A geek's ramblings about life and stuff.
Work
Gremlins #NovemberBlogFest
03 months ago
Today we got hit with all kinds of tech gremlins.
It wasn’t fun.
But God is good and I don’t think many people noticed.
His Word was still preached.
His Name was still praised.
What am I so upset about?
i
Tired #NovemberBlogFest
03 months ago
I am le tired (FYI, some language, but funny).
I’ve been going since 9am.
Most of it was extrovert time.
1 extrovert hour = 1.5 regular or introvert hours.
So if my math is correct, I’ve been up and going for almost 24 hours.
That’s a long day.
It was great getting to hang with other tech directors that I’ve only spoken to on Twitter.
And we found out who is the grilled cheese champion.
Though he may not have been the crowd favorite.
But it was still a long day.
Nothing deep or spiritual here.
Sorry.
G’night.
Today I learned… #NovemberBlogFest
03 months ago
Today I learned…
that no matter what size church you work at, you deal with the same crap. It’s only the size of the pile and the amount of people shoveling that is different.
it’s bizarre when people now look at me and ask my opinion on something.
even though I’m very introverted, I still don’t like being alone.
that I feel pretty good about Sandals’ tech.
you can pretty much walk to anything you need in downtown Dallas.
Texas is flat.
Kevin scares me. I will now call him Mr. Toad.
I would not survive in a place with extreme humidity.
Yelp can be your best friend when you’re in a new place.
that being lonely sucks.
that the time change plus being in a different time zone is really screwing with my body.
talking on the phone with a close friend makes me super happy.
i
Pride #NovemberBlogFest
03 months ago
I’m knocking this one out early since I woke up thinking about it.
I’m prideful.
Not about everything. But enough. I have no problem asking God for guidance on how to handle a specific situation or for a need I might have that is out of my control. But when it comes to something that I “should” know or “should” be able to figure out, my pride gets in the way.
As an example, I need to recruit and train new audio volunteers. I’ve asked God for an idea on how to recruit more techs, but why didn’t I just ask God for the actual techs themselves? Wouldn’t that be easier? I guess I have to feel like I recruited them myself. Am I insane?? I could never do this by myself! So why does my pride control me? How do I get past this roadblock? Do I ask God to deal with my pride? I’m too prideful to ask God for that kind of help. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just get over myself and ask for help?
Okay, here goes:
God, I'm prideful. We both know that. Well, you knew it before I did. How do I let go of my pride? How do I let you take it from me? I'm afraid I'll feel less like I'm able to do what I need to do if I don't do it myself. I want to let it go, but I don't know how. God, take this stupid pride from me! I can't do any of this on my own. You give me all I need and then some. You are my provider. I'm scared to give up another area of "control." But I have to. I have to if I'm going to say I rely on you for everything. Right now I rely on you for some. Change my 'some' to 'everything.' Break me of this, God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen
It might be a small step, but it is a step, right?
i
WFX #NovemberBlogFest
03 months ago
Well, WFX is almost here.
I fly out on Monday afternoon and get back on Saturday.
I’m really excited to connect with other tech guys from across the country.
And I get to hang out with my good friends Mike (@mikesessler), Van (@thesoundbooth) and Kevin (@ksanchez).
This is going to be a lot of fun! (Plus, there’s a grilled cheese cook off on Wednesday!!)
i
My First Day
0Monday was my first day of being employed by Sandals Church (@sandalschurch) in Riverside. I will be working there on Mondays through August until my commitment to Coast Hills is done at the end of the month.
Side Note: August 31st is UNITE: An Evening of Worship at Coast. Being that it's my last one and I'm running FOH it's kind of a big deal for me. The event starts at 7 with food and fellowship at 6. If you can make it, that would be amazing! Thanks, friends!
Anyways, the reason I’m going in on Mondays is to get a head start on all the stuff that needs to get done. There’s several projects and upgrades in the works and some of it can’t wait until September. The first project I’ve been tasked with is getting their wireless frequencies coordinated. For the past several months they’ve been having issues with their handheld walkie-talkie radios interfering with their Shure UHF-R gear. I’ve been told the radios operate in the 600 MHz range while the UHF-R is in the G1 band (470-530 MHz).
Oh, and they’re 4-watt radios. Powerful little suckers.
All I know is that in Wireless Workbench the entire spectrum is solid red when the radios are broadcasting. I’m thinking the only option here is to change out the radios. I’ve been told we can get VHF radios (though it will be pricey).
So if you’ve ever had experience dealing with this kind of issue, please shoot me an email and we’ll talk. I need to get this working, pronto!
So besides working on getting the RF issues sorted out, I also spent some time with the Video Associate Director talking about the systems that she deals with directly (cameras & the switcher). We had a great dialog talking about some of the upgrades and changes she’d like to see so she can better empower her volunteers.
Right now I feel a bit like the small fish in the proverbial big pond. Or am I drinking from a fire hose? Either way, there’s a lot going on and they’ll keep my plenty busy for a good long while!
In case you’ve never seen the inside of their auditorium, I’ve attached two pictures:
Sandals Main Auditorium 1
Sandals Main Auditorium 2
Before I go…
I’m still needing to find a roommate in the East Riverside area. If you or anyone you know is interested, shoot me an email! Thanks!
-i
Bust out the dust rag!
2Holy smokes! How in the world did I let almost two months go by without writing a single post?? I know a lot’s been going on and I’ve been super busy lately. But now it’s time to pull out the Pledge and clean up all these dust bunnies and cobwebs.
To be honest, I’ve been wanting to begin writing again. I find it kind of therapeutic and a way to release some of the thoughts in my head. So even if there’s only person reading this, I’ll still try to write more because it makes me feel better when I do. And mom, since chances are good that you would be the only one reading this, please don’t feel the need to post embarrassing stuff. Okay? Thanks!
The Jr. High band led by Trevor Kelso
Today we wrapped up SVBS & Flood Camp 2011. It was quite a bit of fun but also a ton of work. It’s amazing to think that God used me to help impact the lives of several hundred kids. One of the cool things that we did was do a Skype video call to a woman in Kenya who runs an orphanage. The kids here got to see and talk to the kids half-way across the world. Isn’t technology cool?
Throughout the week our kids raised over $7,000 to donate to the orphanage so they can build a new house for the kids over there. C’mon, how awesome is that?!
And if I’m not mistaken, we also have over 50 kids make a decision to accept Jesus this week! Amazing! It still boggles my mind how God can pull all these people into one room, and with different gifts and talents we can, together, show these kids the love of Jesus and affect their lives for the better.
We also got to have a little bit lot of fun and go crazy with the kids during the closing session. Now if only I knew how to shuffle…
-i
My Prayer of Thankfulness
1Dang! I did it again…
I’ve tried to get away from putting “My” in front of every blog title.
But my C.D.O. (that’s O.C.D. in alphabetical order…) makes me want everything to be consistent.
I hate that.
Anyways, moving on…
UNITE: An Evening of Worship and Prayer
Wednesday night at Coast Hills was UNITE: An Evening of Worship and Prayer and it was off the hook! The whole band and vocalists really brought the BOOMSAUCE!!
It’s so amazing to be able to come together as a church body and just focus on singing praises to God and worshipping him.
That night was very special to me as it was the first time I’ve run FOH (Front Of House. AKA, the sound board) for such a big event.
I can’t even begin to put into words how it felt to be used by God to help lead His people in worship. I literally got chills when at one point during the evening, I was looking down and making some tweaks to the mix and when I looked up everybody in the room had their hands raised and was singing out to God.
It was powerful.
Even now, I’m listening to the recording of the board mix leaves me speechless.
I can’t believe that I get to be a part of this!!
Please don’t think I’m blowing my own horn here.
The recoding isn’t perfect or anywhere close to it.
In fact, I think I made the vocal fx a little too wet during Your Great Name.
And the piano is a bit loud on Rhythms of Grace.
The fact that the mix isn’t perfect is proof that it isn’t about me.
God was worshipped and His name praised in spite of human error.
I know, I’m shocked too… 
But I’ll tell you what: hearing the vocalists sing and the band play, all of them pouring their hearts out and genuinely worshiping and praising God is truly awe-inspiring!
A year ago, I would never have guessed that God could use me in this way. If you would have told me what I would be doing and who I would be working with I would have thought they you crazy.
I am honestly and truly blessed beyond belief and have to pinch myself sometimes! I can’t stop raving about the team and people I get to work with. They’re some of the most talented and humble people I’ve ever met.
But what really touched me the most,
What punched me in the gut and took my breath away,
Was when I looked out at the audience during Stronger and I see my dad worshiping his face off.
I lost it.
How couldn’t I?
To see the man who I look up to looking up to God and surrendering himself broke me.
Throughout the evening we also had several times of prayer.
Time of prayer during UNITE
During one time in particular, Pastor Ken asked us all to reflect and pray and just be thankful for all that God has provided and done in our lives.
It was humbling to to really think about all that I do have going for me. It’s really my human/sin/selfish nature that allows me to dwell on everything I don’t have. I should be thankful for everything I do have! After all, I have a beautiful daughter, a great job that I love, I work with amazing/fantastic people, I have parents who love me, friends and family who are always by my side and I’m relatively healthy.
I have a lot of great things going for me.
Yet I somehow manage to always focus on the negative.
No more! From now on I will be thankful for what I have and no longer think about what I don’t.
Which, by the way, I have something else to be thankful for: a place to live in Aliso Viejo!
No more driving 40 miles a day for me!!
Looks like I’ll be moving as early as next week. w00t!
Alright, I suppose I should get to bed.
-i
Changing Seasons…
0It looks like that things might be changing soon for me.
In a good way.
Aliso Veijo
I may have an opportunity to move to the OC and be much closer to work.
And by much closer I mean about a mile away.
Which is 39 miles closer than I drive now.
Which will save me an hour and twenty minutes per day!
If everything works out, and God willing, I’ll be renting a room from a family that I know at church.
The place looks great.
They’re cool with Emma.
It’s super close to work.
Even though I’m excited to be closer to work and I’ll be able to save a ton of money on gas and vehicle maintenance, I’m still nervous.
Nervous on what the future looks like.
I’ve gotten so used to feeling like I’m a part of the Snyder family that it’s going to feel like I’m moving away from home for the third time.
What if Emma doesn’t get along with them?
What it just doesn’t work out?
It’s also a bit more than I’d hoped to be paying for rent (I guess that’s part of the tradeoff of living in Aliso Viejo).
And thanks to having to change my filing status Uncle Same decided he wanted an extra 15% of my income.
So I need to do some number-crunching and see if I can really swing this.
Along with moving, I’ve finally decided to sell both my vehicles and get a newer car. I’m hoping for something like a 2008 (or newer) Honda Accord or Hyundai or Kia. So if you or someone you know is interested in a ’89 V6 Toyota Pickup or a ’01 Mercury Sable, let me know!!
And in other news…
Tomorrow night is UNITE: An Evening of Worship and I’ll be running FOH for it.
I’m excited!
And a little nervous.
From a technical standpoint this is going to be more complex than our Easter service.
But after looking at who we have on stage and the songs that they’ll be doing , I’m pretty pumped that I get to do this!
So if you’re in the area tomorrow evening, come on down to Coast Hills and hang out with us!
Well, that’s all I got for now. Finally some good news in what has been kind of a dark time for me!
Thank you all for your continued prayers and words of encouragement.
You have no idea how much it means to me!!
-i
My Emotional Roller-coaster
0
A scene from our Good Friday service
Wow, what a week!
I can’t believe how crazy the past seven days were.
It started with last Monday totally sucking and ended with today being pretty normal.
As I type this, I’m sitting next to Emma in my room while she watches Tangled (again) and I reflect on the past week…
Monday I had my heart broken.
Tuesday was the first of four 12+ hour work days.
Our Good Friday service wrecked me.
Saturday and Sunday we did five Easter services.
And today I had to go into work again to finish cleaning the stage.
That’s a lot of stuff going on in just seven days.
When I finally got home Sunday afternoon, I went into my room, shut the door, dropped my bags, plopped down in my easy chair and took a deep breath.
Then it hit me.
I blame it on exhaustion.
But whatever caused it, I had a bit of a mental breakdown.
I’m serious, I totally lost it.
I began to weep uncontrollably.
I felt so alone.
Luckily, the weeping only lasted a minute or so. That’s usually how it works for me. Emotions like that will usually build and build and then they’ll just break free and I’ll have a good cry for about a minute then I’m good to go. Probably not the healthiest way to handle things, right? I mean the build-up of emotions. What if it was anger? Would I just snap one time? Anyways, that’s for another post…
So on a day where we’re supposed to be celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, here I am in a total “woe is me” mood. How selfish am I??
Regardless of whether or not those thoughts/feelings were justified, it doesn’t make them easier to handle. I guess all of the emotions from the week plus being dead tired had finally caught up to me.
Even today I still felt “off.” I know I still feel tired. But I feel alone more than ever now. Maybe it’s just Satan trying to get to me after working so hard to tell Jesus’ story over the weekend?
Either way, I still feel incredibly blessed to be on staff at such a great church and to get to serve alongside some of the most amazing people I know. It was truly an honor to work with everyone involved with the Good Friday and Easter services at Coast Hills.
-i
