Tired of Spam

Posted on November 28th, 2004 in Cool Stuff by Fred

Note: this is the kickoff message in a new category called “Cool Stuff”. Yes, I’m a musician, worship leader, producer, etc., but I also spend a LOT of time online. As a result, people are always asking me about “online stuff” and other cool toys (albeit internet software, music, audio gear, etc). I decided it would be fun to have a category dedicated to stuff I’ve used and found to be of value for me … so hopefully, these things can help somebody else, too. So … enjoy!

80.32% SPAM

That’s the percentage of spam versus “legitimate” email that I receive at my personal mailbox for Highest Praise Productions.

I guess for any number of reasons … I’ve had the same email address there for hmm … let’s see … at least 6-7 years. I’ve posted to multiple worship, audio, and internet-related forums all over the internet with that address and have put it on our websites for years. As a result I’m on every possible spam list you can imagine.

Enter “Spam Arrest” …

When I send out the monthly “Highest Praise” newsletter I get bombarded with auto-reply emails from anti-spam filters and the like. Especially Earthlink … if you use Earthlink, PLEASE add our email address to your approved sender’s list.

One of the auto-replies I’ve noticed recently is from a group called Spam Arrest . Here’s how it works.

1) Spam Arrest copies all my email from the mail server to their servers every 2 minutes.
2) Any message that is NOT from someone on my “approved senders” list gets stuck in an “Unverified” folder.
3) All messages that ARE from my “approved senders” list gets put in my Inbox, which I check from the web or my email program.

If you (or someone else) sends an email to me and you are NOT on my approved sender’s list, you get a quick auto-reply asking you to click a link and enter a challenge code. From that point forward, you’re on my approved list and never have to do it again. The whole process takes about one minute - and one time only. There is a freebie version and a paid version - the paid version (which I use) lets you continue to check your email w/ an email program and also has a great, easy-to-use import/export tool to import your existing address book - so most everybody that would email you is already on your approved sender’s list and would never have to authenticate themselves.

You see - all this spam is coming from invalid email addresses or mailing list programs that don’t have a “real person” verifying themselves. As a result, I’ve had the pleasure of watching thousands of “spam messages” get trashed in my Unverified folder. 80+ percent of them, actually!

I’ve been using it for a week or so, and I’m totally amazed. I can see that it will take a few weeks of my needing to login to my “unverified” folder and manually authorize a few mailing lists that I want to receive (where most likely nobody will authenticate themselves), but that’s well worth it. Last few times I’ve logged in over the last few days - there’s been nothing in there but spam.

I’ve used spam filters for a while now, and they just don’t help as much as I need … so if you’re looking for something to “get rid of spam”, check out Spam Arrest - I think you’ll be amazed!

For the Kingdom,
Fred

Give Thanks

Posted on November 26th, 2004 in General by Fred

Hey ya’ll,

I write this from Gainesville, GA - - - home of my wife’s parents. It’s not Saint Simons Island weather here, today - I think the temperature is just about 32 (freezing). I didn’t even bring a jacket, but the boys are determined to stay outside on the trampoline all day long.

Thanksgiving Holiday was yesterday. I’ve taken the time to reflect on all the many things that I should be thankful for. The list is endless, that’s for sure.

Just a few things to mention, though:

I’m GRATEFUL to be born again - that the Holy Spirit of God moved upon me to help me see my need for Christ.
I’m GRATEFUL for a Godly wife and beautiful, healthy children.
I’m GRATEFUL for my parents and family as well as my wife’s parents and family - all who love the Lord.
I’m GRATEFUL that I was brought up in a Christian home with both of my parents being there for me when I needed them.
I’m GRATEFUL to have a nice home on a wonderful Island in southern Georgia.
I’m GRATEFUL to be healthy, and that I can hear out of my left ear even though a previous surgery could have taken that away.
I’m GRATEFUL for my church, my Pastor, and leadership who supports my role as a Worship Leader and that of a business owner.
I’m GRATEFUL for the friends and mentors God’s placed in my life to sharpen and encourage me for the Kingdom.
I’m GRATEFUL for our soldiers who are fighting and risking their lives for our security, freedoms, and safety.
I’m GRATEFUL to live in America.

Like I said - I could go on and on. So could you. If you didn’t take time to reflect, I encourage you to do it. God is good - all the time. May He bless you greatly as we move into the end of the year and this holiday season.

For the Kingdom,
Fred

Everyday

Posted on November 19th, 2004 in Faith, General by Fred

Hey Ya’ll -

Well it’s finally FRIDAY. I took my time getting ready this morning, and since I’d slept in a bit, I had my “quiet time” in one of my favorite places - our big ole’ tub!

I have been looking forward to a “let’s get some things wrapped up today prior to the holiday week” kind of day, and I hope it will still be like that.

Got up to the studio and there’s this message flashing … some person I’ve never heard of calling about some internet issues. It seems that this person is getting flooded with virus-infected spam from one of the many users of our hosting company. The caller goes on to say “it looks like somebody is using your server to send spam and viruses.

Haven’t even made my coffee yet, so needless to say - I let out a big, deep sigh and shake my head.

Then I say, out loud - “God, it seems every new day starts with some new challenge” .. and no sooner than I say that, I hear in my spirit (and say back) …. “and that’s why every new day must start with You”.

Simple, but true - as we used to say in the mid 80’s … “Hello!”

For the Kingdom,
Fred

My Dilemma

Posted on November 18th, 2004 in Faith by Fred

Hey Ya’ll -

So Joy and I were talking last night … we were sharing about the things God is speaking to us and areas of our lives he wants to make better. I began to dialog about some issues that I’ve been seeing in my own life and as I did, I realized something … I HAVE A DILEMMA!

Seriously, I do - but then again, I suppose we all have it. Now is the time to just “go deeper” with God and be more like Him. The dilemma is something like this:

How do I break free from “RELIGION” but remain “HOLY”?
How do I live as a “PECULIAR PEOPLE/PERSON” yet remain RELEVANT and approachable in my CULTURE?

You see, I’ve been enjoying a remarkable departure from some die-hard “religious” mindsets and actions. As a result, I’ve found so much freedom and my relationship with Christ as been more authentic. At the same time, I’ve found it to be very easy to go too far the other direction …

Example (hypothetical) - “self-imposed religion” may say “it’s a sin to go to a movie” … I get freedom from that, and know that I can enjoy a movie and be entertained w/o it being sinful … the dilemma - I begin to allow myself to go to movies that ARE SINFUL for me to watch, etc. It is not holy.

Holiness - there is the second dilemma. How can I be “holy” …. a “peculiar person” … a “chosen one” … but still be relevant in my culture and society. Still be “approachable”.

I’m sure we can seem “peculiar” easily - especially when we put on our religious garb and begin acting as if we are “set apart” from others and we shut them out. But that’s not relevant. If I am with a bunch of college buddies at a reunion who aren’t “born-again” … and they are all drinking and getting drunk … and listening to the most recent “cool band” (oh no - and maybe it’s not a “Passion CD”, HA!) … am I being “peculiar” by saying I have to leave … or would my peculiarity (is that a word?) be better in remaining there, relating to them, yet abstaining from doing anything that is sinful.

Oh well - I can tell by typing this that it ain’t hitting the mark - I’m not clearly saying what I want to say. It made so much more sense last night. All I know is this … I want to be holy. But I don’t want to be “religious”. I want to be peculiar and set apart - sanctified for God .. but I also want to be relevant.

Am I asking too much? I don’t think so …. I think Jesus is the model. Help me, Lord - become more like You.

What do you think? Look forward to your comments.

For the Kingdom,
Fred

Birthday Story and Moms

Posted on November 7th, 2004 in Family, General by Fred

Happy Birthday to me!

Yeah - my birthday came and went yesterday. It was quite eventful - not the kind of events I would have wished upon anyone, though. I guess w/ all the weather changes here I started to get “the crud” - was hurting in my sinuses and throat, etc. Given that my 3-hours of sleep on election night (duh) didn’t help my immune system, I started a downward spiral towards feeling “cruddy” toward the end of the week. As a result, I chose to stay home and try to rest as opposed to going to my parents for a weekend of hunting.

Was probably a good idea - my folks say the hunting wasn’t very good and on top of that … I had some massive problems occur with one of the servers used by my hosting company, HPP Web Solutions. Typically, my tech support department handles these issues; however when the issue gets too bad I have to hire my web admin guy to fix the box and get the customers happy. It took longer than usual and we just couldn’t get one customer straightened out for anything. I’m still wondering if the issue is resolved - but for the most part - all is well. Needless to say, I spent the better part of my birthday on the phone, on the server, and pulling my hair out.

To add to all that - I had the privilege (and daunting task) of being “Mr. Mom” this weekend. Joy went down to Jacksonville on Thursday afternoon to see Joyce Meyer in ministry. So I had the kids (yep - all 3 of’m) Thursday - Saturday evening. Man - how do Mom’s do it? It’s definitely a job. We ran out of milk, juice, clean clothes, and other necessities - and do you think I braved a trip to the grocery store? No way!

Saturday morning I took the boys to McDonalds so I could have a sausage biscuit and so they could get outside and play on the playground. Will climbed all the way to the top of the playground castle and got himself stuck. He screamed bloody murder up there - and I had no clue what to do about it. I called Joy on her cell, and she just laughed at me - apparently, this happens every time. Of course, it’s a whole lot easier for HER to climb up that thing than me. I tried every trick in the book - he would hang off the top platform and his little feet would be an inch from touching, but he couldn’t see it. I’d say “let go Will - you won’t fall - you’re almost there” which was his cue to SCREAM, CRY, and CLIMB BACK UP . Jon Michael’s efforts to “pull him down” didn’t work either, and only caused him to scream more. As folks were backed up in the drive-through with their windows rolled down, I could see them all laughing at me - surely thinking “ah - Mr. Mom is out today”. When all else failed I somehow managed to get my big ole self to flex and bend in ways I’ve never known to climb through those little mazes and up however many stories high that castle goes. It wasn’t pretty - but, I successfully retrieved my darling son without needing the fire department. If only some other kids would’ve been there.

So - bottom line … HOW DO MOM’S DO IT? Thank goodness she’s back - we barely survived.

Oh well - back to life. Another year of life - another year of walking with the King. It’ll be exciting and full of destiny. Thanks for coming along for the ride with me.

For the Kingdom,
Fred

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