This Changes Everything is an incredible call to action. I am impressed with the musical strength of the album, but even more with his relentless push for Christ-followers to do something. You can’t listen to songs like “This Changes Everything” or “What Are We Waiting For?” without feeling moved to some sort of action. Artists who can accomplish this with listeners are rare.

I really dig Matt’s gutsiness. He beautifully questions the mentality of many of those who call themselves believers in Jesus. On “What Are We Waiting For?” he writes,

“He says Go, take the news to every nation
We say no, you know I just don’t feel called
But Oh the Lord of all the universe
Has called us all to go, so

What are we waiting for
A message in the sky
A miracle, a sign
From up above, is not His word enough?”

The lyrics are simple and straightforward, and this is what actually helps them pack such a powerful punch. Listeners aren’t left wondering what he is saying. The songs are written almost as chants to those of us needing a push out of our seats.

He says that this album isn’t about the music, but about something much greater. I can clearly see this! This is an important album for those who call themselves followers of Jesus.

Matt Papa’s This Changes Everything is available now on iTunes or Matt’s website.

It feels nearly impossible to sacrifice our own. Our cars. Our houses. Our jobs. Our livelihoods. Our abundance.

CARAVAGGIO/ The Sacrifice of Isaac (1601-02)

Someone else’s? Easy. We say, “those people should give _______ up” or “they don’t deserve ______.”

This is why most people think the debate is so easy to solve; we think of everything in terms of others giving things up.

The challenge for those in Congress, who are voting, is that they may be sacrificing their jobs if they cut funds to those who are expecting them. They may not be voted back into office. Are they willing to sacrifice?

Frankly, I don’t care much about the debate, other than our hearts being willing to sacrifice for others. This should be some sort of lesson for us.

Unwillingness to sacrifice is one of the biggest (and lamest) sacrifices of all.

My first son, Jude, is eleven months old this week. We still count the months, but we’ve started saying “almost a year.”

Almost everyone knows that the excitement of a newborn quickly turns into insecurity central. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” “Everyone is a better parent than me.” “I didn’t mean to drop him.” Ugh.

Before he arrived, I posted this. When he arrived, I posted this. Now, I am here. Today. The new normal.

Never has there been a day where I have been unthankful. I don’t have words to describe my bond with my son. Any frustration or lack of patience I’ve ever had at all, has been with myself. The past eleven months have been spent staring down my insecurities, my view of God’s will in my life, and trying to figure out what to do with the old me.

Answer: Throw him away.

Time for new me.

This is the gift of Jude. God is using Jude to take the self-centered, self-focused “me” out of me. What a beautiful gift!

This hasn’t been better illustrated to me than during my recent vacation to the beach. I told Heather that vacations would never be the same and that they might not exist again like they used to. I felt a twinge of pain and hurt when I said it. I couldn’t put my finger on what was bothering me. It felt like a proclamation coming out of my mouth, but it was really a heartfelt question. It was a question I knew would be answered with another silent question: “Do you love your self more than you love others?”

Ah yes, the old lingering “me.”

Our neighbor on the island, approached me as we were about to leave to come home. I don’t know how he knew. Maybe he didn’t know. He looked at me, not angry, but no smile, and said, “You always remember this: Be thankful that your son isn’t in a hospital somewhere. Have you ever spent any time in a hospital? Be thankful for that.”  Silence.  Awkward.

At this point, I shrank to about a foot tall. God used this unassuming guy to wreck me. It’s been days and I’m still trying to figure out what this means for me.

I suppose it will take me some more time, perhaps forever, to embrace my new normal. It is certain, however, that the new normal will be better than the old one, thank God. Less “me.”

The question I asked was “is social media the best use of my time?” If there is very little impact, then why would I be involved with any social media or online endeavors? If people’s lives weren’t ultimately changed, then why would I care what happens outside of the “physical” world?

My current project is at StartACampfire.com. My goal is to continue a conversation that I’ve been having here, there and everywhere for a few years now. I believe people can create and cultivate movements and communities online. I believe that they can have offline impact. It just has to be done correctly. I think it’s an important conversation to be had as people spend more time, and frankly too much flimsy time, in the new world of social media.

Creating a separate blog for that conversation focuses my thoughts there. It also allows this blog to continue as my journal of sparked ideas, currents events, and gazing reflections. More to come.

Photo from Flickr: Dave_B_

A quote from the article states that often people “just don’t realize what’s interesting about themselves.” Would you say the same about your story? Do you even know which story you’d tell? Is it hard to narrow them down? Or does your life just feel boring?

At the times when I’ve felt like I’ve had the least to say, I can clearly see where I stopped living an adventure and settled for something less. These are the times I was the least passionate. It may have been fear. Busyness. Pride. Perhaps even laziness. These are the times that I chose not to live out a story worth telling.

You’re already alive. You’re already unique. The only way to live a story worth telling is simple: say yes to the adventure.

That’s how you figure out what you want to talk about on Jeopardy.

____________________________
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I’ve been there. Many times.  Here’s how I got rid of the stranger.

Photo: Flickr/Joe Reicherts

But first, while you may feel stuck, let me encourage you with a few thoughts:

1.  You are unique created.
2.  You have ideas that no one else has.
3.  You can say and do things in a way that no one else can.
4.  The only person who may not recognize these facts is you.

With that said, the stranger visits me regularly.  I become him when I sit down to do anything important.  He doesn’t say much.  He’s just a black hole of ideas.  A downer.

Here is how I have gotten rid of that stranger so far, and what I might recommend to you:

1. Get to know you again. Chances are…. you’ve forgotten. If you can’t remember, ask your friends.
2. Forget yourself, and build someone else a platform. You’ll be inspired. And you’ll have a friend.
3. Learn to love the blank sheet of paper. This may be the best invention of all!
4. Kill the need for instant gratification or it will kill you.
5. Learn to enjoy cutting the grass. Or something like it. I promise.

Enjoy being you. The stranger will go away. You’ll feel unblocked.  You’ll do amazing things. Be encouraged and inspired by your uniqueness. And seriously, enjoy cutting the grass.

_____________________________
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From Flickr: Wolfweb

Greetings!

My apologies to those who are visiting the site because of a hacker’s evil plan.  We are working on taking down the monsters.  At any rate, thank you for joining my readership.  Let’s forget how you got the party, and just be thankful you’re here!

In the nature of helping me out, if you wouldn’t mind, please comment on the bottom of this post and let me know how you arrived here. It would be most helpful to our cause.  If you can prove that you’re not an interwebs bot, then we may even become fast friends!

Have an absolutely beautiful day!

Evan

From Flickr-nayrb7

Over the past 25 years, Oprah has made a name for herself through her show, O Magazine, and now the OWN network. You recognize the names of Dr. Phil, Nate Berkus, Dr. Oz, Gayle King, authors in her book club, and so many more because she spent much of her time showcasing others.

The single greatest secret of Oprah’s success is simply that she saw the importance of creating platforms for others.

Here are a few things we can learn from Oprah:
1. Oprah is just like you and me. She’s human. Drug abuse, thoughts of suicide, weight problems, and an affair with a married man were all a part of her story.

2. She made choices. She chose not to be on the sidelines. She chose to tell the stories of others.

3. She saw value in giving other people a shot. Each interview, in front of millions of people, she gave an opportunity to those who may not have had the chance to prove themselves in their work.

4. She connected people. She introduced people and their stories to other people who need to hear them. One might say, she built community.

5. She was able to learn from others. She seemed genuinely curious to learn about others and how they lived life.

6. She was receptive to new ideas. Even ones that her audience may have disagreed with.

What can we gain from this?

My hope is not that you watch reruns of the Oprah show or become a fan. My strong hope is that you see the value in creating platforms for others. You absolutely can do what Oprah did. Be willing. Ask questions. See value in others. Get out of the way.

How might you create a platform for your kids, coworkers, or friends to stand on?

__________________________________________________

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You may not notice them, but other people do. I have them. You have them.

Most people are unwilling to admit or even take notice of them. We have developed a culture that equates honesty about them as something to be looked down upon. While doing this, we might be pridefully ignoring one of the most beneficial learning tools in our arsenals.

When we recognize that we don’t have it together and we share that with others, we earn major “human points.” When we are self-aware, it develops other’s trust in us. We don’t need to spend energy being defensive. We don’t have to lie to ourselves. We are who we are. Making mistakes. Learning. Moving forward.

It has been said that any strength taken to an extreme becomes a weakness. So with a little tweak here and there, we might take what the world sees as our imperfect stereotype and make it our “thing.”

So today, when you see them in me, the person driving in front of you, your waiter, or yourself, remember to offer grace. Recognizing our biggest flaws is a short road to revealing our greatest strengths.