I am asking these questions because I have been asking them of myself lately, and thought that others might find them helpful, or have more questions or suggestions for me.
Where do you buy your glasses?
Is it really that big a choice for you? What factors are included in the purchase? Is cost a factor? Style? Maybe you buy them from your eye doctor because it's convenient? Or you want to support his business?
Did you know that 1 billion people don't have access to glasses in this world? Did you know that providing glasses to someone in poverty who needs them can increase their income by 20%? Did you know that generally speaking, between the vendor you buy from and the vendor they get their frames from, businesses are generally making $200 or more one each pair of glasses you purchase? It's true. So if there was an alternative, should I pursue that? And should it matter if that company is Christian or not?
This year I decided to try something different.
What about when you are at the mall shopping?
Obviously all of us consider the bottom line of our bank account and our budget to determine how much to spend. But what if you have money to spend. Do you consider if it's something you need? Or just something you want?
I mean obviously there are somethings we all need, for example, if you have holes in your undies, it would behoove you to buy new ones. But what about that cute shirt at Old Navy, in a color you really like? Do you need the shirt or do you just want the shirt?
What about standards of living. Maybe there is a vehicle you really want, can you afford it? And if you can afford it, will purchasing it take over some of your expendible income that you could be spending on, say, prenatal care for pregnant mothers who couldn't otherwise have that care? What if you bought a used vehicle, and took the extra cash and put it towards something that impacted hundreds of lives, made them better?
There is nothing wrong with spending money that you have at your disposal on things you want, but I am beginning to think that for me, I need to balance it with forgoing the things I want, or waiting on purchasing them, and using that money to help people who are living without basic neccesities.
An added side note, it makes it easier for people to buy gifts for you. Think about how hard it is to buy gifts for the people you know who have everything.
What about the things you want but can't afford. Like maybe you want to do expensive renovations to your house, but don't have the money to do it right now? Should you wait and save up the money? Should you consider taking out a loan? Should you ask for financial help from others around you? What if it's not repairs that need to be done today, obviously when your power gets knocked out in a storm, that's a different story.
Should you pray about it more than you maybe have in the past? Umm definitely yes to that.
What if you have an actual need in you life, say you had knee surgery, and God provided crutches for you to use, but they were old ugly wooden ones? Should I accept the old ugly ones, use them, and thank the Lord for providing, or ask for the new trendy hope crutches?
It's cliche to say that God always provides, not necessarily how we expected it. But the reality is, how often does God provide for us, and we turn our noses up at His gift, because it's not in the packaging we expected?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The difference between the North and the South
For the last several weeks I have been travelling a lot. I have made some general observations as I have been in 10 different states this month. Here they are, in no particular order. Feel free to add you own in the comments.
1. in the South we don't have traffic jams on Thursday mornings at 10 am. In fact we don't really ever have stop and go traffic unless you live in a major metropolitan area like Atlanta or Houston
2. In the South men open doors for women, whether they know them or not, whether they are feeble old ladies, or pregnant women, or incredibly attractive, or just you average Josephine. In the North, not so much.
3. In the North people take public transportation much more frequently. In the South public transportation doesn't really exist that I know of.
4. In the North you can find an abundance of ethnic foods, like Canolis, Pasta Carbonara, grocery store sushi, any nationality of restaurant known to man.
5. In the South you can find any number of (fried) chicken restaurants, Popeyes, Zaxby's, Chic Fil A...
6. In the North people are differentiated between your friends and your acquaintances, in the South everyone is your long lost friend
7. In the South people don't criticize each other, instead they say things like "Bless his little heart," in the North people speak their mind and say what they really mean.
8. In the North women get more dressed up on any given day of the week, but for church on Sunday people in general get way more dressed up in the South
9. In the South women wear a lot of make-up, in the North women don't wear much make-up at all.
10. This may make some people mad, but there are generally, according to my naked eye, many more overweight people in the North, however, the people in the South that are overweight tend to be more morbidly obese.
11. People in the North eat WAY more ice cream, WAY MORE.
12. In the North it's trendy to be active, in the South people just are active.
13. In the North people put on workout outfits, in the South people just throw on any old t-shirt and pair of shorts to workout, they don't necessarily coordinate.
14. In the North it is way more convenient to recycle and way more people actually recycle than in the South
15. In the South people ask what church you go to, assuming that all people go to church, in the North, umm well you might be the only Christian most of your coworkers have ever known.
16. In the South we have the Southern swoop, in the North we have the frat boy look, on grown men
17. In the North there are WAY more men with facial hair, WAY more.
1. in the South we don't have traffic jams on Thursday mornings at 10 am. In fact we don't really ever have stop and go traffic unless you live in a major metropolitan area like Atlanta or Houston
2. In the South men open doors for women, whether they know them or not, whether they are feeble old ladies, or pregnant women, or incredibly attractive, or just you average Josephine. In the North, not so much.
3. In the North people take public transportation much more frequently. In the South public transportation doesn't really exist that I know of.
4. In the North you can find an abundance of ethnic foods, like Canolis, Pasta Carbonara, grocery store sushi, any nationality of restaurant known to man.
5. In the South you can find any number of (fried) chicken restaurants, Popeyes, Zaxby's, Chic Fil A...
6. In the North people are differentiated between your friends and your acquaintances, in the South everyone is your long lost friend
7. In the South people don't criticize each other, instead they say things like "Bless his little heart," in the North people speak their mind and say what they really mean.
8. In the North women get more dressed up on any given day of the week, but for church on Sunday people in general get way more dressed up in the South
9. In the South women wear a lot of make-up, in the North women don't wear much make-up at all.
10. This may make some people mad, but there are generally, according to my naked eye, many more overweight people in the North, however, the people in the South that are overweight tend to be more morbidly obese.
11. People in the North eat WAY more ice cream, WAY MORE.
12. In the North it's trendy to be active, in the South people just are active.
13. In the North people put on workout outfits, in the South people just throw on any old t-shirt and pair of shorts to workout, they don't necessarily coordinate.
14. In the North it is way more convenient to recycle and way more people actually recycle than in the South
15. In the South people ask what church you go to, assuming that all people go to church, in the North, umm well you might be the only Christian most of your coworkers have ever known.
16. In the South we have the Southern swoop, in the North we have the frat boy look, on grown men
17. In the North there are WAY more men with facial hair, WAY more.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thankful Thursdays 6/23/2011
477. A safe flight
478. A great meal
479. Meeting new people
480. spending time with former students
481. Hands on learning opportunities
482. really great teachers
483. Alumni events
484. one on one time with friends during a busy week
485. getting to see new places
486. alligators
487. prayer breakfast with other athletic trainers
488. encouragement from people whose days are very similar to mine on a regular basis
489. intellectually stimulating conversations
490. the opportunity to be there for a good friend who is going through hard times
491. fresh veggies from the organic farmers
Yes I eat okra straight up raw with a little salt
492. lunch and time catching up with a good friend
493. prayer meeting at church
478. A great meal
479. Meeting new people
480. spending time with former students
481. Hands on learning opportunities
482. really great teachers
483. Alumni events
484. one on one time with friends during a busy week
485. getting to see new places
486. alligators
487. prayer breakfast with other athletic trainers
488. encouragement from people whose days are very similar to mine on a regular basis
489. intellectually stimulating conversations
490. the opportunity to be there for a good friend who is going through hard times
491. fresh veggies from the organic farmers
492. lunch and time catching up with a good friend
493. prayer meeting at church
Friday, June 17, 2011
Service
I love Derek Webb's song "The Church" I know in recent months Derek Webb has made some controversial statements, but in his song from his 2003 record, he makes some statements that I think are simple, and important, and profound.
"i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she’s justified
i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone
so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you’re not alone
‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church
i have long pursued her
as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more
so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you’re not alone
there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride"
Sometimes I wonder, what does it really look like to love the church?
I mean, obviously there are the generic serving opportunities in most churches in America
You can teach Sunday school to 1st graders.
You can take care of little ones in the nursery.
You can sing on the worship team or serve communion.
There are opportunities to organize small groups, or greet people at the door.
Lots of churches need people to hang out with high schoolers and take them on retreats.
These are all important and valuable. These are all things that need to be done.
But what if you don't have the gift of mentoring high schoolers or you can't sing? What if you are terrible with children? What then? How do you love the church then?
It seems like in a lot of churches today there are a handful of ministry opportunities, and members, if they want to actively serve their church, have to fit themselves into one of those roles. It doesn't really matter that much if their abilities, or gifts as we say in Christianese, don't fit the roles available.
The reality is that in most churches I have been in, there are a lot of things that need to get done. But for the most part, the majority of those tasks get accomplished by paid staff, whether it's cleaning the church, or visiting the elderly and shut-ins, or organizing events.
Who knows, maybe at one time the church functioned in a manner that allowed members to love the church by visiting shut ins, or cleaning the building. Maybe the reason these tasks are generally undertaken by paid staff is that we as a body of believers over time have failed to come through and love the church by actually following through when we committed to something that wasn't fun, or took a lot of time, or cost us something.
While I was on vacation earlier this month, I had the opportunity to watch someone loving the church, in ways that don't fit the typical American church ministry opportunities.
First she cleaned the church, with a few helpers, myself included on Friday night.
Then on Sunday, as I followed her in my vehicle, she did this.
She does this pretty much every Sunday morning.
She leaves for church earlier than she would otherwise have to. She has to drive a little bit out of the way. It might cost her a little gas. But every Sunday, unless she is on vacation, she does this.
These people can't drive, they would not be able to go to church if she didn't pick them up.
How many people out there in America are like this? If someone would just pick them up on the way, they would never miss a Sunday?
"i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she’s justified
i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone
so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you’re not alone
‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church
i have long pursued her
as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more
so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you’re not alone
there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride"
Sometimes I wonder, what does it really look like to love the church?
I mean, obviously there are the generic serving opportunities in most churches in America
You can teach Sunday school to 1st graders.
You can take care of little ones in the nursery.
You can sing on the worship team or serve communion.
There are opportunities to organize small groups, or greet people at the door.
Lots of churches need people to hang out with high schoolers and take them on retreats.
These are all important and valuable. These are all things that need to be done.
But what if you don't have the gift of mentoring high schoolers or you can't sing? What if you are terrible with children? What then? How do you love the church then?
It seems like in a lot of churches today there are a handful of ministry opportunities, and members, if they want to actively serve their church, have to fit themselves into one of those roles. It doesn't really matter that much if their abilities, or gifts as we say in Christianese, don't fit the roles available.
The reality is that in most churches I have been in, there are a lot of things that need to get done. But for the most part, the majority of those tasks get accomplished by paid staff, whether it's cleaning the church, or visiting the elderly and shut-ins, or organizing events.
Who knows, maybe at one time the church functioned in a manner that allowed members to love the church by visiting shut ins, or cleaning the building. Maybe the reason these tasks are generally undertaken by paid staff is that we as a body of believers over time have failed to come through and love the church by actually following through when we committed to something that wasn't fun, or took a lot of time, or cost us something.
While I was on vacation earlier this month, I had the opportunity to watch someone loving the church, in ways that don't fit the typical American church ministry opportunities.
First she cleaned the church, with a few helpers, myself included on Friday night.
Then on Sunday, as I followed her in my vehicle, she did this.
She does this pretty much every Sunday morning.
She leaves for church earlier than she would otherwise have to. She has to drive a little bit out of the way. It might cost her a little gas. But every Sunday, unless she is on vacation, she does this.
These people can't drive, they would not be able to go to church if she didn't pick them up.
How many people out there in America are like this? If someone would just pick them up on the way, they would never miss a Sunday?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thankful Thursdays 6/16/2011
460. getting everything done
461. the amazingly beautiful bride
462. a wedding that clearly communicated the gospel
463. fun times with good friends
464. breakfast with Nana
465. catching up with a friend who grew up in Saudi too
466. SHAWARMA
467. a 5 and 10 SR store in New Jersey
468. Safe driving
469. amazing rest area
470. good talks with my mom while driving
471. coming home to a clean house
472. the person who watches my dog
473. not having tons of work to catch up on
474. A former co-worker becoming a coworker!!!
475. my amazing mattress
476. Peanut butter and fluff
461. the amazingly beautiful bride
462. a wedding that clearly communicated the gospel
463. fun times with good friends
464. breakfast with Nana
465. catching up with a friend who grew up in Saudi too
466. SHAWARMA
467. a 5 and 10 SR store in New Jersey
468. Safe driving
469. amazing rest area
471. coming home to a clean house
472. the person who watches my dog
473. not having tons of work to catch up on
474. A former co-worker becoming a coworker!!!
475. my amazing mattress
476. Peanut butter and fluff
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Thankful Thursdays 6/9/2011 better late than never
435 Dale Chihuly exhibit
436 art museums in general
437 hilarious texts from friends while shopping for bachelorette items
438 spending an evening with great friends
439 sobriety for people I care about
440 having the time to help Arwen with last minute wedding details
441 a day at the beach with a friend
442 physical and emotional healing for members of my family
443 talking on the phone with people who make me laugh
444 inspiring books
445 Special Olympics
446 dinner with my cousin
447 friends with whom I can have a good, edifying conversations
448 good times celebrating Arwen's upcoming wedding
449 meeting people in real life that I have known on facebook for a long time
450 running
451 Boston during the Stanley Cup
452 canolis from Mike's
453 meeting former student athletes who have gone on to do amazing and important things with their lives
454 a moment to remember people who are no longer with us, who meant a lot to my family when they were here
455 ice cream from the dairy bar
456 the town crier
457 walking the streets of Portsmouth knowing not much has changed in hundreds of years
458 Red Sox ice cream
459 the Wildcat
436 art museums in general
437 hilarious texts from friends while shopping for bachelorette items
438 spending an evening with great friends
439 sobriety for people I care about
440 having the time to help Arwen with last minute wedding details
441 a day at the beach with a friend
442 physical and emotional healing for members of my family
443 talking on the phone with people who make me laugh
444 inspiring books
445 Special Olympics
446 dinner with my cousin
447 friends with whom I can have a good, edifying conversations
448 good times celebrating Arwen's upcoming wedding
449 meeting people in real life that I have known on facebook for a long time
450 running
451 Boston during the Stanley Cup
452 canolis from Mike's
453 meeting former student athletes who have gone on to do amazing and important things with their lives
454 a moment to remember people who are no longer with us, who meant a lot to my family when they were here
455 ice cream from the dairy bar
456 the town crier
457 walking the streets of Portsmouth knowing not much has changed in hundreds of years
458 Red Sox ice cream
459 the Wildcat
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Thankful Thursdays 6/2/2011
413 Swimming with the niece and nephew
414 watching the niece and nephew open birthday presents
415 having things in common with people I didn't think I have much in common with
416 early morning peaceful run around a little lake
417 the niece murmuring in her sleep, HILARIOUS
418 perspective
419 sushi many days this week
420 a great day with my cousin and her family
421 that my uncle is doing so well after a really terrible health crisis this year
422 ice cream from Sully's
423 dunkin donuts coffee
424 the lense on my phone that take alien photos
425 being on vacation
426 totally random side trips
427 spaghetti with the fam
428 spraining my ankle while running at my aunties, happens every time
429 hanging out with nana
430 seeing Nana interact with people where she lives
431 endless rocks
432 flying monkeys
433 my cousin sounding so upbeat on the phone, can't wait to see him
434 that my brother and his family are fine after tornadoes whipped through their town
414 watching the niece and nephew open birthday presents
415 having things in common with people I didn't think I have much in common with
416 early morning peaceful run around a little lake
417 the niece murmuring in her sleep, HILARIOUS
418 perspective
419 sushi many days this week
420 a great day with my cousin and her family
421 that my uncle is doing so well after a really terrible health crisis this year
422 ice cream from Sully's
423 dunkin donuts coffee
424 the lense on my phone that take alien photos
425 being on vacation
426 totally random side trips
427 spaghetti with the fam
428 spraining my ankle while running at my aunties, happens every time
429 hanging out with nana
430 seeing Nana interact with people where she lives
431 endless rocks
432 flying monkeys
433 my cousin sounding so upbeat on the phone, can't wait to see him
434 that my brother and his family are fine after tornadoes whipped through their town
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