I have had satellite radio in my car for the last few years. I have really enjoyed it! Maybe a bit too much. Neither XM or Sirius has anything very good in the Christian music arena, so I found that I was spending all of my time listening to talk radio and top40 music. In November I cancelled my XM radio in my car (we still have it in the house), but I didn’t want to simply revert back to my blah FM or AM radio choices in Salem. So I started downloading podcasts and audiobooks to enjoy on what usually equals about 1 hour driver per day. It has been great to stimulate my mind with things that I really find beneficial.
I heard the term once “redeem the commute”. It was used to encourage others to use their commute time for personal benefit instead of just getting frustrated with the traffic jam ahead. I have found it very useful for me to take this advice to heart — and maybe you should too!
After 2 years of dating, Quinn (my bro-in-law) finally proposed to his great girlfriend Katy. We all had a celebration for them at Walery’s Pizza in West Salem. They had tons of friends there to join with them in their happy day. I wish them a great engagment and an even better marriage!
I have been a morning guy lately. Over the last year or so I have been enjoying getting up early and getting some studying done or meeting with other guys for coffee. Currently I meet Mondays with John Fehlen and Matt Gray for coffee and bible study, then Tuesdays with Tim Drawbaugh for a study of Tim (1 Timothy), and finally I meet with my friend Mike Amo on Wednesdays or Thursdays and we are reading a book together. I really enjoy the discussions we have, and I feel like it has encouraged me to study more and dig deeper into my heart and mind. The coffee is a nice bonus as well!
When I told my friend Brad Pitt (aka. Nic Sonne) he told me that when you ENJOY getting up early it is the first true sign of getting old. And maybe he is right. Maybe I will start going to bed at 8:30, wearing sweater-vests, and giving money to PBS. All I care about right now is growing in my faith and as a man — even if it means I am getting old.
I feel like the new year has hit me like a ton of bricks. Sometimes it almost feels unbearable. Maybe it is the fact that just yesterday felt like 1999. Maybe it is the fact that I have a wife, a daughter, another baby on the way, a dog, a cat, a house, and more bills than I can imagine. Whatever it is, it has forced me into pretty deep introspection lately.
At the Men’s Bible Study I attend at my church this week we talked about what motivates and gives us energy in the various stages of life. The first state (usually in the 20′s) is Survival: We are basically just worried about paying the bills. The second phase (30′s-40′s) is driven by Success: We are motivated by our desire to succeed at our job and perform well. The third phase (40′s-50′s) is often driven by Significance: Our desire is to make a real impact in our field. The final stage (retirement) is driven by Sustainability: This means that you would do what you are doing even if you weren’t getting paid.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for my job. But I know that right now I am still in Survival Mode. I have had probably 20 jobs since I was a teenager. I have worked as a movie theater attendant, vacuum salesman, youth pastor, bus driver, worship director, windshield repair man, Denny’s server, freelance designer, and the list goes on and on. Do I see in any of these as a final resting place for my career? Not really. But I do know that God has given me gifts, passions, and abilities that He wants me to use for His glory. And I am chomping at the bit to move on to Success and Significance.
I am creeping up on 30 as the days go by, and my desire is to serve God and provide well for my family. I am hoping and praying that doors open this year for me to progress in my life’s journey.
I have been working with a great new Magazine in the Willamette Valley called “Rethink Monthly”. It is run by a good friend of mine who really has a heart to encourage Christians to take a second look at all the things that may seem so axiomatic to them, yet so bizarre to those who may not have been raised in the church. We have been recording a screencast bi-monthly for the last month, and we are recording our third podcast tonight. We actually broadcast the podcast live on ustream.tv for those who want to watch the discussion live. The format is awesome. Basically, there are 5 of us guys who have put together a very loose outline of the night. Then we just discuss. The cool thing about ustream though, is that if you are watching the discussion live, you can comment and add your thoughts. It is a great way to interact with other people who are thinking through some of the issues of their faith and culture.
To watch live, tune in at the Rethink Ustream Page at 8pm PST tonight (Wednesday, January 7th, 2009). It should be great!
My good pal Uncle Steiff (AKA. Steve Adams) sent the Thomas Fam a great Australian Treat. They are called “Tim Tam” biscuits, and they are WONDERFUL! We have nothing even close to them here in the States (I don’t know why). Anyway, here is a quick video showing just how yummy they are.
