Thursday, July 21, 2005

Disappointment

People often think of LU or a Church as a safe haven. I submit, it is a bubble. Bubbles are interesting phenomena. Bubbles dont always pop. they can inflate, deflate, stretch, conform, and yes sometimes explode.

Today a bubble exploded again for me. Working at a Christian place, I deal with the same politics that the business world has, sometimes worse here then there, I deal with relationships with co workers, budget deficiencies, policy breeches, and uneducated people who think they already know what they came here, a university, to learn.

Someone decided within the past three days that they needed or desired a mixing console more than Liberty, and took it upon themselves to take that unit home. While theft is not uncommon here at LU, quite the contrary as a matter of fact, I felt as though this act was a direct hit on me personally. It was not, I'm aware of that, however, I fight for this department. I work long hours, I bleed on the job, literally, and I sweat profusley. In short, my job is not always cake.

This hard work over the past couple of years in developing a bleeding department into a functional teaching unit has been a passion of mine and my main purpose for being here at the school. Now that I have finished my degree, it has never been more the case.

A wise man from North Carolina, and a personal business friend once told me: "Kevin, no one will ever care about your department as much as you will." The same man told me fixing inexpensive gear is "like taking a hamster to the vet". Wisdom comes in all shapes a sizes, and I wished that I wish that I had a bit of that wisdom today when I faced this ordeal. Working over 60 hours this week added to this frustration. Perhaps a day off is called for.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Thankfulness

Lord,

I just talked to a dear friend of mine. I wish I coud say the call was uplifting. It was devasting. He has been married a little longer than I, he was married during the conflict in Iraq. The other night he was telling his wife that he had been in contact with an old fling over the phone, had never seen her in person, even given the opportunity recently. His wife in anger told him of an affair she had during the war while in Iraq after they were married.

Needless to say my friend crushed. I'm touched that he called me to vent, though I wish now I knew more of what to tell him. Instead of fumbling, I passed the ball to a Pastor I know.

Two things I learned from this. Marraige is fragile. Even strong couples can fall, but the aftermath is as delicate as the marriage itself. i thank You for this friend. I pray that he is able to come through this, what ever the course of action may be. I pray for his daughter, that whatever the outcome, she knows and understands the love her father, both earthly and heavenly, has for her, and that through this painful time, the healing process and the Grace of God will allow her to love her parents. More importanly, i pray that You restore their marriage.

I thank You for my wife and family, for her faithfulness to me. For my children with whom I could not live without. I'm thankful for my Parents and the sacrifice they have made for each other through the hard times and trials You have placed in their lives.

I need more of You.

Your Son,

Kevin

Friday, July 01, 2005

Apply What You Learn

I can now call myself a reader. Through all of school I could not stand the act, but now I find freedom in it, a place where I attempt to shut the world out and yet understand that world while I read.

One of the books I've read recently is "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Farrazzi. He is a marketing guru who wrote a book on utilizing and developing your personal network. Now in busniess, it is all about who you know and not about what you know. So I tried it out. I emailed a personal mentor of mind who lives here in the burg and asked him, exactly in the manor suggested in this book, if he knew anyone in the real estate industry that he would feel comfortable introducing me to.

2 Days later I had an interview. The man tried to talk me out of it in a vein attempt to test me. I wouldnt give in. He said the first step was to get my license, a 60 clock hour class, and a 65 dollar test. The class is offered at a local school here, not LU.

This is where God's providence comes in. With my benefits at the school, I am allowed to take $1500.00 in classes, per year, in which liberty does not offer. To make a long story short, I couldnt pay for the 290.00 class at the local school, but as it turns out LU is going to pay for it as part of this benefit.

In talking with a couple of friends, I found one that wants to take the class with me, his will be paid for as well by the school.

In this interview the other day, my interviewer O.J. (white guy) told me a story of a woman who wanted to start selling. She had not worked in 32 years, she was a house wife. OJ told her that he didnt hire people in her condition, but she told him that if God wanted her to be a realtor than that is what she was going to do, with or without this company. He hired her.

This woman was a huge success. God has placed this vision and connection in front of me, along with a connection into the largest privately owned realty firm in the US, and an attitude given to me by this woman, If God wants this to happen, then I will follow.

Its been a great week.