Mindscape of Chris Judd

I read a post on a site geared for guys (artofmanliness.com), and cut together some stuff there and some other thoughts of mine… on being a man… to “Man Up”… to be in a “band of brothers”

What happens when you’re in the company of initiated men – men who are committed to your growth and theirs, are willing to hold you accountable and be held accountable to a much deeper, trusting relationship – is you begin to get fathered by the other men. Eventually, you become more comfortable in your own skin as you find your place among the men. You also have the opportunity to learn the lessons so you can move forward into manhood.

This may sound a bit cryptic, but the process is quite natural when you’re with men who are tired of the superficial and are willing to admit that they also need help to be better men, fathers and husbands.

It’s with men – having fun, learning about each other, receiving and offering guidance, wisdom, experience and advice – that we can get help to discover how we really feel, and then connect with our passions and our higher purpose.

It’s difficult for most men to believe that what they need to be happier and more successful is the support of other men. After all, most men have never had that kind of support. It wasn’t taken away from us in our lifetimes. In fact, it’s been several generations since men were raised by men, in the company of their uncles, brother and neighbors, and taught what it meant to be a healthy men in their communities.

But once you discover the power of being in a circle of men, you’ll never want to be without it. It’s within that circle where you’ll find your answer, and so much more.

Our strength as men (and I don’t just mean physical strength) is to be used for others – to be better husbands, fathers, and friends.

If you are interested on the topic of this blog post, I highly suggest that you read a book called “Wild At Heart” by John Eldredge. He explains that we were created with passions and sense of adventure deep within us, and he explores how to get your heart back as a man!

In the last few days various readings and audiobooks have all touched at some point on Moses seeing the back of God instead of His Face… Why did he look at the back and not face-to-face? As the Bible explains it was because Moses could not survive it… And yet even with the fleeting glimpses of God and His Glory from the back, he came down with his own face glowing/shining!

Can people tell that we have the living God shining thru US??

I am reminded of the missions trips I took to Chennai, India a few years ago. I went knowing that God wanted to use my skills and talents to help a Bible school with their technology, but didn’t know how it would impact both sides… I went with a team of folks that had goals of visiting orphanages and schools, setting up medical camps, teaching classes, and so on.

I’ll dig up some journal entries about the trips and post those later, but to the point, as I took some time away from my tasks to help the other teams in medical camps, the non-medical ones (like me) would sit and pray with every person that came thru the camp. For many it was the 1st time they heard the name “Jesus”… what struck me the most, which is what ties the thought back to the title, is that you could SEE by simply looking at a person’s face if they were a believer, a brother/sister in Christ… THEY GLOWED! The others that were not, were solemn, pitiful looking, sad… That “shiney” aspect is dimmed here in America… we’ve got too much vying for our attention… We also have a tendency to reorganize the message of the Church as Christ intended… It is harder to look at another person here and see it as obvious…

Oh, to be that light, to be a “shiney”

Here is a link to a decent article on ZD-Net about the death of optical media/drives, or at least the slowing acceptance and use compared to external hard drives and cheap thumb drives….

I stopped using CD/DVD media as a backup method many years ago when I attempted to actually USE them again and read data off, and couldn’t… Many many hours later and trying different drives and cleaning cloths, and tricks like putting a blank label to increase reflectivity, and even lightly ironing – got 90% of the data back…. Turns out the Library of Congress is discovering the same thing… it does not “last” as long as one might think, and certainly not as long as the manufacturers promised (10 years I think was one such “promise”) – this is all referring to the consumer “burned” kind versus the pressed commercial kinds… The reason has to do with the layers and the separation of the actual data layer from the plastic substrate…

Anyway, check out the post here

Following the Biblical “to everything there is a season” passage in Ecclesiastes, I have FINALLY ‘cast away the stone’…. Praise GOD!

It was a jagged. gnarly, mean looking little beasty, about 6mm in size…. it’s at the lab now to get analyzed and will review with the Doc to see how to alter the diet some… I *REALLY* don’t want to go thru that again…. oooouuuuch! Happened a few days ago, we’ve named it “spike”. I think the combination of the massive amounts of fresh lemons and the final cocktail of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil as a chaser one evening greased it up and did the trick. It was like drinking salad dressing, without the yummy bacon flavoring. If that didn’t work, I was ready to try the “Samuel Adams” or “Miller Genuine Draft” route so many recommended… blech…

Plus side, tho I don’t recommend it, is I lost a lot of weight… now to keep it off. Going to watch what I eat more, drink lots more water, less tea – all that good stuff.

So long “Spike”, glad it’s over…

Well, in spite of the twist on the title of this point – yeah, it might be nice to experience “better living thru chemistry” – the “stones” are real… Kidney Stones…. going on 2 weeks (as of today, actually)… I’ve got some meds but they just dull the pain…

I’ve had a lot of people ask what it feels like, express their symapthy and even more that have said they have had them and agree with the “worst pain ever – more than child birth” statement. I’ve drank so much water last few weeks I shudder to think what the water bill is going to be . Tried the lemons, grapes, cranberry, etc methods to help either soften the stone, or disolve it, but so far, it’s a stubborn beasty and it’s hanging on tight…

The alarm that goes off on the iPhone every 4 hours to tell me to take another pill has become such a routine, that we’ve made a song out of the alarm tone…. something like “it’s time to… take Chris’ happy pill…..” (those with an iPhone, play the xylophone tone and sing along!)

Spencer is not happy to learn that my Dad has had them (quite a few times), and with me now, that the prospect that he’s next are not appealing… Especially when once he asked, I started explaining what they are and just how they hurt… he doubled over in sympathy pains. Like when guys watch those “funniest home video shows” that inevitably involve some poor guy getting punched/smacked/hit in the groin – every man twinges a little bit in sympathy…

So… alarm is going off, time to take a happy pill… later all!

(nerd alert!)

Quick quiz- title of the post… Inspired by “Twitter”, or “Monty Python”?

I’ve been playing around with the twitter API to scrape the public time line for phrases, keywords, etc to build an auto responder back to the original poster… So if someone tweets “I just ate a French fry!” and I was looking for “fry or fries” as a key phrase, then the code could reply “wow really? I love fries”

Also digging into SMS (texting) more. I had created a prototype for church that we used during a recent event, and we got quite a few responses. Now looking at phase II of that, taking a data card into a computer, getting vanity short codes, possible business models, etc…

Also scoping out the “next twiiter” and so far < 15 second “vblurts” or video blurts [might have to be the one to coin that phrase] seem to be positioned as the next social media “thing”. Only real issue being 2-fold. One: you have to have a camera to record the video and two: content… I’m thinking “max headroom” characters would be fun…

There are some other “on the horizon” things buzzing in labs and such, as I can figure how to describe will do.

More updates as things progress…

This is a copy from a recent email blast from the “Providence Forum”. Repeated here… it’s good stuff…

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As we approach Independence Day it is a good time to reflect on just what this special holiday means and why we celebrate as Americans. Put as a question, we might ask, “Why all the fireworks?”

John Adams, writing on July 3, 1776 from Philadelphia to his wife, Abigail, eloquently and prophetically captured the mood that would accompany future anniversaries commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence:

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

His description sounds a lot like what the 4th of July has been for the last 233 years: parades, festivals, picnics, fireworks, music, celebratory gatherings. But if you look carefully at Adams’ words, he does not tie the revelry to an excitement only about being a new nation – America – independent of Great Britain. He rightly understood the foundation of America, and that the fireworks and festivals also ought to include “solemn acts of Devotion to God Almighty” for “the Day of Deliverance.”

The biblical imagery is unmistakable. Adams connected the biblical Exodus with American independence, revealing both a special providence for this newly formed nation, and a special responsibility. Writing prior to the years of bloodshed of the Revolutionary War, Adams continued his letter with full comprehension of the totality of what the emergence of our nation would mean:

“You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. – I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. – Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

Thus, America was not to be a nation unto itself, a nation satisfied with its mere existence. Adams envisioned America as a nation comprised of “Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.” Those “rays” mean many things to many Americans, including liberty, freedom, responsibility, and charity. These have been bought with the price of “Toil and Blood and Treasure.” The Providence Forum, together with all Americans, celebrates our Independence Day this year because so many have sacrificed so much over the last two centuries to preserve America so that it can shine its light to the world, a light considered at its founding to be a solemn, providentially planned divine act of deliverance and freedom.

Learn more about The Providence Forum at www.ProvidenceForum.org

This post is a little tardy… It’s gone under the editorial knife a lot as I tried to reflect and make this a tad more introspective as I too carry the title of “father”.  It’s gotta carry a little extra dimension <grin>.

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What an example and model I have in my Dad – Charlie, in what it takes to be a man, a leader, a responsible adult, and a caring and compassionate father.  He demonstrates respect and admiration and reverence for the gift God gives us in our mate, the courage to forge ahead into the great unknowns of family, business, and life itself.  He taught me to work with my hands so that I’d never go hungry - fixing cars, working in the home woodshop, building houses, fixing appliances and having a few extra parts after <grin> .  He showed me how to analyze and tear apart (sometimes literally) a system of processes to know how things worked – finding the commonality to complexity – thereby making it easier to learn a lot of things by  then concentrating on the differences and not the base.

He encouraged learning outside the box, allowed me to find and follow my own path, kept me grounded in seeking God for everything, and to me is a super-hero.  A model of meekness like our Lord – fantastic strength under control…  I still learn from him to this day and I have cherished each phase of our relationship as it has changed over the years… from protector/provider, to coach, to friend.    I can truly say, Dad is one of my bestest friends.  He was my Best-Man at both my weddings (hang on there before you wonder too much, the 2nd one was a vow-renewal ceremony for our 10th anni.  I am just thankful Pam said “yes” the 2nd time I asked!)

Happy Father’s Day Dad!!!  Thank you for all you’ve done… I love you!!

To Spencer and Neil-

I will NEVER forget as wee ones, your little arms wrapping around my neck in hugs, the laughter of pure fun in tickle-time and the squeeling of “magic word pleeeeeeeeease” to get me to stop, or you grabbing my hand (or leg) if something got scary and it turning into a vise-grip, wiping tears away from your hurts, the pure trust in your eyes as I explained things were going to be ‘ok’, the running up hugs/tackles when you got in from school telling me about your day, the openness we shared to ask me anything about anything, as you’ve gotten older you still like hanging with me and don’t shun off affection or attention in front of your friends…  I thank God every day for giving me your mom and each of you.  You make me complete, you provide joy and happiness, and make coming home from the battlefield of a hard day out in the world a pure joy.

My greatest remembrance was hearing you make Jesus your bestest friend at a tender young age, and as time has gone on the most proudest moments are when I see you grasping things I’ve tried to teach you, and owning your own Faith in God.

I hope that I have been able to provide to you the kind of example you need as you too grow and begin your own families.  I hope you REALLY understand how hard that is for me to say.  I am having to let you grow up and that was not in the plan as I held your tiny body in my hands after you were born – God was going to come back before you “growed up”….  The time is going by faster and faster!  It makes me smile when we play video games together, kill spiders with “scrubbing bubbles” cleaner so we don’t have to touch them, go swimming and scuba diving, spend long hours in the car driving down for a Disney Cruise or stay at WDW, and even chill and hang out doing “nuthin”…

Thank you both for making me a happy dad….  Thank you Pam for making good kids <grin>

To the rest -

My hope and prayer for dads (and future dads) out there is to do your level best at attempting to model our Heavenly Father… to provide acceptance – show that  the ones you love are loved just because. “We are family”.  Demonstrate  affection – give hugs, spend time together, engage in talks, say “I love you” often – AND MEAN IT.  God gave you your wife, your kids, your everything – tell Him Thanks often as well!!

My hope and prayer for kids out there is to honor and respect your parents as God commands, and even explains in His Word that “this is the 1st command with a promise” that your life be full and complete.  Give dad some grace and understanding, there was no “owners manual” provided when you were born, and even if there was, men don’t read instructions!  HA!  Remember most of us dads see our kids as our most terrific achievement – “Look what I did!”.  If you don’t have a great dad, remember this, God is Father to us all, He welcomes you with open arms in love and understanding…

Happy Fathers Day!!

To Spencer:

It’s hard to put into word and print how proud we are of you today as you graduate High School! You’ve been a model boy, teen, and now young man. You’ve endured hard classes and learned the most important lesson – to never stop learning! I thank God for allowing us to have these 18 years so far to raise you, teach you, provide for you, love you, and watch your faith become your own, your heart to grow more and more tender to show His Love to others, and to want to walk in His Will.

This day is one you will always remember, I know we will… It marks a significant change in your life, and the 1st of many milestones marking events and challenges you will charge ahead to accomplish and conquer!

Continue to read, study, and consume the Bible, stay focused in your walk with Him in prayer and devotions, and know that no matter how old you get, you are loved by your mother and I unconditionally…  read over Prov 23:15-25

I know with true passion what God the Father felt like when He announced “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!”

Remember that “mother’s day song” we sang as kids? “M is for the many things….”

This is about the 3 “moms” in my life… My Mom (Wanda), My wife (Pam), and Pam’s mom (Sandee)…

Where to begin… Obviously, the basic simple fact of life is that without mom (and dad too I suppose) I wouldn’t be here… But it goes beyond that. Without mom’s influence and impact in my life – who I am would be drastically different. She cared (and still does) about the little details in my life and that of my sister. She would occasionally work outside the home to help income or to do something different, but she concentrated on being home to make the house a home – a place of refuge from the world, a place to be safe and to know love, a place to learn and grow. She loves God, loves dad, loves her kids, and now the extended family that has grown since we’ve gotten married and had our own kids. She provided to me in her actions, not so much her words what to look for in a woman to spend my life with – and she approves of and loves Pam as if she was her daughter. She and dad taught me the value of commitment, standing by your word regardless, don’t lie, be nice, eat your veggies, don’t torture flies, snakes are icky, nature is God’s canvas for beauty, you can put sauerkraut in brownies to try and hide it from your kids but some of us CAN tell. She helped me memorize lots and lots of Bible verses, and would stick up for her family no matter what. She has become one of the great fine-art photographers and taught me alot!! (check out http://wandajudd.com) I Love you Momma!!!

Pam is…. how do I best put this…… simply the best gift God has ever, or will ever give me – aside from His salvation and gift of Grace!! Pam completes me. She makes me tingle, she helps me, she loves me, she loves our kids, she is self-less, giving, caring, calming, the best role-model for my son to compare to for his future bride, and my daughter to aspire to be like for her future husband. She is artistic and very creative. She is smokin’ HOT , she looks even prettier without makeup, she supports me in anything I try to do. She will fly in little planes with me, go SCUBA diving with me, ride my motorcycle with me, helps me when I go out to take pictures for people, and even rubs my head after SHE had a long hard day. She has a knack for finding cheap vacations, and is truly one of the smartest people I know. She takes up a challenge without letting on she’s a little scared and goes on brave as ever. She is a good cook, wonderful companion, and truly my better half. I could go on and on, but I need to save some material for more blog posts! LOL

I love you babe!! Thank you for being the bestest mom to our kids!!

Sandee (Pam’s Mom) is the model of perseverance and trust. The more I have gotten to know her over the years, the more I can see what Pam will be like as we grow old together, and I can see where Pam learned her grace, composure, and selflessness. Sandee lost her 1st husband, Pam’s biological dad, many years ago, when Pam was 8… She met and married Art Ireland, and they lived together until Art’s home-going in ‘05. Together Art and Sandee raised a mixed yours, mine, and ours household, and taught Pam so many of her life lessons, that in quiet moments of reflection, when Pam and I are talking, I can see and hear each of her parents… Sandee truly loves me and there is not the sit-com/stereotypical “mother/son-in-law” relationship at all between us… I am ever so grateful to her for being Pam’s guiding influence to be the woman she is. Love you Sandee!!

So to all the “moms” in my life, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!