Category Archive

I discovered widgets within the dashboard of WordPress that I was unaware of being available to me. Thusly, you may notice a search box, calendar, del.icio.us feed, categories, and tag cloud now added to the left. It may improve your visits to this blog, or they may not. But isn’t it swell to know they are there? Unfortunately, and someone please tell me if this is just a bug with the new WordPress or not… but as I’ve added said widgets, my blogroll list has now poofed. How do I get it back? I did nothing to make it go away.

In my CSS studies, I’m now learning the big kahuna: page layout! Oh this is fun.

As described in this post, I have been undertaking the thought of joining Mars Hill as my church home. I did not want to simply slide into it with ease or with simple conscious. I wanted to really put Mars Hill to the test in my beliefs, and in return, it managed to test a lot of what I believe. In fact I couldn’t find a single reason to not say it was my church home. The elders and deacons of Mars Hill Church really do have their act together! And that isn’t because of something they read in a New York Times or Amazon bestseller list… it simply was founding the church from the get-go on the living, breathing Word of God. Jesus’ message is enough, and needs not any extra panache or fanfare added in. There is no need for golden pianos, metal plated Bible covers, or inspirational sports commentaries placed inside to be called “extra features”. The Bible is not a DVD box set. It just is.

Going back on the original topic: membership. It actually means something for this church, and not just to the elders. I’m talking the sheep here. The laymen. It is required for all leadership positions and its a way that the community stays active and accountable of each other. In terms of leadership, I will probably lead a community group in the next year. Much of that will depend on location and career opportunities playing the mix. Regardless to say, as of April 1st, 2008, I am a member of Mars Hill. I could not be more thankful to God. Being that I was appointed a member on April Fool’s Day is not a coincidence. It’s a good reminder that by myself, I am the biggest fool of them all. With Christ, I am called to be a disciple and live my life for Him in action and deed.

On and unrelated note, I am finishing up CSS: The Missing Manual this week. I’m having fun going through the tutorials and learning a lot of applicable knowledge when it comes to the backend of web design. I hope to implement these changes with Slipstream.cc and eventually get my portfolio hosted directly on my site, though Carbonmade has done an excellent job just in terms of a free service. Time to get back to studying.

[ The following was originally written Friday, February 29th. ]

Winter. It’s been a chilly one, but not unbearable. Right now, being the last day of February, it feels more like a perfect Autumn morning, crisp but clear. This year started out semi-rough for reasons the internet does not need to hear. But on all areas now, life is pretty uneventful.

Should I be worried? I suppose my old self, sans Christ in my life, would certainly worry about what tomorrow will bring. But at the end of the day, what would that accomplish?

Lately, I’ve been racking my brain listening to free reformed theology classes on iTunes, as well as John Piper sermons. Recently Piper spoke at my church at a conference some of you might have heard of before. I didn’t buy tickets early enough, but I was able to watch parts of it free streamed online. Much of it was way over my head, but I’m trying to learn the terms and knowing the logic and vocabulary teachers of the Law have gone to very expensive schools to learn about.

Perhaps with nothing different in my life and the lack of excitement has resulted in so few of posts. Regardless, I’m tired of most blogs being apologies for not posting enough. So let me save you the time and inform you, Streamlined WILL NOT be one of those blogs. I speak no longer on the subject.

To update you on the PC upgrade, things are, for the most part, up and running. I have a slight problem with something, and I have looked into everything I know to check: drivers, memory sticks, etc… and I still get crashes at least once a day. If money came easy to me, I could of bought a nice packaged iMac. But that was out of the price range. I’ll post the specs soon so maybe I can get some outsider help.

Just a quick housekeeping note: I’ve shrunk back all the excess links that were on my Slipstream.cc front page. I will return to them in one form or another in another page I’ll probably title Influences or some-such. Have faith in the Lord that He uses me to increase His Kingdom with this website, through my own kooky ways of doing things.

Recent CD purchases: Radiohead’s latest album In Rainbows and Leeland’s sophomore worship album Opposite Way. On Opposite Way, the song Let It Out Now is my current theme song. Everybody needs one at any given point in their life.

Another worship song, one that I recall from high school ministry is More Precious Than Silver. That has been one that I’ve sung quietly to myself to and at the bus stops in the mornings. The specific lyric that I’ve been focusing on is ‘And nothing I desire compares to You.‘ My hope is that it will stay my anthem for this year.