Merry Christmas just isn't saying enough.... So here is my Christmas prayer for you and yours...

Friday 12/25/2009

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas seems just so over used.... So here is my Christmas prayer for you and yours...

May you know how much God truly loves you on this day and how special you are in His eyes. There is no one else on the planet who holds your place. Even if you have a twin, there is not another like you who holds your place in this world. Even if there were not another soul on the planet, he would have sent Jesus (the Baby who was King) just to rescue you. He also wants to give you wisdom, strength and courage to face whatever comes. You simply can humbly ask as would a little child.

You see, we are born into a natural family but adopted into a spiritual one. Our earthly fathers (though there are many fine ones) are far from perfect. Natural birth carries with it a certain set of attributes, attitudes and some measure of inheritance. Spiritual rebirth brings an inheritance that transcends the natural predisposition. There are spiritual rights, privileges and promises that are ours by faith and adoption by Our Heavenly Father. Our spiritual family joins us to a King and a Kingdom and a Royal Birthright. Our Heavenly Father, the King knows each of us better than a natural father ever could and He has set promises and decrees that provide for us if we will but discover them and receive them by faith. May you discover your birthright as a child of the King.

I am reminded on this day of our freedom to choose truth and life and love. Giving you choice to accept and believe or to reject even His existence is a sign of love and freedom and respect for you and your dignity. You see, if God required or forced our love, it wouldn't really be love would it? If we weren't given the choice to believe (or not), we wouldn't be made in the image of an infinitely creative creator who holds ultimate freedom for all time. While we cannot choose what the world brings us, we certainly can choose our response to each new day's arrival and the adventures it brings us.

May life giving thoughts frame your world. May truth and God's Word (both written and spoken) light your path and guard your heart. May clarity be yours and abundance of true wealth. May you grow in the depth of love, insight, wisdom and tenderness with your creator and with those around you. May you grow in the knowledge of who God is and who you were created to become and stay the course in that journey.

May you choose truth, life and love consistently..

Believing for God's best for a great 2010 with you...

Shalom,

Matthew and Amy Ledford and the Ledford family

ps

We all have thoughts that frame our world, lenses as to how we see things. Sometimes our world of experience causes our thoughts and view to get clouded or even broken. Our thoughts and lenses can become colored with disappointment, unforgiveness, bitterness, rejection, cynicism. Usually, these are rooted in lies that we adopt that bind us to a small distorted place that is far less than God's best for us. I pray you be refreshed and renewed to shake off anything that would keep you living in a place that is less than worthy of your birthright.

"This is your life, are you who you want to be?" Switchfoot Concert was AWESOME Tonight!

Switchfoot Concert was AWESOME Tonight! Took Jordan and Summer and they loved it!

We saw lots of friends, the Orange Peel had the sound RIGHT!

They played the entire Hello Hurricane Album and our favorite older stuff!!!

Thanks Switchfoot for a great concert!

ML OOO Dec 4-14, Email Amnesty Day Declared 12/15/09

Dear Friends, Clients, Colleagues (or "Spammers" if the 'shoe fits'),

I'm out of the office from essentially 12/4/09-12/14/09 in Nicaragua with limited cell phone and internet access. (We do expect to have power, indoor toilets and running water occasionally-just in case you wondered.)

If I owed you an email or otherwise had a ball on my side of the court before Delta removes me from North America, please accept my apology.

Friends, As does most of America now, I'll be checking and posting on Facebook first while travelling and when I return first. If you haven't heard me say it yet: "Facebook is the New Top Drawer of the Email Inbox. " There, I've said it and this is the proof. This is also where I'll blog and post links to our trip photos and videos as power and time allow.

Colleagues, After I check Facebook, I'll peek at my inbox at Linked-In.

Clients, I have designated the following really cool FastPivot Team Members and their unique talents to cater to your every whim while I'm out of North American airspace:

• New Accounts, Positivity and Very good alternating Texas and Yiddish accents: Leta Kreiger leta@fastpivot.com 888-770-8883 x327
• Business Affairs, HR, Payables, Receivables, My Appointment Calendar, AshevilleTriClub Business and Tireless Encouragement, etc Daphne Weimer dweimer@fastpivot.com 888-770-8883 x326

• Press Inquiries, Fan Club Applications, Marketing or Advertising Opportunities (and any mechanical issues with your bicycle) Jen Boos jen@fastpivot.com 888-770-8883 x312
  
• All things FastPivot Software, holding down the West Coast Office while simultaneously keeping the Golden Gate Bridge Golden and California from slipping into the ocean, Ken Lubeck ken@fastpivot.com 888-770-8883 x315

• Current Accounts, Vice President for Operations and Project Oversight and General Pooper Scooper, Sweeper & Clean Up Batter where all the above leave off- Keith Enloe kenloe@fastpivot.com 888-770-8883 x302

Given that incredible matrix of coverage and masterpiece of delegation, I hereby declare December 14-15th (depending upon your time zone Aussie and Kiwi Friends) as EMAIL AMNESTY DAY!

On this day, I'll archive all my email for the year to date and will start with a fresh inbox and new ideas.

If you have something that needs specifically my attention and doesn't fit any of the above categories, please contact me again after 12/15/09 and I will read it from my squeaky clean inbox.

Sincerely,

Matthew Ledford

President,

FastPivot LLC and FastPivotSoftware.com

ps... If you are synchronous and retro enough, you could also call the office sometime after 12/15 at 828-225-8883 x301 and I'll do my best to answer!

PPS... Spammers, even though you aren't reading this... Don't call me, I'll call you. Merry Christmas! ;-)

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call or contact Daphne (dweimer @fastpivot.com) at 828-225-8883 x326 and she can help you!

Google Commerce Search, it is a gamechanger? Where is Yahoo?

Product search is such a critical feature of most sites and is lacking in many as the product inventory grows... Google brings another solution to the table -however at a serious price!

"The pricing model for Google Commerce Search is based on the number of products/items (SKUs) in your data feed and the number of search queries entered on your site each year. Pricing starts at $50,000 per year."

I think we can improve store search for a price that is far less...

in reference to:

"Visitors spend an average of just eight seconds before deciding whether or not to remain on a website, so having a good search tool is important for turning visitors into buyers. Google Commerce Search is hosted by and uses Google search technology to make online retail searching both fast and customizable"
- Official Google Blog: Introducing Google Commerce Search: Finding holiday gifts faster (view on Google Sidewiki)

Flock+Univision=Spanish Browser for 22mil Hispanics

Very excited about the Flock/Univision.com partnership. This is a good reach into a growing vibrant and social market that has been under served! A sign of things to come!

in reference to:

"Of the 22 Million Hispanics who are online today, 40% frequently spend time on social networks like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. With the Univision Edition of Flock, this vibrant and fast-growing community can now remain connected to their friends, their favorite social networks, and stay up to date with the best Spanish content available from Univision."
- Flock Browser - Flock Teams Up With Univision To Distribute Spanish Language Flock Browser | Flock (view on Google Sidewiki)

It's a small world after all...

Today, I spoke to our team across all the timezones in the US in one simultaneous screen sharing conference call. Then later in the day I was on Skype, having IM conversations with great people in Guatemala and Israel simultaneously... Amazing...

Bring A Blessing to Children in Nicaragua This Christmas!

I’d like to share with you an opportunity. Good things are worth sharing in our journey of faith... I invite you to take this opportunity to join us and help us minister to ‘the least of these’.

In 2007, I first went with to Nicaragua with Tim Skinner and a great group of men! This December, I'm exciting to return with a group that includes my son Jordan!!

The PROJECT: Christmas Gift Bag Distribution and feeding programs and documentary work in coordination with Vision Nicaragua and “Children of Destiny” orphanages with Missionary Sandy Carter.

My challenge to you:

· To Pray as the Holy Spirit directs

· To Give as God prompts

· To consider going on a future trip this Spring or Summer

· To share this opportunity to make a difference with others

Locations in Nicaragua: Bethel, Managua, Jinotega, Los-Cedros, Los Brasilias

When: Dec 5^th through the 13^th

Cost per team member (all inclusive): $1500. Includes: Materials & supplies for the feeding locations/orphanage, flight, food, housing, resources for the children of Nicaragua, supplies for the Christmas outreaches.

Mission/Ministry focus: Reaching remote communities and orphanages with the love of Jesus and Vision Nicaragua Christmas Gift Bags-food and blessing with resources, building relationships with the Nicaraguan people, and providing ministry/celebration time for the kids at the orphanage and pre school feeding center.

Additional goals: Bringing all of our supporters and friends and family along on the internet via Facebook, Youtube my blog at and the VisionNicaragua.org blog!!! Documenting the work of VisionNicaragua and the missionaries and organizations doing great work in Nicaragua!

Go with us in prayer! I really covet your prayers. I recognize prayer is the ‘air cover’ without the ‘airfare’. Many of you are on this list specifically because I know you are prayer warriors. I will confess I am still a bit anxious about being away from family and our internet retail business in December. My prayer is that the business will be stronger and even more profitable as a result and will help provide for many more such trips.

Be a part of the team by giving financially as the Holy Spirit prompts. Many of you know the team and the mission we are visiting and your giving will go directly to benefit the children. This mission will be to complete a feeding location, kitchen and shelter where the children will be fed and led by a team of Nicaraguans. During feeding times, the leaders also share the Gospel the love of Christ with the children and give hope...

Checks made out to:

My Church: Highland Christian Church

or

Our sending organization: Vision Nicaragua or give online at VisionNicaragua.org

I do apologize for the short notice; our departure is only weeks away (Dec 5th). If you want to invest in the future of Nicaragua, please send your check today to:

Vision Nicaragua
PO Box 2172
Fairview NC 28730

In the note line of your check please simply mark the word “December Missions Trip”. Please do not put my name on the check.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27 (NKJV)

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matt 25:30 (NIV)

Attending Internet Retailer in Boston? We are meet us there!!

This is the must attend conference of the year for our E-tailers! Over the years, this conference continues to grow and improve!

The Internet Retailer 2009 Conference & Exhibition offers a wide variety of conference registration options, all of which have been priced at last year's levels even as the content of the conference has been greatly increased.

FastPivot is scheduling appointments with current clients and partners! Call 828-225-8883 x1 and talk to Colin for an appointment with one of our team in Boston!

IRCE 2009 Conference & Exhibition

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Fight of Our Life Health Tour-Kirk Franlin Partnering with AHA 4 Stroke Awareness! How cool is this!

Given that I have close friends whose lives have been altered by stroke, I am excited to see more awareness developing on avoiding, treating and dealing with stroke.

I'm also proud to be associated with one of FastPivot's newest community-ecommerce strategy clients StrokeResources.com! This community will help develop a support network of resources of those whose lives have been altered by the effects of stroke.

I'm very proud that Kirk Franklin would partner with the American Heart Association! Even more that AHA would choose to partner with Kirk!!!!

Lets all go to the concerts and support them, shall we!!!?? Bring them to the Carolinas or ATL for us!! !

Go Kirk! I'm crankin' up the Fight of My Life on the speakers right NOW IN CELEBRATION !!
Fight of Our Life Health Tour

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Seriously fine Spring morning for the HayMed Triathlon This Morning!

Around one hundred folks participated in the HayMed Triathlon today around the Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, NC. The weather and conditions couldn't have been better! The staggered (300 yd) swim start makes it truly a race against the clock, but everyone raved about the ease of the swim and the beauty of the bike (10mi) course (sans hill from last year).

The 5k run on the other hand didn't disappoint for those looking for a challenge. What would a mountain tri course be without a couple hills worthy of respect, especially for flat landers?

This was a good early season baseline for many and had quite a few first time triathletes! The great thing about sprint tris, is that almost anyone can complete one! I love them because they are such a great celebration of life, wellness rolled in with a healthy dose of challenge!

This is the third event of the Asheville Tri Grand Prix Series a points series for AshevilleTri.com members to enjoy racing throughout the season. Consider checking out the next three events coming up:

• Xterra Uwharrie Triathlon May 3
• Clemson Triathlon May 16
• Enka Triathlon @Biltmore Lake June 13

No, I personally didn't race this one but did photos and 'encouragement'! Hope to see you next time at a race soon! Register early as races can fill and reach capacity weeks in advance of the event!

Results forthcoming at The Asheville Tri Club Website-Blog

For more photos visit...


Great job Gloryhound Events, Setup Events and our thanks to the Haywood Regional Medical Center and Fitness for hosting such a great event!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Happy New Year! Locate faith and hope anyone?

I don't think I've heard too many folks complaining about the end of 2008. Many of the things Americans put their hope, security and trust in were shaken this year. Real estate, the stock market and even employment and trust in our banking system are all in question. You see, our faith determines the value we place upon things. It also determines the direction things go.

In a few weeks, we will have another President. History is being made and he will face unparalleled economic and political challenges . I am expectant, hopeful and encouraged by the changes but I am quite concerned that the "Hope" he represents to many will be a high (and perhaps even impossible ) bar to attain.

This New Years Eve, we spent in Naples, Fla watching the sunset with some family and friends. It was awesome! Despite the fact that the value of Naples real estate has evaporated, there was still a beautiful celebration of the New Year arriving.

On the beach, as the sunset disappeared into the water, I was grateful and filled with joy and hope for our future. Not because we have a new President, or new administration or even because of the economic stimulus package is coming. I am hopeful because the sunrise and the sunset are daily dramatic reminders that God is still in control. No matter the temporal circumstances, there is another level to things that we may perceive but don't always see or understand. I am reminded that if we put our faith and hope in things that are temporal or even in very talented people, ultimately we will be disappointed. I'm also reminded that being challenged and uncomfortable aren't necessarily bad things. So as we enter 2009 boldly, let us consider these words from the Message:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced out into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

The current state of America will not respond to a quick fix. Fundamental truths, values and foundations must be re-established for any change to be lasting.

So may each of us learn lessons from our past, be prepared to work through the process and show our 'true colors' of what it is to live a life worth living. May God help us become a nation worth following again by collectively reestablishing faith, hope and value in things that are good and true. These are the things that ultimately will stand the test and tides of time.