It's rare that someone tells you to exercise your mind. When I hear the word exercise I'm thinking about pounding the pavement in my asics or bench pressing 180 (it's a joke people, I can only bench 120). The sarcasm is flowing freely this morning as I write but it may just be a defense mechanism for something I know I should do. Think.
Who has time to think anymore? Who schedules time in their day to think? It's my method of operation to go from one thing to another, aways moving always tasking, always doing.
A few weeks ago I had the chance to be at a Jeffery Gitomer event. I really like this guy. He's honest and he's got some good things to impart to us--even if we're not in the business world as he knows it.
He said one thing that has been echoing in my mind, "schedule time to think". I'm going to try to do this every day. Scheduled think time.
As a youth pastor, one of my greatest issues is procastination masked in the pretty and sometimes impressive form of discussion. I'm always discussing and talking--which is good--when you do something with it. My lack in motivation to move the discussion to "do-time" comes in having time to process and plan.
Think time it is. Right now. I'm turning away from the computer screen and thinking. Dreaming. Looking for insights on the backside of things. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Tuesday
Why can't we all ride bikes?
I love my sister. She sends me the most wonderful things to consider. What if we all rode bikes instead of driving in cars? Here's a link to show you what life could be like, if we lived in Amsterdam.
Monday
4 Minutes
Maybe I'm a weirdo, but God tends to use music that was written for the club to motivate and inspire me in the spiritual and physical realm of ministry.
Lately I've been running to a song by Madonna (4 Minutes) where she sings with Justin Timberlake about how they only have "4 minutes to change the world". The song isn't about ministry or changing the world by eliminating world hunger (as much as I wish it were) but the chorus resonates with me because I feel that much urgency to do great things for and with God--like I've only got 4 minutes.
There's another song that can bring on tears and joy at the same time. Mary J. Blige sings "Come to Me" (a.k.a. Peace) and there are moments when I feel like God is saying the words to me. "Come to me, I'll restore freedom, I'll carve away the waters in your heart." The song is about a relationship being restored--and the power and passion in the song make me wish that it was God's song--like he wrote it for us.
The real me has a pretty big imagination. I like to take the truth I find (wherever I find it) and claim it as God's own, because it is God's own.
There are so many good things around us. Small things can inspire us to do great things. Hopefully, we are paying attention to be faithful in the moment and to allow God to do the impossible in us.
The irony in this blog post is that I don't have a lot of time on my hands these days. I have just as much time as anyone else but it seems to be spread thinner than it has in past years. The songs on my ipod remind me that I'm not going to gain any seconds worrying about the future. I've got all I need--so maybe I should just live like I've only got 4 minutes--living every 4 minutes just as passionate as the last.
Lately I've been running to a song by Madonna (4 Minutes) where she sings with Justin Timberlake about how they only have "4 minutes to change the world". The song isn't about ministry or changing the world by eliminating world hunger (as much as I wish it were) but the chorus resonates with me because I feel that much urgency to do great things for and with God--like I've only got 4 minutes.
There's another song that can bring on tears and joy at the same time. Mary J. Blige sings "Come to Me" (a.k.a. Peace) and there are moments when I feel like God is saying the words to me. "Come to me, I'll restore freedom, I'll carve away the waters in your heart." The song is about a relationship being restored--and the power and passion in the song make me wish that it was God's song--like he wrote it for us.
The real me has a pretty big imagination. I like to take the truth I find (wherever I find it) and claim it as God's own, because it is God's own.
There are so many good things around us. Small things can inspire us to do great things. Hopefully, we are paying attention to be faithful in the moment and to allow God to do the impossible in us.
The irony in this blog post is that I don't have a lot of time on my hands these days. I have just as much time as anyone else but it seems to be spread thinner than it has in past years. The songs on my ipod remind me that I'm not going to gain any seconds worrying about the future. I've got all I need--so maybe I should just live like I've only got 4 minutes--living every 4 minutes just as passionate as the last.
Sunday
Must Read
This read is old but it's one of the best: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster. I read it once before during a silent retreat during college but this time around has been different. I recommend it to anyone needing to find some peace and good reason to downsize.
Saturday
How's this for random...
I don't know how this week shaped up the way it did but it turned out to be an vivid example of random and wonderful all balled up together. I can't unpack it all but each moment left a mark on me. I learned something different each day, was challenged, inspired, comforted, and equipped. Here's the run down of one of the most random weeks ever.
Thursday- Pick up friend Lindsay from Tampa airport, drive by Jonas Brothers concert--we could hear the shrieking from the highway.
Friday- Drive Lindsay to Hyatt World Center in Orlando, meet friend Mark to load into his pick-up truck for our drive to Indian Harbor Beach (Coy, Kirra, Brooklyn, Jenna (Mark's middle school daughter, and Mark...yikes!)
Friday afternoon- arrive at Mark's cousins' beach house. Hang with Jenna, meet east coast friends David, Dawn, and Jacob for dinner and ice cream, realize how simple life can be, sleep on a pull-out couch.
Saturday- load up all five children (some babies) into mighty conversion van for beach time. Eat Luna bars for lunch. Waves are too messy and strong, end up going to park where we encounter baby turtle hatchlings. Am in awe.
Saturday night- attend church and check Kirra in to child care (relief!)
Sunday- church, unload new high school pastor in their beautiful home, attend college ministry.
Monday- attend District Leaders Conference (Church of the Nazarene)/ Big Picture training in Orlando. Listen to Mary J. Blige the whole way there--watched the sun come up as I drove east and didn't worry one bit that I was late. (Ok, maybe I worried a little).
Monday night- Stayed with friend Lindsay at Hyatt. Talked until 2 AM. Don't regret losing sleep to catch up.
Tuesday- DLC again--met awesome people. Was trained in "Enroute" by Chris (Youthfront) and caught up with friends Jason, Jeff, and Bruce at dinner. Laughed a lot and came up with a great idea during the evening session.
Wednesday- Volunteered for "Gitomer Live" to get in free at the his business conference. It was a stark contrast to the day before but worth every minute. Jeffery Gitomer gave me some gems to take home (one being not wasting people's time with stupid voicemail greetings and not wasting my own time making cold calls).
Wednesday night- led middle school worship service and prayed with a student burdened with grief. Was really happy that Rick (our new high school pastor) is finally hear to share the ministry). Got real tired but had to stay up late to pack for trip.
Thursday- Flight to Ohio, dinner honoring Coy--LHS Hall of Fame. He gave the most heart-felt and eloquent speech. I'm incredibly lucky to be his wife.
Friday- chilled, read, hung out with family, attended the induction prior to the football game. Soaked in a bit too much humidity, got tired and cranky but worked through it by morning.
Saturday- visited with family--sat in the porch swing--then flew home. Picked up Chipotle in Orlando and came home to get our butts spanked by USC. Oh well, the week couldn't be perfect now could it?
Thursday- Pick up friend Lindsay from Tampa airport, drive by Jonas Brothers concert--we could hear the shrieking from the highway.
Friday- Drive Lindsay to Hyatt World Center in Orlando, meet friend Mark to load into his pick-up truck for our drive to Indian Harbor Beach (Coy, Kirra, Brooklyn, Jenna (Mark's middle school daughter, and Mark...yikes!)
Friday afternoon- arrive at Mark's cousins' beach house. Hang with Jenna, meet east coast friends David, Dawn, and Jacob for dinner and ice cream, realize how simple life can be, sleep on a pull-out couch.
Saturday- load up all five children (some babies) into mighty conversion van for beach time. Eat Luna bars for lunch. Waves are too messy and strong, end up going to park where we encounter baby turtle hatchlings. Am in awe.
Saturday night- attend church and check Kirra in to child care (relief!)
Sunday- church, unload new high school pastor in their beautiful home, attend college ministry.
Monday- attend District Leaders Conference (Church of the Nazarene)/ Big Picture training in Orlando. Listen to Mary J. Blige the whole way there--watched the sun come up as I drove east and didn't worry one bit that I was late. (Ok, maybe I worried a little).
Monday night- Stayed with friend Lindsay at Hyatt. Talked until 2 AM. Don't regret losing sleep to catch up.
Tuesday- DLC again--met awesome people. Was trained in "Enroute" by Chris (Youthfront) and caught up with friends Jason, Jeff, and Bruce at dinner. Laughed a lot and came up with a great idea during the evening session.
Wednesday- Volunteered for "Gitomer Live" to get in free at the his business conference. It was a stark contrast to the day before but worth every minute. Jeffery Gitomer gave me some gems to take home (one being not wasting people's time with stupid voicemail greetings and not wasting my own time making cold calls).
Wednesday night- led middle school worship service and prayed with a student burdened with grief. Was really happy that Rick (our new high school pastor) is finally hear to share the ministry). Got real tired but had to stay up late to pack for trip.
Thursday- Flight to Ohio, dinner honoring Coy--LHS Hall of Fame. He gave the most heart-felt and eloquent speech. I'm incredibly lucky to be his wife.
Friday- chilled, read, hung out with family, attended the induction prior to the football game. Soaked in a bit too much humidity, got tired and cranky but worked through it by morning.
Saturday- visited with family--sat in the porch swing--then flew home. Picked up Chipotle in Orlando and came home to get our butts spanked by USC. Oh well, the week couldn't be perfect now could it?
The Story Factor
My husband is a learner and highly intuitive. Lately he has recognized the need in himself (and probably in me as well) to become a better storyteller. Since he speaks week after week to college students and since I speak week after week to middle school students he started researching books on this subject. Today one arrived in the mail and I haven't been able to put it down.
It's called the The Story Factor: inspiration, influence and persuasion through the art of storytelling by Annette Simmons
The book is different from others because there is no step by step process, only an unfolding of understanding and sharing of ideas that have always existed but need to be allowed room to breath in us.
So far, I've been inspired to become a more effective communicator, and I've only finished chapter one! I would love to hear if anyone else has cracked this one open.
As for having Coy in my life--as a thinker and motivational presence--how did I get so lucky?
It's called the The Story Factor: inspiration, influence and persuasion through the art of storytelling by Annette Simmons
The book is different from others because there is no step by step process, only an unfolding of understanding and sharing of ideas that have always existed but need to be allowed room to breath in us.
So far, I've been inspired to become a more effective communicator, and I've only finished chapter one! I would love to hear if anyone else has cracked this one open.
As for having Coy in my life--as a thinker and motivational presence--how did I get so lucky?
Kristy
I met such a beautiful person this weekend. Her name is Kristy and her lifestyle and testimony drew me in and unraveled some peace in me.
Her house is perfectly lived in, her kids raised with guidance, grace, and freedom, her husband divides free time with her so she can spend time surfing with friends (she's better than most guys on the beach), and she doesn't seem to care much about things being a certain way. It was refreshing to see how she was--laid back and willing to tell her story and listen to others. She could have been a supermodel but she became so much more--someone who prays before she steps into the surf, someone who models a simple and fun life for herself, for her husband, and for her children, someone who spoke volumes of truth into my life without even knowing it.
I'm reminded of Erma Bombeck and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, two women who knew what it meant to "be". Kristy just got added to that list.
Her house is perfectly lived in, her kids raised with guidance, grace, and freedom, her husband divides free time with her so she can spend time surfing with friends (she's better than most guys on the beach), and she doesn't seem to care much about things being a certain way. It was refreshing to see how she was--laid back and willing to tell her story and listen to others. She could have been a supermodel but she became so much more--someone who prays before she steps into the surf, someone who models a simple and fun life for herself, for her husband, and for her children, someone who spoke volumes of truth into my life without even knowing it.
I'm reminded of Erma Bombeck and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, two women who knew what it meant to "be". Kristy just got added to that list.
Monday
Epic waves
This weekend Coy and I had fun chasing the "epic" west coast Florida waves. He surfed. Kirra and I watched. I love surf culture. I think I'm going to get my board out from the garage and try to use it this year.
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