Category Archives: Misc

Random and Miscellaneous thoughts

LOST in American “Faith”

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I’m gonna have to go with worst series ending ever.  Really?  Best I can figure is the writers got trapped in a room with the Jim Croce song “Time in a Bottle” running over and over again.  No answers.  What was the deal with Walt?  Why did the smoke not kill Echo?  Why was the smoke originally related to chains and holes in the ground?  Too many questions unanswered except by the answer that the writers had no idea that this was going to get as big as it did.  With each season they had to come up with more mystery and shift their plot.  I’m sure they started writing with an ending in mind that was much different than what came about, but that’s what happens when money stretches a story beyond where it needed to be.

The ending did, however, point to a challenging problem in society today.  So everyone was in a world they created so that they could reunite and then journey on together?  So LOST ends up being a cheesy ‘choose your own story’ mystery where one person turns to page 7 and another turns to page 14 but they all up in the same place in the end.  The worst part is how this new age philosophy of choosing our own way and making up our own eternity has become so ingrained into American society and, sadly, even into the church.  Look at the very faith-filled and almost sacred imagery that was present throughout LOST – the struggle with good and evil, the importance of the cross (echo and Richard’s wife), a set of sparing twins (one named Jacob), the almost sacramental nature of choosing the protector of the island,… the list could go on.  There was great imagery of faith, but in the end the imagery was just that – imagery.  It was the trappings of truth wrapped around a lie.  And it is exactly the struggle that the church has today.  People, even people active in church, have come to believe that they are in control of their destiny and they can define it for themselves.  Truth, society has come to believe, is a relative concept.  I may think one thing is true and you another, but somehow, society says, both are true.  And if we can feel good about ourselves in the end without having to really accept that there are parts of us that are wrong that we cannot make right, then we have bought in fully to the lie the world is selling today.  The worst part is that we take this relative truth and mingle it with the truth of Christianity and make our own religion.  We decide what must be right and what is wrong and then we cobble together our philosophy on life and truth for ourselves.  So we accept the grace of the cross, but reject the call to righteousness.  We grab on to the forgiveness without seeking repentance.  We hold out salvation through faith, but we see it as only one way among many and everyone gets to choose their own way and make their own eternity.  The problem is that truth, by definition, isn’t relative.  Truth is absolute.  We can only have truth if there is one truth, no matter how much other things look and sound like truth.

The ending of LOST was disappointing, but eye opening to the pulse of society.  I hope it opened your eyes as well.  There is only one way to eternal life, and it is not through a world we create for ourselves – it is through true faith, living faith, in the grace that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Without Him, we are truly LOST and our story will come to a sad and painful end.

No Proof

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There are two words that, while they seem innocent, are really some of the most destructive words in the world – “prove it.”  Wars have been started over the simple concept of someone trying to prove they are right and someone else is wrong.  Relationships are ruined when one party draws the line in the sand and demands that proof be offered that they are the ones that are in error.  Time and energy are wasted daily as we spend our days trying to prove that what we say is right is right and what others say is wrong.

Frankly, I’ve had enough of it.  So if you are asking me to “prove it”, my answer is a polite, “no thank you.”

Now this isn’t to say that I don’t have proof for what I believe or am unwilling to consider that my way of thinking is incorrect.  I don’t think that I am somehow above being wrong or have all the right answers.  But there is a big difference between exploring a topic together and laying down sides and taking up arms in an argument.  I am more than willing to answer questions about my beliefs and to ask questions to others if I think that it will help me or others come to a deeper understanding of an issue.  But when a discussion turns to me defending my position while another defends their position and neither of us are going to budge from the issue, I’d rather not.  ”Prove it” is not an inquiry into the what and how of what I think, it is a challenge to draw a line in the sand and to take up arms in a battle of wits.  And, frankly, I have too much to do in life to spend it distracted in a war that cannot be won.

So, if you have a question about what I believe and why, feel free to ask.  If I have a question about what you believe and why I’ll ask.  I’ll be glad to talk together.  But if it comes down to “prove it”, whether it is actually stated that way or not, just know in advance that I’m just not interested.  You mean more to me than an argument, and I hope I do to you as well.

Top 12 Ways to Get Things Done

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With a little help from David Allen’s classic, Getting Things Done, here are 12 ways to get on top of all those things that you need to do:

  1. Write it down – Sit down and write out a full list of everything you need to get done.  Everything.  Scrub the toilets?  Write it down.  Write draft for a grant proposal?  Write it down.  Write it all down first, then you can work with it from there.
  2. Be specific – Do you need to trim the bushes?  Don’t write ‘bushes’, but write ‘trim the bushes’  The more specific you are the more likely you will get it done
  3. Do it – If you can do it in 2 minutes or less, don’t even bother writing it down, just do it.
  4. Stay consistent – Use the same organization methods at home and at work.  It’ll be a lot easier to keep things organized if you are doing it the same way every time.
  5. Don’t do someone else’s job – If someone can our should do it, let them.  Don’t spend your time doing something that someone else can or should be doing.
  6. Schedule work time – don’t let important things pile up!  If you need a significant block of time to work on something, put it on your calendar.
  7. Work in steps – Keep a list of all the steps/tasks for a project and work through the steps.  One master list per project will make it a lot easier to manage instead of a mishmash of tasks spread across various lists.
  8. File away – If you want to keep it for a reference, file it away.  If you need to do it in the future, file it away and mark your calendar.  The less you have sitting around the less you have to distract you.
  9. Throw it away – if it is useless, throw it away.  If you’re done reading the magazine, tear out and save what you want and throw the rest of it away.
  10. Separate tasks from materials – particularly in a project file.  Keep your task/step lists in either a different file or separate from the supporting materials.  It’s a lot easier to stay on task if you don’t have to fish through a folder to find your list.
  11. Start with goals – Know what you want to do, who you are, and where you are.  Don’t take on a task that isn’t going to help you fulfill what you want and don’t wear yourself out doing something that you are not prepared or equipped to do.
  12. Don’t waste time – You have 10 minutes before a meeting?  Use that time to do what you can.  If you can capture the various 5-10 minute “waiting time” moments in your day and use them productively, you will be surprised to find out what you accomplish!

12 Things to Give Up (or Take On) for Lent

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The church season of Lent has historically been a time of introspection and devotion.  In order to highlight our dependence on our selves and our earthly desires, many Christians choose to forgo something during Lent as a way to sharpen their faith.  The concept is to replace a dependence or desire for something earthly with a dependence or desire for Christ.  Recently, some have also taken spiritual disciplines on during Lent – adding to their spiritual growth regiment either in addition or instead of choosing to give something up.  As you approach Lent (which starts tomorrow!) here is a list of 12 things to either give up or take on to grow your soul this Lent.

Things to give up

  1. Coffee or Chocolate – These are traditional for many, but also very good at pointing out our desires & dependence on ourselves and the world.
  2. TV or Internet – While you may not be able to give these up completely (particularly if you need to email for work) but you can vastly limit your time.
  3. Going out to eat – Has a two part effect – easier on your pocketbook as well as helping you see a dependence.
  4. Radio – Use the silence of your commute as a time of prayer
  5. Excessive sports – No, I’m not saying to stop exercising, but if it is filling your schedule, this might be a place to look at to give that time to God.
  6. Video games – These can take up a lot of time and energy – what could you do for God in that time instead?

Things to take on

  1. Scripture reading – I’m a big proponent of learning about God and about yourself through scripture.  It’s never too late to start.  If you want to read along we me use this guide. We are on week 7.
  2. Exercise – If you are not in shape, how can you be ready when God calls you to serve?  Take Lent as a time to start an exercise regiment and begin to get your body right.
  3. Scripture memorization – “Thy Word I have hidden in my heart that I may not sin against Thee.” – Psalm 119:11 – true words and a great Lenten discipline.
  4. Fasting – Nothing shows dependence stronger than fasting.  Try starting with one meal a week and then move on to one day a week.
  5. Sacrificial giving – Best when used in conjunction with giving something up.  Give the money that you would have used to fulfill your earthly desires for God.
  6. Silence – Turn everything off and learn to enjoy stillness and silence.  Sometimes God’s whispers can only be heard when we are still and quiet.