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Nice, 90 minute read...

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 23:38:25 -0400

This is a book from my neighbor. She left it with me a week ago , as I saw her off: she was going out of state to join her husband, as they bury father-in-law. They’re all retired, and I know Chuck will miss his dad.

The book is a nice little 90 minute read. I took it in while watching the Sox mow over the A’s tonight. Laura was pooped out on the couch.

It has basically one theme: the world is crazy, but your life can be full of real value - personal value, if you do the right thing - regardless of the outcome. Simple premise. Encouraging.

More Info (Click here for my Summer reading list):
“As the story goes, author Kent M. Keith was a sophomore at Harvard University in the 1960s when he first wrote "The Paradoxical Commandments," a manifesto about doing good in a crazy, ungrateful world. These commandments are the basis of his repackaged and expanded book Anyway. Since his Harvard days, Keith's commandments have taken on a life of their own. They have been quoted by the Boy Scouts of America and written on inspirational office memos, classroom handouts, and Internet sites around the world. They have even been discovered in Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta. Now Keith has stepped forward to explain his commandments and speak to his credo for doing "the right thing." Readers will probably recognize the commandments:  1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. 2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. 3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. 4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. 6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway. 7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway. 8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. 9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway. 10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.  No doubt about it—these are provocative and encouraging statements, reminding us that there are no guarantees or tangible rewards for doing good in the world. Each commandment gets its own chapter, where Keith elaborates on the theme with personal anecdotes, famous stories, and advice. Though Keith is obviously a gifted and wise leader, the words and explanations surrounding each commandment often feel like overkill. As in Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, these guidelines ultimately make a better poster than a book. Even so, fans of the original "Paradoxical Commandments" will certainly enjoy meeting the voice and integrity of the man behind the words. —Gail Hudson”
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Okay, It’s time for bed...

VLI begins

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 07:12:53 -0400

Laura’s a bit nervous. I guess she should be, since this course-syllabus is full of work. It’s going to take a sacrifice of time greater than I expected. I can still do the Pike job this month, but when I get back to school, we may need to bail on the home group. Chris says she’s going to start another by then probably anyway.

So we start with systematic theology, I think. Fun fun...

I’m enjoying the Lexio Dei Bible reading Chris introduced. It’s very simple, but so much more interactive. I guess I always wanted to invite God into what I was doing - this just turns it upside down. As you read, try to figure out what God is inviting you into. Simple.

I have a lot more to learn. A lot more than history, thinking about thinking, and orderly ideas. Jesus is reckless, and kind of unpredictable. At least, He’s the Jesus I want to be around (not the predictable and safe one sold at a store near you).

Sat at the river

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 05:33:02 -0400

So, Chris encouraged our whole home group to do meditative readings of Psalm 84 this week. Practicing His presence. She taught the group how to quiet our minds, and the practice of “Lexio Dei” - asking God to reveal through His word. Looking for His invitation. It’s simple, but very helpful.

I went down to the river first thing yesterday, and read the first part of the psalm that way. This is what stood out:

“...With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God” and “How happy are those who can live in Your house, always singing Your praises.” V.2, 4 -NLT

Good invitation, Lord! Every part of me and my life is poised to shout out praise. Put me in that mindset, again today. I want to reach out with that exclamation - it is really good, it will make you blessed and happy to live in God’s house. And I want my whole being to shout out to God. Not to, or for anybody else: To you, God.

My Summer Reading List

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:28:50 -0400

So, here’s the link. The whole tour thing (a bit unrealistic from the beginning) has been replaced with a series of local events, plus VLI... So this little reading plan is a bit unrealistic, too. Oh well. I guess it’s good we haven;t stopped dreaming.

Crazy Ideas for A Summer Tour

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:43:44 -0500

Here’s what Laura and the kids came up with...