop full blown books, manuals, position papers, and research documents. The possibilities are endless.

Final Thought
Being a productive employee and/or student with relevant information requires preparation. Using the steps outlined above will help you take great ideas and expand upon them. Even if you never use the idea for work or school, know that blog visitors may thoroughly enjoy them. Additionally, the blog offers feedback and community, which may only serve to vet your ideas. Blogging is both fun and rewarding, but that can also be true of a traditional media.

In this article, I shared lessons stemming from my live blogging experience and offered four steps to help you ready yourself for career or educational pursuits. Let me know how it works out for you in the comment section below.

Image by: phantomswife

Triangle Social Media Club Hosts Panel Discussion on Social TV

2012-02-02T19:10:00.004-05:00

The day is winding down and I have a few minutes to reflect on events from the Triangle Social Media Club panel discussion on Social TV, which took place at the NBC-17 studio in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In thinking back over the course of the evening, I am humbled by the opportunity to serve with the likes of Gregory Ng, Ryan Boyles, and Tim Arthur, all of whom are really great guys to know.

What Is Social TV?
The term "Social TV," as I understand it, refers to modern televisions that allow viewers to engage with other viewers through social networks and their related applications. While the word strongly suggests advancements in television technology, I believe it also encompasses the regular use of mobile and web applications during television consumption.

To help you understand what I mean, let me give you an example. Let's assume that you're watching the American Idol on FOX. Instead of just watching the show, you jump on Twitter or Facebook and hold discussions about the contestants. This common occurrence is not limited to Twitter or Facebook. In fact, being social while watching television may involve a number of other popular networks and applications. Some of the tools discussed last night include:

From a general point of view, these applications allow viewers to check-in to a show or movie, exchange opinions about what they're watching, or engage with the digital content to learn more about its cast, characters, and behind-the-scene details. As some would describe it, the tools provide a virtual water cooler.

Here Come The Marketers

During our discussion, I believe it was Ryan Boyles who first spoke about the divide between consumers and marketers. Social TV, to the viewer, is just a fun way to watch shows; however, to the marketer it is a way to increase brand awareness and loyalty.

Earlier, I mentioned that viewers could check-in to a show or watch bonus material by way of the mobile and web apps. Well, marketers are hoping that we'll use these tools to spread the word and increase consumption. According to Tim Arthur, we are and he referenced a Superbowl advertisement about Ferris Bueller to prove it.

To Ryan, marketers are ruining the original purpose of these tools by encroaching in our private lives. Greg disagrees. In fact, Greg supports marketing efforts and even shares some ideas on how to maximize the opportunity. To drive his point home, Greg spoke about the cable companies and their failure to capitalize on collected data. Why aren't they (cable companies) recommending shows to watch when they clearly know my viewing habits? Did I mention that also includes the Bachelor?

After The Show It's An After Party

While the event seemed to last for only a few minutes, we talked for an hour or more. During that time, we shared our favorite shows and showcased our various entertainment centers. Some of us chose to cut the cable cord while others fully embraced it. That wide spectrum of solutions offered an insightful discussion on viewing habits.

Overall, I think the panel discussion went well. If given the time, we could have easily explored the LCD vs. LED vs. Plasma debate as well as other closely related subjects. However, the night was getting late and many had return home in preparation for work in the morning.

For those that stuck around, we had the opportunity to tour the studio and learn how the station makes the magic happen.

The most memorable moment was walking on the set and taking a picture in front of the green screen. While playing around, I saw Penn Holderness and the weather guy. Too bad Sharon Tazewell wasn't around because I would have paid money to get a picture with her.

In Closing

Let me take a moment to give a quick shout out to my friend Wayne Sutton, who showed up in support of the meeting. Also, I'd like to thank NBC-17, Triangle Social Media Club, Lisa Sullivan, and all those who helped make that night a success.

Slow-Carb Diet Weekly Update: January 31, 2012

2012-01-31T18:23:00.000-05:00

I had every intention of sitting down and writing this update weeks ago, but I had nothing positive to say. Being completely honest, I haven't followed my plan very well. As a result, my weight and measurements either remained the same or increased. Needless to say, I was pretty bummed by my lack of improvement, but not surprised. I expected it.

On a positive note, I wasn't scarfing down tons of rotten food over the past few weeks, but I still made some poor choices. Instead of eating chicken, legumes, and veggies, I had a pretty consistent diet of Subway and Quizno's with my favorite bag of jalapeno chips on the side. I'm not proud of myself for giving in to the temptress of soft warm bread, but I have to tell you that it was GOOD!

Slowly, I weaned myself off the bread and made certain I had a few bags of chicken in the office freezer. That's an important step in my recovery. Arm thyself with the proper resources and feed the hunger before it's hungry. I'll go into more detail on that in a moment. First, let's take a look at my measurements.

Measurements

Weight: 258 lbs [-8 lbs]
Height: 6' 2"
Age: 37
Body Fat: 18.6% [-3.2%]
Chest: 44.25" [+0.25"]
Waist: 43.5" [+0.75"]
Arms: 16.5" [-0.25"]
Shoulders: 52.0" [-0.50"]
Forearms: 14" [0.0"]
Neck: 16.0" [-0.50"]
Hips: 46.0" [0.0"]
Thighs: 26.0" [-0.50"]
Calves: 17.5" [-0.50"]
Stomach: 46.0" [-0.50"]

After reviewing my numbers this week, I'm pretty happy with the results. Losing 8 pounds is encouraging, although I'm not putting all my eggs into that basket alone. To me, it tells me that I'm doing something right and that I should continue.

Making it back into the 250 pound range feels much better than living in the 260's. I anticipate losing another significant amount of weight over the coming weeks, which should put me back in the upper 240's. Once I'm back there, I anticipate the weight loss will slow down and plateau. To break that issue, I'll need to increase my cardiovascular activity.

Another observation, after looking at the numbers, I see my upper body appears to lose inches before my mid-section. This seems like the natural order of things for me. Along with gaining weight during the first weeks of working out, the rest of my body loses inches before my stomach and waist. Thankfully, my stomach wasn't holding up the process this week. Although, I'd really like to see my waist fall in line soon.

Physical Activities

As of last week, my son and I stopped at 3 exercises per muscle group. I did that because we're running out of time at night and the lack of resources in the gym.

My local gym closes at 8 pm, which leaves us about 45 minutes to weight train and do cardio. That's not enough time to push 5 exercises right now.

Additionally, our gym doesn't store the numerous machines, benches, and heavy weight I typically use in the other location. For now I'm ok with that, but soon I'll have to go back to the big boy toys.

One other thought I've been rolling around in my noggin' is to consider moving my weight training to the morning and using the evening for cardio (or vice versa). This could potentially give me the time I need to fit 2-3 more exercises into my day while also avoiding evening distractions (i.e. meetings, Boy Scouts, etc.).

Without further ado, here are my latest numbers in the gym. Essentially, my muscles are getting stronger and I'm able to lift more. I'm not where I was last year, but all of that will change soon enough.

Tuesday (Chest)

Bench Press: 135x12, 145x10, 155x8, 165x6, 175x3
Incline Bench Press: 105x12, 115x10, 125x8, 135x6, 145x3
Machine Fly: 96x12, 108x10, 120x8, 132x6, 144x4

Wednesday (Legs)

Barbell Squat: 145x12, 165x10, 185x8, 205x6, 225x4
Leg Curl: 72x12, 96x10, 120x8, 144x6, 156x4
Leg Extensions: 72x12, 84x10, 108x9, 120x7, 144x4

Thursday (Back)

Barbell Bent Over Row: 160x12, 170x10, 180x7, 180x5, 180x4
Wide Grip Lat Pull Down: 130x12, 140x10, 150x8, 160x6, 170x4
Machine Row: 72x12, 96x10, 120x8, 132x6, 144x4

Saturday (Shoulders)

Barbell Shoulder Press: 65x12, 75x10, 85x8, 95x4, 105x4
Dumbbell Lateral Raise: 5x12, 7x10, 10x8, 15x6, 17x4
Bent Over Raises:

Sunday (Arms)

Barbell Curl: 60x12, 70x8, 70x7, 70x4, 70x3
Barbell Triceps Extension: 40x12, 50x10, 60x8, 70x4, 70x3
Dumbbell Curl:

Meals

As I shared earlier, my meals have been a mixture of Subway and Quizno's with a side of jalapeno chips. However, when I do follow the rules I eat the good stuff below.

Meat

Chicken breast: I eat Tyson's grilled chicken because it's convenient and tasty. More recently, I fell in love with their breast chunks, which are perfectly suited for my busy lifestyle. Overall, I find that I'm most successful in losing weight when I have bags of Tyson's grilled chicken handy.
Eggs: At least once per day, typically for breakfast or dinner, I eat between 6-10 scrambled eggs per meal. For color and flavor, I leave two egg yolks in the mix.

Legumes

Red Beans: I cook from a can.
Black Beans: I cook from a can.

Vegetables

Broccoli: I'm eating a lot of broccoli.
Cauliflower: When I'm not eating broccoli, I'm eating frozen cauliflower.

Beverages

Water: I haven't measured my water intake but I'll do better this week.
Red wine: I'm drinking around 2 glasses per day.
Coffee: Pulled out the coffee maker and returned to my daily mug.

Observations & Recommended Changes
Overall, I'm pleased with my most current measurements. Although, I know that I can do better.

Consistent Workouts
My workouts have been sporadic and I'm not working every muscle each week. Trying to do a week's worth of exercises during the weekend isn't going to work, so I need to find a time that will allow me to do what I need to do. Right now, it looks like the morning time is my best bet. Unfortunately, this will affect my son's participation because he leaves for school early in the morning.

Keep Food Reserves Stocked
One of my weakest moments of the day is after work. I can skip breakfast (not advised) and make it through lunch without eating, but that leaves me ravenous and vulnerable to bad choices in the evening. To avoid this temptation, I just need to keep my freezer filled with bags of chicken and vegetables. Also, I need to make time in the morning to eat breakfast and do lunch before going home.

Report Often
Regardless of my progress, I need to share my weekly report. This means that during both good and bad times, I must report my numbers and related activities. While I've tried writing on Friday and then Monday, I think Wednesday is probably my sweet spot because I'm far enough removed from my cheat day (Friday or Saturday). Additionally, knowing that you're watching my progress means I'll make better choices. I need to be accountable to someone, ya know?

Closing Thought
Well, I think that just about covers everything. It's not a perfect couple of weeks, but it is what it is. With my next doctor appointment scheduled for mid-March, I have to buckle down and make some significant improvements in my health before he puts me on blood pressure medicine. I'm not trying to go that route.

Finally, thanks for reading and hanging out with me during this awkward transformation. Until next week...

This Week's Plan For Closing Chapter Two Of The Dissertation

2012-01-29T21:35:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what has gotten into me today, but I've done a lot of writing. Was it something I ate? Could it have been that powerful cup of coffee this morning? I'm not sure, but I like it.

Without further ado, let me update you on the dissertation. In my last post, I shared the outstanding talk I had with Dr. Osler, the faculty member who works on the floor beneath me. All I know is that he must have been heaven sent because his message was exactly what I needed to hear.

In line with something my sister told me recently, Dr. Osler confirmed her point that I am not tied to the Boy Scouts as my organization. In fact, I can go back to my first choice and talk about Kappa Alpha Psi. That's like music to my ears because I know that I can really make a difference. That's the point, he said.

In the coming week, I need to complete the following assignments for chapter 2:

History of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Describe the organizational structure of the fraternity
Discuss the organizational indoctrination process
Discuss organizational commitment and include sections on affective, continuance, and normative commitment
Summarize chapter two
Submit the measurement tool for organizational commitment to Dr. Osler for review

That's it, that's where I'll focus my effort over the next 7 days. It sounds easy enough. I'm just glad to know that I finally have some real direction and constraints. If left to my own devices, I'd be researching forever.

Until next time...

FOX Hits A Home Run With New Series, "Touch"

2012-01-29T20:09:00.000-05:00

I just finished the pilot episode of a new show called Touch, which aired last week on FOX. Let me just tell you that the first episode was POW-ER-FUL!

Ok, so what's the show about, right? Well, it's about a little boy who sees the world much differently than the rest of us. Having never spoken a word, he spends most of his time writing numbers in a notebook. To me, it's just googlygook, but to him it's something much more.

In a story that unfolds amazingly before your eyes, this show reminds me of the movie Crash. It takes a bunch of random stories and tries to make sense of it all. I'd say they did a great job of orchestrating chaos into something meaningful and heartwarming.

Kiefer Sutherland plays the boy's father, Martin Bohm, who currently works as a baggage handler at JFK International Airport. In the first moments of the show, we learn that the boy has a mind of his own and repeatedly escapes the school yard without notice. This causes problems for his father, who is the boy's only caregiver.

Having been a huge fan of 24, I have waited impatiently for Sutherland's return to television. While he's not exactly Jack Bauer, Kiefer opens new possibilities with a refreshing role that will surely touch your softer side. I keep telling myself that it's Jack Bauer and that somehow makes it alright. It's like Ghost Whisperer for men.

The show is amazing so far and I highly recommend it. If you haven't checked it out yet, I'd encourage you to stop by the FOX website and give it chance. The world premiere is scheduled for Monday, March 19, 2012.

Movie Review: Contagion

2012-01-29T17:29:00.004-05:00

Last night, after weeks of extreme patience, I gave in to the temptation. Instead of spending $8+ at the movie theater, I decided to stay at home and catch the movie Contagion on YouTube. While I said that I'd never spend that kind of money on a movie I can get for a $1, I spent it. Why? you ask. Because I couldn't get it for a dollar. For whatever reason, Redbox hasn't released it yet.

So, after all the kids were in bed and my adhoc planning meeting for the upcoming Ignite Raleigh 3 event came to a close, I purchased the movie for 24 hours.

While I had every intention of finishing the flick last night, it didn't actually happen that way. Somewhere between minute 20 and 25, I began counting sheep. Thankfully, I had time to finish in the morning.

For those that have no clue what I'm talking about, let me give you a quick summary. Contagion is a movie about what life would be like if the planet contracted a deadly virus and we had no known cure.

The movie begins with a woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) that falls ill with flu like symptoms. Quickly, the virus attacks the body and causes severe seizures, headaches, and difficulty breathing. When she dies, the doctors cannot explain the cause or cure. Her husband, played by Matt Damon, has to pick up the pieces and keep the rest of the family safe during a turbulent time.

In another part of the world, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) monitor a growing concern from reports of similar cases. As quickly as the illness hits, the world's population falls victim to its fatal effects. With no answers, people continue to die.

The movie tells a good story. How would we react in a similar situation? My guess is that we'd probably do exactly what transpired on the screen, and that is to fight for survival. On a local level, people would raid grocery stores and loot homes. We've already seen this type of behavior during the Katrina aftermath.

On the larger scale, we see how the world governments might handle the situation. Can I just say that it's scary to think how fragile we humans really are. Similar to a thrilling episode of 24, we see that the fate of our nation rests with the success of one man, Jack Bauer. In this movie, the world depends on a few healthy scientists racing against time. We see a similar situation in The Walking Dead. I'll just leave it at that.

Overall, I liked the movie. I felt an overwhelming appreciation for the current state of affairs and the fact that we're not fighting such a virus, at least to the best of my knowledge. Maybe I'll buy an extra bottle of sanitizer during my next trip to the grocery store.

On a scale of 1-5, with five being the best, I'd give Contagion 4 stars. The movie was worth the price of admission and I'd recommend it for viewing. It's not one that I'd watch again, but that shouldn't take anything away from the film. For me, watching the effects of a seriously contagious virus spread across the world is enough for one viewing. Enjoy!

Smithfield Alumni Of KAPsi Welcomes Four To Its Informational Meeting

2012-01-29T15:14:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, the Smithfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi held it's Spring Informational Meeting for men interested in learning more about the fraternity and its local chapter. The "interest meeting" is typically the first step toward membership. It involves a presentation where the brothers talk about the organization's history, current programs and initiatives, and answer questions from guests. Yesterday's meeting was no different.

Smithfield Alumni welcomed four men to the conference room at Johnston Community College, where the chapter assembles for its monthly meetings.

Michael Render, who serves as the chapter's Intake Chairman, opened the meeting around 1:30 pm. Brothers had an opportunity, prior to the session, to mingle and acquaint themselves with our guests.

Based upon the initial discussions, it appears our visitors have experience with entrepreneurship, information technology, sales, and finance.

For the remainder of the program, Brother Render led us through Kappa's history, its founder's, and the chapter's achievements. He promoted dialog between the thirteen chapter members in attendance and the men interested in learning more. Some of the questions asked included inquiries on the chapter's goals and etiquette between members.

Near the end of the meeting, Michael informed the attendees that if they were interested in moving forward that they should send him an email expressing their interest. In turn, he would then provide the application and necessary instructions.

All in all, the meeting was a good one. The brothers appeared impressed by the quality of men seeking membership. In turn, the four men in attendance communicated their initial impressions as "extremely enlightened."

Moving forward, I guess we'll see who is ready to take their interest to the next level.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., please have them get in contact with Brother Michael Render.

Live Blogging C3 Church: Expansion and Contraction

2012-01-29T11:35:00.000-05:00

This weekend, C3 Church continues to host our special guest, Pastor Jonathan Wilson. Stay tuned during the 11:15 am service (EST) for a live blog of the sermon. Refresh this page during the hour for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

11:42 am: Pastor Jonathan Wilson will be coming on stage in a few moments. Stay tuned!

11:44 am: Pastor Matt comes on stage.

11:51 am: Pastor Jonathan Wilson comes on stage and gives an introduction to his ministry.

11:54 am: Jonathan talks about a number of resources that can be acquired online or in the book store.

Today's Message: Expansion & Contraction
The foundational scripture for today's message begins with Isaiah 54:1-3.

There is something within each of us that wants to expand. We want to grow, to move forward, and increase. This is something that God wired us for. In the scripture, we see a woman that cannot have children but she yearns to have a family.

In order to have a child, she will need to expand AND contract. This is the only way that one can grow is through both expansion and contraction. In order to expand, we must go through pain. However, nobody likes the pain part.

Physically, our hearts and arteries are both expanding and contracting. Our lungs are expanding and contracting. If not, you are in trouble. To grow muscles, they must expand and contract. Every year we expand around Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the rest of the year, we spend time trying to contract [congregation laughs].

In church, the congregation must both expand and contract. During those times of expansion is when everyone feels like we're "on a roll." However, when we contract, there is pain and discomfort. What is most important is that we understand what God is doing during those times. What is our destiny and purpose?

Today, we're going to look at an example of someone who successfully negotiated the expansion and contraction of life.

Pastor Wilson turns to Genesis 49:25-26 and talks about Jacob and his son Joseph. What is it about Joseph's life that set him apart from his brothers? He was a dreamer. Pastor Wilson believes it was more than his ability to dream, but his ability to navigate his expansion and contraction of life. This gave him an edge in life that his brothers didn't have. It's one thing to have a dream but it's another thing to be in position of power 30 years later.

It all begins with the letter "P"
The first "P" is "Paternal" blessings. Joseph got his first blessing from his father. Joseph was his father's favorite. He had the run of the house. He received a coat of many colors to show just how much his father loved him. His brothers loved him for it [add sarcasm here].

Contraction #1: Pit
One day, while checking up on his family, Joseph's brothers grabbed him and put him in a pit. Later, they sold him to a caravan that took him away to Potifer. As the story continues, we see Joseph move up from a lowly position into a position of authority in Potifer's house.

Everyone loved Joseph, even Potifer's wife.

Contraction #2: Prison
When Joseph turned away Potifer's wife, she claimed that Joseph tried to take advantage of her. As a result, Potifer threw Joseph into prison.

While in prison, Joseph met a number of servants. One of the servants was a butler. During the night, the butler had a dream. When he told Joseph the dream, Joseph explained what it meant. It later came true.

Third "P": Pharaoh
The butler eventually gets out of prison and forgot Joseph. That is until one day the Pharaoh had a dream. Immediately, the butler remembered a guy named Joseph, who was still in prison. He reported that Joseph decoded a dream of his years earlier and could do the same today. Pharaoh called Joseph to decifer his dream. Joseph explained that there would be 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine.

How did Joseph know how to decode the dreams? Pastor Wilson explains it is through God's gift and Joseph's personal experience.

Impressed by Joseph's abilities, Pharaoh gave Joseph immense authority over Egypt. It was through Joseph's ability to navigate the up's and down's of life...the high's and low's...that he realized God's plan. We're happy when we're successful but deflated when things don't go right in our lives. I must be doing something right when things go well. At the same time, we say that I must be doing something wrong when things are going less than perfect.

Rather than our lives going up and down, we must understand that the movements of our lives are purely an expansion and contraction. We must change the perspective of our lives to see things as a benefit in both the good and bad times. God loves us in both the expansion and contraction times. We are blessed no matter what happens in our lives. Why? Because God is using both ups and downs to get us to the next level.

Jesus is a great example of this point. He went through the expansion of Heaven to the contraction of his mother's womb. He went through the expansion of his baptism to the contraction of 40 days in the wilderness. The expansion of his ministry to the contraction of his betrayal. Why? So that God can help us navigate the contractions and expansions of life. Because of this experience, Jesus can identify with us.

The enemy wants to crush us, but God wants to use us. Remember that when we are in a contraction, therein lies a seed for our next expansion. The enemy wants us to believe that God has forgotten us. God wants to tell you that he remembers you and knows exactly where you're going. Just remember that you are blessed in both the expansion and contraction. We are moving in both the expansion and contraction.

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:

Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

Changing How We Address Web Projects And Help Desk Tickets

2012-01-27T16:32:00.000-05:00

If you know me then you know I'm always looking for ways to do things better. Sometimes, that search allows me to go forward and then other times it's a step backwards. At work, it's no different. Although, I wonder if the people around me ever get tired of my incremental changes.

What am I talking about today? you ask. Today, I'd like to share my latest plan. First, a little context.

Historical Context About The Job
During the day, I serve an institution of higher learning as their IT Manager for Web Services. I have a team of three developers for the entire campus. Yes, you read that correctly.

For much of my career in web development, the amount of resources always seems less than what is actually needed to achieve maximum results. Although, that doesn't stop me from trying. I just make do with that we have and keep things moving.

To the disappointment of many, especially those with caviar dreams, living on a shoestring budget allows for very few luxuries. One has to carefully consider where, and how, to invest the resources in order to get things done. Frivolous requests often fall on deaf ears.

In higher education, my team constantly manages the fine balance between wants and needs. If departments could have their way, each one would have an entirely different web page design with beautiful glossy pictures, custom video, flash, and millions of visitors. Unfortunately, the reality is far less glamorous. Without resources (people, time, money, etc.), difficult decisions are required and concessions made. It comes with the job and I love the challenge.

Problems With The Current Process
At present, I'm finding a slight problem with how we're handling new web projects and happy-to-glad changes. Currently, all requests come to us in the form of a ticket. As a result, my team often reviews the help desk for requests to build new applications, update content, improve designs, and everything in between. At the end of each request, we close the ticket and move on to the next item in the list.

While it sounds easy enough, closing a ticket is often a multi-step process that can easily spiral out of control. Let me explain.

With each new ticket, someone has to review the request and determine if it can, or should, be done. Assuming the task is approved, resources are then aligned to execute the assignment. Once complete, the developer reviews the finished product with the client and closes the ticket. However, we find that many tickets are not clear or lack enough information to complete the request, which can lead to a game of cat and mouse. "Where's my website? Where's my content?"

Additionally, during the review session, either the developer failed to complete the task according to instructions or the client realized what they received is not what they wanted. That leads to a spiraling process of "moving furniture." That's where you move it an inch to realize it's not right. Then, in an effort to fix the problem, you move it to another place. Rinse and repeat as many times as necessary.

At the end of it all, you realize that no two tickets are the same and it's extremely difficult to estimate how long one ticket will stay open. We do our best.

As manager of the team, I find myself focused on enhancing quality of work, timeliness of tasks, relevance to the university's mission, and effectiveness of suggested solutions. It's important to fulfill the request but it's equally important to do it right.

As of this post, we probably have around 40 something tickets in our queue. In the past, we've had as many as 200+ tickets awaiting our attention. While I don't like having our customers waiting, we can only do what we can with what we have.

Changing The Help Desk Process
As I look at the growing number of tickets, I'm asking myself how might I improve the process? How can I balance quality, efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, and still be on top of it all?

My latest plan is to adjust our current strategy to include more delegation and client vetting. It also involves separating new creative projects from the happy-to-glad content changes.

As manager, I don't need to sit in on every request. Some of the happy-to-glad tickets can be vetted by the client. A job's not done until they're happy with it and for simple content changes and updates, I'm fine with that. However, for the more creative and solution based projects, my attention is required. At least during the early strategy planning stages.

So, during our last few hours at work, the team and I adjusted our current production strategy to include the following:

Management will review all incoming help desk tickets and project requests.
Depending upon the nature of the request, management will either schedule a meeting to discuss the project or assign happy-to-glad changes to the team.
For projects, management will stay engaged until the plan of action has been established and executed.
For happy to glad changes, management will yield control over ticket and allow team and client to work it out until closed.
Management will schedule initial workload of project tasks and happy-to-glad requests, but the team will manage their own calendars to determine review sessions with client.

We believe this small change will allow me to navigate the more variable projects and tasks by applying best practices with relevant strategies. At the same time, the team can be more timely and effective with the day-to-day, run of the mill, tasks.

As with most changes, I don't know how effective it will be, but I'm willing to give it a try. If you are currently doing this, or have done something like this in the past, I'd love to hear about your experiences. If you get the chance, leave me a comment below.

Live Blogging Hot Nights @ C3 Church: Pastor Jonathan Wilson

2012-01-25T19:28:00.000-05:00

Tonight, C3 Church continues its Hot Nights series with our special guest, Pastor Jonathan Wilson. Stay tuned during the 7:00 service (EST) for a live blog of the sermon. Refresh this page during the hour for a regularly updated post.

If you would like to view the service online, please click here.

Pastor Wilson, from Newport Church, walks on stage and talks about a number of books written by his wife, Dianne Wilson.

Living A Significant Life
In 2 Kings, Jonathan talks about Elisha. He tells the story about how Elisha stayed at a woman's house in a town. Elisha asked the woman what he could do for her. She said that he couldn't do anything for her. A servant told Elisha that she never had a son. Elisha said to the woman that by this time next year she would have a son. Sure enough, she had a child.

Years later, the son died in his mothers arms. She took her son to the room she once built for Elisha and called for the servant to fetch the horse. She rode to where Elisha was and asked him to come and lay hands on her child. When Elisha came, he laid hands on his hands and eyes. The child came alive and sneezed seven times. This was a notable and significant miracle.

Tonight, the message will be about how to live a significant life.

In our story, the woman was significant.

In the garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. God wants you to be significant so that we can partner with him.

We have an opportunity to live a significant life. There are a few points in the story that helps to explain this point.

Elisha, of the Bible, was the most significant man on the planet. The woman in our story believed that she could make a difference in his life. This woman, who was wealthy and had everything, didn't think she needed anything else. Elisha believed he could make a difference in her life.

The enemy wants us to believe that we don't make a difference. How many of our young people believed his lies? How many ended their lives because of this? God wants you to know that you were born to make a difference.

Maybe you believe that you are too small to make a difference. Think about a mosquito that flies around your head at night. [The crowd laughs]

Having A Generous Eye
In 2 Kings 4:9-10, Pastor talks about how this woman has a generous eye. She looks for how she can make a difference in someone's life.

Elisha, after staying in the room for some time, he asked her what he could do for her. This is the beginning of living a significant life. It begins with looking for opportunities to be generous. He who has a generous eye will be blessed.

Pastor Wilson tells a story about a tennis player who won a number of championships in the Australian Open. During one of his games, the player noticed a man in a wheel chair. During one his most important games, he thought about what life must be life for the man. He made a decision to seek out the man after the game. When he did, he gave the man a court side seat and jersey.

Another tennis player, not from America, flew into Australia and said that tennis players don't make enough money. Andre Aggesey said that he needed to take his money and buy some perspective.

While the first tennis player may not be the most popular or successful, he was probably the most significant. Why? Because he was generous. He gave half of his earnings ($600,000) to charity. He knew the difference between success and significance.

Significant miracles happen to those who have a generous eye. It's not about what's happening in OUR lives but what happens in OTHERS lives.

Living Life On The Edge
People who live a significant life live on the edge. In 2 Kings 4:16-17, Elisha tells the woman that she will have a son this time next year. His saying this to the woman was living on the edge. Why? Because prophets who lie get stoned with real rocks.

People who live significant lives learned how to live on the edge.

In another story, Larry wanted to fulfill his boyhood dreams of flying a plane. Unfortunately, he had bad eyes and couldn't fly. This guy wanted to fly so bad that he bought a number of helium weather balloons and attached them to a chair. He thought that he would only hover about 30 feet high. When Larry cut himself from the Earth, he shot up to 16,000 feet.

An airline pilot reported to LAX that they just saw a man in a chair with a gun. When they successfully rescued Larry from the sky, they arrested him. When they asked him why he did it, he said that "Man can't just sit around." Larry lived on the edge.

Like Larry, God doesn't want us to live mediocre lives. Jesus came so that we could live life abundantly. In reality, life is going to be risky, edgy, unpredictive, unfamiliar, and scary. We are called to live life on the edge and do something significant with our lives.

Pastor Wilson talks about leaving a very successful church at God's direction. It was scary. It's ok, he said to his wife, our move to California to build a church was God's plan. Secretly, he was scared but God told him to trust him.

Jonathan didn't want to die wondering how life would have been if he followed God's plan. He faced his fears and trusted the Lord.

For every person there is an edge. It is on the edge that significance lays.

Building Houses For Others Is Where Miracles Reside
The amazing thing about the story in 2 Kings is that the very place that she built for someone else is the room where her miracle happened. The miracle is where you build for someone else.

In talking about building a house, Pastor Wilson talks about C3 Church. Addressing the congregation, he says that this house is a place for others to be encouraged. When we build a house for others, that is where our miracle lies.

In closing, Pastor Wilson tells a story about how he took everything out of the Hillsong Church and put it in the new church. As he was leaving Hillsong, someone asked if he could give $1,000 for a project that would benefit someone else. Secretly, he thought about the church he was building. He knew that he didn't have much money in his banking account, but he immediately said, "Yes!"

A year later, in the same building, a pastor gave Jonathan a check for $10,000 to help build his church. When asked why, the pastor reminded him about that $1,000 he gave the year before. This money was a gift for helping him build a church. Pastor Wilson said that he didn't do it to get anything back, he did it to help others build.

If you help God build His house, He will help you build your house. Remember, God has a purpose for your life. Reach out to Him and find out what that purpose is.

Do You Need A Fresh Start?
If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:

Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

A Night A The Movies: Underworld Awakening And Red Tails

2012-01-23T17:51:00.001-05:00

It should be no surprise that I like movies. So, when I tell you that I saw a double feature of Underworld Awakening and Red Tails it should sound normal, right? Right.

Going into the weekend, I didn't think I'd find the time to catch any movies, let alone two, but coming home from West Virginia late Saturday evening allowed my Sunday to remain open. I apologize to my friends Tim and Ryan for not waiting until next week but the flicks kept calling to me like Pookie in New Jack City.

Underworld: Awakening

Heading into the theater, I was extremely excited about the possibilities of this movie. Having enjoyed both the first and third installments, with a major disappointment in the second, I had high expectations for what lay ahead.

In short, the story picks up after the second episode where Selene and Michael kill one of the most powerful vampire elders.

As the fourth installment begins, we learn that humans discovered the existence of vampires and werewolves, which lead to a new war. Using high-tech weapons, many of which we've seen in previous episodes, the humans nearly eradicate both vampires and lycans from existence. Those that have escaped spend most of their time in hiding.

For Selene and Michael, they are eventually captured and put on ice.

Twelve years go by and Selene is awakened (or thawed) by another subject in a research facility. We are led to believe it is Michael, whom Selene shares a strong connection, but we later learn it is her daughter, Eve. At this point, I have questions about her birth and the apparent British accent. For a kid who has never left the research facility and raised by English speaking American's how does one speak with an accent? I didn't realize language was passed along in one's DNA. Anyway, I digress.

We later learn that Eve is a hybrid. My assumption is that she came from Selene and Michael, but I don't recall that being spelled out exactly. I wasn't impressed until I realized Eve had some useful talents, mainly ripping lycan heads apart.

For much of the movie, Selene and Eve are seen running from the lycans, who desperately want something from Eve. Again, not clear on what that something is exactly, but it supposedly protects the werewolves from silver.

The villain in this movie is again a lycan. However, this evil werewolf is probably 20 feet tall and extremely muscular. Think rabid dog made famous in the first Hulk movie and voila, you have our bad lycan.

In review, Underworld wasn't terrible but it wasn't great, either. I knew early on that the movie would disappoint. For starters, Selene's make-up and clothes looked a bit off. The overuse of CGI werewolves, that looked nothing like the original movie, practically made me want to give up and go home. Additionally, the producers used many of the same gimmicks (i.e. shooting holes in the floor to escape a perilous situation) in this movie. Not good!

The story was shallow and lacked the spark found in both the first and third films. However, if you're really into action for the sake of action, then you will definitely get your fill.

Out of 5 stars I would give it a 3.

Based on the ending, we are to assume there will be a part 5. If history has a say (First and third = good movies; second and fourth = not so good movies) then the fifth installment should be excellent.

Red Tails

After a disappointing Underworld, I thought long and hard about watching another film. While ticket sales showed a strong weekend for movies, I needed to know if Red Tails was worth the price of admission.

Searching Twitter, I found a number of people singing Red Tails' praise. I found so many positive reviews online, minus Rotten Tomatoes' report, that I decided to check it out.

For those that don't know, the movie is about African-American pilots that served during World War II. While the military didn't recognize Negros as capable or courageous, the Tuskegee Airmen proved them wrong.

The movie stars both popular African-American actors (i.e. Cuba Gooding, Jr and Terrence Howard) and musicians (i.e. Ne-yo and Method Man); however, the movie never really got off the ground for me. I see where the director tried to create emotion, but it all seemed too rushed and forced. Knowing George Lucas had something to do with this film, I'm reminded of the awkward relationships between Anakin Skywalker and Princess Amidala. Add that and premature scene transitions, I never had a chance to fall in love with the movie. I wanted too, I really did.

As far as the action scenes go, the air-to-air dogfights were good. Although, I still think I like Top Gun better.

I understand the challenges George faced in making this movie. It's a movie about black men flying planes in the 1940's. According to them, it wouldn't do well.

When you put it like that, who wouldn't want the movie to succeed. If for nothing else, then to at least provide other minority movie makers the opportunity to create movies.

Unfortunately, and I'm sad to say this, the movie wasn't a blockbuster for me. It has nothing to do with the Tuskegee Airmen, which I think are great men to highlight, but this particular story didn't do it for me.

Out of 5 stars, I would give this movie a 3.

Recapping The 2012 Winter Board Meeting In West Virginia

2012-01-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Last night, I returned home after a full day in the mountains of West Virginia. The Middle Eastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. held its Winter Board Meeting at the McKeever Lodge in Pipestem Resort State Park.

The drive, which was close to 5 hours, wasn't all that bad. Equipped with a power converter, laptop, and numerous Red Box movies, I was ready for the trip. On the way up, I had to deal with rain, darkness, and, at certain times, fog. Thankfully, the family and I made it there safe.

In preparation for the meeting Saturday morning, I stayed up late Friday to review reports sent in by the various committees. Some had nothing more than a status update, while a few requested funds and procedural changes. As an elected board member for the province, I'm responsible for presenting reports on behalf of the Membership Service Committees.

Little known secret: I'm always a little nervous before speaking in front of people.

The meeting started around 8 o'clock in the morning after much of the board finished eating breakfast. We ran through the preliminary greetings, roll call, and other salutations before diving into the meaty topics. The first topic dealt with finances followed by the Province Polemarch's report.

Throughout the day, we moved from topic to topic and voted on issues when asked.

There was something about this meeting that caused me to speak up more often than in previous gatherings. Maybe it's because I felt more included in the operations of the Province. As the manager of Membership Services, the Province Polemarch asked me to work with chairmen who make up a huge portion of the active committees. Whatever it was, I liked it.

Despite what many people may think, the Board works. At times, there are arguments (heated debates) over issues and how best to solve them. People will disagree but there is a process for dealing with it. In the end, we come out better than when we started and that's one of my favorite lessons.

As I get ready to close, let me tell you that I had fun. It was great getting the kids out of the house and also hanging with the boys. Next stop: Spring Intake and Province Council Meeting.

For those interested in getting a glance at my weekend, check out the photo gallery below.

If you cannot view the pictures, click here.

There Is Hope For My Dissertation

2012-01-19T18:09:00.000-05:00

Something interesting happened yesterday. While trying to schedule a meeting for an upcoming web project, a faculty member in the School of Education asked me how I was doing with my dissertation. I told him that I was struggling through the second chapter, but making progress.

Dr. Osler, that's the faculty member's name, continued to ask probing questions. He asked me what the study was on, when I planned to finish, and what my motivation was. He seemed genuinely interested in my research.

The more he asked questions, the more excited I became.

Finally, he told me that he could help me finish the dissertation and that it would be as easy as....[he goes into a spiraling list of items that I simply glossed over]. However, to get started we should talk over lunch.

Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time for lunch, but a brief conversation would work. Yes?

The Talk
We both agreed to take 45-minutes and chat further. The meeting took place this afternoon.

Dr. Osler is a middle aged man with lots of experience under his belt. From the moment we met, he led our conversation through a series of questions. I wasn't sure how it would all end up, but I liked where it was going.

He talked about the history of African Americans, the city of Durham, and the importance of my study. He expressed a genuine interest in helping me and reading the final results.

I couldn't be more pleased.

Similar to our conversation the night before, his analysis left me feeling inspired. Listening to him talk, I believed that the process was navigable and within my reach.

It only took a few waves from his pen to outline my entire first step. Let me tell you, there is HOPE for me yet.

All in all, the meeting was a good one. I left his office energized and ready to tackle the work ahead.

Although, I do have a few questions. Can I add him to my committee? Does he have to be a faculty member at the University of Phoenix? I seriously hope not because he is the kind of guy I need on my team.

I'll find out more later. Until next time...

Thinking Back On The 2012 Founder's Day Celebration

2012-01-17T18:33:00.001-05:00

So, how did the Founder's Day Celebration go this past Saturday? That's the question I've been meaning to answer for the past few days.

In short, I would describe the event as WELL DONE. From the decorations to the food, I believe the chapter did a GREAT job executing the plan. For that I am extremely thankful.

The day all started around 2:30 pm when I arrived at the Clayton Center. The chapter brothers of Smithfield Alumni were asked to arrive a bit early in order to help setup and get things organized.

While I waited for the others to arrive, I took a few minutes to check out the building. From what I understand, the city completely remodeled the old high school into a beautiful meeting spot where local artists displayed their pieces on the open brick wall.

How did they keep this place hidden for so long?

Over the next few hours, the chapter transformed the meeting room into a banquet hall with crimson and creme table cloths, flowers, and a diamond centerpiece.

Just outside the meeting hall is where the All Blakk Affair took place. We used all three and a half floors to our advantage and dressed up tables with black table clothes and trays of food.

Founder's Day Celebration

The first event of the evening was Founder's Day. Scheduled for two hours, we invited the surrounding chapters to join our regional celebration.

Last year Fayetteville hosted it, this year was our turn.

As the brothers began to arrive, I knew it was going to be a grand affair. First off, we had the Province Polemarch (Carlos Watson, Esq.) in the building, but we also had two past Province Polemarchs in attendance (William Hooker and Melvin Pierce).

Beyond that, we had an impressive list of good brothers that joined us for the annual event. It was an honor and a privilege to host the celebration for these Kappas.

All Blakk Affair

Immediately following the Founder's Day Celebration, the members broke down the meeting room and prepared for the social. For many of us, this meant delivering trays of food to the tables, lighting candles, and setting up the bottles of wine and beer. For the V.I.P. tables, this meant bottles of champagne and other goodies.

Around 9 pm, the guests started arriving. At first, it was just a few people. Then, within the next hour and a half, a larger majority of attendees arrived.

Dressed in all black and wearing their finest clothes, many took the opportunity to dance and socialize with each other. To some, it was a reunion. To others, it was just a fun night to relax.

In all, we guesstimate around 130+ attendees at the All Blakk Affair. It was fun.

What's Next?
At this point, we're going to regroup and discuss the event. What went good? What could we have done better?

All in all, I'm very pleased with how the night transpired. It was great spending time with the brothers and celebrating the night with friends. Hopefully, we can do it again soon.

If you missed the event, take a look the photo gallery below.

Until next time...

Getting Ready For The Sandhills Founder's Day Celebration Scheduled For Tonight

2012-01-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

Today is the big day. After months of planning, the Smithfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. will host the Sandhills Founder's Day Celebration and An All Blakk Affair in Clayton, NC.

This is going to be huge and I'm excited to see how it turns out.

Looking at the clock (10:45 am), I see that I have a couple of hours to get ready. The chapter members are going to arrive in the building a few hours early in an effort to set up and prepare for our guests.

I have to tell you, I'm a bit nervous. For starters, we're going to have the Middle Eastern Province Polemarch, Carlos Watson, Esq., in the house along with a number of other high profile guests. With so many etiquette and protocol things to remember, will we have them all covered? Will there be enough people to consider the event a success? Have we packed everything? Have I practiced the introduction enough? Questions, questions, questions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm confident that both events will be fine. I have the right brothers working on the project and, if nothing else, the place is going to look amazing and we'll have fun hosting frat from across the province. In the end, that is what the whole thing is about anyway...having fun and building brotherhood.

In preparation for tonight, I pulled out the black charcoal suit, which will afford me the opportunity to wear both the red/white and all black ties.

Doing the Superman transformation will only require changing my tie and handkerchief.

In addition, I'm gonna have to whip out my iron and press the outfit for a crisp look. Then, I'll need to shine my shoes, consider an edge up around my afro, and charge the camera batteries for a full night of pictures.

Well, with so much to do, let me get off my duff and get going. I'll let you know how it goes, but if you're in the area feel free to attend.

Until next time...

She Inspired Me To Journal Again

2012-01-14T09:59:00.000-05:00

Moments ago, while eating a power breakfast of eggs and broccoli, I found an interesting post on LinkedIn. It was written by a woman named Natasha W. Veale, Ph.D. who wrote a journal that captured the dissertation process first hand. Fascinated by Natasha's success, I followed the story to her website.

After reviewing a few of her latest articles, I felt inspired. I thought to myself, writing a journal that outlines my progress should be easy enough. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how underutilized my blog has been lately. I mean, I have a place to write, but I'm not actively doing that. Why?

I guess the main reason that I stopped writing like the site was a journal was because I thought nobody would be interested in reading about my day-to-day adventures. As I understand it, blogs are supposed to be about things other than ourselves. However, as some have expressed in the past, the name of the site is Damond Nollan. So, I guess the topic is about me, right?

In any case, Natasha inspired me to rethink my strategy for damondnollan.com. With the help of labels, which is just another name for tags, I should be able to write (aka journal) like I did long before. I can go in-depth with my workouts, dieting efforts, dissertation process, and leadership travels. Oh, the opportunities are endless.

I'm not sure how well these types of articles will be received, but I can tell you that it's probably good for the soul. Everyone needs an outlet to express their achievements, challenges, and questions. For me, I choose to explore those areas with an audience. It started with The Labyrinth and I guess it's gonna happen again here.

Let's try it again and see how it goes.

Until next time...

Slow-Carb Diet Weekly Update: January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T18:21:00.001-05:00

It has been a few weeks since my last update. Since that time, I have failed miserably. As many family members have said, adjusting your eating plan right before Christmas is probably a terrible idea. I would have to agree.

For starters, there are just too many temptations. There was the macaroni and cheese, the apple pie, garlic bread, ham, cookies, pizza, and the many holiday treats. Not that you need to hear this, but the food was delicious. Unfortunately, eating like that did very little for my plan. In fact, it did the opposite. I gained more weight.

As seen by the measurements below, my weight increased by 8 pounds and my stomach grew as well. No surprises there because my stomach is where I hold all the fat. I guess that's what I get, right?

Measurements

Weight: 266 lbs
Height: 6' 2"
Age: 37
Body Fat: 21.8%
Chest: 44.0"
Waist: 42.75"
Arms: 16.75"
Shoulders: 52.5"
Forearms: 14"
Neck: 16.5"
Hips: 46"
Thighs: 26.25"
Calves: 18"
Stomach: 46.5"

Physical Activities

I am happy to report that my son and I have been hitting the gym for a couple of weeks. We're starting off slow so as to build a good habit, but it is happening. The plan is to work back up to five exercises per muscle group and thirty minutes of cardio per day.

We just finished week two, which means two exercises and 12 minutes of cardio. Below, I'll share my exercises, weights, and reps.

Tuesday (Chest)

Bench Press: 135x12, 145x10, 155x5, 165x5, 165x3
Incline Bench Press: 95x12, 105x10, 115x8, 125x5, 135x3

Wednesday (Legs)

Barbell Squat: 135x12, 155x10, 175x8, 195x6, 215x4
Leg Press: Didn't record the weight because the machine didn't provide adequate resistence

Thursday (Back)

Barbell Bent Over Row: 150x12, 160x10, 170x8, 180x6, 190x4
Wide Grip Lat Pull Down: 95x12, 110x10, 120x8, 145x6, 170x4

Saturday (Shoulders)

Barbell Shoulder Press: 65x12, 75x10, 85x8, 95x6, 105x4
Dumbbell Lateral Raise: 5x12, 7x10, 10x8, 15x6, 17x4

Sunday (Arms)

Barbell Curl: 60x12, 70x8, 70x7, 70x4, 70x3
Barbell Triceps Extension: 40x12, 50x10, 60x8, 70x4, 70x3

The first week of physical activities left me extremely sore. The worst days were from the bench press and squats. During week two, the only sore muscle ended up being my forearms.

Meals
Seriously, I won't even attempt to share everything I've eaten over the past few weeks. I can tell you that for the most part it hasn't been on plan. However, when I do eat what I'm supposed to eat, it looks like the following.

Meat

Chicken breast: I eat Tyson's grilled chicken.
Eggs: I eat between 6-10 scrambled eggs per meal. For color and flavor, I leave two egg yolks in the mix.

Legumes

Red Beans: I cook from a can.
Black Beans: I cook from a can.

Vegetables

Broccoli: I'm eating a lot of broccoli.
Cauliflower: When I'm not eating broccoli, I'm eating frozen cauliflower.

Beverages

Water: I haven't measured my water intake but I'll do better this week.
Red wine: I'm drinking around 2 glasses per day.
Coffee: No coffee at all this week.

Observations & Recommended Changes
With the holidays behind me, the only real temptations are when I don't eat enough. Currently, I'm doing ok for breakfast but when I get to work I eat nothing. Then, when I get off work, I tend to eat whatever sits in front of me. Moving forward, it is really important to stock up on food and make sure I eat enough at work. This means keeping a steady stock of canned legumes and frozen chicken.

Closing Thought
With the new year upon us, it will be easier to get back into the swing of things. In the beginning, it's always difficult to find ones groove, but it will happen. Working out, eating right, and avoiding those temptations will help me achieve my goals. Failing is only a temporary condition, so let's pick ourselves up and keep moving.

Until next week.

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Marq Sears Talks Entrepreneurship and His Media Startup Q3030

2012-01-06T18:05:00.003-05:00

In today's episode, we talk with Marq Sears, the founder and CEO of Q3030 Networks, about how he started the company, how he made the transition from content creator to building a platform, and an insight on other companies like HBO and Netflix. This is a discussion you don't want to miss.

If you cannot see the video player, click here.

Three Tips To Maximize Your Time Budget

2011-12-21T17:31:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article titled, "Get More Done Today With 4 Steps to Budget Time." Within that post, I shared how I manage time to insure that all priorities are given my undivided attention.

In this article, I would like to go a little further and provide three tips for maximizing the time budget.

Create A To-Do List
Once you have a time budget in place, it is time to start filling your calendar with to-do items. The easiest thing to do is pull those items from a list.

The list can be a piece of paper, notebook, notepad, Word document, voice note, or Google Doc. It doesn't matter which one you use as long as it's convenient and available. In photography, the best camera is the one you have with you. I'd use that same idea with to-do lists. The best list is the one you have with you.

Personally, I keep my list within a Google Doc. I like it because I can update the list while on the go using my smartphone or while sitting at my desk. The benefit of Google Docs is that I'm always working from the most updated list.

The purpose of a to-do list is simply to capture items as they arise. For me, I find that I come up with to-do items while busy with something else. I could be shopping, eating, reading, or sleeping when a nagging task presents itself. Once I get it written down, I can let my brain rest.

An example of my To-Do list looks like this:

To-Do List

Write article on time management

Clean fish tank

Pay cell phone bill

Read journal on Organizational Commitment

Write article on the slow-carb diet

Schedule Tasks On A First-in First-out Basis
With a to-do list established, it is time to take those tasks and schedule them on your calendar. I assume you've designed your time budget already. If not, visit the aforementioned post and create one now.

Thanks to my budget, I know that I can only devote an hour and a half to blog articles per day. To write an article on 'Time Management,' I have to visit my calendar and decide when I can fit it in.

Let's say I can afford some time tomorrow afternoon. To book it, I simply write the task from my list on to the calendar between 2 - 3:30 pm. Voila!

Let's assume that later on tonight, I come up with another blog topic. Looking at my calendar, I see that the next possible date to begin writing will be the day AFTER tomorrow. I'm ok with that, so I book it.

As demonstrated above, any subsequent article that comes into my head can now be scheduled as I think them up. To put it another way, first-in first-out.

The concept of first-in first-out works with meetings, chores, and even telephone conversations.

Prioritize Tasks As Needed
The first-in first-out method works the majority of the time. However, there may come a time where something more important requires my immediate attention. At work, for example, my boss may request that I attend a meeting or complete a project today. If it wasn't planned on my calendar, I may have to readjust my schedule in order to accommodate. When this happens, I will review my calendar and prioritize as needed.

In the case of a meeting, I know that I can only schedule two hours a day. Assuming I have meetings already on the calendar, I may be forced to call and cancel. However, before I do, I determine if the new meeting is more important than the meetings already on the schedule. If 'Yes,' then I adjust accordingly. If 'No,' then I ask if I can schedule a meeting to another day.

It is important to note that unforeseen tasks will show up. However, I found that it is much easier to say 'No' to a last minute request when the calendar is already full of items. Additionally, having a plan in place allows me to maintain control over my time.

Final Thought
As I bring this article to a close, remember that this calendar is yours. What you accomplish in life depends heavily on what you spend time doing. Therefore, take control by actively adding tasks to your list, schedule items on a first-in first-out basis, and, when absolutely necessary, prioritize tasks as needed.

Photo provided by JJThePooh

Returning To Tim Ferriss' Slow-Carb Diet

2011-12-15T17:56:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year where I begin to re-evaluate myself. How close am I to reaching my goals? What can I do better?

Today, that re-evaluation focuses on my health and weight loss.

Losing 30 Pounds In 20 Days
For those that have been following this blog for at least a year, you may remember my slow-carb diet experiment. In short, I became aware of a book titled, "The 4-Hour Body," which was written by Tim Ferriss. The author claimed one can lose 20 pounds in 30 days without exercising.

Up until that point, I had been working out in the gym, but my weight loss began to plateau. I believe the plateau had everything to do with my eating habits. It needed a jolt.

Hearing about the slow-carb diet was both interesting and exciting. What if I could lose weight without exercising? How might things be different?

Immediately, I set out to explore this new idea. My first challenge was to focus on 30 days. Could I do it? Would the diet work? So many questions, but there was only one way to find out.

Thirty days roll by and I had my answer. In summary, I did lose weight. Was it 20 pounds off the scale? No. However, I did lose inches and body fat, which was very encouraging. If I could do that in 30 days, what could I do with another 30? To follow my complete slow-carb diet experiment, check out the blog that started it all.

Slow-Carb to Low-Carb
In March, I decided to leave the slow-carb diet for a low-carb diet (essentially, it was the Atkins Diet). The observation at the time was that I lost weight more rapidly with low carbs than when on the slow-carb diet. While this may have been true, I became concerned with the amount of fat and cholesterol I had been consuming. I love eating steak, eggs, cheese, and the like, but what was it doing to my heart?

In my mind, eating a slow-carb diet felt more healthy. I was eating lean cuts of meat, vegetables, and legumes multiple times a day. It just feels more safe and balanced.

A few months back, I started adding carbohydrates back into my diet. It started as a slice of bread with my eggs. Then, it turned into noodles for lunch. Finally, I found myself eating sweets and other desserts more often than I should.

As a result, what achievements I maintained from my slow-carb and low-carb diets started slipping. I went from 250 to 258lbs. My stomach was growing and my face began to fill out. It was then that I decided I had better stop what I'm doing and get back on a plan.

Last year, I made the decision to lose weight and I lost around 30lbs during the 2010 and 2011 time frame. I believe that I can continue that trend in 2012.

The Plan
My plan is to get back in the gym and eat right. This means returning to my pre-slow-carb diet regimen where I did cardio and weight training. In addition to the physical activity, I plan to use the slow-carb diet as my method of nutrition.

I believe doing both will help me achieve another round of considerable weight loss.

In addition to the diet and exercise, I would like to once again blog about my journey. Like before, I would provide a weekly update on my activities, challenges, thoughts, and progress. Looking back over last years update, I found it to be quite motivational and insightful.

With that written, you may be glad to learn that I have already started the diet. As of this post, I have been eating the slow-carb way for just over 2 weeks. It hasn't been without its challenges, but for the most part I'm doing well.

Since this article essentially announced my plan, let me share my starting measurements. Then, in subsequent articles, I'll provide more detailed information on my recent activities.

Measurements

Weight: 258 lbs
Height: 6' 2"
Age: 36
Body Fat: 21.8%
Chest: 43.5"
Waist: 42.5"
Arms: 16.0"
Shoulders: 51.5"
Forearms: 14"
Neck: 16.6"
Hips: 46.75"
Thighs: 26.25"
Calves: 17.5"
Stomach: 45.75"

Feedback

Well, that just about does it for now. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to share them with me in the comment section below.

Live Blogging C3 Church: Being Real

2011-12-07T19:33:00.001-05:00

Foundational Scripture - Romans 7:14-25

Pastor Matt Fry reads the foundational scripture and begins talking about Paul. Paul wants to do what is right and good, but he battles with himself. He continues to explain how transparent Paul was with this passage. Paul was real.

As Christians, we find that we can be real everyplace else but many are not real in their churches. Pastor Matt encourages us to be real. Additionally, we need to provide a place where others can come and find comfort.

Honesty leads to freedom.

There three things we need to be real with:

Get Real With GodGod already knows your heart. It's like many of us play games with God. He knows what you're going through and he cares.

Like parents, we know what are kids are going through and we're just waiting for them to ask for help.

We need to confess our sins to God and he is faithful to forgive us of our sins.
There is power in prayer. On Wednesdays and Sundays, we have stations where we can be honest with God. We have prayer leaders.

Get Real with YourselfWe need to humble ourselves. We can start by looking in the mirror. When we look into the mirror, we see adjustments that need to be made.

We need to allow God's word to get into us. When we deny ourselves (pride), we tend to fall.

Get Real with Each OtherWe can't just keep things to ourselves. We need to remove our masks and just be real with one another. We have to be ourselves.

When we take off the mask, the following 5 things happen.

You don't have to live with condemnation.
God will set you free.
God will use you to impact others for Jesus.
You will link arms together with a church family that brings hope to their community.
You will shine the light of Jesus in practical ways.

Live Blogging C3 Church: How To Be A Mature Christian

2011-12-04T09:53:00.001-05:00

Today, the message is brought to you by Pastor Greg Surratt from Seacoast Church.

Greg begins the message by asking, "What does a mature Christian look like?" Is it the way you lift your hands when you praise God? Is it what they wear? Is it what they know Biblically? Is it when someone speaks in tongues? Is it possible for a pastor or a good speaker to be immature? How do you know when you've arrived into spiritual maturity? What is the indicator?

It is important that you become mature in the Lord and that you KNOW how to distinguish maturity. Don't forget that God has a plan for you. From the moment you were born until the time you die, God has a plan for your life. We have to figure out our plan and how to mature in the Lord.

How do you figure that out? Greg asks. Pastor Surratt believes he found the answer in a small town called Rush Springs, OK. It has about 1,000 people and about an hour south of Oklahoma City.

Rush Springs is also known as the Watermelon Capital, which is clearly posted on their local water tower. The town has fully adopted that title and celebrate their identity through an annual celebration. Each year, they have watermelon seed spitting contests and also crown a Watermelon Queen. It was from that visit that he learned about being a mature Christian.

POINT 1: It is really hard to spot a mature watermelon just by looking at it

It is important to find a mature watermelon because it tastes really sweet. Pick an immature watermelon and you may never eat another watermelon again. Unfortunately, you cannot tell a mature watermelon simply by looking at it.

Similarly, as we tie this truth about watermelons to people, Greg makes this point: "Most assumptions you make about other people based on their outer appearance is wrong." Simply looking at the way people drive, what people wear, how people greet you, how people's hair are styled, and how they sound are poor factors to base opinions on.

Greg talks about a time he was grocery shopping. A lady jumped line while he waited to buy groceries. If SHE was a Christian then she wasn't a good one, he described. He based his entire opinion of her on our outer appearance.

He continued to explain that maybe she didn't see him. Maybe she was thinking about something else. Maybe she had a stomach bug that she was saving the entire store from. We just don't know.

Greg continues to explain how basing our opinions solely on the external is wrong. He switched subjects and started talking about how people use "X-Mas" vs. "Christmas". Someone once said that people that use X-Mas are lazy Christians. How do you KNOW that to be true? He asked.

Another example, from the Bible, comes from the Old Testament. Israel wanted a king, so they selected Saul. They realized he wasn't on God's wavelength. So, they they went to Samuel, who was their spiritual leader, for guidance. Samuel went to Jessie and asked for a king. Jessie said that his oldest son looks like a king. He would have blown it had they not chosen David.

God doesn't look at the outside to choose people, he looks at the heart.

Remember: Almost every judgement based on what you see is wrong.

As believers, God has placed us where we need to be. Immature believers, like an immature watermelon, can leave a bad taste in non-believers mouths. Therefore, we need to help Christians mature so that non-believers don't get a bad experience.

Greg tells another story about a cruise in the Mediterranean. They are eating breakfast and a couple asked to sit down. The wife was an IT Technician and the husband was a lawyer. Greg responded that he was a pastor.

As soon as Pastor Surratt shared his job (a pastor), the husband turned completely off. The lawyer explained that the most corrupt lawyers in his town are "Christians." The lawyer goes on and on about how "those Christians" should have a special place in hell for those kinds of people.

In Greg's quiet time that morning, God received a pertinent message (Second Peter Chapter 2). Greg, to the lawyer, "I've got some good and bad news." Pastor Surratt said that there is a Hell and you're probably going there. The good news is that God has a special place those Christians that you describe.

POINT 2: The only way to judge the maturity of a melon is to thump it
The resonance of a melon will tell you its maturity. An immature melon has a tingy or whiny sound while a mature melon has a more full sound. As Christians, you can tell its maturity level by thumping it. An immature Christian is whiny ("Oh God, things aren't going well...."), but a mature Christian is more full.

In Christianity, our faith has to be thumped.

So, what are examples of thumping our faith? One example is a challenging situation. Another way to measure maturity in faith is how long it takes realize that God uses challenges to help us grow. The more mature a Christian, the shorter amount of time it takes to realized the challenge as an opportunity to grow. We don't have to be thankful for sickness, for example, but rather thankful for the opportunity to thump our faith.

Two examples of things that thump our faith:

Unexpected delays is another example of a thump. Nothing is unexpected to God.
Difficult people is a third example of a thump.

POINT 3: Melons will not ripen once they detach from the vine

Similar to watermelons, Christians that detach themselves from the vine will not mature.

Ways to stay attached. When you wake up, say that "God loves me and God is for me."

Another thought, say that "God has good things in store for me today."

Even if bad things happen to you today, nothing can derail the plans for your life.

God will use challenging moments for our good. All things work togther for good for those that love the Lord.

Need A Fresh Start?

If you would like to make a fresh start in your life and receive God's love, pray this prayer:

Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.

A View From The Movember Team RDU Gala 2011

2011-11-30T23:48:00.001-05:00

If you cannot see the photo gallery, click here.

I just got back from the Movember Team RDU Gala 2011, which was hosted at Gravy in Raleigh, NC. The event attracted a number of people from around the Triangle to celebrate of a month long effort of raising awareness and money for the fight against cancer affecting men.

To help initiate the discussion, men begin the month of November with a clean shaven face. Then, over the next 30 days, participants are encouraged to grow creative Mo's and talk regularly about men's health.

This year, Movember Team RDU leaders, JT Moore and Mike Adams, did an outstanding job in helping the team to raise around $20,000+ in donations. The official dollar amount will be announced sometime tomorrow.

Finally, the winners of Ms. and Mr. Movember were Gwynne Murphy and JT Moore. Congratulations, you two!

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Room 3026 Live: A Mobile App Called Path, Dr. Murray, and Occupy L.A.

2011-11-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

If you cannot see the player, click here.

In This Episode: We look at a new mobile app for the iPhone and Android devices called Path, discuss Dr. Murray's 4 year prison sentence, and take a peak at the latest information on Occupy L.A.

Other features include: Feed watch, Dailybooth, and Blog Roll.

Join Michael Render, Derek Brinson, Damond Nollan and the Room 3026 Live Crew each weekday at 1pm (EST) for a 60-minute conversation ranging from technology to pop culture.