How Can You Look at the Sky and Not See God?

Timescapes: "Death is the Road to Awe" from Tom Lowe @ Timescapes on Vimeo.

If it is So Simple Why Do I Keep Making Mistakes?

Roughly 90% of Self Help books contain the same advice repeated over and over. Don't believe me? Stop by your local bookstore sometime and read the Table of Contents of a dozen or so Self Help books. The advice may be worded differently or geared toward a specific target audience (eg. men, women, various enthnic and social groups), but the underlying message is pretty much always the same. Here's a list of that advice:


You are not a victim. You are 100% responsible for the life you have right now. If you are unhappy, you have the power to change your attitude and actions to begin making your life better. Always remember, whether you think life sucks or you think life is great, either way, you're right.


Ever notice how some people are able to brush off insults, while others get furious and start throwing punches? Realize that nobody can "make" you feel anything. You are the one that "chooses" to feel good or bad about a particular event or action that occurs.


If you want to be more confident, happy, or positive, then "pretend" that you already are this way. Eventually, after practicing this long enough, you'll realize that you're no longer "pretending".


A purpose is what you enjoy doing that you never get tired of and you will do for the rest of your life. Is your purpose to write screenplays? Is it to help sick people? Write down on index cards a list of purposes and choose the one that speaks to you the most.


List out 5 to 10 goals that you want for your life. Break each goal up into smaller sub-goals and then break those sub-goals into individual tasks and action steps. Every night, plan the next day in advance. Create a daily "to-do list" with those tasks that you need to do to accomplish your goal.


Regret and shame come from dwelling in the past. Worrying and anxiety come from living in the future. True peace of mind comes from living in the present. The more you become aware of being in the present, the more it becomes a part of your daily life.


The power of attraction is a powerful mental tool. The process works by focusing on something that you want while visualizing that you already have it. You then have a heightened level of awareness for recognizing opportunities that occur around you. These opportunities will then assist in bringing what you want into your physical reality.


Your comfort zone (what you feel comfortable doing) is always in a state of either expanding or contracting. The more you get out in the world and do what you feel uncomfortable doing, the less inhibited you become, thereby allowing you to live a richer and fuller life.


Every morning before you start your day, give thanks and appreciation for what you have. It's only when we are thankful for what we have that life gives us more blessings and abundance to be thankful for.


Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It's the reason that children ask their parents for the same thing over and over again, because they know mom and dad will eventually cave in. The same concept works in the real world. If there is something in the world you want, ask for it...or at least ask how to get it.


Find the successful people in your field and ask them for advice. Ask them what they do to be successful, take notes, and then copy them. A lot of people think that the pros don't want to share. The opposite is actually true. Most successful people are more that willing to share their knowledge if you ask them.


Trolls are people that will try to discourage you from your dreams. Don't listen to them. Realize that the only reason they are doing it is because by seeing you chase after your dreams, it's reminding them that they aren't chasing theirs. Misery loves company.

Thanks for this post copied in it's entirety from... http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1MwwmU/www.chopcow.com/self-help-books/index.php

I find that the book of Proverbs in the Bible has something to say about almost every situation you may find yourself in. While it may not speak to the specific, it will help with the underlying motivation in pretty direct language (if your ears are open to hear).

Are We There Yet?

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral of this story is: ......... Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

Which Do You See?

At first blush it is obvious that this picture is of a beautiful waterfall. Your eye draws you in and you imagine yourself at its foot, blanketed within the deafening roar of the waters, feeling the cool spray wash over your head and smiling at your friend as you both notice in unison the rainbow that has formed within the prismatic water droplets... spectacular.

I see all that as well, but can also see the long term erosive effects of the falls and all of the missing landscape that has fallen victim to it's relentless destruction, inches per year, but cumulative and overwhelming. The process is so slow that nature is able to regain a footing and hide some of the effects of the scar, but the area has been forever changed. Who knows the beauty that may have been within those slow rolling waters that will never again be experienced?

I see this as an example of how moral sin works on our lives. At first glance the fun being had seems to have a positive appearance. However, if you view it from a large enough perspective of time and space (Like God does) it is obvious that a large and foreboding wound is being opened that will develop into an insurmountable chasm between you and the incomparable life that He wishes for you.

Are you looking for the awesome waterfall of "in the moment" experience or the forever crescendo of the universe? Because He loves us He allows us to choose. I for one am grateful for that ability, and take it seriously.

Is Your Brain First World or Third World?

I was sitting on the football field at our local high school watching my son's band concert the other night. I looked over my right shoulder and saw a couple of women fanning themselves with ornate Japanese fans. I thought, "Those are cool, I wonder how much they cost?". I turned around to share the scene with my wife, and over my left shoulder were another group of women fanning themselves with the paper plates that had just been used for their picnic. At first I was struck by the difference in consumerist mentalities each represented, but then I remembered that disposable paper plates were definitely a first world luxury item. How far afield have we gone?

Have you ever found yourself caught in a sudden rain shower and become overwhelmed with thankfulness for the offered umbrella? Shelter is what we need, not 9,000 square foot McMansions with a built in pretend tropical swimming hole in the professionally lighted and landscaped back yard. We need transportation, not a 2 million dollar Bugatti Veyron that will max out north of 270 MPH. If we really look at it closely we really only need one or two outfits and one pair of shoes at a time. Food, Shelter, Transportation and Love... not necessarily in that order.

Don't get me wrong, I aspire as much as the next guy... I just sometimes wish things would be simpler. I think we have the answer right between our ears; set the expectation at the "need" level and don't let anyone hit your reset button. Excesses can be nice, but don't allow yourself to be ruled by the glorious standards of extreme consumerism. It will be (is) our downfall.

Genesis 3:4-5
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

WHO AM I?

Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell's confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They also tell me
I would talk to my warders
freely and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
equably, smilingly, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself,
restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation,
tossing in expectation of great events,
powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today, and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am thine.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer