Wanderings

Got home from church yesterday, and was trying to tell Karen what Pastor Dave had to say. There were three key points, and I could remember “Repent” and “Repeat“…now what was the other one?

Did not have my sermon notes handy, and said that I would either have to find my notes (adding, that hopefully, I had remembered to bring them home) or listen to the recording very closely while I did the edit for the Podcast.

“Ha, Ha” on you Joe.

The first key point was “Remember“!

Okay, so I’ll have to work harder on that than the other two. Or, should I spend more time “repeating” what works. Well, if I can just remember what worked in the past, then the repeating it will be easy.

Finally, this blog is back in service. Still working on correcting the ‘code’ in some posts, and updating categories (the import did not put in categories), but by and large, Wanderings is back! Even managed to figure out what size the picture at the top had to be. Surprised my self at how easy it was to get the required size info. All of this happening as I continue to hone my Windows 7 skills (that’s another story) after upgrading my main PC. Still have to convert/import my technical blog to WordPress. Won’t be using the same theme, so that will generate some angst during the conversion.

At last, the conversion from my old blogging software to WordPress is complete. Well, almost…Seems that some links need to be corrected in the imported posts, and there there is the cleanup that had to happen. Most of it was accomplished before import with a text editor and some other tools like HeidiSQL or phpMyAdmin. Both are tools that let me work directly on the database. With 230+ post imported, there was no way I want my fingers to do all the typing. Even managed to get the pictures imported and put back in the posts. Enjoy!

The question mark is there because there are no responses to either of the developers of my blog, the web site returns a blank page (with no HTML code), and the forum for users has simply gone away.

While I know it has been a very long time since I updated anything, I had hoped to keep this going almost forever. Now, it looks like I will have to change software. But in the process, need to find a way to migrate all my old posts to whatever I choose. Right now, it looks like I will be moving to WordPress, but need time for testing.

So now the question is, "Do I install new blogging software or replace the server?" Replacing the server was on my list BEFORE I got Windows 7. Now that I build a new computer that is super fast, that leaves me with a motherboard that would make one heck of a server. After all, OS/2 does not have the speed and memory requirements of Windows, and yet can outperform Windows.

We shall see…And, I'll keep you posted

Some would ask "Who cares?" Others would probably wonder who "He" is, and others would wonder what this was about.

Mostly, it's about feeling that no one cares – you know, that feeling you get when there are too many things to do for too many people in too little time, and there isn't going to be any time left for "ME?"

That's when we need most of all those words from I Peter 5, where Peter reminds us all that when it looks like life is going down the tubes or we just don't have enough of whatever it is that brings a little joy and happiness in our lives – then is when you need a helper. Then is when you and I need to end our pity party and let the ultimate party planner take over.

The image/vision that comes to my mind is when the supermarket bagger asks if you "need help out?" Most of us shrug our shoulders and mumble "No" and go on our way. In our minds, we have all kinds of imagws about what people will think about us if we ask for help. Worse yet, we'll either look old, infirm or just plain wimpy for letting someone help us. We cannot bear the thought of "not being able…" and other people knowing or seeing that we are may not so able.

Maybe that is the crux of the matter. We are afraid to let other people see that we can't do everything. "Why, they might think less of me."

What Peter says in verse seven is actually the culmination of verses five and six where he talks about pride ("I am the greatest…") and humility. When you look back to verse 6, he says "exercise a little humility – let people know you ain't the greatest thing since sliced bread. When you do that under the great, fantastic, awesome direction of God, then He will shine a light on you at the right time so people can see how great you are." (my translation)

Therefore, put all your cares and concerns about whatever on HIM – let Him figure out the "how" and "when" and "where" about your life, so you can get on with it and just keep moving.

He (God) isn't going to do all this for you because you pay Him, or hire Him, or contract with Him. It's because He loves you. Period! And it's His love that makes Him care about you – meaning He wants the very best for you.

As long as we carry all that baggage about us on our shoulders, we keep him from carrying it for us. I can remember being on board ships when they "cast off the lines." If you have ever been on a little boat, and someone cast the line to you as you left the dock, you knew there was no way you could get back on your own. The currents or wind carried you away from the dock. You were loose!

That's what this verse is all about – letting go! Can you? Will you?