Questions
Do you ever find yourself with more questions than answers? I’m sitting at my favorite coffee shop realizing that right now I have more questions than answers. Questions about I’m going to do this weekend… what I’m going to do for my final project in my cross-cultural ministry class… how much time I have left to park in the parking lot, etc.
Then there are the bigger. more important questions like…
How can I best be used by God?
If you’ve ever experienced the feeling like you have more questions than answers you know how overwhelming it can be.
Right now I’m praying for a great deal of clarity. There is a lot that I feel like I need to sort out and I don’t really know where to begin.
Posted on February 26th, 2010 by David | No Comments »
Just An Old Soul
Friday night, we had an event for married couples at New Life and afterwards Monika and I stuck around to help transition the room for a funeral the following morning. As we were removing tables from the room, I was talking with another pastor and his wife and for some reason the comment was made that I am an “old soul.”
That’s an interesting comment to make about someone who is barely 26 years of age, yet it is very true.
Sometimes I actually wonder what it would be like to have been alive during a different decade.
To have lived during a simpler time. A less confusing time.
While I love all of the technology and opportunities that we are presented with today, there is a part of me that longs for something old. Something less complicated, more simplistic.
Perhaps I really am an “old soul.”
Posted on February 16th, 2010 by David | No Comments »
A Prayer For When You Feel Lost
My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
Posted on February 10th, 2010 by David | 1 Comment »
Inspired By The People In My Life
I don’t know if you ever experience this but sometimes I find myself in awe of the people I know. Not because I’m friends with celebrities or the wealthy but because I know incredible people who are doing great things.
I’m friends with teachers, pastors and Special Olympics coaches.
I’m friends with people who are going to Oxford, or have their doctorate. I’m also friends with people who do not have a degree at all and yet they are touching peoples lives.
I’m friends with motivational speakers and artists, ministry leaders and ministry volunteers. I’m friends with musicians, photographers, writers and small business owners.
I’m friends with die hard conservatives and die hard liberals.
I’m friends with baristas and mechanics, receptionists and customer service representatives.
I’m friends with kids, youth and adults.
While all of these people vary in terms of their personal life experiences, what doesn’t vary is their desire to have an impact. They all want to make some sort of a difference.
Although most of these people will never get the sort of attention that is given to the celebrities and public figures we often look up to, I find each of these people to be incredibly inspiring.
So here’s to you friends, thank you for inspiring me. For pushing me forward, motivating me to have a positive impact on the lives around me in the same way that you have impacted mine.
Each of you are amazing!
Cheers!
Posted on February 8th, 2010 by David | No Comments »
Finger Point…Just Not At Me
People love to point fingers. They LOVE it.
It makes them feel good. Makes them feel as though they are on the right side of the fence. But when the finger is turned around and staring them squarely in the face, whether intentional or not, they get so defensive.
I watched an incredible example of this unfold today and it made me sick. Now I understand that I do this from time to time…perhaps I am even doing it now with this post, but what I observed today was horrific.
Watching people fight about things that shouldn’t be fought about and getting so worked up that they completely miss the purpose of the message being conveyed.
It is my prayer that I won’t have this type attitude, that I will be teachable and receptive to encouragement, motivation and even criticism, when it inevitably comes.
In fact it is my hope that I will be the first person to point a finger in my direction when it is deserved.
For those who were involved in the situation tonight, I hope there is a sense of conviction about how distastefully things were handled.
Posted on February 7th, 2010 by David | No Comments »
What’s On My Shelf
I remember watching Reading Rainbow as a kid and getting all of Levar Burton’s book recommendations. Well I thought I’d follow in his footsteps…
Here are the four books I’m currently reading.
These are great books…”But you don’t have to take my word for it.”
Posted on February 4th, 2010 by David | No Comments »
And Then There Were None
Debt is a dog.
It weights on you. It stresses you out. It’s an inconvenience. It prevents you from pursuing other endeavors. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Well today Monika and I took a significant step to remove that dog from the equation, we paid off our last student loans and talk about a sense of freedom!
I don’t really consider student loans to be the worst kind of debt but they need to be paid off nevertheless.
We have been working diligently on getting those taken care of for the last four years and so to have them taken care of is pretty remarkable considering the dollar amount we started with.
I say all of this not to brag or make those of you who have debt feel discouraged, but rather just the opposite. If you have debt know that you can take care of it. If you feel overwhelmed by how long it will take you to pay it off, use that as motivation to save more and work harder. If you feel tempted to go into more debt to buy something that will make you “happy,” don’t.
Kill the debt! It feels so good.
If you need a good resource on how to eliminate your debt, check out Dave Ramsey and his book Total Money Makeover. He is legit!
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 by David | No Comments »
