Category: Friends

Thomas meets Rob Bell


Thomas was able to meet Rob Bell this weekend during Bell’s Peacemaker tour of the UK.

Rob Bell was amazing. To get up in front of 500 people and speak for 90mins… and keep there attention… without digging out powerpoint or even some music… tremendous!
Audience participation was welcomed when Rob talked on non-violence – he focussed on the action Jesus spoke of in the beatitudes (Matthew). He spoke of the subversive, counter-revolutionary ideas Jesus had to help the downtrodden and humiliated.

It’s interesting that Bell spoke on non-violence and the B-attitudes. After reading about Gandhi’s fascination with the Sermon on the Mount we started talking about the B-attitudes in Matthew 5 and I think we’ll continue looking at the Sermon on the Mount during our Wednesday morning What-a-Breakfast at What-a-Burger in Red Oak.
We had some great discussion this last week just on the B-attitudes.
According to Thomas, Bell spoke of a two ways we tend to respond to violence – either retaliation or as a total pacifist.
But Jesus spoke of a third response:

The Third Way has two guiding principles that are founded in tremendous courage and creativity:
1) Do not cooperate with anything humiliating
2) Hold out any possibility that the aggressor may wish to change his/her mind.

Update from Uganda

I just received an email from Matt. I think it’s about a week old now – DOH.
Matt’s e-mail is an update from “my sister” Kathryn, who’s in Uganda right now. I believe she returns home tomorrow so please pray for safe travel.

Katya texted me about 1pm today which is about 9pm over there. She said today (now yesterday for her) she had her first contact with children. She said she is very tired and also she is very troubled with what she has seen. Quote: ” its
devastating the conditions over here…the people desperately need hope” “we worked kids today for the 1st time today, I dont have the words 2 tell whats going on here”
She spoke of a girl named Juliet, a 7 year old girl who is taking care of four siblings because the parents abandoned them. ” my heart so heavy and burdened with all i saw and heard today”
Please pray for her for God’s peace and rest, also to remember to remember God is still in control even with what we see and dont understand. She has such a heart for people of are hurting.
Just letting you know how things are going…..

Bypass the bank for lower APR

A while back I read a post on Lifehacker about social network Prosper.com.
The website allows people to post their financial need and people can bid on the option to loan the money out.
So let’s say you’re paying 29% on a $2000 credit card debt. You’d like to stop paying bank interest and get your debt paid off quicker.
Sign up for Prosper, post your needs ($2000) and see how low you can get your interest rate. People wanting to make money (who doesn’t) and willing to take a risk on you and your credit will offer you a lower rate. Your interest rate could drop substantially.
Multiple people may bid on your debt and once you meet your goal your monthly payment is deducted from your bank account and distributed to the people bidding on your debt.
Lifehacker posted an update today on a less risky means to borrowing and lending money – try a family member.
Blogger Clayton Cramer paid down a charged up credit card with an interest rate of 18% by paying a family member instead of the bank. His sister gave him a loan at 14.5% APR and he was able to double his payments, paying his debt off in half the time and his sister was able to make some substantial money.
Not a bad idea for either party. Just don’t lend out your cash to anyone and don’t let it ruin your relationships with family or friends.

Tag – I’m it.

Thomas tagged me again. Doh.
Here are the rules: Grab the book closest to you. Turn to page 161. Print the 5th complete sentence on your blog. Tag 5 others.
Well I’m in the living room and the only book other than photo albums on the coffee table is my NET Bible.

Page 161, 5th complete sentence is: Exodus 8:30:
So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord.

Ok now it’s my turn.

I tag Michael R, Brian, Dollye, Walker and Rick Reynolds.

For my sleep deprived friends

For my sleep deprived friends (and family)… here are some tips on getting a good meditative power nap in from Lifehack:

  • 1 STRETCH your legs for 30 seconds.
  • 2 SIT on a chair or couch. If you’re at work back away from your desk a bit.
  • 3 CLOSE YOUR EYES.
  • 4 STRETCH your arms above your head, slowly roll your head to stretch your neck.
  • 5 DEEP BREATHING – take at least 3 deep breaths in and out. Do this slowly and hold in between the in and out breath.
  • 6 REST and RELAX your face, jaw, eyes and whole body.
  • 7 BE AWARE HOW YOU FEEL as you relax.
  • 8 CALM THE MIND. Let go of all thoughts. As thoughts come into your mind, just repeat this gentle reminder to yourself “Empty The Mind.” You may want to switch over to a word of your choosing to focus on (mantra) that will help push out other thoughts. Examples of words are Peace, Calm, Rest, Empty, Power, Strength, Love. Any word is fine. In fact the word “OM” can be helpful because it is not attached to other meanings. Whatever works for you is what is best at that moment!
  • 9 IGNORE NOISES in the same way that you ignore thoughts. Repeat your mantra or “Empty the Mind.” Don’t get mad at noises, just flow with them as if they are waves under your boat of meditation.
  • 10 OPEN YOUR EYES slowly after about 10-20 minutes. Take a few more deep breaths and stretch again: arms, neck, legs.
  • 11 AHHHH. Feel the rejuvenation!