Today is my day off. Once a week, I take a day that will be focused on all the things at home that have not been completed. It is also supposed to be a day to relax a bit from the rigors of work, to calm the mind, to spend some additional moments of meditation, reading, and prayer. Yet I always seem to get back around to working some. I guess it's a part of the vocation to which I have been called.
Ministry never ends. There is always a need. There is always a bit more tweaking that can be done to a sermon...and the list goes on. So it's more of a semi-day off, but I'll take it.
Today's tasks will include taking down the Christmas decorations in the house and packing them away and getting my 2008 files cleaned out and put away so that 2009 can be filed appropriately. They are not bad inside tasks since we're supposed to get up to 8 inches of snow!
But regardless of the day, whether working or not (actually it is whether I'm at the office or not), it is another day to be faithful as a witness, to refocus my heart and mind, to reacquaint myself with my family, to relax.
I hope you take at least one of them a week and a few of them together once in a while. They are good for the soul for even God took a day off from creating!
So enjoy your day...I sure will!
Peace ><>
pc
Friday, January 09, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Motivation, or lack thereof
This morning I feel little or no motivation to do much of anything. I know you probably didn't want to hear that from me, but that's what happens in a blog, insight into the inner workings of someone's mind. It's not that I don't want to do my job, I do; it's always on my mind. Today, though, I'm just overwhelmed by the amount of work that remains on my agenda for the next few weeks. I have lots to do, have accomplished much already, yet the stack doesn't seem to get any smaller!
So, today is going to be a challenge.
For example:
I set my alarm to get up early...I hit the snooze.
I planned on getting to the office early...I'm still in work out clothes.
I planned to exercise...I'm still at the computer (in work out clothes).
I planned on a healthy breakfast of oatmeal and a glass of milk...hasn't happened.
Now the clock is ticking, reminding me that I should be in the office in just a bit and I haven't hit send on this yet nor accomplished anything else. (and I'm still hungry)
How do we get motivation when it just doesn't exist? (I expect that you expect to find some insightful answer that will help all who read this to experience an epiphany as to the location of a well of motivation from which we can drink as often and as freely as needed. Unfortunately, I'm still looking and am expecting that from you!)
Today, I'll still take Yoda's advice to "do or do not." Some things I'll do, others I'll wait for another day. I'll work on the pile in front of me and start from the top (and finish prioritizing them so what's on top is most critical).
As for motivation...maybe I'll just plan for a nap in the middle of the day and sleeping in tomorrow. And while neither of those is likely, I'll just hold on to one thing I know I can always trust in, that "in Christ I can do all things." (Philippians 4:13)
And that's enough for any day.
Peace ><>
pc
So, today is going to be a challenge.
For example:
I set my alarm to get up early...I hit the snooze.
I planned on getting to the office early...I'm still in work out clothes.
I planned to exercise...I'm still at the computer (in work out clothes).
I planned on a healthy breakfast of oatmeal and a glass of milk...hasn't happened.
Now the clock is ticking, reminding me that I should be in the office in just a bit and I haven't hit send on this yet nor accomplished anything else. (and I'm still hungry)
How do we get motivation when it just doesn't exist? (I expect that you expect to find some insightful answer that will help all who read this to experience an epiphany as to the location of a well of motivation from which we can drink as often and as freely as needed. Unfortunately, I'm still looking and am expecting that from you!)
Today, I'll still take Yoda's advice to "do or do not." Some things I'll do, others I'll wait for another day. I'll work on the pile in front of me and start from the top (and finish prioritizing them so what's on top is most critical).
As for motivation...maybe I'll just plan for a nap in the middle of the day and sleeping in tomorrow. And while neither of those is likely, I'll just hold on to one thing I know I can always trust in, that "in Christ I can do all things." (Philippians 4:13)
And that's enough for any day.
Peace ><>
pc
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Hearing God
I wonder sometimes can we really hear God?
What I mean by that is, can we hear with our ears the voice of God? Has anyone? Ever?
I ask this not because I wonder if God speaks. I know for sure God "speaks" I just want to tap in to this communication in the most effective way possible. In other words, I just want to "hear" whenever God "speaks."
Most of the stories where God speaks can be interpreted in two different ways: where God's voice is heard audibly or where the voice is more experienced than heard. Now I don't deny the possibility that God can speak audibly. It's God! And God can do what God wants to do. But that being the case...does God really (or still)speak like that?
Part of me wants to say that God doesn't use our ears to communicate and never has. It may be because I have never heard the sound of God's voice...but I have felt it. Yes, God speaks, but not through the physical, rather through what is spiritual. God speaks to the heart and mind of the soul. It doesn't make it any less real...and for me it makes even more sense as I read those scriptures when people "hear" God.
So how can we "hear" if God speaks rather than through our ears? Silence might be a good place to start, to be still and quiet and block out all that is around and distracting. Or maybe solitude, a whole environment of peacefulness. Reading scripture can lead to just the right circumstances to hear. But it is not the physical environment that affects our God-listening ability rather it is the condition of the heart. Is it ready to receive a message, a call, a confirmation, a critique?
I know that I have heard God...in my heart. But I also know that I cannot hear and do not hear when my heart is not in this divine dialogue.
Want to hear God?
Open your heart!
Peace ><>
pc
What I mean by that is, can we hear with our ears the voice of God? Has anyone? Ever?
I ask this not because I wonder if God speaks. I know for sure God "speaks" I just want to tap in to this communication in the most effective way possible. In other words, I just want to "hear" whenever God "speaks."
Most of the stories where God speaks can be interpreted in two different ways: where God's voice is heard audibly or where the voice is more experienced than heard. Now I don't deny the possibility that God can speak audibly. It's God! And God can do what God wants to do. But that being the case...does God really (or still)speak like that?
Part of me wants to say that God doesn't use our ears to communicate and never has. It may be because I have never heard the sound of God's voice...but I have felt it. Yes, God speaks, but not through the physical, rather through what is spiritual. God speaks to the heart and mind of the soul. It doesn't make it any less real...and for me it makes even more sense as I read those scriptures when people "hear" God.
So how can we "hear" if God speaks rather than through our ears? Silence might be a good place to start, to be still and quiet and block out all that is around and distracting. Or maybe solitude, a whole environment of peacefulness. Reading scripture can lead to just the right circumstances to hear. But it is not the physical environment that affects our God-listening ability rather it is the condition of the heart. Is it ready to receive a message, a call, a confirmation, a critique?
I know that I have heard God...in my heart. But I also know that I cannot hear and do not hear when my heart is not in this divine dialogue.
Want to hear God?
Open your heart!
Peace ><>
pc
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Yoda's Wise Counsel
Yoda, the Jedi Master and the head of the Jedi Council in the Star Wars Series once told his young padawan, Luke Skywalker, "Do or do not, there is no try." His counsel was simple, do the tasks set before you, because even failing at them is still doing them, just not successfully. Yoda just wants Luke not to give up so quickly. It's like a team that forfeits by never entering the court for they will never know if they can win. They have to do before they can do successfully.
I can't help but think about our building addition this morning. It's on my mind for many reasons, foremost because it was officially started yesterday. Today, weather permitting, we'll get footers poured and it will start looking like a building! By the end of the week we'll have walls (block foundations, but still the beginnings of walls!) It is exciting.
It's amazing what simply starting something does to the mind and soul. Planning is good, but doing is even better. It's tangible, visible.
I had looked at pictures of the Holy Land for years, trying to get the lay of the land, the vision of mountains, rivers, lakes, wilderness in the middle east. But the real thing didn't even compare to my imagination. O, sure, when reading a book the imagination is critical to establishing context, then when the movie comes out it looks nothing like the images in your head...This is different. I'm talking about reality, the difference between pictures of the Grand Canyon, the blue-green waters of the Caribbean, or a sunset at Key West and the real thing. There is no comparison, really.
While it's true that we can learn from the experiences of others, we can learn more from our own experiences, which means we have to "get off the bench," sometimes; to get in the game, and feel the adrenaline rush.
Planning is crucial, necessary, but useless if action is never taken!
In this time of the year, it is normal for many plans to be made. This year I'm not going to let a little laziness get in the way of my doing; carrying out the plans I've made.
Whether it's reading the Bible, exercising, getting the house and/or finances in order, then finish the planning and just start!
Remember Yoda's advice, "Do or do not. there is no try." It makes all the difference in re-energizing the mind and the soul.
Peace ><>
pc
I can't help but think about our building addition this morning. It's on my mind for many reasons, foremost because it was officially started yesterday. Today, weather permitting, we'll get footers poured and it will start looking like a building! By the end of the week we'll have walls (block foundations, but still the beginnings of walls!) It is exciting.
It's amazing what simply starting something does to the mind and soul. Planning is good, but doing is even better. It's tangible, visible.
I had looked at pictures of the Holy Land for years, trying to get the lay of the land, the vision of mountains, rivers, lakes, wilderness in the middle east. But the real thing didn't even compare to my imagination. O, sure, when reading a book the imagination is critical to establishing context, then when the movie comes out it looks nothing like the images in your head...This is different. I'm talking about reality, the difference between pictures of the Grand Canyon, the blue-green waters of the Caribbean, or a sunset at Key West and the real thing. There is no comparison, really.
While it's true that we can learn from the experiences of others, we can learn more from our own experiences, which means we have to "get off the bench," sometimes; to get in the game, and feel the adrenaline rush.
Planning is crucial, necessary, but useless if action is never taken!
In this time of the year, it is normal for many plans to be made. This year I'm not going to let a little laziness get in the way of my doing; carrying out the plans I've made.
Whether it's reading the Bible, exercising, getting the house and/or finances in order, then finish the planning and just start!
Remember Yoda's advice, "Do or do not. there is no try." It makes all the difference in re-energizing the mind and the soul.
Peace ><>
pc
Monday, January 05, 2009
Hope for a New Year
To be honest, I've somewhat dreaded the arrival of 2009. It's hard to say exactly why, maybe it is the fact that I have ended up with more responsibility in this new Indiana Conference than I had planned and this year is the time all the work has to be completed. Regardless of the anxiety (there hasn't been worry, just dread!), 2009 has come anyway and right on time.
Now, I'm looking forward to the year. I know, that's a big turn around from the earlier paragraph, but what's the point of dread anyway? I've learned through the years that dread doesn't really help much and in fact, if we just turn and face the things we are dreading, we often find out that these things weren't that bad after all, and many times turned into great blessings! So it's going to be a good year and I'll tell you why...
It's a year of possibilities. Now I know that every year can be called that, but it's been a common experience that years past have been filled with impossibilities, negative consequences and attitudes. We will finish our building phase this spring. With it there will be some significant changes to the look of our ministries and the way we function week to week. There will be a new way to enter the building, but more importantly, I'm going to be focused on the new way we will be leaving it!
It's a year of making our lives easier. Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I'm not suggesting we all retire to a little place on the water, rather my theme for the year is one that makes life simpler. This year we are going to Simplify. What I mean by that is we will focus on the basics and the necessities of the faith and of being church. We will throw out what doesn't need to weigh us down and be left with a simpler, easier life, both at home and at church. We make things too complicated. We create organizations that are overly complex. And the more complex life is, the harder it is to enjoy and manage. It's not how life was meant to be. It's not how Church was meant to be. This year, we will find a better way on many levels.
Yes, 2009 has great potential. The possibilities are nearly endless. It only takes our facing them one at a time with courage and faith. God has led each of us down a path, so there must be a good reason and a good lesson on each one. We must simply remember the reason each (Christian) year begins not with January 1st, rather with Advent and Christmas, because we need to remember the promise of Christmas, Emmanuel, God is with us. And with that promise there is great hope for a new year...heck, with that promise, it's great hope for any year!
Peace ><>
pc
Now, I'm looking forward to the year. I know, that's a big turn around from the earlier paragraph, but what's the point of dread anyway? I've learned through the years that dread doesn't really help much and in fact, if we just turn and face the things we are dreading, we often find out that these things weren't that bad after all, and many times turned into great blessings! So it's going to be a good year and I'll tell you why...
It's a year of possibilities. Now I know that every year can be called that, but it's been a common experience that years past have been filled with impossibilities, negative consequences and attitudes. We will finish our building phase this spring. With it there will be some significant changes to the look of our ministries and the way we function week to week. There will be a new way to enter the building, but more importantly, I'm going to be focused on the new way we will be leaving it!
It's a year of making our lives easier. Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I'm not suggesting we all retire to a little place on the water, rather my theme for the year is one that makes life simpler. This year we are going to Simplify. What I mean by that is we will focus on the basics and the necessities of the faith and of being church. We will throw out what doesn't need to weigh us down and be left with a simpler, easier life, both at home and at church. We make things too complicated. We create organizations that are overly complex. And the more complex life is, the harder it is to enjoy and manage. It's not how life was meant to be. It's not how Church was meant to be. This year, we will find a better way on many levels.
Yes, 2009 has great potential. The possibilities are nearly endless. It only takes our facing them one at a time with courage and faith. God has led each of us down a path, so there must be a good reason and a good lesson on each one. We must simply remember the reason each (Christian) year begins not with January 1st, rather with Advent and Christmas, because we need to remember the promise of Christmas, Emmanuel, God is with us. And with that promise there is great hope for a new year...heck, with that promise, it's great hope for any year!
Peace ><>
pc
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)