Sound(s) About Right?

At work we are going through the book "Now, Discover Your Strengths." Along the way you are asked to take a test that uses your responses to try to capture five dominant strengths. While I maintain my skepticism with all of this, the results I got do look rather close to the perceptions I have of myself. We'll just have to see how these "strengths" play out in my day-to-day life and occuptation.

.Input –
(Inquisitive, Interested, Collector, Acquirer, Compiler)


.Ideation –
(Fascinated with Ideas, Creative, Original, Conceptual, Smart)


.Intellection –
(Like to Think, Exercising Thought, Introspective, Reflective)


.Developer –
(Find Potential in Others, Challenge Others, Confidant, Helper)


.Belief –
(Responsible, Altruistic, Spiritual, Ethical, Dependable, Prioritized)

Dream Big.

I feel a bit embarrassed that tomorrow will most likely be the first Martin Luther King, Jr. Day where I actually take time to reflect on the man and his accomplishments. I have only recently begun to look into his works, and I have only recently had eyes to see the dramatic effect he had on our nation. I just finished reading a great message by John Piper. It was specifically about interracial marriage, but the broad topic that it hits on - our equality in Christ - is certainly worth checking out. Also, once you've taken the time to read through that, click on the picture below for a transcript and video of Mr. King's most infamous speech.

Pale Blue Dot.

I think another great name for this post would be The Infinite and the infinitesimal.

Many of you might have already seen this, but I think it bears repeating. The astronomer's comments at the bottom are also very good. We seem so big when we look through the lens of our own eyes, our own perception. Thankfully, every now and then, we have the chance to step back and be humbled.

Click Here For the Pale Blue Dot

My faith in Christ, and what that specific moment in history represents, only makes this a larger statement. The Holy of Holies, which is magnificently greater than us, placed Himself in this universe, and much more, onto that pale blue dot. It blows my mind to think of what that actually signifies. I have the Gospel, I have many explanations - but I have not wisdom nor knowledge to understand.

He, like millions of others, was born, breathed, lived, died, and was resurrected on this little dot. The great I AM became like me to save me. You. Anyone who would say, "Yes...I will have your salvation."

Be reconciled to God. His brilliance is far greater than the void that surrounds our "great" blue dot.

Run Away.

Since it is never acceptable to pull a "no-call, no-show" - make sure to let your boss/work know...but, do not go in tomorrow. Wake up late. Eat something bad-for-you for breakfast. Drink a cup of coffee (even if you don't like it). Put on dirty clothes (right out of the hamper, or right off the floor). Get in your car. Start it. Roll down the windows (it doesn't matter if it's winter). Insert a CD into the player (hopefully you have a CD player, and hopefully the CD you put in is good). Now drive. You don't have to know where you're going, just drive. When you get there (and you'll probably know where there is by this point), park the car and just sit. Be silent. Now get out of the car and be loud. Run around; flail your arms like a madman. Sing a song. OK, get back in the car. Put in another CD. Start driving again. Find a mountain. Find a hill. Find some elevated spot away from everyone and everything. Get out the disposable camera you bought on the way here. Wait for it. The sun is about to go down. Get bored. Take some pictures of random things. Start taking pictures of the sunset. Run out of film. Sit. Marvel. Relax. Enjoy. Go home. Stay up way too late watching movies way too bad to waste your time on. Wake up early. Take a shower. Dress in clean clothes. Go to work. Realize that yesterday you were alive. Realize that you're also alive today. Enjoy.

Devotionals.

I recently had the privilege of writing a week's worth of devotionals for a message at my church about exploring the depths of God's love.

Below, you will find the link to the page where they are located. If you take the chance to read them, let me know your thoughts. This was my first real foray into writing something for the church that is widely used and distributed, so any helpful advice is appreciated (especially if I get the chance to do something like this again).

Please note, these devotionals are property of Southland Christian Church, not myself. As such, I cannot grant any right, nor do I give permission, to reproduce or distribute them by any means. If you, for some reason, have the desire to do so - please contact Southland Christian Church with your request.

Here's hoping for your enjoyment and growing devotion to the Lord through these:

Southland Christian Church Devotionals - Exploring the Depths of God's Love

(If for some reason the link does not work, please comment or email me and I will attempt to fix the problem.)

That's My Boy!

So, one of my new year's resolutions was to stop stalling, trust God, and adopt sponsor a child. I'll admit my reservations: I was worried about where the (small amount of) money I was going to be giving would be truly going; I was worried that this type of support was only a band-aid to a dramatic global condition - that what I was doing wouldn't amount to a hill of beans in this world. I'd never done anything like this before. I wondered whether my money would be better spent supporting the homeless, the widow, and the orphan here locally.

But I wanted to trust God. I wanted to put my money where my mouth was and take the step of faith that my measly dollars could actually improve someone's life. That I could enter into this sponsorship and pray for this child and that God would actually move in their life.

And so I just got done giving my information to World Vision. I'm now a child sponsor.

I'm not going to post his picture here, yet, because I don't know the "rules." But I can tell you that my boy's name is Eduardo. He lives in Nicaragua. He's seven years old. He likes to paint.

So I'm supporting an artist. Who lives in a country whose main export is coffee.

Seems like divine appointment to me :)

If you would - join me in praying for Eduardo, and for all the children who might not get sponsored today (or ever). Pray that I will stay committed to this journey. It's exciting - and I hope for all the best.