Ohhhhhhkaaaaayyyyyyy.....

Person:  Random fact between me and you--one of the first things I notice on a girl is her feet and how it looks.
Me:  O_o'  (side note:  I hate feet.  There is no such thing as pretty feet.  Like knees.  No one has attractive knees)
Person:  Haha!  But yea, I'd look at their feet just to look at it and see how it looks.  Some girls feet look weird compared to how pretty they look.
Me:  I'm sure your feet are nasty [name].  Don't judge.
Person:  Not judging.  It just looks interesting.  LOL.  I used to smell feet when I was younger.
Me:  Ohhhhhkaaaaayyyyyyy.... end of conversation, and the start of my next blog post.
Person:  No.  I said between me and you.
Me:  I won't put your name on it.

Connected, but Alone

Sherry Turkle via TED Talks "studies how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication--and asks us to think deeply about the new kinds of connection we want to have."

Through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and text messaging, our social circles or (monkey spheres) have increased exponentially.

The monkey sphere concept isn't new--it's the numerical sociological limit to how many stable relationships we can have.  It is usually within the range of 100 and 230 (but often the average is 150); the number of real and relevant relationships we have with one another.

(It's interesting to note that many churches do not grow over the size of 100, and hit additional growth barriers at 150 and after 200.  But I digress, this post isn't about church size, but very well could be.)

Given the normal monkey sphere, we've allowed ourselves to have an incredibly increasing social circle.  As of this post, reports suggest that the average number of social network connections are 634.  Whereas, 3 years ago, the average person only had 120.  

Unscientifically speaking, that's an average increase of 428% in just shy of three years.  

But even as we connect with more and more people, we are not able to connect intimately and personally with each other.  As people, we still crave personal relationships, more so than the 140 character tweets, 120 character text messages, or even filtered Instagram photos (that's worth a thousand words).

Social media and our increasing social circles have watered down and diluted our conversations.

We've lost connection.  In a sea of tweets, status updates, photos, emails and texts, we've lost how we connect to each other as people.

It's no wonder why people feel so alone and even why they crave and seek for companionship and fellowship.  (Again, this post isn't about church or religion, but it very well could be)

Is there a solution?  I don't know.  But if there is, it's as simple as having a one-on-one conversation.

A few months ago, I conducted an experiment.  Part of the inspiration was evangelistic (but again, this post isn't about the Great Commission, but it very well could be), and part of it was just for kicks.

I posted that on our community board, and since that date, I've had the opportunity to connect with and know seven new people--seven people I wouldn't normally interact with, seven people that I wouldn't have had a chance to know, and seven people that I've added to my monkey sphere.

But did it allow me to create a real and relevant personal relationship?  I don't know.  Only time will tell.

But here's the truth.  We've talked more about our lives more than any text message, any tweet, any status update, or any number of Instagram pictures could ever do.  

And that's the point.  Instead of having a one-way push of bits of information, hoping that someone would like/comment/retweet/favorite it; pick up the phone and call someone.  Share a meal.  Get a cup of coffee.  Go for a walk.  Make a conversation.  Listen.  Connect.

There's over seven billion people in the world right now.  You are definitely not alone, and someone is looking to connect with you as well.

Mobile Deeplinking

A few years ago, browsing the mobile web was such a pain.  No one really had a mobile friendly site.  Links shared between friends would be incredibly painful to watch/read/view through a mobile device.

So, developers started getting smart.  They started creating mobile versions of the site.

But we were left with the following experience:

1. Through my phone, find a cool link on someone's Twitter, Blog, Facebook.
2. Click on the link, and get redirected to the mobile site.
3. See that it's JUST the mobile site, not the actual article/video/picture I wanted to see.

In order to solve the "mobile" problem, developers would create a catch-all redirect.  Anytime a request was made to the site, it would check if the visitor was viewing it through a mobile site.  Then it'd redirect them to the mobile root page.  

This would be all fine and dandy if the web worked that way.  But it doesn't.  We send complicated links to other people through social media, email, and whatever.  

And as of recently, most sites have addressed this.  They see the URL that the user is going to, and if they're on a mobile device, they'd serve up the same article/picture/video in a mobile friendly manner.

And we'd be all fine and dandy if the problem was solved.

But it isn't.

Social media, email, IM--link sharing--is no longer just on desktops/laptops.  It's become incredibly easy to share links with your mobile or tablet device.

But guess what?  The links that people are sharing through that mobile/tablet device is the mobile/tablet version of the original article.

So now we're back to square one, inverted:

1. Through my desktop web browser, find a cool link on someone's Twitter, Blog, Facebook.
2. Click on the link, and see the mobile version.

What we end up seeing is a LONG page, taking up just a measly 480 pixels of screen width.  Check this out for example:  http://m.nypost.com/p/news/business/it_capitol_offense_J7uQaF0qOszwsYPiWoEO8L

Of course, if you removed the "m.", you'd get the actual article.

Now, I'm thinking out loud... but this is how we REALLY should be handling linking:

1. Route traffic to a main controller.
2. Main controller checks user agent for optimum browsing experience.
3. Main controller sends traffic to the appropriate view, supplying the appropriate data (article, video, image, etc.)

Even if a user gets to a link within m.blah.com (the mobile site), the main controller should see it, and transfer them over to the desktop site (blah.com).  The inverse would be also true--if a mobile user gets to blah.com,/special-link the main controller would send them to m.blah.com/special-link.  Likewise, a tablet user would see the optimized version for their device.

Catching My Breath

Two major life updates--new job and just got engaged.

It's been about four months since I started at Deutsch LA.  Deutsch is responsible for some crazy ads--the Volkwagen Force commercial, Kevin Butler from Sony Playstation, and the hilarious Snapple commercials.  Since then, I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing and talented people.  Creatives blow my mind--they create artwork as advertisements.  It's only been four months, but I feel like I've been working there for over a year now!  I've been in some pretty high-stress work environments (AIG), but this job makes me multitask like no other.  Volkswagen, Fresh & Easy, HTC, and the Deutsch Redesign aka #30Days2Beta.  A weird but successful campaign to get visible.  They stuck a few of us in a pod-type room for 30 days and filmed it for everyone to see.  Were there creepers?  Yes.

Tomorrow is the unveiling, and I'm pretty stoked.  Is it perfect?  Not by a long-shot.  But we got a lot done.  It's not perfect, but we were able to fit in a full redesign with HTML5, fullscreen video, crazy JavaScript animations, AJAX freshness, and targeted desktop, mobile and tablet.

And on October 17th, I officially got engaged.  What's awesome is our engagement announcement.

Wedding planning is in full force.  So far we got a photographer(s) and a venue.  What's next?  Flowers, entertainment and lighting/decor.  Then the guestlist... oh, the guestlist.  We more than doubled our target and now we have the incredibly hard task of cutting it.

But it's not just the wedding we're planning... we still have to find a place to live, plan the honeymoon, and manage a budget.

Still, there's more.

At the end of the year, we should be launching a new startup called DonateBin.  We're bringing fundraisers, supporters and businesses together to create a completely new and innovative platform.

Exciting times!

And yet, I can't help but say this:  none of this would be possible if it were not for Christ.  There are times where I can't imagine doing all of these things.  But it's only through His grace that He gives me the strength to go on.  He's blessed me with an amazing career and a beautiful bride-to-be.

And now a picture of Jabba.

Being Busy

I'm always busy.  Three "jobs"--one full-time, one part-time, and one "more than full-time".  Plus relationships, friendships, discipleships.

But there's one thing I know--being busy is NOT from the Lord.

Busy-ness takes us away from sitting at the feet of Jesus.  We claim to do God's work, just as Martha did.  We become so focused on ministry and on the daily grind of things that we FORGET that we are in God's presence.

Relax.  Chill.  Sit at His feet and soak Him in.

There's nothing better.

Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere.

Better is one day of His rest, than a thousand days "being" busy.

Even God rested.  He created the heavens and the earth, and everything *in* and *around* it.  Not quite a small task, I might add.  And yet, He rested.

3 jobs + everything around it.  That's nothing for Him.

And the same for whatever we think we're busy about.  He can do all of it in a blink of an eye... what He's really after is spending time with you.

And this is what I've learned over the past few years.  Nothing I do on my own accord matters--whether it's work, ministry, relationships, etc.  It doesn't change anything.

They only matter in the context of His will.  And I can only be enlightened by His will, or hear His Word when I stop. And. Spend. Time. With. Him.

Stop.  Chill.  Relax.  Sit at His feet and soak Him in.

The things that matter WILL get done... because He'll be the one that gives you wisdom, strength, and power.

So stop... chill... relax.  You're in His hands... the best place you can ever be.

Faith Dares to Fail

AW Tozer wrote, We can afford to follow Him to failure. Faith dares to fail. The resurrection and the judgment will demonstrate before all worlds who won and who lost. We can wait."

Faith DARES to fail.

Christianity is not about success.  It's not about worldly riches, acclaim, power or reaching a milestone in your life.  Yes, God does BLESS many that follow Him... but it is NOT the goal of the journey.

We have to be Christ-like.  To be Christ-like is to walk the same path as Christ--his sufferings, his betrayals. it's praying "Your will be done, and not my own."  It's walking with others.  It's preaching the Gospel of grace, forgiveness, and mercy.  It's loving.

And it's also "failing" in the eyes of the world.  The crucifixion was a death only for the lowest of criminals.  It's utter and complete humiliation.

Faith DARES to fail, dares to be put in a situation of complete ridicule because that SAME faith was followed by the resurrection--God overcoming death itself.

Faith DARES to fail because in the end, there is NO failure.  Faith DARES to fail because after all is said and done, God prevails.  Faith DARES to fail because He never leaves nor forsakes us.

DARE to fail.  Follow Him, regardless of the possibility of failure.  God will bring you the victory.

Radical

Our God's love is radical, proven in His Son's sacrifice on the cross.  Our God does not need nor want mediocrity, but only radical disciples giving their lives in radical ways--in their faith, their workplace, their words, thoughts, actions, in their minds and in their hearts.

Definition 1:  of or going to the root of origin.
Definition 2:  thoroughgoing or extreme
Definition 3:  favoring drastic reform

I am a mediocre Christian.  My life is not filled with Christ.  At best, I am only a compartmentalized Christian.

It's hard to fully give your life to Christ.  It's not an easy task.  We sometimes see the idea of "giving your life to Christ" as an end goal, the purpose of the race.

But the goal of the race isn't to give your life to Christ.

Acts 20:24  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Jesus is the beginning of our race.  He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  Through Him and His sufficient grace, we are molded continually--although painfully--to who He wants us to be:  the vessel of His will.

And to be vessels of His will, He requires radical disciples--disciples that will throw off anything that hinders themselves from the race set before them.

Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God doesn't want just a part of us.  He is a jealous God and nothing nor no one could ever be above Him--the Name above all names.

Being a half Christian brings nothing to the table.  At best, I would have paved two roads, leading in two different directions, and both would lead to no where.  They'd be empty roads leading empty people to no destination.  There is no legacy, no eternity, and no difference in a life led in two paths.

I cannot forget my first Love.  I can no longer be a mediocre Christian.  God requires much more of me than what I've been giving Him.

But I can only get there through Jesus.  

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

It is He who teaches us the Way, then we walk.  It is He who gives us the undivided heart, and then we fear His name.  It is only through Him that we have the strength, the heart, the mind, and the soul to do what He asks.  It is not by human effort or works, but only by His grace alone.