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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

Big Brother 8 - The Dick & Danielle Show

I watched Big Brother this season. Unfortunately, Dick and Danielle were the final two house guests, and Dick won the half million dollar prize.

Some may say that Dick's methods worked brilliantly. While this is true, I don't think that he and Danielle played the game fairly, or for that matter, maturely. Dick reminds me of an 8 year old schoolyard bully. He's a bit sad, honestly.

But that's just par for the course on these "reality" shows where people compete for large sums of money. There is lots of that sort of thing to be had.

Stop!

Click on it to download a larger version!

Praise

I am somewhat ADD/random, so unlike most people I know of who study the Bible, I study it like I surf the Internet, by searching for something that I'm thinking about at a particular moment in time.

Last night we had a worship committee meeting at church, and after what we talked about, it's got me wanting to delve into the topic of praising God--what that really is, and how to do it because it is genuine, and what God wants, and not just something to do or some feeling that I want.

Praise is more than just prayers of thanksgiving and songs we sing in church. Praise is a lifestyle. Praise is our becoming Christlike; meeting people where they are at, and meeting their needs because they need to be met. It's sharing the Gospel through our acts of kindness and words of encouragement in our daily lives.

God wants so much more from us than just singing along to some songs and praying the Lord's Prayer on Sunday mornings. He wants our whole lives.

I think that perhaps in my congregation we've been stuck in the mode of sing songs, take an offering, sing the Doxology, sing some more songs, hear a sermon, go home. Instead of being a place where I felt like I could go to be refueled each week, I felt like it was a place, like much of the rest of my life of late, that was spiritually draining. I wrestled with that feeling, and have had a deep, deep longing to go to the well, dip my bucket in, and not come out empty.

I do feel encouraged, though, that things are going to move in a direction where we do things with purpose...not just because we "need" to do it or have always done it; and that God will really be present and working through all of us in a harmonious way, so that our house of worship will be truly that--a house of worship--and through us God can do great things.

Asking the Better Questions

I think I have a responsibility in what I say, but just because I have a cool idea about God doesn't mean it should be preached as truth on Sunday. I'm human and just as messed up as anyone—I just happen to sing louder. Some of the issues I'm wrestling with right now are on this record and others aren't. Some of your issues may be here and others may not be. My point in all of it is to inspire you to take these issues and wrestle with the Lord yourself. He may or may not answer your question [in this life], but you will be changed.
-Todd Agnew

Go read the whole interview on Christian Music Today

I could play on this site for hours...

...seriously.

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