Navigate Communication

2012-01-23T22:35:00.001-08:00

Burning questions... FINALLY a new Navigate Blog
http://ping.fm/TLzrJ

2011-11-29T11:23:00.001-08:00

Cue the Music! A new navigate blog . . . subscribe to this? Link on first page.

http://ping.fm/IWwk2

2011-11-26T23:01:00.001-08:00

The fabric of the ordinary - Why advent? New Navigate Blog.

http://ping.fm/VV1kG

2011-11-22T07:52:00.001-08:00

SODIUM SHOCK - a new navigate blog post
http://ping.fm/ee1Pn

2011-11-17T16:25:00.001-08:00

Focus Fail - new Navigate blog!

http://ping.fm/bqvIY

2011-11-14T23:13:00.001-08:00

Can it!!! I'm well preserved. (ps If you hadn't read this blog yet, today might be a good day to start.)
http://ping.fm/nGBvz

2011-11-14T15:18:00.001-08:00

The slacker is BACKer! or something like that.
New post - stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/k0iwh

2011-10-04T15:39:00.001-07:00

Eyes that feel - NEW Navigate blog

http://ping.fm/l4w0L

2011-09-24T22:49:00.001-07:00

I like the feathered wall! - A new Navigate Blog post.

http://ping.fm/nRWkX

2011-09-22T15:59:00.001-07:00

HEY! Scum! Sit by me! - a new Navigate blog

http://ping.fm/n2skC

2011-09-14T14:10:00.001-07:00

A trio of two!

http://ping.fm/1hu7k

2011-09-08T12:36:00.001-07:00

Wetting my pants in Willis

http://ping.fm/jidtp

2011-09-07T14:41:00.001-07:00

Talkin' turkey (defender) - Navigate blog

http://ping.fm/QCuCm

2011-09-05T09:45:00.001-07:00

I'm so confused dang/darn/damn it!!! - A new Navigate blog

http://ping.fm/IkskR

2011-09-04T08:48:00.001-07:00

Social Skills are for Suckers!

http://ping.fm/XOng3

2011-09-03T17:55:00.001-07:00

Moving furniture by heart: A new Navigate post!

http://ping.fm/lirIx

2011-08-30T09:13:00.001-07:00

I'm NOT God?

http://ping.fm/axt1f

2011-08-16T14:42:00.001-07:00

FOF OFF! http://ping.fm/LiQA8

2011-08-13T21:50:00.001-07:00

Paper Anchors . . . new blog post!

http://ping.fm/wRNSN

2011-07-20T14:48:00.001-07:00

Beauty queen answers by an ordinary girl

http://ping.fm/ukEVe

2011-07-19T10:05:00.001-07:00

Father knows best? I don't think so . . . or do they?
http://ping.fm/GrA8a

2011-07-07T12:10:00.001-07:00

Lady Justice and Father God

http://ping.fm/04GsH

2011-07-03T12:04:00.001-07:00

"Hope is the mint on my pillow"...how do you hope?

http://ping.fm/Tx7eJ

2011-06-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

A glimpse of my sad Junior High self!

http://ping.fm/CPaOJ

2011-06-23T19:08:00.001-07:00

What's in your garage sale?

http://ping.fm/61Aoa

2011-06-13T13:46:00.001-07:00

Insight into the aryans and Jill. Curious?

http://ping.fm/zaG6n

2011-06-09T10:07:00.001-07:00

I'll drink to that can of worms!!!

http://ping.fm/vc64P

2011-06-07T12:42:00.001-07:00

Damn (proverbs) wife! (and "Crystal") . . . 2 blog day!

http://ping.fm/Knva0

2011-06-02T15:34:00.001-07:00

Gandalf I am

http://ping.fm/EXIsD

2011-06-01T09:53:00.001-07:00

My favorite guillotine - a blog for the stressed

http://ping.fm/BxwLO

2011-05-31T19:54:00.001-07:00

I wanna be google maps

http://ping.fm/qzPzI

2011-05-27T15:12:00.001-07:00

Did you lose it? I think I found it!

http://ping.fm/jGfrL

2011-05-24T15:11:00.001-07:00

Eating mustard can be a great thing?

http://ping.fm/43WbA

2011-05-22T11:41:00.001-07:00

Spoken like my Missouri Aunties "One of yous gotta go!" on Navigate's LifeJournal. BTW . . . sign up to receive this blog via email! It's free!

http://ping.fm/iWP7r

2011-05-20T13:13:00.001-07:00

I dub thee . . . a blog that is NOT about naming body parts!

http://ping.fm/BBqXW

2011-05-18T08:13:00.001-07:00

Don't judge me based on this!!! My behavior has improved. I think.

http://ping.fm/RbiGc

2011-05-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

A note from Calgon . . .
http://ping.fm/sl8KC

2011-05-10T10:24:00.001-07:00

The 3rd length of grace
http://ping.fm/jNodV

2011-05-09T21:46:00.001-07:00

Don't should on me!!!

http://ping.fm/ltxot

2011-05-04T13:11:00.001-07:00

It's Juno . . . today's thought

http://ping.fm/2O8yo

2011-04-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

Are you DAFT?

http://ping.fm/1yIXl

2011-04-22T12:40:00.001-07:00

"Anointing Value" a micro thought from Jill Riley

http://ping.fm/PlqoN

2011-04-22T12:38:00.001-07:00

Annointing value. A (mini) thought from Jill Riley

http://ping.fm/rHkZq

2011-04-20T14:13:00.001-07:00

Read about my "crayola box of friends"

http://ping.fm/tPCGU

2011-04-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

Join myself and Navigate as we journal our way through the Bible.

http://ping.fm/y7fAV

2011-04-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

Jello jigglers and Strengths in weakness

http://ping.fm/AGmf1

2011-04-08T10:25:00.001-07:00

Do you overshare? http://ping.fm/CIvfR

2011-04-05T11:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday's journal thoughts
http://ping.fm/MD8ew

2011-04-02T08:48:00.001-07:00

Hey! You Stink! http://ping.fm/gxG5e

2011-04-02T08:47:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/Is6GX You STINK!

2011-03-31T15:37:00.001-07:00

The press lies! http://ping.fm/Z13pF

2011-02-06T08:07:00.001-08:00

Navigate News http://conta.cc/g8aV3c via constantcontact

2010-11-26T08:27:00.001-08:00

Advent Week 1! http://ping.fm/XeM2J

2010-10-15T14:26:00.001-07:00

Navigate is addicted to meeting new people. What are you addicted to? (It's ok. You don't have to tell.) Join us Sun. p.m.? http://ping.fm/3zD6f

2010-10-15T14:24:00.001-07:00

Navigate is addicted to meeting new people. What are you addicted to? (It's ok - you don't have to tell!) Join us Sun. p.m. http://ping.fm/Ckqgk

2010-10-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

Are all addictions bad? Does everybody have an addiction? Who gets to decide? Navigating discussion on "things that can control us" . . .tonight 5:30. http://ping.fm/n2PKp

2010-10-06T10:34:00.001-07:00

Navigate this week was AWESOME. Loved every minute of discovering I am surrounded by a bunch of liars!!!

2010-10-03T10:51:00.001-07:00

If your loved ones were in danger would it be proper to lie to protect them? Navigate this question with us @ 5:30 tonight. www.navigatechurch.com for details.

2010-09-25T11:59:00.001-07:00

Tolerance. A virtue or a vice? Does tolerance promote truth or obscure it? Navigate this Sun. p.m. at 6:30 p.m.

http://ping.fm/7nObh

2010-09-18T22:11:00.001-07:00

"As long as you're happy" . . . does a life of faith contradict this message? Navigate meets @ 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

http://ping.fm/SBlH4

The mirage of Happiness?

2010-09-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

Are you happy? I am currently happy. Coldplay is blasting, my puppy is nearby and my body isn’t complaining of hunger. However, I have a suspicious nature and I fully expect my stomach will start growling momentarily, the puppy will pee on the floor and iTunes is going to flip Coldplay over to some lame-o kiddie album, making me no longer 'happy'. Happiness doesn't last. It is a guest emotion that come and goes at will but I don’t expect it to commit to a long term relationship. Why? Because I know that happiness is a fleeting state; a short term guest.

Happiness is at best temporary and at its worst, a mirage.

So, why then do many people live exclusively for the euphoria of happiness? They live with “Whatever makes you happy” bumper stickered on their lifestyle and their days are filled with the pursuit of the current fountain of fulfillment and fun. However, so many of them have lives that can be defined by the words of Sheryl Crowe’s song:

If it makes you happy
It can't be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad

Can true happiness ever be achieved? Is it foolish to think that we can formulaically put together the right set of circumstances to achieve this lightening in a bottle? I think it's a little like catching a rainbow and I choose not to chase that particular mirage.

Before you brand me a “pessimist” let me explain. There is enough confusion, disappointment and uncertainty in life that when given the chance I will cling to whatever seems most solid. My faith is solid and it gives me joy. Joy is meaty and lasting. I can sink my teeth into it. In contrast happiness feels like cotton candy; sweet but full of air and ultimately unfulfilling.

So, what is joy?

2010-09-15T08:35:00.001-07:00

"As long as you're happy" . . . does a life of faith contradict this message? Navigate meets @ 5:30 p.m. Sunday

Seas of Grey

2010-09-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered if what you are reading, hearing or seeing is true? In a world of Wikipedia, Google and Snopes.com we are rarely left wanting when it comes to deciphering fact from pure fiction. However, in matters of the heart, relationships, and faith that definitive line of truth is harder to come by. Wikipedia can’t tell you definitively whether or not the guy you are dating is the right or wrong choice for your future. Even Google, the most powerful search engine around, can’t tell you with dead certainty what kind of music is the most effective observance of the Holy One.

It seems that our parents' rigid convictions and structure, while confining and sometimes illogically adhered to, gave them a foundation of belief for which they were willing to put lives, literally AND figuratively on the line. In contrast our post modern, post scientific thinking, filters out absolutes, giving us freedom to accept alternative input and outcomes but also leaving us in a giant grey area of beliefs and opinions, especially in the conversations on faith.

In regards to faith how can one navigate the quagmire of grey that we slog through and find a solid, factual bottom? What is really true about God and how can we find it? Shall I ask my parents or keep digging until I find something rock solid to keep me from perishing in a sea of grey?

2010-09-04T20:55:00.001-07:00

What is "absolute truth" to you? Come Navigate this question on Sunday night at 5:30 p.m.

2010-08-31T15:23:00.001-07:00

Finished up Navigating a great conversation about "when God isn't fair" on Sunday evening. I think we decided that sometimes God is confusing but the leap of faith is worth it in the end.

2010-08-29T15:17:00.001-07:00

Does God make sense? What if He doesn't - would you follow Him anyway? Why/Not? Navigate this in 1 HOUR! www.navigatechurch.com

2010-08-23T09:51:00.001-07:00

Navigate was so fun tonight! LOVE the conversation and challenge. ALSO love neighbors with enough extra bbq food to feed the entire group! HOPE is alive in Navigate.

2010-08-21T17:12:00.001-07:00

Are you hopeless?
http://ping.fm/do7U6

Are you hopeless?

2010-08-21T17:11:00.001-07:00

The dictionary says that hopelessness is “having no grounds for hope”. Being without hope is one thing. Not even having the POTENTIAL (grounds) for hope is pure desperation.

During the days of dark suicidal depression I felt hopeless. In the years of living in the stifling secrecy of family abuse and violence I could see no hope. At the moment our two year old daughter was suddenly diagnosed with cancer we felt hopeless. I have felt hopeless. However the review mirror of hindsight tells me hope was always within grasp, even when my legs of courage turned to Jell-O, threatening to collapse beneath me. If you knew my life story well you may ask why I felt that way. Where would I have found hope in the midst of some truly horrid circumstances? I found it in relationships.

True hopelessness, by my definition, is having nobody to share your desperation with. Some people feel lost because they don’t FEEL like anybody around them loves, cares for them or wants to hear their problems. Real hopelessness is truly not having another soul around to communicate with.

Who listens to your fears, struggles, pain, grief, or frustration? Do you have even 1 person who, even though they are not perfect, will listen? If you don’t, call me. I have people. I will share. Thank God I am not hopeless.

2010-08-20T09:28:00.001-07:00

â€Ž"There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them." - C. B. Luce . . . Do you agree? What gives you hope? Navigate conversation. 5:30 p.m. Sunday night

Navigate :: Life Together
www.navigatechurch.com

2010-08-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

Ever felt hopeless? Tell me what comes next after hopelessness? I am looking forward to this conversation with Navigate this Sunday night!

2010-05-26T09:54:00.001-07:00

thinks every leader needs a coach, a follower, a fan, a mentor, failure, success, love and a lust for learning in their journey! I am so blessed to have all of these in my life.

2010-04-27T02:43:00.001-07:00

America's youth are more spiritual than religious. Agree?http://ping.fm/rRUZU

2010-04-23T08:24:00.001-07:00

Communication on your feet http://ping.fm/jfipm

Communication is action on your feet

2010-04-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

Recently my husband and I were able to celebrate a great honor of a special friend. As our friend Alaine stood in front of the crowd to receive her recognition the speaker made a reference to Alaine's husband not being with her during this special moment because he is serving our country as an Army Chaplain, currently deployed to Iraq. The crowd's response to this was, appropriately, an outburst of applause. Then one of the coolest moments that I have seen in a long time happened. There was a spontaneous standing ovation. One by one, row by row, in waves, the entirety of the packed room rose to their feet honoring the sacrifice of not one, but both of these heros. Tears flowed both by and for Alaine.

As Alaine and I reflected on that moment she made a strong declaration. "I have never felt so loved".

A little action, standing to one's feet, and applauding, communicated love to her. The curious thing about all this is that she is a virtual stranger to almost everybody in that room. They do not know her and she does not know them. But everybody recognized the actions that she and her husband had already taken, of sacrificing so much for both God and country were worthy of this ovation.

A little action. It didn't cost anything but it meant the world. It communicated well.

What action can you offer to somebody today that communicates effectively, without words, your feelings or emotions?

2010-04-18T11:14:00.001-07:00

What is your "why" question? @Navigate in May!

2010-04-14T11:20:00.001-07:00

How do you communicate what you're passionate about?
http://ping.fm/5Z9hw

Communication is penning our passions

2010-04-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Recently I was sitting in a large bookstore on a, sorry to say, VERY hard bench (really? What do we have against squishy chairs), staring at an entire wall of periodicals. Periodicals engage me because, unlike a book, periodicals leave very little turn around time for the author(s) and editor(s) to produce a "print ready" work. How do they manage to put that many thoughts and images together in such a short time?

I have decided that it is because the content of each magazine is more than the topic, it began with somebody's passion! Magazines are very narrow in focus; quilting, photography, vehicles and news. There are even smaller categories inside of those; digital photography, film photography, black and white vs. color, editing images, purchasing the right cameras etc. Not only did a periodical begin with somebody's passion it continued because they suspected others shared that interest with them.

Consider this. If each of us chose to narrow our focus of communication down so tightly that we were an expert at JUST that, instead of attempting to be all-knowing, would our listeners be more likely to tune in, hang on, attend, or subscribe to whatever mode of communication we use?

This blog, about "communication", is my timid attempt communicating a narrow field of passion well, rather than throwing my many random thoughts into the voluminous waves of words already drifting aimlessly around. There is no desire for me to be the entire wall of periodicals. I just want to find MY place!

Communication! I love it, I think about it, I read about it, I observe it, I dissect it, and I write about it. What I am finding is that my worry of not being able to come up with enough content to carry on a blog conversation was not well founded. Why? simply because I am penning my passion. It is easy for me to write what I love.

What is your passion? Write THAT! Say THAT! Blog THAT! Preach THAT! Sing THAT! Act THAT! Paint THAT!

Communication is Quicker

2010-04-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Blaine Houger, Communications @ Navigate

Communication over the years has changed. For centuries the norm was pen, paper and postage. You wrote your thoughts on paper and sent it off to the next town or Timbuktu, hoping they would receive the correspondence in a timely manner, if at all. Ships, wagons, ponies and trains, with all their inevitable delays and frustrations, delivered our congratulations, greetings, condolences and gossip. By the time your recipient did read about the changes in your life, your life most likely would have changed ten times over from the send date.

Then came along the phone! All the sudden the world was smaller. With the lift of a receiver, some copper wire and the knowledge of a numerical address you could talk to anyone. You could now use your voice to describe and tell the tale. People knew about the events in your life quicker than most could have ever dreamed.

It may seem like a long time ago, but up until the end of the nineties these were the common forms of communicating. During those years my parents lived half a world away. I would either have to spend a small fortune on a thirty minute call to update them about how my last week went or mail off a letter that could take as long as a month to get there.

Then a MAJOR communication shift. The internet took off. Now with the click of a button and some ear piercing screeches I had access to anybody with the proper "address". I could now type out a quick note, hit send, and my world traveling parents had immediate access to my thoughts and ramblings. Minimal cost, speed of light (almost) and communication becomes uber-efficient! The world was once again growing smaller and easier to circum-communicate.

Now with faster and constantly accessible telecommunication within mere seconds people can know how I feel, what I had for dinner or how my day at work. I text, chat, email, call, video conference, tweet and status update; all from a multitude of devices.

But I ask myself: With the evolution of communication has our communication IMPROVED? Has the faster communication improved our connections to one another interpersonally? More people know ABOUT our day to day lives but how many really know us well by personality, preference, beliefs, etc.

Question:
Out of your #____ Twitter followers or Facebook friends, how many do you really feel CONNECTED to?

For me, there is only one form of communication that delivers consistently. It will never be disconnected, never buzz a busy signal, never have insufficient postage, never see "No Coverage" and never encounter an error message of "Not able to connect to the internet, please contact your provider". For millennia the simplest and quickest form of communication has always been; "Our Father who art in heaven..." And its always received. You don't have to remember a phone number, find an email address or hope He accepts our Friend Request. Jesus is there 24/7 to put the call through.

2010-04-06T09:34:00.001-07:00

aspiring author? Reading "bird by bird" by @annelamott. Inspiring.

2010-04-03T11:15:00.001-07:00

Communicating "Easter" . .. how do you do it? http://ping.fm/dQKt6

Communication is "EASTER"

2010-04-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

Easter is tomorrow. Some call it a celebration. Others call it a holiday. Which is it?

A celebration? In the Christian tradition, and in my heart, it is the day we celebrate the event that gives our faith fact. The overcoming of Jesus over death, the finality of mortal life, is the stuff that drives us towards this celebration with great anticipation each year. We sing, we pray and we revel in this day. Generally, we spruce up our clothing, and go to church. The worship service itself is notched up from "regular weeks" by adding extra music, special messages and prayers, and spring decorations, usually involving lilies. The celebration is passionate.

Others see it as a holiday. It is observed by trekking to church; not so much as a religious observance but more as a holiday tradition. There are eggs, colored and chocolate, festive easter grass, and the makings of a great meal sitting ready to be transfigured into the smells and flavors of a traditional holiday feast. Our children, like many others, hear "Easter" and even as the word drips off the lips it is scented like chocolate and promises a sugar high! The holiday is yummy, bright and colorful.

For me it is both! I celebrate and I enjoy the holiday. I can already taste the great meal. My dining table has easter grass and chocolate eggs. AND I am almost giddy thinking about tomorrow's religious observances.

This word, this tiny word "Easter" has the power to evoke strong, visceral emotion. Why? Because we ATTACH personal meaning to these collections of letters. Our history, anticipation, desires, grievances and personal understandings all act like velcro, attaching themselves to give a single word, giving it power. We began building a personal dictionary at birth, defining words as we grew, inscribing new definitions every day. The volume will not be completed until we have breathed our last.

If you want to communicate effectively handle words with care. You haven't read my dictionary lately. You might not know MY definition to a word.

Think: What other words have the power to create a strong emotional reaction?

Father
Vietnam
Debt
High school
Lover
In-law
Cancer

2010-04-02T07:01:00.001-07:00

Do christians believe in Easter? http://ping.fm/ff6Nt

Communication is consonants AND vowels

2010-03-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Text speak is the secret code of the young that draws a line of articulation in the sand between the abbreviators and those who write in full sentences (frequently including vowels).

Have you noticed? The advent of text messaging is a massive assault in the battle for effective communication. Where once there were words strung into thoughts there are now vowel-less abbreviations as impostors of full sentences. As a college professor I have noticed that students spelling is suffering, as is their grammar. However, I am of the opinion that the issue is deeper than the scholarship of the young. The largest threat of texting is the potential lack of ability to express thoughts and feelings face to face, eye to eye.

Personally, I love texting. I enjoy this stealthy mode of communication and the quick, quiet answers it provides. Also, guiltily, I enjoy being able to manage several conversations at once. However, I try to use texts to express facts and brief thoughts ONLY. In my humble opinion (IMHO) no text can communicate feelings and emotions as effectively as a full sentence. In a day when breaking up, hooking up, expressing anger, skipping work, missing tests, crashing cars and all sorts of other major and minor decisions or events are communicated through texting I feel there is a need for some text etiquette.

Consider this for a potential good rule of thumb. Ask "If I had to, could I build a trusting relationship exclusively out of this form of communication?". If the answer is yes, then I suspect it could be useful tool in your communication arsenal. If the answer is "no" then STOP and determine to not use it as a substitute for in-person communication. Texting . . . PWC (Proceed with caution).

Last thought . . . LOL will never replace the musical, infectious sound of laughter.

Netlingo Text dictionary

Communication is both/and

2010-03-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I dropped our boy off at baseball practice. With new cleats on foot, gum in mouth, and God-only-knows-what stuffed into his duffle, he was ready to engage in this "rite of passage" for little boys. Alexander is twelve years old. The thing I like about this "almost cool" little guy is that he still kisses his mommy and says "I love you" before he hops out of the mini van. Mind you, it IS behind tinted windows. I love it. On this particular day he added another, more visible, salutation to me after he got out of the car. He gave me the publicly acceptable "man greeting", a nod, and then flashed the two (YES, two!) finger peace signal before sauntering off.

It occurred to me in that moment that this was a great communication because it contained the essential elements; physical and verbal affirmation of a feeling or thought. Verbally he said he loved me. He backed those words and emotions up with a kiss and then further reinforced with the nod and peace sign. Just one of those things would not have communicated as powerfully as the combination did.

My challenge to you today is to take ONE thought and try to reinforce your feelings or emotions about that with an action, heightening your chance of clearly communicating what you want!

Oh, and I told my son I loved him too. I reinforced that by making him dinner!

Communication is R2D2!

2010-03-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

If you heard my cell phone ring and were next to me in line at Taco Bell or in the nearby public bathroom stall, you would think I am Star Wars obsessed. My ring tone is R2D2's distinctive little "voice" of snaps, pops, zips, whirls, whistles and pops. In truth I am only Star Wars "mildly interested". I chose this ring tone because I can hear its clearly distinctive tones above almost any din, including over my four CHILDREN! Now THAT's saying something!

How can your written, spoken, visual, technological, physical and/or emotional communication become THAT clear and distinctive? SO clear that it rises above the din of the busyness of our lives and shouts our message to a captive audience?

Making your message clear is difficult but, luckily, the number of tools for communicating effectively are endless. However, one thing each tool has in common is that before it can be used to its best potential the one wielding that tool must know WHAT they want to communicate.

WHAT do you want to let your audience know? Decide that first and you're one well placed step towards being R2D2 distinct.