Archive - June, 2007

Blog Maintenance and More!

So, I’m coming to find that I enjoy reading blogs and also blogging myself. I think that it is good for me too because it gets some of these randomly floating thoughts out of my head. So here are some upcoming changes that you can expect to see on johnmassie.com in the coming days:

  • Some Re-Organization
    I’ve gotten sloppy with tagging and categories so I’m going to review all the past posts and re-organize everything. In addition I hope to build some structures so that once I get more content that it will be easier to find specific topics and articles.
  • Finally Fix The E-Mail Issue
    I’m thinking that I’m going to attempt to fix the e-mail issue so  I can start getting e-mails again. If I have to go as far as opening a support ticket with my hosting company, I’ll do so, just to get this thing working.
  • Update the empty pages
    So, I have a few empty pages that need to be fixed. You can expect to see some content to appear in the next few days on these pages.
  • Adding Photos, Additional WordPress plugins and More!
    Well, I don’t want to give away all the surprises but this will be a few. I’m going to start doing some more photography and get it published to the web. I’m not sure if I am going to use Google or Flickr or My Own Hosting… Suggestions anyone?
  • ARCHIVES!
    YES! I’m going to finally port over Xanga and my old WordPress blog. Then guess what… THEY’RE GOING TO DISAPPEAR! That’s right… we’re liquidating and eventually when you search Google… you’re not going to find Xanga or johnmassie.wordpress.com…. just www.johnmassie.com
  • MY MYSPACE AND FACEBOOK ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR
    Gasp… I know… I’m just so tired of trying to manage 500 websites with personal information about me. So, here is what we’re going to do. I’m stripping MySpace, Facebook, and all other “social” websites down to the bare minimum with a reference to see www.johnmassie.com for all the information.

    Now for all you Myspace/Facebook junkies never fear. You can still stalk… I mean… read about me here on this blog. I’ll be putting up a page that highlights some things about me, much like Facebook and MySpace does. So calm down, go post some surveys on the MySpace bulletin board and call it a night… ;-)

  • Well, then there is the MORE!
    It wouldn’t be very much fun if I give away all the coming changes. So be on the look out and (Lord willing) if this week doesn’t spiral out of control, between my ebay madness and trying to do the *life* thing, I’ll get all this done and begin making blogging a “daily” event. So be on the lookout for changes. Suggestions always welcomed…

Well, that’s about it… I’m going to get off here and go to bed and do that sleep thing.

Night and God Bless,
- J -

The REAL Consultant is – IN

My title reminds me of the infamous scene in the Charles M. Schultz “Peanuts” cartoon where Lucy is often setting at her booth advertising psychiatric help for the low price of $0.04. Stating that the Doctor is – IN. Well, the doctor isn’t IN but I’m here to talk to you about the REAL Consultant who is ALWAYS – IN.

I recently read an article entitled “Is God an IT Consultant?“. I thought nothing of the title at first as I quickly scanned the blog article. As I began to read I stopped and began to read in more detail. Something struck a string in my heart and I felt that I couldn’t pass this article by without posting something as a “reaction” on my own blog.

I have no shame in the fact that I am a Christian, most specifically Protestant and Nazarene. I read the blog post in full detail tonight watching the author take God and paint this picture of your typical IT Consultant; arrogant, self righteous, pompous and idiotic.

First off he takes intelligent design and proposes a question about “famine, disease and war” being intelligent. I offer the fact that we live in what I call a “fallen world”. Due to the fact that God designed us to have “free will” and the ability to sin, we have created the world we live in. It is not God who “intelligently ordains” these results of sin, it is God who created us with free will to let us CHOOSE how our life is. Otherwise, I believe that we’d all just be puppets if there was no choices in life.

Next he proposes questioning God on why so many things in creation are “utterly messed up” (we’ll clean up the language here). He believes that the response would be along the lines of, “Well, it was designed according to the spec. Technically, there’s nothing wrong with my design, it’s your implementation that’s the problem.”

I’m not sure what God you know, but the God I know wouldn’t say this. There are two ways to look at this, both being valid. First is that again, we live in a fallen world. This world isn’t perfect and that is due to God creating us with free will. This free will design has resulted in our world being corrupt and thus the results are these “messed up” pieces of creation. Secondly, sometimes the bad isn’t always the bad. If we’re going to the temporary sufferings in life such as unemployment, sickness, hurting, etc… then we need to stop asking God to take our “chains” away from us and we need to start asking God to use our “chains” for His glory.

Many hate the saying that “everything happens for a reason”… I think that this should in fact be the title of my life story. Everything that has happened to me good and BAD has been for a reason and has made me a better person out of it. So these elements of creation that one thinks is “messed up” maybe should take in considering that it wasn’t the Creator who did it but those He created.

He goes on to say,

“Everything good = god. Everything bad = satan and the wickedness of man. Which always struck me as a bit of a cop out. Fluffy bunnies, cute babies and beautiful sunsets are because god loves you. Horrible things like disease, genocide and really bad TV shows happen because you’re wicked and you deserve it.”

Woah… hold the phone. God doesn’t sit up in Heaven and says, “because you sin today and you’re wicked I’m going to give you a disease.” I think that we need to realize that if this was the case, every “bad person” would probably be dead. Look at good people who have problems (and we know that everyone has problems) is that it’s not because someone is Good or Bad it is because that is what God has planned for your life. It is all in how you look at this picture. Everything = GOD. End of story. Yes, the good and the bad… I am not saying that God is the author of sin or wickedness but He controls it all and for both I give Him praise. Yes, even in the bad times, I give Him praise.

Following this Mr. Angry follows this up with a few paragraphs talking about “concept of divinity”, eternal damnation and God’s involvement in life. Again, I will use my life as an example. I know that God cares for me and He cares about everything in my life. E V E R Y T H I N G. I’m a firm believer that God wants to hear it all, and if you get to know God before creating this cold concept of Him, I think many would see it too.

Yes, eternal damnation, what every good “fire and brimstone” preacher can preach on. I personally am not one to speak on Heaven and Hell because I don’t believe in “scaring people into Heaven”. I’m here to tell you that Hell is real. This goes back to an earlier point of mine, FREE WILL. God says look, “You can follow me or you can choose not to. Here are your options, Heaven or Hell.” Also, please, what is so wrong with living a “Godly” life. I once heard the phrase,

“I’d rather live like there is a God to die and find out there isn’t than to live like there is no God and die to find out there is.”

It’s not like God is creating people and saying, “You, John, are going to Heaven… You, next person in line, I think you need to go to Hell.” When we were all created we were given the power to choose, down to our eternal destination.

The last paragraph is a funny pun on God being an IT Consultant and I’ll quote it here as well,

“And if god really is an IT consultant, we should have read the fine print in the contract. Because there are a hell of a lot of bugs that still need fixing. Does anyone know the number of the help desk? I tried calling the pope but he called me a smartarse and hung up.”

My response to that is this:
Need a copy of the contract with no fine print, it is called the Holy Bible. Here you can read the “help desk” agreement at Book: John Section: 3 Passage Number:16 and if you need to file a bug or comment on a feature of this life, just lift your words to God, The REAL Consultant, His “help desk” is always listening. Depending on what is in your individual project plan will result in such “bugs” and “comments” being addressed at the time the REAL consultant sees fit.

I hope that you, Mr. Angry, if you ever read this entry will maybe consider finding the REAL Consultant and not this “IT Consultant” idea that you’ve painted of God.

Oh and also keep in mind that we’re only “beta testing” here on this earth… final release will be completed after your tenure of beta testing is through and you’ve passed onto “production”.

Good Night and God Bless,
- J -

The moment we’ve all been waiting for

Well, so maybe everyone hasn’t waited for this moment, but I have. Just a little bit of background…

Every car that I’ve purchased was out of necessity. Either one was dying, I needed to give my car to someone or I needed a different car due to life change (aka having a lease and needed to drive 300 miles per day). I’ve always been after three cars that I felt I could realistically (someday) reach:
1. Acura TL w/ Navigation
2. BMW 330i
3. Mercedes Benz c230 or c350 

Well, I started to do research, reviewing and test driving of said vehicles. I “worked the numbers” on my finances and finally realized I had reached the point of being able to afford the said cars above. I finally settled on one… and got the exact thing I wanted.

A 2005 Acura TL with Navigation, Abyss Blue Pearl with Quartz Leather, with every option that year. I’m beyond thrilled… So, below is a picture of the two cars I have now. I’ve decided to sell the Saab, if anyone is interested (and if you’re out of state, we can work something out…) Click on the link to see more pictures of both cars.

From Cars

It is an awesome car and very fun to drive. I was also to still maintain Front Wheel Drive for those FUN Ohio winters. Well, I need to get to work, just thought I would share my “big announcement”.

Later!
- J -

Big Announcement…

So I have an announcement to make… but don’t have time to make it right now. I thought I’d keep my loyal readers in suspense until I make the post… Check back for more later :-)

My Life Right Now

So, I have been busy as I’ve said and by the obvious lack of posting, because we all know I always have something to talk about.

About three weeks ago a long time friend moved in. My good friend Brian that I’ve known for about six years now moved into the guest room. It has been a fun experience having him here and it’s different having a roommate, but I am enjoying it. So that has been some extra time that I’ve been spending trying to show Brian around and getting him used to the city.

Work is going well, I’m making progress and finding that I enjoy what I do. Cardinal Health is an excellent company to work for and I find my job challenging but not so much to make me “stress out”. Hopefully I will convert to a full-time employee sometime here soon.

I was at church last week and I found a song that we sang to be very comforting. I sometimes feel like my plate is so full (sadly, getting a second plate to put everything on isn’t an option). I guess you could say that I feel that I am trying to fit a full dinner onto a salad plate. The Choir / Worship Team sang this song and I jotted down some lyrics so I could come home and find them and blog about it. Enjoy…

My Life Is In Your Hands
Kirk Franklin

You don’t have to worry
And don’t you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don’t last always
For there’s a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say

Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there’s a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away

And if you heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say

Oh
I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

Just something to ponder… I listen to this to remind me that “no matter what may come my way, my life is in HIS hands.”

God Bless,
- J -

I’m still around!

Yes, I know I haven’t kept up with a daily blog of my life. Things have been crazy busy and changes and well, just life is moving like crazy. So, with that being said… I’m going to try and update tonight when I get home.

Later!
John