Merry Christmas from the Bradleys! Shown here are our kids, James Bradley, Seth Bradley, Kristi Kisner, Brandy Davis, and our grandbaby, Kaitlyn.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Quick update
Wow, it's been a while since I had time to do an update. I still don't have time, so here's a quick run-down:
- We got a new boss. Our old boss got a promotion, which we've been praying for, and apparently - God listens! Yay! Haven't met the new boss yet, but his emails indicate he is at least human.
- I have new responsibilities as a union officer. Our union president resigned, meaning the vice-president took over to finish the term per the union contract. She appointed me vice-president to finish the term, then I'll decide if I want to run for the job the next time around. We'll see. I don't even know what exactly to expect.
- I finished school, and took my final proctored exam for the MBA program. I don't know for sure if I passed, but if I didn't, I get one more chance. All the classes are done, and my senior thesis is done. It ended up being about 250 pages in length, about the size of a small book. I'm thinking...copyright, then find a publisher, or self-publish as an e-book, fulfilling another item on my bucket list.
So, big changes all around. I told my wife at the end of 2009, this year was going to be a great year, full of promise and changes for the better. It is shaping up to do just that. I want to encourage anyone reading that God can do a lot with very little (I am a living testament to that), and everyone is part of His plan. Keep your chin up, and keep talking to him, because He does listen, and He does answer. Sometimes no answer is the answer, but it doesn't mean He doesn't care or love everyone the same.
Be blessed, and stay positive!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Hello, I'm bored.
so I'm finally off, on a day I don't have to be at work or anywhere, and I'm up at 6 a.m. Can't sleep. Watched Batman Begins last night, went to bed early (for me...about 11:30 pm), I think that's my problem I'm used to working late then going to bed around 2 a.m. It's tough being a Night Owl, AND a morning person. It's like having two personalities. Someone asked me if I had a split personality.
I said "no...and yes."
Yesterday was interesting. We went outside in the afternoon to cut the grass. My wife got on the riding mower to get started and I grabbed the weed-eater. She noted that we were nearly out of gas, but had enough to get started, so I decided to take the spare gas cans into town to pick up some more fuel. By the time I got back, she ran out, so I started refilling it. I apparently wasn't moving fast enough, so my wife and son took over pouring. They poured so fast, in fact, they over-filled it and poured gas on the side of the mower. No big deal, we just wiped it dry and let it sit for a while during which time I'll weed-eat. So by the time the mower was safe to use, my wife was working at dusk trying to beat the clock.
We almost beat it. I got the front and side trimmed, while she mowed the front, side, and part of the other side. We'll finish the back today, after it cools down.
The only other thing going on is I'm pumped about the ministry I'm about to join. Our church has an audio/video team that's about to take the ministry to the HNL.
If you're unsure what that is, I'll fill you in: a Hole Nuther Level.
I did camera work with our broadcast team back in Memphis, but haven't done work like that in a few years. So I'm real excited to be part of a team that makes and edits sermon videos for the world to watch for free on the Internet. I have a real heart for the technical aspects of ministry, as I'm not comfortable speaking in front of people, but enjoy the "bells and whistles" and behind-the-scenes stuff. I'm just wired like that. I'm a geek at heart, but I don't believe that's a bad thing. The world needs geeks.
Note that the name of the blog is 'Nerdvanda'.
I said "no...and yes."
Yesterday was interesting. We went outside in the afternoon to cut the grass. My wife got on the riding mower to get started and I grabbed the weed-eater. She noted that we were nearly out of gas, but had enough to get started, so I decided to take the spare gas cans into town to pick up some more fuel. By the time I got back, she ran out, so I started refilling it. I apparently wasn't moving fast enough, so my wife and son took over pouring. They poured so fast, in fact, they over-filled it and poured gas on the side of the mower. No big deal, we just wiped it dry and let it sit for a while during which time I'll weed-eat. So by the time the mower was safe to use, my wife was working at dusk trying to beat the clock.
We almost beat it. I got the front and side trimmed, while she mowed the front, side, and part of the other side. We'll finish the back today, after it cools down.
The only other thing going on is I'm pumped about the ministry I'm about to join. Our church has an audio/video team that's about to take the ministry to the HNL.
If you're unsure what that is, I'll fill you in: a Hole Nuther Level.
I did camera work with our broadcast team back in Memphis, but haven't done work like that in a few years. So I'm real excited to be part of a team that makes and edits sermon videos for the world to watch for free on the Internet. I have a real heart for the technical aspects of ministry, as I'm not comfortable speaking in front of people, but enjoy the "bells and whistles" and behind-the-scenes stuff. I'm just wired like that. I'm a geek at heart, but I don't believe that's a bad thing. The world needs geeks.
Note that the name of the blog is 'Nerdvanda'.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Uncertain times
Greetings, all who may be reading. As you undoubtedly know, the economy is showing some signs of improvement. However, our jobs continue to decline in this great country. For example, in my company, which is a major telecommunications company I won't name for now, we show steadily increasing profits every quarter. Fortune Magazine even named our organization 'Most Admired Telecom' in 2009. Soooo...why do they keep laying off people every quarter? My job is not in direct jeopardy right this second, but it could change any month.
I have a union, which gives me the right to 'bump' another technician with less seniority, or to accept another job within the company if it's available. Still...it's honestly a bit unsettling knowing that our big decisions are made by ivy-league business school graduates who don't have a clue about our job or our customers' needs, they only base decisions on a spreadsheet. For the record, I'm not bashing business schools. I myself am about to graduate from one. I just have a problem with the decisions being based on metrics alone.
What are metrics? I thought you'd never ask.
Metrics are statistics which bean-counters look at on a spreadsheet. They identify trends in productivity, down-time, lead-time, and other data. In a perfect world, a layman could analyze the information and see that we are understaffed. However, the flaw is that sometimes statistics will fool you. They can be very misleading.
For example, the other day, my productivity record showed that I completed 76% of my workload. That sounds not too good. In fact, if I were in a class with a 76% grade, I'd get a 'C'. Here's where metrics lose credibility with anyone who has sense. My work load included tickets and service orders from 5 offices, covering an area larger than anyone else's on my crew. Everyone else handles one office, maybe 2 or 3. The system automatically loaded everything in every office to my load sheet. So, although I finished more orders than anyone else that day, I still only completed 76% of what was loaded to me. Now, a bean-counter looking at a spreadsheet will note that my completion rate was lower than say, a guy with only 4 orders on his sheet, who got 100%. See how that works?
Second, metric analysis is designed to increase productivity by setting a standard on a curve. That means once everyone meets the quota or goal, then the standard shrinks. I tried explaining that to the union geniuses who went along with this when it was introduced, but had no success. It actually hurt us to go on this program. Now, if you don't make the quotas, you are threatened with discipline, and if you make the quotas, you hurt the crew by reducing expected lead-time. It's lose-lose for the network employees, win-win for management.
The bottom line is, we all face uncertainty now. This is due to fear associated with the economy, most of which is undue, tougher competition, more choices, and bad management practices. We may wonder what we can do in times like this. I will continue to seek God's guidance and presence throughout this ordeal, however long it lasts. I know intellectually that He is in control, but as a human my heart feels fear.
Fear of the unknown is completely normal. I tried to think of the last time I felt it, and it was when I was led to pull up the roots and move my family out of state. We knew in our hearts God was maneuvering us, but logically it didn't add up. I can tell you that the day we knew we were going to move here, I knew God was in control, but it didn't make it real easy. That night, I casually got up, walked to the restroom, and hurled like there was no tomorrow. It was stressful. Oftentimes, doing the right thing is not easy. Doing God's will is rarely a simple challenge, and almost never what we would have chosen if we were in charge.
I could make a whole blog about my testimony, which I will do, but for now let's just say that moving up here likely saved my wife's life. Right after we moved our pets out of the house and many of our belongings, the house burned just above our bedroom because of a freak electrical fire in the middle of the night. My wife has severe asthma, and sleeps like a rock. She most likely would have died while I was at work on the night shift.
Naturally, she was upset about the home damage, but thankfully we have good insurance, and that's what it is for. Professionals came through and made our house like new, and accomplished many things we were going to do before selling anyway. We ended up making more with the sale because of the additional work, even though there was a fire which we fully disclosed. God is good, and knows our needs before we do.
So let me encourage anyone who, like me, is facing fear and uncertainty. Maybe your job is in jeopardy, maybe you don't currently have a job, or you're worried about health, money, family, or other issues. God knows your needs. Still, I want to encourage you to pray to Him, and ask Him for clarity. Ask him for forgiveness, and trust Him because He alone is in control.
Even as I am having difficulty sometimes submitting to Him, I want to assure anyone with doubts that submission is the only way. And if you haven't accepted Jesus into your heart, please do it right now. Ask him to forgive you, and come in and guide you. It could be a great decision that not only changes your life, but your afterlife for the better!
I also believe in intercessory prayer. So, if you have a need, drop me a message here or at my personal email huzdaman@yahoo.com, and I will pray for you. Also, I humbly ask anyone who reads this to pray for me and my family, because where two or more gather, amazing things can happen.
Stay strong!
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV).
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
I have a union, which gives me the right to 'bump' another technician with less seniority, or to accept another job within the company if it's available. Still...it's honestly a bit unsettling knowing that our big decisions are made by ivy-league business school graduates who don't have a clue about our job or our customers' needs, they only base decisions on a spreadsheet. For the record, I'm not bashing business schools. I myself am about to graduate from one. I just have a problem with the decisions being based on metrics alone.
What are metrics? I thought you'd never ask.
Metrics are statistics which bean-counters look at on a spreadsheet. They identify trends in productivity, down-time, lead-time, and other data. In a perfect world, a layman could analyze the information and see that we are understaffed. However, the flaw is that sometimes statistics will fool you. They can be very misleading.
For example, the other day, my productivity record showed that I completed 76% of my workload. That sounds not too good. In fact, if I were in a class with a 76% grade, I'd get a 'C'. Here's where metrics lose credibility with anyone who has sense. My work load included tickets and service orders from 5 offices, covering an area larger than anyone else's on my crew. Everyone else handles one office, maybe 2 or 3. The system automatically loaded everything in every office to my load sheet. So, although I finished more orders than anyone else that day, I still only completed 76% of what was loaded to me. Now, a bean-counter looking at a spreadsheet will note that my completion rate was lower than say, a guy with only 4 orders on his sheet, who got 100%. See how that works?
Second, metric analysis is designed to increase productivity by setting a standard on a curve. That means once everyone meets the quota or goal, then the standard shrinks. I tried explaining that to the union geniuses who went along with this when it was introduced, but had no success. It actually hurt us to go on this program. Now, if you don't make the quotas, you are threatened with discipline, and if you make the quotas, you hurt the crew by reducing expected lead-time. It's lose-lose for the network employees, win-win for management.
The bottom line is, we all face uncertainty now. This is due to fear associated with the economy, most of which is undue, tougher competition, more choices, and bad management practices. We may wonder what we can do in times like this. I will continue to seek God's guidance and presence throughout this ordeal, however long it lasts. I know intellectually that He is in control, but as a human my heart feels fear.
Fear of the unknown is completely normal. I tried to think of the last time I felt it, and it was when I was led to pull up the roots and move my family out of state. We knew in our hearts God was maneuvering us, but logically it didn't add up. I can tell you that the day we knew we were going to move here, I knew God was in control, but it didn't make it real easy. That night, I casually got up, walked to the restroom, and hurled like there was no tomorrow. It was stressful. Oftentimes, doing the right thing is not easy. Doing God's will is rarely a simple challenge, and almost never what we would have chosen if we were in charge.
I could make a whole blog about my testimony, which I will do, but for now let's just say that moving up here likely saved my wife's life. Right after we moved our pets out of the house and many of our belongings, the house burned just above our bedroom because of a freak electrical fire in the middle of the night. My wife has severe asthma, and sleeps like a rock. She most likely would have died while I was at work on the night shift.
Naturally, she was upset about the home damage, but thankfully we have good insurance, and that's what it is for. Professionals came through and made our house like new, and accomplished many things we were going to do before selling anyway. We ended up making more with the sale because of the additional work, even though there was a fire which we fully disclosed. God is good, and knows our needs before we do.
So let me encourage anyone who, like me, is facing fear and uncertainty. Maybe your job is in jeopardy, maybe you don't currently have a job, or you're worried about health, money, family, or other issues. God knows your needs. Still, I want to encourage you to pray to Him, and ask Him for clarity. Ask him for forgiveness, and trust Him because He alone is in control.
Even as I am having difficulty sometimes submitting to Him, I want to assure anyone with doubts that submission is the only way. And if you haven't accepted Jesus into your heart, please do it right now. Ask him to forgive you, and come in and guide you. It could be a great decision that not only changes your life, but your afterlife for the better!
I also believe in intercessory prayer. So, if you have a need, drop me a message here or at my personal email huzdaman@yahoo.com, and I will pray for you. Also, I humbly ask anyone who reads this to pray for me and my family, because where two or more gather, amazing things can happen.
Stay strong!
Verses to remember
(By the way, this is for me, too!)
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV).
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Go, James!
Greetings, all! I haven't chimed in in a while, so I thought I'd give an update. My youngest son is in an organization called TSA, which holds state and national competitions in team events ranging from such topics as website building, game programming, electronics, and robotics to name a few. My son's three-person group opted to build a vee-hull boat model, complete with a motor and two AA batteries. They destroyed their competition in Greensboro, NC this week, so in June they go to Nationals in Baltimore, MD! WOO HOO!
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