Your life is boring

Changing your life is hard.  Changing your life may cost you time, effort, and money.  Changing your life may cost you everything. 

Think about it; you have a boring job because the risk of accepting or finding another one is too great.  You have boring discussions because you have boring friends.  You have boring friends because you aren’t willing to let them push your boring buttons.  You have boring buttons because you forgot it was your job to sharpen or polish them. 

If your life is stagnant, there’s a reason.  If your life is boring, it might just be you.  If your life has no fruit, you’re probably doing it on purpose. 

What does it take to encounter life change?  Do you need to be blinded on the side of the road for 3 days?  Life change may cost you just that… your life.  Remember this though, it is your choice and it might just be the ride of a lifetime.

Staying where you are is easy!  

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. ” – C.S. Lewis

Changing the Scorecard

 

“To passionately learn and then to passionately live.”  Perhaps my view of discipleship has taken a turn this past week as I rethink the statement above.  Is it false or is it just semantics?  Either way—I’m rethinking the score card. 

What if my mission in life was to continually learn and continually, passionately, live?   What if my life wasn’t graded on the things I do on a daily basis, but on the things I change from day to day. 

I think the plan of discipleship that God has for me is scored on a simple foundation–that learning and living never end. 

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”  Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

Angels in the Architecture

 I recently experienced a life without sight through an exhibit done by the local blind community.  The tour began in a lit room with specific instructions to begin exploration and to trust in the voice of the guide.  As the lights dimmed slowly to a complete darkness, the next hour provided many rooms of experiences, all form a different perspective.  Sight was replaced by touch, smell, and sound.  Walking became a little more of a trust exercise and the personal space of individuals in the tour was eliminated. 

 I uncovered some truths about myself through that experience.  The items I was able to hold in their farmers market were not new, yet my knowledge of them was altered.  The boat ride we went on offered a cool breeze through my hair, yet I wasn’t able to gauge the strength or size of the boat, I simply trusted it.  The guide, whom I had never met before, instantly became my companion through the tour as I followed closely his voice. 

 When they removed the distraction of sight, I was able to focus more clearly on the items at hand.  My thoughts and actions were based on that moment in time and my focus was very clear. 

How would my life be different if I could systematically remove the distractions for a period of time?  What would be different if I could put my focus and thoughts on that moment and truly unpack it for what it is?  Would I be able to see the true beauty of the moment and realize the connection it had to the Architect?  

The Office, not just a show on Thursday Night

Enter Stage Left:  Phone Sales Man

 Intended Mission:  Replace Phone System          

 Unintended Consequence:  Eliminate Receptionist

 Phone Salesman:  “Is the boss in today, I want to show him some great new phone systems”

 Receptionist says:  “No, he’s out.  He’s always out.”

 Reality–which the receptionist got:  These phone systems no longer need people like me to answer the phone.  And besides, let’s see a phone system put out delicious candy. 

 How often do we set out to do something noble and fail to realize the unintended consequence?  The phone sales man above has a great product, I’ve seen them.  It might be the best move for the company.  But the change it brings is unwelcome from some, definitely the persons job it replaces.  Yet, here is the champion for a new, more efficient way, being shot down by the person who fears change the most. 

 I used to work for a major automated data processing company (you can figure it out).  My job, to implement new clients and existing clients on newly sold platforms.  What they never told me was that when I was done, only 1 or 2 people were needed to run the software.  The 13 or 14 person team they had was being replaced.  The recurring monthly cost of the product was offset by the lower cost of benefits and compensation.  I figured it out. 

 As an agent for change, it is better to understand the impact before you champion it.  It sure is a lot easier to sell it.  

Mediocrity – Are the savings worth it?

 ”It takes a lot less time and most people won’t notice the difference until it’s too late.” 

An 89% in math was a great feeling.  A C+ on a collective research paper in college was even more than I expected.  Yet somehow 11% incorrect in my career means I’m 100% wrong.  A 30% miscalculation on my latest group project would cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars and cause us to completely scrap the idea and start over. 

Apparently the reality is, almost good enough is simply not good enough.  Doing 11% less may very well get you 100% less.

How true is this in our spiritual lives?  Colossians 3:23 says no matter what your task, work at it heartily as for the Lord and not for men.  What percent are you holding back?  What would happen if you lept forward with an extra 5%?

If This Is It…

It wasn’t rocket science.  It wasn’t any harder than offering a kind gesture, a quick handshake, and a few simple words.  

 Saturday night immediately following church, I walked into my local Subway sandwich shop.  (Spicy Italian incase you were wondering.)  Before me was a single employee running both a drive thru window and the counter by herself.  Granted, it was 8:00 pm and things seemed to be under control. 

 The gentlemen ahead of me placed his order and she graciously stepped into action.  Two sandwiches and a bag of chips.  $13.69 thanks to the $5.00 foot long special.  Woohoo!  She proceeds to the register, removes one of her plastic gloves, and attempts to run his debit card.   Once, twice, three times…  

 Then the dreaded, “I’m sorry… it doesn’t appear to be taking it.”  After quickly checking pockets with some nervous tension, he panicked and promised to be right back.  After a few tense moments, I paid for his and his girlfriend’s dinner.  Told him that God was watching out for him and shook his hand. 

 After he left, the cashier and I spoke for 10 minutes.    I may have helped make the impression, but the image left was not of me. 

 Comment and share your simple experience.  I’d love to hear it. 

 

 

 “how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?”

Romans 10:14-17

Let the Games Begin

Insert blog here. New blog host, new tools, net challenge.  Here we go.