NILESHOLSINGER.COM

Quick shot of Cameron. You can’t really tell but...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:42:15 -0600

Quick shot of Cameron. You can’t really tell but he’s laughing his head off right now.

What can I say? I guess I’m just a romantic at heart. This...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:01:10 -0600

What can I say? I guess I’m just a romantic at heart. This is for you Linds.

There's An Off Button?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:56:43 -0600

A few weeks ago after watching this video, I began to think about all the noise in my life. Noise that I thought helped me but actually just distracts me from what is happening right in front of my eyes.

It’s sad when you realize that when your kids are talking to you, you are spending more time looking at your phone or laptop then your their eyes. I love technology but it has created this “hum” in every minute of my life, and without realizing it, I have become addicted to that noise.

So last week I decided to experiment with the noise in my life, starting with my cell phone. My phone is my second brain… my memory. It has my calendar, my contacts, my todo list ect… I can’t live without it. But on top of the things my phone does to help me be productive, I also have it set up to receive email from three different accounts, notify me whenever anyone on Twitter say’s anything about nothing, Facebook alerts me whenever anyone comments on anything I post, or if anyone likes something I post, or if anyone comments or likes anything that I already liked or commented on which leads to an endless abyss of Facebook notifications that go on forever and ever and ever. (That’s a whole different post)

Between email, twitter, Facebook, and regular old fashion communication like telephone calls and text messges, it’s not an exageration to say that my phone is constantly making noise and wanting my attention.

When I started thinking about all this extra noise in my life and if I really needed it, I was surprised by the answer, it was no.

No, I don’t need to know every time one of my friends was eating lunch, or at Starbucks or had just increased their bean crop on Farmville. I didn’t need to see the latest Twitpic of someone seats at a concert, funny sign they just passed or plate they just licked clean. And honestly, when I leave the office, there is nothing that is so important that I need to be able to read email about it when I’m with my family.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy that stuff. (except Farmville, I HATE that) I LOVE that it is so easy to communicate with my friends around the world and around the block. But I don’t NEED it. Not all the time.

So… I turned it off. Just on my phone. (Except email during business hours and only work email)

It wasn’t easy. In fact, it took a few days to break the habit of constantly looking down at my phone.

It might not have been easy, but it has been one of the best things I have ever done. You might not believe me, but the simple act of turning off those things on my phone has brought a level of peace in my life that I would have never imagined.

Am I still gonna Twitter, use Facebook, check email, write and read blogs? Yes, but I don’t have too.

Until I stopped I never knew what kind of habit I had developed.

There will always be noise in my life, I can’t control that. (I have two kids after all) But there is some noise I can control. Noise I can regulate. And from now on, I’m going to try to do a better job with the regulation of that noise.

I would encourage you to try the same thing. We all can’t move to the woods and live in a tent, but it is possible to unplug, even for just a few hours a day.

A few shots of my boy Cameron. He’s getting cute, big and...

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:27:48 -0600

A few shots of my boy Cameron. He’s getting cute, big and loud. You can see more pictures of him on Facebook.com/nilesholsinger.

This video brings back memories of playing on our farm (Pioneer...

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:25:55 -0600

This video brings back memories of playing on our farm (Pioneer Farm) in Missouri with my Granddad Marvin. ( He was one of the 2 grand dads I am named after) It’s pretty sad to think that the industry that once was the backbone of our nation is so corporate that the small farmers who are working the hardest are making the least.

I have a good feeling about this family though for two reasons. 1) The world can never have enough cheese. 2) They use the A-Team as a major life strategy, and you all know how much I love the A-Team.

I love this. Part of me wishes I could do this right now....

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:35:57 -0600

I love this. Part of me wishes I could do this right now. Something about unplugging it all and getting to know silence is appealing to me. I was thinking the other day about the amount of “noise” there is in my life. Not actual sound “noise”, but distraction. (Though, between 2 kids there is a LOT of sound noise).

I’m always plugged in, always connected.

When my alarm clock goes off in the morning, first thing I do is turn on my Blackberry and check my email, text messages, Twitter and Facebook. For some reason this is what I HAVE to do at 5am? Then all day long if I’m not in front of my computer all day with email, facebook, twitter, skype, ect. Then if I do leave my office I have my Blackberry ringing or beeping or vibrating every 60 seconds. When I get home the it’s the same. (most of the time my laptop in on my lap & my phone next to it.)

Do I need ALL this information ALL the time? Is there anything that I am doing right now that requires me to be accessible to this information 24/7?

(Even as I typed that last sentence I stopped halfway through to check Twitter on my phone. Anything interesting? Nope, rarely is, but I check.)

Obviously I’m not going to move into a tent and live off the land any time soon (I’m not saying never because I’m bound to go a little crazy when I get old) but maybe I need a digital cleanse. Maybe it’s time to set some new ground rules for myself.

Maybe it’s time to make some changes. Maybe it’s time to turn down the noise.

Without Love: The Power of Our Words

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:57:51 -0600

Without Love: The Power of Our Words:

I’m not quite sure we understand the power of our words. One negative, hurtful word, said out of hand or without thought is like a seed that is stuck deep into a persons soul. You might think that what I’m saying is extreme, but think with me a minute. Think back to the earliest memory you have of…

One of the best commercials ever made? Maybe.

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:32:26 -0600

One of the best commercials ever made? Maybe.

If you haven’t seen this before (I think I actually posted it a while ago) you need to watch...

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:12:52 -0600

If you haven’t seen this before (I think I actually posted it a while ago) you need to watch the two videos below.

The first video is the 1 minute HBO opening from the 80’s, one of the most cutting edge tags of its time. The second video is the making of that tag. (about 10 minutes long.)

I can’t believe the amount of work that went into making that “simple” opener! Think about how long it took them to make this 1 minute opener when now they can shoot feature films digitally in 9 or 10 months and have it in the theaters and pressed and ready for the DVD release at the same time!

Another reason why I am so in love with technology. (Maybe too in love with technology, has anyone seen my Ipad? I REALLY need it!)

It’s snowing again in Texas! Here’s a few shots from...

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:25:02 -0600

It’s snowing again in Texas! Here’s a few shots from my porch. I know that what we’re getting is nothing compared to the 40-50 inches of snow that storm is dumping on them on the East Coast, but I bet we’re making a bigger deal about this… At least more people are staying home from work. (I mean, after all it is almost 2 inches.)

Today is my Daughter Reese’s 4th birthday. 5 years ago I...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:25:44 -0600

Today is my Daughter Reese’s 4th birthday. 5 years ago I could have never imagined my life with her… Now, I can’t imagine living without her. She is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me.

It is impossible for me to put into words the amount of love I have for this girl. She has improved my life in every possible way.

Reese, when you’re older I hope you read this, and when you do I want you to know how proud your Daddy is of you. I can’t wait to see the woman of God you become. But don’t rush things… you can stay Daddy’s little girl as long as you want.

I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER!

A few pictures of the family from today. I’m a blessed...

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:37:00 -0600

A few pictures of the family from today. I’m a blessed man. And don’t worry, I’ll start getting more of Cam.

A Note From Reese

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:34:00 -0600

Received this email the other day from my wife.

Probably the cutest thing i’ve ever read….

Subject: Note from Reese

Fairies are water

One bottle of cake

I like owls today and I like butterflies

I like to watch Sleeping Beauty

I like Cameron so much that will make me happy

Reese asked me to write these out and send them to you =)

My heart almost exploded.

Do you respect coffee, or just “like” it. I know...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:59:20 -0600

Do you respect coffee, or just “like” it. I know where this guy falls.

A-Team / B-Team

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:45:00 -0600

I am both excited and suspisious about the new A-Team Movie coming out next year. Growing up I LOVED the A Team. It was because of the A Team that I was an eight year old kid with dreams of becoming a “Soldier of Fortune”, and thought if I ever needed to disapear I would just have to find the Los Angeles under ground (Or at least the Euless Underground). It’s to bad that George Peppard is not still alive, they wouldn’t even have to have a new cast, just brought in the starters.

5 Octaves: I dare you you to watch this and not laugh.

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:48:24 -0600

5 Octaves: I dare you you to watch this and not laugh.

A Dangerous Prayer

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:25:00 -0600

Last month I read the book “IT” by Craig Groeschel. I loved it. A book every pastor should read as well as anyone that has anything to do with any kind of leadership.

I was reading over some of the things I underlined and some of the notes/thoughts I wrote down, and I came across the prayer that Craig prays at the end of the book and I wanted to share it with you.

I hope that I never come to the place that I am too scared to pray this for myself.

“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, and starvation, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. That’s it. Amen.”

Help for Haiti

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:03:43 -0600

Obviously, unless you love under a rock you have heard about the devastating earth quake that hit Haiti. The casualty rate is still going up and the need for the basics like food, water, blankets etc. is enormous!

You can’t watch what is happening in Haiti and not want to get involved, but how? There are so many great organizations that are mobilizing to fill the great need it’s hard to know which one you should support or as sad as it is to say, TRUST.

If you are like me and are looking for a place to help, I wanted to share a link with you. Healing Place Church led by Pastor Dino Rizzo are already on the ground in Haiti hard at work.

I have ABSOLUTE trust in the integrity of Dino and his staff and church. You can trust that they will do what they say they will do with your support.

Here’s the link that Healing Place Church has set up to collect support donations. Obviously, if you don’t live in Baton Rouge you most likely won’t be able to drop off the medical supplies that are needed, but if you could at least make a donation that would be HUGE!

http://www.healingplacechurch.org/haiti/

The new Christian Men’s Network site is up. Looks great!...

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:20:00 -0600

The new Christian Men’s Network site is up. Looks great! Take a look. (Click the picture)

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe it’s Leno’s...

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:18:44 -0600

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe it’s Leno’s show that’s bad? http://bit.ly/7dnjkb