Spring in Nebraska

They're talking about us in Carolina it seems. I was wondering about the Corn and Wheat crop myself as I travel by the fields that seems untouched. But I guess we are not to far behind schedule, at least according to our eastern friends.

Steadfastness

James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

I like the idea of steadfastness. When your back is up against the wall, the wall is fast and easy. It's there and it's not going anywhere. You might feel trapped, on the ropes, bruised and beaten up. You might feel like your way of escape is blocked, and it is. You are forced to stand your ground. Your body is tired and your mind is fading in and out.

Somewhere inside, deep in your brain, deep in your heart, a song begins to play, faint at first, a few beats, a note or two. Then a line and a chorus. Your heart starts to find its beat again. You learn to use the wall. The wall becomes a friend. It helps you stand in place. In fact, the wall becomes part of your team, and whatever is in front of you best be careful for now your inability to escape is turned into your ability to fight with the wall at your back as an ally.

Turn and face the aggression, the opposition and the fear. Stand with the wall at your back and sing out, This far and no further. As Popeye was famous for, "I can stands it no more." Pop in the can of spinach and take on the light work before you. Stand fast in the steadfastness. Move forward even. Thrive. Chase down the demons. Become the moving wall. Sing and watch the fortified walls fall.

This steadfastness, this loyalty, this devotion will complete you, as James said. It will mature you. It will build you, from the inside out. James died steadfastly loyal to his God and to His friend and Creator, Jesus. A spirit rose inside of Him that made him invincible, with God at his side, and his rear guard, his wall.

Staying Small is the Easy Path

"There is no passion to be found playing small--in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Nelson Mandela

Many of us need life advice, not job advice. We need to live and produce and serve. We are most likely capable of more, sometimes much more than we are currently producing. Many are stuck in their routine. Day in and day out they do the same thing at work, come home and eat, watch some television and call it a night, as if their lives were scripted for them and all they need to do is to follow the script.

Because of the high unemployment today above 6% and worse for young folks, many are taking a new look at employment as a means to a fulfilling life. They are questioning and reshaping how they work and how often they work and what they work at.

Like Mandela, they are not looking to go to work so much as they are to act out their passion. They refuse to think small. Maybe you should too. Your life may never be the same once you make the switch from small to passion.

Narcissism Epidemic?

A pair of interviews with W. Keith Campbell, author of The Narcissism Epidemic.

Narcissism is like a flu that you give to everyone around you and then you feel good that they get it. It reinforces the narcissist in his or her notions and view that they are superior to others around them. I've worked with a few true Narcissists over the years and observed how much turnover in their relationships there was. They truly use people to promote themselves. If you are in the whirlpool of a narcissist, these two videos might help you identify what's happening and why. Dealing with a narcissist is about as challenging as trying to ride a whale and I'm not sure it's worth it, but you might be trying to work with or might even be married to one. So what do you do? These two videos might help.

Church Stuck?

In Ministry magazine David Ripley wrote about plateaued and declining churches and the reason he feels that they are stuck. Good article and I think he's on to something. I don't think it's the only reason and his corrective will not turn around all of those churches, but your church might be one that needs his prescription. Take a look if you feel your church is declining or not doing well.

Corkboarding

If you like Organizing Tools, maybe Amazon's Storybuilder Corkboard software in beta is for you.  A bit of a learning curve, but sophisticated mind map, index card, cork board interface might just be the thing. Click on the Storyboard link on the right side of the page, log into your Amazon account and cork away.

Wise Man or Moron?

Jesus had a simple formula for becoming a wise man. Listen to His words and do them.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

That's simple enough. Listen and do. Don't listen and wash away. The word Jesus uses is moron. a stupid person. I think I will choose wise person for today.