For the last week, untold numbers of people have moved whatever was going on in their lives toward the back burner to make room for thinking about and praying about the Whaleys and baby Noah. Comments on the blog testify to the level of prayer and compassion flowing from people. Many talked about how this event has brought them closer to God and fueled their prayer lives. Others have talked about their faith growing because of seeing the faith of the Whaleys.
I'm part of this group who has been deeply touched by Noah and his family. My heart hurts for the whole family, especially Julie and Ethan. But I'm blessed by seeing faith in action, and by seeing people connect in community around this family.
It's hard to accept that God is not a respecter of people -- that in this life bad things do happen to good people, just as good things happen to bad people. But it's comforting to see proof that even when terrible things happen to good people, that these events serve the purpose of working for good -- for serving His purposes.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
The Passing of a Company and More
ChevronTexaco will now be known simply as Chevron.
The name change simply acknowledges what has been obvious since Chevron bought Texaco and closed the deal in 2001. Texaco ceased to exist except as a brand name for stations actually owned by Shell and through Chevron's right to increasingly use the brand.
It never really was ChevronTexaco. About 90% of Texaco's 16,000 employees lost their jobs in the merger. Most of those are no longer in the oil industry -- part of over one million workers who have left the industry during recent decades. I'm one of them.
I think Dave O'Reilly, the chairman and CEO of Chevron, really meant for it to be the merger of equals he espoused when it all happened. In fact, some folks got into serious trouble during transition team meetings for saying out loud, "Chevron bought Texaco." But bringing the two cultures together to create something new didn't happen. All were quickly introduced to "The Chevron Way," a set of principles governing how business was to be done. Rebranding them to "The ChevronTexaco Way" didn't hold much meaning. It quickly became obvious that they were simply "The Chevron Way" because Chevron did buy Texaco.
Everyone thought the merger would be easy because in so many ways the companies were very alike. It became obvious, however, that there were some major cultural differences. For example, in the Chevron culture, there was an attempt to avoid conflict by avoiding talking about it. Even when the elephant was in the room, it wasn't okay to acknowledge it -- thus you couldn't say "Chevron bought Texaco" and Chevron holds all the cards. In the Texaco culture, people would not only talk about the elephant, but were proud of talking about it.
It's not that any company that passes hasn't done things to deserve their fate. One of our leaders once said, "I'll drink all the oil found in Alaska!"
So, the Texas Company is no more, not even in the merger name. With all its flaws, I miss it, especially the community. A long time friend has passed, and as I still grieve the loss, I choose to remember the good in our friendship. And to see the name change simply as Chevron choosing to take back her maiden name after the death of her marriage partner.
The name change simply acknowledges what has been obvious since Chevron bought Texaco and closed the deal in 2001. Texaco ceased to exist except as a brand name for stations actually owned by Shell and through Chevron's right to increasingly use the brand.
It never really was ChevronTexaco. About 90% of Texaco's 16,000 employees lost their jobs in the merger. Most of those are no longer in the oil industry -- part of over one million workers who have left the industry during recent decades. I'm one of them.
I think Dave O'Reilly, the chairman and CEO of Chevron, really meant for it to be the merger of equals he espoused when it all happened. In fact, some folks got into serious trouble during transition team meetings for saying out loud, "Chevron bought Texaco." But bringing the two cultures together to create something new didn't happen. All were quickly introduced to "The Chevron Way," a set of principles governing how business was to be done. Rebranding them to "The ChevronTexaco Way" didn't hold much meaning. It quickly became obvious that they were simply "The Chevron Way" because Chevron did buy Texaco.
Everyone thought the merger would be easy because in so many ways the companies were very alike. It became obvious, however, that there were some major cultural differences. For example, in the Chevron culture, there was an attempt to avoid conflict by avoiding talking about it. Even when the elephant was in the room, it wasn't okay to acknowledge it -- thus you couldn't say "Chevron bought Texaco" and Chevron holds all the cards. In the Texaco culture, people would not only talk about the elephant, but were proud of talking about it.
It's not that any company that passes hasn't done things to deserve their fate. One of our leaders once said, "I'll drink all the oil found in Alaska!"
So, the Texas Company is no more, not even in the merger name. With all its flaws, I miss it, especially the community. A long time friend has passed, and as I still grieve the loss, I choose to remember the good in our friendship. And to see the name change simply as Chevron choosing to take back her maiden name after the death of her marriage partner.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Medium
So, what do you believe?
When mankind became so "smart" that we won't believe anything we cannot scientifically prove, we began dismissing the spirit world -- and with it much of what the Bible teaches.
If Post-Modernism, which basically rejects that everything can be explained by scientific logic and embraces mystery, helps us accept the spiritual realm as real in relation to God and his kingdom, it can be a very good thing. And maybe Medium can help us challenge our thinking about the spiritual.
- Is the spirit world close enough that physical individuals who are sensitive enough can have interactions with those in the spiritual world? That's the basic premise of the TV show Medium.
- Or is Medium just good drama, a ghost story that is fantasy and entertainment, but impossible in reality.
- Are God, Jesus, and the Spirit close enough that people living in our physical world -- who are sensitive to them -- can have meaningful interactions? Can we have conversations with them -- hearing them as well as speaking to them?
- Or is the Bible just good literature, fantasy and entertainment, but just impossible in reality.
When mankind became so "smart" that we won't believe anything we cannot scientifically prove, we began dismissing the spirit world -- and with it much of what the Bible teaches.
If Post-Modernism, which basically rejects that everything can be explained by scientific logic and embraces mystery, helps us accept the spiritual realm as real in relation to God and his kingdom, it can be a very good thing. And maybe Medium can help us challenge our thinking about the spiritual.
Monday, May 09, 2005
The Power of Community
Few would deny that community has suffered from our frenetic lifestyles of the last 25 years. We have convinced ourselves that working longer hours, spending more time in commuting, and having kids involved in multiple athletic and other after school activities are requisites for life. The result is that time in community life has been drastically reduced. You only have to look at schedules of church services and activities compared to 1980 to see the proof.
Yet it's encouraging to see that new and powerful ways of connecting in community are arising. For an example, see the blog centered around Noah Whaley. A now world-wide community has formed around Noah and his parents Julie and Ethan. It's amazing to see the level of true connection and ministry happening through cyberspace. High tech AND high touch.
Yet it's encouraging to see that new and powerful ways of connecting in community are arising. For an example, see the blog centered around Noah Whaley. A now world-wide community has formed around Noah and his parents Julie and Ethan. It's amazing to see the level of true connection and ministry happening through cyberspace. High tech AND high touch.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Mother's Day 2005
What a day of experiencing so many different emotions I'm having.
About my Mom on the third Mother's Day since she went on ahead. The sadness from missing her presence, being able to talk to her, not sending the orchid she always loved. The thankfulness for having such great memories, for her unconditional love, for how special she treated my wife and each of our children. For the 60 plus year love affair with my Dad. Anger that she suffered and died prematurely. Gratitude for her strong faith in God that she passed on to me, and gratitude for the fact that she's beyond suffering and enjoying eternal joy.
About my wife, who I gave a card to this morning pointing out that she is my wife, lover, sweetheart, etc. but not my mother. A cute card, but one that says she is even more. And also a great mother to our three children. And I'm thankful.
At church, I was reminded that many friends' mothers have gone ahead as well. I feel special kinship with them on this day.
And finally, I've just hurt for the pain Julie is feeling for her son Noah. Like everyone else, I wish I could make the hurt go away.
Most important in all of this, I'm thankful for the reminder from God of how special this life is, even with its hurts. For the reminder that this life is just the short preparation period for eternity. For the reminder that God settles up on the other side.
About my Mom on the third Mother's Day since she went on ahead. The sadness from missing her presence, being able to talk to her, not sending the orchid she always loved. The thankfulness for having such great memories, for her unconditional love, for how special she treated my wife and each of our children. For the 60 plus year love affair with my Dad. Anger that she suffered and died prematurely. Gratitude for her strong faith in God that she passed on to me, and gratitude for the fact that she's beyond suffering and enjoying eternal joy.
About my wife, who I gave a card to this morning pointing out that she is my wife, lover, sweetheart, etc. but not my mother. A cute card, but one that says she is even more. And also a great mother to our three children. And I'm thankful.
At church, I was reminded that many friends' mothers have gone ahead as well. I feel special kinship with them on this day.
And finally, I've just hurt for the pain Julie is feeling for her son Noah. Like everyone else, I wish I could make the hurt go away.
Most important in all of this, I'm thankful for the reminder from God of how special this life is, even with its hurts. For the reminder that this life is just the short preparation period for eternity. For the reminder that God settles up on the other side.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Noah Whaley
Noah is the newborn son of Julie and Ethan, and he's struggling for life. Julie's brother Steve started a blog for Noah, and you can go there to read about his condition and to see notes written by Julie and Ethan.
Noah, Julie, Ethan and their families have been at the front of my thoughts and prayers since early this week when Noah was born. While my heart has been crushed by the hurt that they are encountering, at the same time my heart has been lifted by seeing the power of God alive and active within them. I am so thankful for the glimpse into their hearts that blogging is providing. My faith is stronger because of theirs.
Noah, Julie, Ethan and their families have been at the front of my thoughts and prayers since early this week when Noah was born. While my heart has been crushed by the hurt that they are encountering, at the same time my heart has been lifted by seeing the power of God alive and active within them. I am so thankful for the glimpse into their hearts that blogging is providing. My faith is stronger because of theirs.
Monday, May 02, 2005
What in the World is Podcasting?
Podcasting is a new internet technology that allows individuals to subscribe to audio content which they can listen to whenever they want on iPods or other mp3 players, or on their computer.
One major feature is timeshifting. It's similar in concept to TiVo. You select what you want to listen to, and internet technology delivers it to the device you want to listen on.
But what is probably more revolutionary is that anyone can produce podcasts, and do so quite inexpensively. So like blogs have become a door allowing virtually anyone to publish text and photos to which others can subscribe, podcasting allows virtually anyone to publish audio.
From a listener's standpoint, the technology is pretty simple. The first thing you need is a free piece of software called iPodder. iPodder allows you to subscribe to podcasts, and downloads the audio files for the podcasts you subscribe to. If you have an iPod, then you already have iTunes, and iPodder moves the downloaded podcasts into iTunes. When you sync up your iPod with iTunes, the podcasts are downloaded to the iPod. (If you have a different mp3 player, check your software instructions for how this works.) You can also choose to listen to the podcast on your computer using iTunes (which is also a free download if you don't have it).
There are currently about 3000 podcasts being produced. Some are pretty good -- some are awful. You might find the ones done by Godcast interesting to listen to as a sample of some of the better stuff. iPodder also has a catalog of podcasts from which to choose, and there are several other catalogs readily available.
This is a technology that has the potential to radically change the way we receive information in the future. There is even potential to provide not only audio to devices like mp3 players, but also text (including web links) and powerpoint information that is viewed in the iPod window.
Production of podcasts is a little more difficult, but I managed to produce a test podcast today that downloaded to my iPod flawlessly. I'll write about how I did that in a future article. And I expect to begin producing a podcast or two in the near future, as well as helping a few organizations get some of the audio (like sermons) available as podcasts.
One major feature is timeshifting. It's similar in concept to TiVo. You select what you want to listen to, and internet technology delivers it to the device you want to listen on.
But what is probably more revolutionary is that anyone can produce podcasts, and do so quite inexpensively. So like blogs have become a door allowing virtually anyone to publish text and photos to which others can subscribe, podcasting allows virtually anyone to publish audio.
From a listener's standpoint, the technology is pretty simple. The first thing you need is a free piece of software called iPodder. iPodder allows you to subscribe to podcasts, and downloads the audio files for the podcasts you subscribe to. If you have an iPod, then you already have iTunes, and iPodder moves the downloaded podcasts into iTunes. When you sync up your iPod with iTunes, the podcasts are downloaded to the iPod. (If you have a different mp3 player, check your software instructions for how this works.) You can also choose to listen to the podcast on your computer using iTunes (which is also a free download if you don't have it).
There are currently about 3000 podcasts being produced. Some are pretty good -- some are awful. You might find the ones done by Godcast interesting to listen to as a sample of some of the better stuff. iPodder also has a catalog of podcasts from which to choose, and there are several other catalogs readily available.
This is a technology that has the potential to radically change the way we receive information in the future. There is even potential to provide not only audio to devices like mp3 players, but also text (including web links) and powerpoint information that is viewed in the iPod window.
Production of podcasts is a little more difficult, but I managed to produce a test podcast today that downloaded to my iPod flawlessly. I'll write about how I did that in a future article. And I expect to begin producing a podcast or two in the near future, as well as helping a few organizations get some of the audio (like sermons) available as podcasts.
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