No Camels in Yuma

An Aside to the Holy Spirit

2010-09-12T16:40:00.001-07:00

On the days I am really into blogging, I mean really into blogging, I find myself transformed.

Given my daily curriculum, I have both parameters and a due date. I know what I have to relate the day to, and I better do it fairly quickly because that evening (in theory) I have to present what I have learned to the world. In short: I expected to learn. I sought answers to questions, I wasn't just going to quit until I got them. There was no settling for not being taught.

I focus inward, outward, onward, upward - on learning. It was almost like a chemical reaction took place inside my spirit when I was in the Word daily. I functioned differently. The world around me responded differently. I had opportunity to share with people about what I believed. My influence expanded. Why? Because I was connected with God. When I moved, it was Him moving. My self no longer colored the water.

That deep connection with the Father is how Heaven touches earth. That is how the world is going to be changed.

In the past I have done devotional reading. But, this time around the barn is different. Beyond reading and reflecting, I am seeking the face of God in everything. He is always talking to us. Always. About everything. This really isn't an exaggeration. He will use the most simple things to teach you the most profound principles. My eyes were open, and I could tell that God's grace was flowing through me. When His grace flows through you, His favor is upon you. When His favor is upon you, it is in order for Him to be glorified. His disciples will be great leaders, influencers, and teachers and their portfolios will not be self-promoting (in fact, they'll probably appear kind of average, maybe even a little irrelevant). The only explanation will be Christ.

I could hear His voice more clearly than I ever could before. It was incontrovertible. I knew who He was, and I knew what He was saying. But, when days passed and life got "too busy" for intimacy with God, doubt settled in and clouded the certainty of His voice. In a past post I had written about desiring a life abundant of God. This is how that happens: draw closer to Him, touch Him, and let Him exchange our limitations for His glory.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

100 Day Challenge (Day 4)

2010-09-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

CHAPTER.four

Be Aware of the Snowball Effect

Of Your Thinking

I remember in January, Pastor Ian Fisher spoke on how "you can gain moment in your life speck by speck... a repetitive whisper becomes an enormous shout." While this is true of power, and leadership, it is equally effective in the realm of negative thoughts.

Summary:

Nip negative thinking in the bud; always be thankful

In his book, Carlson gives an illustration of waking up in the night to remember a phone call you have to make, and consequently losing sleep steeping over the items in your day to come. We play out situations in our head, we have assumptions about how are day will go. Proverbs 23:7 says "for as he thinks within himself, so he is." If we think we are overworked, stressed, and busy that is exactly what we will be. We will look for it in our lives, and we will become it. It is a matter of perspective. As we seek out the problems in our lives, we will feed them, and they will grow.

Instead of focusing on the negative and letting unpleasant thought patterns spiral out of control, we need to focus on two things:

1.) Investing in People

In context, Proverbs 23:6-7 reads:

6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; 7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you.

I had a bit of a revelation with this scripture. I had a hard time seeing the reality of it in present day context. Sometimes (and I'll take a stab that I am not the only one that has done this) I get into feeling that the people in Bible-times were different than we are now. They had a different culture, so they must have had a different psyche. I need to jolt myself into realizing this is not the case. Little boys still picked on the little girls. They hurt, and had their insecurities which are very much similar to our own. Man has always bled the same color.

I have heard it said that the insecure are those who think too highly of their problems. They become obsessed with promoting their own person, whereby disproving their insecurities to none other than themselves and any peering eye that would care to take notice of their failings. They become wrapped up in the spiral of cynical thinking. When you are worried only about protecting yourself, you cannot fully invest in the people around you.

In this scripture, I believe the subject is such as one of these insecure people who has put on a hospitable front just to prove that he is not alone. His investment in others is not designed with their benefit in mind. In verse 8, it says "your compliments will be wasted." The irony is that the insecure people are very often the lasts ones to believe the good things about themselves that they are so desperate to prove.

It's not about us. It's never about us. I can tell you from experience, when you lay yourself down and live for others - life is so much more satisfying. It is such a freedom to live in a place where your insecurities don't matter, and you can just open up your heart to let God shine through you. People are pretty cool. Funny thing is, they are usually just as intimidated by people as you. I didn't believe at all while I was in high school. Now that I have graduated (and have a good deal more Jesus to see the world through), I have found it difficult to find anybody that doesn't display some habit of timidity.

I'm scared, they're scared - so why not? Why not just show them that they are loved? Neither of you have anything to lose. (You really don't.) Take the focus off of yourself, put it on those around you.

2.) Being Thankful

Honestly, I am not sure if "thank you" is going to be the first thing on my mind when I am jolted out of bed by a phone call I need to remember to make. It probably would be, "is it too late/early to call now? would it matter what time zone I was in?" 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." This means in the hard times, too. Even when you don't feel like being thankful.

100 Day Challenge (Day 3)

2010-08-29T22:34:00.000-07:00

CHAPTER.three
Let Go of the Idea that Gentle,

Relaxed People Can't be Super-Achievers

Summary:

Success is in spite of worry, not because of it.
Inner peace allows you to focus on mobilizing your skill sets.

Wow, third chapter and I already am behind? I have a good excuse though. (It's a good one, promise.) Friday I spent catching up on Champion Life College work. Which, I have to say, was amazing. I spent my whole day in scripture while listening to worship music. Saturday I had to work - then, we had youth! Which, was amazing, as always.

On the upside, I had a couple of key opportunities to focus on this point: being Saturday night, and Sunday morning.

Inner peace requires trust.

In my production duties at church, I can be a little bit frazzled at times. Forgive me, I am working on it. For this reason, I was sort of glad I had chosen to procrastinate. It gave me the opportunity to take this point, and carry it over championYOUTH and Sunday morning services.

Isaiah 26:3 says "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." God is promising us perfect peace and steadfastness if we only trust in Him. Even though trusting God can sometimes be a tough decision, I think the return is worth the effort for at least a try. Rest assured, perfect peace is possible.

Beyond trusting God, I realized that trusting your team and your leaders is essential to inner peace. If you do not trust your team, that is entirely on you. In the same way that belittling a spouse comes back on you as a spouse. Having a poorly constructed team comes back onto you as the one who constructed it. If it not working, it is your responsibility to fix it. Yeah, that is a lot of accountability.

Shake your mind-set!

Why not be a world-changer?

Sometimes we (or at least I) get afraid of taking up the mantle of leadership, and really embracing the accountability that comes with it. "Why?" I think, "why should it be my responsibility?" The thought that usually gets me back on track is "Why not?" Just because you are a volunteer doesn't mean you don't have the commission to shake things up. Where does your citizenship lie? Who are you serving? What Cause is your heart song?

Luke 12:48 says "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required."

In the past two years I have been changed in innumerable ways. He has touched my life and molded me into being a person I could only have dreamed of when I was at my lowest. He has graciously granted me degrees of changeability and teachability I could not ever have stood here without. Who am I to bury what I have been given in the sand?

Jesus tells the parable of talents:

Matthew 25:14-27 (The Message)

14-18"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

19-21"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

22-23"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

24-25"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

26-27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?

When we are given gifts by God, the worst thing we could do is not use them and hide them because we are afraid of the risk that comes with responsibility. If you know that you can do something for the kingdom, do it! It is not God's intention for us to spectate Heaven coming to earth. We are meant to be participants. The risk is not an issue. God equips those He calls (Eph 4:11-12). Through us, He will make this happen.

Wrap-up.

In writing this particular issue, I have discovered God will get you back on track, and make the blog make sense. He will even take what you think is a rabbit trail, and turn it back onto what the chapter was about... even long after you've forgotten what the chapter was actually about.

100 Day Challenge (Day 2)

2010-08-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today, I did not lose my sticky. In fact, I attached it to a pocket notebook in which I journalled in snippets. I discovered you really can learn a lot in a day.

CHAPTER.two

Make Peace with Imperfection

In Summary:

- Be OK with imperfection.
- - Don't let something's need for improvement discount what it already has done and done well.
- - Don't focus on what's wrong. Look for the positive.

Perfection is not the goal.

I believe that if we focus only on fixing errors we will only rise up to the level of functionality. If we focus on the good and capitalize on it- feed it so it grows- we will rise up to the level of creativity. We will emerge out of the bleak and finite world of "this is not it" and be immersed into the expansive world of "all that this could become."

God was not content with merely saving us from Hell. He also sought to free us from bondage while we are still on earth. We shouldn't be content with "just getting by."

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (The Message)

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

Our lives should be full of the Light of God. Nothing is average about that. Life is the goal.

100 Day Challenge (Day 1)

2010-08-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here we go. After much deliberation, I concluded that to best apply the principles of the first and self-titled chapter, it would be best broken up into the following points:

CHAPTER.one

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Value others' time more than your own
Consider what their story is
Seek to see the potential in things
Evaluate the priority of the situation

Which is, more or less, what my post-it note said. I brought the sticky to work with me, just like I said I would-- I was quite proud of myself for remembering. Then, I promptly lost it. So, for most the day, I kinda winged it. But, that's okay. It wasn't long before I experienced ways to apply these basics.

For those of you who do not know, my day job is cashiering at Home Depot. Today, I had the opportunity to man the garden register. This is Yuma, in August. Needless to say, being outside on concrete for a 6 hour shift presented a wealth of chances to implement the points.

Everyone's time is valuable.

However, in retail you will find that everyone demands that their time be considered the most valuable. There is no time to be selfish with. The moment you try to hoard minutes to yourself is the moment that the cogs start falling out of the machine.

Tonight at myChampion I had the opportunity to run lights. While running lights, you have to push the buttons. Plain and simple. I know this sounds obvious. But, tonight it struck me in a way that wasn't-so-obvious. You have to coordinate motion and color and brightness with time in the song, and time in the service. Light is a very visible medium, and even more visible when it isn't the way that it should be. I couldn't slack. There was great accountability in my ability to focus. I had to lay everything aside for the sake of the time people were spending, and experiencing in that service. There were souls attached to every action.

Admittedly, that sounds so huge that it probably is a bit hard to grasp. I'll put it another way. If I don't water the plants in the nursery, they aren't going to get watered. Without water in the desert, they will die, and there won't be any product to sell. Not good.

This morning I did not feel like I was off to a good start. I lost my sticky note. I was out in garden, which can be so physically trying that sometimes it's hard to be at all focused on any kind of growth. But, tonight's service really tied into what I had been thinking on all day with this challenge. I was encouraged.

Part of considering others' time more valuable than your own is that sometimes you will have to wait to do what you want to do. You might have to stand on a patio for 6 hours because the time saved by the customers using a register that is more convenient to them (even if this register is on the surface of the sun) is more valuable than time spent alone in air conditioning having no positive impact on anyone's life. A transaction should last roughly 90 seconds. In the summer time, not a whole lot of people shop for plants. Most of my time is spent watering, sweeping, or twiddling my thumbs.

There is potential in that.

Tonight Pastor Amanda taught that we had to be still in order to hear the voice of God. She said there is the potential in stop lights and grocery lines to be still and know that He is God. Take a moment, and listen. Here I am hearing that if I intend to stop sweating the small stuff, I will need to be in much deeper communication with God than I am currently, and He has positioned me in a place where I am being paid to have nothing better to do than to talk to Him. He is going to continue to walk me around the barn until I get it. Sure, it's hot outside-- but, anything less than that and I would get preoccupied. It's much easier to entertain yourself when you aren't roasting.

Where are you going?

We are meant to live an abundant life. This does not spell out to me a glorious existence of riches, fame, or success. The abundant life I seek is abundant of God. Where He can be found in every corner of my life, and in every crevice of my thoughts. Where He is my sole purpose for living. This is an amazing life I have envisioned. Could you imagine a world where God is that present? If He is going to be that present in the world, He will first need to be that present in us.

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

I am excited to think of being able to be constantly talking to God. Most of that will just be honing self-discipline. I know it is possible. We are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and while I understand there are different viewpoints to what "without ceasing" means- it definitely points to a lot of communication. More than what I feel I am doing now.

There is so much more room in our lives for God. I believe He will expand us to fit Himself in us. As a course of this we will live expansive lives to His glory, and to His glory alone.

Wrap - Up.

Ok. Tomorrow we will work on brevity.

To sum up what I feel I have learned today:

To seek God in all things, to trust Him, and be still knowing He is God, will align your priorities and allow God to work in His strength and there won't be much sweating at all.

I Can Blog Again! -- 100 Day Challenge (Intro)

2010-08-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

I should be sleeping. But, instead I am brushing dust off of this old hunk of pixels because I think I have a hunch on how to inspire people.

At first, this was just going to be a self-betterment thing. But, then I thought-- wouldn't it be neat if I could log my journey someplace? Then, I thought -- what's the purpose of storing all that unless other's could interact with it, be encouraged by it... or in the very least learn what not to do from it.

What happened is that I bought a copy of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and thought it would be pretty neat if I actually took what it said seriously, tried to make myself a better person, instead of skimming through it like a psycho-babble fluff piece.

My plan is to (every night) read a chapter (for the next 100 days), journal about what that means (I intend to weigh it against scripture- if this bothers you, this probably isn't the series for you), jot down on a post-it (I can't function without stickies) how I can apply those things to the coming day, carry that sticky with me- put it where I can see it, apply those things (in theory), blog about how it went... then repeat.

I have this blog's rss feed posting on my Facebook wall. I hope that gives me the accountability to stay committed. I'm calling it the 100 Day Challenge. My apologies to any other 100 Day Challenges out there. This may or may not be worth the title.

Day One

Day Two

When I agree with an ad campaign...

2009-03-30T13:09:00.001-07:00

The truth of it is, I am utterly motivated by Dentyne's new ad campaign. I saw an ad on the bottom of my MSN window, but before I had chance to click on it, it disappeared. So, I did my own digging whereupon I found Dentyne.com. On the top right hand corner is a clock counting down from three minutes. I didn't think anything of it until the three minutes were up and this popped up:

I am blown off my feet by the truth in the sentiments put forth by a company that really is only trying to sell gum.

People at my church keep asking me why I haven't added them as a friend on Facebook. Truly, I'm touched that they've noticed they don't have me on their little lists. My grandparents push me to "connect" with people other than family, saying I have made it "Family-book." I say it's that I'm shy, and honestly, that's part of it. But there is one thing keeps me from gathering up the courage to go and "Friend-Request" the living snot out of every soul I know in all of Yuma county. Let me explain:

I have connected with people over the internet. I have fell in and out of friendships. Met some people who I had absolutely no right, rhyme, or reason for knowing. But, I knew them. Made friends with them, watched the ups, downs, and corkscrews of their lives.

But, I have never seem them face-to-face. Never once have I had the opportunity to smile at them with more than a ":)" nor have I ever been able to touch them, to hug them when their situations were dire. I never was able to get to know them on the levels only obtainable by body language and eye contact. So, say you owe me a drink for being a good friend all you want; how much do I really know you?

I'm socially awkward. Getting to know people by "body language and eye contact" isn't my forte, and it never will be if I continue to get my social gratification from pixel-people that are nothing more than binary signals when it really comes down to it. When push comes to shove, when we peal away the eggshells.

In short, I'm not going to Friend-Request you and communicate with you on Facebook until I can do so honestly in person. It won't be easy, but it's what all of us need.

Imagine yourself in another country. Just do it. We Americans, despite all your jazz about Southern Hospitality, and the Big City Sense of Community, are cold, shallow, and distant. I exaggerate, of course. I currently live in Yuma, Arizona, and am blown away by the level of friendliness. But, even that is not good enough. Did you know in some nations it's okay to hold hands just because? Regardless of gender... or how platonic the relationship is or isn't.

Not that I'm much for the mushy-gushy stuff you see with the batted eyelashes at small tables at coffee shops. You know what I mean. How often, did you ever notice, that the couples aren't even looking at each other. They're perusing the crowd as if to say: you and you and you -- look at me, I'm in "love" so I'm better than you, look at this thing I can claim as my own. That's all fake, anyhow.

But, I'm talking when it comes naturally. The smile, hug, pat on the back, whatever. Human touch has become antiquated. Today we rely so heavily on digital gestures. The two images above are examples of Dentyne print ads. They speak volumes. So, consider this: a kiss as an instant message, and a hug as a friend request.

Honestly, I'm far from being able to answer my own call. I have insecurities just like everybody else. But, I have a question for me, and for those like me: those lost in a digitalized generation.

What is truly important in this world?

(All images are screenshots taken on my computer of dentyne.com)

I love coffee.

2009-03-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

Really, I do. It's one of the few warm brown things I'd ever put in my mouth. Of course, that could go a few different places, and I think it would just be best to let sleeping dogs lay.

I found this on Facebook, and I just had to tell you guys about it. It's a "piece of flair" that nearly knocked me out of my chair with laughter.

See here, I'm from the east coast, and we Run on Dunkin'. When I lived back in the Old Country, I hated Starbucks, I mean hated. I had a bad experience with bitter hot cocoa, and it was all just ruined for me.

But, now I live in Yuma, where the Starbucks' menu is a second gospel. And, let me tell you, Starbucks has stolen my heart. I live in terms of cappuccinos, americanos and macchiatos. Espresso is a guiding light. Though, ladies and gentleman, I stay away from the straight coffee. It just doesn't tickle my taste buds the way it should. I have always thought that Starbucks coffee taste like burnt, bitter water, devoid of any of the nuttiness that coffee should have -- and just generally unpotable unless accompanied by way too much cream (which I consider to be any at all in line with purist philosophy).

However, I have a theory behind why Starbucks makes their coffee so burnt. It is espressly to goad people into buying the more expensive espresso-based drinks. But, that's okay. I prefer Columbian to Arabica any day. I will make my own coffee at home if I get the hankering, under the stipulation the Big Men at Starbucks continue to make the espresso stuffs they way they have for all this time. Deal?

I remember the running theme in DD (Dunkin' Donuts) ads with the check boxes and clip boards and "Who Had the Better Coffee?" Yes, I agree. DD is better for straight coffee. But, I've had their lattes, and one might as well drink a steamer. If Starbucks has gotten anything right, it's the espresso, and we love them for that.

Err. About the Camels.

2008-09-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

There apparently are camels..... in Yuma.

Saihiti Camel Farm

Though, that is technically outside of city limits.