Georgia vs. Gamecocks – Ugggga!

Posted September 13, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Georgia Bulldogs, Life, Rhythm, Sports

OK, let it be known that the tendency for Georgia to forget who they are when playing South Carolina has got to stop. Maybe Spurrier has some chemical compound blown into the locker room, or, based on the exceptional timekeeping, it could just be some noxious form of mold in the air vents, whatever causes the mental breakdown we experience each year we must find it and not allow it to happen again!

Needless to say, this game was sloppy and mushy and long and rather boring. Based on the caliber of both teams, none on those adjectives should be used. Individually the teams are, because of being in the SEC, highly capable of presenting a wonderful game full of excitement and determination. The excitement of this game was focused on the refs and whether the game clocks would come into sync and prove some theory of relational synchronicity.

All in all, great to see the Dawgs pull another one out. Would have liked a little more, but as they say – a win is a win. Looking forward to next week against Arizona State.

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The Wizard of Oz

Posted September 12, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

Tonight we watched The Wizard of Oz as part of Family Night. I love the movie, even though there are some who think any mention of witches, wizards and teleportation will send one directly to the Bad Place. Some things jumped out at me while we were watching.

One thing is how funny the scene is when the apple trees start pelting the travelers with apples – who knew trees had a gruff voice? Seriously, it is hard for me to just watch a movie. I’m more intrigued than ever before as to how the contextualization of the time period the movie was made translates with the time period in which it is being watched. (Only really great movies are able to bridge this chasm)

1 – After the Scarecrow is talking about not having a brain, Dorothy asks him what he would do with a brain if he had one – and the Scarecrow is quick to have an answer. Sometimes we allow not having something to become a reason we can’t get anything done, when the truth is that we probably wouldn’t get anything done even if we did have what we are whining about.

2 – Dorothy immediatly invites the Scarecrow to join her on her journey. She is not the least bit proprietary about her journey. She welcomes anyone who wants to go with her. Many times we get too defensive when we resist help in situations where an openness to others would quickly solve a problem.

3 – The Tinman longs for a heart, but his song delivery is the most emotional of all of the travelers.

4 – They think the Wizard will fix everything, but find out that the answers to their questions and desires are within them.

5 – Glenda tells Dorothy that she has had the way home all the time, but that she couldn’t tell Dorothy because she wouldn’t have believed it. How true is this? If we would allow ourselves to live a life filled with trust instead of suspicion, we could take leaps in our development as people and humans.

Next time you watch a film, open yourself up to the possibility of seeing more than just a plot line and actors. Within the power of storytelling is the answers to life itself.

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Large Hadron Collider – Big Bang Come to Life

Posted September 10, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

As you may know, I am a big fan of TED, a conference held each year that focuses on technological and design information that has global impact or probable global impact. Today the Large Hadron Collider is on-line and questions that physisists have been asking about matter and the universe may be answered or create more questions. In October the first experiments will be held. Here is a talk by Brian Cox who has been working on the LHC. His ability to discuss the complex in understandable terms has earned him the moniker of the “rock-star physicist”.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Large Hadron Collider – Big Bang Come…“, posted with vodpod

 

 

Truly an incredible achievement and interesting days ahead.

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compact fluorescent light bulbs

Posted September 10, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Context, Influence, Life, Lifepoint

Sunday I requested that everyone bring a package of dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs with them to this Sunday’s service. If you haven’t purchased your light bulbs yet, they can be found at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart and Target among other places. Our goal is to replace all the light bulbs in the church with energy efficient compact fluorescent ones.

You may be a reader and not live in the Middle Georgia area and would also like to help. If so, mail your light bulbs to Lifepoint Church, 120 Walker Road, Byron, Georgia 31008. Also, take a look above you and around you and see if you could replace your own bulbs. Try just one package a week and you’ll be surprised at how quickly they can all be changed.

Each of us doing a little can ultimately do a lot!

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Grandad

Posted September 8, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Influence, Life, Me, People

About a week ago something great happened to me. I was in a funk and feeling particularly blah. Normally I would not resort to cleaning my office, but this time – I did. As I was sorting through papers and throwing things out, I came across the card pictured above. It has been several years since my Grandad passed. He and I had a distinct connection, and I could swear sometimes he is right in the room with me.

On this particular day, he was not only in the room, he wrote me a note. It had been written years earlier, but was right on time this day. Each day we are given opportunites to give tangible expressions of our true nature to others. When we send the card/email or make the phone call or go and visit face-to-face, we are being the hand of our Father stretched out to one of His children.

I know that my day was instantly better, but I also know that you are empowered to “instantly better” someone’s day today. Take a moment and make the call you’ve been meaning to make, write the note you’ve been wanting to write.

Make the connection because it just might outlive you!

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“That’s My Neighbor”

Posted September 7, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Belief, Message Series, People

I can hear it now, echoing through the streets this week, “That’s my neighbor!” For this week, in the Pillars Series focusing on spiritual disciplines, we aimed the light on Service. Ah, that wonderful word! It is amazing how some words drip with feeling. When we hear the word service and couple it with the idea that the service being spoke about should be done to our neighbors – and “O by the way”…everybody is your neighbor, a collective gasp is heard. We have no problem talking about doing service to our neighbor as long as we get to pick who gets to be “my neighbor”.

We like the Mr. Rogers approach – “Please won’t you be my neighbor” which implies – please won’t you other people not be my neighbor. The scripture imperative is clear. We should live our lives as though we are in intimate contact with everyone. We should treat everyone, as the Golden Rule says, the way we would want to be treated.

These are great things to say, and even use as a platform when running for office. The quandary comes when we are faced with actually doing it. This is such an “in your face” moment. You find yourself in the presence of someone who is not acting in a very neighborly way, but suddenly you remember that they are in fact your neighbor. What to do?

It is in these moments of self observation that the most critical choices are made. It is simple to make the decision to treat your neighbor nice when put in front of a congregation of church people, the real determining actions are done when you are the only witness. These are the times when you build what was once called character. These are the times when you grow and “become”.

Determine beforehand your reactions and then follow through on your promise to yourself. This week can be an incredible week of triumph as together we look into every face and truly recognize it as that of our neighbor.

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UGA vs. Central Michigan

Posted September 6, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Georgia Bulldogs, Sports, Uncategorized
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Knowshon Moreno rushed for 168 yards and tied a career high with three touchdowns to lead No. 2 Georgia past Central Michigan 56-17 on Saturday.

 

Matthew Stafford hooked up with Mohamed Massaquoi on a pair of TD passes, and the Bulldogs (2-0) also got an unlikely score from 282-pound defensive end Demarcus Dobbs. The sophomore picked off a deflected pass and rumbled 78 yards for his first career touchdown, giving Georgia a 28-0 lead late in the first half.

Central Michigan (1-1) closed to 28-14 early in the third quarter, but Moreno broke off a 52-yard touchdown that stymied any thoughts of a comeback.

Dan LeFevour threw a couple of touchdown passes for the Chippewas.

That was the way the Associated Press put it. For me, this was a great game that put the spotlight on Matthew Stafford, Mohamed Massaquoi and Knowshon Moreno. These are the key players and they certainly showed it in this game. There were two great moments – one was Demarcus Dobb’s 78 yard touchdown and the other was Knowshon Moreno’s giant leap over Central Michigan during a return in the third quarter. I’m certain that that play will make the highlight real this week.

Can’t wait for the game next Saturday against South Carolina. It should be more of a competition as the Dawgs go on to defeat yet another worthy opponent!

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Night of Worship – Silence

Posted September 3, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Belief, Centering Prayer, Leadership, Music

This month’s Night of Worship was marked by discussion and practice of Centering Prayer. We sang a then after a time of explanation, practiced five minutes of centering prayer. This is one of the aspects of spiritual disciplines that is sometimes difficult for people to understand. Somehow it seems less “sacred” to practice a discipline. We would rather heed Nike’s theme and “just do it”.

The problem with the “just do it” approach is that we tend to find ourselves quickly in over our heads and overwhelmed. The result of this overload is that we stop the discipline and go forward in our lives with a sense of failure about a particular practice.  I cannot stress how important it is for us to understand that every aspect of our lives is a learning process. This includes those aspects we deem spiritual or not. As we practice we become more familiar and more able to share our experience and knowledge with others.

To become true disciples we must not just focus our attention on aquisition of knowledge and practice, but also on becoming teachers ourselves. To teach out of our experience is to give a part of ourselves to others. My favorite teachers taught from their hearts as well as their minds.

I’m learning how to develop time to be silent and open myself up to God. In that development, my desire is to help others along the way as we all seek to know more about what it means to be a Christ follower.

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BHAG’s

Posted September 2, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Goals, Influence, Leadership, Vision

Big Hairy Audacious Goal’s (BHAG’s) was introduced to the world by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in 1996. This was one concept included in their groundbreaking book, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.

The essence is that it is important to have incredibly outlandish goals in a corporation – and I would interject, in your own life. We can come up with doable goals, but when we go for the out-of-site big, huge ideas they are more likely to happen than the mediocre ones.

One reason for this, I think, is that the competition is smaller. In the land of mediocrety there are millions of people, but in the land of extreme success there are fewer who reside there. I’ve read that it is much easier to raise millions than it is to raise a few hundred thousand for the same reasons.

Take some time and think of some huge incredible goals for your life. One thing is for certain, if you never set out to do the impossible, you won’t even achieve the possible.

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Kid Rock – Rock and Roll Jesus

Posted September 1, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Music, People

The most interesting thing happened Sunday. I had heard several people talk about the newest Kid Rock song, “All Summer Long”. Some were saying that they liked it, and others were wondering if we could do it in service. For about a week I had meant to buy it. I even asked Eli, one of our guitarists and my brother-in-law, if they had it and if I could listen to it. Then it happened. When I went up to get ready for the third service, Stephanie had put the CD on my keyboard.

Even more, I had gone to YouTube and listened to a couple of songs that I was floored by. One was from this CD, “Amen”. On the CD she had written to listen to track 2 and 7. Track 2 is “Amen”. So you know what we’ll be playing shortly on Sunday morning! Kid Rock is transparent and authentic in his lyrics and delivery. I know his honesty isn’t for everyone, but I respect his knowledge of himself and his passion for life.

Music is designed to have an emotional response. Some music is put together without thought or reason, but Kid Rock sings and performs like a seasoned rock and roll philosopher. Loved the music! Went and immediately put it on my iPod where it will reside for, what I’m predicting, will be quite a while.

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