Spiritual Wanderings

What is the Church supposed to look like?

2011-04-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Missional, kingdom, traditional, relevant, expositional, apostalic?

Yes.

No.

All of the above.

None of the above?

Is it supposed to look like Christ or like Christ in us?

The truth is it’s supposed to look real and authentic and imperfect and reflect the personality of the people who make it up as they journey the God path. Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” I don’t think he meant us to do the same things he did and mimic his moves. I think he meant to passionately follow God with abandon and sacrifice. For all of us, that pursuit will look different.

Our journeys will parallel and overlap, but they will not always look the same. And neither will the churches’.

I went through the phase in seminary of judging other churches about not being Bible-centered enough. Then I went through the phase of churches of not being practical enough. After a while, I was looking at churches and wondering why that can’t be more edgy and emergent. I think, as the church, we are guilty of flowing with the culture. I apologize.

I don’t know if it’s my age or just where I am in my journey, but I just want a place where we can be real and genuinely follow Christ where ever and however He leads. Not copying other churches, but learning from them. Not landing in a particular camp, but embracing our cumulative community make up. Not chiseling into stone our style, but changing as Christ changes us.

And if we are known for anything, let it be that we love; in the truest sense of the word; with a Christ like love that speaks truth, showers grace, welcomes all and gives generously.

When in Doubt, Google!

2011-01-31T08:22:00.000-08:00

My family is known for not backing down in an argument. I hear phrases like, “I’m 100% sure,” and “I’m positive.” It can be as important as discussing the fate of the world or as meaningless as who’s turn it is to do the dishes. Most of the time it’s over topics that neither side really knows, like actors in movies and music titles.

My wife has come up with the best argument solution ever. When in doubt, Google. How did we ever solve arguments before? Not only do we have a computer in almost every room, but we now have it on our phones as well. We can Google anytime and anywhere. No more arguments. No more useless bickering. Ain’t technology great?

Who played Mark Zuckerberg in Social Network? Michael Cera or Jesse Eisenberg? Google it. Have a marriage problem? Google it. Need advice on a job search? Google it. Thinking about becoming a follower of Jesus. Google it. Who needs God? Google answers every time. Does he? Google will give you just about any answer you want, as long as you don’t mind searching through the 875,592 pages it pulled up for you.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Google is great for many things, but it is still only as good as the information that is put in. It truly is GIGO. Not true with God. I don’t care how much garbage you give him, he never spits it back. His way of settling the argument is not to give the answer every time, but to show you the right question to ask. Most arguments in our house are not about the topic, but about being right. And as far as God is concerned, you’re right when you put the other person first.

So the next time we have an argument and need to search Google to get the answer, we will. But we will also ask God about it. He may help us see that being together is better than being right.

Sensory Perception

2011-01-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

How often do you think about your senses? When you hear a beautiful song? After the first drops of rain saturate the air, filling your nose with childhood memories? As chocolate melts across your tongue?

Most of the time I don’t think about my senses. I think about what I am experiencing. But I am right now and I am grateful for them.

My eyes see the grandeur of the Andes and the destruction of Haiti.

Your ears hear thunder and whispers.

Our hands can forge a steel blade that cuts through bone and they can hold a delicate needle to stitch the wound.

Children’s tongues taste the tartness of a crisp green apple and the smooth sweet warmth of the caramel it is dipped in.

A mother’s nose can smell when the milk has gone bad even when the date has not expired and they can discover the magnolias in blossom before they walk around the corner.

God spared no expense at giving us the most amazing input devices on the planet. It is no accident that we can experience the best and worst of life with them. God wants you to experience the world, experience life, and experience him. He wants us to take everything in. Let it warm us and fill us. Let it motivate us and challenge us.

When you see something different today, don’t just let it go by. When you taste something new, don’t allow you life to be unchanged.

There are amazing and horrific and wonderful and subtle sounds, tastes, sights, textures and smells to be experienced. They are not by chance and they are not without purpose.

How will you make sense of it all today?

Cool Hand Luke Syndrome

2011-01-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

If you’ve seen the movie, you know the line. You may know the line and have never seen the movie. Paul Newman was a convict determined to be free. The warden was a man committed to keeping order. The two were destined to clash. (I have to give a quick side note. I watched the movie the other day with my teenage kids and they asked if that was the guy who made the salad dressing. Sadness.)

“What we have here…is a failure to communicate.” That line clarified the gaping chasm between the warden and Luke over expectations and presuppositions.

We all have been in this situation before. He said, she said, he heard, she heard. Sometimes what is spoken is not what is heard and what is said is not what was meant. Language is one thing. Communication is a whole other issue.

I “ask” my kids to help clean up. They “hear” that dad wants them to do unnecessary manual labor. My wife “asks” if an outfit looks ok. I “hear” that she wants me to give my opinion. I tell her the truth that “it’s” not that great. She hears that I think “she” looks ugly.

Women aren’t wrong for asking. Men aren’t wrong for saying. We just need to hear with different ears and speak more than words. If only life were that simple. Our need to be understood both as a hearer and a talker is profound. But our bent toward imperfection is great. Somewhere in between words floating through the air, meanings get convoluted and feelings get hurt.

So much of communication is based in relationship. Without context, there cannot be language. Without relationship, there cannot be communication. If I don’t know you, it is a lot more difficult to communicate effectively without misunderstandings and misgivings.

Now bring God into the picture and we begin to see where things really go wrong. God says “Do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is trying to tell us that Spirit empowerment is so much better than that euphoric feeling after a little too much wine, but we here, “Do not drink.” God says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on what you know. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your path.” He is trying to tell us that he will help us find our way, but we here “Do what I say.” As if we are little children who don’t know anything.

God’s ways can only be understood in the context of relationship. Like a parent telling a child what to do, it’s out of a loving relationship that wants the best for the child. Communication is a learned discipline, forged over time from continuous interaction and responsiveness on both sides.

If I’m not hearing God well, it’s probably because I’m not continuously connecting with him. I know he hears me. I know he understands me. If we have “a failure to communicate,” I think I need to get reconnected and spend some quality time in his presence. Time with him brings a clarity to what he says and a preciousness to what we have.

Snow Bored.

2011-01-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

I’m not a big fan of the snow. Not much for the desert either. I like the water.

My oldest son is a snow boarder. Today he is going to try to teach me how again. The first time ended with a bruised tailbone and a distaste for the white stuff.

Snow is beautiful. Don’t get me wrong. Majestic mountains draped in a cloak of pristine white are an amazing site. Especially with the sunrise reflecting it’s golden hues and purple shadows. But that beauty is better experienced at a distance…in pictures…in a warm room. When you are knee deep in it, it’s cold and cumbersome and wet. It invades your shoes, freezes your hands and breaks your back when clearing the driveway. Forget the fact that you are so bundled up that you can hardly move and if you have to pee, well…you’re screwed.

The youngest son in the house loves to quad in the high desert. He comes home looking like a raccoon when he pulls his goggles off. Burms and dirt and speed all thrill him. All I see is dust in my eyes, grit in my teeth and rocks in my shorts.

Desert sunsets are hard to beat, I will admit. The red skies painted with silhouettes of Joshua trees and yucca are beautiful. Campfires and roasted marshmallow are still a favorite of mine. But dirt in my sleeping bag and showers from a hanging bag are not my thing.

Give me the liquid fun. Wake boarding on water like glass. Jumping the wake on a Sea doo. Floating on a tube with your feet in the water and a drink in your hand. Now that’s paradise.

I’m happy to take my kids places they like to go, but as for me and my fun, I will take the river.

I look good in CHEAP

2011-01-16T22:18:00.000-08:00

I lost my prescription glasses over the summer and I'm too much of a tightwad to by a pair at full price so I waited 6 months till my vision plan would cover them. Turns out I have to wait another year to get my FREE pair, but at least my exam was free.

So I was looking for an affordable pair and all the ones I tried on that I didn't like were expensive and then i came across a pair that looked good. Low and behold, they were the least priced ones on display.

As I took joy in my discovery, I realized, "Anyone can look good in expensive, but I can look good in CHEAP." I left optometrist's office happy and not so broke. It was a good day.

This Page is Intentionally Left Blank

2011-01-16T22:07:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I decided to add something to this page. I started to think that people would not get why I put it here. It was to get you to ask, "why?"

Have you ever wondered why documents have these pages? I don't understand why they have to explain. If I run across a blank page, I go to the next page with text on it. Are there people who stop at the void and don't know what to do? If they attempt to cross the emptiness, do they think they will fall in? Are they afraid that if there is a blank, then they might be missing something?

Content providers, whether in print or screen, often cater to the lowest common denominator. I guess some people are that dumb. They can't see that a new section started or that the content flowed across the blankness.

I hate when movie writers "flashback" at key moments to "remind" us of something earlier. Are we that stupid? I hope not. If our society is that dumb, then we are really screwed.

God sometimes leaves pages intentionally blank. Our lives are so full of business and noise. We need space to listen, to rest, to reflect. Still water reflects best. Maybe God is creating an empty place for him to enter in. Our cluttered thoughts often leave little room for him to move.

I am going to leave a section blank below. It's intentional. Your not missing anything. You won't fall in. Feel free to enjoy the space or skip to the next section. And if you feel the need to fill it, write a comment and let's see what it brings out in you. Give God space to enter today. See what happens.

Did it work?

Out of Gas

2011-01-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

Literally. I ran out of gas this morning. My daughter went to LAX last night and when she got home she said that the light came on indicating low fuel. When I got in the car, it was low, but I thought I had enough to drive less than a mile to drop my sons off at school and then go around the corner to get gas. I ran out just as I dropped the boys off.

Fortunately, my daughter was home and she brought me a gas can and we got it over to the gas station to fill up. Sixty dollars later, I was back on the road. Ouch.

I cut it close a lot. I ofter run the tank down till the warning indicator is as bright as the sun. Yellow lights are an invitation to clear out my carborator. Bills aren't due till the "grace period" expires (I'm not really that bad, but I don't pay early except for my mortgage and my credit card bills.)

Time is important to me. Any way I can add time to my life is a big plus. I drive fast so I have more time where I'm going. Buying in bulk saves me wasted trips to the store (I wish they sold milk in five gallon jugs. I am at the store all the time for milk. Maybe we need a cow.) My truck is full of tools and supplies so I don't have to go and get a needed item. It saves time.

Productivity and efficiency are an addiction for me. Do they have support groups for that? Wasting time drives me nuts. Slow people make me go crazy.

I think I need to run out of gas more often and relax. It's time to slow down and not always have "up time." Which is perfectly OK with me. I could use some "down time." As long as I can have my computer with me and my Blackberry. That way I can get some things done while I am lying around doing nothing.

Motivational sweat

2011-01-03T21:46:00.000-08:00

Is there such a thing? I don't know about you, but skin secretion does not conjure up thoughts of creativity or change for me. It might move me to sit somewhere else or avoid contact, but I am not feeling changed for the better.

Thomas Edison said that genius was one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration. I would have to agree. People don't get good at something or arrive at profound discovery by mistake. It comes from hard work and practice.

That goes for art, science, sports, business and spirituality. Kobe Bryant may have had natural talent, but he is where he is because he works hard at it. Leonardo Di Vinci spent years studying the human body while painting and sculpting. Brother Lawrence did not amass a following because he was born spiritual. He devoted himself to practice Gods presence.

Sometimes we have inspired moments. I was reading some of my past blogs entries and I don't even remember writing them. A few of them are truly inspired.

Sometimes we have honest moments. We simply are in the moment and we write it like it is.

Then there are times when you write because it's the right thing to do. It's not inspired, it's not raw, it's just good practice.

Not every song on an album is a #1 hit. Someone recently told me that Michael Jackson has some 300 unpublished songs. I am sure some of that writing honed his art to produce a lot of great songs.

So I write today for the practice. And to get caught up. I now have one entry for everyday of this year. Woo Hoo.

Waves of Regret

2011-01-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am already wishing I didn't start this project. Why would anyone commit to writing something everyday? What was I thinking. I don't need more work to do. I am already on mental overload. Maybe I wasn't thinking. Maybe I was feeling something. My heart needed an outlet. That's all fine and dandy, but why did I say I would do it every day. That's insane...or insanely amazing! How else am I going to challenge myself without some kind of accountability.

My wife is reading the book,"Switch." It's about effective ways to bring about change. They say you have to engage the head and the heart if you are going to make people change. That is what this blog is for me. The writing engages my heart. The discipline to do it everyday will engage my head. The end result will hopefully be a heart disciplined in the practice of expression.

I will feel a lot better about this in 360 days. For now, it's day by day. Welcome to my life. Glad you could join me.

Thy Ever Feisty Mix

2011-01-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Everybody has the challenge of what to do with the new year. Do we make resolutions? Do we make them and say nothing, thus avoiding the sneers of others when we fail? Or do we simple do nothing and keep recycling our lives?

A friend of mine did a photography project last year. He took at least one picture everyday for the whole year. Sounds easier that it is. Try coming up with 365 different pictures that say something.

I am going to attempt the same thing with words this year. Not always a lot of words. Some times too many words. But I need to get my hands moving and my thoughts flowing. I spend hours in the car every day just thinking.

I think, "We need a new system for granting drivers licenses. There are far too may idiots on the road." I ponder, "My wife and I make quadruple what we made 20 years ago. where does all the money go?" I reflect on God's amazing love and that I don't deserve it, but somehow he keeps showering it on my day after day.

Your don't want to know everything I am thinking. But I should write some of it down before my head can't hold it any longer.

So why "Thy Ever Feisty Mix?" It's an anagram for "My Three Sixty Five." And it will be a feisty mix of anecdotes, quips and ramblings. No guarantees of appropriateness, but you will absolutely get offended, challenged or encouraged at some point in the year.

Here's to 2011. Some say Jesus is coming back this year. Some say the world will end in 2012. I say, "Let's take it a day at a time and live for this moment." It may be our last, but it may be the start of something better.

Happy New Year.

I'm jumping ship

2010-11-17T22:09:00.000-08:00

I’m beginning to have deviant thoughts of abandoning our consumer culture. I know our economy is based on consumer spending and until we start buying again, we will not get out of this recession. But I’m tired of the mentality of more. I don’t need more. I have plenty.

What if we decided to live in such a way that we gave more than we received? What if we chose to live on 40% of what we made and shared the other 60% with others. How about we start spending our money on not-for-profit ventures and philanthropic outreaches? Now there is money well spent.

I want a church like that. Can we create a place where 90% of the giving goes right back out to help others and 10% goes to administration? No costly buildings or over staffing.

How about a place where people don’t come to get fed, but come to learn how to plant, nurture and harvest. We have been giving away fish for too long. We need to teach people how to start fish farms.

Here’s an idea. Rather than build a mega church and bring everybody in, let’s send more out to start new churches and keep splitting off like mitosis. What is better, a church of 1000 or 1000 churches?

I know these are ideals, but could we at least start thinking in that direction? I can’t live on 40% of what I make right now. But maybe I can live on 90% this year and increase it each year down the road.

Maybe our church can start giving more to help others. Or we can start doing more to meet real needs. That’s doable.

Maybe this year won’t be the year where everything changes, but maybe it will be the year when something changes that starts a move in the right direction.

Maybe? Yes!

Breaking the Silence

2010-08-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

When it's quiet enough to hear a pin drop, it's too quiet for me. I have to either have a fan running in my room at night, or I have to turn on my sound machine and listen to fake waves crashing, to get to sleep. Maybe it comes from my early days of childhood sleeping at the race track every Saturday night, while my dad worked on a stock car team. Maybe I'm just afraid of the voices in my head. Regardless, silence is not something I enjoy.

So, while I was working on my computer tonight, playing music loudly over the sound of the house fan sucking out the stale hot air in the house, I heard the still, quiet voice of God remind me that he still enjoys my company. It was totally unexpected, absolutely unannounced and so wholly unnerving, that I lost it completely. I didn't know how to respond. I sat sobbing into my shirt, hoping my kids didn't walk in. With the skill of a thoracic surgeon, he cut a hole straight to my heart and snuck in. Didn't see that comin'.

I look for God moments everyday. I seek out opportunities to see God and speak God into places unexpected. I try to bring him into daily life and every relationship, but I forget about the one relationship he desires most. Mine and his.

After 33 years of walking with him, I too often neglect to walk with him in the quite places. You know those places. The ones where no one else is invited, so there will be no interruptions. Where there is more silence that words and what few words do flow, are like drops of rain on a desert flower. I miss those times, when I stop long enough to let them be missed. Tonight he broke the loudness with silence, and he was in it.

So tonight, I am breaking my silence with his. It's been a year and half since I last wrote. Too long to not be writing. Too long to not be listening. Too long to not be longing for more of him. I am choosing to return to the quiet places.

Ok, enough talking. I'm gonna hold my breath and shut everything off and see what I hear. If I write another post in the next few hours, then I didn't listen long enough. Let's see how long I last.

I'm gonna go now. Pray for me. I'm gonna need it.

Things you never want to hear

2009-01-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

After you've fallen off your bike and face planted in the asphalt, you don't want to hear someone say, "is your nose supposed to look like that?". While your vacuuming under the couch and you feel a thump in the vacuum line, you don't want to hear your child ask, "have you seen my gerbil?

I got a call the other day from a neighbor of one of the houses that my office manages that is vacant. We have had homeless people trespass before and the neighbor was calling to let me know there was someone on the property.

So I'm inspecting the house for a possible intruder and I walk up to a playhouse in the backyard and I hear a noise. I can see a beach towel hanging in the open doorway and there is space below for me to see in. What I see is slightly disturbing.

A exposed foot, then thigh, then buttock of a man is visible and I'm thinking, "great, I got a naked homeless guy to deal with." Well, if it were just that, it would have been a lot easier. "Is someone there?," I blurt out with a little reservation. What I heard next left me wishing I never showed up. "We're not wearing any clothes."

I'm sorry, but my job did not include a clause for dealing with naked people trespassing. Fixing broken windows, changing locks, posting signs; those are the things I am paid to do. Naked people are not in the job description.

So I told them they would have to get dressed and leave immediately. And then it got even worse. A young woman emerged with her top on inside out and backward. She apologized and explained that she was 21 and that her parents did not approve of her sleeping with her boyfriend before they were married. I told her that they had to find somewhere else and she apologized again. As we were talking, her boyfriend quickly exited the playhouse and got in their car and left with her.

As I reentered the house, I found his wallet left behind and then the ultimate "now that is really wrong" thing happened. His drivers license showed his age as 57. No wonder the her mom disapproved.

Now as a pastor, I have had to deal with a lot of crazy things, but as a property inspector, I have to say, this one tops them all.

If you have a better story, let me hear it. I need something to change the picture in my head.

Family Time

2009-01-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, I used to look forward to Sunday nights. It was Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and The Wonderful World of Disney. As I got older, it was The Walton’s. Our family would curl up on the couch and enjoy some family fun. We all looked forward to it.

My family has a similar night. It’s Monday night. Only we watch shows about mutant heros and homeland security involving a computer geek. Our shows are a bit more violent and a lot more twisted. Am I a bad dad?

My Cherry Tree

2009-01-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

I almost told a lie the other day.

My work had asked me to do something and I completely forgot. When one of my co-workers called me and asked about it, we both realized that we forgot and it was suggested that I make something up so we both wouldn't get in trouble. It would have been an easy cover up.

The problem I faced was not that I didn't want to get caught, but that I didn't want it to come back on the company I work for. If it were found out, it could jeopardize our reputation. I didn't want to take that chance just to cover up my bad.

I ended up calling my boss and telling the truth, only to find out that my boss took some of the blame and said that it wasn't that important. Go figure.

Telling the truth doesn't always conclude with an easy ending, but it sure beats the alternative. I guess George Washington is an example to us all.

A Resolute Community

2009-01-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

As I pedal my eliptical, arms swaying in harmony, I can't help but notice that Bally's is a little more crowded this first Monday of the year. And I thought I was the only person with new resolutions. I guess I'm glad I'm not alone. Good luck to all.

Written from the Blackberry again. It's a good way to distract my mind from the extreme pain of working out...NOT!

"Stingray" Resurrected

2009-01-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

I have made some new unexpected friends in recent weeks. A Palestinian, a former gang banger, a woman who runs a halfway house for ex-cons and recently divorced trucker. None of them know each other and I am their only common link. All of them have been in dire straights recently and I met them during these times.

There used to be a show in the mid 80's called "Stingray," where a guy used to help people in trouble by calling in favors from people he had helped in the past. I feel like my new friends are those kind of people. And all I have done was be nice to them during difficult circumstances.

Imagine what the world would be like if we all just treated people with respect instead of using them for our own gain. People matter. I think I have heard that before. Oh wait, I think I blogged about it in the past. Funny how some things never change.

The Scenic Route?

2009-01-03T15:11:00.000-08:00

Whenever someone says, "let's take the scenic route," you know that means that it's going to be the long way. The scenic route is never the short cut. By nature, the short cut is the ugly, brief path.

God never takes the short cuts. By nature, He is a scenic route kind of God. So, by plan, He takes His time. All throughout scripture, God goes the long way.

Sometime ago, God invited me to something different and only after several years am I beginning to realize that it was His intention to take me on the "scenic" route. And though I use the term "scenic" loosely, I see the value of Him taking His sweet time getting me there.

So as I sit and listen to "We Know That You Are God" by All Together Separate, I am choosing to see the forest through the trees and to stop and smell the flowers along the way. Slow me down Lord, slow me down. I don't want to miss a thing.

To Blackberry or not to Blackberry

2009-01-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if my Blackberry is a curse or a blessing. It frees me up, but it keeps work too close. And, of course, this was written from my Blackberry.

Too many ideas, so little follow through

2009-01-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

If I implemented 10% of the ideas I have in my head, I'd likely have way to many things to do. Maybe that's what holds me back. I need to figure out a way to sell my ideas. Can you make money selling ideas? You probably can if you develop enough of them to get peoples attention.

I enjoy new beginnings. Mondays, mornings and New Years are especially fun for me. So the first Monday morning of the New Year should be my favorite day. Who knows what it will bring.

Maybe I will try one of my new ideas. Maybe I'll shake things up a little. I guess we will just have to see.

Far too long between posts

2009-01-01T06:56:00.000-08:00

I have decided to make some New Years resolutions. I don't usually do them, but I thought I would try something different. You know what they say about insanity. Well, I'm not doing the same thing anymore.

My first resolution is to eat less and exercise more. One serving of food and 4 times a week to the gym or equivalent workout at home. I gotta lose another 20 pounds around the waist.

Secondly, I want to start tithing again. After leaving the church and starting something different, I convinced myself that my tithe was my service to God. Though I give myself some grace for the last year, I think it's time to give to what I believe in.

Next, I am going to write more. Rather than a few long blog entries, I want to do a daily journal of my year of living dangerously. And when I say dangerously, I mean trying something new and beyond the norm.

So while I sit here feverishly typing this post in the early hours of the new year, I am going to quickly save and post it before I change my mind. Here's to New Years resolutions and living on the edge. The edge of insanity, that is. Tee hee.

What a difference a day makes. (or in my case a year) PART 2

2008-04-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Following God isn’t always popular. Following God in directions that are not traditional, evangelical or American is down right offensive to most Christians. God is not mainstream; never has been, never will be. When I chose to leave the mainstream, I left the only thing I have known for 35 years. But, you couldn’t pay me to go back. I have never been closer to God than I am right now.

It’s odd that I am closer to God, but farther from the “church.” That is not meant to be a commentary, only a statement of truth. The body of Christ that I feel connected to also feels disconnected from its traditional roots.

I recently was talking with a friend who was relaying a situation he encountered the other day. He was talking to a friend, who had left a high level job in a well known megachurch, to start a care ministry. In the process, he began getting interest from a gathering of people who wanted to find a place they could worship. As my friend told me the names of the people who were interested in gathering, my eyes grew wider and wider. These were prominent Christian authors who have recently felt displaced from the evangelical church and no longer called it “home.” When the architects of modern Christianity are not fitting in anymore, there is a problem.

It’s time for a change and it didn’t begin with me, but I’m making the change. It took me a year to clear out the old garbage and now it’s time to let God recreate me. Anyone up for a change? Don’t think it will be easy or fun. It’s painful and slow, but like most things of value, the effort is worth it. The shine on my wide eyed optimism is a little dulled and the sparkle in my vision is slightly faded, but my steadfast resolve to passionately follow God is stronger than ever.

What a difference a year makes.

What a difference a day makes. (or in my case a year)

2008-04-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

After a year of having the wind knocked out of me and my feet kicked out from underneath me, I think I can actually breathe again and stand up straight. It’s amazing to think that it was a year ago that I left a comfortable job with a secure income to pursue a dream that from all indications completely failed, but was one of the best things I have ever done.

We all want to be successful and the American dream is built on the notion that anyone can succeed, but how we measure success is askew.

From the worlds viewpoint, emersionlife is a failure. It never got big, hasn’t expanded, isn’t self sustaining and failed to accomplished a lofty goal.

From God’s perspective, we did exactly what He asked. We followed Him, we increased in our love for Him, we grew in our love for others and we became what He intended.

Sometimes you have to leave where you have been before you can see who you are. Sometimes you have to clear out the old habits and ways of thinking and let go of the preconceptions in order to embrace your true self. There are even times when you have to release your dreams, expectations and desires to see the truer picture of what it is you were created for.

(to be continued...)

We can all breathe a little easier.

2008-03-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

I recently applied for a position with the AQMD (Air Quality Management District) in their PR department. At the time I applied, I was interested because it involved PR work, which I enjoy and it aligned with our mission to leave the world in better condition than when we found it.

As I did more research into the organization I was struck with how little I knew and how much they did. Did you know that the AQMD manages a area equal to almost half the population of our state in 15% of its size? That’s a lot of people in a small area which makes sense for why we need the AQMD to regulate and inform people about pollution.

In a recent news story, the AQMD was reported to be considering new standards for regulating the construction of wood burning fireplaces. I remember hearing the story and getting miffed at the AQMD for limiting such a wonderful and environmentally "friendly" home feature. Little did I know that the 1.4 million homes with wood burning hearths, mine included, put out four times more pollution than all of the power plants in the region. You learn something new everyday. And the plan they have to clean up the air only affects new homes or remodeled fireplaces. So it's not like they are killing the beauty of a warm fire. They are just trying to keep too many of them from killing us.

What really impressed me about the agency was their mission statement.

The South Coast AQMD believes that all who live or work in this area have a right to breathe clean air. AQMD is committed to undertaking all necessary steps to protect public health from air pollution, with sensitivity to the impacts of its actions on the community and businesses. This is accomplished through a comprehensive program of planning, regulation, compliance assistance, enforcement, monitoring, technology advancement, and public education.

I was particularly struck by the line, “…undertaking all necessary steps…with sensitivity to the impacts…” It’s about balance.

We are all painfully aware of watchdog organizations. We applaud them when they take action on things we don’t like, but we also complain the loudest when they do things that limit our “freedoms.” Well, the AQMD has a tough job and I, for one, feel obliged to become more aware of how they are protecting my lungs and eyes and the same for future generations. Because of them, we all can breathe a little easier.