A weird Industry (Adoption Relief Part 2)

1. I stumbled upon a niche industry. Lets be clear, it is an industry. There is a LOT of money exchanging hands for a product AND a service.

2. It is slightly untypical because in the industry, the "manufacturers" are typically inconsistent (they dont start producing and continue) in production capacity, vary dramatically in product configuration, and have hyper-dynamic and hyper-critical cycles of production (they will deliver product within x amount of time, and all have different specific needs within a greater set of typical requirements).

3. It is complicated, because the legal issues involved dont permit direct connection between the "buyer" (or "end user") and the mfg. In fact, there is a set of "distributors" and/or "dealers" that represent the mfg, and you can only truly accomplish what you want by using them.

4. These "dealers" have a vested interest in you not understanding or knowing how to navigate the process. They are in fact "agencies", and in almost all cases are the holders of the keys. It is possible to go outside the agencies, but the agencies will share with you horror stories of what can happen to you if you dont use them.

5. The nature of the "transaction" has an inherent emotional context that renders both sides of the transaction extremely vulnerable.

6. The reality of product preference is very strong. The demand side wants a typical profile of product, and yet the mfg have basically no ability to influence the product.

7. Therefore, the market itself creates a dramatic price premium on certain product. It is so similar to a futures market it is surprising. It is very unregulated except for the distributors. I even heard a "dealer" claim they "discount" specific product, however I dont believe it. If they can do business for a discounted rate, and still stay in business, then by definition, it is still profitable. Therefore, they are actually either ABLE to charge more for one product than another, or at best use the discounted product as a "loss leader".

8. The main issue the dealers have is they understand all the processes, represent the mfg by having what seems to be an "exclusive contract" on the product, and have the unique right to administer the exchange process.

9. To my understanding, this makes the whole market a dealer (3rd party) managed, supply side driven market. The "consumer" has very little ability to influence the market, and very little ability to direct the transaction except for to set a price/budget, and follow directions.

The fact this industry is dealing with a moral issue is what brings this whole thing into perspective. It is not right to claim that the people involved are evil, or morally off. In fact, most people probably get involved for many good reasons. But the reality is, this industry seems to be very flawed, very complex, and very "proprietary"for the most part. In fact, at its best, it is a really messed up, labor intensive, cost intensive thing that brings great joy to people, and at worst, seems to emulate the very industry it stand in direct opposition to.

I have come to the conclusion that the infrastructure is overly bloated, complex, and totally incapable of handling the current load of product, the supply chain is grossly mismanaged, the delivery mechanisms are inefficient, and the ability of the sales channel to effectively serve the market is to convoluted to work well long term.

There has to be a market revolution.

It has to change from a supply side, dealer managed process to an efficient, demand driven, demand managed, dealer transparent model where the marketplace can initiate the process, self educate, automate all data processing, and eliminate as much of the overhead as possible. This will allow the demand to outstrip the supply.

The "dealers" in the marketplace will simply become mechanical agents able to process hundreds (if not thousands) or transactions a month. The margins will be razor thin, and highly competitive, because the "tribal knowledge" aspect will be eliminated. The process will become self evident, and normal. I picture it as very similar to the real estate market. The transaction itself is fairly common, the choice of the agent in more of convenience and service than actual difference in transaction control. Or similar to the many online brokerages that allow you to trade yourself, supervised by rules and regulations that are automated.

The "mfg" will find themselves in a situation where it is so easy to find a qualified buyers en masse (in fact, they find a huge void of product, and overwhelming demand), that they can easily solve their production problem within hours or days and have the same confidence level that many other high intensity, high emotion transactions currently do (i.e. selling a house, selling a car etc...).


The "buyers" will find themselves able to conduct the transactions far more easily than ever before. Technology is a huge part of this, as well as a "Wal Mart" approach to the process. Large scale, high volume transaction is only possible with solid technology on both sides,a nd agressive management and attention to demand. Just as Wal-Mart is able to know constantly the state of affairs in any store, on any product, and feed that data back to its supply chain, this industry has to automate most of the data transactions to the point of ubiquity, and invisibility. The buyer will be aware of very little, and yet confident in the consistency and integrity of the transaction.

As well, the ability for a buyer to go find this transaction should be as easy and close and typical as a local store. It shouldnt be arduous or require special effort to accomplish.

this is all still very rough in my mind, but I will tell you this, Im ready to do something about it. Even in a little way. I might be grandiose in my concepts, but this will get very practical, very soon. If the profit motive can be removed in this, to the point where this "industry" crumbles, and the ability for more and more people to commit themselves to this process faster, easier, cheaper, while improving the integrity and respect the mfg deserves, Im happy.

I would burn this mother down if I could.

Until then, I will make an attempt to invade it, change it, rail against it, and rally for it all at the same confusing time. It is time to take practical, pragmatic steps to help people adopt children. To level the playing field, and bring babies into their destiny. Its time for Adoption Relief.

AdoptionRelief

I attended an adoption seminar put on by by an adoption consultant team from Georgia. They have established an adoption consultant out here in KC that we think is wonderful. I sat and watched my friends speak, and saw a room filled with people who are about ready to put themselves in front of a tsunami of sorts, and I was thrilled.

Danielle and I fully intend on adopting, and the debate was whether we adopt before we have biological children, or after, or intermixed. Due to our own biology, it is decided at least that we will have biological children first, and possibly interweave our children as time goes forth.

Many of my close friends know and have supported my interest in this for years. I tried to figure out how I could ever adopt myself, but had to settle for simply anonymously contributing to adoption, and now the possibility and reality of adopting myself is so exciting.

I am excited that Danie is pregnant, and the challenges of a new baby are sometimes daunting. You would think I would be confident, and in some ways I am. In others, I simply think "Having babies is for young people"!!! LOL. Turning 38 in a few weeks I realize Im just not the same as I was 13+ years ago!

But a part of me is just as excited in adopting. The experience, and the challenge. The reality that there is someone out there God is keeping ready for me to have in spite of the nature of unplanned or unwanted pregnancy is fascinating.

However the one thing that keeps coming up is the inevitable difficulty of adoption itself. Honestly, I dont know that it should ever be easy enough to be undertaken lightly. It is as much a sacrament to me as any other example because the power of desiring a child that you did not conceive is an eternal testimony to the transcendent message of Gods love. In fact, Im paying out of pocket for our bio-child, and an adopted child will probably be much more expensive. The cost, the investment, the labor will in some ways be greater to go get this baby than having one naturally.

But once the commitment is made, the process is much, much too difficult. Especially in light of what I believe is a coming wave of obedience and repentance about this issue by the body of Christ. The simple reality of the current status of adoptions necessitates a different model, let alone the reality of a much hoped for change in the ability of women to abort children and add an overwhelming amount of orphans into a broken system.

In attending this seminar, I realized that while I could continue to pour my efforts into generating revenue to donate, I have other skills and abilities that bring help. By nature, Im a crazy odd combination of skill sets that allow me to be creative, and analytical at the same time. I dont know how or why. Data structures and process make sense to me. And in listening to the presentation, I realized a few things, and they connected. Some are obvious, and some are silly, and some are my personal convictions. And I hope to provide some "Adoption Relief" coming soon.

This might have clinched it for me...

This guy might have my vote. Forget about the conservative stance on almost every issue that is consistent with mine, I dont recall an actual candidate on SNL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hac-UHi56Xc

Home Alone 27

Im home alone again...

This time, my wife AND my oldest took off to Ohio. They are going to a baby shower for Danielle. I sent them off with a rental car, and a chocolate nirvana from Dunn Brothers.

I can only imagine the quantity and the quality of the words being spoken during a 10 hour road trip.... Me and Zeb are happy to be here by ourselves.

Judah is supposed to come over Saturday, and me and her are going to see a movie. And eat junk food.

I think this is the 4th trip to Ohio since we have been here. It can wear on a guy. I think I am taking up the cause of my late and great father in law. When Kathy came ot help us move, the poor guy was at home, and couldnt find his glasses and it was a running joke. He kept calling,a nd we could hear Kathy try to help him look for them. I get kind of lost now without Danielle. I dont know how I ever made it through 8 years of living alone.

Im glad about my whole life, and her and Bebas absence truly makes my heart grow fonder for them.

More Loose Cannons

I believe that the power inherent in Abortion (the murder of children) lies squarely in the direct disobedience of the Body of Christ to the Law of God.

If there was a lack in the amount of unwanted or unplanned children (orphans) waiting to be brought into homes, and a subsequent honoring of women pregnant or not, a woman finding herself pregnant would find it very comfortable idea ot donate her baby to a list of thousands of loving families waiting anxiously for a baby.

At this point, any woman who can either be coerced into destroying her child would be though extremely selfish and corrupt, or completely misled and manipulated.

That is my thoughts so far. I dont know if I am right, but I believe I am. I know people who have had abortions, and they felt they had no real alternative that wasn't terribly damaging. Many were then further manipulated by other people with VESTED interests (boyfriends, abortion providers who make $$ of this, a general bias against being inconvenienced etc...)

If they were instead honored, and esteemed for their choice to bear life forth, if women were not subjugated to misogynistic theology, social deviance, and general dishonor, the revelation of the inherent mystery of God in female form would demand the birth of joy of the child.

I know women who not only gave up their babies for adoption, but endured PERSECUTION FROM WITHIN THE LOCAL "CHURCH"!!! And yet they persevered.

Im not against anyone who has had an abortion. I feel grieved that no one I know who endured that indignity by others is able to deal with it well without some kind of justification based more on their own subjective experience rather than the awesome reality of life.

ADOPT, ADOPT, ADOPT. Help people Adopt. Encourage them, sacrifice for them, and participate with them. It is obedience to the plain instructions of the Law, and the Prophets, and the Messiah as well as His followers.

Solve the Adoption Problem

Im going to say this out loud to more than just my intimate friends. Im going to take my life band off today. Im weary of the rhetoric and the stand against abortion in the ekklesia, and the focus it has taken away from the real solution.

I love the passion and the intentions. I think it is great. I have just come to a conclusion that I hope will have more revelation and clarity in the future for me. Over the last few years, I have felt this more and more, and I am now convinced. This is only to the people who claim to be the called out ones of messiah (you might call yourselves "Christians").

If you want to see abortion stopped, get obedient to the Torah already given thousands of years ago. Had the "church" understood the heart of God in regards to adoption, and His concerns for the widow, the fatherless and the alien, abortion would have been marginalized to begin with.

Adopt. Period. James wasnt making up something new. He was a Jew who was explaining Torah. Caring for widows and orphans in their distress isnt a New Testament thing. It is a God thing.

Stop praying against something. This may sound shocking to people. It wont work. You cannot disobey the clear command of God and be successful in your petitions for something else.

I have heard people finally speaking out agressively about this topic over the last year or so. Thank goodness. If you cannot adopt, financially support it on someone else. Go baby sit for couples who are stressed and tired and need a break. Help fix their house, do ANYTHING to turn your face and heart to the reality.

Think about the logistics. 3700 babies a day murdered, or living in cribs untouched and uncared for? If God were to grant you your request, are you willing to commit to 120,000,000 orphans that are currently out there in the world, and 90,000 + new ones a month (just in America)?

These things are finally being talked about on public platforms, but in essence the issue is millenia old. Obey God, or dont. We can preach the logistics, or we can call one another to Love and Good Deeds. We can facilitate the body with our gifts and our callings.

Consider the possibility that if the church continues to refuse the adoption issue, what is Gods alternative? In my mind, and my limited human thinking, I believe we might even see a wave of what will look like a curse in the body. Women unable to conceive naturally. It will seem like something is wrong, but if that is what it takes to force us into adoption, then fine.

I have a baby on the way naturally. Im excited. But I also want children from the hole of being unwanted or uncared for. Im planning on this. I intend to do this. Until I am able I am sowing into adoptions. I have every intention of walking up to God, and asking for my harvest. I have sown for years, and have never asked God for anything based on that. But in this category, I fully intend to ask Him for all the Grace (financial and other) to successfully fulfill the mandate of caring for the widow the orphan and the alien. And however many God tells me to do, I will do my best. In my weakness, I will at least turn my face towards Him in this.

I challenge you to think about this. If I could make you, I would.

So I cannot continue to stand "against" something, and claim Im "standing" for something else. You can pray all day and fast all you want. But do something tangible about this. In a few hours, I go intercede. My intercession is to bill customers for money, and give it to people adopting and caring for widows, orphans and aliens oppressed by war.

Its hard to believe Im thinking this way...

2 or 4 years ago (I cannot remember which one) I just happenned to be watching the Democratic National Convention. I have no idea why. I saw Barack Obama speak, and I thought to myself

"This guy scares the crap out of me. I think many people have been praying against the wrong person. If this guy ever runs for president, and I bet he will, hes got more power and influence than Clinton ever has". I cannot remember who I said it to, but I said it to someone else ot make sure I had a reference point for 2008.

Over the last year we have learned a lot about this guy, and he is even worse than Clinton. I am not a Republican, nor a democrat. In fact, I dont think Im a registered voter any longer, or if I am, I cannot recall but I think it was Green Party.

I am a social conservative on some things. My main issues are not war against terrorism, or fiscal responsibility. Those things are important. But not the most pressing issue to me is the ending of the facilitation of child murder. I truly believe it is wrong to help a woman kill a fetus. Im not against women who have done this. I dont supposed any moral superiority, and I dont think that action is worse than any other actions, including being a hyper religious zealot loading up the backs of earnest believers with dogma and rules, and legalisms that cause them to stumble. Or lying. Or Unfaithfulness.

I dont believe that the President of the US is capable of stopping this. In my limited understanding, all a President can do is get the opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court Justice and hope the Supreme Court will overturn a previous decision. And then at that point, there is still no change. It simply goes to where it ought to have been (Constitutionally speaking), which is down to the state level. Then Each State has to decide if they support this. In the big picture, the Federal government ought to outlaw this, which would supercede States Rights.

Anyhow, to think the President is somehow going to change the heart of a woman who wants to kill her baby for her own convenience is ludicrous. I agree with Chuck Colson in that the role of government is to suppress evil, the role of the ekklisia is to live and demonstrate and influence unto morality based on the revelation of Gods Law.

But this group of people scare me. Especially Obama. He has too much Charisma. All he is is a state senator. He has no experience running organizations (Senators dont in general), he has no experience interacting with foreign policy, and he is more radical than Clinton. Im actually beginning to hope Clinton is the choice of her party, as I think she has the greatest shot to lose, whereas Obama will trounce anyone against him barring a miracle. Ive said all along, if they would have made Clinton run, with Obama as a VP, they would be all but elected right now. Thank goodness for egos.

You didnt realize my secret job...

If you look at the last 5 minutes of the video you will se me a few years back when my hair was short...

Busted. Oh well.

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1405714058

Not all who are wandering are LOST

Ummm this is my favorite Jackson Bohlender video so far. He really doesnt understand the subtleties of LOST, but he does provide keen insight into Canadian Eschatology.


Eschatology with Jackson #1 from Jackson Bohlender on Vimeo.

Not Kathie Wheeler Approved

I am well aware my wife is the most glamourous lady in the world, and especially the cutest pregnant lady in the universe....


But did you know she also does home decorating? Not only that but she also is very UNSAFE!!!!


This is what I walked in on just this morning. Notice no safety net, harness or anything!!!