Day 5 of your Bible Plan, UNCOMMEN Husbands

Just wanted to give a shout out to the YouVersion Bible study I am doing.  Hats off to http://youversion.com for their rich offering of study plans.

This particular study has had a plethora of nuggets for husbands/Dads.  It has left me encouraged.

Thanks... -Nar

UNCOMMEN Husbands Day 5 of 5 "Best Thing a Dad Can Do for His Kids" You've probably heard these words DECLARED before: We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident… In other words, everything that comes next doesn't have to be proven, it's just fact. We know from observing those around us. We know from our gut. Some things are just true. So it is with the following statement, "The Most Important Thing a Dad Can Do…" How would you fill in that blank? Check out responses on my Facebook post, and even offer your own thoughts. Many were expected truths: "be present, honest, forgiving, loving, etc." But a few people read my mind: The Best Thing a Dad Can Do is Love His Wife Well. (Be a loving husband!) That's it. It's not rocket science. It's self-evident. Kids are a direct beneficiary of the love shown between a man and a woman. Men cannot spend time, listen, forgive, model, say, or display anything if they are not there, and the only way to truly "be there" is to do everything in their power to protect the stability of their family. I could throw out stats on the direct correlation between the stability of the family and the effects on children. Social sciences prove this concept ten times over, but the true test comes from your own experience. Think about your own life. How did your dad love your mom and what affect did that have on you? You and I both know, "do what I say, not as I do?" doesn't really work. Kids do what we do. So it begs the tough question, "What kind of man am I modeling?" Solomon said in Proverbs, "Let them (my instructions) not escape from your sight;" (4:21) and "my son...let your eyes observe my ways" (23:26). I want my kids to adore their spouses one day. Am I adoring my wife? Do I hold her hand, kiss her, and laugh with her in front of my kids? I want my kids to resolve conflict quickly. Am I holding grudges, shouting constantly, or pursuing peace with my wife? I want my kids to own their mistakes. Do they see me apologizing sincerely? I want my kids to serve their spouses one day. Do I serve my wife in practical and tangible ways? Someone once said, "Become who you want your kids to be." If you dream about your kids loving one person well for a lifetime, it starts with you. It almost goes without saying, that's the best thing you can do for your kids. Be UNCOMMEN. Proverbs 4:20-21 Proverbs 23:26 Proverbs 4:20-21 ESV 20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; Mark this reading as completed on YouVersion Proverbs 23:26 ESV 26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. Mark this reading as completed on YouVersion View publisher website

Book Review - Crucial Conversations

Crucial Conversations

by Patterson, Grenny McMillan, Switzler

I was browsing through the book Crucial Conversations by a group of researchers and noticed the following quote "Speak while in anger and you'll give the best speech that you will ever regret." The authors had me, I was intrigued wondering what these guys had to say about this common trap of speaking out of emotion. It turns out that the researchers of Crucial Conversations were originally studying why certain people were more effective than others. Thousands of interviews brought them to the topic of how to best deal with a crucial conversation which by definition has the potential of changing the course of your life. This book gives its readers tools for dealing with the Fool's Choice which says I must choose between telling the truth and keeping a friend or choosing between candor and kindness.

Crucial Conversations is a book of dialog tools which can help each of us navigate those hard conversations which we typically prefer to avoid. The beginning chapter of Start With Heart will quickly draw you into familiar ground and leaves you with hope that you can learn some of these communication techniques. 

Pool of meaning is a term used in Crucial Conversations to capture the concept of contributing to the true meaning or common ground of the conversation. Asing the defining question of the 'What do I want?' helps bring focus to a dialog.  Losing focus can result in a change of motive such as just winning the argument versus the original topic.

The chapters of this book contain many practical real life stories which help to make Crucial Conversations an interesting read. Given how common it is for conversations to get blown out of proportion it is a good bet that all readers will glean useful nuggets from this book.

One chapter titled "How to Speak Persuasively Not Abrasively" uses the following word reminder for teaching some principles to follow.

STATE - Share you facts, Tell your story, Ask for other paths, Talk tentatively, Encouraging Talk

Another chapter called 'How to Listen When Others Blow Up' used AMPP.

AMPP - Ask, Mirror, Paraphase, Prime

All chapters contained helpful and insightful concepts but I thought chapter 5 "Make It Safe" was probably required reading for all married couples and business leaders. Working on making my our conversations a safe place to share hurts and concerns is the cornerstone of Crucial Conversations.

Finding the center of Three points

Here's a fun math puzzle for you..  given 3 GPS locations find the center point.

pt circleCenter(pt A, pt B, pt C) {

    float yDelta_a = B.y - A.y;

    float xDelta_a = B.x - A.x;

    float yDelta_b = C.y - B.y;

    float xDelta_b = C.x - B.x;

    pt center = P(0,0);

    float aSlope = yDelta_a/xDelta_a;

    float bSlope = yDelta_b/xDelta_b;  

    center.x = (aSlope*bSlope*(A.y - C.y) + bSlope*(A.x + B.x)

        - aSlope*(B.x+C.x) )/(2* (bSlope-aSlope) );

    center.y = -1*(center.x - (A.x+B.x)/2)/aSlope +  (A.y+B.y)/2;

    return center;

  }

  

  

  

  Geocache Thing Series:  http://coord.info/GC2JWNV

  

  Helpful sites:

  http://boulter.com/gps

  http://www.earthpoint.us/Convert.aspx

  

  So, I've had grand plans of figuring out a way to simply trilaterate a place between three points knowing only the distances from those points.  Also having become savvy with calculating distances between points using arc-lengths to account for the curvature of the earth, I though "Hey, I can do this…"  After a few hours of cranking out numbers, I realized that I was into a much bigger problem than originally expected and asked a few co-workers for some help.  Let's qualify; they are both Ph.D. Post-Grads – one a physicist and one an aeronautical engineer. They do this kind of thing for fun and when I first explained my problem, the physicist simply said he wouldn't touch it with a ten- foot pole.   He called it "Spherical Geometry" and said that most people still can't do it.  Now, the aeronautical engineer was not so easily turned away and has spent the better part of the last 8 weeks of free time popping out "big equations."  Needless to say, he hasn't gotten even close.

  

  So today, I pose a much-simplified situation of the problem, which occurs in the days of Gilgamesh (you know, when the Earth was still flat).  From a certain three locations, a fourth can be found.  That's where you'll find the cache.

  

  Thing #1:  N 45° 04.033 W 093° 03.667

  

  Thing #2:  N 45° 03.491 W 093° 04.787

  

  Thing #3:  N 45° 04.655 W 093° 04.569

Beer Chips in Twin Cities

BEER CHIP locations in the Twin Cities

For additional info see https://www.facebook.com/BarrelOFunSnackFoods

Good morning

 

Thank you for the message! Here is a list of Holiday stores that carry Beer Chips:

102 Blmgtn - Shakopee & Nicollet

335 Mpls - Industrial Blvd

434 Minneapolis MN - MAC Airport

261 Hopkins MN - 11th Av

039 Minnetonka MN - Hopkins Rd

341 StP - Marshall Ave

157 StP - Robert St

400 Eagan MN - Eagan Woods Dr

368 Arden Hills MN

364 Shakopee MN - Co Rd 83

129 Wayzata MN - E Wayzata Bvd

405 Rogers MN - Main St

319 Maple Grove MN - 96th Av

264 Lilydale MN - Sibley Mem Hwy

374 Cottage Grove MN - Hadley

379 Blaine MN

198 Prior Lake MN - Duluth Av

243 Champlin MN - Champ Dr

199 Chanhassen MN - W 79th St

316 Apple Valley MN - 149th St

 

Hopefully this is helpful! You can also purchase our products in our Albertville outlet store or our online store at www.klnstore.com. Have a good day!

 

Thank you,

 

Ashley Silbernagel

E: asilbernagel@klnfamilybrands.com

 

 

     

 

 

The Fold Manifesto: Why the Page Fold Still Matters

Great article about information presented before having to scroll.

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/page-fold-manifesto/

-Nar

Not a computer person

Great article this week from Hanselman about "Not being a Computer Person".  Check out the SNL clip.  I can so related.

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/BadUXAndUserSelfBlameImSorryImNotAComputerPerson.aspx

Have a great week!  -Nar

Book Review - Weird

Book Review

Title: Weird

Author: Craig Groeschel

I picked up a copy of Weird by Craig Groeschel based on a recommendation from one of our pastors at church (aka Kevin). At first glance I thought it would be a light read focusing on some basics of the christian life. To my surprise I was quickly drawn in by the subtle depth of this book. Groeschel does have a simple type of writing style which make it an easy read and well suited for most audiences. Although I believe women would enjoy this book I do feel that young men might be the sweet spot for this book.

Weird is a sort of handbook outlining numerous life topics where the 'normal' view and perspective of society is just not cutting it. This handbook would be ideal study material for a young adult group or marrieds group. There is also a complimentary video series available on the RightNow Media site for use in small groups (see https://www.rightnow.org/Media/Series/2203). Readers will both enjoy and be challenged by Groeschel's insight on time, money, relationships, sex and values. I am confident that this book offers something for everyone.

My favorite quote from Weird was from the chapter called Accidently on Purpose which focused on investing in your marriage .. "When the grass starts to look greener somewhere else, water your own yard!"  Whether you invest in Weird as a gift for some or for study material it won't be a normal purchase.