So, my Toshiba had a fit about 3 weeks ago and gave up the ghost. As it turns out, the DC jack pin cracked away from the housing (check out the picture for the villain here). The cheapest service I could find started at $99. Parts, labor and the time without my PC were not really on the top of my list of things to split with for more than a few days. Well, a little research led me to a nice little website with wholesale parts; the jack ran a little over $21. After I got the part, which in and of itself was a little process, I realized, even though my dad had been kind enough to leave behind is soldering gun and some solder, I didn't have any solder wick. With the part in hand, I decided I'd try and get my merit badge for PC disassembly and self repair. (I think that merit badge also passes for the one with bravery/stupidity mark on it.) Having never opened a laptop before, it was a little risky, but I knew exactly what was wrong and it was not any different from the board repair I used to have to do on control boards at Advendtech. It took me about 3 hours to get to the jack. The process of undoing the PC was quite roundabout. I realized this when, after I completely reassembled it in 15 minutes, I had to disassemble it and it took me about 20 minutes. To keep from jumping ahead too much, I had to head to my trusty Radio Shack. I picked up a nice 40 watt solder gun with replaceable tips, 5 feet of wick, some copper solder, a desoldering vacuum and a heating desoldering gun. I'd never seen a desoldering gun with a vacuum bulb on it and, having had issues with solder in the past, knew how nice a tool that would be to have. (So, any of my friends that need solder gear, call me up!) Even though I completely cleaned the solder, it took me a while to get it off for fear of cracking the board. It was in the board very snuggly. It did come off though and I managed to get the new piece in. So, for about $58 I managed to repair my Toshiba. As a matter of fact, I'm using it to make this entry right now! That's about the most exciting thing I've done in a while aside from some C# info I've dug up that makes a little program I'm working on that much closer to coming together.

Catching up...

My parents were in this weekend for a visit. Kerri and I did our first couple's shower, and, from the looks of it, I wasn't the only guy who was being initiated into the club of men who have done couple's showers. In spite of our introduction to the new concept, it turned out to be a lot of fun for all.

Also of note, my sole athlete these days, Marius Nel, a 38-year old South African middle distance runner, managed to win the 800m age-group national title and silvers in the 400m and 1,500m this year. Last year, our first year working together, he came in as an unheralded 37 year-old and snuck out with the gold in both 800m and 1,500m. This year, he had some competition from a 1,500m runner who had gotten snubbed last year. The 400m, a new event for Marius proved to be surprising as he placed well against a sub-50 guy after having won the 800 and placing second in the 1,500m. It was more of a fun event for him, but he did great nonetheless. Congrats Marius. Next step, World Championships in Italy in September.

As far as more typical fare for this blog, I had two interesting points really come up this week. The first, and more recent of the two, was last night. While reading 1 Samuel 12 I stumbled across the following comment by Samuel himself.

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.

This particular line really jumped out at me because it tweaked the idea of praying for others. It's said through Scripture we should pray for others, but no where is it so clear to me we must pray for others to avoid sin. Perhaps the New Testament considers this more of an implied responsibility, particularly for intercessors and prayer warriors. Either way, the idea of being held accountable for not praying takes it a step further than failing to be fully responsible. Now, it can be put forward that, since Samuel was a priest, it was clearly within his responsibilities to offer petitions and prayers on behalf of the people. Implied from this can be the conclusion that most people are not therefore potentially guilty for not praying. However, I want to take it in a positive direction and intimate that we are to consider this an instance where the law is a shadow of the heavenly realities and failing to pray for others is not a sin-worthy offense but rather we see praying for others with the same gravity, only in terms of love. We are required by God to pray for others as an act of love. When we get to heaven and God asks us did you learn to love, we should be able to say, an act of expressing that love, we prayed, that, yes, we learned to love because of our prayers lifted to the Lord on their behalf.

Another note...

Earlier this week I managed to get out of the office a little early. I called Kerri to tell her I was done and she said, "I know, Page told me about 30 seconds ago that you were ready to be picked up." Just another instance of our little prophet. Lord, fill her with character and the fruit of your Spirit as well as a greater measure of your faith. From these may she grow in her gifts to honor and serve you. Thank you for giving Kerri and I such wonderful children and fill us with wisdom, love and character that we may help these people grow to the fullness for which you have created them through our instruction, love and guidance!