tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:17:47 +0000A gentle nudge, an outrageous observation, a loving whisper, an angry complaint... let's have a cafecito and talk about it!http://www.barbyward.com/wordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)Blogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-7335193563006271970Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:42:00 +00002009-11-07T09:32:08.728-05:00Here are a couple of the many random thoughts I was thinking while at the gym:#1 I want my looks to be the last thing that walks in the door with me, because for sure they'll be the first to leave!What I mean - depending on looks is so dangerous. Good looks are temporary, at best. (Not claiming to be particularly blessed in that area! Just referring to a preoccupation with image). Your characterhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/g2mPLM9nJKc/what-i-was-thinking-while-at-gym.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/g2mPLM9nJKc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/11/what-i-was-thinking-while-at-gym.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2136269175165681731Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:52:00 +00002009-11-04T22:29:16.491-05:00We all like custom made items. We'll pay a premium for them. I think we all have a lot more "custom made" in our lives than we realize! It's been on my mind.Custom Made SnowflakesPeter and I celebrated my 21st birthday in Norway. We'd gone for a picnic in the woods, and snowflakes started fluttering down. Peter's first snowfall! Not just any flakes, though, custom made. They were perfection, likehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/OV-h_eTXhNo/you-want-custom-made.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/OV-h_eTXhNo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/11/you-want-custom-made.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-365223634469183891Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:25:00 +00002009-10-21T18:40:06.939-04:00Seems like every fall, I feel a prompting to re-post this. Got that nudge again today. That probably means it's for someone out there... could it be you? It has been exactly one year since the last time.I am sitting in a Starbucks thinking about growing things.Four years ago, when we moved into our house, there was a huge 60 foot (at least) Tree. It was a hub of zoological life in our back yard. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/-LVUMlr0Dpk/new-things-grow.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/-LVUMlr0Dpk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/10/new-things-grow.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-5361285273827017379Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:26:00 +00002009-09-25T11:46:37.876-04:00I'm typing on a big clonky Dell laptop, but I feel like I'm cheating on my little Vaio laptop. The Vaio is on life support, working sporadically. It is working today, after refusing to power up for several days. I think it chose to cooperate because my daughter Faith (9) is writing a book, and it appreciates her slender fingers pecking away at the tiny keyboard, fitting it perfectly. The Vaio andhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/GGBVZEA8B20/secret-crazy-streak.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/GGBVZEA8B20" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/09/secret-crazy-streak.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2641835846918056116Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:49:00 +00002009-08-30T18:57:01.818-04:00 This video shows non-typical behavior in typical South Florida weather! I love sunshowers because often, a rainbow follows. So I encourage my kids to play in the rain... I think it's good for the mind.In the spirit of playing in sunshowers, so to speak, I have been thinking about a blog redesign for months. There are four areas about which I am very passionate. Sometimes I feel like I need http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/rJjjFIhzGz0/in-october-with-love.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/rJjjFIhzGz0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/08/in-october-with-love.htmlhttp://www.blogger.com/video-play.mp4?contentId=f2e055bd34c04cc1&type=video%2Fmp4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2686613308741413634Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:31:00 +00002009-08-19T08:17:37.472-04:00We are reading Axiom, by Bill Hybels, for our Bloggers Book Study. This is a fun book for many reasons. It is one of those books you can: a - go back to frequently; and b - quote frequently!If you missed the first couple of days, you can see what Troy Gramling had to say, and Miguel's insights.Axiom 17 - ONLY GODHad to put this one in caps!! "When God accomplishes activity that no human being http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/f-YXJMQt6y0/axioms-to-grow-lives-by.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/f-YXJMQt6y0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/08/axioms-to-grow-lives-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-741103236926057470Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:52:00 +00002009-08-04T02:04:50.034-04:00We have changed it up nicely for book four of the Blogger's Book Study! Yesterday, Heredes introduced us to the first three chapters of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala.Let me tell you about chapters four and five. I have found myself tearing up several times as I read this book, because it is autobiographical, and the examples of God's faithfulness are impressive. I can't give you a "http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/iGePnBKTPFI/paying-attention-to-god.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)9<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/iGePnBKTPFI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/08/paying-attention-to-god.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-8386234504850268160Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:26:00 +00002009-07-23T21:44:28.692-04:00Collect, process, organize... collect, process, organize...We are being challenged to go through this process so we can be optimally efficient - and reach our full potential!If you missed yesterday's Bloggers Bookstudy, head to my buddy Mo's blog and catch up. He does a great job.Collect, process, organize...In chapter 5, David Allen walks us through the first of these - Collection. Collect whathttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/EIRga8OJVs4/bloggers-bookstudy-coralling-your-stuff.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/EIRga8OJVs4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/07/bloggers-bookstudy-coralling-your-stuff.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2336571139389437204Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:17:00 +00002009-06-30T08:52:27.940-04:00Welcome to our on-going Bloggers Book Study! If you missed the first installment, you can catch up here!CHAPTER 3 (pages 51-72)This chapter tells the story of how Willow turned vision into action.It Takes More Than Another Pep Talk - Some leaders believe that if they just keep talking about the dream, the vision will automatically be accomplished. Getting-it-done leadership is entirely different.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/nwzYWA3VnUo/getting-it-done-leadership.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)18<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/nwzYWA3VnUo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/getting-it-done-leadership.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2857895599162623768Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:26:00 +00002009-06-29T15:51:30.893-04:00Do you have hours on end to read all those books on your wish list? I didn't think so!! I never do. That is why I am so excited to be a part of this innovative new venture - the Bloggers Book Study. Actually, perhaps we should call it a books study!This is our online collaborative effort to collectively review six books in the next nine weeks. Twelve bloggers, six books, one daily post. See thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/sjfblSq8N9Q/bloggers-bookstudy-what-is-that.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/sjfblSq8N9Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/bloggers-bookstudy-what-is-that.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-7139338742255598415Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:18:00 +00002009-06-12T20:20:18.508-04:00This is the book I refer to in the previous blog post. It is really all about common sense, but he synthesizes things nicely!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/9vQBrb2wHBY/power-of-less.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/9vQBrb2wHBY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/power-of-less.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2646395987553539521Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:31:00 +00002009-06-10T23:31:03.150-04:00The most encouraging? funny? cute? thing just happened!Peter and I have been reading The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta, together. It's a good book.One of Babauta's challenges is to form a new habit over a one month period. The author gives some useful tips:Choose only one habit at a time. Make the goal simple, so that it is doable. Have a trigger for it - i.e. do it at the same time every day, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/XAJCwWucDeI/lesson-on-criticism.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/XAJCwWucDeI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/lesson-on-criticism.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-6655994183300623850Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:54:00 +00002009-06-10T22:22:41.330-04:00[PB&J 9]As an all volunteer crew, we lived on support. Everyone raised a certain amount of money, based on nationality, and it all went into a common fund. We were given our toiletries, medical care, etc. Our clothes came from "Charlie" (aka Charles of the Ritz), a room full of donated second hand clothes which we picked through when we needed something "new." We each received US$15 per month forhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/MK-cxnf5Vk0/wire-ring.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/MK-cxnf5Vk0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/wire-ring.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-5421874269468866485Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:10:00 +00002009-06-06T22:47:12.355-04:00[PB&J 8]Peter had been invited back to the ship by the Training Director, to restart a training program called the Intensive Training (I.T.). This was a boot camp type program modeled after the Outward Bound courses.Participants in the I.T. had to go running every morning at 5:30 a.m., read a certain amount of books, listen to a certain amount of message tapes (now it would be podcasts), attend http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/LHpgRiwuxL8/irony.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/LHpgRiwuxL8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/irony.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-5514755298682562665Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:01:00 +00002009-06-05T23:08:03.207-04:00[Just re-read the story thus far... I sound like I'm having fun re-telling it, and I am. But please don't mistake my lightheartedness for anything other than absolute wonder at the mercy of God that He has kept us thus far! Without God's grace I would have messed the entire thing up irreparably! Actually, in one or two more entries you'll agree with me on that.]http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/R4lxy_0jlko/intermission.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/R4lxy_0jlko" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/intermission.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-3387016183252044393Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:05:00 +00002009-06-06T10:12:12.202-04:00[PB&J 7]I returned to the ship in Spain. God gave me great new friends, most of whom were older than me. I did notice that they tended to be preoccupied with if and when they would ever get married!That disturbed me. For one thing, I had never been particularly good at choosing guys. I had tended to favor communists, (thanks to my radical bent and concern for social justice)... But their atheist http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/RjfxQlgnOsI/hunt-is-on.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/RjfxQlgnOsI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/06/hunt-is-on.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-67728318110690505Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:51:00 +00002009-05-31T23:27:35.104-04:00[PB&J 6]Very well, let me introduce you to The Policy. OM at that time had the policy (I don't know if it has evolved) that - for the first year you serve with them - you agree to have no "special relationship" with a member of the opposite sex.With over 300 very eager, very committed idealistic young people from over 40 countries, it was inevitable that there should be all kinds of attractions, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/dmQIbeQnbqg/and-so-we-said-goodbye.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/dmQIbeQnbqg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/and-so-we-said-goodbye.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-7593985691792146284Sun, 31 May 2009 19:33:00 +00002009-06-05T22:58:00.824-04:00[PB&J 5]After two weeks at sea, we reached the Canary Islands. I'll spare the reader most of the further adventures and anecdotes so we can move this story along.After the Canaries, we sailed to Spain. Soon it was time for OM's annual conference, which is a time of orientation for new recruits, and debriefing for those going home. I went with a busload overland to Belgium (stopping at the Eiffel http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/LSgkyyGIPSE/social-policy.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/LSgkyyGIPSE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/social-policy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-7781232733472097232Tue, 26 May 2009 23:58:00 +00002009-06-06T10:06:03.577-04:00[PB&J 4]My addiction to the sea was instant and permanent. A two week ocean voyage... just the thought was delicious! To sit by the cool damp rails early morning, back leaning against the book exhibition, watching the sunrise - reading, meditating, journaling...The ship community, used to dealing with thousands of visitors every day, could now slow down a bit. We still had to work of course (it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/qq04J9v1T34/spotlight-and-secret.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/qq04J9v1T34" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/spotlight-and-secret.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-2645458660257973349Mon, 25 May 2009 23:30:00 +00002009-06-06T10:08:51.670-04:00[PB&J 3]We were in Vitoria only a week. I just had time to fall in love with the Brazilian culture and start to learn the language. My new job was in the pantry - setting, serving and clearing tables, drying hundreds of dishes, and generally tidying up the dining room!Never had dining room duty been so much fun, because most of my co-workers (also new recruits) were very lively and musical http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/iASfz1bpIxM/pressure-cooker.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/iASfz1bpIxM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/pressure-cooker.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-591809544171536884Wed, 20 May 2009 23:54:00 +00002009-05-25T19:41:04.453-04:00[PB&J 2]My two weeks as a volunteer in Valparaiso passed quickly. Our land teams went well.Most vivid memory: my team leader, a Brit named Howard, arguing vehemently with a pastor who was chastising some on our team for not raising their hands during worship. He angrily confronted Howard with, "The Bible says 'make a joyful noise unto the Lord!'" Howard, Scofield Bible in hand, retorted, "The http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/4fKWMEFFp4E/brasil-pb-part-two.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/4fKWMEFFp4E" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/brasil-pb-part-two.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-3835683381354746038Fri, 15 May 2009 01:35:00 +00002009-06-06T10:23:36.430-04:00... no, wait, that script's been written.Let's go with When Peter Met Barby.Don't mean to be self-indulgent. Several months back, when I ran a list of potential blog posts for my readers, How We Met was the top choice! Now, our daughters can attest that this story could take a year to tell... Never fear, dear reader, we will try to condense.I was born during the Ash Rain... [I always wanted to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/bItuw9mbEks/when-harry-met-sally.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/bItuw9mbEks" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/when-harry-met-sally.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-117565905172849566Fri, 08 May 2009 20:23:00 +00002009-05-08T16:39:37.986-04:00I was thinking about this dichotomy:Life is not fair - a bad thing can happen, unexpectedly, to nice people who did absolutely nothing to deserve it.Life is fair - in life you reap what you sow... the seeds you plant bear fruit after their own kind. If you are generous, people will be generous in return.Etc.So which is it?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/T1sZC4ciGcU/fair-or-not-fair.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/T1sZC4ciGcU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/fair-or-not-fair.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-6444710309463752598Wed, 06 May 2009 01:51:00 +00002009-05-05T22:51:53.687-04:00fruitbloomspruninghabitsgracemudgrowthhurricaneI was just outside under the moonlight, in our front lawn deadheading... no not the gratefully passed on kind, but the blooms are wilted on the plants and need to be plucked off kind...For those of you who don't garden, it's important to pick dead flowers from the plant. This allows the plant to focus its energy on pushing forth new blooms. You get more flowers that way. 9:30 at night is not the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/q1MLtgglJcQ/deadheading-and-moonlight.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/q1MLtgglJcQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/05/deadheading-and-moonlight.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440315720513561046.post-7431675627802656068Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:02:00 +00002009-04-11T15:04:43.832-04:00My keyboard has been a bit idle this month, when it comes to writing. That happens once in a while, a sort of creative incubation. Sometimes life forces it, with busy-ness. Whatever the reason, my externally silent times are not internally silent at all. Inside, I am writing reams and reams. God is clarifying concepts, walking me through ideas he wants me to understand, helping me evaluate http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~3/S7OgwVZqUTc/wow.htmlwordsculpt@gmail.com (BZ Ward)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/barbyward/mqSp/~4/S7OgwVZqUTc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.barbyward.com/2009/04/wow.html