Props to my friend Brandy for posting this great quote:
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in the casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable…The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all of the dangers of love is…Hell." C.S. Lewis
There are times in our lives when people will really hurt us....badly. They will let us down, they will walk all over us. But when we trust in God and not ourselves, then He can pick us back up, restore our hearts, and allow us to love again with equal or even more passion and commitment. Thank you, God.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Friday, June 24, 2005
Silence as a Weapon
I read a post on my friend Ken's site concerning some of the things he learned/heard about during his recent trip to Chicago. A few of them concerned a topic I've been learning about recently:
"Don't underestimate the power of unresolved tension."
"People don't remember what you tell them. They don't remember what you do. But they do remember how you made them feel"
"The less you say, the more they remember."
"Silence is a powerful weapon in your arsenal"
I'm sure many of them deal with his foray into media and design, but I think these could be easily applied to our normal lives. So often we try to control people and situations when what we should be doing is just sitting back waiting on God to work out the details. I have difficulty doing that because I'm so motivated to work towards whatever goal I'm aimed at, but sometimes the best thing I can do is...well...nothing at all.
I especially like the first phrase, "never underestimate the power of unresolved tension." There's plenty of times in our lives when there is unresolved tension between things. Maybe it's between work and family. Maybe it's between somebody that did you wrong in the past. That unresolved tension is a powerful tool God can use to change things in your life when we are open to the possibility. That coupled with periods of silence can do so much more than anything we might be able to say or do.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
"Don't underestimate the power of unresolved tension."
"People don't remember what you tell them. They don't remember what you do. But they do remember how you made them feel"
"The less you say, the more they remember."
"Silence is a powerful weapon in your arsenal"
I'm sure many of them deal with his foray into media and design, but I think these could be easily applied to our normal lives. So often we try to control people and situations when what we should be doing is just sitting back waiting on God to work out the details. I have difficulty doing that because I'm so motivated to work towards whatever goal I'm aimed at, but sometimes the best thing I can do is...well...nothing at all.
I especially like the first phrase, "never underestimate the power of unresolved tension." There's plenty of times in our lives when there is unresolved tension between things. Maybe it's between work and family. Maybe it's between somebody that did you wrong in the past. That unresolved tension is a powerful tool God can use to change things in your life when we are open to the possibility. That coupled with periods of silence can do so much more than anything we might be able to say or do.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Tonight is a Night That Calls For:
1 friend, 2 bags of iced animal cookies, 2 6pks of IBC cream soda, and of course a great video game: Medal of Honor: European Assault for the PS2. Need I say more?
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Of Life and Tennis
Tonight, I played tennis for the first time in years with a friend of mine. While I was struggling to bat that ridiculous ball back and forth with him, I began my normal routine of evaluating all my motions and playing in order to better myself. I thought of my positioning just before hitting the ball, the angle of the racket, the swinging motion of my arm and, of course, how hard I was hitting it.
A strange thing occurred to me when I began to consider the force I was using: The faster the ball came at me, the harder I wanted to hit it back. I thought for a second how little aspects of our personalities show up in the smallest things. Instead of having the patience to slow the ball down to a reasonable speed for my abilities, I instead wanted to crush it back with 3 times the velocity.
Although this is a loose analogy, I would still say that it exemplifies my apparent impatience with certain things in my life. When things are really pressing me, I grow impatient to allow God and myself the time and space to really accomplish what needs to be done. I hurry, hurry, hurry to get done what I think I need to do and I can't stand waiting for the right time or resources to come about.
So it would appear that I can actually learn something about life from this ridiculous game played the social elite and very attractive Russian women....
Game...Set....Match.
A strange thing occurred to me when I began to consider the force I was using: The faster the ball came at me, the harder I wanted to hit it back. I thought for a second how little aspects of our personalities show up in the smallest things. Instead of having the patience to slow the ball down to a reasonable speed for my abilities, I instead wanted to crush it back with 3 times the velocity.
Although this is a loose analogy, I would still say that it exemplifies my apparent impatience with certain things in my life. When things are really pressing me, I grow impatient to allow God and myself the time and space to really accomplish what needs to be done. I hurry, hurry, hurry to get done what I think I need to do and I can't stand waiting for the right time or resources to come about.
So it would appear that I can actually learn something about life from this ridiculous game played the social elite and very attractive Russian women....
Game...Set....Match.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Playing Cold
Artist: Coldplay
Album: X & Y
Track: 11, "Swallowed in the Sea"
You cut me down a tree
And brought it back to me
And that's what made me see
Where I was going wrong
You put me on a shelf
And kept me for yourself
I can only blame myself
You can only blame me
And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me
And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
Or swallowed in the sea
You put me on a line
And hung me out to dry
And darling that's when I
Decided to go to see you
You cut me down to size
And opened up my eyes
Made me realize
What I could not see
And I could write a book
The one they'll say that shook
The world, and then it took
It took it back from me
And I could write it down
Or spread it all around
Get lost and then get found
And you'll come back to me
Not swallowed in the sea
And I could write a song
A hundred miles long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me
The streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well, that's where I belong
And you belong with me
Oh what good is it to live
With nothing left to give
Forget but not forgive
Not loving all you see
All the streets you're walking on
A thousand houses long
Well that's where I belong
And you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
You belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Yeah, you belong with me
Not swallowed in the sea
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Rock out
Just bought tickets for Coldplay....just got a copy of "X & Y"....saw Coldplay on VH1 storytellers last night....I'm ready to rock out. I look forward to seeing them play "Fix You" live...
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Currently Listening:
Artist: Elbow
Album: Asleep in the Back
Notes:
Dark Coldplay with a moody twist.
Check out tracks 6,7,12
Friends/Tapes
Every once in a while, I'll pull out my box of old tapes from way back. I'll dig through and pick out ones I had forgotten all about, pop them in the cassette deck, and suddenly remember why I liked it in the first place. Sometimes, I'll even keep the tape out for a while and listen to it for the next week or so. In a way, I think old friends are like that...
Thankfully, people aren't cassette tapes. Unlike the tape which hasn't changed at all since the last time I listened to it, that old friend has. They have new ideas, new experiences and new ways of looking at things...just like I now have. So while I can sit back and remember why I enjoyed their company so many years ago, there's a whole new arena of possible conversations to take part in.
Thankfully, people aren't cassette tapes. Unlike the tape which hasn't changed at all since the last time I listened to it, that old friend has. They have new ideas, new experiences and new ways of looking at things...just like I now have. So while I can sit back and remember why I enjoyed their company so many years ago, there's a whole new arena of possible conversations to take part in.
Monday, June 06, 2005
1 Timothy; 15-17
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Blessed
Yes, folks, we are. So many times it is so easy...so ridiculously easy...to forget that. I don't want to forget...
Recently, someone told me the best thing I could ever give was, "FOLLOW CHRIST with EVERYTHING that's in you...that is the best thing that you could ever give!"
My, my what an incredible thing to say. I suppose it scares me because it seems like such a big task. But I know I have a big God and somehow, someway, I'll do it.
Whatever I'm here for, I'm ready to go, in YOUR time.
Recently, someone told me the best thing I could ever give was, "FOLLOW CHRIST with EVERYTHING that's in you...that is the best thing that you could ever give!"
My, my what an incredible thing to say. I suppose it scares me because it seems like such a big task. But I know I have a big God and somehow, someway, I'll do it.
Whatever I'm here for, I'm ready to go, in YOUR time.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Who we are...
"It isn't about what you do, it's about who you are."
I've never really heard those words before. So many other times in my life I've heard the opposite: that who you are is what you do. I'm really beginning to see the truth in the statement above. No, I don't take it to mean that my actions don't matter. It means that if I focus on my person then my actions will soon follow. Given that, when I stay true to the person I know I am and who God has called me to be, then I don't necessarily have to be so concerned about my performance.
I've struggled with that aspect lately. I look at the potential remainder of my life and the things I know I will be faced with and it looks daunting. I often wonder how I can possibly always be the person I need to be in all the situations I will probably come across. How will I always do the right thing? How can I make sure to always treat people the way I should? The answer is that I can't. I can't be perfect...no matter how hard I try.
But it isn't about my performance...it's about where my heart is and Him that protects, provides, and loves all of us.
I've never really heard those words before. So many other times in my life I've heard the opposite: that who you are is what you do. I'm really beginning to see the truth in the statement above. No, I don't take it to mean that my actions don't matter. It means that if I focus on my person then my actions will soon follow. Given that, when I stay true to the person I know I am and who God has called me to be, then I don't necessarily have to be so concerned about my performance.
I've struggled with that aspect lately. I look at the potential remainder of my life and the things I know I will be faced with and it looks daunting. I often wonder how I can possibly always be the person I need to be in all the situations I will probably come across. How will I always do the right thing? How can I make sure to always treat people the way I should? The answer is that I can't. I can't be perfect...no matter how hard I try.
But it isn't about my performance...it's about where my heart is and Him that protects, provides, and loves all of us.
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