My NY Revolution:Part 1-Digital Cleanse

I will admit that I am on the computer a lot.... Its kind of part of what I do. But Ashley and I have been wondering how much time we waste posting and checking twitter and facebook. So, last week, when I saw that John Mayer had posted about taking one week off from Twitter and FB, I was intrigued. After reading his tumblr post (see it here http://jhnmyr.tumblr.com/post/308807536/the-one-week-digital-cleanse) last night... I'm in. So at 12 noon today, I'm shutting down Tweetdeck, closing out Facebook.... and getting back to a time where I didn't work about that so much. My plan for the next 7 days is to use that time to finish projects that I have started and need to finish, to plan out the first few months of my personal and professional life, to read, to exercise, but mostly, to spend time with God. I'm ready to decrease the noise....

Here are the guidelines that John put forth on his blog....

Guidelines:

*email only from laptop or desktop computers

*cell phones can only be used to make calls, and no text messages or e-mails are allowed - if you receive a text, you must reply in voice over the phone. E-mails must be returned from a laptop or desktop computer.

*no use of Twitter or any other social networking site - this includes reading as well as posting.

*no visiting of any entertainment or gossip sites. (No need to detail which ones - you know what they are.)

Not really worried about the last one... not an entertainment news guy, and I will follow these, with a couple of caveats. I will blog during those 7 days, and I will be updating RockTheCross.net. And I have an automatic tweet setup for when I make a new post on my blog and rtc.net.... so dont think that I am cheating. 

All this being said, if I don't text you back, or email you right away, or respond to your tweet or fb post... don't get offended.... I'll just see you in a week.... and IF you need to get in touch with me, email me... or call me. My number is on my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/wesbrawner)

Happy New Year 2010.....

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New Years Revolution

When I look back at 2009, I see many times that were good, and many that were not so good. I see most of the first year of my third daughters life, who we are truly blessed to have. I see my two older daughters continuing to grow, make us laugh, make us mad, and mostly, make us thankful. I see my continuing struggle to find my place in church, at work, and in life. But mostly, I see another year where I let most of my potential slip by. I set "resolutions" for myself in 2008, just like everyone else, but I never truly made the effort needed to enforce the change. In fact, I think that the term "New Years Resolution" has lost some of its effect, at least on me. 

So I am proposing a change.... 

A BIG change actually...

What if instead of a resolution.... you have a REVOLUTION....

What possibilites could you uncover? 

What if you strove to finish everything that you started, instead of leaving so many things undone?

What if, instead of focusing on numbers, you focused on harvesting true friendships? 

What if instead of saying that you are going to read your bible, you actually read it.... and READ THE WHOLE THING!

What if instead of turning your nose up at that homeless man on the exit ramp, or the person that you KNOW is homosexual, or pregnant outside of marriage, or DIFFERENT than you are, or, dare I say it, people in your own church....

What about going out of your way to use your gifts and talents to help others that might be in some sort of need? 

But mostly, actually having a true LOVE relationship with your Heavenly Father!

I am pointing a finger at myself as much as I am anyone else, but how might the world change if we step outside of what we know, and into something that feels foreign, and uncomfortable? We all know that we are not long for this world. We weren't meant to live here, but how will you live your life while you are here? Will you sit and do nothing for the rest of your life, or will you choose to do something REVOLUTIONARY? 

We've already seen organizations like People Of The Second Chance, Help-Portrait, To Write Love On Her Arms, and many more, make a huge difference in peoples lives... now, will you choose to be a part of the REVOLUTION?

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Help a Brotha' out

I will preface this post by saying that I am the least "gangsta" person you will ever meet, just ask my wife. But in all honesty, I do need your help, if you will hear me out.
If you read back several posts, you will remember that my computer and the floor got together on an awesome collaboration called "Hey Dummy, you forgot to zip your backpack". I was a huge "bomb" that is going to end up costing me, the "producer" a boat load of money to fix. In fact, it would make more sense financially to "can" the messed up computer, and purchase another refurb, or "remixed" computer. Here is where you come in. I need some "co-producers" to help throw some "auto-tune" on the tracks and to help "pump up the jams" so that we can make sure that the only "number one hit" you will hear is the sweet sounds of fingers gliding across the "ivories/letters".
Translation: If you can afford to help my out in replacing my computer, I would appreciate it. I would't be doing this, except for the fact that its the machine that I do 90% of my work on, and I really don't have anyway to replace it otherwise. Plus, you can help out an awesome organization along the way.

Whatever monies are donated to my fund to replace my computer, I will in turn donate 30% of that to Love146(http://www.love146.org) to help end child sex slavery and exploitation.

If you can help, click the link in the Chip-In box below to donate. If not, no worries. Thanks for hearing me out.

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Help Portrait

If you follow Ashley or me closely on Facebook or Twitter, you know that this coming Saturday, Dec 12th, is Help Portrait. (You can find more info @ http://www.help-portrait.com) We have locations set-up in Locust Grove at Studio 42 and in Austell at Ewing Road Baptist Church. The events are taking place between 9am and 5pm on Saturday. For appointments, you can have people call  (678) 453-8217. I won't go into a great deal of detail except to say that we need your help. Here is what we need:

We need people. Those in need, the sick, the lonely, the hurting, those affected by the recent floods in Atlanta, anyone that you can think of that might be in need this holiday season. Have them call the number above to set an appointment for either the Locust Grove location or Ewing Road(Austell) location. They will not only receive a free session with one of many talented photographers, they will also receive a free 8x10 print.

Thats it. And if you are interested in helping on the day of the event, please let me know. 

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Christmas Decorations

That is not our house.....

But in preparing to decorate for Christmas today, we remembered that a whole large plastic container of our Christmas decorations was stolen out of our driveway last year. So, if any of you have any extra decorations that you aren't using, we would love to borrow them for the holidays! You can send me an email @ wes@rockthecross.net if you do!

Merry Christmas everyone!

W

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Holiday Traditions

So, after a little bit of excitement tonight, the girls and I are settled in watching ELF, preparing to trim the tree and start decorating the house tomorrow afternoon. Over the past few years we have tried to make a conscious effort to start our own holiday traditions, including:

Waffle House and It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve
Walking Nativity at a local church
and our favorite new tradition, The Brawner Family Congloma-feast (everyone picks a food item, no matter what it is, and we eat)

So, what are some of your family traditions?

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Holiday Traditions

Click here to download:

ornaments1.pxm (381 KB)

So, after a little bit of excitement tonight, the girls and I are settled in watching ELF, preparing to trim the tree and start decorating the house tomorrow afternoon. Over the past few years we have tried to make a conscious effort to start our own holiday traditions, including:

Waffle House and It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve
Walking Nativity at a local church
and our favorite new tradition, The Brawner Family Congloma-feast (everyone picks a food item, no matter what it is, and we eat)

So, what are some of your family traditions?

Posted via email from In Search Of....