Busy. Great! What does that really say? We’re all busy doing something, right?

We all want to be busy doing good things. However, we miss the point of interaction when we say “I’m busy!” Next time you’re tempted to say it consider what exactly are you so busy doing?

Being busy… I usually get caught up working on or trying to figure out something or another. Or cooking some awesome food. Exercise. Hanging out with friends or family. All good things, right? Watching TV? Not a habit of mine, but maybe that one is ok in moderation. Playing video games or the like? It’s entertainment, right? Reading God’s word? How many of us have good intentions here but when something else comes up we’re putting the Bible on the back burner, so to speak? If you’re so busy that you need a daytime and nighttime nanny to take care of your kids are you too busy? I’m just thinkin’ the answer could be affirmative… you’re too busy doing something other than savoring the moments with your family.

How about this one – have you ever told someone or even yourself “I’m too busy for ____!” Well, you just defined your priorities.

“Success ultimately comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” Henry David Thoreau

Ha! Great quote! This sounds like doing something one might enjoy to me because how do we define success anyway? So when it’s all said and done, will you be looking back and say you were successful in achieving your goals? Can you say that about last week or last year? If you watch ants move about they stay pretty busy building and carrying around breadcrumbs. They’ve reached their self-actualization or maximum level of achievement. It’s pretty basic for an ant, but how about me and you? The reality for us is a bit more complex.

Here’s something to consider: We live in an age of having vast information at fingertips. How many times a day do you Google? I Google’d this query (LOL) and found that the average person Googles 780 times a year. So more than a couple of times a day. Google’d what? Sure, I Google “Panama Geology” because I’m going there #onmission in a couple of weeks. In contrast, have you ever started looking something up and a couple of hours later realized that you just burned a bunch of time? Since I’m sometimes indecisive, I can look at shoes, sailboats, or even the best bug spray online for way too long. Is this a trap.. the evil lure of being busy? Hmmm…

If we consciously think about how we would choose to spend our time, and about those pesky distractions that draw us away, we can feel better about how we approach and execute in our day to day life.

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” John Maxwell

It’s all a matter of perspective. And priorities.

Next time someone asks how are you and you’re busy doing good things with margin just say you’re awesome. And then take the time to interact…

Image courtesy of arbyreed on flickr

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When it’s all said and done, we walk about feeling inspired but that feeling is often lost in the daily minutia of life. I hear it all the time from people who ebb and flow. Those who are “onboard” Sunday but step off the path by mid-week. Is it just a function of putting Jesus in a box? Probably something like that.

It happens at work frequently, this notion of turning pain to gain. It’s called hard work. Whether you’re learning a new skill or maybe trying to meet a tight deadline, overcoming the learning curve or sweat equity results in a payoff. Achievement. Or advancement. When we try to take a shortcut, we often loose. The same is true when we give up.

This is also true in many sports: we advance to the next level whenever we experience pain. Pain comes along with growth and advancement in skill; we go farther. Or faster. Or score more…

There’s nothing more rewarding than running a race with painful endurance and closing the deal. Our cross country coach used to tell us everyone who participates is a winner. I like that thought.

“Some people want it to happen; some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Michael Jordan

Jordan made it happen. He spoke of failure and not giving up. A lot. He also spoke of talent. Did MJ rely on talent to take him to the top? Certainly not. He also said, “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.”

We turn that pain to gain when we follow Jesus. He came for a reason: so that we could have forgiveness for our sins. And eternal life. Why? Well, it’s a basic truth of turning pain to gain: there is no other way.

If you want to learn and grow surround yourself with the best players in the game. (Click To Tweet)

But wait, there’s something over and, above all, that… Jesus did something more in His “labor of love.”

“I have come so they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus

What’s that all about? While most of us are probably not going to pass from this life today, eternity starts now, not somewhere over the rainbow…

“The glory of God is man fully alive.” Saint Irenaeus

That’s it. You’ve been set up. Will you convert pain to gain? Will you live out “fully alive” today?

Image courtesy of wikipedia.org

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And so circumstance entices a decision: Should we make more memories?

Should we spend more time catching up?

Should we carry on…

I’m finding the only limiting factor is time. While we can’t make more time we do have a choice…

The blink of an eye… it only takes 1/3 of a second. That’s pretty fast.

Can I decide that quickly?

Is it worthwhile in the big picture of things?

Should I go with my gut?

The  only decision in making more…

Image courtesy of kannilc on flickr.com

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Man, my blog got really comfortable. Over a period of 5 years writing at I’m Just Thinkin’ I got way TOO comfortable with the place. So it was time to press on and keep moving forward. I’m still brushing off some dust here and at my other websites so please bear with me…

Jesus calls us in the book of Acts to be His witnesses and carry the good news message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Doing so will most likely cause us to leave a comfortable place. In obedience. And as an act of faith. What will we learn along the way?

Image courtesy of Jason Priem on flickr

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For me personally, writing 4 books was something I never would have dreamed to be a goal in life… then suddenly God placed it in my heart. I took the initiative, overcame adversity and stayed true to the path. Writing for me has been an extremely rewarding experience, combining strengths in teaching and encouragement with the pursuit of wisdom, it just seemed to be a natural dream to follow…

“Turning your passion into your job is easier than finding a job that matches your passion.” Seth Godin

I admire younger generations that place greater importance on following their dreams as a key factor to leading a fulfilling life. That rocks!

So we all have more than just one dream, right? How do we know which ones to chase? Maybe you’ve chased a dream and it went nowhere. Maybe that just wasn’t the right dream. How do we know?

Chasing the dream is fun when we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Sure, there will be challenges or obstacles to achieving anything worthy of our passion, or a dream. However, chasing a dream should be fun – a realization that provides gratification right along with the sweat-equity we are devoting to this endeavor at hand. I think part of the gratification that comes with fulfillment of the dream comes by virtue of the effort required to reach the desired result. But it should be fun. When we get busy we lose the margin in our schedule that allows us to catch our breath and to do fun stuff on a  whim. I miss that when I’m crazy busy. Just don’t take yourself too seriously. If it’s a chore read the writing on the walls, you’re most likely chasing the wrong dream, or taking yourself too seriously. (Click To Tweet)

What dream are you chasing or feeling God has laid on your heart? Is it an endeavor that you truly enjoy?

Image courtesy of RF Designs on flickr.com

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Complete the simple circuit and bingo the light comes on!

So I got on this email list from a website called lifehack.org. They offer tips to short-circuit life change. Typically this wisdom comes in the trendy and appealing list form. Here’s an example – “7 Habits Of Highly Effective Hobbits.” Not all hobbits are eccentric you know… some also have (at least 7) healthy habits that we could all benefit from culling.

Wikipedia describes life hacking as “any productivity trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method to increase productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life; in other words, anything that solves an everyday problem of a person in a clever or non-obvious way.”

So is there a Jesus hack?

Well, the straight up answer is no. There is no short cut to Jesus. However, Jesus isn’t as complicated as many would tend to lead you to believe. There isn’t even an extra special prayer that you have to say, secret handshake or any back-room voodoo going on with Jesus.  Jesus isn’t that difficult. Religion is. Leave that part behind. Jesus did and you should too.

So today I’m going to create the Jesus hack. It’s never been done. I Google’d it and it’s nowhere to be found. Many churches will get their feathers ruffled. It’s ok, not the first time. I’ll take the heat for this one in the name of spreading the good news of the gospel…

Rule #1 of the Jesus Hack comes from the Book of Romans, Chapter 10, verses 9-10:

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

That’s your shortcut or hack to a relationship with our Lord and to heaven. Yep, just one rule. In reality, the generations past that missed it, well, missed the mark. Don’t follow them. With this wisdom we can embrace the future and keep our back up against the past.

Indeed, it’s going to be a beautiful day…

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Meet me at the end of the dock?

Our church has spent the past year and a half wading through the Book of Acts. Verse by verse, our pastors have taken us through the story of the birth, growth and expansion of the Christian church. Luke penned the story as a sequel to his Gospel. It follows Peter’s establishment of the church, and the journey of Paul and others out to the ends of the earth with one mission: spread the Gospel. Solid as a rock.

Enter the co-inventor of the Aqua Lung. I guess if the apostle Paul was the ambassador to all men throughout the land, Jacques Cousteau was the pioneer that brought us the sea. I grew up watching documentaries by Jacques Cousteau on TV. They were fascinating. Cousteau was a filmmaker and self-taught oceanographer who is by far the most well-known undersea explorer of all time.

“Sometimes we are lucky enough to know our lives have been changed, to discard the old and embrace the new and run headlong down an immutable course. It happened to me… on that summer’s day when my eyes were opened to the sea.” Jacques Cousteau

When I read that quote, it makes me think of Jesus. You know, he who has eyes let him see. I understand that may not be what Jacques was thinking about when he wrote it. Remember, Paul’s eyes were opened to the love of Jesus on the day his Maker showed up. Paul already knew the Bible, being a well-educated man and Pharisee who thought “The Way,” or Christian movement, was bad news for Judaism. Paul was blinded for 3 days when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Then, Ananias placed his hands on Paul, and his eyes were opened again, he was baptized and received the Holy Spirit, and Paul became the chosen instrument to spread the Good Word.

“When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.” Jacques

Jacques calling was inherent in his nature to share his story, one that opened our eyes to see a whole new world under the sea. Cousteau was a remarkable man with specific gifts that unveiled a new world for us in a way that no one else ever has. For that, I’m very thankful.

The truth be told we each have an opportunity to lead an extraordinary life. Likewise, part of that quest is our calling to share:

Jesus told His apostles, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Witnessing is sharing what God has done for us. Paul waited for God to cut him loose in Acts before heading out on his missionary journeys. Jacques probably could have made a great movie before his eyes were opened to the sea, but with what result? Only when he had the eyes to see was he able to accomplish the extraordinary feats of his calling, and only then was Cousteau christened to share his remarkable story.

Paul if by land. Jacques if by sea. The fishers of men.

Meet me at the dock?

Photo by tonydude919 on flickr.com

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All of the answers are out there…

How do we lead a more meaningful life? A good question to ponder. If you haven’t figured it out completely you’re in good company. We’ve been working our way through the book of Acts in the Bible and talking a lot about goals and the journey itself in our Disciple Group. I shared my thoughts on developing a personal mission statement a couple of weeks ago here at I’m Just Thinkin’. This topic is mondo.  Without being too wordy I wanted to share with you today what I feel are the 4 necessities to leading a more meaningful life:

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Photo courtesy of Muy Yum at flickr.com

When I was growing up and while I was in college I worked in a few restaurants. It was funny trying to figure out who really ran a restaurant. It was a lesson in perspective. It seemed to depended on what time of day it was…

• Early in the day, like in the morning, the owner ran the restaurant. He signed the paychecks, and brought it all together.
• Later on, the restaurant manager ran the restaurant. He answered the phone, booked the reservations and big parties, and dealt with any customer complaints or issues.
• At night, the chef ran the restaurant. Ultimately, the chef controls the flow in the restaurant at night. He’s the one making the food and striving for perfection with each dish prepared. He also figures out how to deliver 4 different meals to the same table at the same time.

My point in this post is this: In any restaurant, there are at least 3 key players… the owner, manager and the chef. No one person can fulfill all three of these posts at any one time, unless the restaurant is very small.

So who is running the restaurant? If you thought it may be someone else, you would be correct. Ultimately, the customer drives business, right? They’re the ones who flock in to order the Dover Sole when it’s offered as a special, request a certain waiter and table for a special occasion year after year, and tell 2 friends… who tell 2 friends… and so on… and so on… whoa, wait! That was a shampoo commercial, right? Anyway, I think you get the picture…

The restaurant business is demand driven and service oriented. It’s all about the right location, menu and vibe. A recent survey of the success rate of startup restaurants suggests that one in four is going to fail. That’s high enough to make bankers hesitant to lend to these operations. Their experience tells them that, as a whole, restaurants are risky business. They’re saying that 25% of the loans they make go south.

The 3 key people involved with running the restaurant look to each other for support as a team to make it happen. If they nailed down the location, menu and vibe they’ve got a chance. A solid business plan and financial backing gives them an ever greater opportunity. Then, imagine the customers came too! Yep yep yep, that’s success! But even with all of that there aren’t any guarantees. The bankers have found, like we all know in life, that sometimes our greatest disappointments come from expectations that aren’t met. In our world that continually changes we can count on one thing with absolute certainty:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Yesterday I paused to focus on all of the people and blessings that I have today to be thankful for. I’m so thankful for my family; a strong, healthy relationship with a beautiful, loving woman; the gift of writing; and many more. I’m most thankful for what Jesus did for me so I can have a relationship with Him. I’m thankful for the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, and for His guidance. God’s word is as relevant today as it was so long ago when it was written.

Who’s running the restaurant? Ultimately, it all comes back to Him. Praise God for another glorious day! And so many excellent restaurants to choose from 🙂

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Keep Stretching…

I’m on the road today, back to Pennsylvania, the state where I was born… in a manner of speaking, since I’m writing at Jon Stolpe’s “Stretched” blog! Of course, rubber bands came to mind, as did being stretched for sharing the Gospel, all about Jesus with everyone who will listen.

If you’re not staying stretched to transparency, you’re not living. (Click To Tweet)

I’ll share with you a cool Bible verse, Jesus speaking about how you can live your life now to the fullest AND be with Him for eternity, too! Not possible, you say? Check it out by following this link over to Jon Stolpe’s Stretched Blog.

Jon is an interesting guy, a Christ-follower, husband, dad, son, uncle, engineer, runner, chicken farmer, gardener, saxophone player, operations manager, adventurer, and the list goes on…. please visit his place often!

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