Spirituality & a Vacuum

So last weekend while cleaning, I was running the sweeper with Isaiah and had this moment of reflection, or thought, or something. Whatever it was was true and hit me profoundly. While sweeping my office, I noticed that I couldn’t clean everything b/c there were some obstacles in the way. For example, you know where all the dust can settle in the cracks around furniture – where the sweeper really just can’t get to.

What do you do – you have to work a little harder and think a little differently. In fact, you actually have to answer this question internally, “is that little bit of dust worth the extra effort right now or can it wait till next time?”

Isn’t that true in our lives in general? Don’t we seem to fix the things that are obvious and open? But what about the ones that require more work? Do we even know that dust has settled for quite some time? Do we even know it’s there? Are we willing to shine the light on those areas and expose them for the junk they are? Or do we just say, “I’ll get it next time”

Well next time doesn’t come. And while we can work on areas in our lives, the truth is, we need to use outside help. We need light to expose those areas and we need a sweeper or something to get all the dirt & dust. i.e. we need to recognize & allow Jesus to expose and clean those areas – we can’t go at it alone.

Last night I shared a story about a person that really bugged me once or twice in my past and you know what, that’s caused dirt and junk to settle and my perception of the person might be skewed based on that junk. CRAP I even said last night, “I haven’t buried the hatchet either.” Yeah this morning it hit me – that’s junk and now it needs cleaned.

Presidential Address

A lot of promises, a lot of initiative. Let’s hope this administration holds up to its end of the deal by not becoming a big government (contrast to the stimulous) and by not relenting on those promises.

America must lead the way, we must become responsible with our economy, with our power, and with our prestige.

Hopefully we do lead by example. As individuals and businesses, we must be responsible and not hope for bailouts.

And I can’t lie – I’d rather have been watching American Idol.

He’s baaaaaaaaaack

Tiger Woods – enough said.

HOPE

This morning when I left to go to the gym, I was greeted by just a little bit of sunshine trying to come over the hills in the east. For the last couple months it’s been completely dark this time of day. But today I realized there is hope for sunshine and warm weather. Then I checked and some very important dates are coming up: March 8 – daylight savings time, yes we lose an hour of sleep but it’ll help bring more sun to our days. March 20th, first day of spring. More hope = March avg Ohio high = 53 degrees, then April 63.

On the drive I had a moment of prayer, reflection and thanksgiving.

Not one human alive or I couldn’t imagine there being one, has gone through life w/out dealing with suffering, with loss, with despair. We’ve all experienced it. In the midst of the darkest and longest nights, along eventually will come a ray of sunshine, a glimmer of hope. I realized this morning how awesome the Creator of the Universe is that he provides within his creation a spiritual conversation. I believe he invites us into this conversation and God desparately wants us to participate.

Today may you be comforted by this hope and invited to tap into the divine conversation.

FIREPROOF

So over the weekend, Amber & I decided to watch FIREPROOF. Since it got all the acclaim from many Christian communities, I’d like to offer my unprofessional (I don’t get paid to review & critique movies) critique of the movie.

I’ll start with the positives:
Delivery of Christian message: B, I give it a B b/c I tried to look at it as an outsider to the Christian faith and it seemed somewhat in-your-face-ish to me.

Christian message: A, the message was clear, concise, and multi-layered.

Life-application: A, great teaching for the married folks or wannabes.

Entertainment value: D – , It was way too long, a few characters were over-the-top and quite pointless.

Acting: C -, I’ve heard from many places the acting was good. I’d give it a lower grade but I’ll take into consideration that the actors aren’t likely to be the most highly trained in their field.

Script: D, the conversations weren’t normal conversations. When I talk friends, I don’t address them by name at the beginning of each sentence.

Would I buy the movie – no thankfully it was a gift. HOWEVER I would buy and challenge couples and especially dudes to complete the LOVE – DARE associated with the movie.

Feel free to give your unprofessional (you don’t get paid) comments too.

Does the American Church Need to Change?

A friend (and I hope a reader here) & I thru email conversation began a slight discussion this week about this topic as he contended the Church does not in fact need to change. Initially, I would quickly disagree.

That said, I’d like to begin a conversation on this topic then hopefully I can offer thoughts next week. PLEASE offer some thoughts & comments here on a few questions:

Does the American Church need any change? If so, what. Really think about it. Many authors, pastors, even Barna makes bold statements about how many and why the American Church is in danger.

What are your thoughts?

Personal Stimulus

Last month at Centerpoint , I had the great opportunity to share on the regrets of financial (mistakes). Like many, I have made more than my share of financial mistakes. Growing up in a rural small town with a blue-collar mentality and with a father working at the paper mill, we didn’t have much growing up. This is true of most ppl my age in our town. Yet going through college, you find out quickly about credit cards, student loans, and thus the cycle of using debt as a tool to gain things begins. Unfortunately, that cycle creates havoc quickly on many, if not all of us.

At the beginning of the year, I promised life style changes and as such, decided to take our family financial planning to a better position. As we hear about the economic crisis, I’m convinced the biggest reason for it is on using debt as a tool to get things. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against using debt and it’ll take a while for us to get out of it but it’s a step in the right direction to living financially free. As for now, I’m happy to have a secure job (so I hope) and so does my wife (so we hope) when so many are losing their jobs (keep those in your prayers).

For a book & website on this subject, read with me, check out Total Money Makeover with Dave Ramsey.

My thoughts on the stimulus

1) economy needs a jump start – I agree

2) this isn’t Obama’s stimulus fyi

3) job creation, retention, training, infrastructure – good

4) the rest is pure spending, bigger government, and frankly is just ….