FredMcKinnon.Com

Hi.  My name is Fred McKinnon, and I’m an Apple-holic.

Since I was first introduced to Apple computers at Georgia Southern University in 1989 … it’s all I’ve used.  We’ve got multiple Macs and iPods … but the one Apple product that we’ve stayed away from was the iPhone.

I’ve wanted an iPhone for a couple of years.  The reality is, AT&T’s service in our area is less-than-reliable.  In our home, it’s essentially nonexistent.  That won’t work for us.  So I didn’t just want an iPhone.  I wanted a Verizon iPhone.

So earlier this month, I finally accepted the fact that maybe another phone could be as powerful as the coveted iPhone … at least, until an iPhone was available on Verizon’s network.  (the latest rumor is that this will happen in January 2011 … emphasis on the word, “rumor”).  So Joy and I both got ourselves the brand new “DroidX” from Motorola, sporting Google’s “Android” operating system.

In my business, Google is a constant companion.

Google Checkout
Google Base/Shopping
Google Analytics
Google Adsense
Google Adwords

Earlier this year, at the prompting of Travis Paulding, our Tech Director at SSCC, I migrated all of my email accounts to Google Apps.  After utilizing the powerful Gmail engine in Google Apps to power my multiple domains and email accounts, I asked myself why I didn’t do that a long time ago when Tony Morgan was talking about it.

So the courtship begins.  I have a Google-based phone, a business that networks with Google, and an “all-Apple” computer system, utilizing all the Apple apps like Mail, Address Book, and iCal.

And somehow, all of these have to not just get along … but be in love.

Well, a few weeks into my Google/Droid/Apple courtship, I am proud to say that “love is in the air”.
Stay tuned for Part 2 for details on the courtship, including my Apps, and how I brought my Google Phone into a beautiful union with my Mac Address Book, iCal, To-Dos, Email, Music, Photos, and Videos.

Part 2 … coming soon.

* SPOILER ALERT *

When I started seeing the previews to “Inception” I didn’t think it was the type of movie I’d pay to see.  Thanks to the buzz on social networking services like Twitter and Facebook, I changed my mind.  It seems like every person that went was sounding off on what an awesome movie it was.  I’d call it a “real mind bender”.

I was told countless times to pay attention to everything – to make sure I took care of everything (ie. bathroom, snacks, etc) before the movie so that I wouldn’t miss anything … and I listened to your advice.

So when the movie was over, I thought to myself “yeah, I think I’ve got it!”.

Then I came home … and the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I didn’t miss something huge.

So here’s what I think … and here’s a few of my questions.  If you saw the movie, please comment and share your thoughts.  It will only take a moment.

My Thoughts:

On the ending … I *think* that their mission was successful.  I *think* that they were awake, and in reality.  I *think* the top would’ve toppled.

If I’m wrong, I clearly missed some things.

Questions:

1.  Why did it START with that scene on the beach where he was captured, and taken into the old man?  The same scene that happened towards the end.
2.  Was the old man at the end the Asian guy (who got shot) who’d hired Leonardo anyway?  (I say Asian, he looked kind of Asian to me!)
3.  Why was Leonardo still young at the end (in the dream), but the Asian guy (if that’s who he was) so old (in the dream)?  They were both in the same “dream” at the same “time” right … unless his dying after getting shot made his time move faster?
4.  Why did the kids’ ages never change?  I mean, I know that very little time happened (ie. 10 hours) in real-life-time during the main dream … but how long had his wife been dead.  (assuming she really was dead).

So, overall, I believed the story line … I believed that everything must have worked, that Leonardo was able to get the Asian guy back, that they woke up on the plane, and that his phone call got Leonardo home to his kids, and that Leonardo and his wife had previously been in the long dream before the movie began, etc.  That her jumping off the building was “real life” … that Leonardo was right.

DID I MISS SOMTHING BIG AND OBVIOUS?

Nerd that I am, I thought It’d check to see if there was an app for wordpress on the android marketplace.  See i got this new DroidX from Verizon and its an android phone.

Well, I am typing this post from within the app.  Full blog on the DroidX and how we’re getting along is forthcoming.

Wednesday Evening:  3 hours of rehearsal
Thursday Evening:  3 hours of rehearsal
Friday Evening:  1 hour of rehearsal, 2 hours of passionate worship for hundreds of people at “Night of Worship”, SSCC.

Sunday Morning?

Exhausted.  Hoarse.  But the benefit of using the same band and songs from “Night of Worship”?  A simple sound check and rehearsal.

So, off we went, into another gathering of God’s people in this place we call “St. Simons Community Church”.

Walk-in:  “You Save” (1st Service) and “Mighty to Save” (2nd service)
*this is the song that I co-wrote with Mandy Thomson.  Wow, I’m overwhelmed by the incredible response to this song.  It was kinda weird to do this as a “walk-in” song, so I made a decision to move it to “in” the service during the 2nd service.

Opener:  “Alive Again” (Matt Maher)
Worship:  “Blessed Be Your Name”, “Mighty To Save” (1st service), “You Save” (2nd service), and “How Deep the Father’s Love”.

Loved having Ms. Carol Parks play violin again.  Her intro to “How Deep the Father’s Love” was beautiful, and of course, ‘You Save” isn’t complete w/o the violin!

Closer:
Well, Pastor David pulled a fast one on us, and stopped about 75% into his sermon and called me up …. he felt like it was time to stop and worship.  So, we pulled an impromptu version of Kate Miner’s “Holy Spirit Come”, followed by “You Save” and “Open Up the Sky” by Jonathan Stockstill.

An incredible day of worship and ministry, capping off an incredible weekend!

Curious as to what other churches did?  Checkout the weekly “Sunday Setlists” event over at TheWorshipCommunity.Com!

Wednesday, July 14 2010

Last night, millions of viewers said “farewell” to a guy named Captain Phil Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie. Although he passed away in February 2010, the rest of us experienced his passing via the “reality TV show”, “Deadliest Catch“.

I’m not sure when I got hooked on this show … and I don’t quite understand why I will watch the same thing (cussing, smoking, throwing hooks, and pulling in crab pots) for hours upon hours.  I’m intrigued by the personalities.  Overwhelmed by the work.  Energized by the risk.  Captivated by the rewards.

Captain Phil was quite the case.  Supposedly, he was the exact same kind of person “off the camera” as “on the camera” … the same guy before and after their “fame” from being on TV.

Captain Phil … he smoked like a train, cussed like a sailor (oh, wait, essentially, he was a sailor, or a fisherman, at least!) … fought with his crew, fought with his kids … yet, was clearly a compassionate, loving man.  My wife and I were in tears as he loved his boys, showed them deep affection, and told them the four words that EVERY BOY WANTS TO HEAR FROM THEIR FATHERS:

“I’m Proud Of You”.

So … why this eulogy over a guy I never met?  I’ll tell you – Captain Phil represents something very powerful to me.  He represents the kind of guy that Jesus sought out to be His disciples.

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  (Matthew 4:18-19, ESV, YouVersion.Com)

We hear all the stories of how Simon Peter must have been.   We infer from the stories in the Bible that Peter was rough, tough .. I bet he had quite the mouth on him.  I bet he could fight with the best of them, and could beat anybody in poker.

I bet when Simon Peter dropped his nets and followed Jesus … that his personality, and perhaps, even his habits, didn’t change overnight.

He wasn’t in a suit.
He wasn’t carrying His Bible in a leather case with a cross on it.
He wasn’t speaking King James.
He probably wasn’t clean shaven and polished.

He was ROUGH around the EDGES.

Jesus wanted Him.  Jesus called Him.  Of all the righteous, religious, uppity-fancy people walking the earth … and Jesus chose people like Simon Peter … like the tax collectors … the prostitutes … and yes, people like Captain Phil.

Did Captain Phil know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior?   Well, I doubt any of us can answer that for sure.  Before you fire off your comments about how a Christian would never use that language, just stop and consider what I’ve written above.  Maybe you don’t smoke and cuss … but those are outward expressions of a sinful nature (and perhaps, just culture and physical addictions) … and I bet if you wrote down your less-visible “inward” sins … you’d back down …

All I can say is … I hope he did … ’cause I’d like to go fishing with him in heaven.

Farewell, Captain Phil Harris.