Morning! So today is the day of my 150th post for the blog, some of those posts are pre 2009, but this week is the half way point for the year, and I thought it would be fun to give you an update for the statistics for the blog. I thought you might find them interesting-
Here's the most glaring statistic of them all- on average, we're getting about 50 readers a day, which to me is a fantastic number. When I first started the blog, we were getting more of a 70+ number, so I'm not sure if I've gotten worse in my blogging? or people are getting busier are work.
So here's some numbers- Since January 2009
2,164 unique visitors
7,734 visits to the blog
12,190 pages visited
1:23 average time on blog
30 Different countries represented
Now here's the interesting part.. can you guess what the most read blog post was so far this year? Its, "I'm Building a shoe rack". How funny is that, its indexed pretty well on google, so when you type in something like "build a shoe rack" it comes up high in the engine. Number two? "we rolled the minivan". That day had the most visits of the whole year with 173 visitors that day.
Break down of states? Every state in the US has visited the blog except for these 5 states- I NEED YOUR HELP! If you know someone in these states, forward them the blog and lets see if we can get all 50 states represented, and they are Wyoming, Montana, S. Dakota, Delaware, and Rhode Island. I'm sure there has to be at least one person living in those states that you know, send them the blog!
Now.... (drum roll please) The break down of states that are reading the blog the most?
1. Washington- 1965 visits, top cities- Seattle, 1965, Renton 497, Auburn, 353, and an honorable mention of Medina with 135 visits... could Bill Gates be reading the blog?
2. California- 500 visits, top cities are LA- 138 visits, San Fran 50 visits. Buse, you're not even making the grade bro!
3. Texas 346 visits top cities Killeen 88, Bulverde 66. Not a strong showing, but getting there.
4. Alaska 187 visits, but here's the cool part, 182 of those visits are from Juneau! I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that my friend Case is single handedly carrying the great state of Alaska! Way to go Case! I might just forgive you for winning that Van Halen "Jump" 45rpm from me in the 4th grade.
One more honorable mention- someone in Gwynn Park Maryland has 138 visits. I'm curious who that is. You're a faithful reader! Thank you.
What's this all mean? Not much spiritual significance except the reality that people are reading blog. As long as you guys keep reading, I'll keep writing. I love writing it, and I love the feedback. Its a benefit to me, and you.
God bless you for reading the blog. I'll be back at the "nuggets" and "insights" tomorrow. Lets see how the numbers fall at the end of the year.
Bless you
matt
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
The King Of Pop
Unless you live in a cave, which is probably not the case, seeing how you're reading this blog on the Internet, you probably know that Michael Jackson died yesterday.
I liked MJ's music. The first album I ever got was "Thriller". Man, that thing had some jams didn't it? I can remember when I was in elementary school, and get this, went out side with the whole school, held hands and sang "we are the world" together.
However you felt about Michael Jackson, there is no doubting that he was a talented performer. That guy had sweet dance moves, fantastic music, and an amazing knack for one of a kind style.
Here's what's troubling- even with everything that he was able to accomplish and do, that guy was a weirdo. Very very weird. All that stuff with the kids, the monkey's, the hyperbaric chamber, the ranch, the plastic surgery, the one glove?
Michael Jackson lived most of his life a troubled soul. He seemed to live his life in a way that didn't make sense- a reclusive man, who loved to perform on stage in front of millions of people. Utterly talented with music, apparently not talented with people. From what I can see, the guy didn't have the ability to be comfortable in his own skin. He had money and fame, and he wasn't happy.
By the world's standards, he had it all, yet was never satisfied or content.
The scripture that came to my mind this morning was "what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul?". I think its true with MJ and other people also, they can live their lives searching and longing for contentment in something or someone, yet not be able to find it.
The nugget for the day? By looking at the King of Pop, we can realize that the only thing in this world that can and will satisfy is the relationship we have have with the true King of Kings. Anything else, falls short and leaves us wanting.
Blessings
matt
I liked MJ's music. The first album I ever got was "Thriller". Man, that thing had some jams didn't it? I can remember when I was in elementary school, and get this, went out side with the whole school, held hands and sang "we are the world" together.
However you felt about Michael Jackson, there is no doubting that he was a talented performer. That guy had sweet dance moves, fantastic music, and an amazing knack for one of a kind style.
Here's what's troubling- even with everything that he was able to accomplish and do, that guy was a weirdo. Very very weird. All that stuff with the kids, the monkey's, the hyperbaric chamber, the ranch, the plastic surgery, the one glove?
Michael Jackson lived most of his life a troubled soul. He seemed to live his life in a way that didn't make sense- a reclusive man, who loved to perform on stage in front of millions of people. Utterly talented with music, apparently not talented with people. From what I can see, the guy didn't have the ability to be comfortable in his own skin. He had money and fame, and he wasn't happy.
By the world's standards, he had it all, yet was never satisfied or content.
The scripture that came to my mind this morning was "what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul?". I think its true with MJ and other people also, they can live their lives searching and longing for contentment in something or someone, yet not be able to find it.
The nugget for the day? By looking at the King of Pop, we can realize that the only thing in this world that can and will satisfy is the relationship we have have with the true King of Kings. Anything else, falls short and leaves us wanting.
Blessings
matt
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Sneaky Little Thing We Must Deal With
There is an part of everyone's lives that I don't think we talk about enough. Or at least, its not something that comes up as a topic of conversation in my circles that often, and its pride.
Pride is a two sided word. In on sense, we encourage people to have 'pride', as in pride in your work, pride in your self, and other positive pride. But there is another type of pride that can be a killer to relationships, personal growth and spiritual maturity.
This type of pride keeps a person from growing. Its a mindset that says, I refuse to admit my faults, I will never look at my own shortcomings, and there is never a day that I will ask for help.
This type of pride will ruin you.
Let me give you an example- lets say that you have a friend, and for some reason something goes wrong in the relationship and there comes a time when you have a disagreement. It happens, we've all been there haven't we? Well, when a relationship comes to that point, there has to be a confrontation of sorts, to deal with the problem.
Here's the options- 1. Ignore it and hope it either repairs itself or goes away. 2. Look inside yourself, find out what role you played in the interaction, and go the person and talk about.
I think number two is the more viable option. But here's the most important part about combating pride. You have to come to a point when you are willing to admit to yourself and to others that you are not perfect, and that you need to grow as a person. Its a difficult thing to do, because we all want to put our best forward, and to have everyone think that we've got it all together, but we cant.
God honors humbleness. In fact he encourages it. Many times in the Bible we are encouraged to be humble, and to be blessed in the process. Its a difficult point to come to, but its always beneficial.
Search your heart today. Ask if you are a prideful person who refuses to ask for help or admit fault within yourself. If you find it, start to face it, admit it, and ask God to begin to work on that in you.
You'll grow. You'll love it.
Blessings,
Matt
Pride is a two sided word. In on sense, we encourage people to have 'pride', as in pride in your work, pride in your self, and other positive pride. But there is another type of pride that can be a killer to relationships, personal growth and spiritual maturity.
This type of pride keeps a person from growing. Its a mindset that says, I refuse to admit my faults, I will never look at my own shortcomings, and there is never a day that I will ask for help.
This type of pride will ruin you.
Let me give you an example- lets say that you have a friend, and for some reason something goes wrong in the relationship and there comes a time when you have a disagreement. It happens, we've all been there haven't we? Well, when a relationship comes to that point, there has to be a confrontation of sorts, to deal with the problem.
Here's the options- 1. Ignore it and hope it either repairs itself or goes away. 2. Look inside yourself, find out what role you played in the interaction, and go the person and talk about.
I think number two is the more viable option. But here's the most important part about combating pride. You have to come to a point when you are willing to admit to yourself and to others that you are not perfect, and that you need to grow as a person. Its a difficult thing to do, because we all want to put our best forward, and to have everyone think that we've got it all together, but we cant.
God honors humbleness. In fact he encourages it. Many times in the Bible we are encouraged to be humble, and to be blessed in the process. Its a difficult point to come to, but its always beneficial.
Search your heart today. Ask if you are a prideful person who refuses to ask for help or admit fault within yourself. If you find it, start to face it, admit it, and ask God to begin to work on that in you.
You'll grow. You'll love it.
Blessings,
Matt
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
An Explosion- A Cell Phone- An Email- A Drive
I drove to Spokane Washington with a friend yesterday. He had something to do for work in Spokane, so I hitched a ride with him to Couer D' alene, to visit with my grandparents for a few hours.
You didn't know this, but yesterday, I wrote the blog en route from the vehicle we were in. My friend has a wireless card for his laptop computer, which enabled me to write and send the blog as I was traveling over Snoqualamie Pass. As I was doing it, I thought to myself, "isn't techmology amazing"?
On the drive back, I was talking to a friend from church, I think I was about at Moses Lake, and he said to me, "Matt, I gotta go brother, a 18-wheeler just hit a power pole". I got be honest. It seemed a little odd that he would use that as a means to get me off the phone. I've heard weirder things, but OK, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. What happened next was crazy. Not 5 mins later, I get an email, on my blackberry, from the Mayor of Auburn stating that there had been an accident with an 18 wheeler, that took out a power pole.
Are you getting all this? Driving, emailing, calling, explosions, news updates, drive to Idaho and back in one day with a hybrid car that has a GPS that talks to us.
My point? What a world in which we live that we can stay so connected to everyone and everything that is going on around us- but here's the hard part- sometimes we can stay so connected that its hard to disconnect.
Disconnecting with the world is important and let me tell you why- currently, as much as I can figure out, God is not using email, phone, TV, and or any electronic device to speak to you directly. Sure, he can speak through others through these mediums, but they are just that- a go between.
I want to encourage you to disconnect. To find time to unplug from the electronics and open your ears to what the man upstairs may be speaking to you.
Go for a walk, Sit in a chair outside. Lay on your couch in silence. What you will find that God Almighty, ruler of heaven and earth will speak to you in that silence, and it will be awesome.
Disconnect, and then connect, with Him.
Be blessed.
Matt
You didn't know this, but yesterday, I wrote the blog en route from the vehicle we were in. My friend has a wireless card for his laptop computer, which enabled me to write and send the blog as I was traveling over Snoqualamie Pass. As I was doing it, I thought to myself, "isn't techmology amazing"?
On the drive back, I was talking to a friend from church, I think I was about at Moses Lake, and he said to me, "Matt, I gotta go brother, a 18-wheeler just hit a power pole". I got be honest. It seemed a little odd that he would use that as a means to get me off the phone. I've heard weirder things, but OK, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. What happened next was crazy. Not 5 mins later, I get an email, on my blackberry, from the Mayor of Auburn stating that there had been an accident with an 18 wheeler, that took out a power pole.
Are you getting all this? Driving, emailing, calling, explosions, news updates, drive to Idaho and back in one day with a hybrid car that has a GPS that talks to us.
My point? What a world in which we live that we can stay so connected to everyone and everything that is going on around us- but here's the hard part- sometimes we can stay so connected that its hard to disconnect.
Disconnecting with the world is important and let me tell you why- currently, as much as I can figure out, God is not using email, phone, TV, and or any electronic device to speak to you directly. Sure, he can speak through others through these mediums, but they are just that- a go between.
I want to encourage you to disconnect. To find time to unplug from the electronics and open your ears to what the man upstairs may be speaking to you.
Go for a walk, Sit in a chair outside. Lay on your couch in silence. What you will find that God Almighty, ruler of heaven and earth will speak to you in that silence, and it will be awesome.
Disconnect, and then connect, with Him.
Be blessed.
Matt
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Smacked In The Face With A Ball
A few months ago, my son Gabriel and I were at a Young Life event in Auburn. Gabe was there with me that night, and the kids were playing kickball, and he wanted to play.
It didn't start out well. We were in the outfield and this big 8th grader came up to the plate. Gabe was in the infield, and somehow that kid kicked the ball square in his face. Hard. It was loud, and there was like 50+ kids out there that were all watching my 9 year old son catch one square in the kisser.
When it happened, I was immediately concerned, not that he was hurt, but how would he react to this in front of all these kids? I wasn't standing right next to him, but I could tell it hurt. Man, everyone knew it hurt. you could hear that it hurt. But do you know what happened? Gabe kept his composure. It was easy to see that it was hard for him, but he did it. He didn't cry. He took the pain. It built some character in him that day.
I don't know why pain builds character, but it sure does. How you react when you are in pain can really let people know what kind of person that you are. Now, I'm not saying that we should put our kids through pain to teach them, as much as I am saying its a natural byproduct of painful situations.
I guess that's why it annoyed me when I found out that at Field Day yesterday they were playing Dodge Ball with Nerf balls, and they were, get this, rolling the balls on the ground at each other to try and hit the other person. I wonder what "Self-Esteem" guru at the elementary school decided that they would play the game in such a way to ensure that no one got hurt, no one got upset, and no one felt left out. Wow.
Seriously? Is that what we've become? A society that shields our kids from every bit of pain and discomfort? I can almost guarantee that 90% of the people reading this played dodge ball the same way I did, with a big red rubber ball, no restraint, and got hit in the face. Isn't it amazing that we all lived?
Again, I'm not advocating that we hurt people, or allow someone to hurt another person, but allow ourselves to experience some pain once in a while. This world is not perfect, and neither are the people in it. If we raise our kids shielding them from every painful experience, we will find that they are unable to withstand the rigors of everyday life that this world dishes out.
Next time you're in pain, thank God for it. Thank him for making you a stronger person. Thank him that you can withstand a little bit of discomfort. It makes you stronger.
Blessings
matt
It didn't start out well. We were in the outfield and this big 8th grader came up to the plate. Gabe was in the infield, and somehow that kid kicked the ball square in his face. Hard. It was loud, and there was like 50+ kids out there that were all watching my 9 year old son catch one square in the kisser.
When it happened, I was immediately concerned, not that he was hurt, but how would he react to this in front of all these kids? I wasn't standing right next to him, but I could tell it hurt. Man, everyone knew it hurt. you could hear that it hurt. But do you know what happened? Gabe kept his composure. It was easy to see that it was hard for him, but he did it. He didn't cry. He took the pain. It built some character in him that day.
I don't know why pain builds character, but it sure does. How you react when you are in pain can really let people know what kind of person that you are. Now, I'm not saying that we should put our kids through pain to teach them, as much as I am saying its a natural byproduct of painful situations.
I guess that's why it annoyed me when I found out that at Field Day yesterday they were playing Dodge Ball with Nerf balls, and they were, get this, rolling the balls on the ground at each other to try and hit the other person. I wonder what "Self-Esteem" guru at the elementary school decided that they would play the game in such a way to ensure that no one got hurt, no one got upset, and no one felt left out. Wow.
Seriously? Is that what we've become? A society that shields our kids from every bit of pain and discomfort? I can almost guarantee that 90% of the people reading this played dodge ball the same way I did, with a big red rubber ball, no restraint, and got hit in the face. Isn't it amazing that we all lived?
Again, I'm not advocating that we hurt people, or allow someone to hurt another person, but allow ourselves to experience some pain once in a while. This world is not perfect, and neither are the people in it. If we raise our kids shielding them from every painful experience, we will find that they are unable to withstand the rigors of everyday life that this world dishes out.
Next time you're in pain, thank God for it. Thank him for making you a stronger person. Thank him that you can withstand a little bit of discomfort. It makes you stronger.
Blessings
matt
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