Gilbert Thurston

Random Thoughts About Life, Ministry and Whatever Else Happens to be on my Mind

  • About
  • About

Random Saturday Thoughts

March 7, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

  • Let me start by reminding you…DO NOT SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD!
  • We will all do this together after church on Sunday morning.
  • Enjoy the extra hour of sleep that you would have lost otherwise.
  • It was an interesting week…lots going on.
  • Thursday we had CPR training as a staff as well as learning how to use the AED device to shock people’s hearts back into rhythm.
  • Man…hope I never have to do either of those things.
  • Great to have the team from Haiti back home…sounds like they had a great time and got much accomplished.
  • RIP…Circuit City.
  • I can’t wait for the “You Asked For It” series to start on the 15th.
  • We’ve got some surprises in store for you that should be a lot of fun!
  • I’m so glad that the judges did not bring back Tatiana on American Idol…that girl was big time annoying.
  • I’m loving my new phone…it’s helping me to be more productive with time since I can check e-mails and stuff basically anywhere.
  • Mmm…also means my workaholic, Type A personality can work even more hours…maybe this isn’t such a good thing.
  • I’ll finish reading “A Whack on the Side of the Head” today…loved it!
  • Enjoy your nice spring like day…see you tomorrow…again at normal time.
  • Filed Under: Random Thoughts Tagged With: A Whack on the Side of the Head, AED, American Idol, CPR, Haiti, HTC Diamond Touch Pro, time change

    QWERTY

    February 23, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

    QWERTY

    I got a new phone on Friday (HTC DIAMOND TOUCH PRO).  One of my favorite features is that it has a slide out QWERTY keyboard.  No longer will I have to do the multiple tapping thing when trying to type….yeah.

    However the whole QWERTY keyboard configuration reminds me of the “Aslan Phenomenon” and I hope by explaining it you will be challenged to change some things in your life.  First here’s what it is…

    1. We make rules or invent something based on reasons that make a lot of sense.
    2. We follow these rules.
    3. Time passes by and things change.
    4. The original reasons for the rules or invention no longer apply or exist but yet we keep doing it anyway.

    This leads to the QWERTY keyboard configuration.  In the 1870’s the leading manufacturer of typewriters was getting a lot of complaints by customers because the keys were sticking when you typed too fast.  The solution was to slow typists down by designing a keyboard configuration that forced you to use your weaker fingers to type some of the most common letters.  Thus the QWERTY configuration was implemented and the problem was solved.

    The only problem is this…that was in the 1870’s…this is 2009…we no longer have a problem of keys sticking together…technology has changed…yet we’re still using the QWERTY system which slows us down unneccisarily.  In other words the rules/reasons no longer apply but yet we still use the old logic.

    I see this same thing happen in churches all the time.  A rule, ministry or method was started for a legitimate reason at one point but now it’s only being done/followed because, “That’s the way we’ve always done it”.  It’s then that unfortunately tradition many times trumps effectiveness and thus the person or entire organization suffers.

    So how about for you?  In your personal life, business or organization, where is the “Aslan Phenomenon” holding you back?

    Filed Under: Church Growth Tagged With: Aslan Phenomenon, HTC Diamond Touch Pro, QWERTY Keyboard, tradition, typewriters

    Recent Posts

    • Things I’m Thankful For (2018 Edition)
    • Things I’m Thankful For (2017 edition)
    • Annual Things I’m Thankful For (2016 Edition)
    • The Power of Mini Habits
    • Annual Things I’m Thankful For (2015 Edition)

    Archives

    • November 2018
    • November 2017
    • November 2016
    • January 2016
    • November 2015
    • November 2014
    • August 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • July 2013
    • November 2012
    • July 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • About

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Sample on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in