Resistance is Futile

Greetings Faithful Readers...

In my effort to make each one of you more like me...I have been asked which Podcasts I regularly listen to...


WebChurch Podcast - In full disclosure...this is the podcast I host along with Miguel Umanzor and Stacie Gonzalez. Each week we talk about what is hot in the world of technology and how it can be leveraged for ministry in the local church. Also, I take a segment each show to highlight an area of the Internet Campus. It is my prayer that by doing so, it will help new Internet Campuses learn some of the successes and mistakes that we have made. We work very hard to keep the show safe for non-techies with still enough geek-speak for those that want it.

Potential Podcast - Pastor Troy, Pastor Heather, and Heredes lead this very cool podcast where they talk with some high-level leaders about all kinds of amazing leadership-related issues. If you lead...have been lead...or want to lead...this is something worth checking out!

The Dave Ramsey Show - This year, my wife and I are buckling down, living within our means, and paying off old debt. This show has changed the way we think about and spend the money we make. If you find yourself with more month than money...you HAVE to download and apply the lessons in this podcast. It is his radio show...with callers calling in and asking questions....a great use of 30 minutes or so of your life!

The WDW Radio Show - This amazing show, hosted by Lou Mongello, is the best Disney Podcast on the web. He has great guests, contests, and park audio. Lou is a class act, a great family man, and a pro when it comes to putting an incredible podcast together. If you only have time for one Disney Podcast (and who doesn't)...grab this one. Warning: You will find yourself walking around the parks and pointing things out to friends that they aren't noticing...You will earn mad geek cred....you have been warned.

Inside the Magic - OK, I have another Disney Podcast that I listen to...and this one is amazing also! Hosted by Orlando-native Ricky Brigante, the Inside the Magic podcast is absolutely incredible! Ride-thrus, interviews, contests, and a weekly visit from former cast-member "Skipper" Ben, makes this podcast a must-listen as well. Ricky has won much-deserved awards for his efforts...if you are a Disney fan, you owe it to yourself to add this one to the weekly regiment.

The LOST Podcast with Jay and Jack - If you are a fan of the TV show, LOST, this podcast is a must-listen. Updated every now and then when the show is in hiatus... it is rock-solid and very informative. Jay and Jack are funny and offer great insight into this incredible show.

Tekzilla - From the Revision 3 network comes this very cool and very short show about all areas of tech. Hosted by Veronica Belmont, Tekzilla gives daily tips and tricks on how to use technology better and more effectively. Whether you use Mac, PC, or Linux...this is a nice addition to your iPod touch...

XBOX Live's Major Nelson Radio - Hosted by Microsoft Xbox Live's Larry Hyrb (known to the gaming community as Major Nelson). The podcast covers everything in the world of XBOX video gaming, major industry events, and the like. Very entertaining and informative, Major (along with co-host "E") always put together a top-notch show... If you're a gamer and own an XBOX...you have to check it out.

Do you have any cool ones that you listen to? I'd love to hear them!

A visit to my web bookmarks is coming soon...promise...

BV

What if...

Greetings Faithful Reader...

This photo is Michael Phelps winning his 7th gold medal by one fingertip. You could chalk it up to his arm length...or his smarter half-stroke before the finish...or his "destiny"...

What I'm wondering is... what is the guy who won the silver medal thinking? He is the one that will play out that final second over and over in his head. It will torment him...taunting him...making him think that if he were just a little taller...or what if he had kicked a touch harder...it could have been his national anthem that they played on the medal stand.

"What ifs" aren't fun. They can trap you and take over your every thought. Sometimes I feel that way about things. What if I'd done this...or not done that... but eventually I realize that I am a direct result of what DID happen. God knows what He's doing and He's not done working in and through my life. Things are so much easier when we realize where we are now...stop wondering what could have been...and look ahead to the next opportunity to shine. Sometimes a silver medal is exactly what we need...even if it isn't what we want. Just my $.02

BV

Me

Greetings Faithful Readers...

I have been on a personal mission lately in 4 areas of my life:

1) Fitness
2) Organization
3) Productivity
4) Innovation

It hit me in the car today that I only have one opportunity on Earth to be the best me that I can be. I know that sounds weird...but I challenge you...have you ever thought of it that way? How many days are you expecting? How long will your life go? Don't know about you, but I have no idea. So I figure...let's make my quality of life, my personal growth, my relationships with others, and my brain all work together to really do something great.

Here's what I'm going after in each of these areas:

1) Fitness - I haven't written much about this lately. Primarily because I'm stuck in my weight loss. Doesn't seem to matter what I eat...I can't seem to make the scale go down any farther. In the meantime, I started working out hard again after my flu. I'm running a mile...doing 25 situps...25 pushups...and running another mile every day. May not seem like much, but it beats eating empty calories.

2) Organization - I've become a disciple of the blog The Unclutterer. I need less stuff and more space. I want less "I forgot" and more "I'm on it". If I can better organize all of the elements in my life...the more time I'll have for the good stuff.

3) Productivity - I used to complain about not having enough time. Then I figured out that I have just as many hours in the day as anybody else...if I'm not productive, it is my fault. I'm really working hard to maximize my day while still leaving in some margin. A burned-out me is never going to be as productive as a fresh me.

4) Innovation - Picked up the book "The Myths of Innovation" yesterday. I've become an innovation-crazed person. How can I do it differently than anybody else??? Will I blaze a trail or stay on the jogging path? I'd rather try and fail than be safe and fail myself.

I know this has been a long post...it's just that I had to see it all in writing for myself. I can't stay stagnant. I can't just "be". I have to get better at being Brian Vasil. I'm the only one that can.

BV

Rationalies Part One Reactions

Greetings Faithful Readers...

Yesterday we kicked off our Rationalies series at Flamingo Road Church with the topic "Is Hell Real?"   During the message, I was praying that people listening would see eternity differently.  I wanted them to come to the realization that Heaven and hell are real places....that when you die, you will go to one or the other.  Now it would have been very easy for Pastor Troy to scare people into salvation...after all, who wants to spend forever with Satan and a complete lack of hope.  That's not what Troy did.  He really crafted a message that was encouraging and positive...while at the same time realistic and sobering.  At the end of his message he called people forward to make first time commitments for Christ.  Not sure on the exact count, but at least 500 people came forward.

I was back in the Internet Campus studio watching on the monitors.  I saw entire families come forward...I saw men and women hugging with tears pouring down their faces...I saw broken people healing and "rock solid" people breaking down in repentance...I saw people giving God another chance....I saw Flamingo Road Church volunteers realizing why they serve....it was very moving indeed.  On the Internet Campus, we provided a button for those that were watching from home to push if they "came forward" and accepted Christ for the first time.  18 people online will spend eternity in Heaven as a result.

I sat there in the studio with goosebumps on my arms for nearly 10 straight minutes.  Every service.  It's nearly impossible to not get emotional thinking about that many changed lives...that many fresh starts...that many secured eternities.  I was told that a man was leaving the auditorium @ the 5:00 service and ran into one of our lead ushers.   He had been crying and looked a little shaken.  The usher stopped him and asked if he was alright.  He said he was fine....but he said that when he arrived at church, he had completely given up on God...wanted nothing to do with Christ.   That is, until he heard Pastor Troy's message.  The reason for his tears was that he had come forward and given his life to Jesus.  God had given him another chance, he said.   His crying was relief...his tears were tears of joy.  That was just one story of hundreds...

If you are reading this post and were there this weekend...at any of our campuses...drop me a quick comment and let me know your feelings about the experience.

500+ is a lot of people.  There are millions more...50 / 100,000 / 150,000,000...let's go after it...

BV

Quiet Time

Greetings Faithful Readers,

Tonight while I was doing my devotional and journaling, I did something that I haven't done in a long time. I fasted from sound. I sat in my study with absolutely no sound whatsoever for 20 minutes. And I thought. I thought about God. I thought about all of the things I did well today and all of the things I could have done better. It's amazing that in total silence my flaws screamed at me. I was short-tempered today. I gossiped. I did things with the wrong motives.

God reassured me in my silence that He loves me in spite of all of that.

Have you spent time in total silence lately? It can be deafening.

BV