Archive - April, 2011

Awaken The Dreamers: Doug Mullin

April 29, 2011 in Exceptional Living 42

I met Doug Mullin a few months back through a Faith-Based Bloggers Google group. Doug is an event photographer based in Fredericton, Canada. He has been a world traveler, a political candidate and a volunteer with the soup kitchen. He blogs at The Justice Journey.

Dreams

It’s amazing how dreams come and go over time. But somehow a person keeps coming back to certain dreams. I got my first camera back when I was teenager. It was a 110 format camera. My next camera was a point and shoot 35 mm Kodak. I dreamed of being a photographer for National Geographic. I dreamed of being a photographer for Sports Illustrated.

I went to university for a degree in missions, forgetting about the photography dream. I was complemented on my pictures taken with my Kodak. I still thought my photography would only be a hobby. I didn’t do anything with my dream.

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The Anatomy of a Dream

April 27, 2011 in Exceptional Living 50

Think Big, Dream Big

Mission + Vision + Identity = God Dream

God dreams consist of three key ingredients. Mission, vision & identity. Now before you think I’m going all business school on you, hear me out. Without these elements, your dreams will remain nothing more than an unattainable, unrealistic fantasy that brings nothing more than disappointment to your life.

There is a difference between a mission and a vision. The mission is the what and the why. The vision is the how. Many people use these terms interchangeably but if you understand the differences, you’ll see how critical they are individually.

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Relax, Relate, Release

April 26, 2011 in Exceptional Living 58

Relax, Relate, Release

I am driven. When I want something, I go for it with head down, single-minded determination. It’s a gift and a curse. I have laser focus but I also have a tendency to lose perspective on the bigger picture. That’s when I have to stop, reevaluate and sometimes even change direction.

One of my favorite shows in the late 80s/early 90s was A Different World. It was a spin-off of The Cosby Show. One of the characters named Whitley had a mantra that I still use to this day:

Relax, Relate, Release

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I’ve Got This Friend

April 24, 2011 in Exceptional Living 125

Everyone loves a good love story. I figured it was time to share mine. After 4 long years of sitting, waiting, wishing, I found the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.

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Taking A Break

April 18, 2011 in Odds & Ends 24

Dear friends and faithful readers,

I’m taking a break from blogging this week. I need to press in to God in prayer. There are some big decisions coming up in my life and I’ve decided to take some time away from the Internetz to focus on the Lord. It’s nothing bad, so don’t be concerned. I’ll probably be withdrawn from your blogs and social media this week as well.

If you think of it, please keep me in prayer for these decisions. I just want God’s will to be done. I know I have some powerful people that read this blog so I highly value your prayers. I’m confident your prayers shift things! Here’s the verse I’ve been meditating on since yesterday. I got a fresh look at it in the Amplified Bible:

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

I love and value you all more than I can express.

Peace & blessings,

Beauty Is What Remains Giveaway Winners

April 14, 2011 in Odds & Ends 22

It’s time for the results of the Beauty Is What Remains album giveaway. There were only 10 people who participated, with 16 official entries. I guess I could use some tips on how to promote a giveaway! :)

Beauty Is What Remains

The entries go in the bowl

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Double Jeopardy

April 12, 2011 in Meditations 84

I am no legal expert. The majority of my legalese comes directly from movies and TV. But every once in awhile I learn a bit of legal jargon that makes sense in my life and I can drop it in conversation. Then I’m pretty much like Tom Cruise cross examining Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.

You may have seen the movie Double Jeopardy back in ’99 with Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. It’s the story of a woman who was framed for the murder of her husband. She is convicted of murder and goes to jail. Long story short, she finds out that her husband isn’t really dead (he set her up) and under the law of double jeopardy she realizes that if she actually kills her husband, she can’t be tried for his murder again.

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Awaken The Dreamers: Moe Vivas

April 11, 2011 in Exceptional Living 83

Next up on the Awaken the Dreamers series is Mauricio (Moe) Vivas. Moe is a native New Yorker who has a passion to educate, mentor and disciple people. He was born in Cali, Colombia and came to New York when he was four years old. He enjoys the beauty, history, people and the rich cultural diversity found in the city of New York. Moe has a healthy appetite for writing, reading, photography, technology, and coffee. Most days, he can be found drinking a fine brewed cup of coffee while writing on his shiny Macbook Air at your neighborhood coffee shop. He writes at betaChristian.net. I’m honored to call this guy friend. Seriously, we’re like brothers from another mother.

The Will To Dream

My 7 year old daughter tells me one day that she knows what she wants to be when she “grows up”. Curiously, I say to her, “I would love to hear it”. She goes on to say:

  1. A dancer
  2. An artist
  3. A singer

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Beauty Is What Remains

April 6, 2011 in Odds & Ends 38

Beauty Is What RemainsEvery once in awhile an album comes along that becomes the soundtrack of a season of life. The music, the lyrics and the atmosphere match your thoughts, feelings and emotions perfectly. Later on as you reflect on this season, the songs cue as if they were designed specifically to bring pictures and words to your mind’s eye. The memories and music are irrevocably intertwined. You are marked forever by music that changes your life.

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Is Blood Really Thicker Than Water?

April 4, 2011 in Meditations 63

Like most people, I’ve always assumed that the saying “blood is thicker than water” meant that family comes before friends. I never really thought about what the water meant. I figured it was a way to refer to anyone outside of your family. But in the context of Biblical covenant relationships, this phrase doesn’t seem to work. I’ve wondered to myself, “Is blood really thicker than water?”

Recently I came across an interesting interpretation from a Messianic rabbi. He says the original meaning of this phrase has been lost. The original meaning of the phrase is:

“The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

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