Jesus Too?

January 7, 2013 — Leave a comment

As I ease back into the waters of blogging, I thought I’d share this with you.

Today is a bittersweet day.  My dad beat cancer and went to Jesus on July 29th last summer.  I miss him.  I guess I had not realized how much our relationship had evolved into deep and true friendship over the last few years.  One common mark in our friendship, and evidence that he “raised me right” was our love for Alabama football.  :)   Since 2007, I can only think of one game we didn’t watch together.  The fact that ‘our’ team is playing tonight for the NCAA National Championship is a bittersweet event.

I’m following a Youversion.com Bible reading plan on prayer from the New Living Translation.  This morning was a passage I’ve read many times from John 17.  Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion.  This is the first time I’ve read the chapter in this translation, so something really stuck out this morning.

Jesus said, “Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”  (John 17:5 NLT)

Jesus is asking his Father to bring him home to perfect unity and relationship again.  No more separation from the gap of heaven and earth.  Once again in the full presence and relationship they had before.  Jesus is homesick for his Father.

I know this feeling.  If you’ve lost someone close to you, you know the feeling as well.

Hebrews 4:15 says, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”

Grief is still new territory I’m exploring everyday, so maybe that’s why I’m just now seeing how Jesus relates not just to our temptation, but our homesickness as well.

2012’s tragedies are remembered as shootings, hurricanes, job losses, cancer and tons more personal labels that may have fallen on your life.  Sorrow makes us homesick for a place of perfect relationship where things are made right.  Hopelessness magnifies hurt and sorrow and creates a vicious cycle of hurting ourselves and others leading to more hopelessness.

But hope sustains us.

I’m grateful to know I’m not alone.  Jesus has been there and knows the feelings of homesickness.  The desire to see my dad again and my Heavenly Father once and for all is a stirring in the heart that is right.

We’re not escapists.  We long to see God’s Kingdom and authority come to this earth, just like it happens in heaven at every moment.  But the tug on the heart for something greater and permanent is something Jesus felt as well.

What about you?  

  • What longings do you have in common with Jesus?
  • Who are you homesick to see?
  • What are you doing in the mean time, to complete the work of God in this broken world?

 

 

 

 

 

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Friday Fun

April 13, 2012 — Leave a comment

Wrapping up a great week, here’s a little laugh for you.  Watch how this guy finishes the race.

Fun to laugh at, for sure.  I wish I had those moves.

Lesson for the weekend.  If you make a mistake, turn it into something we can all laugh about together.  You do that, and no one will remember the mistake.  

Have you seen someone turn mistakes into laughter?

Have a great weekend.

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Trouble With Innovating

April 12, 2012 — Leave a comment

Even though it’s a joke, the sign says it all.

Sometimes leading the way in new thought means leading alone.  You may be misunderstood or simply not liked.  That’s not reason enough to stop changing the world.  

Keep doing your thing.  Keep creating and pushing the envelope.  Keep making a difference in the world around you.

And oh yes, you deserve a high five for your persistence.  :)

Who is someone you see stepping outside of the crowd to be different or lead differently?


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Everybody Loves to Take and Give

April 11, 2012 — Leave a comment

When I was 19 years old I was told by a doctor I needed hearing aids.  As a child I had recurring ear infections and over time it caused irreversible nerve damage.  Even though I’m still young, over the years my hearing has continued to decline.  Hearing loss is not measured in percentages and such a number is not an accurate or legitimate measurement of hearing loss.  But after pressing my audiologist, who is a personal friend, she told me if she could apply a number, I have lost about 40-45% of my hearing compared to ‘normal’ people.

There are pros and cons to hearing loss.  Obviously this makes conversation difficult.   It is very easy to tune people out when I need to.  :)

But the conversations are getting more difficult and I’ve discovered a cost effective way to purchase hearing aids.  (FYI, insurance does not cover hearing aids and anything good is the price range starting in the $3,000 range.)  Maybe that’s why I’ve been reluctant.

After 2 audiologists, 2 hearing tests, and a physical exam I am in the process of getting hearing aids.  Hopefully I’ll be set in a couple of weeks.

It’s funny how some friends have taken credit for this.  I’ve had comments like, “I guess you got tired of not hearing me, so you finally caved.”  Or “I guess I finally bugged you enough about getting hearing aids, that you finally listened to me.”

I know these things are said in jest, but I thought about how this is so common.  We love to take and give in each others’ lives.

We love to take credit.

Far too often “we” think our opinions matter to others far more than they do.  I’m guilty and have seen others take credit for decisions, actions and overall good things happening in the life of someone else, when reality is that person made good choices or God blessed them.

We love to give blame.

Again, it happens too often, but many of us have a tendency to place blame on someone or something as simple as clocks or calendars as to why the result was unwanted.  Rather than accept responsibility for our part, or acknowledge that sometimes life just isn’t as simple as we plan it, we play a blame game.  Blame is easier than accepting responsibility or unknowns.

We need to replace our love for taking credit and giving blame.

The cures?

Celebration – When people make the right decisions, choices and act in wisdom it’s time to celebrate.  Instead of looking for who gets the credit, offer encouragement to the person and celebrate their path and results.

Thanksgiving – We can be too quick to assign blame.  Have you ever thought of thanking God for this opportunity of “this mess.”  When decisions are unwise and chips are falling all around, thank God for giving you an opportunity to look to him for strength rather than doing life on your own.  Thank God for an opportunity to learn and grow.  Thank God for the opportunity for the chance to honor and glorify him for being with you in the tough times as well.

Taking credit and placing blame are easy.  Celebration and thanksgiving require pause and purpose.  But they are the healthier responses for you and the ones that overhear your celebration and thanksgiving.  It’s and example of humility and dependance on God.

I’ve yet to meet anyone who does not need to see more humility and dependence on God in this world.  

  • What are you celebrating right now?
  • What are you thanking God for right now?

 

 

 

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Listen to the Choir Not Just the Soloist

April 10, 2012 — Leave a comment

I’m a choir nerd.  From seventh grade through two bachelor’s degrees in college I was in choirs.  I was even elected president of the choir both in high school and in college.  Apparently, others knew I was a choir nerd as well.

Over the years I’ve heard great choirs and terrible ones as well.  I’ve heard songs [or “pieces” for us musical elites] performed by multiple groups, because they’re the standards many groups perform.  Many had solo parts, which means I’ve heard many soloists perform the same songs over the years.  I’ve heard different approaches to those solos.  Male versus female.  And unfortunately, really good singer versus the kind of singer you laugh at on the first few weeks of American Idol.  

One lesson I’ve learned is to listen to the choir, not just the soloist.  

Soloists are great because they carry the melody and give you the storfy or poetry through the lyrics.  But what they do is fairly simple.  Put it in the right key, and many singers can carry the same tune.

Listen to the choir and you’ll hear the music.

The choir adds the background, the foundation, they add dynamics and color to whatever the soloist is doing.  They provide harmony or sometimes the dissonance needed to bring more beauty or clarity to the solo.  A good soloist can only go so far, but a great choir can make a good soloist seem great.

Listening to the choir and not just the soloist is an important lesson for growing and developing.

There are many solo voices in most every field of thought.  You may be listening to a specific teacher, preacher, author, politician, reporter or most anyone who gives you a perspective.  But if you only listen to the “soloist” in an area of thought you’re being robbed of the “music” of thought.

For getting the full picture, you may need some “harmony” to confirm the voice you listen to the most.  You may need to have some “dissonance” to steer you clear of unhealthy, unfruitful or ungodly thinking.  You may need a chorus of voices giving you varying ‘dynamics’ and ‘rhythms’ of thoughts to draw conclusion from many thoughts over time, rather that repeating the words of the soloist without thought or processing.

3 Ways to Listen to the Choir

Listen - Listen to other preachers/teachers.  There are tons of podcasts for free on iTunes and other sources.  You can find podcasts on just about any topic you can imagine.  I recently heard of a new podcast launching and it’s basically a sports talk show on professional wrestling.  You can definitely find voices on topics far more important than pro wrestling commentary.

Look – Read different books and authors.  Read commentary from political opponents.  There are tons of blogs on the internet.  Use tools like Stumbleupon.com to find areas of interest and read new perspectives.

Learn – If necessary, force yourself to learn from the voices you have avoided to date.  Their voice added to the mix, may give your “soloist” the validation they need, or the confirmation you need that it’s time to change your way of thinking.  Sometimes, you need to hear the other side of the story to make sure you are on the right track.  People who are unwilling to listen to other people who have differing views are typically referred to as cults.

The voices of soloists don’t mean much without the choir.  You can’t simply listen to the solo and expect to have the full story in any area of thought.

So who are some of the “voices” you listen to and what are you learning?

 

 

 

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Lessons from a Bad Tip

March 28, 2012 — Leave a comment

A few weeks ago I shared a humorous picture of a tip left for a server.  The one below is more painful to see.

Restaurant servers are often times hard working people that get treated like crap by inconsiderate customers.  But all of us have to get really honest with ourselves for a second.

What if you were to get a “tip like this?  What if your next paycheck looked like this?

We’re all diverse in our work.  Some are self-employed.  Some are in sales and service.  Others in education or ministry or many more careers represented among people reading this.  And don’t forget about the stay at home moms and dads whose work is never-ending.

We all want to think we are hard workers.  We all want to think we work harder than recognition and compensation indicate.  We all think our schedules are fuller than everyone else on the planet.

Here are 3 ways to know if you’re earning your keep in your current position:

Worship – Read Colossians 3:17.  There’s not much room for discussion here.  The phrase “whatever you do” sums it up.  Are you taking the “whatever you do” in your life and making it something that is done in the name of Jesus.  This verse reminds us our work is first an act of worship, before it is a job.  Before we make a living, we have to have a life centered on Jesus in every way, and a heart of gratitude for giving us the ‘position.’

“Service With a Smile” – With the exception of places like Chick-Fil-A, it’s an obsolete expression.  As you do your work, do you ever think about who is going to benefit from what you do?  There’s an old story of a man passing a construction site and asked the workers what they were doing.  One replied, “I’m laying bricks.”  The second replied, “I’m building a Cathedral.”  One was focused on the tasks, probably with resentment.  The second knew he was making a difference in the lives of others by his chores for the day.  If you don’t take the time to see the long term benefits for others by what you do, you’re missing out on an opportunity to see tremendous impact that you and your tasks bring to the world.

Hidden Satisfaction – Not long ago I was setting up sound equipment for a worship service.  No one was around.  It was late on Saturday night.  As I was about to leave, I noticed something small and insignificant.  No one would even notice the difference had I left this “matter” unattended.  The only problem, I knew better.  It wasn’t a make or break, life or death situation at all.  It was simply a matter of excellence and effort.  I could have left, but I would have known that I had only given 99% effort.  Excellence in our work is often less about the visible result, and more about the internal effort.  If you know a better way, visible or invisible, and you don’t take the time to do it “better,” you are selling yourself short and not performing your work with excellence.  The satisfaction of a job well done is not about what others see, but knowing you have given your absolute best to the smallest, often unnoticed details.  

Everyday we get up and go to work, we have a chance to “earn” something more valuable than a paycheck or a tip; the joy of knowing we gave our best for the glory of God, the good of others and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Questions for you…

  • What’s the hardest part of your work?
  • What’s the most fulfilling part of your work?
  • What adjustments do you need to make and how can we pray for each other?
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WARNING: What You Create Will Respond

March 27, 2012 — Leave a comment

I’ve seen a lot of discussion on this and have been trying to understand the idea of creating culture.  I hope to write some blog posts in the future on this topic.

But WE ALL nee to understand this.  It’s important.

Without out getting into much theology, God created mankind.  The response of God’s creation at the root level is divided into 2 simple categories.  Creation either blesses or curses God as creator.  Every man and woman has responded in accepting and embracing God as Creator and choose to love him, or reject him as Creator and his authority in their lives.

This is important to understand, because each of us have a hand in “creating” culture around us.  In our families, jobs, churches, neighborhoods…you name it.  Most of us may not have a position of authority to be the ultimate say in these culture environments, but we are all contributors, producers and creators in the culture around us.  

Just like the image of God and his creation of mankind, we will get a response.  Sometimes there will be blessing, sometimes there will be curses.

I was thinking of this recently and here are just two examples of how this could unfold. 

If a leader in the workplace creates a culture focused more on production and survival of the fittest, the culture will eventually curse the leader when they become the weak link.  No one is at their best everyday.  In contrast, if a leader in the workplace creates a culture of growth, learning, trust, with space to make mistakes;  on the days the leader is in need, the leader will be blessed by the culture they have created.

If parents create a culture of of not listening to their younger children because other things are more important than the simple things at a young age, then the family culture will be cursed later when there is a need for communication and understanding when the kids are older.  If parents create a culture from the beginning that children are heard and valued this will be a blessing for the entire family.

Granted, part of any healthy culture that blesses includes discernment and self-control so no one is disrespected.  Maturity in the culture of the family, workplace, church, community etc…must be created and cultivated and not just expected or demanded on a one way street.

It is important for all of us to realize our presence and influence is part of creating and cultivating a healthy culture among the people we share life with everyday.  Because of our influence on the personal culture we are a part of, we have to think about, dream about and take steps toward creating what is healthy and what brings blessing for everyone who is a part.

What we create will respond to us at some point.  What will the culture you create say about you?  How will the culture you create treat you?

Questions for you…

  • What is the culture like in your home, job, church etc…?
  • How does your presence contribute to this culture?
  • What is your dream for your family, workplace, church, community etc…and the way you treat each other?
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The GOOD Kind of Murder

March 20, 2012 — Leave a comment

Colossians 3:4-6 (ESV)

4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

A couple of years ago I remember talking about this passage in a small group setting.  It was a gruesome and disgusting discussion, but we compared this passage to what would happen in real life.  If someone attempts to kill another, this does not happen without a battle.  The flesh does not give up without a fight.  

In Christ, we are new creations.  But there are things of the flesh that, only by the Spirits power (Romans 8), need to be put to death.  Killed.  Destroyed.  Murdered.

The earthly desires in us, in the flesh, are not timid wishes.  They are strong desires trying to pull us away from our greatest treasure and only hope, Jesus.  These must be put to death.  It’s only by the Spirit of Christ in us that this is possible.

This is just a brief reminder.  You’re not fighting alone.  The sins, addictions and idols that seem to never go away in your life must be put to death.  Only in Jesus is this possible.  This is the GOOD kind of murder.  Each time we put one of these desires to death, a greater desire for Jesus grows in our hearts.  

How can we pray for each other in this?

 

 

 

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Just Start Clicking

March 19, 2012 — Leave a comment

I’m a blog nerd.  I read lots of them.  I took a plunge recently and bought a dedicated reader instead of just using Google Reader.  I already had the iPhone app, so I figured I’d easily like the desktop app.  Only problem…I kind of hated it.  It was not at all what I wanted.

Then I just started clicking.

I found the windows I wanted.  The views I wanted.  The layout for reading that I wanted.  Before long, I had customized the app to be exactly what I wanted it to be.

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about creativity and just as a reminder…creativity is not limited to the arts.  It’s thinking outside the box to find the solution, idea or expression (art) that you’re looking for.

It’s amazing how many people say to me, “I’m not creative.”  They think this because they’ve never written a song or painted a masterpiece.  Creativity is bigger.  However, tapping into your creativity can be as simple as this:  Just start clicking.

You never know what ideas you’ll find.  You never know what solutions you’ll discover.  You never know what is on the other side of “clicking.”

NO!!!!  I’m not saying your ideas are found in a search engine.  Well, not all the time.  When I say, “Just Start Clicking” I’m not talking about moves on your mouse.  I’m talking about actions we take and risks we take in dismantling the common and mundane staring right at us.

Are you looking for a job?  ‘Clicking’ is when you start thinking through your experiences, interests and gifts and dreaming of possibilities.

Are you looking for an idea for your child’s birthday party?  ‘Clicking’ is when you start imagining what would happen if all your child’s favorite people, games and cartoons met at the same place at the same time.

Are you looking for a better way to be productive with your goals?  ‘Clicking’ is when you put your weekly schedule and plans on notecards and lay it out like a puzzle to see the best order and flow for the week.

‘Clicking’ is looking at your blank canvas or pressing issue from a different perspective.  Break it down.  Move it a few inches.  Add the unexpected.  Borrow an idea.  The options are endless.

When you “just start clicking” you’re taking what you know and adding a bit of playfulness and curiosity.  “Clicking” is not the source of creativity, but the playful curiosity behind it is definitely what awakens your creative mind to possibilities.

So how about you.

  • What are some ideas or solutions you’re looking for?
  • How can you just start clicking on those things?
  • How have you found ideas or solutions before?

 

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Honesty Repellent

March 8, 2012 — Leave a comment

(via Pleated Jeans on Facebook)

I love the brutal honesty  in this picture.  There is something all of us don’t want to admit to, lurking inside us.  It can be something as simple as weakness in basic arithmetic or something far more personal from a painful or sinful past.

We all have some sort of honesty repellant.  That thing that keeps us from being completely honest.

Embarrassment.  Shame.  Hurt.  Fear.  Broken trust.  Burned one too many times.

There is something within us, or sometimes in someone else, that keeps us from completely letting our guard down.  Letting our guard down is something we all wish we could do.

I think even the most habitual and serial liars, at some point in their lives, wanted desperately to be honest.  But unfortunately they were so disappointed with the truth, a lie became the only escape from what was so brutal.

Honesty is hard.  Sometimes I don’t like it.  

But there’s something about honesty that makes it one of the best gifts to give.

…And receive.

I know the times I’ve been most disappointed by others was not when they failed, but when they lied to me about their failure.  As much as I’ve wanted to throw stones at their integrity, maybe I need to investigate my own heart.  Am I an “honestly repellant” for others?  I want the truth.  It is a great gift to receive from someone else.  Sometimes the biggest obstacle to getting what we want is simply our attitude towards the ones at whom we’ve aimed our expectations.

So what do we do about this?  How do we help each other discover complete honesty?  

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Branded Christianity

March 7, 2012 — 3 Comments

Sometimes I feel like the Apostle Paul when he shares his resume in Philippians 3:4-6.  I was raised in the Bible belt.  Christian education.  Worked as a professional minister.  Own multiple versions of the Bible.  Wore a WWJD bracelet one summer.  You name it, I am the modern equivalent of the Apostle Paul.  I can even speak King James when necessary.  I often refrain, because I don’t want to be a showoff.  Nobody likes a showoff.

I’ve met others just like me.  I’ve got church of Christ friends, Baptist friends, Methodist friends, Charismatic friends, Calvinist friends.  I have friends that are missionaries in remote, unknown areas and major, international cities.  I have some that think straight, door-knocking evangelism is the only way, while others practice a holistic missional approach to reaching people.

I have friends who received miraculous gifts and spoken in tongues or been a part of physical healing.  I have friends that don’t believe those things are possible and would say the Holy Spirit doesn’t work like that today.  I have friends who have memorized Scripture and friends who had to use the table of contents during sermons for Scripture references…before they started using Bible apps that took them right there.  And with that I have friends at small, simple, country churches and friends at large, metropolitan mega-churches that utilize technology in a way to make rock concerts look lame.

I have friends across the eschatological spectrum.  I have friends that are true theological liberals embracing homosexual pastors and universalism.  Heck, as a baptized Protestant I even have some great Catholic friends.  Already I’ve demonstrated my apostasy by use of the word “heck.”  You may want to stop reading here if you have a weak spiritual stomach.

I believe in absolute truth, the importance of doctrine and theology and it’s bearing on eternity.  But here’s the heartbreaking part of this list.  None of these tribes, theologies, practices, beliefs or viewpoints are “the answer.”  

I’ll be honest.  I’m just not sure what to do with all these brands.  I feel like I’ve been offering multiple brands of toothpaste when someone needs help with a broken arm.   There seems to be a disparity in the need and the solutions that have been offered.

These various brands of tribes, theologies, practices, beliefs or viewpoints will not save the world.  Only Jesus can do that.

Sorry guys.  Maybe I’m just not that smart.  I just don’t know what to do with so many brands of following Jesus.

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The Last Amendment

March 6, 2012 — Leave a comment

I’ve said for years that I hate politics.  That’s a true statement, but I think the source of the hatred is because I actually follow politics.  I’m not as well-versed as others, but I do read blogs, news posts and I try to maintain a balanced diet of Fox News and MSNBC to know what both extremes have to say.

Courtesy of h3sean.com

For years I’ve heard people, parties and pundits all crying that the America we once knew is no more and blame can only be placed on the ideology, person or party they disagree with most.  As I was preparing to write this I made a mental list of some of the vitriolic things said about others, by others, to convince others, there are no others, that know the answers.  Get that?  Me either.  Anyway, I decided not to list such hateful things, because it’s too disgusting.

But all the hatred, vitriol and lack of respect is done under the premise of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Please don’t get me wrong, I believe in freedom of speech, the right to assemble, the separation of church and state.  But it seems these freedoms are quite costly.  I’m not talking about brave soldiers in a Lee Greenwood kind of way.  But I think the freedom to speak has become a high stakes game of speaking out against others.  The abuse and perversion of the first amendment is a fast spreading decay of society.  Disguising hatred and disrespect behind legal jargon may be the last amendment of a civilized group of people.  

I welcome disagreement to anything I say or think.  However, because I’m a human I think it’s ok to talk to me, not shout.  I think it’s quite alright to question, have dialogue, make fun of each other’s thoughts a bit, then go out for a pizza.  I wish life were that simple, but then it would be as if all the Miss America contestants were getting their wishes for world peace.  Surely there must be more substance required, right?

The Bible is full of wisdom in this area, especially in the Proverbs.  Maybe one of the most powerful statements is from James 1:19.  As much I hate to try and summarize complexities in simple steps, the Bible does it beautifully.

  1. Be quick to listen
  2. Slow to speak
  3. Slow to get angry

It’s not complicated.  It’s not always easy either.  It seems our nature to talk, talk more, and get angry is a defensive mechanism to protect what is not there.  We are prone to try and protect our identity as the “smart one, the wise one, or the right one.”  The problem with such defensive speech, is it is usually not spoken by the smartest, wisest and rightest among us.  Yes…this is a long way to say we’re trying to cover up our insecurity.

So as a nation and as individuals, our freedom to express ourselves through free, yet often poisonous speech, never really helps the problem.  In fact it continues to veil the real problem in such a way that the cracks and decay in our character continue to grow all while we are speaking our mind because we’re free to do so.  But at what cost?

Until we all recognize our mutual brokenness and need for help we’ll continue to talk to each other and about each other with tinges of violence.  There will be great fortresses built to defend “self,” but the only problem is there is nothing behind the walls and we’ll go to our own destruction touting a last amendment that says “we are free to say it.”  

Just because you’re ‘free’ does not mean you’re secure, complete or whole.  If you lack character, identity and strength you can say all you want, but your words may be piercing arrows defending emptiness.

The current problems in the world are many.  Three at the top of the list are; we talk too much, listen too little and get angry too fast.

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I Lost My Voice

March 5, 2012 — 4 Comments

In January I sat down with a calendar and for the 22 weekdays I listed 20 blog posts I intended to write.  I never wrote them.  I got busy with side projects, work projects, respiratory infections and a mission trip to the Czech Republic.  Now I’m well, slowing down, and have been back in the states for a few weeks and still no blog posts.

I lost my blogging voice. Continue Reading…

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What Is Your Angle for 2012?

January 3, 2012 — Leave a comment

I saw this picture on one of my favorite blogs called 22 Words.  The comments about the picture are humorous and poke fun at Romney and the intern.

via Sharon Liao and 22 Words

However, there are two angles in this picture and one questions.  Which one will you take?  The high or the low?

This year you have several options.  You can be…

  • The person in the spotlight or the person in the background.
  • The person wanting everyone’s attention, or the person that helps others to be heard.
  • The one who is recognized or the one who makes it possible for others to get the credit.

There’s a theme here.  We have an opportunity this year to move into the role of servants.  We can be the ones pointing to other people and what makes them important, rather than trying to prove our own importance.

Maybe this is the year of…

  • Humility
  • Honor
  • Servanthood
  • Modesty
  • Submission
  • Meekness
  • Being a door-holder
  • Being a cheer-leader
  • Shining a spotlight on someone who deserves.  Even those who may not deserve it, but taking our places as humble servants.

This was the mind of Christ and we are called to the same mindset.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:3-5  (Click here to see the entire chapter)

It won’t be easy.  The countercultural way of Jesus has never been easy.  But it’s always right and always rewarding.

Questions for You…

  • How do you do with giving others credit?
  • Who are people in your life you need to show honor?  (Going private)
  • Who are people in your life that you need to put in the spotlight?  (Going public)
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‘Communicate’ Your Life This Year

January 2, 2012 — Leave a comment

First of all…Happy New Year!

“Communicate” your life may sound like I chose the wrong word, but trust me, “communicate” is definitely the word I wanted.

We say we want to “share” our lives.  The idea is lofty and worthy.  Why celebrate a good memory alone?  Sharing multiplies the sweetness of life or brings sanity to the troubled times.

But what if we “communicate” our lives this year?

You’re reading my blog which is one source of where I share my life, mostly my thought life.  Through social media, conversations and journaling I record the moments and the memories and am able to “communicate” the meaning of it all to other people or even to myself when I need to remember what I was thinking.

You’ve probably seen this Google Chrome commercial, but I doubt you’d be opposed to watching it again, so take a look.

This is my favorite of the recent Google ad campaign.  Using multiple streams, a dad is recording memories, hopes, dreams and so much more for his daughter.

As we kick-off 2012 I encourage you to grab your favorite method and start recording.  Look at life and don’t let a day pass where you haven’t recorded a quick glimpse of what was significant.  The best days and the worst days…record them all.

Every year at this time I hear someone talk about how time is moving too fast and life is passing so quickly.  Our joy and pain are all part of a full life, and we somehow need to communicate to the ones we love the fullness of our lives.

You now have 364 days do record and communicate the story of your life in 2012.  Don’t let another day pass by without doing so.

Here are a few ideas of how you can “grab your favorite method” to communicate your story in 2012.

Start a blog – You can go simple and free.  Write the stories and the memories.  Share with the world, or just those you invite.

Photo Projects - Several apps allow you to take a picture a day and compile and share the pictures in various ways.  Check out these 3 free ways to record it all.   Daily Booth  Shutter Cal  and  365 Project.

Start a Parade – Read this post and you’ll see what I mean.  One of my favorite stories I’ve heard in year.  How can you create memories this year?

Scrapblog – Looking to next December when you’re ready to put it all together to archive or share, here is a site that can help you create cards, books and calendars.

Every day God gives us this year is a wonderful opportunity to love, share, grow, laugh, cry.  There are memories to be created.  But don’t just keep it to yourself.  Communicate the story of your life this year.

Questions for You…

  • What are some of your goals for 2012?
  • Do you currently have a way you “communicate” your life to others?
  • What are some other resources or creative ways to “communicate” your life?
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In Creativity
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