Jakob Nielsen - Mental Models

Users don't just confuse search fields; many less-techy users don't understand the differences between many other common features:
  • Operating-system windows vs. browser windows
  • A window vs. an application,
  • Icons vs. applications,
  • Browser commands vs. native commands in a Web-based app
  • Local vs. remote info
  • Different passwords and log-in options (users often log in to other websites as if they were logging in to their email)


It's amazing how one misconception can thwart users throughout an entire session and cause them to systematically misinterpret everything that happens on the site. Through failure after failure, they never question their basic assumptions. This is yet another argument for complying with preexisting user expectations whenever possible. If you don't, then make certain that you're clearly explaining what you're doing — while also realizing that you face the added challenge of users' reluctance to read very much.

Francis Frangipane - It's Time to End Church Splits

Intro
...if we could ascend into heaven and were granted grace to look upon the face of Christ and actually ask Him about splits and divisions, I believe the tears in His eyes alone would tell us disunity is the work of hell.
pg 11
...anyone can seek God and enjoy more of Him at any time; there is no need to divide the church to have more of God's presence, especially since the division itself will cause God's manifest presence to withdraw!
pg 23
No virtue manifests in our lives without Satan awakening a corresponding vice: Traveling with obedience is pride, and just behind faith walks presumption. Yes, and walking in the shadow of godly vision, ambition follows.
pg 25
The one in rebellion always has an issue; there is always something not right—and if he were in charge, he would do all things better.
pg 26
A true word from God will test you before it fulfills you. Consider Joseph. “Until the time that the word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him” (Psalm 105:19).
pg 27
Ambition tries to create doors where none exist.
pg 39
There is nothing more powerful than when the teaching in a church and the intercession of that church are in agreement.... when intercessor pray what the pastor preaches, the union of the Spirit and the Word release the creative power of heaven itself.
pg 41
In the New Testament, the Greek word, diabolos, which is translated “devil” in this text [John 6:70-71], is translated impersonally elsewhere as a “false accuser,” “slanderer” or “a malicious gossip.” In fact, First Timothy 3:11 and Second Timothy 3:3 both translate diabolos (Strong’s #1228) as “malicious gossip(s).”
pg 52
Remember, as a pastor or teacher, your goal is not to prepare a sermon, but to prepare a people.
pg 73
[Re: Acts 9:6 “...it shall be told you what you must do”] Why didn’t the Lord just tell Paul what he had to do? Paul would have to learn about God, at least initially, as he submitted to other Christian leaders. This is God’s order and the Lord himself honored it.
pg 74
[Re: Christ submitting to John the Baptist in Matt 3] ...it was while He humbled Himself to a lesser ministry that the flood of the Father’s pleasure, together with the Holy Spirit, descended upon Him.
pg 110
There is no greater opportunity to become Christlike than in the midst of pain and injustice. When Satan is raging with evil, God is planning to turn it to good. If we maintain our integrity in battle; if we let love rise to its purest expression, we will touch the heart of God. Such is the path to God’s power.
pg 116
Jesus understood that for redemption to be accomplished, His love would face its most severe test. Jesus knew this battle was over one thing: would He allow love to reach full maturity and its most perfect expression? Would He maintain His passion for man’s redemption even as men mocked and crucified Him?
pg 133
My pastor’s sermons have been dry and lifeless for quite a while. When we are not being fed the meat of God’s word, should we start our own church? No teacher brings sermons that are “meat.” Jesus said that His “meat” was to do the will of His Father. If your church seems dry and you are hungry for meat, I suggest you begin doing the will of God in your church. What I mean is that you start a prayer group for your pastor. Encourage him with comments about his sermon. Perhaps send him words of encouragement and build him up. You say, “But this is what we want him to do for us.” If you pray for him, more than likely he will being to gain new confidence and become a great encouragement to you. But the real “meat” is this: see the need and be mature enough in Christ to pray, to encourage and to stand in faith until that need is met by the Holy Spirit.

Information Assurance Quotes

From Norris Reynolds...

A paraphrase of the information assurance triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability): "Ensuring that the right data gets to the right people at the right time."

"Data. If it's important enough to collect, it's important enough to protect."

Regarding why we sometimes work long hours: "Because they are there, we are here."

It's all in the translation

From the Cybersalt Digest:

A Latin American minister was touring the U.S. in an effort to boost financial support for missionaries and ministries in his home country.

At a church luncheon, he was telling the guests about this home country, his family, and the important work being supported there. As he concluded, he said, “And I have a charming and understanding wife but, alas, no children.”

After a pause, he said, haltingly, “You see, my wife is unbearable.”

Puzzled glances in the audience prompted him to try to clarify by saying: “What I mean is, my wife is inconceivable.”

Observing the laughter in the audience, he realized his mistake, but floundered deeper into the intricacies of the English language by correcting triumphantly, “That is, my wife, she is impregnable!”

What Special Someday Are We Saving For?

By ANN WELLS (Los Angeles Times)

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.

"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie."

He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite: silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.

"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment. Then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.

"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event--such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for a small bag of groceries without wincing.

I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are fighting a losing battle to stay in my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing--I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with--someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write--one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.

I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that this is a special occasion.

Marcus Levi Proehl - obit

Rev. Marcus (Bill) L. Proehl, 79, passed away on February 1, 2010. He was born March 7, 1930 to parents Marcus Elrose and Myrtle Trowbridge in Flint, Michigan. He was reaised by his mother Myrtle and stepfather Perry Waite. He graduated High School in Flint, Indiana.

Marcus entered the Marines not long after graduation and shortly after, on October 28, 1950, he married his wife, beverly L. (Musser) Proehl. Three children were born to them, Marcus A. and his wife Susan Proehl of Mooresville, Indiana; Debra K. and Jim Prock of Danville, IN and Steven P. Proehl. Their son Steven preceded them in death in 1968. His wife, beverly, preceded him in death on April 19, 20905. Marcus has six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

After leaving the Marines, Marcus soon dedicated his life to the Lord. He started his ministry at South Scott as a youth pastor. It didn't take long for him to become a full-time pastor. He built Calvary Temple and the Carpenter Shop in Angola and the journey continued. He was an accomplished carpenter who not only built many homes but also several churches. Some of the churches were built on the mission field. He had a heart for missions and it showed in his giving.

Marcus also loved to fly. He loved to paint and play the trumpet. Everyone who knew Marcus (Bill) also knew he loved to invent things. His mind never stopped. The one thing he loved the most, though, was the Word of God. He read his Bible completely through 116 times. He started his day witht he Word and ended his day with the Word and talking to God. His faith was unshakable and his love for God was amazing. I know if he had won wish granted to him it would be that everyone would serve and love the Lord. He lived by example and was a rock that many depended on. He truly was a great man and will be missed so much.

Everyone who knew Marcus (Bill) would often hear him say, "Man, I've had a wonderful life." That he did and now it's even more wonderful.

A Week Without God

Without God, our week would be:
Sinday
Moanday
Tearsday
Wasteday
Thirstday
Fightday
Shatterday
Seven days without God makes one weak.