For the last 12 months I've been on a journey of sorts. While this journey hasn't taken me to the ends of the earth or the top of a tall mountain, it has given me some clarity. It has been during this time that I discovered minimalism, or at least came to the understanding that what I felt and what I go through every couple of years had a name.
Minimalism has played a big part in changing how I view the world. Slowly I have removed numerous items from my home that were simply taking up space. Movies, books, games, and just plain 'junk' that I had kept around in the event it might be needed. I'm becoming free from the desire to own things just to own them. It bothers me less and less when neighbors have things that I do not. Perhaps for the first time I'm figuring out what I really need. In fact by removing the things in my life that merely take up space it allows me to focus on what is important.
This is where things get complicated for me.
What the heck am I passionate about? What is truly important?
I love God, my wife, my family, and friends. I enjoy football (and other sports) immensely. I give my Kindle a daily workout with all of the reading I do. When the weekend rolls around I'm looking to see what movie I can cross off my list or hanging out with friends playing board games (still a fan of Catan after all these years!). Not to mention the various projects I take on with my church.
In fact, by the end of this year my wife and I will be debt free and have the opportunity to do whatever we want to do. Yet, I have no clue what that might be.
Because of certain constraints I'm unsure if being a pastor will ever be in the cards. I find great joy in teaching and preaching but my lack of expertise shows in so many ways that it is embarrassing at times. While I enjoy sports I'm unsure how much I would enjoy them if having to work in them day in and day out.
So what is a guy to do? Maybe nothing for right now and bask in this silence and solitude of not knowing.
I hope over the next few months this blog will help. I need to take what is in this thick head of mine and put it down on 'paper', or at least the digital world. Perhaps this will push me in one directions or another, or at least that is the hope.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Back in Action
Wow - six months go back quickly don't they?
Finally I have a computer that allows me to access the blog on a regular basis and decent internet access. Amazing how often we use these tools that they almost become necessary. My hope is that the new Chromebook will be a nice addition to some of the new tech tools I now have at my disposal.
2014 has seen a variety of changes but I'd like to think they have been good ones, not only for me and my wife but our families and friends. Hub City Church is becoming exactly what I thought it would become when we joined in 2012. It is a beacon for those that are lost, a place where the broken come to heal, and has become a family - not perfect, but one that is attempting to follow Jesus. We are thankful and blessed to be a part of this church.
2015 promises to bring even more change (doesn't every new year?), however don't expect any New Years resolutions from me.
Except that I hope to post a little more on this blog.
Blessings to you in 2015.
Finally I have a computer that allows me to access the blog on a regular basis and decent internet access. Amazing how often we use these tools that they almost become necessary. My hope is that the new Chromebook will be a nice addition to some of the new tech tools I now have at my disposal.
2014 has seen a variety of changes but I'd like to think they have been good ones, not only for me and my wife but our families and friends. Hub City Church is becoming exactly what I thought it would become when we joined in 2012. It is a beacon for those that are lost, a place where the broken come to heal, and has become a family - not perfect, but one that is attempting to follow Jesus. We are thankful and blessed to be a part of this church.
2015 promises to bring even more change (doesn't every new year?), however don't expect any New Years resolutions from me.
Except that I hope to post a little more on this blog.
Blessings to you in 2015.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
The Family
Perhaps the biggest fear my wife and I had when moving from Indiana to South Carolina was this: What will we do if something goes wrong?
While living in Michigan we had my family and our friends who lived no more than 45 minutes away. If a car broke down, if the washing machine went out, if someone got sick then we knew someone would be around to help us out. When we moved down to Indiana we were only 15 minutes away from my wife's family, and while we were able to make friends as the months and years progressed, it helped to alleviate some anxiety to know that if anything went wrong at least we had her family nearby to help.
When we moved to South Carolina we were moving to a strange (yet beautiful) new world and didn't know anyone. We were both able to get jobs, but like most people we weren't necessarily looking to make friends at work (thankfully my wife was able to do so). What this meant is that we were on our own if anything went wrong. Car didn't work? Refrigerator died? Get lost in a brand new city? Too bad; you better be able to take care of it yourself. We never realized how much we relied on family to help us through difficult times.
I think that is why it was such a joy to find our church family at Hub City. Many of those attending were just like us. That had moved from far away, left family and friends, and started a brand new life. Not only that but they understood what it meant to be so far away from everything that seemed normal, especially when you had no one but yourself to depend on. They took us under their wings and became more than friends; they became our new family. They didn't really know us and we could have been quite weird. Yet the only thing that mattered was that we had the same Father, the same Spirit, and they treated us as more than just 'tourists'. As I type this I can't imagine what it would be like to not have them in our lives. How pale and shallow things would be. Who in the world would I be able to share my love of baseball and movies?
That is the great thing about being in God's family. Despite your past, your mistakes, the difficulties you face, the family of God says "Come on in". You don't have to wash up first or get your act 'together'. For those who believe you're given all the rights AND appropriate responsibilities of those who belong to the family. It is amazing to see the natural workings of the church in this capacity and it can move someone from just being a part of the crowd to being an individual who is committed to serving and loving the people around them. Just like a family is supposed to do.
So today, invite someone in your home. Make them a part of your family.
-Mike
While living in Michigan we had my family and our friends who lived no more than 45 minutes away. If a car broke down, if the washing machine went out, if someone got sick then we knew someone would be around to help us out. When we moved down to Indiana we were only 15 minutes away from my wife's family, and while we were able to make friends as the months and years progressed, it helped to alleviate some anxiety to know that if anything went wrong at least we had her family nearby to help.
When we moved to South Carolina we were moving to a strange (yet beautiful) new world and didn't know anyone. We were both able to get jobs, but like most people we weren't necessarily looking to make friends at work (thankfully my wife was able to do so). What this meant is that we were on our own if anything went wrong. Car didn't work? Refrigerator died? Get lost in a brand new city? Too bad; you better be able to take care of it yourself. We never realized how much we relied on family to help us through difficult times.
I think that is why it was such a joy to find our church family at Hub City. Many of those attending were just like us. That had moved from far away, left family and friends, and started a brand new life. Not only that but they understood what it meant to be so far away from everything that seemed normal, especially when you had no one but yourself to depend on. They took us under their wings and became more than friends; they became our new family. They didn't really know us and we could have been quite weird. Yet the only thing that mattered was that we had the same Father, the same Spirit, and they treated us as more than just 'tourists'. As I type this I can't imagine what it would be like to not have them in our lives. How pale and shallow things would be. Who in the world would I be able to share my love of baseball and movies?
That is the great thing about being in God's family. Despite your past, your mistakes, the difficulties you face, the family of God says "Come on in". You don't have to wash up first or get your act 'together'. For those who believe you're given all the rights AND appropriate responsibilities of those who belong to the family. It is amazing to see the natural workings of the church in this capacity and it can move someone from just being a part of the crowd to being an individual who is committed to serving and loving the people around them. Just like a family is supposed to do.
So today, invite someone in your home. Make them a part of your family.
-Mike
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Routines
We're all slaves to something. We may be a slave to our jobs, our hobbies, even to whatever addiction we might have (drugs, alcohol, TV, food, etc). For me I'm a slave to my routines. The routines I engage in allow me to accomplish far more than if I were just to fly by the seat of my pants. Some routines, when they turn into habits, can be great for productivity in the workplace and at home. The desire to simplify and decrease the amount of stuff in my life has allowed me more time to focus on what is important.
Routines can also create unwanted distress or angst. Sometimes our routines can become so over complicated or suffocating that they drain the joy out of life. Our entire focus can become exclusively about our routines and color the way we see the world. If something messes up our routine it is then deemed 'bad' regardless of the situation.
This has happened to me in the past to me especially when it comes to working out and eating healthy. You can begin to focus on specific aspects of life, of trying not to cross certain lines that you fail to enjoy opportunities when they pop up. While I attempt to eat in a pretty simple way, if a friend asks me over for dinner, no longer do I say no just because I know what they may be cooking isn't the best possible meal for me. It's more important that I enjoy the time I get to spend with them rather than worrying about the calories I may consume.
I'm learning that I can simplify my routines so that flexibility is a positive rather than a hindrance to my goals. This brings a new level of joy that I had not yet experienced in the past. It seems like a good way to live.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
The Fear of Preaching
Whenever someone asks me "So, do you enjoy speaking in public?", I always hesitate in answering. The quick answer is that I do enjoy the process of communicating what I'm passionate about to a large group of interested listeners (or captive listeners in some cases). But when it comes to preaching I have to add one caveat and it is that I'm absolutely terrified of preaching the word of God.
And I think that is the way it should be. The Bible is unlike any other text in existence in that it comes from Yahweh. What He says matters far more than what has been written in all other books combined through the history of the world. His Word saves (1 Corinthians 1:18), it changes people (2 Corinthians 5:17), and most importantly it speaks about His son Jesus. It gives us the reasons why we are what we are, why we deal with the issues we deal with, and how sin has infiltrated into every aspect of our lives. I cannot think of anything that gives a pastor or preacher more power or authority than this. But too often we whither away from difficult passages, or assume the audience won't understand some of the finer nuances of well-known stories, and in the end it does not give full glory to God. The entire Bible is the counsel of God and is sufficient for our needs. It is like having the key to the entire nuclear arsenal of the U.S. military...and if that wouldn't make your hands shake in awe and fear I'm not sure what would.
This Sunday, as I preach on the topic of forgiveness, I will pray that God gives me a steady voice, but an even steadier heart. May my love for Him overwhelm whatever fear I may have.
-Mike
And I think that is the way it should be. The Bible is unlike any other text in existence in that it comes from Yahweh. What He says matters far more than what has been written in all other books combined through the history of the world. His Word saves (1 Corinthians 1:18), it changes people (2 Corinthians 5:17), and most importantly it speaks about His son Jesus. It gives us the reasons why we are what we are, why we deal with the issues we deal with, and how sin has infiltrated into every aspect of our lives. I cannot think of anything that gives a pastor or preacher more power or authority than this. But too often we whither away from difficult passages, or assume the audience won't understand some of the finer nuances of well-known stories, and in the end it does not give full glory to God. The entire Bible is the counsel of God and is sufficient for our needs. It is like having the key to the entire nuclear arsenal of the U.S. military...and if that wouldn't make your hands shake in awe and fear I'm not sure what would.
This Sunday, as I preach on the topic of forgiveness, I will pray that God gives me a steady voice, but an even steadier heart. May my love for Him overwhelm whatever fear I may have.
-Mike
Friday, April 11, 2014
Influence
I suppose, like most people, I believe my level of discipline is pretty solid. I do not easily fall for schemes, scams, or cons. When someone tosses a sales pitch at me I quickly tune out without interest. It takes quite a bit to gain my attention for anything other than what I'm passionate about. In fact I grow suspicious when someone tries to sell me anything at all.
Or at least that is what I thought until I cut out cable T.V.
It was then I realized how easily I was swayed by the commercials that flashed across the screen. The newest burger creation danced across my eyes? Suddenly I'm hungry even though I've eaten. An improved version of my phone just released? My 'old' phone now seems strangely obsolete and useless. A sale for a new/used car that looks far better than the one I own? I start thinking that maybe I should take out a loan.
These types of messages are sprinkled into every type of media in the world today. Whether it's the TV, radio, magazines, blogs, etc. the underlying message is subtle: You're not as happy as you could be. You're not as important as you could be. You're missing out on something life altering. You are incomplete without this particular product.
And you know what? It's a lie.
The only thing these messages do is attempt to put you in a position to buy things you don't really need. Is there anything wrong with the items being touted? Of course not. Material things are neither good nor evil. But when modern marketing tactics are created, molded, and implemented to make you want to over consume...there is something wrong with that.
So what can you do?
1. If you still have cable or satellite TV you can mute the commercials and go do something else. Wash some dishes, do some push ups, fix a healthy snack, anything but watch the fluff that fills in the dead time before your show starts back up. This is something my dad did on a regular basis when we would watch TV and I never understood why...until I was older. Now he looks rather wise and discerning.
2. You can cut out regular cable/satellite TV completely. Because of faster internet speeds and services like Amazon Prime or Netflix, you can watch most of your favorite shows on these services without commercials. It's amazing how quickly your show goes by and you're not inundated by constant marketing messages. It actually gives you more time to do things you're passionate about!
3. Understand that at some point everything you own will either be replaced, given away, or thrown away. Take a look around your living space. See that couch? You may keep it for 20 years but at some point you'll replace it. Notice those magazines in the corner? Those will eventually be thrown away. The shirt you're wearing? You may give it away to Goodwill because it doesn't fit as well as it once did. Did I mention that when you die everything you own, no matter how much you may have loved certain possession, will either be given away or sold? When you think of your material possessions like this sometimes it seems down right silly to covet anything.
When you're not being influenced by outside forces you can be the one who influences others for good. Hopefully I can use my 'extra' time in this way. Seems far better than driving in a car I can't afford to buy a burger I'm not hungry for on my way to pick up a newer version of a phone that won't be any better than the one I have now. ;)
-Mike
Or at least that is what I thought until I cut out cable T.V.
It was then I realized how easily I was swayed by the commercials that flashed across the screen. The newest burger creation danced across my eyes? Suddenly I'm hungry even though I've eaten. An improved version of my phone just released? My 'old' phone now seems strangely obsolete and useless. A sale for a new/used car that looks far better than the one I own? I start thinking that maybe I should take out a loan.
These types of messages are sprinkled into every type of media in the world today. Whether it's the TV, radio, magazines, blogs, etc. the underlying message is subtle: You're not as happy as you could be. You're not as important as you could be. You're missing out on something life altering. You are incomplete without this particular product.
And you know what? It's a lie.
The only thing these messages do is attempt to put you in a position to buy things you don't really need. Is there anything wrong with the items being touted? Of course not. Material things are neither good nor evil. But when modern marketing tactics are created, molded, and implemented to make you want to over consume...there is something wrong with that.
So what can you do?
1. If you still have cable or satellite TV you can mute the commercials and go do something else. Wash some dishes, do some push ups, fix a healthy snack, anything but watch the fluff that fills in the dead time before your show starts back up. This is something my dad did on a regular basis when we would watch TV and I never understood why...until I was older. Now he looks rather wise and discerning.
2. You can cut out regular cable/satellite TV completely. Because of faster internet speeds and services like Amazon Prime or Netflix, you can watch most of your favorite shows on these services without commercials. It's amazing how quickly your show goes by and you're not inundated by constant marketing messages. It actually gives you more time to do things you're passionate about!
3. Understand that at some point everything you own will either be replaced, given away, or thrown away. Take a look around your living space. See that couch? You may keep it for 20 years but at some point you'll replace it. Notice those magazines in the corner? Those will eventually be thrown away. The shirt you're wearing? You may give it away to Goodwill because it doesn't fit as well as it once did. Did I mention that when you die everything you own, no matter how much you may have loved certain possession, will either be given away or sold? When you think of your material possessions like this sometimes it seems down right silly to covet anything.
When you're not being influenced by outside forces you can be the one who influences others for good. Hopefully I can use my 'extra' time in this way. Seems far better than driving in a car I can't afford to buy a burger I'm not hungry for on my way to pick up a newer version of a phone that won't be any better than the one I have now. ;)
-Mike
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Decreasing 'Screen' Time
Like many people I work in an office. My main tool is a computer which means I'm looking directly at a computer screen for roughly 9 hours a day. This was never really an issue until I got older. In my younger days I would work, come home and eat, and then jump online for the rest of the night without any ill effects. About 6 months ago I noticed that when I came home my eyes were so tired of looking at a screen that just glancing at a TV, my phone, or our laptop would make me feel physically ill.
I know full well we were not made for just staring at a screen for hours on end. Our eyes (and bodies) need movement, they need different environments, and most of all they need rest. So for the last 6 months I've made it a habit to slowly reduce the amount of screen time I have to endure.
1. At work I limit myself to 10 minute increments of staring at my screen. In most cases this means printing off what emails I need so I can look at paper copies. Since I have to scan in all interactions anyways it saves me a step and I can look at the paper rather than the screen. After 10 minutes I get up and stretch, look out the window at the trees, close my eyes for a moment, and then start to work again.
2. At lunch, instead of reading my Kindle or looking at my iPhone...I take a nap! I know, in our society napping is almost considered taboo as we want to constantly be productive. However I have an hour lunch so I can close my eyes for 20-30 minutes and allow them to rest. It's amazing how refreshed I feel even after a hectic morning. My eyes find it much easier to look at the computer screen for the next 4 hours if I do this.
3. By 9pm I turn almost all electronic devices off. While I may read my Kindle (it's not a Fire so doesn't have a backlight), or sometimes will watch a sporting event, I give myself an hour before bed without staring at a screen. It prepares my body for bed and allows my eyes almost 60 minutes of non-screen time. I may wash some dishes, get things ready for the following day, or I may just go to bed early.
None of these things are ground breaking, but like many things in life that bring long term value, they are small and sustainable.
-Mike
I know full well we were not made for just staring at a screen for hours on end. Our eyes (and bodies) need movement, they need different environments, and most of all they need rest. So for the last 6 months I've made it a habit to slowly reduce the amount of screen time I have to endure.
1. At work I limit myself to 10 minute increments of staring at my screen. In most cases this means printing off what emails I need so I can look at paper copies. Since I have to scan in all interactions anyways it saves me a step and I can look at the paper rather than the screen. After 10 minutes I get up and stretch, look out the window at the trees, close my eyes for a moment, and then start to work again.
2. At lunch, instead of reading my Kindle or looking at my iPhone...I take a nap! I know, in our society napping is almost considered taboo as we want to constantly be productive. However I have an hour lunch so I can close my eyes for 20-30 minutes and allow them to rest. It's amazing how refreshed I feel even after a hectic morning. My eyes find it much easier to look at the computer screen for the next 4 hours if I do this.
3. By 9pm I turn almost all electronic devices off. While I may read my Kindle (it's not a Fire so doesn't have a backlight), or sometimes will watch a sporting event, I give myself an hour before bed without staring at a screen. It prepares my body for bed and allows my eyes almost 60 minutes of non-screen time. I may wash some dishes, get things ready for the following day, or I may just go to bed early.
None of these things are ground breaking, but like many things in life that bring long term value, they are small and sustainable.
-Mike
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)