Vocation in the Valley

??????Shot my personal best, 85, yesterday. The lessons are really paying off. My irons had good distance even when I didn’t hit them pure. My full wedges were a little off, but I was really happy with my chipping. The driver was all over the place. Cost me four strokes on one hole, but I was more unhappy with the inconsistent ball flight; low liners, popups, pulls, etc.

Overall, this things were better than I ever could have expected. I’m going through some major swing changes and to shoot this low, really felt great.

??????

Since the cancellation of Issues, Etc. the show archives have been up and down with the latest news being that the files are being re-compressed and will be made available after the process is finished. There is a site that is rebuilding the entire archive, http://www.issuesetcarchive.org. Quite a large undertaking and they are currently only linking to the KFUO archives which aren’t available.

My response was to start a blog and podcast called Wittenberg Media. I am taking past shows and not simply reposting them, but repackaging them so that topics and subjects are available in a single episode. If a guest on the original show was held over during the top of the hour break, you would have to grab 2 files. I will combine these into a single episode and remove any extraneous commercials as well.

I’m starting this project by releasing a series on the historic liturgy. The first 3 parts are up. Go check them out - Wittenberg Media (http://wittenbergmedia.org).

I’ve been saddened and contemplative since the recent action of the LCMS to cancel my favorite radio program “Issues, Etc.” That act in combination with some other events and conversations I’ve had at church have me deeply concerned about the direction of the LCMS and to a lesser extent, my local congregation (Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church ). In this frame of mind and after listening to an old episode of “Issues” I thought of a poem. I am obviously no poet, but it’s just something that came from inside me and I decided I’d have the balls to post it. So here it is:

Is God’s Word Enough?

Small is the service that is divine
Empty is the pew that is next to mine
Sinners hear of a Cross hewn rough
Wondering, “Is God’s Word enough?”

Drums and bands, they’ll bring the crowd
On their feet they’ll all sing loud
The dancers spin, soloist hot stuff
Does anyone notice; Is God’s Word enough?

The preacher has 5 tips for life
She certainly knows how to deal with strife
And when she asks if I want my stuff
Will I still ask, “Is God’s Word enough?”

Back to the service that is small yet true
Hearing of the sin that I still do
The answer was always on the Cross hewn rough
Who could still ask, “Is God’s Word enough?”

Today was “Dads and Donuts” day at the Medium Girl’s school and it was the kind of day dad’s dream about (okay, so I don’t actually dream about these kinds of days, but it was really great). I met the my 3 girls in the parking lot and the Medium Girl (MG) was genuinely excited to see me (bouncing around excited). Then the baby wanted me, not mommy, to hold her. So I get a big dose of dad love in the parking lot.

Then when the event actually started, I got to have a couple no limit texas hold emplay video poker7 card stud low,7 card stud rules,7 card studtexas holdem game,free texas holdem game download,texas holdem poker gameonline poker downloadfree poker online,free online poker no download,play free poker onlineonline poker no downloadonline betting pokerfree online poker,free poker,free online poker gamebest internet pokerwin 7 card studplay poker gamecaribbean stud poker7 card stud gamefree video pokeronline roulette poker7 card stud strategiesstrip poker gamepoker software developmentpoker onlinefree online multiplayer poker game,free online poker,play free poker onlinepoker strategyonline poker schooltexas hold em poker onlinecelebrity pokerfree video poker gamemultiplayer poker onlinetexas holdem tournament strategy,texas holdem tournament,free texas holdem tournamentinternet poker softwarebest online pokerreal money online pokeronline texas holdem,free online texas holdem poker,play texas holdem poker onlinepoker card gamepoker game rulefree online 7 card studonline poker softwaredraw pokergambling pokerfree online video poker gamecaribbean pokerfree 7 card stud pokermac online pokerplay texas holdem free,play texas holdem online free,free texas holdem poker playvideo poker downloadonline poker strategyvideo poker bettinghold em pokeromaha poker ruleonline video pokerplay texas holdem online of donuts (plus MG’s leftover, shhh), which I’ve given up to control the sugar levels and got to read a bunch of books with MG. She also made me a paper tie to wear and a great book in which she wrote and illustrated what I like to do and what I like to do with her.

Truly a gift from God!

I’ve dreamed for a long time about running my own software business. I’ve kicked around lots of product ideas, and I’ve even implemented some of them. But I’ve never hit on anything that would generate an income that would support my family.

The success literature I’ve read says that turning your dream into a goal (make a plan to accomplish your dream) is the way to make your dreams happen. So, I’ve made plans. I’ve mapped out 5, 3, and 1 year goals. So then, why haven’t I reached my dreams/goals? Well, besides being a sinner who procrastinates, I’d say that my children are the biggest barrier to reaching my dreams and goals.

Wow! That sounded awful and it is. That is what comes from the heart of what Martin Luther calls the old Adam; a wicked sinner, which I am. Now, if you know me, you know that I would lay down my life for my daughters (as Christ did for us on the Cross), but I know my own heart which isn’t always so noble. I don’t know if God wants me to own a software business, but I do know that God has given me two beautiful daughters to love and to serve.

So what do I do? Serve in the vocation that God has given me by changing diapers, going to “Dads and Doughnuts” day, teaching the Small Catechism, etc. And prepare for the vocation of software business owner when I have time to work on a plan.

I found a page that list some of the more common “Japanese” words that are used with babies. I write “Japanese” because I’m guessing that at least some of these words aren’t proper Japanese.

• nenne - sleep (from nemuru, to sleep)
• dakko - carry
• mamma - food (I always supposed from ummai, delicious)!
• Tatta - stand up (from tatsu, to stand).
• Iiko - good child.
• Chodai - give to me (from kureru, to receive and kudasai, the imperative).
• Jiji - dirty
• Pon-pon - tummy
• Pai-pai - throw away
• Nai-nai - put away
• Bocha for bath (BTY - We said Bocha-bocha)
• Dame - not good (or ikemasen - will not do) for no
• Abunai - dangerous
• Niko-niko - smile
• Itai - ouch
• Tai-tai - an injury (equivalent to an owey).

Then there were the body parts for all the pointing games –

• Me – eye
• Mayuge – eyebrow
• Matsuge - eyelash
• Hana – nose
• Kuchi – mouth
• Kami - hair
• Atama – head
• Kata – shoulder
• Senaka - back
• Te – hand
• Ude - arm
• Yubi - fingers
• Ashi – leg
• Koshi – lower back
• Oshiri - buttocks
• Hiza – lap

We started using Blockbuster’s alternative to NetFlix less than a year ago and it was great. For the same price as NetFlix, you also got unlimited in-store rentals. If I didn’t have a movie my daughter wanted to watch, I could just swap one of the DVD’s for one at the store. Blockbuster had NetFlix beat by a mile.

Then a few months ago, they bumped the subscription price up a dollar and limited the in-store swaps to 5 per month. I thought about switching back to NetFlix, but I thought the 5 rentals might be worth it. A funny thing happened, I almost never went back to the store. The 5 rental limit had put up a giant barrier. I now had to consider if I had used up my 5 rentals and when my billing period was up, etc. This mental exercise caused me to simply stop using the option.

Last month, Blockbuster bumped the price another dollar and kept the 5 rental limit so I just switched plans to the “no in-store rental” plan and have the same service and price as if I were using NetFlix.

In a few short months, Blockbuster took me from being a big fan to considering switching back to NetFlix or no service at all.

Yes, I am.

Some might take that is me being arrogant. Those who know me have told me that I can give off an air of superiority or that I can seem aloof. My wife even does this thing when we’re in a discussion and I make some assertion, she’ll say with this superior tone, “Of course, I’m Brian Yamabe.” However, my assurance that I am going to Heaven doesn’t come from arrogance, it comes from confidence in the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins.

So what would happen if I was killed in a car accident after speeding and making an obscene gesture before I had a chance to repent of these sins? I’d still be going to Heaven. Why? Would God look at my heart and know that I meant to be good? Shouldn’t I be a little concerned about what God thinks of me? No way! I don’t want God looking at me for any part of my salvation. My heart? Its wicked. Christ is who I trust in for salvation.

Today seems to be Blog Action Day. Which is the blogosphere’s attempt to put everyone’s focus on the environment. I will first state that I am a 2 times as crazy as your average geek. I believe in God and I’m a doubter of man-made global warming. From the faulty data, to the reliance on computer models which can’t model tomorrows weather, to the fact that the Earth has gone through climatic cycles without our influence, I just can’t buy into it especially when I look into the agenda of this movement’s

proponents and their proposed solutions which force change on everyone else but exempt themselves.

I believe this crisis is another manifestation of the Theology of Glory which places its emphasis on mans’ abilities and reason for salvation. What these people believe is that they can somehow “fix” the Earth and make it a utopia. They want to stomp out poverty, end wars, etc. These are noble goals, but will never come to pass this side of the second coming of Christ. I’m not saying that we should wantonly waste resources, go to war, or ignore poverty. What I’m saying is that we can do our best in all these areas but this corrupt and fallen world will always have its problems and doing the most good for the most people isn’t always the same as doing what makes you feels good.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Christian vocation is not just about a career, it’s about God’s will for our entire lives. When we are born, we are automatically put into a vocation. We are children of our parents, and if we have any brothers or sister we are siblings. What does it mean to have the vocation of child or sibling? The vocation of child is put forth by the Fourth Commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” The vocation of sibling has more in common with our other vocations and comes from Christ’s command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our neighbor would be our siblings in this instance. As we grow older, we are naturally put into new vocations like student, friend, roommate, worker, citizen, spouse, parent, driver, etc. Pretty much anything we do is a vocation which falls under Christ’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.

Okay, we’ve established that we’re supposed to do everything in our lives with love for our neighbor (yes, even driving in traffic). The caveat is that we all know that we don’t come close to being loving in all aspects of our lives (just ask my wife about my driving). So we rely on the salvation that Christ bought for us on the cross and do our best to love our neighbor in gratitude for that salvation.

So that leaves us as both saints and sinners relying on Christ for our salvation. But that doesn’t tell us what job we should take or how to put food on the table. Since the Bible doesn’t say, “Thou shalt be a fireman” we have freedom in what may become. Still sounds like a bit of a dodge? Without a clear word from God, anything I say is just my opinion, but here goes…

I think that how we show love to our neighbor can expose our interests and talents and lead us to specific job choices. For example, when I was in junior high and practicing my vocation as a student, we had a science fair. My teacher and I decided that based on my talents and interests I would write a simple video game and that was the humble beginnings of my career in software development.

Showing love for your neighbor may not always lead you where you want to go, but often leads you where God wants you to be. My college choice was a classic example of this. I got accepted to RPI under my second choice of majors and told my dad that I’d go there if they let me in under my first choice. I was all set to go to San Jose St. assuming that they wouldn’t bump me into my choice of majors. Needless to say, they did and I felt obligated to honor my father and do what I said I would. I really wanted to just stay near home and hang with people I knew. However, in the course of honoring my commitment to my dad, I had the best experience I could have had in college. I made lots of mistakes there and I learned a lot and I know it had a profound effect on who I am today.

Based on these examples, it might seem like I’m saying that following your vocation is the path to worldly success. That is not my point at all, I’m simply trying to point out how my career developed based on the vocation of student and child. In my next post, I’ll explore how following your vocation can negative worldly impact and how not following your vocation can have both positive and negative impacts.