Extra Mile
A quote that I happened across last night:
“Go the extra mile. There won’t be a crowd.”
-Written on the wall of the dance studio where my daughter dances
Look closely at the picture. It is a perfect example of NOT going the extra mile.
Lose the crowd.
Sep. 5, 08 |
No Comments |
Total Immersion
A few weeks ago, I watched perhaps the best superhero movie villain I had ever seen in the late Heath Ledger’s ‘Joker’. I was absolutely amazed with Ledger’s performance in the ‘Dark Knight’. After the movie ended, I just shook my head.
I was completely blown away.
While Tiffany and I walked to the car I couldn’t help but think of how this actor fully invested himself into this role. It was similar to Jamie Foxx in ‘Ray‘ (Foxx didn’t play Ray Charles, he became Ray Charles!).
Ledger became the Joker, and was 100% committed to the task. To prepare for this total immersion, Ledger totally lived alone in a hotel room for a month, formulating the character’s posture, voice and psychology, and kept a diary, in which he recorded the Joker’s thoughts and feelings to guide himself during his performance.
I couldn’t help but wonder if the completeness of his movie transformation had anything to do with why he felt the need to take the prescription drugs that ultimately led to his accidental death.
We can only hope that Heath Ledger was right with God as he slipped into eternity.
After watching this film it made me think about what I am giving myself to.
Whether I am totally immersed in God’s call in my life.
If I am giving my all to the kingdom of God.
If I am consumed with the pursuit of having the character of Jesus mark my life.
I want to be totally immersed in Him.
I want to give my life for the things that matter for eternity.
Because this life is a short one.
Sep. 3, 08 |
No Comments |
Homework
I am helping with my daughter’s homework tonight. I am so glad Jesus helps me with mine!
Sep. 2, 08 |
No Comments |
Translation
The translation to the ‘Craziest Sign’ post from yesterday means “Please sit while…uhhhhhhh…doing your business.”
It’s German.
Somewhat of my translation to the translation, but you get what I mean.
Aug. 31, 08 |
No Comments |
Craziest Sign
This is the craziest sign I think I have seen yet. A friend has this on his Facebook page. Wow. I don’t know what it means, but it looks ummmmm……difficult.
Don’t try this at home.
Aug. 30, 08 |
No Comments |
The Test
As you have probably noticed, a lot of what I have written lately has been related to challenge, trial, testing, etc. I am in a season where my mettle is being tested and God is refining me.
Not easy at all, but God is near. Sometimes it seems like when you are stretched the most, God is the most present. I have been enjoying the nearness of God in the middle of challenge. As I was thinking about the dealings of God I had this thought:
If you are being tested like never before, then God wants to do with you, and take your life to a level where it has never been.
Aug. 29, 08 |
No Comments |
Fire Dance
He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Daniel 3:25
Do you find yourself in the burning crucible of testing and refinement?
Are you being challenged at a deeper level than ever before?
Though we may be in the middle of the firestorm, we don’t have to be afraid.
We don’t have to be reluctant or unsure because Jesus is with us.
We don’t have to fear the threats and intimidations of the Enemy of our souls.
In the classic story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace there appears a 4th man in the flames with them.
The King sees this and is amazed.
But I don’t think the 3 guys that were tossed into the blaze were shocked.
They already knew Jesus was there.
Because if you are going to dance in the fire, you have to know Jesus is on the dance floor too.
If you are one of the fiery furnaces of life, don’t get scared and stand on the wall.
Just dance.
Jesus is with you.
Aug. 28, 08 |
No Comments |
The Genesis
I was talking to a friend a couple of days ago about the pain of challenge and trial and the positve impact it can have on our lives.
After our conversation I settled on a quote that is a paraphrase of the dialogue (More his words than mine.):
Comfort and ease has never been and will never be the genesis of greatness. Greatness has always come through the crucible of adversity and trial.
Maybe the battle we find ourselves in is not a dead-end, but a launching pad.
Aug. 27, 08 |
No Comments |
Oxford Dictionary
‘Zyxt’ means ‘to see’. I got this word and definition from a guy I read about named Ammon Shea. Ammon read the entire Oxford Dictionary in one year (click for NPR story) and wrote a book about it entitled ‘Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages’.
When I happened across this story and read about his enthusiasm and persistence in his task I couldn’t help but think, “What if we had that same level of persistence and enthusiasm when it came to the Bible?”
Rather than learning obscure words and odd definitions, maybe we would get to know something about God that would challenge, change, and surprise us.
Maybe we would even get to know God.
Just maybe.
Aug. 25, 08 |
No Comments |
Call a Friend II
Has the thought of someone ever suddenly popped in your mind without warning? And when it did you thought, “I need to call them!”.
But time passed and you NEVER did?
Then some time later you found out that this person was in crisis and in desperate need of help around the same time that the thought came?
And words something like, “Man! I really should have called!” filled your brain?
Isn’t that a TERRIBLE feeling?
From here on out, let’s make the call instead of just thinking about it.
Someone’s future could be riding on that call.
Aug. 23, 08 |
No Comments |