Saturday, March 13, 2010

Spin City

Last post, we talked about focus. We came to the realization of just how important our focus really is. But I have a question. Let's just say we know what we want our focus to be. Okay. You with me? Now. Why is it so hard for us to stay focused?

Frankly, I think there is more than one reason. Well, of course there is...but one specific reason came to me last night when I imagined myself being spun around in circles... you know, like when we were kids. Or maybe going round and round on the merry-go-round. Perhaps you used to twirl as fast as you could until you got so dizzy you fell down! You know what I'm talking about.

The point is, the world around you was spinning so much that you couldn't focus on anything for any length of time. You couldn't "view" anything clearly.

I don't twirl around anymore, nor does anybody spin me... but my world, nevertheless, often spins around me so rapidly that I loose focus. For that matter, oftentimes I am so busy trying to keep from falling, that I don't even think about focus.

Not good. So how do we keep from spinning out of control? I'm thinking the first think we need to do is to identify the spin!

What is causing it? Where is it coming from? Can I stop it?

Why is it that I feel like I live in "Spin City"?

Thursday, March 11, 2010

"F-Stop"

Okay, I have no problem telling you that I decided to call my photographer friend to pick his brain about photography terminology as it relates to focusing. He is the one who told me about the "F-Stop". Wanna know what it is? Come on, you know you do!

The F-Stop actually determines the amount of area in focus. The larger the hole in the lens, the less area in focus. The smaller the hole, the greater the focus. Reminds me of a laser beam...light that is so focused that the intensity of it is piercing!

How about your "F-Stop"? Are you so open to the world around you that you are allowing anything and everything to take precedent in your life - resulting on a blurry focus?

Don't get weird on me. The analogy may not be perfect...but you get the idea. Our focus is important.

More later...

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

"Control-Shift"

As this baby-boomer attempts to understand the computer, one thing I have learned is the importance of "control-shift" as the necessary precursor to the following step - which results in change.

So what is the "control-shift" feature in our life? What is the one thing that - if we do it - will result in change?

Focus. Take a deep breath, squinch your eyes and change gears. Change your focus. When you do, your new perspective will automatically result in a shift. Of course, the new direction will be dependent upon where you place your focus. Think about it. When you look to the right- go ahead, keep turning your head...you'll notice other parts of your body must follow.

The big question now is...where to put your focus?

Something to think about.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Could you spare a little change?

No, I'm not referring to our illustrious president...as much as he likes to talk about change. No. I'm talking about us. You and me. The other day I was reading yet another book, The Noticer by Andy Andrews. One of the questions he asks is very interesting - or disconcerting. Depends on the answer I suppose. The question is:
"If someone, other than yourself, could change something about you, what would it be?"

Great question. Potentially scary answer. Think about it, though. If other people were to desire you to change in a particular area, what would it be?

In general, I like myself. But admittedly, I have to admit that other people who know me well would probably say they wish I didn't get depressed so easily. (Uh,hello, I wish that as well). It can be very discouraging to be around a person who isn't always a happy camper. So, do we just pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and - voila - change?

Is it wrong for me to want or expect some areas in my life to change? You may think that question is a no brainer - but many people hold different views on that very topic.

What do you think?

Monday, March 8, 2010

Down Pillows and Prophecies...

Sorry if my last blog came across to some of you as a downer, but I want to recognize the truth and then deal with it in the best way I know how. Sometimes the truth is, in initial appearances, a downer. But keep in mind the down pillow. Not only is it soft and comfortable, but it has the ability to form to the curve of your head and neck, providing support that is just right for you. What does that have to do with anything? Well, think about it. Sometimes what seems like a down thing, if understood correctly, can actually be the best thing for you. It will provide the support you need.

Jesus looks good to a lot of people. He is oftentimes referred to as a great man or even a prophet. But the truth is He was much more. Throughout the Old Testament, there were more than 300 predictions concerning the Messiah - approximately 50 separate and distinct ones - that were fulfilled in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. What would be the odds of one person fulfilling those prophecies by chance?

In his book “Science Speaks,” Peter Stoner estimated the odds of one person fulfilling just eight of these Messianic prophecies being one in ten to the seventeenth power. How likely is that? Stoner tries to help us understand this vast number by having us imagine spreading silver dollars across the face of Texas...enough to equal 10 to the 17th power. Get this. They will cover the entire state two feet deep! Mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Now, blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must - in one pick - choose the marked silver dollar. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had if only EIGHT of those prophecies came true in any one man.

Jesus said:
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Some people may call Jesus a downer...but believe it or not, He provides the support we need.

I always did like Down Pillows.

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Ultimate Paradox

We're emotional people. We want what we want and we base that on what we think we need.
You've probably heard it said that God is more interested in making us what He wants us to be than giving us what we think we ought to have.
The only problem is that I hate hearing that. It's true...I just hate hearing it. Do you? I mean, sometimes when I'm feeling really good then I can listen to that truth. Unfortunately, I feel like a good deal of my time is spent flat-lining. Okay, I'm not saying I'm really dead, but sometimes I just feel like the life has been sucked out of me...or I just don't want to deal with the "ups" in life when I'm feeling "down". The good news is that God knows that about me. The bad news is that sometimes I feel like He allows those unpleasant circumstances in my life so that I will understand that this life isn't all it's cut out to be. Maybe this sounds really weird to you, but could it be that God wants us to die to ourselves and the only way some of us will do that is when we want to die - or rather - when we recognize that life isn't always as cushy as we might want it to be?

There is so much that God wants for us. He created us as unique individuals for a reason. Yes. But in order for Him to be reflected in our lives as He desires to be, we have to die to ourselves...and yet not. The Christian life is full of paradoxes, is it not? To die, yet to be fully alive!

The ultimate paradox!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Inside Man -vs- Emotional Slam

I'm sure you've come to the realization that God Himself is the "Inside Man". Sigh... how does He deal with us? I tell you, sometimes I just can't stand myself. More to the point, my emotions. I mean, don't you ever wish you had a button you could turn off for a few minutes? Good grief, I get slammed with an emotional onslaught daily! Hourly! Okay ... more like an ongoing thing. From the time I wake up until the time I fall asleep, distractions feed my emotions and I loose sight of the world the way God sees it. I don't want to be that way. Really. So why did I spout all this stuff? Because it's the truth. When I talk about it,though, it helps me sort things out.

I realize that God created us and understands us from the inside-out. He understands me. He understands all His children. Why shouldn't he? He created us, after all. He knows everything about me. About you. I remember when I didn't like that thought. For some reason I thought I could hide from Him. I wanted to hide from Him. Not any more. Now I'm incredibly grateful that He knows everything about me. That means He knows why I am the way I am. He knows things about me that I don't know about myself. Think about it. He knows and understands every hurt, every pain.
Because He knows us so well, He knows exactly what circumstances to allow to make us the people He knows we want to be.

He is willing to be our "Inside Man" in spite of the emotional slam that threatens to consume us at times.

Thank God!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

From the Inside Out...

Several months ago I was in a clothing store and noticed some shirts on the rack that were inside out. Being the orderly person that I am, I dutifully began to correct the situation. But of course if you are fashion savvy you will know that there was nothing wrong with those shirts. That is how they were created...with the seams on the outside to give the new "inside out" look.

Okay. First we put holes in our jeans, then they are made to look dirty... now we have inside out shirts. Is there some kind of special meaning behind all this?

Uh. I don't think so. But I will say that the "inside out" shirts do remind me of something that is actually very important.

Over the past couple of months, Mike and I have been looking for a good church. It was surprisingly difficult to find. So many places tell you how to be a good Christian, but I wanted something more. I already know how I am supposed to be. The church I was looking for was one that understood that though we may try to be good for a while, it won't last forever. Now I realize that may not fit with the "just think positive" mode of thinking that is so prevalent today. It may very well be that some people will, at this point, decide that my thoughts are not on the right plane. Hold on.

The reality is, life isn't always easy. No amount of positive thinking is going to permanently solve that nasty little problem. But I know someone on the inside who can work everything - even the bad things - out.

It's true. Some of you know what I'm talking about. Others don't. Regardless, we all need a reminder at the very least.

Remind me to remind you and myself...tomorrow.

Power Outage.

Yes, we know that failure can be turned into success. Countless people have done it. You can too... so can I. Let's all pretend that we "have what it takes" to turn those failures into success. Stay with me here, we're just pretending.

Although we may be applying all the good principals that we have learned over the years,there is one problem that eventually sucks the life out of us. We can 'pull ourselves up by the bootstraps' only so long before we get burned out. It might take a month, perhaps a year...maybe 10 or 20 years. We may be applying all the positive principals we can think of, but at some point...we lose steam.

Now what?

A light bulb gives light - but only if plugged in to the right source. A car can take us from point A to point B - but only if it has gas. Your computer can give you access to any number of things - but only if you have an internet connection. The point is pretty obvious, yet so often we forget until "the lights go out".

We need a source of power that can enable us to move forward. Some people haven't been plugged into The Source of Power in the first place, others have experienced a "Power Outage".

Hmmm...any thoughts? I'll share mine with you tomorrow.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Failureobia

Yeah, well, it should be a word! After all, the fear of failure is at the forefront of our minds much of the time. Perhaps you would prefer using another word. Dislike, hatred, whatever. The point is: nobody likes failure. You say you don't feel like a failure? Uh, how about when you are late somewhere, or you didn't have enough money in the bank to cover that last check? Maybe you like it when your boss is less than happy with your performance. I didn't think so.

Tim Hansel, in his book "Holy Sweat" ,shared some insight as well as a good story that I would like to pass on to you.

Failures, he said, are only temporary setbacks at worst, and bits of wisdom at best.
Attitude is key. Take Thomas Edison. In the process of inventing the light bulb, he failed almost 8,000 times. "They weren't failures," he said. "They were education."

There is a true story about a project manager at IBM who lost the company 10 million dollars. Dejectedly, he walked into the president's office and said, "I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll want my resignation. I'll by gone by the end of the day."

The president's response showed his understanding of the value of failure. He said "Are you kidding? We've just invested 10 million dollars in your education. We're not about to let you go. Now get back to work."