Category: reflections

The Hero within

Sunday we talked about becoming Jesus to our neighborhoods and what that might look like and how it might change our neighbors and neighborhood. And we talked about how even the smallest things can have the greatest impact.

I received an email afterwards from someone who explained how it was all the “little things” people had done recently for them that made a world of difference in their life.

I also heard from someone who said he wants to put a “prayer box” at the end of his driveway for his neighbors to share their needs with one another.

I’m excited to think of all the small things we can do for one another that can change the world for each person. “You may not be able to change the world, but you can change the world for one person.”

I love that no matter what your skills are, or talents, or passions are, God can help you find that “hero within” and use you to impact countless people around you.

Kinda like Carlos…

(HT Mosaic and Eric Bryant)

note: I’ve had some problems with the CD from Sunday. it may not have been finalized or recorded completely. hopefully I can get that fixed next Sunday and share audio from Sunday morning for those who’ve asked for it.

Peppermint Filled Pinatas

I’m currently listening to the audio book version of “Peppermint Filled Pinatas.”

Some really good stuff in there!

The author just told a story (in chapter 3) about a 16-year-old girl who invited him and his wife to her birthday party at a skating rink. They reluctantly decided to come and brought a few teenagers along with them. Turns out other than a few members of the girls family, they were the only ones to come to the party and stay.

A couple weeks later, the mother of the girl, who had been against her daughter being a part of a church showed up at the church and wanted to become a follower of Christ.

Her reason, she said she changed her mind after the author and his wife showed up at the birthday party.

“Now if we get an invitation and it happens to be the night of our small group not only do we miss the small group, but we invite our small group to join us. We need to say ‘No’ more often to our business so that we can create room for spontaneous adventures with others.”

That’s hard for me to swallow. I tend to see my small group as “my ministry” or “my calling.” I tend to get really frustrated when people who know I have small group on a particular night of the week make plans during that time and expect me to forgo our small group in favor of their event.

Perhaps there’s still a whole lot more that I need to surrender!

Let go and let God!

Thoughts? Anyone else struggle with this?

44/365 a revolution

44/365

44/365
Originally uploaded by Jonathan D. Blundell


a revolution

“‘What a strange way to start a revolution… and a strange way to finish a world tour.’ We worship the seed that died. The revolution will not be televised. It will not be brought to you by Fox News with commercial interruptions… It will not be sandwiched between ads to accelerate your life or be all you can be. There will be no reruns. The revolution will be live. The revolution will be in the streets. The revolution will be cleaning toilets and giving another blanket to Karen. The revolution will not be talking about poverty in hotel ballrooms. It will be eating beans and rice with Ms. Sunshine and watching Back to the Future with our neighbor Mary. Get ready friends… God is preparing us for something really, really — small.”

-Shane Claiborne as quoted in Tom Sine’s book The New Conspirators

—
note: wish i had some mustard seeds on hand, but went with celery seeds instead.

How to annoy me // How to charm me

Ragamuffin Soul asks, so here’s my response…

How to annoy me…
Somehow thinking you’re better than someone else and refusing to associate with them and refusing to show them the same love, grace and humility you’d want them to show you.

How to charm me…
A steak dinner and showing love to the least of these – like you would your own father, mother, brother or sister.

Your turn…

WIN :: For Couples Only

I received a copy of the new For Couples Only Box set just before setting out on our cruise. Waterbrook Press has been gracious to send me the books to give to one lucky reader of my blog. The newly released box set includes a copy of For Men Only and For Women Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn.

Laurie and I’ve read both books and I think we’d both say they’ve been super helpful. Brian also uses them a lot in his marriage counseling.

These aren’t the “how-to” or DIY type of dating books. Like the other books in the series, the books are really about debunking the common misconceptions guys (including myself) and women have about that “mysterious other sex.”

Something I found helpful while reviewing For Young Men Only (another book in the series) was to simply ask Laurie about the things the Feldhahn’s reported in the book.

Because after all, no two women (or men) are exactly alike. Even if the Feldhahn’s surveys reported one thing, it was helpful to talk with Laurie about it to see exactly how she felt about the question/scenario. Sometimes she agreed with the majority, sometimes she didn’t and sometimes her response was a mixture of the two.

And of course this would make a great set for you and your spouse — especially just in time for Valentines Day (keep reading to find out how you can win a copy).

I mean really, what better way to tell your spouse you love them, than by telling them that you’re committed to learning more about them and sharing more about yourself? And not only that – but proving it by following up and using the books as some great conversation starters.

Diamonds-smymonds. Chocolate-bocolate.

Pass on the typical Valentines Day gifts and spend some time with your spouse over the next month or so really getting to know one another and I think you’ll see which one is the better investment.

For Couples Only Box Set:

Since their debut, these revolutionary guides have sold well over a million copies, been translated into fifteen languages, and sparked much fascinating water-cooler conversation around the country. Now together in the For Couples Only boxed set, these books provide the perfect resource to help you understand what you never knew about the woman or man in your life.

Each volume is based on input from more than a thousand members of the opposite sex—including an unprecedented nationwide survey and hundreds of personal interviews. This innovative approach yields candid and surprising answers about everything you don’t “get” about your significant other—even what that person deeply wishes you knew. It also produces simple but groundbreaking awareness of how you can best love and support the one who is most important to you.

So whether you are newly dating or have been married fifty years, get ready to know each other in a whole new way. The adventure is just beginning!

Author Bio:

Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn hold graduate degrees from Harvard University and are popular national speakers, authors, and entrepreneurs. They are also active church members and the parents of two young children, and they enjoy every minute of living life at warp speed.

How to enter/win:

Of course, if you really want to be the star this Valentines Day, go out and pick up a copy of the book for your Valentines sweet right now (you can even order it on Amazon via the link above). But as a way of saying thanks to folks who read this blog, follow me on Twitter and/or listen to the something beautiful podcast, I’ll pick a random person on Friday, Feb. 13th to send a copy of the box set to. Yes, Friday the 13th could actually turn out to be your lucky day.

To enter, simply tell the world via Twitter why your spouse is the best of the best. And just to be sure that I can track your entry, be sure and add #SSLwin as a hashtag at the end of your Tweet. If you don’t use the hashtag – I won’t find your “entry.”

If you’re not on Twitter, you should be, but I’ll also accept your entry if you post your comment below.

Finally, if you want to be extra certain I see your Twitter message, feel free to copy the message and the url link to your Tweet into the comments below.

I think that does it! If you have any questions about the contest let me know. And good luck!

Day 145/365 new light

Day 145 ~ 365 Days Project

Day 145 ~ 365 Days Project
Originally uploaded by Laurie B!


Laurie and I have been wanting this light for our kitchen for a while now – it’s been out of stock at the Frisco IKEA for at least a month.
On the way back from our cruise we stopped at IKEA in Houston and were able to grab the one we wanted.
Took some time tonight to hang it and Laurie took some great photos.
Not sure if it was the summers doing electrical work with my dad or the easy instructions IKEA provided, but its been fun getting my “hands dirty” fixing/installing these random things around the house.