By admin
So since the commencement of this year I have been purposeful and diligent in identifying my core values and spiritual gifts in hopes to create a life mission. Thus for the past month I have been ensuring that my daily activities are contributing to my future. The past 3 churches I’ve visited the message has been on vision and purpose mainly with emphasis on Habakuk 2:2; “write the vision down and make it plain..” So I decided to write not just a list of materials goals I wanted to accumulate but rather deep character changes that will endure. I’m passionate about integrity and character because I spent the first half of my life without any. Also I stated in a past writing, the biggest change we can make is in ourselves and renewal of our minds as instructed in *Romans 12:2. Character built on solids principles of God’s word make and unshakable, immovable, man/women of God and that’s what I strive to be. I randomnly went to a church which happened to be a part of Craig Groechel’s ministry (not too familiar with). Nonetheless I heard a message on purpose, vision, and several excerpts from Groechel’s book Chazown. One thing that struck a chord within me was the statement, “every one ends up somewhere, but not every one ends up somewhere on purpose.” Along with the book LifeChurch also created an interactive video/exercise plan to help you identify steps that help you further reach you purpose. I was reluctant but I tried it and these were some of my results for my core values and Spiritual gifts.
Now on to the Eulogy, the reason you’re probably here, maybe when you saw the title you thought, “is he gonna kill himself?” No worries, I die daily through sanctification but I’m not a masochist for Jesus, don’t plan on taking my life. The second part to writing a vision for my life was adopted through a teaching by Steven R. Covey, from his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’ second habit is titled “Begin With the End In Mind“. This habits is purpose in helping the individual formulate a solid mission statement through engaging the imagination and that’s why I like it (because I love using my imagination). Covey describes a scene in which you arrive at a funeral, people are crying heads bowed (envision this). You arrive at this wedding and sit in the back seat, as you look around all of a sudden you’re struck with the reality that this is your funeral… The podium is opened up to the audience to speak in memory of you and among those 4 who get up to speak are these individuals from different arenas of your life:
1.Family Member
2.Friend
3.Co-worker/Manager
4.Fellow church member/Pastor
Covey challenges the reader to write these four eulogies from the speakers perspectives. What would you want these people to say about you?, and in these eulogies lies the mission statement for your life! Covey then admonishes the reader “don’t tie yourself to your history, tie yourself to your potential.” So I wrote 4 eulogies for myself, using small index cards to make it as concise as possible and here they are;
click to enlarge
Remember these are eulogies I hope to hear, the potential I’m grasping for this year. These eulogies are like my personal convictions and core values that will help me in writing an overall mission statement for my life. I encourage you to try it, it may change your perspective on the way you see yourself and help you solidify a vision for your life.
Perspective. Were are you looking from?
btw I’m not into any new age form of humanism or self help, I’m into principled living. If it agrees with God’s word its ok if not scrap it.
By admin
This is a writing I felt the need to repost, Initially written at the beginning of 2010 it still rings true, and will forever more. I’ll resist my current urge to expound upon the importance of consistent intimacy with God. Nonetheless, despite our ability to initiate intimacy he actually made the first move while we were yet sinners Christ died (Romans 5:8). Once you understand the ferociousness of such a love, the thought of being forsaken is the silliest notion one can conceive. However we must fight to abide in this love. Read more »
By admin
Here on the eve of the S.C. Primary I’m still torn juggling electability, political philosophies, voting records and a host of other considerations for the current candidates.
So right off the top, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich just scare me. Mitt Romney has flip flopped so much he um…just kinda comes off unstable to me, however if I was forced to vote for him I will. The same for Gingrich with the unstable thing and even more his personal life is also um… unstable (and I’m being nice)? I believe in forgiveness but I also believe in integrity, hence someone who has serious commitment issues in there private life, it will affect their public life eventually, there is a core character malfunction there. So that leaves me with two candidates to choose from Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. For the past two weeks I have read through both candidates personal lives and public voting records, impressed in some places disgusted in others. I’ll just skim the surface with my explanations here. Read more »
By admin
So I set out to chisel my photoshop skills and chose this tutorial of an audio receiver. However I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I though the receiver was pre-designed, I didn’t know everything was gonna be done from scratch. I’ve never used so many layers in photoshop before (91 LAYERS!!! TO BE EXACT). I’m sure some experts use well over that but that’s a first for me. Nonetheless it was a great experience and I can use it to advertise for my great friends. If you want to hear some great music check out my friend James Powell’s latest EP Alivia on iTunes. If you like what you hear and want to know more about him check out their IUS Foundation and support them on this years trip to China. Lastly, the Raggamuffin Radio text is in support of my awesome friends Joy & Heidi, check out their handcrafted headbands and accessories at the Ragga-Shop!
And here is my attempt of the detailed digital receiver…
*Click for more detailed larger image.
By admin
In the course of a day I possibly read about 20-30 news articles online and I’m consistently thinking of theories, political philosophies, and taking notes. Reading, highlighting through my pocket sized constitution and The Law (free book!) and engaging in political discussions. I value knowledge with the utmost respect as prescribed through God’s word, not just man’s knowledge that puffs up. Nonetheless, with so many different thoughts, theories, and political ponderings at the end of the day I can find myself a bit overwhelmed. In my passionate pursuit to see things in there right and proper function I tend to fill a bit hopeless looking at the current state of our society. So, with my mind filled with ideas and ideologies in hope to sleep at the day’s end I realize its imperative I have an anchor for my soul in the unstable sea of my thoughts. Thus, God’s word refreshes me, when I look into God’s perfect law of love I realize we’ll always be contending for what is right. We’ll continually be debating one another as to what’s right because nothing is truly right until God makes it so. As I was reading earlier this week before bed I remember the statement arising in my heart “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Read more »
Now on to the Eulogy, the reason you’re probably here, maybe when you saw the title you thought, “is he gonna kill himself?” No worries, I die daily through sanctification but I’m not a masochist for Jesus, don’t plan on taking my life. The second part to writing a vision for my life was adopted through a teaching by Steven R. Covey, from his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’ second habit is titled “Begin With the End In Mind“. This habits is purpose in helping the individual formulate a solid mission statement through engaging the imagination and that’s why I like it (because I love using my imagination). Covey describes a scene in which you arrive at a funeral, people are crying heads bowed (envision this). You arrive at this wedding and sit in the back seat, as you look around all of a sudden you’re struck with the reality that this is your funeral… The podium is opened up to the audience to speak in memory of you and among those 4 who get up to speak are these individuals from different arenas of your life:
Remember these are eulogies I hope to hear, the potential I’m grasping for this year. These eulogies are like my personal convictions and core values that will help me in writing an overall mission statement for my life. I encourage you to try it, it may change your perspective on the way you see yourself and help you solidify a vision for your life.