Tuesday, March 04, 2008

E.L.F. is dumb. Seriously.

E.L.F. (or Earth Liberation Front, for those of you who don't know) has struck again. They decided that in defense of nature (or something) they needed to burn down some multi-million dollar eco-friendly model homes in Washington state.

E.L.F. baffles me. They rail against development in areas citing supposed damage to Ma Earth, yet their method of destruction usually involves setting said development ablaze. Doesn't that send toxic fumes into the air? Isn't that bad for the environment? Just saying.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Interesting Stuff I Ran Across This Week

Here are links to some interesting things I read or nifty sites I found this week.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

A Place I Fit [or knowing my role.]

Throughout most of my life I've felt like a bit of an outcast. I felt like a puzzle piece that wasn't cut quite right. Through my younger years, I used my differences to isolate myself, and ultimately developed a bit of an inferiority complex.

Now I understand that I do have a place. Perhaps my puzzle piece needs a bit of sanding and refining to be able to fit in the spot in the puzzle that God has created for me. Do I see how I am a part of the bigger picture yet? Not quite, but I'm willing to be refined in order to know my role.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul writes to the church at Corinth about the Body of Christ, and how there are many parts which do different things, but each is necessary in order for the Body to work effectively. No one can do everything, but everyone can do one thing. We've all been blessed with abilities, talents, and interests that are unique to each of our faith communities. We've all lived different lives and have different perspectives to offer to areas of ministry within our churches. All of our different gifts can be used together to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Picture via stock.xchng

Psalm 51:10-13 [a prayer.]

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

If you could change one past event in your life, what would it be?

Sometimes I wonder how different my life would be at this moment in time if a decision by myself or people who have affected my life would have been made differently. I wonder if my life would have turned out better...or worse...than it is right now.

If I think about it, though, I don't think I would change anything about my life...even the bad parts. (And there have been some pretty bad parts.) My experiences have taught me things that I don't think I'd have learned otherwise, and every single event that has happened has shaped me into the person I am today. I don't know if the grass would be greener in the lawn I live in now if something had gone differently in my past.

The tough times build character...they give depth to the soul. But they make the good times taste that much sweeter.

What say you? Would you change something in your past?

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Time Clutter

Most of us know that a cluttered desk makes it harder to concentrate, and a cluttered bedroom can lead to restless nights. But what about time clutter?

Time is precious. We can't get back lost or wasted time, so we should be good stewards of the time we have. For me, time clutter is activities or obligations that serve no purpose in my life, due to the fact that I'm not passionate about it, or that it's a chore that I don't have to do.

If we truly want to de-clutter our lives, we should look at how we spend our time in addition to looking at and evaluating all the stuff we own. Is what we are spending our time on something we feel good about doing? Is it something that we have a passion for, or is it something we are doing still because we've been doing it for years?

Our time should be spent doing things we care about, and ultimately living for God. Time is a gift. I think that if we lived as if it were a gift, that perhaps we wouldn't be so inclined to be busy for the sake of being busy, and we would savor the moments we have and make the most of them.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year! Time to Make That Resolution...

Ladies and dudes...

Happy 2008!

Another year has begun, and like a lot of people, I have made several resolutions. However, unlike previous years where I've made resolutions, I really feel like I will be able to stick to them this time (of course, everyone says that, so we'll see). So here they are:

Become friends with the treadmill again. I'm out of shape, y'all. 'Nuff said.

Get organized, and stay that way! If any of you could see my bedroom right now, you'd understand why this is important...

Reclaim my time and rediscover what I'm about at the core. I need to say no to things, and focus my time on things that I'm passionate about and people that I care about. I have found that those things have been neglected, so it's time to dust them off. I miss them.

How 'bout you? What is something that you're resolved to do in 2008?

Saturday, December 22, 2007

16 Year Old Girls Having Babies Isn't an Uncommon Occurence...Look at Your Local High School

I've been reading and seeing on the cable news stations the mini-outrage over Jamie Lynn Spears being pregnant at 16. (And how she's a bad example, and blah, blah, blah...)

First of all, is there not anything more important to report on?

Second, why is such a huge earth shattering ruckus being raised about her when there are 750,000+ teenage pregnancies every year in the US?

Why not get upset that this is not an uncommon occurrence? She's just another one of many teen girls who's having a baby too young.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Perspective

Life gives us many challenges, and it isn't always fair. Sometimes we are faced with situations where we are treated badly. Sometimes those people intentionally treat us badly; other times, they may do so without realizing it.

When we're treated (we feel) unfairly, some of us choose to talk to the person we feel has wronged us. Some of us let it slide a couple of times, and then tell the people, "Hey, that's not cool." Others of us don't say anything and let our hurt build up until the point that we cut off ties with those people.

In the last case, are those of us who don't say anything partially to blame for the demise of that relationship?

You can't have any sort of relationship, be it professional, friendship, romantic, whatever without communication. If nobody knows how you feel, especially the person who you have a grievance with, how are they to know they need to correct their behavior, and/or apologize?

If you feel like someone has done you wrong, or if you have issue with them, don't let those feelings bottle up inside until you explode or just quit talking to them. You have to tell them.

When we don't tell people when we feel we've been wronged, it starts to skew our perspective, which in turn causes dissension and separation. We start to see the annoyances, the problems, and the hurts, and put blinders up to all of the good things and the love that is there, which begins to unravel the unity that exists.

Are you in a situation in your church, your workplace, or your home where you feel like you've been wronged? Are you talking about how you feel to those whom have been unkind or unfair to you? Do you see the good things about the people in that place, or do you just see the injustice? What is your perspective?

Friday, October 05, 2007

Music Survey

1.)

Without looking at the questions below, list your top 10 favorite artists


1. Third Day
2. Chris Tomlin
3. David Crowder*Band
4. Skillet
5. DC Talk
6. Leeland
7. Etta James
8. Flyleaf
9. All-Star United
10. Switchfoot

2.)
Q: What was the first song you ever heard by #2?
A: "We Fall Down"
3.)
Q: What is your favorite album of #6?
A: They've only had one...
4.)
Q: What is your favorite Lyric of #7?
A: "He may not be the man some girls think of as handsome, but to my heart he carries the key."
5.)
Q: What is your favorite song by #9?
A: Hmm...either "Drive" or "Thank You, Goodnight"
6.)
Q: Is there a song of #1 that makes you sad?
A: "It's a Shame" does a bit because of the subject matter...
7.)
Q: What is your favorite song by #8?
A: "Supernatural"
8.)
Q: What is your favorite song by #10?
A: "Learning to Breathe" or "Awakening"
9.)
Q: What is your favorite album by #8?
A: They've only had one full-length...but their EPs are good too.
10.)
Q: How did you get into #5?
A: I heard them at youth way back in the day...love them! Own every CD they put out.
11.)
Q: What is your favorite song by #4?
A: "Alien Youth" "Kill Me Heal Me" "A Little More" "Cycle Down" or "Yours to Hold"
12.)
Q: Who is your favorite band member of #1?
A: That's a hard choice. All of them are cool...they're a unit. You can't break 'em up.
13.)
Q: What is a good memory concerning #4?
A: Rocking out to them in my car. :) Someday I'll get to see them live.
14.)
Q: What does #9 remind you of?
A: 1997...seeing Switchfoot, All-Star United, and Third Day for the first time, and seeing that not all Christian music is completely lame.
15.)
Q: Is there a song by #3 that makes you sad?
A: No
16.)
Q: What is your favorite song of #1?
A: "Sky Falls Down" or "Underwater"
17.)
Q: How did you become a fan of #7?
A: All the good singers reference her, so I checked out her stuff, and I love her voice.
18.)
Q: What do you like to do while listening to #6?
A: Worship & reflect...
19.)
Q: Which of the 10 has influenced you the most?
A: Probably Third Day...their music is like my musical soup. It's got everything I like. Plus Mac's vocals are always killer.
20.)
Q: Which artist makes you the most happy?
A: They all make me happy, but each in their own way.
21.)
Q: Which artist makes you the most sad?
A: None of them.
22.)
Q: Which artist makes the best dance music?
A: Hmm...well, being as I don't dance, (I'm white. 'Nuff said.) this is a hard one to answer. But I would suppose DC Talk's stuff is better for that.
23.)
Q: Which artist have you liked the longest?
A: DC Talk
24.)
Q: Which artist have you liked the shortest?
A: Leeland
25.)
Q: Are there any artists you will still be listening to in 20 years?
A: Yes, I will pull these artists out from now on, most likely. :)
26.)

Q: What are you listening to right now?
A: Right this moment? The fan in my computer. ;)

Okay, now it's your turn. Post your answers in a comment or in your own note or blog.

Stolen from MamaGomer on the Third Day Boards.