I believe this is from Nooma 015 | You. This is what we are made, and saved, for.
Showing posts with label dream. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dream. Show all posts
Monday, July 27, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
a million miles
Donald Miller's new book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" is coming out soon, and he's posted the first 3 chapters of it online to give a taste and get some feedback. I highly enjoy reading his books so if you've never read anything of his you are in for a nice surprise. Don said in his blog that this book starts a little slow, so that's why you get to read 3 chapters instead of just one sample chapter.
The book is based around some ideas he learned at a writer's conference- that good stories need conflict and difficulty and pain to be enjoyable. Think of your favorite adventure story, one that makes you feel alive and excited, even though you are only observing from a distance. It's probably full of more hardship and loss than most of us have ever imagined in our life. But it's also full of more hope and excitement and triumph than most of us think could really ever happen.
Our lives are usually geared to be as smooth and comforting as possible, and our biggest dreams are often of more stuff that is easily attained. We have no conflict or adventure, and we are bored to death. Maybe even literally.
A note from the beginning of the book:
I know a lot of us are in a place of reassessing our lives, so maybe this will be encouraging to you. I want to get to a place where I am free to follow the dreams God puts in my heart, but I feel stuck because of the bills and responsibilities I have. That's the reason why I am selling my house (and pretty much all my furniture!), and why I downgraded my car a couple years ago, and why I'm trying to stop spending so much money on entertainment. I want to simplify, to need less money, and hopefully then to be able to work less and have more time to invest in the areas I'm really interested in. It's crazy because I don't know how to make money in any of these pursuits, but I'm trying to trust God with that. I think Jesus was serious when he said not to worry about food or clothing or shelter, and I want to start trusting him for even those basic things.
The hard thing about music and books and movies is that sometimes they inspire us to live in new ways, and other times they suck all the creative juices right out of us. Sometimes they take us away to another world and help us imagine how our world could be different too. Sometimes they just help us escape our own pain and fears for long enough to forget the anguish we feel deep inside.
But what if we could live in such a way that we could let out those stories etched deep in our hearts? It's hard for me to believe that those feeble, disjointed dreams rattling in my head are worth the effort it would take to discover if there is anything to them. But what if the whole point of life is not even actually accomplishing something useful or beautiful, but instead just enjoying the story as it plays out?
The book is based around some ideas he learned at a writer's conference- that good stories need conflict and difficulty and pain to be enjoyable. Think of your favorite adventure story, one that makes you feel alive and excited, even though you are only observing from a distance. It's probably full of more hardship and loss than most of us have ever imagined in our life. But it's also full of more hope and excitement and triumph than most of us think could really ever happen.
Our lives are usually geared to be as smooth and comforting as possible, and our biggest dreams are often of more stuff that is easily attained. We have no conflict or adventure, and we are bored to death. Maybe even literally.
A note from the beginning of the book:
If you watched a movie about a guy who wanted a Volvo and worked for years to get it, you probably wouldn't cry at the end of the movie when he drove off the lot testing the windshield wipers. You wouldn't tell your friends you saw a beautiful movie or go home and put a record on and sit in a chair to think about what you'd seen. The truth is you wouldn't even remember that movie a week later, except to feel robbed and want your money back. Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who got a Volvo.
But we spend years living those kinds of stories and expect life to feel meaningful. Maybe that's why we go to so many movies, because our real lives don't feel meaningful anymore.
I know a lot of us are in a place of reassessing our lives, so maybe this will be encouraging to you. I want to get to a place where I am free to follow the dreams God puts in my heart, but I feel stuck because of the bills and responsibilities I have. That's the reason why I am selling my house (and pretty much all my furniture!), and why I downgraded my car a couple years ago, and why I'm trying to stop spending so much money on entertainment. I want to simplify, to need less money, and hopefully then to be able to work less and have more time to invest in the areas I'm really interested in. It's crazy because I don't know how to make money in any of these pursuits, but I'm trying to trust God with that. I think Jesus was serious when he said not to worry about food or clothing or shelter, and I want to start trusting him for even those basic things.
The hard thing about music and books and movies is that sometimes they inspire us to live in new ways, and other times they suck all the creative juices right out of us. Sometimes they take us away to another world and help us imagine how our world could be different too. Sometimes they just help us escape our own pain and fears for long enough to forget the anguish we feel deep inside.
But what if we could live in such a way that we could let out those stories etched deep in our hearts? It's hard for me to believe that those feeble, disjointed dreams rattling in my head are worth the effort it would take to discover if there is anything to them. But what if the whole point of life is not even actually accomplishing something useful or beautiful, but instead just enjoying the story as it plays out?
Monday, March 23, 2009
aware
Earth is crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God,
but only he who sees
takes off his shoes.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Listen...
...or read
We believe that the world God created is good. That he creates people in his image, and that no amount of darkness can erase that divine imprint. Because we believe that all of life is sacred, we look for God's fingerprints everywhere. We celebrate the divine in the daily, pursuing lives of hope, gratitude, and worship. God invites everyone, everywhere into this way of life, and we believe it is the best possible way to live.
-Mars Hill Directions: Upward (Celebration)
and every common bush afire with God,
but only he who sees
takes off his shoes.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Listen...
...or read
We believe that the world God created is good. That he creates people in his image, and that no amount of darkness can erase that divine imprint. Because we believe that all of life is sacred, we look for God's fingerprints everywhere. We celebrate the divine in the daily, pursuing lives of hope, gratitude, and worship. God invites everyone, everywhere into this way of life, and we believe it is the best possible way to live.
-Mars Hill Directions: Upward (Celebration)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A Parable by Philip Harrison
As "borrowed" from my friend in Long Beach, Nate Wigfield. Read his blog!
The other day I had a dream. I dreamed I arrived at the gates of heaven, heavy-shut, pure oak, beveled and crafted, glinting sharp in the sunlight. St. Peter stood to greet me; the big man wore brown, smile set deep against his ruddy cheeks.
"You're here," he said.
"I am," I said.
"Great to see you - been expecting you," he smiled. "Come on in."
He pushed gently against the huge door; it swung silently, creakless. I took a couple of steps forward until, at the threshold, one more step up and in, I realized I wasn't alone. My friends had joined me, but they hovered behind, silently, looking on. None spoke. I realized only I could speak. I looked at them; some were Christians, some Hindus, some Buddhists, some Muslims, some Jews, some atheists. Some God knows what. I stopped, paused. A hesitant St. Peter looked at me, patiently, expectantly.
"What about these guys?" I asked him. "My friends. Can they come?"
"Well, Phil," he replied, soft in the still air, "you know the rules. I'm sorry, but that's the way things are. Only the right ones."
I looked at him. He seemed genuinely pained by his answer. I stood, considering. What should I do? I thought about my reference points, and thought about Jesus, and the bastard, the outsider, the unacceptable, the drunkard, the fool, the heretic, the criminal, and I knew exactly where I belonged.
"I'll just stay here then too," I said, taking my one foot out of heaven. And I'll tell you, I'd swear I saw something like a grin break across St. Peter's face, and a voice from inside whispered, "At last."
from Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins
The other day I had a dream. I dreamed I arrived at the gates of heaven, heavy-shut, pure oak, beveled and crafted, glinting sharp in the sunlight. St. Peter stood to greet me; the big man wore brown, smile set deep against his ruddy cheeks.
"You're here," he said.
"I am," I said.
"Great to see you - been expecting you," he smiled. "Come on in."
He pushed gently against the huge door; it swung silently, creakless. I took a couple of steps forward until, at the threshold, one more step up and in, I realized I wasn't alone. My friends had joined me, but they hovered behind, silently, looking on. None spoke. I realized only I could speak. I looked at them; some were Christians, some Hindus, some Buddhists, some Muslims, some Jews, some atheists. Some God knows what. I stopped, paused. A hesitant St. Peter looked at me, patiently, expectantly.
"What about these guys?" I asked him. "My friends. Can they come?"
"Well, Phil," he replied, soft in the still air, "you know the rules. I'm sorry, but that's the way things are. Only the right ones."
I looked at him. He seemed genuinely pained by his answer. I stood, considering. What should I do? I thought about my reference points, and thought about Jesus, and the bastard, the outsider, the unacceptable, the drunkard, the fool, the heretic, the criminal, and I knew exactly where I belonged.
"I'll just stay here then too," I said, taking my one foot out of heaven. And I'll tell you, I'd swear I saw something like a grin break across St. Peter's face, and a voice from inside whispered, "At last."
from Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins
Friday, December 12, 2008
rise
I made this piece today at work for one of our employee's blogs. He likes to use the phrase "disturbed, yet hopeful" as a way of describing his perspective on the orphan crisis that World Orphans is involved in changing. The first thing that came to my mind was a sunrise: light chasing away darkness. I also had the idea of a black and white city that is lit up and colored with love- that has been bouncing around in my head for a while, so this was a chance to try that out as well. And there is a little influence from Robbie Seay Band... I really like how it turned out, so I thought I'd share it on here.
You can see the whole image by clicking on the sample below.
You can see the whole image by clicking on the sample below.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
me
So while avoiding a paper I'm supposed to be working on, I found a free personality test. I guess most people seem to hate these things, but I find them fascinating. I take them every time I find them (My facebook profile has a different one on it, if you are interested). I guess it is always encouraging to me because so often I feel like nobody "gets" me and I don't feel like I fit in with most people. These help me feel that it's okay to be who I am. So anyway, I thought I'd post the results on here so you can check it out, if you care. Click here.
It puts me as way over on the Introvert, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving side (as opposed to Extrovert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging), which they call a "Dreamer". I kinda wasn't expecting that, but it really fits with where I'm at right now. Here are some quotes from that page that I really identify with...
"They are on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP's value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life."
"creative, smart, idealist, loner, attracted to sad things, disorganized, avoidant, can be overwhelmed by unpleasant feelings..."- hahaha, all too true.
"An INFP's feelings form the foundations of the individual. They are sacred and binding, in the sense that their emergence requires no further justification. An INFP's feelings are often guarded, kept safe from attack and ridicule. Only a few, close confidants are permitted entrance into this domain."
"Their job must be fun, although not racous, and it must be meaningful to them. They need a strong purpose in their work." ...or they get distracted, avoid their work, play guitar, video games, and take personality tests instead...
"INFPs never seem to lose their sense of wonder." - This one is exactly what God has put on my heart, and what I am so afraid of losing by being so cynical.
I knew I would end up way introverted, and the judging/perceiving slider has a lot to do with organization, planning, and closure, things I avoid at almost all costs, so that seems pretty clear too. But the personality types that came in real close are interesting to me.
For instance, if I was more of the thinking, logical, fact-based decision maker, I would have tested as an Engineer. Sounds familiar... The last 2 years or so have been all about leaving behind the safe, logical thing and trusted the dreams God's put in my heart, so you can see the changes that have happened there.
And if the judging/preceiving had swung the other way, I would have been a Confidant, which they describe as a safe, trusted person, someone who listens, someone who just wants to help others. I think that fits me pretty well too, and is what I love about discipleship. I just want to help people live the life God wants them to live.
What is most interesting is that many of the questions that I was indecisive on related to these specific areas. It was really hard for me to answer if I trusted my head or my heart more in making decisions, for example, just as it was hard to decide between whether I like things sequential and logical or loose and free. I feel more comfortable when things are open, but I know I don't get a whole lot accomplished unless I have a list of what needs to happen when!
So anyway, I thought it was kinda cool. You all should take the test now yourself and post the results in the comments (which are open to anyone now- you don't need a google account).
It puts me as way over on the Introvert, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving side (as opposed to Extrovert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging), which they call a "Dreamer". I kinda wasn't expecting that, but it really fits with where I'm at right now. Here are some quotes from that page that I really identify with...
"They are on a continuous mission to find the truth and meaning underlying things. Every encounter and every piece of knowledge gained gets sifted through the INFP's value system, and is evaluated to see if it has any potential to help the INFP define or refine their own path in life."
"creative, smart, idealist, loner, attracted to sad things, disorganized, avoidant, can be overwhelmed by unpleasant feelings..."- hahaha, all too true.
"An INFP's feelings form the foundations of the individual. They are sacred and binding, in the sense that their emergence requires no further justification. An INFP's feelings are often guarded, kept safe from attack and ridicule. Only a few, close confidants are permitted entrance into this domain."
"Their job must be fun, although not racous, and it must be meaningful to them. They need a strong purpose in their work." ...or they get distracted, avoid their work, play guitar, video games, and take personality tests instead...
"INFPs never seem to lose their sense of wonder." - This one is exactly what God has put on my heart, and what I am so afraid of losing by being so cynical.
I knew I would end up way introverted, and the judging/perceiving slider has a lot to do with organization, planning, and closure, things I avoid at almost all costs, so that seems pretty clear too. But the personality types that came in real close are interesting to me.
For instance, if I was more of the thinking, logical, fact-based decision maker, I would have tested as an Engineer. Sounds familiar... The last 2 years or so have been all about leaving behind the safe, logical thing and trusted the dreams God's put in my heart, so you can see the changes that have happened there.
And if the judging/preceiving had swung the other way, I would have been a Confidant, which they describe as a safe, trusted person, someone who listens, someone who just wants to help others. I think that fits me pretty well too, and is what I love about discipleship. I just want to help people live the life God wants them to live.
What is most interesting is that many of the questions that I was indecisive on related to these specific areas. It was really hard for me to answer if I trusted my head or my heart more in making decisions, for example, just as it was hard to decide between whether I like things sequential and logical or loose and free. I feel more comfortable when things are open, but I know I don't get a whole lot accomplished unless I have a list of what needs to happen when!
So anyway, I thought it was kinda cool. You all should take the test now yourself and post the results in the comments (which are open to anyone now- you don't need a google account).
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