If you get a chance, click the pic above and give a listen to a recent sermon series I taught at Big Valley. The whole series revolved around three priorities Christ gave us out of John 15:1-17. For me, it was an encouraging moment to reflect on simple, yet powerful, truths that shape our relationship with God and others.
Give a listen, send me some feedback, ask a question, enjoy…
This has been a great week participating in Generation 18 of the Journey. Here are a few great insights I’ve gleaned. If you want more explanations of these statements, email me or let’s do coffee (your treat right?).
This has been a very refreshing trip!
Tomorrow, this will be the view out my bedroom window. This is a picture of the mountains of Pine Springs Ranch just outside Idyllwild, California. It’s a beautiful place this time of year. The snow lay on the peaks, the air is crisp, and it’s definitely sweatshirt weather. I’m heading down for The Journey.
The Journey is a spiritual formation retreat that involves 6 retreats spanning over a 2-year period. This will be my second cycle through it (therefore the “Take 2″ above. Actually “cycle” is a bit of a pun too). It has been such a place of health, growth, and personal spiritual development that I signed up to journey again. I’m excited to see how God uses this time.
I will post truths gleaned while listening to the Lord some time later this week. For earlier posts and learnings, click here.
Well, I was close. I picked the Colts in the AFC. And minus about 3 fumbles and a few wiser offense choices, I would have had the NFC picked as well. Now the real dilemma. Who do you root for in the Superbowl?
The Saints represent that epic story of hope in a city torn by tragedy. Then there’s Sean Payton’s coach prowess. Add in the fact that Drew Brees has been stellar all year plus that he hasn’t yet won the big game and you have yourself nearly convinced the Saints are the choice. But…
But what about Peyton Manning? This guy is a genius at reading defenses, making rookie receivers look good, and remaining poised no matter what the situation. And that’s not even considering the marked improvement of the Colts defense.
How do you root against Manning? How do you root for the NFC South? I think the jury is still out. And as much as I like city of New Orleans… it’s going to be hard to beat the Colts.
During my last post I shared my new found love for the sport of stage-race cycling. But, even so, nothing will replace my first love of football! It’s the greatest game of strategy, hard hits, passion, lead changes, trick plays, injury, drama, and nail-biting overtimes around!
The sad part is that college ball is over, but at least the NFL has provided some great games lately. I can’t tell you how great it was to see the Cowboys get their pants beat off this past week by my rising favorites, the Vikings. Favre has been amazing to watch and statistically stellar. This week will provide quite a great PLAYOFF match-up.
Here is a look at the clash of the NFL greats. Colts & Jets, Vikings & Saints! With that said, I’m going to give my Super Bowl picks. I predict a VIKINGS & COLTS bowl! (Which means half of the pro-bowl starters are out!)
Now people are saying this is the perfect Super Bowl scenario… and I agree. So because of that, that’s the way I’m rooting. I would love to see the Saints in it too… but ugh, can’t happen. Well, actually it will happen this Sunday in the NFC. Odds are that this game will be even better than the Super Bowl itself when the Vikings win it all.
We’ll see. But my predictions are out there… now let’s see how good a prophet I am!
Haiti was rocked again by a 6.1 earthquake aftershock. Not to mention the 5.8 that hit the Cayman Islands and the recent Southern California 3.4 quake. The whole plate is moving it seems.
I was surprised the other day to hear these statements from Christian broadcasting personality Pat Robertson. Well, actually I wasn’t. This is a sure trend from him. Don’t believe me? Well, then watch here, here, here, and here! (and take a tums first).
John Stewart’s reaction is the reaction of many in the media. Now, I don’t agree with everything said. But as a believer, there has to be a better way to address disaster with hope, the gospel, and good news! Here is one way!
And besides, Colossians 4:4-6 instructs us to “be wise” in how we deal with outsiders. Conversations like this just don’t seem all that wise to me. There are Christians in Haiti gutting it out. Shouldn’t we speak a word of love and hope to them too? Christ was full of TRUTH and GRACE. Maybe we need a better balance…
I, for one, want to be an example of that balance.
With the football season nearing an end, I’m glad that the 2010 cycling season begins Monday with the Santos Tour Down Under (in Australia of course).
This year it will be interesting to see the premiere of Team RadioShack. I am really looking forward to the showdown between the infamous Spaniard, Alberto Contador, and his former team member and rival, Lance Armstrong. Lance’s number one wing man Levi Leipheimer (of Santa Rosa) ought to be fun to watch this year as well.
If you would have told me some three years ago that I would be excited about watching cycling on TV, I would have laughed. And now, I find my self anticipating the coming tours; especially the time trials. Things change I guess.
Follow yourself on VERSUS (VERSUS.com).
This is a poem I wrote after a simple, and somewhat silly, discussion the other day about how Koi fish will grow to the size of their environment. It’s built into their DNA to just take, fill, use what they’ve been given and nothing more. That’s contentment to me…
* * * * * * *
Koi fish swim the pond
living life long and full,
content and true
* * * * * * *
This is a poem I didn’t write. It is the same poem that inspired Nelson Mandela while in prison. And it also served as the title for Clint Eastwood’s new inspirational movie. The word Invictus means unconquerable which is found in the first stanza. What are your thoughts about the poem? I’d be interested to know…
When I began to think about my dreams, desires, and goals during this new year, I got a weird idea. What if I sat down and asked the fam what things they’d like to do, try, learn– or where they’d like to go? What if I made it a goal to help them reach their goals? That could be pretty fun!
So on New Year’s Eve day we piled in the car and went to breakfast at IHOP (where all real dreams are born). We started off sharing about our favorite memories of 2009. It’s funny the things that stick in the minds of 9 and 11 year olds. The whole conversation provided a great deal of laughs. We quickly transitioned from the past to the future. Here is a bit of what we heard:
“Let’s go to San Diego for Vacation.”
“I’d like to go to Disney, Six Flags, or Sea World… well, at least the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.”
“I hope to take a cooking class.”
“I want to be able to play 2 worship songs on the guitar before next year.”
“I need to stop biting my fingernails…”
“I want to stop popping my knuckles”
“I want to get straight A’s this next year.”
This is going to be fun year…
So it’s about this time of year that we face the inevitable question of “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?” And while there is nothing wrong with these, I often wonder why we make them. Why January? And why do they usually revolve around the same lazy or bad habits?
I was reading an article the other day from Chris Carmichael about resolutions. He made the comment that he doesn’t like resolutions, but chooses the word goals instead. I’m not sure I understand the difference to be honest. Either way you are determining a direction to take, a journey to embark on, and energy to be channeled. In a way, we make resolutions everyday, even if it’s just to continue fulfilling the goals we made the day before.
Last year I made a few goals. And minus a few tumbles towards laziness, I kept them. The channeled energy paid off. I have had a great time learning to cook. I have been thoroughly blessed by being truly attentive to the time I actually invest in my relationship with Christ. And, I didn’t gain any weight. I lost about 22 lbs. during 2009 (actually the weight loss math would be more like -22 + 8 lbs. of holiday madness– but it’s still in the negative by 14 right?).
So, what should 2010 hold in store? The more I thought about it, 2009 felt somewhat safe or cautious when it came to goals. So I decided to get a bit ambitious this year. Here we go…
2010 ought to be an exciting year! And why shouldn’t it… with one life, wrapped around LIFE itself, shouldn’t it be abundant, beautiful, and adventurous? I sure hope so!
? What are some of your Goals for 2010 ?