Fairly "simple" response for fairly "complicated" concerns.

I have received some debate and criticism for things I've posted online, like many others, in the wake of recent acts of violence around our country.

I have posted and "shared" opinions online, and I understand that those limited forms of communication simply leave areas open for assumption, and they don't always include everything we are trying to say.

I'd like to respond here honestly with my thoughts.

This response in-particular is to a question of relevance of recent second amendment debate and support, as well as a concern about the much needed answers for the families of the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary. It's also in response to a question of why I even post such things as I do.

These are my thoughts on the matters:

"Unfortunately there are no easy answers for the families (of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims). It's not necessarily about the 2nd amendment, nor even having the right answers. It's setting in motion principles and morals and ethics that lead our society toward a respect for liberties and life.

Not only do we have a right to defend against such atrocities, but we also have a right to life, a right to establish a society that stands up against those who wish to do us harm, no matter their motives. It's not about guns or knives or bombs, it's about what's right, justice, and truth.

The problem is not the liberals or conservative, nor the democrats or republicans, nor gun rights or gun bans. The problem is a degradation of the human experience, the desensitizing to violence, and a selfishness at the heart of our upbringings, that leads us to do such evil things, and even accept these things as "normal" and expected.

We need to not expect mass murders, we need to stand up against them, we need to teach justice, righteousness, liberty, and interdependency in a civilized society.

Enough of the selfishness.
Enough of the "me first" education.
Enough of accepting evil deeds as common-place.

To those families (of Sandy Hook): I am truly sorry for what has happened. It should not have, and should never happen. If there's anything we could do to go back and prevent it I'm sure any of us would. I am deeply remorseful for you and your lost.

But we must move forward.
We need to realistically seek principle-based solutions.
We need to fix the roots of our society.
Teach truth.
Teach family values.
Teach respect.
Defend righteousness!"


These are my personal thoughts on these matters.

Through it all,
Consider This:
Be patient, be kind, don't be envious, don't boast, don't be proud. Don't be rude or self seeking. Be slow to anger. Don't hold grudges. Don't delight in evil, but rejoice in truth.
Protect. Trust. Hope. Persevere.
Consider This.
For this is love.
And Love never fails.

I'm back

So, yeah, I've been blog-inactive for almost a year and a half.

Yes lots has changed!

But I've decided to start thinking, and writing, and posting more.

Now that I'm at a new and exciting stage in life, I've got a lot more to talk about.

New and exciting things to come... At least for me :) care to join me? I welcome your following.

What can we talk about?
What can we consider?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Be. Live. Love.

It's been about four months since I last wrote. The main reason is because of change. Some major change. Changes that have been happening in my life, which are outlined and eluded to in my previous post.

I've been making some major life choices.

My world has virtually been shifting it's axis.

Instead of being in the world of retail food sales, management, multiple volunteer organizations, and college studies,
I am now part of something a little different, a world of help,
in the midst of despair.
a world of hope,
among the trouble.
a world of learning,
during times of ignorance.

It's been busy.

Now that I'm working for an organization called Heartlight Ministries, I have an amazing opportunity to be part of a world that is all around us,
even though many don't see it.
A world that needs love.
during a time of need.
I am in the midst of people,
who need
Love!

These times and people are usually also in the midst of trouble, conflict, and trying situations.
The kinds of things that test the will, strength, and drive to be.
And, unfortunately, it's the kind of stuff that drives people away into destructive life styles, low self-worth, depression, self-loathing, and apathy.

And that's where I find a passion, and desire, and empathy, and love.
Not just in what is,
but also in what could be.

Joy in the pain.
Patience during conflict.
Joy in the suffering.
Hope through despair.
Joy in life for what it is....

and
as much as I can teach, I can learn even more.
as much as I'm helping, I'm being helped even more.
as much as i can push others, I'm being pushed even more.

The greatest joys I've found have been in the midst of mutual respect, in hope, in living life together with others, and in honoring an ultimate drive to better the world around me,
to help others,
to be helped,
to be loved,
and to love,
no matter what,
no matter who.


This is what I'm Considering,
this is my desire,
this is my challenge:

to not just do, but

to Be,
to Live,
to Love...

a busy ramble

When you hear talk about someone's plate being full, too many tasks and responsibilities, too much stuff in their lives, it's easy to see. It's easy to recognize when they're taking on too much. We even feel inclined to give some friendly advice and suggest courses of action that could help them simplify their lives, and maybe help them gain some sanity that they once knew.

But I am one of them. And I've been fortunate enough to have those guiding friends, and advice.

But I also know enough about myself to know that it's not that simple.

Don't get me wrong, advice is great. Encouragement for me to live a better, healthier, simpler, and less stressful life is very encouraged and welcomed.

But it's not as easy as a one-time suggestion, or a loving slap in the back of the head to say "hey, knock it off."

I've found that the most beneficial guidance through this over-stressed and complicated life is just that, 'guidance'....

My plate was not full..... It was overflowing!!
So much so that things were getting messy. Life was busy. If I wasn't doing something, I was thinking of what needed to be done. I have even commented a few times that I forget what it's like to be bored... I haven't been bored since high-school (10 years ago)...

So why? What's wrong with me?

Well, quite simply, I was, and sometimes still am, a gluton for busyness. But it's one of those self-realizations that I'm working to apply to my life.

I was raised and grew up with the understanding that if I'm not 'doing' something than I'm a failure. Whether it was intended to be that way or not is irrelevant, that's how I saw it. And it took a long time, a near nervous breakdown, and many instances of near burnout induced stress for me to finally start pushing stuff off of my plate.

And for someone like me who is defined by and prideful of works, that's extremely difficult to do.

But something had to be done. Change was imminent, like it or not, for better or worse.... Things had to change...

So it began.

From the wise words of Sally Holubec, "boundries Bobby, boundries!"

To the everlasting wisdom of God, emphasizing the value of 'rest'.

To the new introspective views of myself borne from my desire to know people, know God, and know myself.

To ever-growing passion to be out, among people, helping people.

To the continued spiritual influences and growth in my life.

...

Time for Change!

So now I sit here in the Lehigh Valley International Airport... Three and a half hours early for my flight, which will take me to Texas to a job interview.. And as I sit here, I'm prompted to write all of this for two reasons.

One: I needed something to do.... Ironic right?

And Two: In the hopes that just one person out there could benifit and learn from my experience, this is for you....

Consider it.

Focus The Blur

*****

I’ve been blessed (and cursed) to be a contributing member of many diverse organizations, committees, sub-committees, groups, and businesses.  These organizations, as I’ll collectively call them, all seem to have one thing in common. (even though they range from profit-to-nonprofit, religious-to-secular, political-to-ideological, and organized-to-chaotic)

That one thing that binds organizations together is also the one thing that causes most people to reject them, to leave them, to criticize them, and dare I say, to hate them.

That One thing is not any particular action, belief, or idea.  Nor is it any person, governance, ideology, or attitude.

It is a resulting loss of focus.

It is a straying from the organization’s original course, path, and purpose.

It’s the Organizational Blur……..

****

No group or entity is exempt from the requirements of authentic and purpose-driven forward motion.  Unfortunately, we rarely live up to it.

We get stuck focusing on the “shadow missions” (those short-term goals or tasks which are meant to help guide us to our ultimate and intended ends.)

We shift our eyes off of our intended purpose of being, simply for the sake of taking one step forward.

***

Any time an organization loses focus of its vision and its goals, and begins to forget its mission and reason for existing, we start to see a decline in efficiency, productivity, and cooperation among its members and supporters.

-increasing complexities

-operational plateauing and non-productive traditions

-selfishness and greed

-power struggles and pride

-favoritism and cliques  

All of these things can contribute to the demise of an organization when these things replace your purpose.

Tyrannical bureaucracy steps in when the people become apathetic to these factors and the group loses focus of the organization’s purpose for existence.

**

Fight that apathy…

 

Re-Focus…

*

Consider This:

As an Organization:

What is our primary goal or purpose?

Is what we are doing leading this organization to that goal or purpose?

How can the life of the organization change, shift, and refocus so that it’s life is purpose-driven, productive, meaningful, and fulfilling?

*Furthermore:

Consider This:

As a Person:

What is your primary goal or purpose?

Is what you are doing leading you to that goal or purpose?

How can your life change, shift, and refocus so that your life is purpose-driven, productive, meaningful, and fulfilling?

be real...

Nobody likes a faker.

Nobody likes a hypocrite.

This, I’m sure of.

How many of us truly respect and willfully follow the one who says “Do as I say, not as I do.”??

We’ve heard all the lessons, all the clichés, and all the supporting evidence.

We know about leading from the front.

We know about servant leadership.

We know that followers respect leaders who respect them.

We know that people will not only follow someone who they respect, but they’ll also obey and honor them as well.

Of course this is true in all areas of life:

at home & at work,

in the office & in the field,

with pastors & parishioners,

with bosses & coworkers,

with parents & children,

with partners, with family, everyone, everywhere…

Anywhere you might find some levels of authority you’ll find a proportional amount of authenticity that can either breakdown or build-up the respective relationship.

Additionally you’ll see the consequent level of effectiveness and efficiency.

Being authentic, real, genuine,

being true to your beliefs and to yourself is the foundation of good character.

Your character establishes and informs others of what you believe to be true.

It’s that perceived truth, in light of your character, that causes you to gain or lose respect.

Through respect comes trust.

Through trust comes influence.

And it’s that influence, which may begin as the real, genuine, true, and authentic you, that empowers some level of authority over something or someone.

Are you being real?

Are you being authentic in what you say you believe?

Are you genuine about who you are or just putting on a show and hoping for the best?

Quit faking it!

Consider This: Your level of Authority is directly proportional to your level of Authenticity.

a causal thought

The 1989 motion picture Field of Dreams made famous a phrase that has, does, and will forever shape our way of thinking about this world, our lives, and about everything we do in our lives.

“If you build it, they will come.”

Family, business, church, entertainment, and marketing, to name a few, have been both beneficiaries and victims to this way of thinking. Though in several areas of life this may work effectively, the fact still remains that there are many more factors involved in a person’s decision making process that would cause them to grasp or accept anything, or to go anywhere. Furthermore, we tend to narrow our parameters and begin to lose result as we lose purpose.

The fallacy and misconception of this ever-popular philosophy is not just in underestimating the complexities of choice, but also in ignoring purpose and in turn believing that by simply “building” something people would just “come.”

The solution is not in building, but it’s in first finding a commonality, and then strengthening that link to a level of appeal that would result in the formation of an infrastructure or organization. The success in the formation and strength of any organization or infrastructure begins with the strength, might, will, and purpose of the intangible foundation.

In families, the commonalities are most likely a surname and genealogy. Some say that there’s no greater bond than that of family. Yearly reunions are formed and wars have been fought for family. Small towns have been split and treaties have been signed for the sake of the family name.

In business, there are local, regional, and national organizations formed over commonalities. Whether it’s philanthropy or community growth or profit margin, common bonds in business have a foundation that stands the test of pride, money, and time. It’s evident from the well known LIONS Club to the community business associations or from trade schools to unions.

But one area that lacks in solid foundational understanding of commonalities, and that continues to struggle to survive under the aforementioned philosophy of “if you build it, they will come”, is the church. And, more notably, the religion that usually forms or attempts to form churches.

Whether a church or not, no matter the deity of belief, there’s a basic cause and effect relationship between what we believe and what we do; between belief and religion. A revealing, sometimes disheartening, and often avoidable question is: Which is the cause and which is the effect?

Consider This: Religion should be the result of your relationship with God, not a vehicle to Him.