The Hollow Man http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php en nospam@the-hollow-man.com Copyright 2008 2008-03-16T02:03:01Z The Hollow Man http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/the-hollow-man/ R.E.M’s new album Accelerate has a track (04) titled Hollow Man. Listening to the whole album now. The Hollow Man R.E.M’s new album Accelerate has a track (04) titled Hollow Man. Listening to the whole album now.



]]> 2008-03-16T02:03:01Z Career Change http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/career-change/ Background info: I’ve been living overseas for 10+ years in South Korea and recently made a decision to repatriate three years from now. One thing i need to do is get myself a new career to be able to generate income once I move back to Canada. For the last 3 years I’ve really enjoyed hacking away at my sites and helping friends and colleagues start blogs or moodle sites. However, despite what my friends think, I am really a hack who only knows enough to be dangerous. The thing is i really enjoy working on web sites and would like to transition into web design full time. Clearly I’ll need to build a portfolio of sites. I’m willing to put the time into that. More importantly however is developing my skill set and qualifications. I recently ordered CSS Mastery and will be going through that as soon as the book arrives. What I would like to do is take some courses to get a focused approach to improving my skills. Ideally these courses would be offered online and be a recognized qualification in the industry when looking for work (assuming I don’t start my own design company). Does anyone have suggestions for me? courses, books, approach to learning, personal anecdotes and/or professional advice would all be greatly appreciated. Additionally prayers for me and my family as we prepare for the move to Canada and a complete culture change. Prayer, The Hollow Man Background info:
I’ve been living overseas for 10+ years in South Korea and recently made a decision to repatriate three years from now. One thing i need to do is get myself a new career to be able to generate income once I move back to Canada.

For the last 3 years I’ve really enjoyed hacking away at my sites and helping friends and colleagues start blogs or moodle sites. However, despite what my friends think, I am really a hack who only knows enough to be dangerous. The thing is i really enjoy working on web sites and would like to transition into web design full time.

Clearly I’ll need to build a portfolio of sites. I’m willing to put the time into that. More importantly however is developing my skill set and qualifications. I recently ordered CSS Mastery and will be going through that as soon as the book arrives. What I would like to do is take some courses to get a focused approach to improving my skills. Ideally these courses would be offered online and be a recognized qualification in the industry when looking for work (assuming I don’t start my own design company).

Does anyone have suggestions for me? courses, books, approach to learning, personal anecdotes and/or professional advice would all be greatly appreciated. Additionally prayers for me and my family as we prepare for the move to Canada and a complete culture change.



]]> 2007-08-28T12:50:00Z Going well http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/going-well/ Taking care of my children for extended periods of time alone (more than 2-3 hours) is always difficult for me. I’m not sure what to do with kids and also I find their needs to be incredibly distracting from my own personal interests. Maybe I’m selfish, maybe I’m not. What I know is that this is the way I am despite having tried to change. This week my daughters kindergarten is closed all week and my sons daycare is closed Wednesday through Friday. So far things have gone much better than expected. I had a good time with my daughter alone on Monday and Tuesday. On top of her enjoying herself and getting out of our apartment complex with just daddy I even managed to find some time for myself. Today is the first day with both kids all day and it’s going much easier than expected. After the rain stopped in the morning we took a long walk to the local Krispy Kreme for some donuts. My daughter usually wants to go to Dunkin Donuts but there’s no seats on the first floor and with a stroller it wasn’t feasable so we took the longer walk. Anyhow that went really well. the only difficult part was the hike up the hill to get home with the stroller and a somewhat fatigued 5 year old. After we got home The Hollow Son took a long nap and The Hollow Daughter entertained herself while I read a book. Overall good stuff. The afternoon has been much easier than expected as well with little whining or fighting. God is definitely watching over me this week and helping me deal with the stress that I usually feel when alone with kids. Family, The Hollow Daughter, The Hollow Man, Praise, Prayer Taking care of my children for extended periods of time alone (more than 2-3 hours) is always difficult for me. I’m not sure what to do with kids and also I find their needs to be incredibly distracting from my own personal interests. Maybe I’m selfish, maybe I’m not. What I know is that this is the way I am despite having tried to change.

This week my daughters kindergarten is closed all week and my sons daycare is closed Wednesday through Friday. So far things have gone much better than expected. I had a good time with my daughter alone on Monday and Tuesday. On top of her enjoying herself and getting out of our apartment complex with just daddy I even managed to find some time for myself.

Today is the first day with both kids all day and it’s going much easier than expected. After the rain stopped in the morning we took a long walk to the local Krispy Kreme for some donuts. My daughter usually wants to go to Dunkin Donuts but there’s no seats on the first floor and with a stroller it wasn’t feasable so we took the longer walk. Anyhow that went really well. the only difficult part was the hike up the hill to get home with the stroller and a somewhat fatigued 5 year old.

After we got home The Hollow Son took a long nap and The Hollow Daughter entertained herself while I read a book. Overall good stuff. The afternoon has been much easier than expected as well with little whining or fighting. God is definitely watching over me this week and helping me deal with the stress that I usually feel when alone with kids.



]]> 2007-08-01T06:27:00Z Service http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/service/ This morning I had coffee with my pastor for two and a half hours. It’s been a long time since we had a one on one meeting and it was great to sit and talk. We talked about a number of things, but the main thing that came out of this meeting is that I will likely be responsible for re-designing the church web site.  This is a major project for me as I am really only an amateur at web design, but still it’s going to be a great challenge for me. The good thing here is that I haven’t really contributed to the church in a long time other than to be a seat warmer. Now I’ll be giving to the church and at the same time improving my skills in a hobby that I enjoy doing. Clearly The Lord is at work here. Talking with the Pastor I found out that there is no firm deadline so I will be able to work at my own pace. Important because I have two small children and a full time job that take up loads of my time as well. The good thing here is that we have a functional web site that will continue to work while I am designing on a development site. I’ll be able to incorporate all the features we currently have and some additional new features that will hopefully improve the site for both visitors as well as back end users. The best part will be that everything will end up being fully integrated using the same web software that I am using to run this blog, Expression Engine. The Church, The Hollow Man This morning I had coffee with my pastor for two and a half hours. It’s been a long time since we had a one on one meeting and it was great to sit and talk. We talked about a number of things, but the main thing that came out of this meeting is that I will likely be responsible for re-designing the church web site.  This is a major project for me as I am really only an amateur at web design, but still it’s going to be a great challenge for me.

The good thing here is that I haven’t really contributed to the church in a long time other than to be a seat warmer. Now I’ll be giving to the church and at the same time improving my skills in a hobby that I enjoy doing. Clearly The Lord is at work here. Talking with the Pastor I found out that there is no firm deadline so I will be able to work at my own pace. Important because I have two small children and a full time job that take up loads of my time as well.

The good thing here is that we have a functional web site that will continue to work while I am designing on a development site. I’ll be able to incorporate all the features we currently have and some additional new features that will hopefully improve the site for both visitors as well as back end users. The best part will be that everything will end up being fully integrated using the same web software that I am using to run this blog, Expression Engine.



Expression Engine is not just blogging software, but is really an uber powerful CMS with extreme flexibility. Oh the joys of truly learning how to use it in a more in depth and powerful way than I currently am. Please pray for wisdom and knowledge and time to complete this project in a timely and well done fashion

I won’t be able to start work on this until September due to other commitments and travel plans. With only a couple of hours a week to spare it will probably take me until at least November to get it done, but more realistically early January. From mid-December I’ll be on a 10 week vacation and will be able to put serious effort into the site and complete all the little, difficult nit-picky things that I am as of yet unaware of. Should be a fun project.

]]> 2007-07-27T04:55:00Z Still Here http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/still-here/ I’m still around. I’m almost finished teaching my summer intensive class and should be done the grading by Thursday at noon. After that regular blogging will resume. Yesterday I took some fun time and upgraded the software running this blog, Expression Engine, to 1.6 and installed a new 3rd party module - social bookmarks. This Blog I’m still around. I’m almost finished teaching my summer intensive class and should be done the grading by Thursday at noon. After that regular blogging will resume. Yesterday I took some fun time and upgraded the software running this blog, Expression Engine, to 1.6 and installed a new 3rd party module - social bookmarks.



]]> 2007-07-17T01:50:04Z slipping http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/slipping/ I’ve been slipping the past few days. I haven’t read the bible in at least four days probably six. I’ve been busy, but that’s just an excuse. Today is Sunday and in about an hour I’ll be heading to church so before I go, I will read the bible and pray. I need to be more vigilant with regards to my time to commune with Christ.  Prayer I’ve been slipping the past few days. I haven’t read the bible in at least four days probably six. I’ve been busy, but that’s just an excuse. Today is Sunday and in about an hour I’ll be heading to church so before I go, I will read the bible and pray. I need to be more vigilant with regards to my time to commune with Christ. 



]]> 2007-06-24T04:27:00Z Do not Exasperate http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/do-not-exasperate/ THis is a good verse for me to remember. I often have trouble with my daughter and need more patience to be better able to guide and raise her properly. It is difficult for me since I feel weak and lacking in knowledge to be able to do this properly. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Prayer THis is a good verse for me to remember. I often have trouble with my daughter and need more patience to be better able to guide and raise her properly. It is difficult for me since I feel weak and lacking in knowledge to be able to do this properly.


Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.



]]> 2007-06-20T05:21:00Z Convicted to Pray http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/convicted-to-pray/ Thursday last week my school had our end of semester dinner.  I was of course sitting next to my best friend, DH. I’ve known DH since 2002 and we are really close friends with similar recreational interests as well as professional development interests and teaching styles. DH is the kind of guy who goes above and beyond for his friends and people in general. He’s just an all around good guy and everyone likes him. The trouble is that he isn’t saved and is in fact somewhat anti-christian religion. He doesn’t actually go around mocking or taking down Christians or other believers. He is good enough to say that it isn’t for him and leave it at that. Basically he won’t attack Christians believers of other faiths - he just is not interested in it. Enough background. At dinner he was talking to some of the other teachers and I was engaged in a coversation with another colleague when I heard him say I am more athiest every day. I didn’t say anything for two reasons. #1 it wasn’t the right place or time to get into this without being confrontational and ruining the atomosphere of the dinner. #2 I don’t feel ready or equipped to debate a person who is clearly not ready to believe and come away with any sense of accomplishment. Over the last few days what he said has been replaying in mind over and over. I feel that the spirit has convicted me to pray for DH. I’ve never felt this way before nor have I prayed for a non-believer in all the time that I have been a Christian. I hope that readers will pray for DH and also pray for me so that I will be able to witness to him in a way that will move him to accept Jesus. Prayer, Unsaved friends Thursday last week my school had our end of semester dinner.  I was of course sitting next to my best friend, DH. I’ve known DH since 2002 and we are really close friends with similar recreational interests as well as professional development interests and teaching styles. DH is the kind of guy who goes above and beyond for his friends and people in general. He’s just an all around good guy and everyone likes him.

The trouble is that he isn’t saved and is in fact somewhat anti-christian religion. He doesn’t actually go around mocking or taking down Christians or other believers. He is good enough to say that it isn’t for him and leave it at that. Basically he won’t attack Christians believers of other faiths - he just is not interested in it.

Enough background. At dinner he was talking to some of the other teachers and I was engaged in a coversation with another colleague when I heard him say I am more athiest every day. I didn’t say anything for two reasons. #1 it wasn’t the right place or time to get into this without being confrontational and ruining the atomosphere of the dinner. #2 I don’t feel ready or equipped to debate a person who is clearly not ready to believe and come away with any sense of accomplishment.

Over the last few days what he said has been replaying in mind over and over. I feel that the spirit has convicted me to pray for DH. I’ve never felt this way before nor have I prayed for a non-believer in all the time that I have been a Christian. I hope that readers will pray for DH and also pray for me so that I will be able to witness to him in a way that will move him to accept Jesus.



]]> 2007-06-19T11:41:00Z Prayer http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/prayer/ One area that I struggle with as a Christian is prayer and communing with God. My prayers tend to be short and succinct. I hear other Christians whose prayers are incredibly long and eloquent and almost poetic. Yet I rarely say more than thanks and a request for what I would like. I have no passion in prayer. However if I get together with friends I can talk about teaching (that’s my job) for hours on end. What I like, what I want to try, up and coming trends in language education, the qualities of a good, poor, or excellent student. Before I know it, 3 or 4 hours have passed, but it feels like only 10 minutes. I am aware that the spirit will intercede on our behalf when we do not know what to say:Romans 8 26-27 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Prayer One area that I struggle with as a Christian is prayer and communing with God. My prayers tend to be short and succinct. I hear other Christians whose prayers are incredibly long and eloquent and almost poetic. Yet I rarely say more than thanks and a request for what I would like. I have no passion in prayer.

However if I get together with friends I can talk about teaching (that’s my job) for hours on end. What I like, what I want to try, up and coming trends in language education, the qualities of a good, poor, or excellent student. Before I know it, 3 or 4 hours have passed, but it feels like only 10 minutes.

I am aware that the spirit will intercede on our behalf when we do not know what to say:

Romans 8 26-27
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.



However I still feel inadequate when praying so quickly and often silently with my mind a blank as well since I cannot find the words to say. Clearly when I can talk to my friends or colleagues about teaching or computers for hours at end without pause and fail to notice the passage of time I am able to communicate on areas of passion. Why is it that I cannot commune with Jesus in the same way?

I think that it may be that I am not getting immediate feedback in the way that you do when engaging in conversation with people around you. I miss the interplay, the body language, the word play and teasing that goes on in interpersonal communication. The thing is that I do not know how to get that through prayer or if it really isn’t possible how I would go about finding a replacement for that interaction.

While reading Bible Forums this morning I came across the ACTS formula for prayer. I had seen this before but forgotten it.

A - adoration (praise God for being GOD!)
C - confession (maybe not something to in front of the family before a meal though)
T - thanksgiving (thank God for what He has provided)
S - supplication (say your needs). Ask God for help, healing, comfort, etc. whatever the need is - a need for you or another.

Starting from today I’m going to try to follow this prayer formula. I hope that I will be better able to articulate my prayers and have a deeper communion with God.

thoughts or suggestions anyone?

]]> 2007-06-16T01:00:01Z Blase http://the-hollow-man.com/index.php/hollow/comments/blase/ I’ve been feeling rather blase the last couple of days. I’ve got tons of work to do, but have been putting it off and just sitting around doing nothing. All of my regular favorite activities are just not drawing me. I feel a complete lack of motivation and am not sure why. Maybe I need to pray more, maybe I need to read the bible more, maybe I just need to drink more coffee, or maybe I need to get more sleep. What I do know is that I have got to get out of this slump quickly. Prayer, The Hollow Man I’ve been feeling rather blase the last couple of days. I’ve got tons of work to do, but have been putting it off and just sitting around doing nothing. All of my regular favorite activities are just not drawing me. I feel a complete lack of motivation and am not sure why.

Maybe I need to pray more, maybe I need to read the bible more, maybe I just need to drink more coffee, or maybe I need to get more sleep. What I do know is that I have got to get out of this slump quickly.



]]> 2007-06-15T11:31:00Z