3 Words for 2010

Inspired by Terry Storch and Chris Brogan.

This really applies to a lot of things in the spiritual, physical and mental realms. It's not just about "eating right" and "exercising,"it's about being as healthy as possible in as many areas that I can. It's going to be about all of the little choices I make on a daily basis. This includes things like: getting caught up on regular doctor's visits, completing a daily reading plan from YouVersion, and being honest about my feelings with people.
Why? Because I want to be faster, better and stronger.

---

I have a feeling that a lot is going to change for me in 2010. The trick will be surrendering to what it actually is, instead of lamenting what it isn't. It really means being open to God, the people around me, and new experiences/ideas.
Why? Because I don't want to become unteachable, inflexible or closed.

---

I want to continue a goal I had in 2009, which was to be a student of...well...as much as possible. To focus that down a bit, I'd like to be in a constant state of learning about Communications. I also want to be a student of people around me so I can be someone worth studying someday.
Why? Because I don't have all the answers and I want to model a spirit of learning to those around me.

---

Zero Out Your Inbox

I did this quick training/challenge for our staff on Tuesday at our Communications Meeting and I thought I'd pass the notes on. Most of this comes from Karen Leland. This method and it's variations have been around for a long time, but it's a good one, so here's my spin:

ZEROING OUT YOUR INBOX 

WHY?

1. We need to get better at the time it takes to communicate with our people and each other. 
2. Goal is to spend less time playing with email and more time doing stuff. 
3. It’s a tangible accomplishment in an otherwise continual loop of unfinished ministry business. 

Four “D” Method (with some extra hints): 

• Create 2 subfolders in your inbox called “Defer” and “To Be Done” (or whatever make sense to you). 
• Every email you receive falls into one of four categories: Do, Delete, Delegate or Defer. 
• Take action on each message, the ultimate goal being to touch each email only once whenever possible. 
• The only way an email will ever get out of your life (and out of your worrying brain) is to either deal with it or get rid of it. If you’re planning to do anything in-between, you should understand why. 
• Filters can be your friend. Focus on creating filters/scripts for any noisy, frequent, and non-urgent items. Depending on what you consider noise, this could probably include: 
• blog comments 
• “friend” requests and announcements from sites like Twitter, Facebook* or Flickr 
• mailing lists and subscribed forum threads 
• regular updates like newsletters and office memos 
• non-spam store updates, coupons, and sale announcements 

Do: If the message can be handled easily and quickly (within five minutes) do it now. Once done, delete the item or move it to a folder for storage. If the task can't be completed easily, move it to a folder for items to be done, or flag it for completion at some point during the day. At the end of the day, all the flagged items, that are unfinished should be moved to the “to be done” folder, those becoming priority the next day.

Delete: If an email sits in your in-box waiting to be worked on for days, weeks, or even months, you’re probably putting it off for one of these reasons:

1. It is too big to handle as is and needs to be broken down into bite size chunks (DO IT). 
2. The item is not clearly defined enough for you to take action on (FACT FIND). 
3. It is something you don't really, want, need or intend to do (DELETE IT).** 

Delegate: Just because you received the email message, does not mean you have to be the one to execute it.

Defer: Many items in your in-box are good ideas you would like to follow up on - just not now. Instead of letting the someday item sit in your active in-box file, create a folder where you can keep tabs on messages you may want to take action on at some point in the future.**


  * Be careful not to forget about notifications if people are trying to communicate with you.
** Just because you don’t think its important, that doesn’t mean the requester agrees. Communicate!


Five Minutes To A Cleaner Inbox: 
Open your email in-box and then set your watch, computer or iphone on a five-minute timer. Now, starting from the top (the latest email) go through and see how many items you can get completed and moved out of your mailbox using the four D's - Do, Delete, Delegate or Defer.

Photography Happenings

I haven't posted any work in a while, so I thought I'd put a few shots up. The first is from an impromptu pre-engagement/engagement shoot with Jackie and Chad. Very fun couple. The second set is Chrissy, daughter of dear friends, who is graduating from High School.

Really, Google Voice?

When I heard about Google Voice, I was super excited because I HATE listening to voicemail messages. The biggest draw for me was that Google will "listen" to the message and send you a text and and email with the message typed out. I assumed there would be some words that would be messed up, but I didn't expect THIS:

my message:
"Hey it's Brandi. I wanted to find out if you would watch Candace on Friday when I go to a movie. I'll talk to you later. Let me know."

google voice text interpretation:
"Hey it's Brandon to find out if you would be overlaps Janet 91. It would be, but I'll talk to you late. Asking head back."

Sounds like a bad spam email. Bummer - I really wanted to stop checking voicemails.

Hi Carlos!

You're with my very best friend in the whole world! Please give her a hug for me!

Here are some pictures of Dave and me (Danielle):

This is us making funny faces. We like to do that:

And this is me standing in a lot of SNOW! Molly can tell you all about snow:

We can't wait to learn more about you and get to know you!  We love you and will be praying for you all the time.

Welcome to Our Family, Carlos

Maybe we can call you "Los?"

I can't believe you've had to wait so long for a sponsor. I am VERY excited to get to know you!

You are a cutie!

(thanks, Molly, Aber and Heather: you've made child sponsorship real to me)

Won't you consider sponsoring a child from El Salvador?

I Didn't Listen to God on Tuesday

We had a staff retreat this week and were sent away alone to think through how the way we do ministry effects how we connect with God.

Two words came to my mind: creatively and frantically.

Psalm 63: 1-8 has been on my mind for the past couple of months and it popped into my head again, so I read it, totally worshipping through and agreeing with every part, as usual.

This is Psalm 63: 1-8:
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
   as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
   beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
   my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
   in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
   and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
   and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

When I was done reading, I sensed God saying, "But that isn't how YOU would write it." So...I put it into 100% honest words that were my own and then felt God prompting me to share it because it wasn't only for me. I chickened out...actually, I disobeyed God. I've repented, and now here it is.

Maybe it's for you, too:


O God you are my God; frantically I look around for you;
  my soul would probably want you;
  my flesh is too busy to care,
  as in an overcrowded city where there is too much noise.
So I have tried to connect with you at church,
  with my limited knowledge of your power and glory.
Because you generally take care of me, I will do good things in your name.
So I will make you look good - until I get bored;
  in your name I will be too busy to care.
My soul will starve to death and my mouth will talk a big game
  when I realize how far I got on my own and that I don't know you at all;
  but you must have helped.
And in the blazing heat of this desert, I will yell about being lonely.
My soul clings to you, but I pull it away;
  I am too busy to learn how to trust your hand to hold me.