Who's the boss?

Check out Vince's post on Who's the Boss. vinceantonucci.com

I had this same conversation with my boys about a week ago.

I get contaminated every day ... I really want my heart and motives to be pure - in everything including prayer.

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Life in the margins ... part 2

Another thing that I've been really convicted about is really honoring a day off.  Scripture calls it a Sabbath.  God set up and modeled for us that after working a few days ... one must have a day of rest.  Rest? Do we in America, make it happen, connected to "life" people even know what that means any more? I understand rest is a vague and subjective term.  Defined ... it's to cease from work or movement to relax, refresh, and recover strength.

I do know it's one of the biggest violations of people who are in ministry.  It's easy to justify working since we are working for God! 

I have made a commitment to honor my Sabbath.  Usually it's Fridays.  This week it's Saturday.  It's no longer my day off ... it's my Sabbath.  I recently heard someone say, "It's easy to cheat on our day off.  A little harder when it's our Sabbath."  No phone calls, no emails, meetings, etc.  It's a paradigm shift that we've gotten way from.  And it's vital to our physical, mental, emotional, family and spiritual health.

How important is a Sabbath to you?  How do you keep your boundaries?

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Life in the margins

Margin.  It's the stuff on either side of this page you read.  Our eyes need it when reading.  Margin (white space) in design is a place for your eyes to rest.  I think margin in life is the needed place we need to rest, think, plan, think more and love.  For the last few months I've been re-evaluating time management.  I think it's always good to self evaluate and make adjustments.  I've read a couple of blogs lately that have confirmed and helped guide my thinking lately.  

Anne Jackson recently wrote about the stress we create in our lives by filling our lives with too much social media or mismanagement of our calendar ... "The stress comes when the things I value in my heart (mainly my faith and my marriage) are not getting the time and attention they deserve. There’s a misalignment of values. What I say is important and where I spend my time don’t line up to a degree where it’s healthy."  I really like that.  My faith and family are my two top priorities, as are probably yours.  

Here is how I am trying to create more margin in my life:

1.  It's no secret in the Lake House that the phone is not our favorite tool.  A few years back we started the no phone answer rule during dinner time.  NOTHING is as important as our family sharing our meal together, being present, and enjoying each other.  We continue to keep that boundary.

2.  Being present.  Kinda relates to number one.  It's easy to not be when I am sitting on the couch, computer in lap while the rest of the family is doing .... whatever else.  I am trying to play more games with the kidos, talk to my wife more,  and with summer coming - Swimming!  Another thing about being present to help create margin is when I am working ... I do my best to be present at work.  Work hard during work time.  Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway?  Should go without saying but I said it anyway.

3.  Reading more.  There is something that is quieting to the soul when we read a book/magazine/scripture.  Helps with focus too.  The key for me is to read something that interests me.  

4.  Schedule do nothing nights.  "But what if you are asked if you have any plans and someone asks for you to do?"  We have plans ... plans to do nothing together.

These are just some ways I am trying to maintain margin in my life.  Six months from now I may need to add more to this list but for now ... this will keep me focused on what's important.  

What are some ways you can create margin for your life? Please share .... 

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I'm my own worst critic. I don't need others ...

How do you handle criticism? You know what I am talking about ... the kind that comes from and is disguised as encouragement or instruction from "that guy" you don't have relationship with.  

I was "encouraged" this past weekend over something I did (or didn't do well enough in this person's perspective) over two weeks ago.  What the heck?  Isn't there a statute of limitations on criticism?  I usually consider the source and move on ... which is exactly what I did.  

It's amazing how words stick with us? For some reason this instance has latched on to me.  I am confident in who I am (I think) and my giftedness which makes me wonder what is at the heart of the matter - for me.

I am doing good, really I am.  I worked it out and gotten some good insight from trusted people in my life.  Makes me want to guard myself from being "that guy" and make sure I am encouraging the heck out of people.  

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT):  11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

So ... How do you generally handle criticism?  A. Consider the source and move forward  B. Anger / Defensiveness  C.  Throws me for a spin 

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How are your boundaries?

I am re-reading this book.  Just feeling like I need to.  Check out the Boundaries series here.

What book(s) have you re-read for brush up purposes or just for fun?

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Somebody had a good day ...

He showed me how to enjoy the moment today.  Love this little man!

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Question of the Day

Testing this out ... let's see how this works.

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Question of the Day

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Happy Mother’s Day ... OK!

via murphy24p.wordpress.com

Not quite me and my brother ... but thanks to Steve (@murphy24p) Murphy sharing.

Steve can be found at www.murphy24p.wordpress.com - he's a talented dude.

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What have you talked yourself out of?

via youtube.com

This resounded with me on a lot of different fronts ... physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

What are you done with about yourself? What change (little or big) can you make a step towards ... now?

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Catayst West Coast Pics ... 2009

I posted some of my initial thoughts from Catalyst West Coast earlier this week. Even though my camera phone is not top quality, I decided I would share some pics from Catalyst West Coast.



















































Pic 1: They rolled out the red carpet for us, literally. The crowd waits!
Pic 2: Free Lunch both days provided by Chic Fillet.
Pic 3: Hillsong United rocked.
Pic 4: James and Kyla Kinzler - James and I roomed 3.5 years in college. In each others weddings. I had not seen them since mine!
Pic 5: Chris Dodd, Chad (our new missionary friend from New Zealand), Kevin Jenkins, Jared Buckley, Mike Marshall, Scott Lawrence ... not pictured - ME - probably know what I look like!

We're ALL in this together

I saw this yesterday ... got me to thinking - "I can do more."



I have a responsibility to be His hands and feet. Not my neighbor. Not the guy who has a ministry. I have a responsibility to consume less too.

Consider what you can do / will do to respond. Then do it. I will too.

ht: Deadly Viper

Happy Birthday to my love

She's the straw that stirs my drink ... and I love her more than words.

Happy Birthday Love! You're a great mom, wife, and friend.