Jim's Bike Pump from Recycle Your Faith on Vimeo.

Dental work is not fun

I hate dental work, one of my least favorite things in the world to do is to go to the dentist, whether for a simple cleaning or a root canal (OK that is much, much worse) It brings back a some of the simple principles in both my spiritual life and life in general. namely, If I don't take care of the smaller things, they can end up being very big things. Its also very important who you entrust the care of your teeth to. Although I'd like to think that I have proper teeth hygiene and do a adequate job, I need help. So in comes a dentist. NEWSFLASH!!! all dentists are not equal. Today I went to the dentist for some work. For the last 5 years I went to a dentist for cleaning. He was great! it never hurt and I was in and out in a flash. I recently changed dentists, and low and behold I have major issues that are going to require major work as well as some of the heavy stuff. It turns out the guy who taking care of my teeth for the last 5 years was only interested on getting paycheck and not so much my teeth. So here I am paying the consequences for enjoying the nice easy dentist who didn't hurt rather than one who would get in there and get rid of the junk.

Questions to ponder: Are there some small things lurking around in my life that need attention before they get huge? Do I only pursue easy comfortable options. And am I entrusting my spiritual life to the right person? Am I trusting myself? Who are the people who are influences in my life?

I am looking forward to getting this pain and suffering over quickly when it has to do with my teeth. I also want to make sure I don't end up with a lot of damaging things in my personal and spiritual life due to neglect and not so positive influences in my life.

Sometime corny illustrations can make a huge impact on our lives. Although I wont be using this a sermon illustration any time soon- I am going to heed some simple wisdom and take a closer look at my life and those I allow in it.

Guilt Trip

I have this thing about putting myself on guilt trips for not doing the things I intended to do. This blog being one of those things. I have allowed myself to get busy with many things having to do with work, family church etc. I have committed to writing my thoughts and encouraging others along the way.

Today I am reminded by the words of Paul in Romans 7&8, when he talks about not doign the things he wants to do, and getting involved int he stuff he wanted to. His choices as we see in chapter 8 reminds us that we are all failures and the only way to truly experience life the way God desires is by depending on God's spirit and guidance not personal achievement.

So i am not going to beat myself with a whip of guilt and shame, rather I am looking forward to what the spirit is going to do, speak, change through me.

Look forward to great things to come.

Post of Collide Magazine

iPhone 3.0 Software Is Here!

Posted by Scott McClellan on June 17th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

I just installed the 3.0 software and my iPhone and I couldn’t be more excited. There are a few new features that are pretty useful, such as Spotlight search for your whole phone. Unfortunately, my colleague Clint Miller and I did an existential search on my phone and the results were somewhat disappointing. See for yourself:

A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. Oh well. Maybe the iPhone 3G S will provide an end to mankind’s pursuit of the big questions in life. If you’re one of those clever folks who can supply captions for wacky photos, have at it.

Long Married life

A study was done to see how people who were married 70+ years made it here is what they found. I think there are some spiritual values found in each of these. The truth is most of these things can be found in the book of proverbs and the teachings of Jesus from the gospels.

Here they are:

1. Have a Healthy Outlet

So many of the people in this study seemed to have all their ducks in a row. In their prime years in the 1950’s and 1960’s, they were making big money in powerful careers. They had beautiful families and lived in idyllic neighborhoods. Oddly enough, later in life, many of these fortunate people ended up breaking down mentally and physically. Why? If one didn’t have a healthy outlet for their fears, nerves, and struggles, it was only a matter of time before repressed demons erupted to the surface. The happiest people in this study had a healthy outlet. They were altruistic or had a rich sense of humor. They funneled their issues into sport, “their lust into courtship.”

It’s something important to consider. As the study proves, a human being can get away with sustaining daily nerves, fears, and doubts for a number of years. But ultimately, such a nervous nelly will crack. If you haven’t already, develop an outlet…find a sport, commit to helping others, lighten up, and laugh more often. A wise one said, "A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs, jolted by every pebble in the road."

2. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

This study, as reported in Atlantic Magazine, was summed up beautifully by the journalist Joshua Shenk: “Herein lies the key to a good life--not rules to follow, nor problems to avoid-- but an engaged humility, an earnest acceptance of life’s pains and promises.”

In other words, one can only carry the burden of a big ego and lots of pride for so long before your proverbial knees will buckle. Don’t take life too seriously. We all have weaknesses. Do you really want to battle your dark side year after year? Or might it just be time to lay down your arms, take a deep breath, and enjoy life. It’s shorter than you think.

3. Happiness Must be Shared

The other night I was watching the movie adaptation of Into the Wild, the true story of Chris McCandless (see above photo which is a self-portrait found undeveloped in McCandless's camera after his death). Fed up with the rat race, McCandless graduated college in the early 1990's, left his worried parents in the dust, sold all his belongings, and ventured deep into the Alaskan wilderness. Before dying of starvation, he seemed to regret his isolationist ways and wrote these last words in his journal, “Happiness only real when shared.” According to the 72 year old study, McCandless was spot on. In the study, those who spent too much alone time ultimately struggled. The happiest subjects in the study were those who sustained meaningful, healthy relationships with friends and family. One can never give enough hugs, say enough "I love you's," and send enough "I miss you's."

I only have 60 more to catch up.

What do you Treasure?

3 AM Meeting

I have the privilege of being at what I consider the most beautiful place on earth. I love the ocean and I love beaches. What I really love is both of them on a warm night. This morning at about 3 am. I awoke and could not fall asleep, after tossing and turning for about a half an hour I got up slipped out without waking anyone and made my way down to the beach. The moon was shinning brightly and lit up the sky as well as illuminated everything around. I could see the palms swaying and a few little crabs scurrying around trying not to get swept back out to sea. I could also see islands in the distance that looked a glow from the moons light (does it sound like I am trying to hard to be a contemplative writer?..., yeah me too... OK is was freakin' beautiful and I was the only one around to enjoy it.
At first I tried to be very spiritual and figure out why God had me awake and what amazing word he was going to speak to me. After sitting down watching the waves, talking to God, waiting for a miraculous sign and for him to spell out his future plans to save the world through me (haha) It became vary aware of why he wanted me out there. He just wanted me to know that he loved me and was with me. I tend to be a person of extreme, I think to highly of myself-I look spend of lot of time in self-degradation; I am super excited about God-I could care less; I love being in the center of his will-I feel as though I am wasting his creation. So he gave me exactly what I needed. Not a tongue lashing of guilt and shame, and not the revelation of an amazing plan he wanted me to carry out- rather he simply let me know that in the most beautiful place on earth- He loved me and He was with me, and that as I return back to smog, problems, and life as normal- He will be with me and He loves me!!!!
That is the best thing I could have been given at my 3 AM meeting on the beach.