Thursday, May 27, 2004
Report on BIG Day
5-27-04
THANKS for your prayers.
Things went well today.
APARTMENT
Talked with the apartment managers.
Learned that it was a minor incident but they needed to alert all the residents.
A teen wanted to use a neighbors computer, so he went in an unlocked window.
Wow that is all it was.
My anxiety level has come down.
Anyway they installed chain door guards on my front and back doors.
Thankfully it is not a crack addict again that will take big risks for small gains.
Received quote from Allstate on renters insurance.
It is a reasonable price.
But would need to juggle bills to afford.
AUTO
Car passed inspection.
Praise the Lord.
I could not afford repairs during this season.
It turns out that auto registration is not due until the end of August.
BLOOD
THANKS for your prayer about the blood donation.
Previously I have given whole blood without any trouble.
A few times I have given palettes and felt chilly.
They just put on more blankets and I was okay.
But today my lips tingled to the point of a distraction.
They gave a few Tums and it went a way for a while.
Then I felt cramps in my arm.
The attendant massaged the place on my arm and it went a way for a while.
The tingling and cramps came and when several times.
She said it was because my calcium was low.
I felt faint a few times.
We decided to end the process early.
I had contributed most of one unit.
Previously after giving platelets I had places on my arms that look like bruises.
They did not hurt but looked ugly.
I do not mind them but to a stranger they may think I have been shooting drugs.
A long sleeve shirt can cover these for about two weeks.
Long sleeves and this heat are not a fun combination.
I am not sure if I will donate platelets again.
Pray for God to guide me.
FINANCES
I closed the bank account that I gave out the account number.
I had to wait until all the activity had settled.
I opened a new account and put that data where I pay my bills online.
Because of the debit card, I rarely write checks.
MINISTRY
A few people like these kinds of detailed updates.
Others do not.
One person wrote today to be taken off the list.
He provided a thought provoking email message.
I am in the process of reflecting on what he wrote.
I will talk with him about it.
His comments help me to recognize some facts.
There are a FEW intercessors that ALWAYS want ALL the details.
There are SOME friends that will read extra while I am going thru a crisis.
There are MANY who just want the headlines.
SO I need to SEGMENT the list.
If this is true of the 80 on the distribution list today then it will be same with more.
During the Launch Team phase I hope to enroll dozens more.
The Board of Advisors will work with me to develop the Blueprint.
The Blueprint will have guidelines for segmentation according to interests.
We will work with vendors that have been doing this for years.
Two probable vendors are www.convio.com and www.constantcontact.com
Pray for me that during the next three weeks I will develop simple options.
I need to go back to something like 5 Sentence Summary and Keeping It Simple.
Plus I can link from Tuesday Briefing to various blogs.
I will work with a new web host soon.
That will mean brand new options I cannot imagine.
Monday is Memorial Day and the library where I work is closed.
I ask for your prayers that will both rest and work on the ministry that day.
Also there is nothing scheduled for Saturday.
Previous Saturdays it has filled up with all kinds of activities.
The central focus for Saturday, Monday and all next week are the same.
I must distill the 40-foot scroll of the Big Picture into a 15 minute Core Story.
This needs to be illustrated using diagrams, clip art and other pictures.
I am collecting and laminating graphs to help punctuate the key points.
Again the Main Aim is to have a presentation that is short, sweet and simple.
Then it is a matter of taking the show on the road.
The five steps are Go, Show, Tell, Ask and Thank.
Sooner than later I will need to break the ice again.
I will over come the inertia and get into motion.
It will get easier to make presentations after it becomes a habit.
John 9:43 PM
BIG Day
5-26-04
Tomorrow is a BIG day and I ask for special prayers.
APARTMENT
Apartment management sent a note saying that there has recently been breaking and entering on the premises. They recommended that we be especially cautious. They included a long list of security guidelines.
Ultimately I am responsible for the contents of my apartment. Their insurance does not cover it.
I have been burglarized before and that was no fun. I will be looking into renters insurance. What company do you recommend?
I will be looking into securing the computer to the desk. What product do you recommend?
I will be backing up the data on my computer and reviewing a way to do this systematically.
AUTO
I will be going for inspection on Thursday the 27th. May that go smoothly.
Also I hope to deal with the registration.
BLOOD
The Carter Blood Center asked me to donate platelets again. The boy who received the bone marrow transplant is an exact match for my antigens. The first time was successful. But the second time the blood would not go from me into the machine. My appointment is at 2 on Thursday the 27th May that go smoothly.
FINANCES
I need to closely examine my finances. I am in the process for closing one bank account and opening another. I need to change the automatic payment data.
MINISTRY
I have not invested many hours into the ministry this week. I had hoped to do that on Thursday. Maybe there will be some time and energy left.
John 9:41 PM
TUESDAY BRIEFING from John S. Oliver on May 5, 2004
BLESSINGS ALL glory to God in Jesus Name!
May you put ALL your hope in God Himself.
May you stand FAST on the Rock of Ages.
May you have PLENTY of light at the end of your tunnels.
Amen?
COMPLETED
· Friend gave a belated gift card and I bought slacks suitable for church and fund raising appointments.
· Finally got the employer number so I could open the bank account. There were many delays in this simple process.
· Opened the bank account for the ministry.
· Lined out the Big Picture on a scroll of brown paper for wrapping packages. It was more than forty feet long. It was VERY helpful to lay out all the parts in this way.
· Located and laminated several items that will be used for visual aids in the face-to-face presentations.
· Received first donation for the ministry. A person was grateful for all the help with resources.
CURRENT
· Going over the Big Picture on the scroll and develop simple diagrams. These will be the highlights of the Mind Maps and web site for the Launch Team.
· Developing an easy way to request and receive endorsements. Pray for a one-page fill-in-the-blanks kind of form. I have tried before but been unable to write this.
· Continuing to take measures to prevent harm from identity theft. Various sources recommended keeping a dairy. So I have a blog that deals with my particular situation plus many useful links that I have come across along this path. If you wish to keep up to date on this then here is the blog http://www.xanga.com/fraud_blog
· Still praying and hoping for God to use the half wind fall challenge. There will soon be a way to give that half over the web. You are invited to believe for hundreds and even thousands. There is a blog to share the testimonies of this provision http://www.xanga.com/Half_Windfall
· Still need to find time and money for inspection and registration.
· Transmission worked better for a short time. Now first gear has small troubles as well as reverse gear. Pray for guidance to right place to service this.
UPCOMING
· Raise the 299 dollars needed to buy the Mind Jet software. This will allow me to make Mind Maps that will graphically show much information easily.
· Complete the site map and start to construct the new web site for the Launch Team.
· Going to link current web site to the ministry bank account through Pay Pal. May this go smoothly.
· Has anyone been to Samuel Farm in Dallas? Tell me what it is.
· Not sure how God will provide the rent next month. May my Good Shepherd guide my thoughts, word and deeds unto His provision.
· Requesting more boldness in my prayers. I KNOW I am in the will of God. He wants to provide. Many are asking BIG. My prayers could be BOLDER.
RESOURCES
Great articles for men http://www.maninthemirror.org/alm/alm.htm
Excellent example of eLearning FREE class in TV production English, Spanish and Portuguese PLUS much more www.cybercollege.com
BEAUTIFUL pictures in each gallery http://www.adamjonesphoto.com/gallery/galleryhomepg.html
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John 9:39 PM
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