Hey everybody. I made this short video introducing our team. Isn’t the quality of the Flip Mino outstanding? You can tell I’ve been at Buckhead Church for a while because the video is influenced by their production style. I’m getting better but I’m happy with how it turned out.
I’m so excited to be going to Cambodia. Thanks to all who have contributed and prayed.
What’s up world? I’m still here, in case you were wondering.
I’ve become a huge fan of Battlestar Galactica, the one that just ended. I know I’m about 5 years behind on that one. I’m midway through season 3 and the series is totally addictive. The characters, special effects and plots are all remarkable. I highly recommend checking that out.
A second interview is on the horizon. That’s all I’ll say about it. For those that will, please pray for me because it’s a stellar opportunity.
My attendance at the gym is excellent lately. Been exercising 5 to 7 times a week. I’m still not where I want to be but hopefully I’m making progress. I must be because one of the trainers at the gym told me I was looking buff. It’s hard to notice your own progress unless you take photos, which I haven’t done lately.
I need your help to raise the remaining funds for the Cambodia trip. The deadline will be here soon, within the next 2 weeks. So please consider partnering with me. We will be doing construction at New Life Orphanage in Batdambang. Details on how you can give are here. We are leaving May 7th so it’s less an month away!
We’ve also got the Atlanta Metblog back to life. Go here to check it out. We’re doing a series right now on songs about Atlanta.
Tomorrow is Good Friday and I’m excited about the service at Buckhead Church. Last year’s service left many of us speechless. They’ve put in a lot of work this year so I’m certain this year will prove great as well. I love that our church makes a big deal about Easter. Easter is the core of our faith as followers of Christ.
One last thing. If you live in Atlanta your help is needed on an urgent issue. MARTA was denied access to its own funds due to an inept state legislature. Go here to read Thomas Wheatley’s excellent coverage of the story. Please go here for info on how you can act.
Today marks 4 weeks unemployed. It hasn’t been bad at all. I’ve had lots of time to think and reflect. I haven’t worked out this much in years. Been hitting the gym 6, sometimes 7 times a week.
Have watched lots of movies. Have watched little or no TV. I’ve shifted all my TV watching to the Internet. The shows I watch: Damages, 24 and Late Nite with Jimmy Fallon are online at Hulu.com. My attitude towards TV has shifted like many others with Tivo and DVRs. I watch what I watch when I want and with no commercials.
The other time is spent looking for jobs. I keep a spreadsheet of every single action I take. The spreadsheet shows that I’m doing something and reminds me of all the things I’ve done which is encouraging.
Yesterday I met with The Creative Group. They are a staffing agency for creative professionals in advertising and marketing. I won’t speak on the job we talked about. If I get it then you’ll know.
I have some inside help at Apple Computer. They are not hiring right now but when things thaw out that is a definite contender. I love the Apple brand and I think it would be a good fit for me.
There are other leads as well but I won’t speak on them because I nothing is certain and I don’t want to jinx myself.
Thanks for all of you who are praying for me. It definitely helps. I know God is in control. My prayer is that He uses this trial for His glory.
This week I sent support letters to many of you asking for your prayers and support for a trip I’m taking to Cambodia. I will be going with others from my church from May 7th to May 16th. I came across this video this morning. Please watch it. Know that if you decide to support our trip you will be directly helping and affecting orphans in Cambodia.
You may donate online at https://ssl.northpoint.org/ssl/globalx/giving.html. Choose “Cambodia” from the country list and choose “Cambodia Construction 1 – May 7 – May 16.” If you donate online then please type James Staubes in the individual field. All contributions are 100% tax deductible.
Write me at jam@jamsmooth.com if you’d like to know more. Thank you!
My first week of unemployment was a busy one. I worked on the house. I had a meeting with my former boss at MDI. I went to a job fair, well I attempted to go a job fair but didn’t get in, nor did hundreds of others.
Thanks to all of you who are praying for me during this time. Please don’t stop!
How am I doing? I am at peace. I know God is with me. I know I must be obedient, seek His will and everything will be fine. I’m exploring careers that a few years ago I never thought were possible for me. I’m excited to see where I’ll end up.
It takes time to get some traction. There are no interviews or true leads just yet. I’m confident something good will happen in time.
Thanks again. Please keep praying for me.
Today I was laid off from my job of 3 and a half years. The news took me completely by surprise. I leave on good terms and with the possibility of coming back if things change.
Having never been fired or laid off from a job before, this is a first. It’s a strange mix of excitement, fear and opportunity.
I came across Romans 8:31 just the other day which says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” All I’ll say to that is Amen!
I feel strong in my faith. I feel like I don’t have any choice but to put everything on God. I’m reminded of 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”
I’m still processing all of this. It’s definitely hit me. Yet I feel calm. I’m not freaking out. I know that on the other side of this something great is waiting. I don’t know what’s in the immediate future other than leveraging my contacts in this city for connections and jobs.
I want to do something creative. I want to work with a team creating advertising, videos, music, novels, movies, TV shows or environments. I’ve got loads of business experience. I get things done quickly and efficiently. I’m resourceful and loyal. I’m a quick learner. I’m a leader. I’m great working with others. I love music, film and the act of creating.
If you know of something write me at jam@jamsmooth.com. My resume is ready to go.
If you pray, please pray for me. Thanks and I’ll keep JamSmooth.com updated with the latest.
Skydiving
My brother, G and I went skydiving in July at Skydive The Farm. I must do this again. The adrenaline rush lasted an hour. You see the world in an entirely new way.
Kenya
Going on my first foreign mission trip included many firsts: first flight to Africa, first time at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, first time in Kenya and first time in a real 3rd world country. 2009 may bring another opportunity to serve in another country.
Album
I released my first solo album. You can download it here.
Couchsurfing
First I was wary of this. However when I went to San Francisco in October I stayed with 2 different CouchSurfing hosts. It was safe, fun and I saw San Francisco from the local perspective.
MARTA
When gas prices exploded I decided to use MARTA. My buddy was a veteran at that point so after asking lots of questions I did it. It was frustrating at first. I found that MARTA is reliable and fun. The cast of characters at the stations, the rails and buses always entertain.
Novel
I’d heard about NaNoWriMo before and wanted to do it. This year I had an idea for a story and decided to go for it. Every single day in November found me writing. Honestly I haven’t touched the novel since the contest was over but I’ll finish the story. I made it this far. This experience proved challenging but extremely rewarding.
What about you? What did you do for the first time in 2008?
Whether or not your candidate won, history has been made. Never in my life have I seen such excitement towards politics. I’ve loved politics since I was a teenager. Inspired by my high school Civics teacher, Mr. David Brogdon, I developed a passion for politics. This election resurrected my passion for politics after many years of being jaded.
I’ve been purposely silent here during this election. I didn’t feel like endlessly debating about who is right and wrong. I didn’t want to expose myself to that. It’s ugly and it doesn’t solve anything. Now that’s over and we have our new president.
Listening to a podcast from Sandals Church I was reminded of the verses from Romans 13. Verses 1 and 2 say, “1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” As a follower of Christ I must submit to whoever is in authority.
Reading the status comments on Facebook I see a lot of people are bewildered, afraid and disappointed by Obama’s win. Now they know how I felt in 2000 and 2004. I voted for Gore and Kerry, not because I liked them but because I didn’t like Bush. My vote for Obama was very much the same logic. He was the lesser of two evils for me.
Can’t McCain supporters give Obama a chance? Republicans have had 8 years and the country spoke loud and clear on what it thinks of that leadership. To all my fellow believers out there, look closely at the scripture from Romans. Listen to that podcast from Sandals on the election. Remember that God is in control. God has chosen Obama as the leader to serve His will.
The message from Sandals so convicted me that I’d write the same words had McCain won. I want to see America put aside the partisanship and unite. That is what Jesus would want. He wants us to respect who He has put into power. We don’t have to agree with everything Obama does. However there are fundamental issues we can all agree on: unity, love and service.
Obama is a not a socialist. He won’t be successful in this country with socialist policies. America is a centrist country. Look at what happened with all the gay marriage propositions. They failed. Even Prop 8 failed in California, the most liberal state in our country.
God has chosen Obama to accomplish His plans just as He chose Bush. I didn’t like Bush and I wish I would’ve read this passage in Romans years ago. It would’ve saved me some strife. If you find yourself in an argument about politics remember, God is in control so put your trust in Him, not any man.
