In Search Of…

My new roommate Grant and I were hanging around the house last Saturday and decided that we were in the mood for lunch at a good burger joint. But there was a problem. We couldn’t think of a single one in Columbia of the kind that we had in mind. So we set out on a quest…. to find a suitable place to satisfy our cravings for some good, greasy burgers and fries with an atmosphere that gives us that “back home” feeling. Grant is documenting our quest HERE, so rather than duplicate his efforts I will simply refer you there.

Band of Brothers

Over the course of the past week I have been watching the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers on DVD. I sincerely believe that it should be mandatory for all men in our country, young and old, to watch it, but thats another discussion for another day. Anyway – this is the second time I have watched the series, but this time it has affected me much more deeply than the first. First of all, I am humbled by the price that was paid then and throughout history for the freedoms that I enjoy every day and absolutely take for granted. Second, I got choked up many times throughout the series; sometimes at the horror of war itself or the depiction of a concentration camp, but most often at the courage, bravery, and sacrifice of the men depicted in the films.

When watching movies like these, especially ones that are based on actual historical events and people, I am inspired and feel a desire in my heart to be more like those men. But deep down I do not feel that I am. Even if I did have those qualities hidden inside somewhere, what would it look like to live them out in the day to day of the modern world that I live in? Life is so safe, sanitary, calculated, and routine, to the degree that courage, bravery, and sacrifice are rarely seen or even needed. God, grow me to be a man of those qualities. And show me what it looks like to live it out.

Dreams Are Funny

Kari: I had a dream about you last night.
Me: Ok….what was it about?
Kari: Well, you were a rapper with the baggy clothes and all, and you were having a press conference. They were asking about your upcoming record and you were saying that you needed some more investors.
Me: Do you have the gift of prophecy? Because if you did, that would be funny.

Being All There

Its never fun to hear negative things about yourself. But coming from people whom you trust and you know love you it almost always turns out for the good. Recently in one of our Vision Team (elder) meetings, Adam, Allen, Dustin, and I were having a conversation with the purpose of helping each other refine and grow in our respective leadership roles. In this conversation, they told me that I have been “moody,” or “up and down” recently.

Of course being a typical guy, at first I was offended and I wanted to disagree with them. But then I realized that they were right. After a few more minutes of discussing it, I realized that the root of the whole issue was not my actual mood or demeanor at a given point in time, it was that my mind was often elsewhere instead of being focused on whatever I was doing. Some of the issues and pressures in my life were bleeding over into and affecting everything else. Things I could not do anything about were having a negative effect on many of the things that I did have the power to control.

A Godly man who mentored me several years ago named Fouad Faris used to say, “wherever you are, be all there.” Wise advice that I once lived out fairly well, but apparently need to recapture at this point in my life.

Fortune Cookie

Got this one a few days ago at M-Cafe. Funny timing for sure. Hope it proves to be true!

Jeep Top 10

The past several days in Columbia the weather has actually been pretty nice, which is rare this time of year but has inspired the following post:

Top 10 Things I Love About Driving The Jeep

- The feeling of freedom from driving with no top or doors
- Basic transportation with no bells and whistles
- Jeep drivers wave at each other
- You see/hear/smell a lot more
- Dirt and grime just make it look better, but…
- If I want to I can wash it inside and out with a hose pipe
- I can fix most anything on it
- You can’t lock your keys in the car
- The sun on my face and the wind in my hair
- Shifting gears

Come Sail Away

Last night I posted this quote, but with no explanation. Here it is again, along with the some of the thoughts behind me posting it.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

This quote embodies many things that I have been thinking about recently; regrets and unfulfilled desires, and how I let them discourage me and dictate the course of my life. I do not think that is what God intends for me or any of us. (as evidenced by His desire for us to have “abundant” life)

So right now I am beginning to explore and dream…. I will let you know what I discover…..

Thank You

Last week some of the ladies from Midtown threw a little appreciation party for the staff. They went all out with a superhero theme, catered bbq dinner, a rap video, and a sweet coffee table book with some cool pics of Midtown stuff over the past 2 years. They gave each of us superhero names, and made us capes with our names on the back. (mine was stunningman, of course) It was a great evening, and definitely encouraged me in the middle of a stressful time in my life. (see previous post) Thank you ladies for all your creativity, hard work, and even lying to your husbands to pull the evening off!

Spinning My Wheels

Do you ever feel like you are spinning your wheels? Like you are putting forth a lot of effort and making a lot of noise, but getting nowhere? Well, that is how I have felt recently. Spiritually, relationally, careerally, (my new word) I have all kinds of things going on, but I don’t seem to be making any progress in any of them. I think that you are supposed to get better at life as you go through it, but sometimes I feel like the opposite is happening to me. I just need to get a little traction….

God and Iced Mocha

God’s words to me at SB this morning:

No condemnation. Abundant life. Delight yourself in me.