pt 1

Here it comes.

Well some back story first.

Most of you know I have spent the last 11 months working for Panera Bread, as an assistant manager/interim general manager. All and well, for the most part the job wasn't one that I totally hated or completely dreaded going to.

That's not to say that I was completely happy and felt excited and energized by the work that I was doing. Not to mention the 45 hour work week.

Off and on over the past year I have been looking for other places of employment, mainly so that I could be doing something that I love and something that uses my creativity and mind instead of my managing skills and physical labor skills. And more money would always be nice.

I had a few tries at ministry type positions but due to many outside circumstances none of those panned out.

Flash back to about a month ago. I had really started to fully embrace Twitter into my life and was starting to expand my twitter friend base, when I ran across a familiar name from my past. Mind you I ONLY found this person via twitter, not myspace or facebook as many of you are accustomed to finding long lost friends/acquaintances.

A reconnection occurred and we began catch up discussion and it quickly turned to my somewhat unhappiness with my current work situation.

I then began telling him about my ym-co plan (see ymco-op.blogspot.com) and how I wanted to implement this into an actionable program. He instantly loved the idea and quickly related it back to his field.

My new long lost friend Mike Prasad happened to be part of the upcoming tech scene in LA. He commented to me that I was one of the most web/tech savvy people he knew who wasn't involved in tech. He started to go through his mental roledex about who might be able to hire me into some sort of job pertaining to the tech industry.

The upside is that I'm extremely tech savvy, yet have no marketable experience. I know enough about a lot of things but don't know any one area really well.

Long story short, Mike decided to hire me himself and start me off as consultant to a fashion designer who is launching a store in the LA area.

For now I will be implementing a marketing/social networking/new media strategy for helping this designer get her name out and gain footing and recognition in the digital world. From there my job will morph and grow into other areas in other projects Mike is working on. I'll be probably doing everything from content development, blogging, reviews, marketing, social networking as well as traditional networking.

There you have it. I'm a professional techie.

It's a whole new world for me. And along with it is coming a whole new lifestyle. So many events so many new faces. So far I'm loving it. And I'll love it more once I'm finally free of Panera which my last shift will be Friday. Then on to full time tech.

This means a few things for this blog. I'll be spending much more of my time online. Which will allow me to be more active not only here but also in many of the online communities that I have had to push to the side due to my Panera scheduling. There will be more time for blogging and reading about theological thoughts (which I'm excited for) as well as I'll be able to post more about my experiences in the tech world of LA. And there's a slight possibility that I may start yet another blog that deals with faith and tech. As I've already had some great opportunities to talk with people about faith in a whole new context. It's awesome to hear people's stories about faith, and lack there of, but it has already open some amazing doors for me just to sit and listen to those outside of the church and what they are thinking.

I'm super excited for all of this to happen.

And probably the best thing that will come of this is: A NEW LAPPY, more specifically a macbook pro (my drooling can finally cease). I'm gonna need a new lappy for all the work that I'm going to be doing and as I've mentioned my current one just isn't cutting it. Keep your eyes peeled for the day I fully switch over to the apple side.

There you have it. More freedom, more creativity, one of my passions and even more money all rolled into one. Not to mention sleeping in... What utter bliss. I'll keep you updated on events that I'm attending and how all of this is changing my life. I hope to remain the same person while experiencing all these new things. Please don't be shy and continue to give me feedback and tell me if I start to act completely different and it doesn't jive with being a follower of Jesus.

Love you all lots.

Thanks for celebrating this with me.

W00T!!!

andrew+seely personal job

I don't have much time now but I've got some big life changes things to announce in the next couple of days when I find a shred of time.

Some exciting stuff, stay tuned.

from+iPhone

In case you didn't know I bought a unicycle!!! How random, yes, but it's something I started to learn over 10 years ago and have wanted to learn ever since. So why not? Enjoy!



vlog 7
brought to you by seesmic.com

andrew+seely vlog videoblog videoblogging

I finally got around to designing a business card. It's nothing much, just basic info no title or anything. I just figured it was time to have something to give to people. And especially in light of meeting so many new people who all seem to be card happy. I'd like to be able to offer something in return.

For your viewing pleasure my new card. (yes it follows the grey motif of the new look of the site, which I'm not sure is subconcious or not, but probably more that I like minimalist things and want a fairly clean look.)



In somewhat related news, I need a pair of going out shoes. Not dress shoes and (sigh) my sandals just don't cut it. So I've kinda decided on these. Let me know what you think.

andrew+seely business+card shoes

Ok everyone, I did it...well kinda.

It's far from a total site redesign, which I still want to do, but so many of you have been asking for a change of colors to make things more readable, so here you go. Hope it makes it better for your viewing pleasure.

Feedback is always welcomed.

And yes, you are welcome.

----------
update 5/20/08 1:47p
I forgot to mention that I did some housekeeping in the links sections and the infamous non hobo-bloggers, quasi-hobo and quite-hobo sections. Keep the discussion up about what's working and what's not, and possible ideas on how to tweak things a bit better. Thanks for all the comments so far.

andrew+seely blog template colors

New Ghetto Blog

andrew+seely ghetto+blog blog humor

This year marks my return to Ultimate Frisbee on an active level.

It's been at least 3 or 4 years since I've played on a semi-competitive level.

With the last year I played my team took the tournament. I think that was in 03' so geezsh, that is a long time.

This summer I'll be back out on the field for a 10 week (+tournament) summer league, with laout.org

I think I'm in good enough shape to be able to play my deep/mid position, I still have a way to go to move towards handler, but then again it's not too much my style. I'd love a couple of hand blocks though. Those are always the best. Especially since there's no footblocking allowed.

If you have a chance come out to a game some week. It's really a treat to watch this level of ultimate play.

I think signups are already done, but I think there is a waitlist if you are interested.

Be the bee.

andrew+seely ultimate ultimate+frisbee frisbee laout.org

It's that time again, where we stop our regualarly scheduled programming to check in with our viewers.

It's always nice to gain a feel for those of you out there reading this blog.

Please take a few moments to log in and let me and the rest of the readers who you are.

Yes some of you have done this before, but introduce yourself to those who are newer readers. And for you who are new or newer or don't comment, please just take a quick moment to click on the comments, or click through if you are reading this via a reader.

Answer these quick questions.

1 Name (first and last is best)
2 Location (or approximate location)
3 How you found this blog (ex. twitter, facebook, etc.)
4 An interesting tidbit about yourself.
5 Any comments directed to function/content/design (be nice) about this blog.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to do this. I'm so thankful for all of you who stop by on a regular basis. I know we have readers from all over the country (not just CA people) and I've even seen a few regular IPs from around the world.

andrew+seely andrewseely.com blog readers

I'm an idiot, one of the main reasons that I upped my membership level to KCRW this year was to be able to attend their somewhat exclusive Angel party.

That party is happening this week on Wed at MOCA in downtown. Many of the DJs will be there spinning sets as well as it being catered by Patina, Absolut, Widmer, Hansens and a few others. I was totally stoked to be going and knew the evening was going to be a blast.

Here's why you always read THE ENTIRE card. I was supposed to have RSVPd by May 2nd. It is now May 12th. Just called the # and it's booked up.

Hand to forehead (repeat).

I'm soo bummed by this.

Oh well I guess I'll have to wait til next year and now I know better.

That is all...

(if you know anyone at KCRW who can help me out I'd love the help)

andrew+seely personal idiot KCRW

vlog 6
brought to you by seesmic.com

andrew+seely vlog videoblog videoblogging

If you know me at all, then you probably know that it's quite easy to tell what kind if a mood I'm in. I wear it fairly plainly in my face and in my body language.

So I'm in a cruddy mood today and have been for a few weeks. Mainly stemming from work.

It gets hard for me when people a work ask me "what's wrong?"

I'm the type of person who likes to clearly articulate what's going on with me and how I'm feeling, the problem is I can't say "I don't like my job".
I want to be in a place where I feel that I don't have to hide things.

I really don't enjoy having to "put on a happy face". It's like I'm lying to everyone around me, I'm not being me.

I'm just ranting now but I hope some of you can relate to having to act a certian way even when you don't want to.
from+iPhone

vlog 5
brought to you by seesmic.com

andrew+seely vlog videoblog videoblogging

I've been wrestling with how I come across on this blog.

Not so much my tone or the specific topics that I've been posting about.

What it boils down to is that I'm at this point a very public person. I'm the #1 google search for Andrew Seely.

I publicly share this blog address and my email. If you want to find me it's not that hard.

I guess this has it's advantages and it's disadvantages. I guess at this point I'm lucky enough to be pretty far under the radar. Most of the readers of this blog, I can say I know personally and trust. I don't feel like I need to hide anything. I never delete posts and I usually don't think, "would it be ok to post this" before sitting down to write things.

The question that I've been struggling with is "am I too vulnerable?"

As I think about jobs and life and being someone who feels that this blog and my writing define a part of who I am, do I need to be more careful how I share my hopes, dreams, fears, insecurities, and the inner thoughts that I wrestle with, when it comes to faith and life?

I am inclined to argue no. I should be able to be as free and honest and open about all of that. My inclination comes from a deep sense of who God has created me to be and the sense of humbleness I strive towards is one that allows people to see every facet of who I am. The good, the bad the ugly, the silly, the darkness that sometimes feels overwhelming.

As I think about becoming a pastor in the future, it is one of my values that I am able to be seen as a person who is more like the people I serve and less as someone who is valued and placed (either selfishly or by others) on some sort of a pedestal, as some pastors are. I have come to witness that the further up one is placed the longer the fall is. Here's the thing, I am going to fall, publicly, in one way or another, it's not that I hope not to. It's that I am fully expecting to, so why allow myself in any capacity to be placed in a position where I am to fall from the graces of the people I serve.

I know that God forgives and extends grace. Though I hope to convey to those I serve that I am well aware of this and experience it as much if not more than them.

It is my hope, by becoming vulnerable and naked in front of others that they will see the places in my life where I have nothing left to do but to accept the grace that is continually offered to me.

I guess the thing I fear is that this makes me seem weak. Or at times unfit to lead. Though as I read and understand scripture, this is what leaders are called to do. Have we been so suckered into an "american christianity" that believes that pastors and leaders are supposed to be superhuman and superdevine? So much that when they even slightly falter, we lose hope in them because they fail to meet up to human standards instead of heavenly ones?

I so deeply desire to break down human expectations for what I am "supposed to be" before they are even placed on me.

I hope that through my openness that those who surround me can do a few things for me, one being that they know my struggles, that that are more aware of the things that they can be praying for me for and challenging me towards. I hope that through my vulnerability it will create connecting points for them to relate their struggles to mine. And mine to theirs. Our struggles are usually not unique to our own situation, and in many ways that is why the body of christ exists, to support and learn from one another. I hope that it draws us closer together, sharing in love and grace.

Am I completely off base here? Should I be more guarded with how I present my life? Especially in light of wanting a job in ministry and being a future leader of the church? Do you enjoy my candor and willingness to share?

I guess it comes down to this is who I am. Accept me. All of me. Just as I know God accepts me and has specifically created me to be.

It is my hope and prayer that others will extend grace to me, flaws and all, as I find comfort in know that God's grace cannot be escaped.

andrew+seely thoughts ministry faith church emergent emerging+church

New post.

go to ymco-op.blogspot.com

Youth Ministry Co-Op Ym+Co-Op

New Ghetto Blog

andrew+seely ghetto+blog blog humor

pt 1

Here are the long awaited pictures from the Dodgeball tournament that I went to a few weeks ago.

The night was fun, other than having to sit through an incredibly boring LA Avengers indoor football game.

Our mighty team of warriors were ready for a night of fun and competition in the underground league of dodgeball.

We went in quite sure of our abilities and prowess.

There were 7 other teams there to compete and we quickly sized up the competition. We determined that we had a decent shot at going at it.

After some initial confusion we finally got recognized by the tournament directors and we were off to our first game.

We got our butts kicked. We clearly underestimated the skill level of the other teams.

Luckily it turns out our first game was a preliminary game.

Our 2nd game was a quarter final game. We narrowly won, winning 2 of 3 games.

That advanced us to a semi-final match against one of the better teams, who ended up being on of the jerkier teams, as they often cheated and the refs did little to combat their unsportmanslike conduct.

We lost in 2 games and they went on to win the whole tournament. We asked for a playoff game to determine the 3/4th places, but none occurred.

We walked away with a self proclaimed tie for 3rd. Not to bad for our first year in the competition. Next year we shall return, trained and prepared for what lies ahead. All in all it was a really fun evening. Thanks to all the guys who came out.

Look below for pics of the evening.








dodgeball tournament