Tory Farina

Coffee Break...

Coffee break used to mean, a time you take a break from work and had a cup of coffee. Now it means, the action of having your stomach break from so much coffee.

Wireless Mic Madness...

The day of reckoning is almost upon us check it out here. All but one of our wireless mics will no longer be legal. It's a bummer when you spend hundreds of dollars on a mic that is dead. We are having to replace a bunch of them and are bummed by the expense.

In honor of our expense I'll show you Dolly Parton's 24-karat-gold–plated Shure UR2/KSM-9 wireless mic she used for American Idol. Its a bit out of my league but It sure is pretty!

Why God Might Enjoy Earth Day...

Genesis 1 Genesis 2: 1-4 Leviticus 25: 1-7, 23 Deut. 10:14 I Chronicles 19: 11-12 Nehemiah 9:6  Psalm 104: 10-30 Psalm 24:1 Psalm 148 Psalm 19:1-4 Psalm 96: 1, 11-12 Psalm 104 Psalm 8  Job 38-42, esp (42:1-4)

Isaiah 40:12, 26 Isaiah 42: 5-7 Isaiah 53:4-15 Isaiah 66: 1-2 Micah 6:8 Matthew 8:16-17 Matthew 9:35 Matthew 20: 28 Matthew 22: 37-40 Matthew 25: 34-45 Mark 2: 1-12 Mark 10: 17-27 Mark 12: 30-31 Luke 6:31

John 1: 1-4 John 3:16 John 10:10 John 13:34 Romans 1: 20-23 1 Corinthians 8:6 1 Corinthians 10:26  2 Corinthians 5: 14-21 Phil. 2:4-8 Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:2-3 1 Peter 2:24 1 John 4: 7-8 Revelation 4:11

Read the texts here...

Why I'm greener than I could be...

Today is Earth day. A day where we celebrate Gods creation by trying to do a little more to fulfill the original calling God gave Adam. Steward Gods creation.

Here's a five ways I am greener than I could be...
- I drive a 10yr old Ford Focus... New takes a lot of energy and resources to create. (truth be told I drive it cause it runs and is paid for.)
- I attend a mobile church... With no building to maintain, heat and cool or yard to deal with we are green worshiper.
- I live within 2 miles of my office... Short commute means less waste.
- I recycle as much as possible at home...
- I try and use as little paper ad possible... Auto pay, less to file and keep track of and eventually throw away, I hate my handwritting anyway.

How about you? In what way are you already greening upthe place?

I realize I could work a little harder at it. And a day like today makes me think a little harder about my daily choices.

Blog posted here.

Spreading the 30% off love...

The GAP stores are sharing their 30% friends and family discount love. So I am sharing it with you.

                                                              

*bar code to print out and use at register

Friends...

How many close relationships do you have?

I asked my Father n' law and Elizabeth this question after reading this article in "Wired" magazine. And the conversation was very interesting as we talked about what a friend is, what a close friend is and how many we feel we have. I have, as of this afternoon, on twitter Following: 441 Followers: 477, Facebook 796 but how many "bosom buddies" do I have? In the wired article they found the average person had 110 Facebook Friends and by looking at the people in their photos that the average person had 6.6 close intimate friends. I just read in this article that now people have closer to two intimate friends.

I am really curious, How many friends do you have? Bosom Buddy, Pale, BFF or whatever you call your peep. How many are you really "Tight" with?

Brian Eno Interview...

I was listening to this on the way to the office this morning and found Brian Eno saying some really interesting things.

• He looks for things that haven't been done before... Novelty = Excitement
• Gospel Music is all about hope. People are transfixed with things about Hope. It is something we all need.
• Don't look for things that made you a hit and try and reproduce that. Look for things that stretch you.
• Imagine what could be the best we can get out of this situation
• the composer is the gardener of the piece.
• Passion is allowing yourself to be taken over... choose to live passionately.

Stuff like this inspires me. To hear an artist talk of creating inspires me to work harder at what I create. It challenges me to fight for new and creative and not just settle for what has been done and what is easy. It challenges me to love the Gospel and the Hope that It brings.

Go live out the hope of the World and Create something that is beautiful!

Swine Flu...

I know your all a little wigged out by the news lately about swine flu. Here is the reality. As long as we take precautions.

• Wash hands
• Stay away from crowds when your sick
• Trust the Lord
• Keep your sick kid from snotting on all the Other kids
• And don't do this to pigs...

We should be fine.

High Point Washes and disinfects the toys on a regular basis. The theatre is taking every precaution to keep sickness down so that people will go see movies.

Don't Panic. More people die in the U.S. from regular everyday flu than Swine Flu. Ill see you Sunday for another amazing installment in "The Shack" series. And Try not to lick any pigs.

What advice would you give?...

What advice would you give a man who has so much on his plate. It seems that expectations are high and I wounder if anyone can live up to it. What would you tell President Obama if you had his ear?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

FDIC or JC Insured

Last night Elizabeth and I had a chat about money, the economy and our response. I am planning on taking a few minutes on Sunday to expound on this thought a little but want to flesh it out with you here.

Elizabeth lived in Chile for years some of her family live currently in Argentina and have for years and her Grandparents lived through the revolution in Bolivia many decades ago. She is all to familiar with economies devaluing and middle class people becoming poverty stricken over night. Banks closing and money becoming worthless are all to familiar to her family members. So needles to say she and I are very concerned with the state of the economy.

Jesus said... "Fear Not for I am with you."

We talked about her concerns and we were feeling real depressed and hopeless I looked around and thought... "WOW, how blessed I am. This furniture I could do without... this house I could downsize... These rugs and curtains and clothes all of them are nice but... its all just stuff."

Stuff doesn't make us who we are. Stuff doesn't make my family what it is and Stuff doesn't make the Church what it is. People make the church, People make a family and You and I are made up by the accumulation of gifts and talents and abilities and personality. They may take your house but they can not take who you are from you. No one can.

I then began to think about what Gods word says about hard times. I wish I could say the bible gives all believers a pass on hard times. It doesn't. It says that we can expect them. Which means we should be prepared for them. But more than be prepared he says that he will provide our needs. Scripture says that all the earth is The LORDs. Scripture says that he will take care of the sparrow and the flower and how much more will he take care of you who is created in the image of GOD?

FDIC is backed by the government. The U.S. says you will have your money up to 100k. Cool. that puts me at ease. But ultimately if I look at History I see nations rise and fall. I see kings become paupers and paupers become kings. Here is what I also see... God remains the same. HE takes care of those who put their faith and trust in him. We are as Christ followers are more than FDIC insured, We are Insured by God. He will never leave us nor will he forsake us.

I and You are insured but God gave you and I wisdom. Lets exercise that wisdom. Here is what Elizabeth and I are doing to be prepared for what may or may not come. Pray about taking similar action.

1) Learning to Be content with what you have...
1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

2) We are in a need only buying freeze. Any thing extra we are postponing to buy. We are eating in more, packing lunches more, not buying Starbucks and other drinks or extras. We have the basic cable, are not renting movies unless its at red box, I dropped my subscription music program and are done going to movies or games... we are simply cutting back. LIVING LEAN

3) We are selling things. Sounds silly but I have a car for sale, I am putting my childhood comics on ebay this weekend, (i am trying to convince E to let me sell her crystal candy bowl we haven't opened from our wedding. She is not so Keene on the idea.) The church is selling extra gear. Being prepared... able to give to those in need and weather a down tern with cash is wise.

4) Trust in Gods Promises... we are trusting the Lord. Tithing is going to continue because His word says that he will reward the faithful. It is his stuff anyways i am just a manager of it. He is who I put my trust in. He will not argue or be partisan, or care about cameras and speeches and debates. He will be a strong tower in the middle of what may or may not come.

Psalm 29:10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

Psalm 31:1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.

Stay Positive! Stay Faithful! Live Life connected and lets weather this storm together as Gods people living out his mission and trusting in his Providence.