Prayer and meditation as life-giving practices to develop the inner tranquility that leads to a more peaceful life. Attributions: "We're in the Dark Looking for a Light" from the album "Meridians Murmur and Sun Makes Sound" by Slow Dancing Society. https://slowdancingsociety.bandcamp.com/album/and-sun-makes-sound https://soundcloud.com/slowdancingsociety
There is stunning beauty and life-changing inspiration to be found in the ordinary and even less-than-beautiful things or circumstances if we just open our eyes and hearts to see them. _______________________________________________ Attributions: The Shoes of Van Gogh: A Spiritual and Artistic Journey to the Ordinary by Cliff Edwards "where the moon meets the ocean", "shadows on the mountain", "purple rays", and "(crescent)" from the album "sleep cafe" by ocha. https://ochamusic.bandcamp.com/rel...
When we judge or criticize another person, it says more about us than it does about him or her. And it's not only unhelpful but actually hurtful, counterproductive, and contrary to anything that can lead to a more peaceful you and a more peaceful, cooperative world. What happens when you give in to the temptation to criticize or judge? Feelings of anger, resentment, distrust, ill will, and overall negativity can take over and spread like gangrene. Not a good strategy, is it? Attacking someone ca...
Here's a question worth asking yourself today: If you had an hour to live and could make one phone call--who would you call, what would you say, and why are you waiting? Attributions: "Beachglass" from the album "Astral Welder" by Kiln. https://kiln-audio.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/kiln
Force multipliers are tools that help you amplify your effort to produce more output. If love is the prime force in the universe, what are some tools we can use to amplify its power? Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am ...
It is inevitable that we will experience circumstances or even seasons where we find ourselves in what feels like a pressure cooker. Join in for a discussion on some ways to develop the capacity to better operate when the pressure is on. Scriptures referenced: Romans 15:1-2 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Attributions: "Cobalt" and "Ambush" by Scott Buckley https:...
Knowing what to do based on tried-and-true best practices is great as that sets the table for transformation. You may have heard the saying, "It's mind over matter; make up your mind to improve matters!", which leverages the truth that thinking patterns trigger behavior patterns. This underscores the need to tend to our mindset as everything starts there. But all the good intentions and well-crafted planning in the world gets you nowhere until you take action. It's all about taking genuine actio...
Treating others with the sort of respect and dignity that lets them know just how important you consider them to be in your life is one of the most transformative principles we can practice. And this can be applied to relationships with just about anyone you encounter (not just those in your inner circle). Asking someone questions about themselves, their life experiences, and their perspectives on things (and listening intently) is in essence saying, “I care about who you are and what it is that...
Don't we all want to do better living as a human among other humans? It's about being a better person. And isn't it the case that when asked what best represents the human ideal the first attributes that come to mind have to do with integrity and virtue; things such as love, honor, compassion, humility, generosity, kindness, strength of character, and patience? In the mission to improve it helps to aim ourselves at a prime example of the ideal and Jesus Christ is perhaps the greatest in history....
God rarely reveals himself unambiguously. Consequently each person, in the loneliness of his or her own subjective experience, surrounded by a great deal more darkness than light, must choose what to believe regarding the nature of ultimate reality. Is the universe a closed system of time, space, energy, the elementary particles, regularities, etc. or is there a transcendent aspect to our existence—something or someone that is beyond but somehow interacting with and within the cosmos? Are things...
First, take quitting off the table then get on with it. Nobody owes you a championship. Nobody owes you a damn thing! Your blood, sweat, and tears are the currency with which you buy and then own such a monumental achievement. Train hard with singular focus staying present in every moment. Yes, you will suffer but patiently endure. The pain you feel is not unique to you. Everyone on the path suffers. You have more to give, so give it! It’s hard to beat an opponent who just won’t stay down, so ke...
Wisdom can be defined as the art of living well. It's not simply knowing things, but applying what you know so that you thrive in all dimensions of living. Where does it start? The writer of the book of Proverbs, which is an ancient manuscript containing hundreds of wisdom sayings, puts it like this: "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7) This is a basic principle that can be applied to any area of life but in this episode we...
A few thoughts leveraging the saying, "Learn from the past, live in the present, and plan for the future." "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven...
Habakkuk was a Hebrew prophet who wrote the Biblical book bearing his name most likely between 612 and 605 BC. His ministry was at a time in the history of the southern Kingdom of Judah when there was a shift in the balance of international powers. The Assyrians, who dominated the Holy Land in the eighth and seventh centuries BC, were defeated with the overthrow of their capital Nineveh by the Babylonians in 612 BC. The Babylonians then marched westward, defeating Egypt, and then moved southward...
2020 as a year of discontent in so many ways has underscored just how important it is to have someone to talk with when things are rough. Being seen, heard, and valued is a fundamental longing we all experience and one of the primary ways those needs are met is when someone shows how much they care by simply being there. It's most often not what that person says that makes the difference, but just that he's there. You know he's there, you know he cares, you know he wants to somehow share the bur...
What is the key to staying on guard against threats, both potential and existential, without becoming exhausted? Looking into this can be very helpful in the midst of our current set of circumstances as the tension is high in terms of the prevailing socio-political, socio-cultural climate on so many levels regardless of your particular affiliation or leanings. Surely it isn’t wise to ignore what is going on by burying your head in the sand or going with the mind-your-own-business strategy of “Se...
So much talk of algorithms these days, right? In its most basic form an algorithm is a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or operations designed to solve a problem or accomplish a goal. It will often take the shape of step-by-step procedures for getting to or producing a desired result, with a recipe as one of the more basic examples. It’s important to take stock of what algorithms we grant access to our consciousness driving our thinking and behavior patterns, which includes...
Doesn’t it seem that there’s a natural tendency to point out other people’s flaws? And isn’t the world of social media-driven interaction often just a platform for toxicity, hyper criticism, and judgment? These platforms can seem to grease the skids when it comes to vitriol, hate, and leveling hurtful criticism toward those who don’t look the right way, sound the right way, think the right way—right defined by often narrow definitions that are self-serving. But this is indicative of our own hear...
If an infinite, personal God who created the universe and humanity exists, doesn’t it make sense that he would make things about himself, such as his nature, character, and desires for his creation, known? Perhaps so, but the question remains as to whether or not he has (and/or does), what form that might take, and how that can be relevant to all people. Links to resources: YouVersion Bible app - https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Bible Gateway - https://www.biblegateway.com A Thought-out...
In developing habits that lead to lasting wellness (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually) the key is to adopt an approach that makes your mind the boss, not your body and not your emotions or feelings. You can develop the capacity to do the challenging things that you know will take you to the next level even when you don’t feel like doing them. It starts with an informed decision that requires both humility (you need to make some changes and you don’t know it all) and grit (bear down,...
A few minutes of inspiration, encouragement, and motivation to fan into flames the desire to crush the workout you’re about to do. Prepare to get some! Attributions: “Twighlight” from the album “Self” by Om Unit. https://omunit.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/omunit
What does it take for a nation as wonderfully diverse as ours to come together and walk shoulder-to-shoulder in cooperation to make things better for us all? What is the key to lasting change? Attributions : “Headspace” by Kazukii. https://www.instagram.com/ohthatkazuki/ https://twitter.com/Ohthatkazuki https://soundcloud.com/ohthatkazuki “Hold Me I’m Fragile” from the album “Redolent/Dissolve” by WMD. https://wmdchiptune.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/wmdmusic98 “Intransigence” from the a...
Rejoice in living your life in the spaces you can move in. Simple as that.
What does it mean to be an eminently qualified human? What does it take to be one? Attributions, Links & Resources : "New Dream" and "Saffron" by RRAREBEAR. http://www.instagram.com/rrarebearbeats http://www.twitter.com/rrarebearbeats https://soundcloud.com/rrarebearbeats
It’s never too late (or too early) to get started doing worthwhile things. After all, you might just bless the world with what it is you would like to do, so please get after it and make things better for yourself and the rest of us! Attributions : “Sleepy Quest for Coffee” by Plastik Joy. https://soundcloud.com/plastik-joy https://www.facebook.com/PlastikJ/ https://www.instagram.com/plastik_joy/...
No matter how healthy, wealthy, and prepared we might consider ourselves to be the fact remains that there’s not a thing we can do to keep disruptions and even chaos from occurring, which is similar to how a tree cannot control the weather including times of drought. When this happens the determining factor pertaining to whether or not the tree maintains green leaves and continues to bear fruit has to do with where it is planted. What are some insights and lessons to be learned from this example...
Readings from the Gospel of John (chapters 18-20), Hebrews (chapter 2, verses 10-17), and Romans (chapter 5, verses 1-11). Attributions, Links & Resources : Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Bib...
A few moments of levity in the midst of a season where a bit of merriment can be of real benefit. Attributions, Links & Resources: “Fate and Fortune” and “Borealis” by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au Covered by the Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license “Haim” from the album “Bazardüzü” by Dobranotch http://www.dobranotch.ru/english.html “NoWay3” by PeriTune | http://peritune.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) h...
What is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount (contained in the Gospel of Matthew chapters 5-7) is possibly the most famous speech in all of religious literature. This is Jesus Christ's “kingdom manifesto” outlining the ideal ethic to which believers should continually strive despite humbly acknowledging that they will fall short of living up to it. Many consider the message to be a continuing source of hope, challenge, inspiration, and comfort all at the same time. Attributions, Links & Re...
Readings from Psalms 23, 56, 91, 121, and 143 to facilitate a time of meditation and reflection to provide comfort, tranquility, and inner strength. Attributions, Links & Resources : “Mbr/Northbound” and “Mbr/Mbirambient” from the album “Mbira Lights 1 EP” by Ametsub https://ametsub.bandcamp.com
